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| Goomba | |
|---|---|
| Mario race | |
 Promotional art by Shigehisa Nakaue (2022) | |
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. (1985) |
| Genre | Platform game |
| In-universe information | |
| Leader | Bowser[1] |
Goombas (/ˈɡuːmbə/), known in Japan asKuribō,[a] and originallyLittle Goomba, are a fictional species and enemy fromNintendo'sMario franchise. They first appeared in theNES video gameSuper Mario Bros. as the first enemy players encounter, part ofBowser's army. There are multiple variants of Goombas, including Paragoombas and Cat Goombas, as well as offshoots like Galoombas and Goombrats. There have also been non-antagonistic Goombas in thePaper Mario andMario & Luigi series. They have appeared outside video games, including in film and television.
Goombas are brownshiitake-like creatures with long black eyebrows, a sharp underbite, a tan stem, dark brown feet, no limbs, and are most commonly seen walking around aimlessly, often as an obstacle. They were included late in the development ofSuper Mario Bros. as a simple, easy-to-defeat enemy afterplaytesters found theKoopa Troopa enemy too difficult, creating a sprite and flipping it to convey walking.
The species is considered one of the most iconic elements of theSuper Mario series, appearing in nearly every game in the series, and is often ranked amongst the most famous enemies in video games. In 2009,CraveOnline described it as the series' "everyman". The video game incarnation has been made into severalplush toys.
Goombas are brown creatures designed to resembleshiitake,[2] with bushy eyebrows and a pair oftusk-like teeth sprouting from their lower jaw.[3] They have no arms and two feet.[citation needed] They were introduced in the video gameSuper Mario Bros., and were the last enemy added afterplaytesters stated that theKoopa Troopa enemy was too difficult. The designers decided to create the Goomba as a more basic enemy.[4] Due to limited space remaining, the team created a single sprite that they flipped back and forth to convey walking. It bears a resemblance to theSuper Mushroom power-up that Mario can use to strengthen himself, which forced designers to change the mechanics and appearance of the Super Mushroom. They used the Goomba's ability to be jumped on and defeated to teach players how to deal with enemies and to not fear the Super Mushroom.[2]
Early concept art for the live-actionSuper Mario Bros. film showed that the design of the Goombas were originally intended to be forKoopa Troopas, another kind ofMario enemy.[5] A separate company from the primary makeup departments designed the Goombas in the film.[6]
The name Goomba is derived from "Goombah"[citation needed] (fromNeapolitancumpà) which refers to anItalian American man.[7] Also, inHungarian,gomba means'mushroom'. InJapanese, Goombas are calledKuribō, which loosely translates as'chestnut person'.[citation needed]
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Goombas debuted inSuper Mario Bros.,[3] and have reappeared in most games in the series. In the 2D games, they walk aimlessly in a straight line, turning only when meeting an obstacle. They can be defeated by jumping on them, which flattens them. In this game, Goombas can come in different colors depending on the setting. In 3D games, includingSuper Mario 64, they will pursue the player when he is near. InSuper Mario Sunshine, Goombas are not present, but an enemy called the Strollin' Stu is described as being the Goombas of the game's region. Goombas come in multiple variants as well, including ones bigger and smaller. Other variants include undead Goombas called Bone Goombas, Cat Goombas, and winged Goombas called Paragoombas.[citation needed] InSuper Mario Bros. 3, a variant can be found riding in an item called Goomba's Shoe, which Mario can ride in after defeating the Goomba.[3] Multiple offshoots of the Goomba have also been created, including the Goombo inSuper Mario Land, Galoomba inSuper Mario World, Goombrat inNew Super Mario Bros. U, and Goombud inSuper Mario Maker 2. The Galoomba were added afterNintendo scrapped the inclusion of Goomba in it.[citation needed] InSuper Mario Odyssey, a female Goomba called Goombette was introduced, which will flee from the player unless they are in control of a Goomba.[8] Goombas appear as bosses multiple times, including Goomboss inSuper Mario 64 DS and a large Goomba called Mega Goomba inNew Super Mario Bros.[citation needed]
Multiple characters in the Goomba species have appeared in theMario series. In the firstPaper Mario video game, a village of non-hostile Goombas is introduced, andMario partners with a playable Goomba called Goombario. This also features a boss Goomba called Goomba King.[9] The sequel introduces multiple other Goombas, including another playable Goomba namedGoombella and her mentor, Professor Frankly. Both Goombario and Goombella are able to inform Mario about aspects of the world, non-playable characters, and enemies, including the latter's health and offense. In these games, as well asSuper Mario RPG and theMario & Luigi series, Goombas appear as both enemies and allies.[citation needed]
Goomba appears as an enemy in multiple entries of theSuper Smash Bros. series, includingSuper Smash Bros. Melee,Super Smash Bros. Brawl, andSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. They are also a playable character in multiple spinoffs, including theMario baseball gamesMario Superstar Baseball andMario Super Sluggers,Mario Party gamesSuper Mario Party andSuper Mario Party Jamboree,[citation needed] andMario Kart World.[10] InDr. Mario World, a stack of Goombas called Dr. Goomba Tower was added as a playable character.[11] Goombas also appear as enemies inThe Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.[12]
Goombas appear in the1989 television cartoon seriesThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, andThe Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. In theSuper Mario Bros. live-action film, Goombas were originally inhabitants of Dinohattan who opposed the tyrannical President Koopa's rule, and were transformed by devolving them as punishment turning them into large, reptilian monsters called Goombas. A specific Goomba appears as an ally to the protagonists Mario andLuigi.[citation needed] Goombas reappear as part of Bowser's minions in the 2023 filmThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.[13]
Goombas have appeared in various pieces of merchandise.Nintendo has collaborated withMcDonald's to makeMario-themedHappy Meal toys multiple times.[14]
The Goomba has become an icon of theMario series, both in its appearance and the concept of "stomping on them", often referenced as one of the key elements of the originalSuper Mario Bros.[15][16][17][18][19]IGN editor Craig Harris described the Goomba as a "household name" along with Koopa Paratroopas andKing Koopa.[20] Video game musician and reviewerTommy Tallarico commented that many new converts to gaming have "never even made Super Mario smoosh a "Goomba".[21] In a criticism of video game storytelling,Gamasutra editor Daniel Cook referenced Goombas being mushrooms, but also that it was a less important fact than them being squat, to-scale with the world, and able to be squashed.[22] In an article discussing happiness in video games,Gamasutra editor Lorenzo Wang listed the sound the Goomba makes when it's squished as one of his pleasures.[23]IGN editor Mark Birnhaum praised the sound effects ofSuper Mario Bros., giving similar praise to the sound of the Goomba being stomped on.[24] It was compared to the Met enemy from theMega Man series, calling them the "Goomba of theMega Man series".[25] In 2009,CraveOnline editor Joey Davidson described the Goomba as the series' "everyman", describing it as both defenseless and of little threat, listing such exceptions as the giant Goomba seen inSuper Mario Galaxy.[26] A common enemy inBraid has been compared to the Goomba,Gaming Age editor Dustin Chadwell calling it a "slightly skewed version of the Goomba".[27]GameDaily listed Goomba as the fourth bestMario enemy, stating that every gamer has run into one as Mario before.[28]Destructoid listed the deaths of Goombas as one of the six sinister things aboutSuper Mario, saying that "whether or not the Goombas are actually working for Bowser, they certainly don't seem like killers, or even soldiers. They walk around aimlessly, and if you touch them, you get hurt. Is that worth killing over?"[29]Nintendo Power listed them as one of their favorite punching bags, stating that while it's hard not to feel bad for them, it is still satisfying.[30]
The live-actionSuper Mario Bros. film version of the Goomba has received negative reception.IGN editor Jesse Schedeen called Bowser and his Goombas the most screwed up part of the film, commenting that it would be difficult to create a live action version of the Goomba that deviates from the original version more than this.[31] AnEntertainment Weekly article called the design creepy, stating that its "foam-latex skin had to be baked for five hours at 200 degrees to achieve that lovely reptilian effect".[32] The facial design of the characterVenom inSpider-Man 3 was compared to the film versions of the Goomba byCraveOnline, describing Venom's face as stupid, short, and rounded.[33] Hal Hinson ofThe Washington Post called the Goombas "big dumb goons with shrunken little dino heads", yet also calling them the "best movie heavies since the flying monkeys in 'The Wizard of Oz'".[34]
He [Bowser] also has an army made up of other Koopa, Goomba, and other species depending on the game.
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