Unshelled Koopa Troopa

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Unshelled Koopa Troopa
Artwork of Koopa Troopa from Super Mario 3D World.
Artwork of an Unshelled Koopa Troopa chasing its shell, from Super Mario 3D World
First appearance Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021)
Variant of Koopa Troopa
Variants
Comparable

An Unshelled Koopa Troopa,[1] also known as an Unshelled Koopa,[2] Beach Koopa,[3] Koopa without a Shell,[4] or Shell-less Koopa Troopa,[5] is a Koopa Troopa that has lost its shell and wears nothing more than an undershirt (and/or, in some cases, boxer shorts), first appearing in Super Mario World. In their original appearance, Unshelled Koopa Troopas appear small and hunched over, but they were later depicted as being able to walk around like normal, shell-wearing Koopa Troopas. In many of the Super Mario platformers, when an Unshelled Koopa Troopa finds a shell, it reverts to a normal Koopa Troopa.

History[edit]

Mario Bros.[edit]

A Shellcreeper trying to get its shell back from Mario Bros.

While technically not shell-less Koopas, in the original arcade version of Mario Bros., if the Shellcreepers are left alone, not attacked, while they are upside down, they will pop out from their shells to flip back their shells. When this happens, they highly resemble shell-less Koopas, wearing a sleeveless white shirt and shorts.

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

A Koopa without a Shell from Super Mario World
Koopas without Shells from Super Mario World.
Sprites of Koopas without Shells from Super Mario World

When first knocked out of its shell, a Koopa is extremely vulnerable. If given enough time, it will right itself and pace forwards in search of a new shell. Koopas without Shells act very similarly to their shelled counterparts: Green ones fall off cliffs, while red ones and the slightly faster blue ones try to avoid falling; the yellow ones act like a quicker green one, but they will also follow Mario or Luigi and attempt to jump over shells thrown at them. The technical reason for the small, hunched-over appearance is so the "sliding out" graphics have the same hitbox parameters as the walking sprites, as each sprite for each individual object in Super Mario World must use the same hitbox.

Green and red Koopas without Shells will become the color of the shell they enter. If the shell is upside down, they will kick it rightside up before entering. Yellow Koopas without Shells will attempt to jump into any nearby shell; once it enters a shell, it will become a flashing Shell, which will flash rainbow colors and spin around after Mario or Luigi. If two Koopas without Shells enter the same shell simultaneously, they will become only one Koopa Troopa.

Blue Koopas without Shells are visually distinctive, with larger bodies and a lack of vulnerability upon being removed from their shells. Instead of reentering them, they will kick any shell they come into contact with, even stopping moving ones thrown at them; they will also do the same with stunned Goombas, Bob-ombs, flashing Grab Blocks, and Buzzy Beetle shells in their path. In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, this also allows them to withstand enemies spat at them by Yoshi while Luigi is riding him. Their behavior is similar to Buster Beetles from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Outmaways from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which both attack by launching blocks at the player. Blue Koopas without Shells may also appear while sliding down slopes towards Mario or Luigi. Any Super Koopa who begins on the ground will revert into a blue Koopa without a Shell after being stomped on, and ones with flashing capes also relinquish a Cape Feather.

The original artwork of a Koopa being knocked out of its shell serves as the basis for a similar artwork that appears as a stamp in Super Mario 3D World.

Green Red Blue Yellow
  • Yoshi's Island 1
  • Donut Plains 3
  • Donut Plains 4
  • Green Switch Palace
  • Vanilla Dome 1
  • Vanilla Dome 3
  • Red Switch Palace
  • Butter Bridge 2
  • Cookie Mountain
  • Chocolate Island 3
  • Sunken Ghost Ship
  • Star World 1
  • Star World 4
  • Gnarly
  • Awesome
  • Groovy
  • Funky

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

BeachKoopaSM64.png Beach Koopa

In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario can attack a Koopa Troopa to knock it out of its shell, transforming the Koopa Troopa into an Unshelled Koopa Troopa. Attacking the Unshelled Koopa Troopa defeats it and releases a Blue Coin. If not defeated, the Unshelled Koopa Troopa will frantically attempt to dive back into its shell—this occurs even if one of the player characters is riding it, typically resulting in the Unshelled Koopa Troopa's defeat. Even after the shell is destroyed, the Unshelled Koopa Troopa will run aimlessly as if it never lost its shell.

Super Mario Sunshine[edit]

In Super Mario Sunshine, Blue Electrokoopas throw their shell at Mario, effectively becoming "Unshelled Koopa Troopas" temporarily. Mario can defeat these Electrokoopas by jumping on them after they throw their shell, giving him one Coin; he can also squirt them with water, stunning the Electrokoopa and electrifying it with its own returning shell, giving Mario four Coins instead. These Koopas have pink boxer shorts.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]

Screenshot of Super Mario 3D World.
An Unshelled Koopa Troopa chases Mario, trying to get the shell back in Super Mario 3D World.

Unshelled Koopa Troopas reappear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port. Unlike in other games, they share the same behavior as regular Koopa Troopas in the game, except they have an angry look. If the player keeps them away from their shells long enough or throws the shells away, they will become disappointed and briefly stop chasing the player.

Super Mario Maker series[edit]

In Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, Unshelled Koopa Troopas appear after they are knocked out of their shells in the Super Mario World game style. Red Unshelled Koopa Troopas make their first appearance since Yoshi's Island DS, only appearing if a Red Koopa Troopa in the level is stomped on.

In Super Mario Maker 2, the above is also true of the Super Mario 3D World game style; Red Unshelled Koopa Troopas make their first 3D appearance. Unshelled Koopa Troopas can also drive Koopa Troopa Cars in the Super Mario 3D World style; after defeating them, the player can then drive the car themselves.

Super Mario World television series[edit]

Koopa without a Shell in the Super Mario World episode Fire Sale.
A Koopa without a Shell flying through the air in the Super Mario World television series episode "Fire Sale".

Only one Koopa without a Shell appears in the Super Mario World episode "Fire Sale", where the silent Koopa Troopa henchman of Kootie Pie Koopa is continually knocked out of his shell. He wears yellow shorts with red hearts on them.

Mario is Missing![edit]

Bowser without his Shell, as seen in Mario is Missing!
Bowser as a Koopa without a Shell in the PC version of Mario is Missing!

Although normal Koopas without Shells do not appear in the MS-DOS version of Mario is Missing!, the ending features Luigi removing Bowser's shell. When he does so, Bowser is shown to be wearing polka-dotted boxer shorts, similar to a Koopa without a Shell. In the NES version, a normal Koopa without a Shell appears after the small Bowser's defeat.

Yoshi's Island series[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

Beach Koopa from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Beach Koopas are also found in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its Game Boy Advance remake. However, in these games, they walk upright when evicted from their shells, instead of becoming small and hunched over, as in Super Mario World. This is due to them not ever sliding, meaning they can have the same hitbox as an ordinary Koopa Troopa. In these games, they are shirtless and wear colored shorts, likely inspiring their name. Additionally, Hookbill the Koopa becomes a Beach Koopa upon defeat.

Yoshi's Island DS[edit]

Beach Koopa in the game Yoshi's Island DS.

Beach Koopas return in Yoshi's Island DS, retaining their behavior from its predecessor as Yoshi can knock them out of their shells with a stomp. Beach Koopas that are not knocked out of their shells only appear in Bessie Bass's Battleship.

Paper Mario[edit]

Koopa No Shell.png

Unshelled Koopa Troopas make a brief appearance in Paper Mario, when the Fuzzies appearing in Koopa Village steal the local Koopa Troopas' shells. This fate also befalls Kooper, though Mario eventually returns his shell to him.

Super Princess Peach[edit]

Green Beach Koopa SPP.png

Unshelled Koopa Troopas reappear in Super Princess Peach, appearing as they do in the Yoshi sidescrollers, but with a noticeable smile compared to their other appearances. Like Blindfold Boos, blue Podoboos, and Security Thwomps, they do not appear in the in-game glossary.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[edit]

Screenshot of the Beach Koopa in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Screenshot of an Unshelled Koopa Troopa in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Unshelled Koopa Troopas also appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. If the player counterattacks a Koopa Troopa's shell attack with the hammer, it will get knocked out of its shell before it gets back in.

Other appearances[edit]

Early enemies and names for Super Mario Bros. showing that the Turtle Tribe is based on the Shellcreeper from Mario Bros. From top to bottom: the unused 「ベア クリーパー」 (Bea Kurīpā, Bare Creeper), 「ボス クリーパー」 (Bosu Kurīpā, Boss Creeper), and 「フライング クリーパー」 (Furaingu Kurīpā, Flying Creeper) and its color variants.
Prototypical Koopa without a Shell (top) in Super Mario Bros. concept

The concept of a shell-less turtle enemy was planned for the original Super Mario Bros. It had the tentative name 「ベア クリーパー」 (Bea Kurīpā, Bare Creeper), and it appears to have held a pointed weapon.[6]

Profiles[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island[edit]

Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.[edit]

  • Bio: ノコノコやマントガメを踏むと現れる。こうらを蹴り飛ばすタイプもいる。[7](They appear when you step on Koopa Troopas or Super Koopas. There is also a type that kicks shells away.)

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese はだかノコノコ[8]
Hadaka Nokonoko
Naked Koopa Troopa

German Panzerloser Koopa
Shell-less Koopa
Italian Koopa Beach[9]
Koopa senza guscio[10]
-
Shell-less Koopa
Spanish Koopa de Playa[citation needed]
Beach Koopa

References[edit]

  1. ^ English Super Mario World entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved August 13, 2022. (Archived August 13, 2022 14:17:58 UTC via archive.today.)
  2. ^ October 17, 2023. Ask the Developer Vol. 11, Super Mario Bros. Wonder—Part 2. nintendo.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023. (Archived October 17, 2023, 13:47:32 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
    Koichi Hayashida, officially translated from Japanese: "The first course in Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) featured Unshelled Koopas going down a slope and then later you see them flying around with capes."
  3. ^ a b M. Arakawa. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Player's Guide. Page 126Media:SMW2 Guide 126.jpg.
  4. ^ M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 50.
  5. ^ Stratton, Bryan. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2–Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 21.
  6. ^ Nintendo (September 14, 2015). Nintendo Digital Event @ E3 2015. YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  7. ^ 「スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), Super Mario World section. Page 55.
  8. ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario World section. Page 55.
  9. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 55
  10. ^ Chiedi allo sviluppatore, parte 11: Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Capitolo 2