Star Thwomp

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Not to be confused with Big Thwomp, also referred to as Super Thwomp.
Star Thwomp
A Super Thwomp in Mario Kart 8
First appearance Super Mario Kart (1992)
Latest appearance Mario Kart Tour (2019)
Variant of Thwomp

Star Thwomps, originally known as Super Thwomps,[1][2] are a shiny version of Thwomps that appear only in the Mario Kart series, specifically SNES Rainbow Road.

History[edit]

Super Mario Kart[edit]

Rainbow Road
Donkey Kong Jr. approaching some Super Thwomps on Rainbow Road in Super Mario Kart

Super Thwomps first appear in Super Mario Kart on Rainbow Road where they act like regular Thwomps, though these Thwomps glow and spin racers out if they run into them, unlike normal Thwomps. There are sixteen of them, divided in four groups of four each, located after the first two ramps (two on each side), on the narrow straight after the next three ramps (two on the left side, then two on the right side), within the forked road (two per side), and before the finish line (in the center).

Mario Kart 7[edit]

SNES Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7
Mario performing a trick between some Super Thwomps on SNES Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7

Super Thwomps reappear in Mario Kart 7, with the return of SNES Rainbow Road as a retro track. Like before, they behave like normal Thwomps, but using their modern spiked appearance from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, rather than the blunt one used by the Thwomps on Bowser's Castle. Once again, racers flip if they run into them. Due to their bigger size, they appear in lesser numbers, from sixteen to seven (one Thwomp stands in for every two originally present, though the second quartet is replaced with just one); they also cause the track to wave when they slam the ground, allowing racers to use them for tricks.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

SNES Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 - The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8.
Link near a couple of Thwomps on SNES Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8

Super Thwomps, here simply called Thwomps,[3] appear once more in Mario Kart 8, once again on SNES Rainbow Road included in the first downloadable content pack. Unlike Mario Kart 7, they are based upon their Super Mario Galaxy design, much like the Thwomps in Thwomp Ruins, though they still flip racers on contact. Along with the SNES Rainbow Road course, the Thwomps reappear in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the game's base content.

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

SNES Rainbow Road
Star Thwomps in SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour

Star Thwomps return in Mario Kart Tour with their Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe appearance and current name. They are found on SNES Rainbow Road, RMX Rainbow Road 1, RMX Rainbow Road 2, and Wii Rainbow Road R/T, functioning in the same manner as in previous installments. They are also featured as the obstacles in the Wario Cup's Glider Challenge in the Tokyo Tour (set in the same course) and the main obstacles in the Larry Cup's Steer Clear of Obstacles challenge in the Mario Bros. Tour (set in 3DS Rainbow Road), where they can also be seen staying still and moving horizontally as well.

Star Thwomps have also appeared in challenges outside of Rainbow Road courses: in the Steer Clear of Obstacles challenge in the Baby Daisy Cup of the Flower Tour (set in GBA Bowser's Castle 1), and the Glider challenge in the Larry Cup of the Peach Tour (set in SNES Mario Circuit 3).

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese スーパードッスン[4]
Sūpā Dossun
スタードッスン
Sutā Dossun
Super Thwomp

Star Thwomp

Chinese 星星咚咚
Xīngxīng Dōngdōng
Star Thwomp

French (NOE) Thwomp étoile
Star Thwomp
German Sternensteinblock
Star Thwomp
Italian Twomp stella
Star Thwomp
Korean 스타쿵쿵
Seuta Kungkung
Star Thwomp

Portuguese (NOA) Tumbo estrela
Star Thwomp
Spanish (NOA) Don Pisotón Estelar
Stellar Thwomp
Spanish (NOE) Roca Picuda Estelar
Stellar Thwomp

References[edit]

  1. ^ von Esmarch, Nick. Mario Kart 7 PRIMA Official Game Guide. Page 162. "SUPER THWOMPS: You don’t want to get caught beneath a Super Thwomp when it comes crashing down. Plan your approach early to avoid swerving."
  2. ^ Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics eGuide, Super Mario Kart Notable Foes Tab.
  3. ^ Epstein, Joe, Garitt Rocha, and Alexander Musa. (2017) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Official Guide (from Prima Games). Page 203. "Thwomps: Aside from a completely borderless track, Thwomps are the only hazard you’ll have to look out for, but what a hazard they are! Doing what Thwomps do, these stony behemoths will smash down onto the track at regular intervals. When they do, a large portion of the track near them ripples, causing your kart to bounce and potentially lose control. Not only that, but if these things come down on top of you, you’ll be little more than Nintendo-themed paper."
  4. ^ Nintendo Official Guidebook of Super Mario Kart, page 107.