Talk:Rocky Wrench

"A few Rocky Wrenches man a three barreled cannon in Super Mario Sunshine. Shooting Bullet Bills and Missile Bills." Is this info correct? The species that control the cannons in Super Mario Sunshine don't have shells, yet the ones in SMB3 have Buzzy Beetle like shells. They may be Monty Moles or a new species. Can anyone confirm it, because there is no mention of Rocky Wrenches on any faq or guide.--Spike


 * Monty Moles man the cannons, not Rocky Wrenches. The text will remain deleted. -- Son of Suns

Should it be mentioned that the manual to Super Mario Bros. 3 clearly states they're a kind of turtle- and thus possibly related to Koopas? 21:18, 30 May 2007 (EDT)


 * SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?

It said something along the lines of, "They may look like moles, but they're actually turtles". It seems that, at the least, there's a possibility the two species could be related. 21:23, 30 May 2007 (EDT)

Hmm. Intersting.

Here it is:

"Rocky is a turtle who kind of looks like a mole." It's possible they're related, as they look almost as much like a typical Koopa Troopa as does a Lakitu. 21:27, 30 May 2007 (EDT)

Am I the only one whose noticed the shell? And where does it say they're related to Monty Moles? - Yoshi Mastar

I was saying that it's possible they're related to Koopas- being turtles that allied with them is some good circumstancial evidence. 12:57, 4 June 2007 (EDT)

I don't think they should be compared to either Monty Moles or Koopa Troopas. For now we call them "turtle-like mole creatures" or maybe "mole-like turtle creatures". 13:47, 11 June 2007 (EDT)

It seems that Rocky Wrenches are shell-less in Super Mario Galaxy... --Someone Else 17:34, 22 November 2007 (EST)

How are they koopas? they look like moles to me and they even act like moles. 14:57, 8 March 2009 (EDT)

Galaxy pic
Nothing too big, but does anyone have a picture of Rocky Wrench as he appears in Super Mario Galaxy? There are many other screenshots and pictures of who characters look in-game, I was just curious if anyone has managed to get a pic of him. - Smashgoom202 01:00, 26 October 2009 (EDT)

right here! -User:superpokezillabros

Sub-Species
Aren't Rocky Wrenches sub-species of Monty Moles? Even that they appear earlier in a game, their most recent look (in NSMBWii) is a Monty Mole with black glasses and blue frame, with the manhole on their head.
 * Montey moles do not have shells, also, we can't put that in the article because we have no proofs.
 * I have (this pic was ripped by a user, and not fanon made)

Hmm...I'm not sure about that pic.Even if it's real, it isn't mentioned anywhere that rockies are monty moles.I bellive it's better to get a screenshot, then maybe mention that they look like montey moles in Trivia.

Koopa or Monty Mole?
There seems to be a lot of debate about Rocky Wrenches' species of origin. I think its safe to say that in the early years of Mario they were just mole-like Koopas, but since the release of Super Mario Galaxy their signature Koopa shells were removed making them resemble Undergrunts (a species of Monty Mole) and as of New Super Mario Bros. they've been completely redesigned to be regular Monty Moles with goggles and wrenches. So wouldn't it be safe to say that Nintendo now intends them to be Monty Moles and to retcon the idea that they were once Koopas? - Four Paper   Heroes   01:09, 12 July 2011 (EDT)
 * No that is speculation until a source says they are monty moles they should be considered koopas since the only source says they look like moles but are actually koopas
 * I'm just saying that this picture seems to imply their conversion from Koopa to Monty Mole... <:/ - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 01:17, 12 July 2011 (EDT)
 * So what look at a shellcreeper they look a lot like koopas but there not koopas there just turtles a source has called rocky wrenchs koopas but never monty moles and just look at the guides that have come out for games with rocky wrenches in them and none of them have called them monty moles

This is actually up for discussion?
Seriously? Everyone on this website says that Rocky Wrench is a koopa? Can someone PLEASE link me to some kind of source that says this, even for the older games? Yeah, he may have had a shell in the past, but that doesn't make him a Koopa. Buzzy Beetles have shells, why don't we call them Koopas? Getting passed the older stuff, let's examine his new design: Fur. Buck Teeth. Whiskers. Claws. Pads in his hands. Big white belly. Little black nose. He is a carbon copy of Monty Mole, with goggles. The fact that anyone can say it's speculation to call him a Monty Mole is astounding. At the VERY least, if there IS an actual source that says he was once a Koopa, it needs to be fixed to say that he was retconned into a Monty Mole. However, based on his old design (claws, little nose on a snout), I'd say he was originally NOT meant to be a Koopa and the writers of this article are out of their minds. --Youreserious 02:13, 12 July 2011 (EDT)
 * I personally never saw Rocky Wrenches as Koopas, I always thought they wore the shells for protection. - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 02:25, 12 July 2011 (EDT)
 * There is a source it's the Super Mario Bros. 3 booklet it calls them turtles that look like moles and moles, also they are called koopas on the Super Mario Bros. 3 page, also it would be even worse for this site to call them Monty Moles since like ive said multiple times there is no source that has ever called them Monty Moles and until one calls them that they are not Monty Moles

Um, this was sorted out when I was a noob here, guys... Look at the top. Ah, how I miss some of those good old boys who've moved on. Begins to yodel a song about 3D 02:49, 12 July 2011 (EDT)
 * I repeat: Turtle does not instantly mean Koopa. If the manual had said "Is a koopa that looks like a mole" then yes, you'd put koopa. For now, it's just a turtle. And Goomba's Shoe: Seriously, are you blind or retarded?--Youreserious 00:22, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * You mad that i'm right cause fact of the matter is that Rocky Wrenchs arent Monty Moles in fact there not even related cause the only source says that they are turtles that look like moles so you can back off your little rant until you back your claims up sir

I edited the article to be as correct as possible. The manual, the only source for this information, says "Rocky Wrench is a turtle that looks like a mole." It does not say "Rocky Wrench is a Koopa that looks like a mole." Being a turtle does not instantly mean it's a Koopa (see: Shellcreepers. Turtles, but not Koopas.) Since there is only one source for all of this information, I edited the article to reflect the source. As it stands it is misleading and damages the integrity of the site due to how off it is. Thank you.--Youreserious 01:20, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * I've said it more than once now.
 * Everything else points to them being Koopas even the Super Mario Bros. 3 page on are site lists them in the Koopa enemies section so something had to have called them Koopas at some point


 * Nothing points to them being Koopas. The one source we have is from a manual that refers to them as turtles. Everything else on this site has been edited by regular users, not by Nintendo. That just means the other pages need to be fixed as well.--Youreserious 01:41, 13 July 2011 (EDT)

How about this: the Rocky Wrench page always states there were Koopas. In Super Mario Bros. 3, they have shells. 07:43, 13 July 2011 (EDT) @DKPetey: Once again, the Rocky Wrench Page is wrong. This website is not canon information, it's an archive of information. We don't make things up and they're automatically right. Buzzy Beetles also have shells. Are they Koopas?
 * My opinion still stands that they were originally Koopas in the old games, but now in modern games Monty Moles have taken their place (as seen in the modern artwork and sprites), so in the past, yes they were Koopas/Turtles whatever, but now in the present they are intended to be Monty Moles, unless of course there's two separate species of Rocky Wrenches, one that's a Koopa/Turtle whatever and one that's a Monty Mole wearing goggles... - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 12:38, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * And btw, is that comment about them being turtles from the english manual? If so couldn't it be a possibility that the whole turtle thing is only exclusive to them in the american version? - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 12:41, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * And i'll tell you all what ive said every time until a source comes and says they ae related to monty moles they arent related to monty moles there just koopa/turtles who like moles
 * @DKPetey: The only reason the Rocky Wrench page says they are Koopas is because some user equated being a mole-like turtle to being a Koopa. They are members of the Koopa Troop, but they're not Koopas, especially not now, no more than Goombas are. Nintendo has never stated that they were; therefore, any claim that they are is nothing more than an assumption. @Goomba's Shoe15: They're not turtles anymore. 12:49, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Do you have a guide that says there not not turtles cause unless you do they are turtles
 * RockyWrenchNSMBW.png Does this look like a turtle to you? I don't see a shell. Just because they were turtles in SMB3 doesn't mean they are now. 12:54, 13 July 2011 (EDT)

They are both. Let's stop arguing! The page is already protected! 12:57, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * No they are not moles the only source says there turtles who look like moles therefore there turtles until something says otherwise
 * That source only describes Rocky Wrenches in SMB3. It does not describe those in SMG or NSMBWii because they no longer fit the definition of "turtles that look like moles." 13:01, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * If you can find a source that calls them monty moles than go ahead an change it but as of now no source has called them moles only that they look like moles

As Mario4Ever said, this image speaks louder than words: they are no longer meant to be Koopas, they are Monty Moles now, and again that whole comment about them being turtles only exists in the american guide (which are not always perfect) translators aren't perfect you know... - Four Paper  Heroes   13:09, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * No true there japanses name is Tortopo which is a Portmanteau of "tortuga" (tortoise) and "topo" (mole). and no they don't not when i can cite my info and you can't until a source calls them moles they are turtles who look like moles
 * I'm not saying they're now Monty Moles (at best, we could only call them mole-like). All I'm saying is that they're not turtles anymore. They don't have shells anymore. The almost 23 year-old definition doesn't stand when one looks at the Rocky Wrench as seen in the recent games. Unfortunately, Nintendo no longer lists its enemies in its instruction booklets, so there's no way to officially resolve the issue. 13:15, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Exactly. - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 13:16, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Yes there is one call them turtles which the source calls them thats the only option cause there not moles and we have a source that says there turtles that look like moles
 * You cannot say that shell-less mole-like creatures are turtles according to a definition that describes a mole-like shelled creature as a turtle. 13:21, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * I can and i have and i will according to are only source which has not been discredited by and official source they are turtles and thats what they shall remain

Does anyone have a japanese version of the guide? If it says their turtles fine, but as of Super Mario Galaxy they are no longer turtles, maybe they evolved, maybe they made a wish to the stars to be mole-ish, or maybe the guys at Nintendo thought "you know what lets make them look like monty moles so they'll be cuter and less silly looking". - Four Paper  Heroes   14:50, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * If you change the species you are making edits based of speculation the eyes are misleadng the source is not the source calls them turtles and no matter how much they look like monty moles they are to remain turtles until a source says they are monty moles they are to remain turtles

I found something on a few japanese sites, apparently the japanese name for the Rocky Wrench from SMB 3 is Pū (プー) and the one from SMG and onward is Mogu (モグ), does this mean something? - Four Paper  Heroes   15:27, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Here's a list of Japanese-speaking users. I suggest asking one of them. 17:18, 13 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Hey what sites did those names come from

@DKPetey: Once again, the Rocky Wrench Page is wrong. This website is not canon information, it's an archive of information. We don't make things up and they're automatically right. Buzzy Beetles also have shells. Are they Koopas? No. Every argument here has said that Rocky Wrenches are turtles. I'll bite on that, the manual says that. But turtles =/= koopas. The article is wrong and hurts the integrity of the website. Change koopa to "turtle" or "mole-like turtle" and it'll be accurate. Remove all references to it being a Koopa throughout the site.--Youreserious 18:20, 14 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Additionally, mogu means "mole".--Youreserious 02:33, 15 July 2011 (EDT)

So discussion is dead
And my argument still stands. No one has proven me wrong. Please fix the article now. ONE source calls them turtles, and turtles are not necessarily koopas. His japanese name is "Mole" in all appearances after SMB3. Remove all references to him being a Koopa from this article and throughout the site. If you can't call him a mole, call him a Turtle-Like Mole, but do NOT call him a Koopa. It hurts the integrity of the site to have such terrible information up.--Youreserious 23:38, 15 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Finally, the Monty Mole/Koopa issue is over, but in a negative way to say "don't you ever write the Rocky Wrench is a Koopa or a Monty Mole again until there's a official source that tells that the Rocky Wrench is really a Monty Mole or a Koopa". Honestly, I vote for Rocky Wrench being a Monty Mole. Still stating that Rocky Wrench is a turtle is really nasty, unless he's a turtle in a disguise of a Monty Mole. LOL just kidding. XD--Prince Ludwig 00:45, 18 July 2011 (EDT)
 * Saying it's a Monty Mole based on the above source calling it a Mole, is the Koopa/Turle debate all over again.
 * Let's wait until the future confirms that wether the Rocky Wrench is really a Monty Mole or a Koopa/Turtle (SMB3's Rocky Wrench, I admit, has kind of a body to that of a Hammer Bro., the artwork of the Rocky Wrench makes it look both like a mole and a Koopa).

Rocky Wrenches are Monty Moles
According to, Rocky Wrenches are a type of turtle rather than a Monty Mole, and his reasons are that the English manual of SMB3 (from more than 20 years ago) mentions that they are turtles that look like moles, but modern images clearly shown them as Monty Moles now so the manual's info is clearly outdated and they have clearly been redesigned into Monty Moles (and as they say, pictures speak louder than words), plus they have no traces of their "turtle" origin aka no shell. But whatever the wiki chooses then let it be.

Proposer: Deadline: January 2, 2012, 23:59 GMT Extended: January 9, 2012, 23:59 GMT, January 16, 2012, 23:59 GMT

Support

 * 1) - Per my proposal.
 * 2) The artwork for New Super Mario Bros. Wii does not show them with a shell meaning that they are not turtles. Per proposal.
 * 3) - Per all.
 * 4) - Per all.
 * 5) - Per all.
 * 6) - Per all.
 * 7) Per all.
 * 8) - Sincerely, it would be kinda silly to classify them as 'turtles', since they no longer have a shell, and their body composition is identical to Monty Mole's. Per all.
 * 9) - Per FourPaperHeroes and ThePremiumYoshi
 * 10) An obvious error shouldn't complicate an obvious enemy.
 * 11) they're CLEARLY Monty Moles with glasses. they look exactly like Monty moles, but with glasses.
 * 12) Per all.
 * 13) In their newer appearances they appear as Monty Moles with goggles.No shells at all.
 * 14) - It is not a coincidence that Monty Mole and Rocky Wrench are pair together in the enemies section from New Super Mario Bros. Wii guide.
 * 15) Per all! They're OBVIOUSLY Monty Moles. I even think they were still moles with the shells on.
 * 16) Per proposal

Oppose

 * 1) No Source has called them a Monty mole and most names suggest that they are a mole turtle hybrid and being a mole does not equal being a Monty mole
 * 2) - See my comment below.
 * 3) Nintendo hasn't given any proof of them being Monty Moles, but they have given us ample confirmation of them being Koopas, so that should be our decision.
 * 4) - Although they are similar, Rocky Wrenches are not confirmed to be Monty Moles.
 * 5) - Uhm, Koopa Paratroopas and Koopa Troopa are in the same boat, so are Hammer Bros. and Boomerang Bros. And Goombas and Octoombas. Splitting off all these characters based on minor differences would be insane, as Nintendo has confirmed they are different by naming them differently.
 * 6) STRONGEST POSSIBLE OPPOSE. Similarity with Monty Moles has absolutely nothing to do with what Rocky Wrenches are. Allowing consensus to lean toward support here is absolutely not supposed to happen. In short, there is absolutely no confirmation that Rocky Wrenches are Monty Moles. So shall we continue to be the accurate and reliable Mario source we always were, please?
 * 7) - Per all.
 * 8) Per all.
 * 9) - Per all, particularly Bryce and BMB.
 * 10) - If you say that pictures speak louder than words, then I'm going to have to oppose since the pictures of Rocky Wrench past and present are pretty much identical.  The reason that the shell isn't seen is due to the pose--the speculative shell is hidden behind the arm and obscured by the angle.  Also, per all above.
 * 11) - Per B.wilson and Bop. If reliable information from Nintendo is not present on the subject, then why change it to a fanon interputation?
 * 12) Per all.
 * 13) Per all.
 * 14) - Strong Oppose: Rocky Wrenches are NOT Monty Moles. We work to be a good wiki, not a bad wiki with info without sources. Like Wikipedia, we also try to be a reliable source.
 * 15) - Per all above. If there's no source saying they are Monty Moles, it's speculation.
 * 16) - As far as I can tell, nothing official has ever said that Rocky Wrenches are Monty Moles, which means we can't say they are either. Prima grouped them together, yes, but that's far from saying one is a type of the other. I agree that Rocky Wrenches are some sort of mole creature, but that doesn't mean they're some sort of Monty Mole, just like how them being a type of turtle doesn't/didn't make them Koopas. By all means, point out the similarities between the two species right up there in the introduction, but that's it: until we get official information to the contrary, anything more would be speculation.
 * 17) I've made up my mind. Please disregard my last comment. Until officially confirmed, Ricky Wrench is far from being a Minty Mole.
 * 18) Very Strong Oppose: Rocky Wrenches where invented before Monty Moles. They may have something in common but they have not been confirmed that they are. Also look at Talk:Toad Brigade which failed because there was no source of it being confirmed of them being in Super Mario Sunshine
 * 19) Appearances can change over time. Who knows if the Rocky Wrenches will regain their shells? Right now, we should leave it as it is. I don't want to dive into speculation. I think Rocky Wrenches are moles, but are they Monty Moles? Who knows? Otherwise, I don't want to make assumptions. It's something we seldom do here.
 * 20) Per Walkazo.
 * 21) Per all.
 * 22) Vote changed. The manual is official and Nintendo never said that they are Monty Moles between the manuals release date and now.

Comments
It doesn't matter what they look like saying there a type of Monty Mole because they look like one is Speculation
 * Whatever the case may be it is clear that the present Rocky Wrenches are no longer "turtles" so we either reclassify them as Monty Moles or someone decides that Rocky Wrenches should be split into two articles, one for the ones that clearly look like Monty Moles and one for Raven Effect's "turtles". Although I'm still in favor of the reclassification. - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 19:46, 19 December 2011 (EST)
 * Per the comparisons of the Monty Mole and Rocky Wrench, it is obviously a goggle-wearing, wrench-wielding Monty Mole with a manhole on his head. --YoshiMP8a.PNG Super YoshiBros YoshiMP8a.PNG 19:47, 19 December 2011 (EST)

While Rocky Wrenches now greatly resemble Monty Moles, saying that they're one in the same is pretty much speculation at the moment. 08:16, 20 December 2011 (EST)

The Super Mario 3D Land strategy guild says they are moles, not turtles. Now I'm not saying they are Monty Moles, but we can now say they are not turtles.

They also never looked like turtles anyway. The shell in SMB3 looks more like clothing then anything else. -- Super YoshiBros  16:50, 20 December 2011 (EST)


 * I suspect the same but the english translations of SMB3's manual say otherwise, but that's only in the english version, if we had the japanese manual we might not even need this poll. - Four Paper  Heroes  FourPaperHeroes.jpg 17:08, 20 December 2011 (EST)

Koopa shells have been shown to be removable, acting like clothing. Since Nintendo actually confirmed the Rocky Wrenches to be Koopas, it's possible that they stopped wearing the shells. The Magikrazy


 * They once called Rocky Wrenches turtles, never said anything about them being Koopas. Even though Koopas are turtle-like, they are different. Yes, it appears to be an armor to protect a Rocky Wrench's back.--Prince Ludwig 22:54, 21 December 2011 (EST)


 * They appear to wear Buzzy Beetle shells. Are Buzzy Beetles Koopas? P.S. they definitely aren't Monty Moles, though; they're just regular moles.
 * No Buzzy Beetles are not Koopas they are Beetles

@B.wilson I once thought Rocky Wrenchs where Monty Moles and if you look, they are from the same race. Monty Moles do have things in common because they both pop out.
 * So sharing an attack strategy makes you the same species eh?
 * Well, Piranha Plants pop out as well, and there is no similarities to any of the things we are talking about. What people are basing it on is looks. They should also recall that even though they look like Monty Moles in NSMBW and SM3DL, they have no similarities in their other appearances. We need to have proof other than "look at the similarities of the pictures."

I would rather like being betrayed than believe that Rocky Wrench was a turtle, 'cause it still sounds nasty.--Prince Ludwig 23:37, 23 December 2011 (EST)
 * (reply to New Super Yoshi) Like URLs to RS -- 01:58, 24 December 2011 (EST)

In the level World 5-4 in SM3DL that whole level is filled with Monty Moles species, Rocky Wrench was included in the level which means he is a member of the Monty Moles. That is saying some live underground like moles and he was grouped with Monty Moles, so he is one.
 * Appears in a level with Monty Mole species=/=is a member of the Monty mole species

Guys, isn't it obvious that Rocky Wrenches are in fact MOLES?!? Buzzy Beetles aren't Koopas, yet they have shells. It would be silly to classify them as turtles. We're talking just plain ol' moles here, not Monty Moles. -- Super YoshiBros  16:52, 24 December 2011 (EST)
 * Um this proposal is about whether or not Rocky Wrenches are Monty Moles

Does anyone have the strategy guide for New Super Mario Bros. Wii? Does it call Rocky Wrenches a type of Monty Mole?
 * Omp, I do have a guide! The guide doesn't make any reference to Koopas, however it doesn't make any reference to Monty Moles either.
 * I have the Prima Guide, in fact I've reading it and guess what? in the "Pipe Cloggers" (enemies) section, Monty Mole and Rocky Wrench are paired together, the text is as it follows:
 * Mony Moles and Rocky Wrenches
 * "Monty Moles and Rocky Wrenches are sneaky little creatures. Usually they're satisfied to just hide in the earth. But once Mario gets near, Monty moles will pop out and begin to give chase! Rocky Wrenches, on the other hand, only pop out and hurl wrenches at the plumber. Unfortunately, Mario's plumber's tool box has enough wrenches as it is, Luckily, both enemies can be easily dispatched with a well-timed stomp on their heads!"
 * I think this is the official proof Bop1996 was contradicting, authors usually made mistakes but this do not semms to be a mistake!
 * --Byllant 22:06, 30 December 2011 (EST)
 * Nowhere in that does it say that Rocky Wrenches are Monty moles
 * You guys shouldn't be so demanding with these case, they never say are the same species but it is intuition to guess why the author pair them together, recalling them having a similar a similar behaviour, no to mention the similar aspect, it could be the contrary, that Monty Moles are actually a Rocky Wrenches subspecies, well, maybe not. --Byllant 16:42, 4 January 2012 (EST)

I currently am neutral on the subject. The opposers state that Rocky Wrenches are just plain old moles that throw wrenches (I call them Spanner Bros.:)). I have always thought Monty Mole are what the Mushroom World calls moles. This is similar to them calling the tortoises "Koopas" or the land of Hyrule calling their chickens "Cuccos" (there is a trope for this called "Call a Rabbit a Smeerp"). Can anyone confirm or, um, un-confirm this?
 * @Byllant: Yes, they pair them together. However, where does it say that they are both monty moles? I notice that they don't say Koopa, but we aren't going to go by opinion. Whether they are implying it or whether they are just pairing them together because of say stregeties, I don't know. All I know is that there is nowhere in there that proves/deny anything with the matter we are on.

I propose we say that Rocky Wrenches are just moles, not Monty Moles. Does anybody agree with me? -- Super YoshiBros  18:08, 9 January 2012 (EST)
 * Yes.

Rocky Wrenches are without a doubt Monty Moles
I honestly still have no idea why this is still a debatable topic. The evidence for them being Monty Moles is astounding. I mean, just take a look at the artwork of Monty Moles from New Super Mario Bros. U.



Now, take a look at a couple Rocky Wrench pictures.





They both have the same body shape, the same type of claws, the same single tooth in the center, the same number of whiskers on their face; they even have the same dot below their claws. Not only that, but they no longer wear the shell on their back that they had during Super Mario Bros. 3. I think it's safe to say that they wore a shell in Super Mario Bros. 3 just as a protective piece for their backside (even though it doesn't help them), and that them being called turtles was only an assumption based on their shell.

There is so much evidence for them being Monty Moles, and the only evidence for them not being that is just because of one sentence in a booklet which has outdated information (the booklet also said that the Koopalings were Bowser's children, which was shown to later be false information).



If the booklet was wrong about the Koopalings, then who's to say they also were wrong about Rocky Wrenches?

Cevan (talk) 20:15, 13 January 2014 (EST)


 * Because the booklet wasn't necessarily wrong, or else the "not his children" detail would've been mentioned long ago. The Koopalings being Bowser's kids presented and accepted as fact, and was simply run with until it was explicitly refuted. The same can be assumed for the "mole-like Koopas" bit, and the redesign was likely to fix that more than anything. Plus, Super Mario Galaxy kinda refutes that by existing; their appearance in that game had them much closer to Undergrunts.


 * Thirdly, Monty Moles didn't appear until SMW, which came after SMB 3 (where Rocky Wrenches debuted). They now look similar to each other in their modern appearances, but that doesn't change the fact that they are still completely different (different 'habitats', different attack patterns, etc. In other words, they look the same, but that's essentially all they have in common. The reason behind their similarity is probably to have them more recognizable as 'mole-like' than anything. Lord Grammaticus (talk) 20:40, 13 January 2014 (EST)


 * As for them in SMG, they were a type of Undergrunt in that game, and weren't even the normal Rocky Wrenches that had been seen before. This design was undoubtedly chosen since the Undergrunts had already replaced Monty Moles as the "moles of space," so since Rocky Wrenches are a type of Monty Mole they too had been replaced by Undergrunt Rocky Wrenches for the game. Undergrunts are a sub-species of Monty Moles as well, so that's just another reason to classify Rocky Wrenches as Monty Moles if you needed more reasons. As for the booklet, although at the time the information was considered correct, things have changed, as seen by the Koopalings turning out to not be Bowser's children. The same goes for Rocky Wrenches being called turtles in the booklet. Things have changed, and now its turned out that they're actually a sub-species of Monty Moles.


 * Next, what does them being in a different environment than Monty Moles and attacking differently have to do with them being separate species? Chargin' Chucks attack differently from normal Koopas, however they are still a sub-species of Koopa.

Cevan (talk) 20:53, 13 January 2014 (EST)

You say that as if it's already been decided by Nintendo. That's the problem.

MarioWiki tries to be as reliable a source as possible, and to that end it prioritizes official statements over speculative guesswork, no matter how "common sense" it may seems. You'll notice in the comments above ours - the most recent of which are two years old, if you're somehow still convinced the argument was ongoing prior to your comments - that this is a constant source of debate. While it can certainly be argued that Rocky was intended to be a subspecies, it still shouldn't take priority over any statements (or lack thereof) from the creators themselves.

Also, if Undergrunts are "SMG's moles," then why can't Monty be NSMB'S mole? It's not all that unlikely that the developers went to an already estblished mole design when redesigning Rocky, to keep a sort of consistency within the rest of the main series as they did within SMG's series. We know they've mostly phased out the turtle traits, save for a shell that could simply be protective gear, so that part is reduced to a relative footnote at the beginning of the article.

The thing is, as we're not the developers, we can't presume to know with 100% certainty what they intended. This isn't to say your case can't be made period, but without any sort of official insight, there might not be much to be done towards that. Lord Grammaticus (talk) 23:15, 13 January 2014 (EST)
 * My argument is that Rocky Wrenches are mole-like creatures, not Monty Moles. 23:42, 13 January 2014 (EST)

Make its own page
These guys are obviously intended to be different enemies, resembling Undergrunts more than the usual Rocky Wrench depiction. However, my strongest opinion here is that they have a different Japanese name, where they're obviously supposed to be derived from those species. Just as we split King Boo (Super Mario Sunshine) because of the widely different looks and Japanese name, I suggest we split off this.

Proposer: Deadline: January 31, 2014, 23:59 GMT

Support

 * 1) - Per Baby Luigi.
 * 2) Different look and resemblance to Undergrunts, different Japanese name, different attack pattern. I could make a decent article about these guys if the proposal passes.
 * 3) Sounds reasonable, and furthermore, logical.
 * 4) Per proposal, I can definitely get behind this.
 * 5) Agreed. It's quite obvious that they are a type of Undergrunt in SMG.
 * 6) Per all.
 * 7) Per proposal and all.
 * 1) Per proposal and all.

Rocky Wrenches are Monty Moles (or vice versa)
So, because the official stance is that Rocky Wrenches are actually "mole-like turtles" because of a 25-year-old manual, I feel that I should point out a few things.

First off, Rocky Wrenches literally look exactly the same as Monty Moles, but with goggles and a manhole cover (and in SMB3, a shell). If it's somehow "speculation" to say they're related because of that, it's also speculation to say that Blurps are related to Cheep Cheeps.

Second, the Japanese name for Monty Moles (チョロプー, Choropū) is clearly based on Rocky Wrench's (プー, Pū), which proves a direct relation (if anything, this proves Monty Mole is a subspecies of Rocky Wrench).

Third, we can even look at other foreign names for Rocky Wrenches, several of which are related to their names for Monty Moles (and, admittedly, turtles as well, but all this proves is that Rocky Wrenches are turtle-like moles, not the other way around).

Fourth, things are retconned all the time. Brick Blocks used to be cursed Toads. The Koopalings used to be Bowser's kids. Cheep Cheeps used to grow wings when jumping out of the water. Koopas used to be powerful sorcerers. Snifits used to "spit the bullets of evil dreams". And while Nintendo has officially retconned the Koopalings, I don't believe they've ever directly said anything about any of the other things I mentioned, so by the logic keeping Rocky Wrenches "mole-like turtles", we should treat everything from old manuals/guides, no matter how ridiculous/obviously currently untrue, as correct (unless it was directly stated as incorrect by Nintendo). On another note, I find it interesting that Porcupuffers are still considered Cheep Cheep relatives, despite having even LESS evidence of being related than Rocky Wrenches/Monty Moles. Binarystep (talk) 08:11, 24 April 2015 (EDT)
 * There isn't a recent source outclaiming this, and until then, we have to assume nothing. My argument is that they're moles, not Monty Moles, but I don't want to go in yet another debate about this. 01:24, 28 June 2015 (EDT)
 * There isn't clear evidence, although it's strongly suggested that they "literally look exactly the same" (seriously, redundant redundant much?). They hardly look like turtles, so it's logical to infer that they're turtle-like moles at this point. Still, don't remove the old information. It's better to assume that they're both turtles and moles than assume they're purely moles. 01:33, 28 June 2015 (EDT)

Just want to add that saying these are related to Monty Moles doesn't really contradict the SMB3 manual. If Buzzy Beetles can be derived from Koopas and still be insects, then Rocky Wrenches can be derived from Monty Moles while still being turtles. Niiue (talk) 04:59, 5 October 2015 (EDT)
 * Actually, I've strongly disputed the characterization of Buzzy Beetles, stating that categorizing them as insects makes such as much sense as categorizing this pathetic cheater Volkswagen Beetle as an insect. I think the SMB3 manual is an outdated source from sheer age and recent redesign of Rocky Wrenches in New Super Mario Bros.. 15:03, 5 October 2015 (EDT)

Bump, but allegedly in Super Mario Maker, shaking Monty Moles will create Rocky Wrenches so wouldn't this mean that Rocky Wrenches should be a derived species of Monty Moles rather than a similar species? 23:50, 30 January 2016 (EST)
 * Um, what about bone fishes and Dry Bones? Like if you put Dry Bones under water, they turn into Bone Fish. 23:56, 30 January 2016 (EST)
 * Unlike the fish and the Dry Bones, though, Rocky Wrenches and Monty Moles share an extremely close resemblance to each other. 00:11, 31 January 2016 (EST)
 * Yeah, I think Rocky Wrenches should be counted as a derived species. Even if it's not officially confirmed, they're clearly based on Monty Moles in post-SMB3 games. Niiue (talk) 18:11, 5 February 2016 (EST)

Rocky Wrenches are now moles
They're moles now. Not necessarily 'monty moles', but they are very clearly moles. Saying 'Rocky Wrenches are mole-like turtle enemies' is completely, 100%, incorrect. It really does just make this site look foolish and stupid by claiming something so completely wrong. My edit is the best way of explaining it. Leave it alone. Meganerd18 (talk) 09:11, 22 January 2016 (EST)
 * Maybe that would suffice if they were only described as being turtles, but being uncannily mole-like was also part of Rocky Wrench's description since day one, and Super Mario World introduced actual mole enemies as well as established that Koopas/turtles can merely "wear" their shells in the Mario world. Super Mario Maker even remembered to include shells in every other play style design while keeping the close resemblance to Monty Mole when Nintendo could have easily just left it at Super Mario Bros. 3 rather than go with a uniform modern look (like removing Spike Top's six legs). Either way, claiming that they've entirely changed species when the mole comment was clearly there since the beginning would need a direct source to back it up, and up to this point, the only official description to bother noting the species is the original one. LinkTheLefty (talk) 06:17, 25 January 2016 (EST)

The species origin, or Can we be really sure at this point?
The original Japanese manual referred to them as "mole-like members of the Turtle Tribe," or some such thing. Thing is, this could refer to either the greater Koopa species, or to the Koopa Troop in general, which includes enemy Goombas and Piranha Plants. However, "mole-like" would imply that they are SIMILAR to moles, and not moles themselves. However, this could have been retconned. After all, the current ones resemble Monty Moles and share the characteristic "Dii!" noise. But then comes Super Mario Maker, where all the classic styles use a shelled version. However, unlike the original SMB3, the shell now appears far too small for it to enter due to now being sized the same as the Monty. So this again could go either way. It's worth noting that in SMB2, when they wore shells, they would always reappear after defeat, while in NSMBW, where they don't wear shells, they stay defeated, which could signify that the SMB3 ones retract into their shells upon defeat. The problem with this, however, is that they still visibly fall off-screen. The first game they appeared alongside Monty moles, Mario Kart DS, also has them as being edited from Monties, but with a mouth full of sharp, very non-moleish teeth. And then there's the question about the similar species from Galaxy. While the main evidence that they're a different species is the different Japanese name, said name has not been cited, so it's possible they were intended to be the same thing after all. What I'm saying is, there's a lot of ambiguity at this point, and we should probably wait until Encyclopedia Super Mario gives us the final answer. Until then, I suggest listing the species origin as "Koopa (formerly), Monty Mole." Although it can also be said that they aren't derivative of Monties, as they technically came first, so they weren't derivative from a conceptual standpoint. And the similarities could just be convergent evolution, like pigs and tapirs, although that may be stretching it a bit. Doc von Schmeltwick (talk) 17:26, 15 May 2017 (EST)
 * I think in that context, they could be referring to mole-like as in a way that they're not 100% sure they are moles, in the way we here call Koopa Troopas "turtle-like" or Crowbers being described as "designed after crows". But the instruction bios clearly refer to them as "turtles who look like moles" so that's the one we go by. I still think it's a better idea to say that their appearance is clearly based off Monty Moles rather than outright say it is, even though inductive logic would say otherwise (we don't really rely on inductive logic on most occasions, as it's very flawed and for articles like this with contradictory sources and appearances, I say it's better left ambiguous), so I think the current state of the article is fine as it is right now. 15:00, 17 May 2017 (EDT)

Rocky Wrenches are a type of Monty Mole
So, this again. Thanks to the Super Mario Bros. 3 manual calling Rocky Wrenches a type of Koopa, the wiki's stance is that Rocky Wrenches are completely unrelated to Monty Moles, and are somehow a type of Koopa with only one turtle-like trait. This despite the fact that every post-SMB3 game redesigned Rocky Wrenches to look exactly the same as Monty Moles (albeit with shells and goggles). Additionally, the Japanese names are near-identical (Pū vs Choropū), and most regions give Monty Moles and Rocky Wrenches extremely similar names. Furthermore, the Prima guide for New Super Mario Bros. Wii grouped Rocky Wrenches and Monty Moles together, and Super Mario Maker lets you shake Monty Moles to turn them into Rocky Wrenches, and vice versa.

At this point, citing a 30 year old manual despite an obvious, intentional change is completely illogical. Yes, an old manual said Rocky Wrenches were Koopas. Old manuals also said Brick Blocks are cursed Toads, Cheep Cheeps spontaneously sprout wings when jumping out of the water, Koopas are a race of sorcerers, and Snifits' bullets are made of nightmares. A lot of old info became outdated over time, even if it was never "officially" retconned. Besides, if it's somehow speculation to say Rocky Wrenches are a type of Monty Mole, then it's speculation to say Porcupuffers are related to Cheep Cheeps.

Proposer: Deadline: August 17, 2017, 23:59 GMT

Rocky Wrenches are Monty Moles

 * 1) Per proposal.
 * 2) How is this thing similar to a Koopa Troopa? That would be like me putting on a Shell and then my species changes from Human to Koopa Troopa (or Buzzy Beetle). That's not how it works in real life. By that logic, that means Mario the human, when changed to Hammer Mario, is a Hammer Bro species. Same thing for Tanooki Mario, Raccoon Mario, and Frog Mario. Just no. Once, Nintendo made the mistake that Ostro was Birdo and vise-versa in the Super Mario Bros. 2, but later corrected it in re-releases and new game entries featuring the two enemies. The modern Rocky Wrench looks more mole-like than the classic Rocky Wrench. Also, Nintendo changes the characters appearance over the years. For example, Iggy Koopa didn't use to have green hair sticking straight up but rather white, orange (limited NES color palate), or rainbow.
 * 3) The fact that we aren't considering these guys Monty Moles just because of a nearly 30-year old guide that was released before Monty Moles even existed is ridiculous.

Rocky Wrenches are Koopas

 * 1) We don't have any direct confirmation whatsoever that their old story was outright denied or that the perceived current one is even necessarily true. Note that in Super Mario Maker, some things can be shaken that clearly aren't related to each other, such as Grinders into Bumpers or Thwomps into Skewers; the former are circular and the latter are spiked, but those are where similarities end.
 * 2) Stop proposing this. Being uncannily mole-like Koopas was their description since day 1. They've just been redesigned to look like a now-established mole species by editing said mole species' model.

They're both

 * 1) Per proposal.
 * 2) Regardless, the resemblance and connection to Monty Mole in most newer games is undeniable, but the fact that the new sprites in Super Mario Maker re-add the shells (including brand new sprites for Super Mario Bros. 3 style and excepting New Super Mario Bros. U style) shows that Nintendo still respects and preserves their old story to some degree. Considering them both is a nice compromise, with the bonus of theoretically making maintenance easier.
 * 3) It's silly to completely ignore the obvious visual connection between Rocky Wrenches and Monty Moles, but at the same time, there hasn't been anything to dismiss them being Koopas. Best to list them both.
 * 4) Per all.
 * 5) Per all.
 * 6) They are both. Per all.
 * 7) Per all.
 * 8) Per all.
 * 9) they they could could be shell-wearing monty moles.

Comments
Is there a third option where we say that they're a type of both Monty Mole and Koopa? 00:02, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Fair enough, I'll add that. Niiue (talk) 00:03, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * I was asking for argument's sake; do you think that having both would be a valid option, or do you firmly believe that they should only be considered Monty Moles? 00:16, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * I don't see why it wouldn't be a valid option. Niiue (talk) 00:18, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * All right, so you have no strong opinion one way or another. 00:24, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * I mean, the first option is likely preferable since it still preserves the original manual's info (outdated as it may be). Niiue (talk) 00:31, 3 August 2017 (EDT)

Regarding Porcupuffers, their design was indicative of the SMW version of Cheep-Cheep, which was the first in a series of horrible off-model appearances for Cheep Cheep (Yoshi's Island, SM64, Yoshi's Story, Sunshine...). While Cheep-Cheep got its design fixed to look like the original, Porcupuffer's original was based off of the off-model SMW Cheep Cheeps and their graphical lack of wing fins. Now as for Rocky, as I stated above, being absurdly moleish Koopas was their original description, and they're still ridiculously moleish, but redesigned to look like an actual mole species in the Mario universe that wasn't established back then. The original Japanese manula called them "Mole-like members of the Turtle Tribe" when translated, and they have their shells in all the classic styles in Maker, despite all of them being new (with the SMB3 ones being altered for size). We base this off of whatever the official word is, not implication, because that's too speculative to reach certain conclusions. 00:34, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * And Porcupuffers aren't "officially" confirmed to be Cheep Cheeps, they just look extremely similar. Same goes for Blurps. In other words, they're implied to be Cheep Cheep variants. If it's speculative to say two things that look exactly the same are related, then it's speculative to say two similar-looking things are related. Niiue (talk) 01:37, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * I don't know about Porcupuffer, but Blurp isn't a great example since Super Mario Maker indeed calls them Cheep Cheeps. LinkTheLefty (talk) 01:46, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Huh, wasn't aware of that. Niiue (talk) 01:50, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * In that case, you might want to edit that part of the proposal. LinkTheLefty (talk) 02:16, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * But there is a difference. Porcupuffers haven't been stated to be or not be Cheep Cheeps (discounting the Pinball Land one, the fact that they act like an established Cheep Cheep variant in later 2D games and act like larger Cheep Cheeps in 3D Land/World). Rocky, on the other hand, has been explicitly stated to be one of the two choices, and that is Koopa. So grouping something with something else without official word either way is vastly different than grouping something away from something that it is officially stated they are related to. 00:47, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Considering that Monty Moles didn't exist in SMB3, Rocky Wrenches weren't specifically stated to not be Monty Moles either. And considering that there's a lot of current evidence that they are Monty Moles (the post-SMB3 redesign, foreign names, Prima guides, Mario Maker), it's ridiculous to pretend they're totally independent from Monty Moles. Niiue (talk) 01:50, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * The story is they look like moles. That's different from being moles. Real-life gophers look sort of like moles, but aren't even remotely related. I just said they were redesigned to match Monty Mole's appearance because they always looked like moles but weren't, and since an established mole species has no appeared, they can make it look like it to continue the "looking like moles" detail. But that doesn't mean they are moles. 00:55, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Except, their SMB3 design also looked like a mole, but not a Monty Mole. It was a conscious decision to make them an edited version of the Monty Mole design. Not to mention that there are lots of other moles that aren't identical to Monty Moles. Niiue (talk) 02:42, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Because like I said, there wasn't an established mole species for them to look like back in the day. Now there is. So they look like the established mole species, because they were always intended to look like moles, but be of the Turtle Tribe. They aren't a subspecies. Or even related. It's just mimicry. End of story, unless Nintendo decides to make an official claim in the matter. Now as for the other moles you so rudely edit conflicted me with, those weren't in NSMBW, so they didn't have models to edit to make them look like them. It's just easier to have all mole-like things look similar, so it's more apparent. 01:47, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Except, if they were supposed to just "look like moles", then why make them look like an established species in the first place? And why did several regions (including the original Japanese games) give Monty Moles and Rocky Wrenches near-identical names? And why did Super Mario Maker let you turn Rocky Wrenches into Monty Moles, and vice versa? Nintendo's never going to make an "official" claim for the same reason they never "officially" said Snifits don't still shoot bullets made of nightmares. Some stuff just becomes outdated after a couple decades. (Sidenote: I'm not sure how the edit conflict is my fault, seeing as how I had no way of knowing you were typing a response).
 * tl;dr
 * 03:19, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Because you edited your response, which is an annoying thing to do >.> . Anyways, of course they'd make them look like that game's established mole species, as they're supposed to look like moles. The orignal artwork for Rocky was also fairly similar to the original artwork for Rocky. Rocky probably only doesn't have a sell in NSMBW because it would be difficult to find a way to fit it on the squat body. What you're doing is technically speculation. Even if it seems logical, remember that "logical" is subjective, and we go with what's official. The only official word on the subject is that they are Koopas. Now if that Encyclopedia ends up getting released, and it ends up saying they're moles, that's different, because that's a retcon. But not when there's only one side of official word. 02:33, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Also you typo'd that image, the description on the left should be a picture of MatPat of GameTheory (preferably with fish eyes), and the one on the right should say "Official Documentation." This series has Koopas that look like Oxen, Chameleons, and Thuggish Frogs, saying they can't look just like an established mole species without being them is preposterous. 02:36, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * What official documentation confirmed Porcupuffers and Piscatory Petes as being Cheep Cheep relatives? When did Nintendo say Snifits' bullets aren't still made of nightmares? The thing is, Nintendo doesn't really care all that much about confirming obscure details about minor enemies, so the closest thing we'll get to "official confirmation" is the stuff I mentioned (the redesign, foreign names, SMM stuff). Niiue (talk) 03:46, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Piscatory Pete is a Cheep because the Japanese name is literally exactly the same. Snifit Bullets may very well be nightmares, and I still classified them as such on my list of enemies. Porcupuffer is ambiguous, but some languages call them Cheeps. Rockies have never been outright called Monties ever. You're making a leap in logic. Not a large one, but a leap nonetheless. It's best to stick with canon, as this is really a slippery slope kind of deal, where people will start citing "the Rocky Wrench precedent" to start proposing truly ridiculous things. I've seen it all happen before. 02:51, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Except, Rocky Wrenches were outright called Monty Moles in other regions:
 * Japanese: Pū (Rocky Wrench) vs Choropū (Monty Mole)
 * French: Torti Taupe (Rocky Wrench) vs Topi Taupe (Monty Mole)
 * Italian: Tartatalpa (Rocky Wrench) vs Tantatalpa (Monty Mole)
 * Korean: Ttu (Rocky Wrench) vs Jjoreuttu (Monty Mole)
 * This is no different than the foreign names for Piscatory Pete or Porcupuffer. Niiue (talk) 03:58, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * It's no different for Porcupuffer, OK, but Piscatory Pete's Japanese name was outright identical to Cheep Cheep's. Choropu is named after Pu, but not the same. 03:07, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Fair enough, but it's still pretty clear that post-SMB3 Rocky Wrenches are intended to be related to Monty Moles. Niiue (talk) 04:10, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Oh, they possibly are, maybe even probably, by some biological quirk that could work perfectly in this series with a squat Italian American battling a Turtle-Ox-Dragon-Ankylosaurus, but we just don't have the official word to say with absolute certainty. Either way, Rocky is already listed under "related species" on Monty's infobox, just not subspecies. The only thing there we actually know to be related to Monty is the Ragumo, due to its description on the Japanese SML2 website calling it "A relative of Choropu?!" I don't want to take a leap of faith regarding this, and since they were explicitly stated to be one thing, I believe they should be classified under that one thing. 03:17, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * I know the Italian and French names are one letter off, but those do make a difference since they actually reference turtles. Mind, they also reference moles in the next word, but as Doc says, this is true to their original description. Monty Moles were named after them, not the other way around. LinkTheLefty (talk) 10:00, 3 August 2017 (EDT)

Technically they're neither they've never been called a Koopa or a Monty Mole.
 * They were "of the Turtle Tribe," which is the Japanese way of saying Koopa. 01:34, 3 August 2017 (CT)
 * Note that the original SMB manual seems to refer to all enemies as being part of the "Turtle Tribe". Niiue (talk) 03:50, 3 August 2017 (EDT)
 * It may be implied in the story section, but the enemy descriptions make it clear which enemies are Koopas. LinkTheLefty (talk) 10:00, 3 August 2017 (EDT)

In Super Mario Maker, Monty Moles are created by shaking a Rocky Wrench. This seems to indicate that they are related, or maybe even that Monty Moles are a type of Rocky Wrench. Also, their bodies are nearly identical. -- 08:36, 3 August 2017 (EDT)

Just to better specify a point, the Perfect Edition of the Great Mario Character Encyclopedia, a 1994 book from Shogakukan, lists Rocky Wrenches as being part of the Turtle Tribe, while Monty Moles are not. Sadly, in the two 30th anniverary books we don't have such a classification anymore, the only thing we know from the Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros. is that the name in the new games is the same and that those of the Super Mario Galaxy games are not Rocky Wrenches, they have a different name.--Mister Wu (talk) 19:14, 5 August 2017 (EDT)

@Wildgoosespeeder: It's not just because Rocky Wrenches wear shells, it's because the manual for Super Mario Bros. 3 explicitly calls it a "turtle that kind of looks like a mole". 15:13, 6 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Could this be a case of mistranslation of Japanese back in 1988? -- 15:24, 6 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Here's the page from the manual, if anyone wants to take a stab at translating it. 15:27, 6 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Using a slapdash machine translator, the original text (モグラのようなカメ族 - hopefully I didn't get that wrong) came out as "Turtles like moles." It's really hard to tell if that's supposed to mean "turtle-like mole" or "turtle that look like a mole". 15:42, 6 August 2017 (EDT)
 * According to the Internet, it's "A turtle that looks like a mole." 16:09, 6 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Was that a native speaker of Japanese? I would get other people's translations to make sure this isn't a literal translation. Language is more than just words. There's a lot more to it than that. Some concepts don't translate well to other languages. I think turtle is the keyword here. Yes, Koopa Troopas are turtle-like, but I think Nintendo would have used Koopa Troopa rather than turtle, unless that is what the localizers (non-Japanese) called it, but then we got Koopa in the Japanese games, so, what's the verdict? -- 17:47, 6 August 2017 (EDT)

Anpother important point, it was just confirmed that this page from the Perfect Edition of the Great Mario Character Encyclopedia indeed states that Rocky Wrenches are turtles that look like moles. This definitely puts the distinction between Rocky Wrenches and moles after the introduction of Monty Moles, since the book was released in 1994.--Mister Wu (talk) 19:08, 6 August 2017 (EDT)

I've been in contact with the same translator. I'll relay the bulk of his messages:

Hey! No worries at all. I'm not a native speaker of Japanese, but I've been studying Japanese for 6 years and have lived in Japan for a year, if that helps establish some qualifications. I definitely agree that translations can be tricky, and I appreciate that your friend understands that the act of translation doesn't simply involve literally translating word for word, which is a common misconception!

I'll transcribe the relevant sentence here, as the following sentences have nothing to do with the mole/turtle issue:

モグラのようなカメ族.

This is a very simple statement that I think even a beginning Japanese learner can translate. Let's reconstruct the sentence:

モグラ = mole

モグラのような = mole-like; resembling a mole

カメ = turtle

カメ族 = turtle family; turtle tribe

モグラのようなカメ族 = mole-like turtle family

In more natural English, I had translated this as "A turtle that looks like a mole." I could have also translated the sentence a little more literally ("A family of turtles that look like moles."), but I chose a structure that would be more easily comparable to the sentence in the English manual.

You could get some other opinions on the translation, but I'd be very surprised if they came up with something different.

Looking at the Japanese Wikipedia entry for Monty Mole, it says this:

「チョロプー」はモグラだが、「プー」はカメである.

"Monty Mole is a mole, but Rocky Wrench is a turtle."

The Mario Wiki page on Rocky Wrench confirms this:

They have been described as mole-like turtles, but from New Super Mario Bros. Wii onward they lack shells, which has resulted in them resembling Monty Moles.

Let me know if there's any more info you need! ^ (I then explain that I'm a user from the Mario Wiki and this is what we're discussing) Ah, that explains the controversy, haha.

All right, so looking more into the term カメ族, it should refer to the Koopa family of turtle-like creatures as a whole. There for, in Super Mario Bros. 3, at least, Rocky Wrench was considered a mole-like Koopa--a turtle that resembles a mole--according to both the Japanese and English manuals.

Whether that no longer applies today, now that the shell is gone, is hard to say.

Anything else? 19:26, 6 August 2017 (EDT)
 * Also, @WildGooseSpeeder, no one is saying they're a Koopa Troopa. It's that they're a Koopa. There is a major distinction between the two terms, and I am utterly fed up with people thinking "Koopa" automatically means "Koopa Troopa" because it doesn't. "Koopa" refers to roughly 99% of all turtle-like creatures in the extended Mario franchise, including Spikes and Buzzy Beetles, which are certainly not Troopas, but certainly are Koopas. 18:50, 6 August 2017 (CT)