Goomba

"That's a wrap!"

- Goomba

Goombas (also known as Little Goombas, in Japan as Kuribō – roughly translated as "chestnut people") are one of the major species of Mushroom World, and are among Mario's most persistent foes. They first appeared in the game Super Mario Bros., and have been a common enemy ever since. Goombas resemble small, brown mushrooms, and are a fungus-based species like Toads, Amanitas, Spooks, and Shroobs. Goombas are physically weak, and aren't much of a threat to adventurers, as a single stomp usually defeats them, although a number of powerful Goomba sub-species have emerged throughout the years. The Goombas, as a collective race, used to be allied with the Mushroom Kingdom. However, the Goombas turned traitor and joined the Koopa Troop, an organization led by King Bowser. While a vast majority of Goombas allied themselves with the Koopa king, many others became independent thieves or even formed peaceful Goomba communities.

Background
The original homeland of the Goombas was the Mushroom Kingdom, which they shared with another fungus-based species, the Toads. The two races lived in peace. However, at an unknown point in time, the Goombas betrayed their mushroom brothers, and joined the militaristic Koopa Troop. This event apparently occurred a long time ago, even before the birth of the famous heroes Mario and Luigi. In fact, Goombas were members of the Koopa Troop when King Bowser was still a child. However, it is important to note that not all Goombas joined the Koopas; some Goombas continued to live in peace with the Mushroom Kingdom (such as the inhabitants of Goomba Village), while others became independent bandits and thieves.

''Super Mario Bros.
After many years had passed, Bowser matured into adulthood, and Goombas finally became the backbone of the Koopa Troop. By the time of Super Mario Bros., Goombas were the most common soldier in the ranks of Bowser's army. These mushrooms were deployed en mass during Bowser's first invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom. In the game, Goombas occupied almost every level (except underwater levels): these enemies resided not only above ground, but also in subterranean caves and in conquered castles.

In this game, Goombas were simple soldiers who could only damage Mario or Luigi by walking into one of the plumbers. These brown mushrooms were extremely weak, and could be defeated by a single stomp or fireball; a Goomba could also be destroyed by hitting the block it was standing on from below. A single Goomba would only walk in one direction, but upon collision with an obstacle or another enemy, would turn around and walk in the opposite direction. These Goombas would also blindly walk off ledges, often falling into a bottomless pit. Many Goombas would attack the Mario Bros. in groups of two or three, forcing the heroes to taken caution when attacking the squad of mushrooms. To defeat a group of Goombas, Mario or Luigi could either patiently stomp one Goomba at a time to avoid being attacked by the following enemy, or time a combo of jumps to stomp one Goomba after the other. This combo attack would not only destroy the whole group if properly timed, but would also increase the number of points Mario or Luigi gained for each subsequent Goomba defeated. Fire Mario could quickly dispatch a group of Goombas; however, the plumber would not earn a point bonus for this attack. Kicked Shells could also be used to clear long rows of Goombas. This special attack would rack up points, and possibly earn the Mario Brothers extra lives.

''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Bowser would again employ Goombas during his second bid for the Mushroom Kingdom throne, as seen in the game Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. However, during this invasion, many Goombas were replaced by the much stronger Buzzy Beetles, a species resilient to fire. Regardless, a large number of Goombas were deployed in strategic enclosed locations with little jumping room. This strategic placement of Goombas made the weak mushrooms a potential threat to the Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. 3
During the events of Super Mario Bros. 3, Goombas were deployed by the Koopa Troop in high numbers across the seven kingdoms of Mushroom World. These Goombas behaved just like their brethren from Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Goombas were stationed in all seven kingdoms, and were the basic grunt soldier the Mario Bros. faced during their liberation efforts. This attack also saw the introduction of a vast array of Goomba sub-species that aided their relatives in combat. The winged Paragoombas provided air support, while their children, the tiny Micro-Goombas (also known as Mugger Micro-Goombas), limited the jumping ability of the Mario Bros. These Micro-Goombas would also hide in bricks, becoming Pile Driver Micro-Goombas, and would use the element of surprise to catch the two heroic plumbers off-guard. The gigantic Grand Goombas helped invade the fourth kingdom Giant Land; however, these giants were actually no stronger than the common Goomba.

In the game, Mario and Luigi could perform a special trick to earn an unlimited number of extra lives. In World 1-2, Goombas would emerge from a horizontal pipe suspended high above the ground. Raccoon or Tanooki Mario could stomp and jump off a Goomba as it emerged from the pipe. By quickly wagging his tail to slowly descend through the air, Mario could remain in the air long enough to allow for another Goomba to emerge from the pipe. Mario could continually stomp these emerging mushrooms, then slowly descend without touching the ground, to eventually earn 99 extra lives.

Interestingly, the Goombas of World 5-3 used a device known as the Goomba's Shoe (previously known as the Kuribo's Shoe) to mimic the jumping abilities of Mario and Luigi. When in the green shoe, a Goomba could jump toward their enemies instead of mindlessly walking into them. These Goombas could be defeated by a properly timed stomp attack or a fireball blast. However, if Mario or Luigi defeated the shoe-riding Goomba by hitting the blocks underneath the mushroom, the boot would be left behind. Mario or Luigi could actually ride in this boot, allowing them to jump on spiked enemies and cross Muncher patches.

''Super Mario World
Round Goombas, called Kuribon in Japanese version, were used by Bowser in his invasion of Dinosaur Land, as seen in Super Mario World. In the English version of the title, this sub-species was called the same as the main species.

''Super Mario 64
Goombas were a staple force during Bowser's attack on Princess Peach's Castle, as seen in the games Super Mario 64 (and Super Mario 64 DS). Like other relatively recent campaigns by the Koopa Troop, Goombas were not deployed in high numbers like in Bowser's early invasions. However, that being said, Goombas did occupy a number of painting worlds, including Bob-omb Battlefield, Shifting Sand Land, Tiny-Huge Island, and Tall Tall Mountain (among others). Notably, the Goombas, under the command of Goomboss (the Goomba leader loyal to King Bowser) managed to capture Mario and imprison him within the confines of the castle. This was an impressive act of revenge against the hero who had been stomping Goombas for many years. Yoshi eventually saved his friend Mario from Goomboss and his Goomba hordes.

During this adventure, Goombas acted differently than their previous counterparts. Instead of walking back and forth in a straight path, Goombas would patrol a small area in a circular motion. When the fungus spotted an enemy, the Goomba would jump in surprise and charge at the foe. Despite these behavioral changes, Goombas were among the weakest enemies in the game. A single stomp would destroy a Goomba; while such attacks as punches and kicks would also defeat the mushroom in one hit. Bob-ombs and Koopa shells were also effective weapons to use against these baddies. When destroyed, a Goomba would give up a Yellow Coin. Sometimes, a Goomba would wear a Mario, Luigi, or Wario cap. Upon defeating the Goomba, the cap could be claimed to transform into the respective character. In this game, Goombas often appeared in groups of two or three.

''New Super Mario Bros.
Goombas were once again loyal soldiers to Bowser, and his son Bowser Jr., during the events of New Super Mario Bros. In the game, Goombas occupied various lands of the Mushroom Kingdom, blocking Mario's way as he attempted to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser Jr. Goombas remained loyal to the Koopa Troop and Bowser Jr., even after the death of King Bowser (Interestingly, Bowser Jr. used the Goomba look-alike Strollin' Stus in his previous adventure, instead of Goombas.). Goombas worked in groups in the game, attempting to bump into Mario to harm him. Stomps, fireballs, and shells made quick work of these foul mushrooms. However, as Mini Mario, the red-clad hero was not strong enough to destroy a Goomba with a simple stomp attack. While pint-sized, Mario had to perform a Ground Pound to destroy the much larger Goomba. Paragoombas also reappeared in this game, along with another tiny Goomba sub-species, the Mini Goomba. The Mega Goomba, a Goomba mega-sized by Bowser Jr.'s Mega Mushroom, caused a lot of trouble for Mario in the castle of World 4.

''Super Mario Galaxy
Goombas appear in Super Mario Galaxy, leaving the confines of Mushroom World to set up camp on other planets. There are several types of Goombas in Super Mario Galaxy. In addition to the regular kind of Goomba, a flatter, greyer version exists, looking like the Goombas of Super Mario World. The flatter Goombas are instantly defeated by a star spin, rather than being flipped, and always leave behind a coin when defeated, instead of only when stomped. A giant Goomba resembling a Mega Goomba appears in the Gateway Galaxy.

There is also an alien sub-species of Goombas called Electrogoomba. They are weaker than the Goombas since one Star Spin can kill them. They attack by shooting projectiles out of their mouth.

Another sub-species of Goombas is the Astro Goomba. They often wear large helmets, which protect them from being stomped unless they are flipped upside down with a Star Spin.

In haunted areas such as Ghostly Galaxy, yet another type of Goomba appears that wears a pumpkin as a helmet. The pumpkin wearing Goombas are capable of producing a small blue flame in an attempt to burn Mario; when the pumpkin is destroyed this ability is lost. Mario must Star Spin to break their Jack-o-Lantern helmets, then attack them. Ground Pounding them also works. These Pumpkin-wearing Goomba bear a resemblance to the Splunkin enemy in New Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!
In the Japanese-exclusive anime movie Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen!, two Goombas, who worked for King Koopa, appear throughout the film, attempting to halt Mario, Luigi, and Kibidango in their search for Princess Peach.

These two Goombas first appeared shortly after Mario and Luigi started their quest and followed the Mario Bros. to a camp they had set up for a night's rest. Luigi, however, had grown hungry and was unable to sleep. The Goombas then deviously told Luigi they were mushrooms, and Luigi, desperate for food, followed them into a small clearing filled with strange, emotion-inducing mushrooms. Luigi (and Mario, who eventually found his brother in the mushroom field) was eventually kidnapped by a large Paratroopa and the Goombas' role in this scene was over.

The Goombas next appeared right after Mario and Luigi had collected the Super Mushroom and had come to a fork in the road. Here the Goombas decided to give Mario and Luigi false directions and led the brothers to a Piranha Plant-filled area.

The Goombas were seen next in a cave-like area where they left a trail of Coins for the Mario Bros. Mario and Luigi followed this trail and ended up in a larger cave, although the Goombas rolled a rock up against the entrance of this cave, locking the Mario Bros. within it.

One of the Goombas' last devious efforts in the film came when Mario and Luigi had reached Bowser's Castle. They activated a complex platform system over lava (with the inclusion of Podoboos), explaining that Mario had to jump over it to escape. Their plans were foiled, though, when Luigi (who was at the time mining for Coins) accidentally caused a huge flood through Bowser's Castle, putting out the lava and safely carrying the Mario Brothers on.

The Goombas of the movie were last seen being reprimanded by King Bowser for not stopping Mario and Luigi. They ran away to parts unknown.

''Super Mario Land
Although many Goombas are loyal to Bowser, quite a few ally themselves with other major villains. While Goombas did not appear in the game Super Mario Land, an extremely similar species known as the Chibibo did. These timid mushrooms were deployed in large numbers by the alien Tatanga during his invasion of Sarasaland. Chibibos looked and behaved exactly like Goombas, and it is likely they are an extremely close relative.

Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins
Tatanga's employer, the greedy Wario, used Goombas (not Chibibos) during his occupation of Mario Land while the heroic plumber was busy liberating Sarasaland from the aforementioned space invader during the events of Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins. Goombas were not deployed in large numbers though; the mushrooms were limited to just a few levels. However, the ghastly Terekuribos, the Japanese name for Goomba ghosts, were seen in large numbers in the Pumpkin Zone of Mario Land during Wario's rule. Another variety of Goombas, the conjecturally titled Goomdivers (named after similar creatures encountered in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga), were also prominently featured in the Turtle Zone. All three types of Goomba could be easily defeated by a simple stomp attack.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Interestingly, Wario's first nemesis (in the post-Mario Land era), Captain Syrup, used another species similar to Goombas known as Gooms in her battles against the greedy anti-hero. These creatures highly resemble Goombas, except for the fact that most Gooms are round and have arms. Like Goombas, they are very common and very easy to defeat. Many types of Gooms have appeared throughout the Wario Land series. These include Pirate Gooms and Wanderin' Gooms. One notable Goom, known as the Giant Spear Man, was Syrup's right-hand Goom during the events of Wario Land II. Other types of Gooms (albeit ones not affiliated with Captain Syrup) include Para-Gooms, Wizard Gooms, Ghost Gooms, and Spearheads. These three varieties appeared in Wario Land 3.

''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
In the The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Goombas were depicted as being weak soldiers in King Koopa's army. They accurately resemble the physical depiction of Goombas from the video games. Of course, Goombas would thematically vary from episode to episode, appearing as bikers, pirates and ninjas, as demanded by the plot. The continuation of the original cartoon series, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, retained Goombas and their status as weak yet loyal soldiers. The second continuation, the Super Mario World cartoon, featured Goombas in only two episodes, with a small reference to them in another.

''Nintendo Comics System
Goombas appeared in both issues of Nintendo Comics System and various Nintendo Adventure Books, though in the former, they were scarcely seen, having seemingly been pushed aside by Shy Guys as the shock troops of Bowser's army.

''Super Mario Adventures
In Super Mario Adventures, Goombas, resembling the ones seen in Super Mario World, appeared among the creatures sent to attack Princess Toadstool's Castle and were also among the attendees to Bowser's marriage to Princess Toadstool.

Super Mario Bros. film
Goombas from the Super Mario Bros. film differ dramatically from their video game and cartoon counterparts. In the film, the word "Goomba" is used to describe people of Dinohatten that have been de-evolved by King Koopa's de-evolution ray. However, these people did not become small mushroom creatures; instead, a Goomba became a seven-foot tall reptile with massive bodies and disproportionately tiny, rounded heads. Citizens imprisoned by King Koopa's police force were often transformed into Goombas. Goombas had very little intelligence, and as such were easily molded into grunts for King Koopa's army. The humans of Dinohatten evolved from cold-blooded reptiles, while the humans of Earth evolved from warm-blooded primates. As such, a human from Earth would not de-evolve into a reptilian Goomba, but would instead de-evolve into a monkey. Notably, Toad, a Dinohatten citizen, was transformed into a Goomba by King Koopa. However, while still becoming a mindless grunt, he helped the Mario Bros. in the end, as the de-evolved Toad remembered the brothers' kindness.

''Hotel Mario
Four varieties of Goomba appeared in the game Hotel Mario. These mischievous Goombas aided Bowser in his attempt to transform the Mushroom Kingdom into his personal resort. Goombas guarded the seven hotels set up by Bowser's Koopalings. In the game, Goombas attempted to prevent Mario from shutting down the seven Koopa Hotels. To do this, Mario had to shut all the doors in each hotel. Regular Goombas opposed his efforts by slowly walking to closed doors and opening them (as well as generally just getting in the plumber's way). Paragoombas (called Flying Goombas in this game) also appeared. Two new types of Goomba, the Bellhop Goomba and the Rhinestone Goomba, make their only appearance in this game.

''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
During the early years of Bowser's life, Goombas saw limited deployment. A large portion of the Koopa Troop was made up of Shy Guys and Koopa Troopas at this time – Goombas were not the common enemy they would become in later years. In fact, during the events of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Goombas only appeared in one level: World 4-1 GO! GO! MARIO!! In this level, Goombas would attempt to walk into Yoshi, knocking off Baby Mario so that the child could be captured by Kamek's Toadies. These mushroom baddies would walk very slowly, and though were extremely resilient, they did not pose much of a threat. When Yoshi stomped the brown fungus, the Goomba would flatten like a pancake, but not be destroyed; they could even walk into and damage Yoshi in this state. After some time, the Goomba would "pop" and assume its standard mushroom shape. These durable Goombas could be defeated with a well aimed egg toss, a powerful Ground Pound attack, or simply be eaten by Yoshi and transformed into Yoshi Eggs. The brown mushroom could also be eaten and immediately spat out to attack other nearby enemies. Strangely, before these Yoshi's Island Goombas jumped off a ledge, they would wiggle their eyebrows.

''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Goombas were among the weakest members of the Koopa Troop during the events of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. However, they were stronger than the Terrapin, a low-level Koopa soldier. In the game, many Goombas were stationed at Mushroom Way, the area between Bowser's Keep and the Mushroom Kingdom. Goombas, under the command of two Hammer Bros., patrolled the paths of Mushroom Way, and would attack or capture any intruders. In fact, Toad himself was captured by a group of Goombas while the fungus adviser was on his way to the Mushroom Kingdom. Other Goombas not loyal to the Koopa Troop resided in Bandit's Way, working as independent thieves. Wild Goombas lived in the Pipe Vault, a secret area near Rose Town. Although as strong as the Goombas from Mushroom Way and Bandit's Way, these underground dwelling Goombas were encountered much later in the game, and thus were not considered much of a threat. Other independent Goombas lived in the caves of the Midas River. These Goombas were more concerned with catching the river's fish to eat than battling outsiders. In battle, Goombas would attack enemies by biting and shooting sharp thorns. Goombas were fairly weak, and could often be destroyed by a simple Timed Hit. A Goomba's bite attack could be blocked by defending right after the mushroom performed a somersault. The damage of a Goomba's thorn could be blunted by defending right before the projectile hit the party member. Additionally, Goombas typically fought in groups of two to three (either with other Goombas or stronger monsters). When defeated, Goombas would often yield HP MAX! Flowers to Mario and his party.

Besides the small outpost at Mushroom Way, the Koopa Troop, as a whole, was actually on the verge of collapse. During the events of the game, the Koopa Troop was devastated by the invasion of the extraterrestrial Smithy Gang. The mechanical monstrosities chose Bowser's Keep as their base-of-operations in Mushroom World. As a result, many soldiers in the Koopa Troop switched sides to join the invaders while others simply ran away, instead of fighting the powerful aliens and defending their headquarters. Among the defectors were the powerful Gu Goombas, who later became guards for the Smithy Gang. One Goomba deserter found his way to Monstro Town, a community of reformed monsters. This lone Goomba set up shop here, selling powerful Koopa-based armor and weapons. The Goomba was also aided by his three Goombette nephews, the Triplets (other Goombettes, not related to this Goomba, appeared in the Sunken Ship).

After the Koopa Troop was expelled from Bowser's Keep, King Bowser himself attempted to reassemble the tattered remains of his military in Rose Way. Many Goombas remained loyal to Bowser and joined him in his quest to retake the castle, but by the time the army reached Moleville, many Goombas had abandoned Bowser. By the time Bowser reached Booster Tower, all of Bowser's army (including all his Goombas) had deserted their former king. However, at the tower, Bowser decided to join forces with Mario, knowing that with the plumber's strength, the king could get his keep back. Eventually, Bowser, Mario, Princess Peach, Mallow, and Geno found their way to Monstro Town. While in the haven for reformed monsters, the Koopa King ran into the Goomba deserter who had set up shop in the village. The Goomba apologized for deserting the Koopa Troop, but offered to sell Bowser powerful weapons and armor in return. Eventually, Bowser, with the help of Mario and his friends, managed to expel the Smithy Gang and defeat their leader, the diabolical Smithy. With his keep returned, many former soldiers (including many Goombas) returned to King Bowser and the Koopa Troop. In fact, many Goombas helped rebuild Bowser's Keep to its former glory.

Mario Party series
Goombas are a common sight in the various Mario Party titles. Typically, Goombas are in charge of Battle Mini-Games, although sometimes the fungi are replaced by Bob-ombs. Interestingly, a Goomba was Luigi's partner in Mario Party 3. A gambling Goomba was the host of a casino-themed board in Mario Party 4. In Mario Party 8, Goombas once again obtained a major role, where a large pirate Goomba operated his own board, Goomba's Booty Boardwalk. Also, on the same board, there is a sacred island off the coast that is home to the GoomGod, an unseen diety who gives the player a Star. Besides these notable examples, Goombas have appeared as shopkeepers, in mini-games, and on gameboards to initiate certain events.

''Mario Party DS
In the Nintendo DS game Mario Party DS, the Goombas took large role in various mini-games that occurred during the event. One of the mini-games they appeared is Goomba Wrangler where they are used as points. The players must capture them by circling them using the stylus to gain points. Goombas (referred to as Brown Goombas in the instructions) are worth one point and move slowly when the mini-game starts. Golden Goombas are worth three points and move faster; they appeared later during the mini-game. More Goombas will arrive in this very spot from the staircases as the time goes by. However, they can be deducted by circling a Bob-omb. Depending on the points the player receives, the player may lose the ordinary Goombas or the rare Golden Goombas at that time resulting them to be knocked out from the player's container.

A Goomba also appears in a mini game called Soccer Survival. A large Goomba is the goalie and shoots soccer balls at Mario and his friends. The object of the game is to avoid the soccer balls that the Goomba kicks to the players.

They also appear in another mini-game Call of the Goomba where they are lured by one of the players; they are also used as points. They appear in the middle of the field, and there are players away from them. The Goombas can be lured by players by using the music box to make the closest speed of the music as possible. They are lured if they listened to the colorful notes from one of the players. The lured creatures cannot return back into the field once they are caught by a player. If one of the Goombas hears a closest music than the weak music tune, the Goombas will rather go towards the player who makes a closest speed of the music. The player who has the most Goombas wins.

In the mini-game Plush Crush, the Goomba appears as a plush that uses one space during in the mini-game. The plush can be carried by a player's mechanical grabber. It can be used to try to block the solo player's paths or to defeat the player by dropping this plush.

In another mini-game Double Vision, the creature will occasionally appear as one of the three trace drawings for the two players to complete. The two players have to work together to trace the creature, the players all have a different color for them to trace in certain parts of this drawing.

In the last mini-game in appearance Shorty Scorers, the Goombas appear as a goalkeeper at both of the goals. They automatically move at the left and the right side because the goalkeeper is made out of wood. The goalkeeper's job is to try to block the ball the players will try to get a goal.

''Super Smash Bros.
Goombas appeared in the first Super Smash Bros., although they fulfilled no practical role. Goombas were merely seen in the background of the secret Mushroom Kingdom stage. These Goombas were rendered as 2-D NES-style sprites.

''Super Smash Bros. Melee
Goombas had a minor, but practical, role in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Very rarely, a Goomba would emerge from a Party Ball or a Crate, instead of an item. The Goomba would then walk around the stage, damaging fighters until being defeated. Goombas are also featured prominently in the first level of Adventure Mode, the Mushroom Kingdom. Like in the traditional Mario games, Goombas in this game could be defeated by any stomp or simple attack. A Goomba trophy can also be collected in the game by completing Event Match #14: Trophy Tussle 1. In fact, the battle in this match takes place on a giant Goomba trophy. The stage has no special obstacles, besides an awkward layout.

''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Goombas appear in the next game of the series, Super Smash Bros. Brawl. They play another small role like in the last time; they try to get in the players' way by bumping into them. Most of these Goombas work for Bowser, but some aided Tabuu in defense of The Great Maze.

''Paper Mario
Goombas were a staple of Bowser's army during his attempt to take the Mushroom Kingdom with the power of the Star Rod in the game Paper Mario. In fact, many varieties of Goombas aided the Koopa King. Goomboss (this time named the Goomba King) returned, commanding a large group of Goombas that resided in Goomba Road, the pathway between Goomba Village and Toad Town. Besides regular Goombas, the Goomba King controlled a large number of Paragoombas and Spiky Goombas, Goombas that wore spiked helmets to counter Mario's jumping ability. The Goomba King's two loyal henchmen, Red Goomba and Blue Goomba, appeared in the game as well. A new sub-species of Goomba, known as the Gloomba, was also introduced. These dark Goombas lived underground, and also had Paragloomba and Spiky Gloomba relatives. Hyper Goombas, green-colored Goombas similar to the Gu Goombas, were first seen in this game. These powerful Goombas could charge their attack power, and were a major threat to Mario. Again, Hyper Goombas had a Hyper Paragoomba and a Hyper Spiky Goomba variant.

The regular brown Goombas of Paper Mario behaved similarly to their counterparts in Super Mario 64. These bad mushrooms would patrol a small area, and upon seeing Mario, would charge at the plumber. In battle, Goombas attacked by using the "Headbonk" technique. The mushroom would jump in the air, then dive into Mario, bonking its head against the hero's. This attack could be blocked by defending just as the Goomba's head touched Mario. If struck by the attack, Mario would take one HP of damage. At the beginning of the game, it requires two stomps or two Hammer strikes to defeat a Goomba (as Goombas only have two HP). However, after Mario learns how to use Action Commands, the plumber only needed one timed attack to defeat one of these bad mushrooms.

Although Goombas were normally fought at the beginning of the game, one Goomba could be fought much later than expected. At one point, Bowser asked Princess Peach what Mario fears most. One of Peach's choices was "A Goomba", and if she picked this, Kammy Koopa would warp a Goomba to Shy Guy's Toy Box. Although Kammy expressed doubt that the Goomba would scare Mario away, she left the fungus in charge of defending a vital Treasure Box anyways. When Mario eventually arrived, the Goomba became very scared, and was quickly defeated by the powerful plumber.

Despite the large number of Goombas loyal to the Koopa Troop, Paper Mario notably features the first community of peaceful Goombas. These Goombas did not wage war against the Mushroom Kingdom; they were a part of it. In fact, this Goomba community was instrumental in defeating King Bowser and liberating the Mushroom Kingdom. It was the family of Goombas (composed of Goompa, Gooma, Goompapa, Goomama, Goombaria, and Goombario) living in peaceful Goomba Village that first discovered Mario's near-lifeless body after the hero's initial defeat at the hands of Bowser. These friendly Goombas nursed Mario back to full strength, and provided the plumber with a Hammer to fight the soldiers of the Koopa Troop. The family also allowed Mario to take Goomnuts from their village; these nuts could be used by Mario to recover his FP. Goombario, a young Goomba and personal admirer of Mario, even joined the hero on his adventure. The young Goomba's Tattle ability was extremely valuable, as he provided hints on how to defeat certain enemies. With Goombario's (among others) help, Mario was able to defeat Bowser and save the Mushroom Kingdom.

''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Mario ran into a number of Goombas during the events of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. These Goombas lived in the seedy town known as Rogueport. Many of these Goombas were independent thieves, bandits, crooks, cheats, and "cleaners." These mushroom crooks wore green hats, similar to the hat the hero from Hyrule Link wears. Although not the best of company, these Goombas from Rogueport would not attack Mario. However, the Goombas that lived in the Rogueport Sewers or in Petal Meadows were very aggressive. Goombas behaved just like their Paper Mario counterparts, and were not much of a threat, as Mario could perform Action Commands from the beginning of the game. All the Goomba sub-species featured in Paper Mario also return in this game.

Although a large number of either aggressive or simply seedy Goombas appeared in the game, The Thousand-Year Door featured two Goombas that aided Mario in his adventure. The first was Goombella, a female college student from Goomba University. She actually joined Mario on his quest to find the legendary treasure hidden beneath the town of Rogueport (as well as rescue Princess Peach, who had been captured by the Secret Society of the X-Nauts). Her Goomba teacher, Professor Frankly, also helped Mario by interpreting the Magical Map, allowing the hero to find the next Crystal Star and continue his journey.

''Super Paper Mario
Goombas appear in the game Super Paper Mario. In this adventure, Goombas are the first enemies to be battled. Their HP is lowered to 1 in this game, but attack and defense stay the same from previous Paper Mario titles. This game also introduces Headbonk Goombas, which are throwbacks to the previous two Paper Mario games, as the Goombas' main attack was the Headbonk.

Mario Kart series
Goombas have appeared in four Mario Kart games, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Kart DS, and Mario Kart Wii. They acted as obstacles to racers, and would cause a kart to spin-out if hit. If destroyed by an item, a Goomba would drop a Mushroom on the track, giving a kart a speed boost when picked up. Goomboss from Super Mario 64 DS appeared in Mario Kart DS as a boss in Mission Mode. However, in Mario Kart Super Circuit, they only appeared in the audience when the player got on the podium in a cup.

''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
A group of Goombas joined their master Bowser as he attempted to track down the witch Cackletta during the events of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. These Goombas would hold tutorial battles with Mario and Luigi in the Koopa Cruiser, who happened to join the Koopa King in his search for Cackletta (as the witch has stolen Princess Peach's voice). These Goombas would be patrolling the halls of the cruiser, or simply hiding in barrels. The Goombas would engage in battles with the Mario Bros., to get a little training in before their showdown with Cackletta. In battle, a Goomba would approach either Mario or Luigi, somersault towards the plumber, then bite. This attack could be easily dodged by jumping after the Goomba opened its mouth. To counter the attack, Mario or Luigi would have to jump right when the Goomba's mouth opened. They each have 4 HP so they are not that strong. The Goombas did not see much action after that, as the Koopa Cruiser was shot down by Fawful before Cackletta was engaged in combat.

Although traditional, Koopa Troop-loyal Goombas did not appear throughout the rest of the game, a number of wild sub-species posed problems for the Mario Bros. as they adventured through the Beanbean Kingdom. Goombas from the brothers' past, the Tanoombas, resided just north of Beanbean Castle Town. Another sub-species, known as the Gritty Goomba, lived in the Teehee Valley and Gwarhar Lagoon regions of the Beanbean Kingdom. These powerful Goombas were covered in bandages, and had the ability to conjure sandstorms to distort opponents. The last Beanbean Kingdom sub-species was the Goomdiver. Unlike most Goombas, these creatures can reside underwater as they wear special scuba diving gear. Mario and Luigi encountered Goomdivers in Oho Ocean.

''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Baby Bowser would later use Goombas as castle guards during the Shroob invasion, as depicted in the game Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. In this adventure, Goombas were considered the weakest member of the Koopa Troop; they patrolled the halls of Baby Bowser's Castle, attacking any intruder who dared to enter Prince Bowser's fortress. To attack, a Goomba would simply run into an intruder, and could easily be countered with a Jump attack. Goombas were sometimes aided in battle by Boos. Other Goomba sub-species were featured in the game. The Tanooki-Goomba hybrid known as the Tanoomba was a master shape-shifter that lived on the treacherous slopes of Thwomp Mountain. The invading Shroobs also created their own version of the Tanoomba known as the Tashrooba. This dark sub-species served as guards inside Shroob Castle, the conquered (and Shroobified) version of Princess Peach's Castle.

Additionally, during the present-time events of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Princess Peach had a minor Goomba infestation in the dungeon of her castle. Although weak, these Goombas were slightly stronger than their past counterparts from Baby Bowser's Castle. However, they still offered very little experience points and coins when defeated.

Mario Baseball series
Goombas were playable characters in Mario Superstar Baseball. Strangely, Goombas could make use of a baseball bat and a glove despite the handicap of having no arms. Paragoombas were also playable characters in the game. They both return in the sequel.

''Super Princess Peach
During the events of Super Princess Peach, the Princess had to fight a threat from the Koopa Troop and its Goomba minions without the help of the Mario Bros. In the game, Bowser had acquired the Vibe Scepter from Vibe Island, and used it's power to attack Princess Peach's Castle. A lone Goomba led an army of Hammer Bros. in an assault on the castle, using the power of the Vibe Scepter to debilitate the castle guards. The attack was successful, and Mario, Luigi, and multiple castle Toads were captured by the Hammer Bros. Fortunately, Princess Peach and her attendant Toadsworth escaped the assault. The Princess decided to rescue her friends, and was given a magical umbrella named Perry to help her in her quest. Once again, Goombas, among other enemies, attempted to stop Princess Toadstool in her travels around Vibe Island. Although Goombas were not much of a threat, the Princess had a few new and interesting ways to destroy the malicious mushrooms: she could throw the Goomba at another enemy, hit the mushroom with Perry, or have the umbrella eat the Goomba. Paragoombas, as well as a new variety the Red Paragoomba, appeared in the game as well. Princess Peach also battled with a number of emotional varieties of Goomba, all affected by the power of the Vibe Scepter (which was accidentally released across the island by the Goomba who led the attack on Mushroom Castle). These emotional Goombas included the Mad Goomba, the Sad Goomba, the Sad Paragoomba, and the Mad Red Paragoomba.

The Legend of Zelda series
Goombas have also appeared outside of Mushroom World. In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Goombas resided in various underground passages and dungeons on Koholint Island alongside Piranha Plants. Link could either jump on a Goomba to defeat it or slash it with his sword. When Link uses the Roc's Feather to jump on a goomba, the player would recieve a recovery heart.

Traits and Abilities
Goombas are a fungus-based species capable of speech. They resemble brown mushrooms (or chestnuts, hence their Japanese name) with two feet but no arms. Goombas have large faces that occupy most of their mushroom caps, while their stems attach their heads to their feet. Goombas have black bushy eyebrows that form a scowl. These mushroom creatures also have two upward-pointing fangs. Additionally, Goombas may be very distant relatives of the mushroom-like Toads. Both species are fungus-based, and both originated from the Mushroom Kingdom (although, as mentioned, the Goomba race betrayed their homeland many years ago).

Goombas are among the weakest creatures in the world, and typically only pose a threat in large numbers. Goombas can typically be defeated with a single punch, stomp, or fireball attack, although in some games Goombas are a bit more resilient. When jumped on, Goombas will usually flatten like a pancake before being destroyed. Goombas are particularly weak against fire magic, as seen in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Although Goombas are physically weak, they are very adaptable. Regular Goombas have been encountered in almost all types of terrain, while many sub-species have emerged perfectly suited for certain environments.

Goombas are typically not very adept fighters. Their main form of attack is merely walking slowly into their opponents. Rarely, a Goomba will walk off a ledge and fall on top of its enemy. Some Goombas also have the ability to shoot thorns from their mouths, although this attack is also uncommon. A Goomba's only real strength is that they will work in large groups to attack an enemy. This forces the attacked to be much more cautious as he or she fights the group (although a group of Goombas can still be beaten without too much difficulty, especially in an open area). In Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Goombas gained the ability to headbonk enemies.

Unlike Shy Guys, Goombas have not mastered the art of invention for use in battle. One of the most advanced pieces of technology to be employed by the Goombas is the parachute. The parachute allows a large number of Goombas to swarm enemy territory from the sky. Otherwise, Goombas tend to use their natural (albeit usually weak) abilities in battle. However, Goombas have developed a number of tools to counter the jumping ability of the Mario Bros. The Goomba's Shoe allowed the mushrooms to imitate the heroic plumbers, while the spiked hat seen in the Paper Mario series effectively counters any jump attack (unless Mario wears a Spike Shield badge). Gritty Goombas have attached spears to their heads to counter stomp attacks as well.

Goomba Leadership and Allegiances
The Goomba King (also known as Goomboss) is the de jure leader of the Goomba race. However, the Goomba King is merely a lackey of the powerful King Bowser, and as such most Goombas simply work directly for their de facto leader Bowser. Most Goombas are loyal to the Koopa Troop, and form the backbone of its army (although this was not always the case, as Shy Guys and Koopa Troops were deployed much more than Goombas in the early years). Many are independent and have worked for other villains, including the infamous Wario. Some are rogue bandits, living in areas such as Bandit's Way and Rogueport, while others remained loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom, such as the peaceful Goomba family of Goomba Village, and the scholarly students and professors from the Goomba University. Interestingly, many Goombas appear to be wild, acting on monstrous instinct, instead of peaceful (or self-motivated) reason.

Sub-Species

 * Bellhop Goomba – A Goomba that resides in hotels.
 * Gloomba – A "dark" blue Goomba that lives in the darkness.
 * Paragloomba – A "dark" blue Paragoomba that lives in the darkness.
 * Spiky Gloomba – A "dark" blue Spiky Goomba that lives in the darkness.
 * Golden Goomba - A Goomba that appeared in Mario Party DS in "Goomba Wrangler".
 * Goomdiver – Scuba diving Goombas that reside underwater.
 * Goomerang Brother – A fusion of a Goomba and a Boomerang Brother. ''(non-game sub-species)
 * Grand Goomba – A gigantic Goomba.
 * Gritty Goomba – A desert dwelling Goomba wrapped in bandages.
 * Headbonk Goomba – A Goomba that can utilize a powerful Headbonk.
 * Dark Headbonk Goomba – Dark and gloomy version of Headbonk Goombas.
 * Hyper Goomba – A powerful green Goomba.
 * Hyper Paragoomba – A powerful green Paragoomba.
 * Hyper Spiky Goomba – A powerful green Spiky Goomba.
 * Mad Goomba – An angry red Goomba.
 * Micro-Goomba (a.k.a. Mugger Micro-Goomba) – Tiny Goombas that can restrict the ability to jump.
 * Pile Driver Micro-Goomba – Micro-Goombas hiding in Brick Blocks.
 * Paragoomba – A flying Goomba (or a round parachuting Goomba from Super Mario World).
 * Grand Paragoomba – A colossal Paragoomba. ''(non-game sub-species)
 * Red Paragoomba – A red variety of Paragoombas.
 * Mad Red Paragoomba – An extremely angry type of Red Paragoomba.
 * Rhinestone Goomba – An Elvis Presley-impersonating Goomba.
 * Sad Goomba – A depressed blue Goomba.
 * Sad Paragoomba – A crying blue Paragoomba.
 * Spiky Goomba – A Goomba with a spike on top of its head.
 * Tanoomba – A shapeshifting, Tanooki-like Goomba.
 * Tashrooba – A Shroob-altered version of the Tanoomba.
 * Terekuribo – The ghosts of deceased Goombas.
 * Zombie Goomba – Undead, mindless Goombas. ''(non-game sub-species)

Possible Relatives

 * Beanie – A possible relative of the Goomba from the Beanbean Kingdom.
 * Chibibo – A likey relative of the Goomba from Sarasaland.
 * Goom – A possible relative of the Goomba from the Wario Land series.
 * Splunkin – A possible relative that resembles a Goomba wearing a jack-o-lantern.
 * Spooky Mask – A possible relative from the Pumpkin Zone.
 * Strollin' Stu – A Goomba-like creature from Isle Delfino.

Notable Goombas

 * Blue Goomba – ''Paper Mario
 * Dr. Sporis Von Fungenstein – ''Nintendo Adventure Books
 * Goomba – ''Super Paper Mario
 * Gooma – ''Paper Mario
 * Goomama – ''Paper Mario
 * Goomba King – Paper Mario (known as Goomboss in other games)
 * Goomba Mummy – ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
 * Goombaria – ''Paper Mario
 * Goombario – ''Paper Mario
 * Goombella – ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
 * Goom Goom – ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
 * Goompa – ''Paper Mario
 * Goompapa – ''Paper Mario
 * Goomther – ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
 * McGoomba – ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
 * Mega Goomba – ''New Super Mario Bros.
 * Professor Frankly – ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
 * Red Goomba – ''Paper Mario

Related Items

 * Goomba's Shoe (previously known as Kuribo's Shoe) – ''Super Mario Bros. 3
 * Goomnut – ''Paper Mario

Mario Superstar Baseball Information

 * Type: Balanced
 * Starting Team Captain: Donkey Kong
 * Status: Player
 * Stats:
 * Batting: 4/10
 * Pitching: 3/10
 * Fielding: 4/10
 * Running: 5/10
 * Player Profile:
 * Strong Point: Nothing Particular
 * Special Talents: Ball Dash
 * Trajectory:
 * Field: Center
 * Height: Normal
 * Star Pitch: Fastball
 * Star Swing: Center
 * Default Batting Position: Right
 * Default Throwing Arm: Right
 * Sweet Spot: The center of the bat
 * Compatiable Relationships: Diddy Kong, Paragoomba, Monty Mole
 * Stats Mission

1) Smack a hit!

2) Drop a sacrifice bunt!

3) Beat Toad in Wall Ball!

4) Steal a base more than twice in a game!


 * Bio: "Though Goombas once lived in peace in the Mushroom Kingdom, they betrayed their homeland to side with Bowser. Exactly how Goomba uses his baseball gear is a bit of a mystery. Maybe you can spot the secret technique if you watch closely as he makes plays in the field..."

Name Analysis
Many characters, species, and places in the Mario series are named in an Italian manner, especially after "Jumpman" was renamed Mario and his brother was named Luigi. Other Italian influenced names include Pianta and Isle Delfino from Super Mario Sunshine. The name "Goomba" is believed to been derived from the Italian slang word "goombah". This term was used by Italian-Americans to describe themselves (although the term has also emerged as a derogatory word used against Italian-Americans). The term "goombah" originated from the Italian word "compare" (abbreviated as "compa") which literally means "friend". Coincidentally, the Hungarian word for mushroom is "gomba".

Trivia

 * A Goomba basketball appeared in Mario Hoops 3 on 3. The ball would rotate slightly around with each dribble. The ball could be unlocked by earning a gold trophy in the Hard Star Tourney.
 * Blue and gray Goombas appeared in the underground levels and castles (respectively) of the original Super Mario Bros. However, these palette-swaps are not different varieties of Goomba; the change in color was meant to represent the lack of light in darker areas.
 * Gloombas, literal blue Goombas from the Paper Mario series that live in dark underground areas, were probably created to be a nostalgic reference to the underground Goombas of the original Super Mario Bros.
 * Also, while not having much to do with the original gray Goombas inside of castles in the original Super Mario Bros., Headbonk Goombas have a gray scale coloring.
 * In 1990, McDonald's released a "Little Goomba" Happy Meal Toy promoting the release of Super Mario Bros. 3. The Goomba toy was spring loaded. When the head was pressed down, the Goomba would backflip a few seconds later.
 * A mini-game in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix featured Goombas in a whack-a-mole style event.
 * According to Tippi, Goombas fear Koopa Troopas.
 * The Gumba Royal Hotel on Koopabiza is named after the German spelling of the species Goomba.