Koopa (species)

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It has been requested that this article be rewritten. Reason: Poor formatting and too much speculation (tagged on 11:19, 2 August 2017 (EDT))

Not to be confused with Koopa Troopa.

Template:Species-infobox

Koopas represent a consistent group of turtle-like creatures. There are many different types of Koopas, the most common being Koopa Troopas.

Most Koopas seem to operate in a hierarchy-based grouping system. Bowser is the leader of the Koopa Troop, which has invaded Mushroom Kingdom many times and has control over most of the Koopas in the Mario franchise. Many of these same Koopas are members of the Koopa Troop and have different tasks in the organization based on the abilities of their particular class. For example, Koopa Troopas tend to be assigned as basic foot soldiers alongside Goombas due to their lack of specialized offensive capabilities, while Magikoopas are often given advisory roles due to their magical abilities and gift of foresight.

However, not all Koopas are allied with Bowser. Some Koopas, such as the Koopa Troopas of Koopa Village, live peacefully inside the borders of the Mushroom Kingdom, while others, such as Koopa the Quick in Super Mario 64, simply hold no allegiance and operate independently.

Species

Boom Boom

Boom Boom in Super Mario Run.
Boom Boom in Super Mario Run
Main article: Boom Boom (species)

Boom Booms are a Koopa species similar to Bowser's. Booms Booms are very large and most have spikes on the back of their shells. The only difference seems to be the connected plastron (the underside of the shell) that Boom Booms have. They have huge arms, which they use to attack by flailing them. Members of this species include Boom Boom and a female Boom Boom named Pom Pom. They appear in boss battles in games like Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U and Super Mario 3D World.

Bowser's species

Artwork of Bowser in Mario Party 10 (later reused for Mario Party: Star Rush, Super Mario Party and Mario Kart Tour)
Main article: Bowser

Not much is known about the species of Koopa to which Bowser belongs. The exact name is also unknown; the members are most often simply referred to as "Koopas." The only members appear to be Blue Bowser, Bowser, Bowser Jr., the Koopalings, and the Koopa Kids. The unique feature of this species is that the belly is covered by plates (possibly the plastron) detached from their shells, that are spiked and cover only their backs and not the whole body. However, when they duck into their shells, the flesh between the belly plates and the rear shells is no longer visible, as if the shells featured a fully attached plastron. Like the very similar Boom Booms, members of this species of Koopa stand upright, and are typically much larger than most types of Koopas upon reaching adulthood. Even as a child, Bowser Jr. is almost as tall as a full-grown Koopa Troopa.[1]. However, Lemmy Koopa is actually almost as small as Toad[2] while his younger brother Larry is bigger in size[3][4], showing that some variability in size exists among Koopas belonging to Bowser's species. These Koopas are known for their strength, sometimes the ability to breathe out flames, and durability, even as children, as well as magical powers; they typically are the leaders of the Koopa race. Koopas belonging to Bowser's species do not have a beak, instead having a fleshy muzzle, and some also have horns. Shigeru Miyamoto initially intended for Bowser to look like an ox, hence a few of the physical characteristics, such as the horns.

Buzzy Beetle

Main article: Buzzy Beetle

Buzzy Beetles are found generally in caves and other dark areas. They are known to be immune to fireballs, and they can climb on walls and ceilings, and they can drop from ceilings if Mario or others approach them closely enough. As with Koopa Troopas, Buzzy Beetles hide inside their shell if Mario or others stomp on them, letting their shells be used.

Other Buzzy Beetle species

Chargin' Chuck

Artwork of two Chargin' Chucks from Super Mario 3D World.
Chargin' Chucks with and without helmets in Super Mario 3D World
Main article: Chargin' Chuck

Chargin' Chucks (sometimes referred to as Koopa Quarterbacks or Koopa Football Players) are a type of Koopa who wear American football gear. They have a variety of attacks and sports based weaponry, such as damaging baseballs and footballs. Chargin' Chucks first appeared in Super Mario World. Like the Hammer Bros. and their variations, Chargin' Chucks often appear as duos, or sometimes even larger groups.

Electro-Koopa

File:Electrokoopa.jpg
A blue Electro-Koopa

Electro-Koopas are Koopas found in Super Mario Sunshine. There are three kinds of Electro-Koopas, all of which walk on all fours and have electrical shells which they can throw like boomerangs. From what has been seen in the series so far, Electro-Koopas are native to Isle Delfino.

Electro-Koopa species

Hammer Bro

Main article: Hammer Bro

Hammer Bros. (or Hammer Brothers) are a type of Koopa that stand upright, wear helmets and shoes, and throw hammers at passerby. There are various similar Koopas who throw other objects at their opponents, such as the Boomerang Bros. and the Fire Bros., the latter of which used to spit their projectiles from their mouths, but now pull them from thin air, like the others. All of these Koopas have similar shell patterns (though they are color-coded by type: Hammer Bros. wear green armor, Fire Bros. wear red, Boomerang Bros. wear blue, etc.) and beaks that are lighter in color than the rest of their face, both of which sets them apart from Koopa Troopas, which are also slightly smaller.

Other Hammer Bro. species

Koopa Troopa

Main article: Koopa Troopa
Koopa Troopa's Mario Party 10 artwork

Koopa Troopas (often shortened to plain Koopas and occasionally to Troopas, Japanese ノコノコ Nokonoko) are common enemies in the Mario series. While some are peaceful, Koopa Troopas are usually displayed as foot soldiers of the Koopa Troop under the direct leadership of Bowser. They typically have no special offensive abilities like Hammer Bros. or Lakitus. Throughout the Mario series, Koopa Troopas have appeared as both quadrupedal creatures (four legged) and bipedal (walking on two legs). Since their debut in Super Mario Bros., Koopa Troopas have appeared in almost every game, usually as enemies, but also as playable characters in numerous spin-offs and the first two Paper Mario games.

Other Koopa Troopa species

Koopeleon

Main article: Koopeleon

Koopeleons are an uncommon variant of Koopas that live in the Toadwood Forest in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. A Koopeleon resembles a Koopa and chameleon hybrid with an indigo shell, green skin, large eyes, and a long curled tail. Koopeleons have the ability to turn invisible. Gold Koopaleons are practically the same thing, but live inside Thwomp Volcano and have an extremely high defense.

Other Koopeleon species

Lakitu

File:Lakitu-NSMBU.png
A Lakitu as seen in New Super Mario Bros. U
Main article: Lakitu

Lakitus are goggled Koopas who ride clouds through the skies, and which can occasionally be found snorkeling in water and hiding behind walls or in pipes. Unlike most Koopa species, they do not have snouts or beaks, but flat faces with round noses. Their shells are also unique in their circular patterning. To attack, Lakitus typically throw unlimited numbers of Spiny Eggs at their opponents, and some will also dangle 1-Up Mushrooms from fishing poles to lure their targets closer.

Other Lakitu species

Magikoopa

Artwork of a Magikoopa in Super Mario 3D World
A Magikoopa as seen in Super Mario 3D World
Main article: Magikoopa

Magikoopas (referred to as Koopa Wizards in the Super Mario World television series) can cast spells and fly on broomsticks. They are generally considered to be high-ranking members of the Koopa Troop. They wear glasses and wizard's garb: typically blue robes and hats, though Magikoopas specializing in different forms of magic sport different colors. Aside from their heads, which have slightly larger beaks than those of their normal counterparts, little is known about the Magikoopa's external structure due to their robes. Kamek is a notable Magikoopa.

Other Magikoopa species

Mechakoopa

Mechakoopa as seen in New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
Main article: Mechakoopa

Mechakoopas are mechanical enemies that bear a slight resemblance to Bowser, and walk with a wind-up mechanism. Mario can stun them by jumping on them. There, Mechakoopas can be held and thrown, but they eventually recover and move again. However, the bulky Mechakoopas from Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 cannot be picked up, and can breathe fire.

Rocky Wrench

Rocky Wrenches' Koopa-like appearance in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Main article: Rocky Wrench

Rocky Wrenches are enemies and pop out of manhole covers on airships at random. They were stated to be a mole-like type of Koopa during Super Mario Bros. 3,[5][6] and have been redesigned to greatly resemble Monty Moles as of New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Snooze-A-Koopa

Main article: Snooze-A-Koopa

Snooze-A-Koopas (also known as Snooza Koopas) are sea turtle-like Koopas encountered by Mario in the game Super Mario Sunshine. Snooze-A-Koopas have flippers instead of hands or feet and walk on all fours; they are also quite large and have a shell with a Yoshi Egg-like pattern on it, as well as a covering resembling a cracked Yoshi Egg over their head. They spend much of their time sleeping, but they can be violent when provoked.

Spike

Artwork of a Spike from Super Mario 3D World.
A Spike in Super Mario 3D World
Main article: Spike

Spikes are small Koopas who either stand still or walk around. When Mario or an ally of his comes by, however, Spikes throw spiked balls to harm the character. More specialized variants, such as Snow Spikes and Stone Spikes, also exist and throw their namesake projectiles instead of metallic, spiked balls.

Other Spike species

Spike Koopa

Main article: Spike Koopa
Model of the Spike Koopa
A Spike Koopa in Mario Party

Spike Koopas are squat, flat-shelled Koopas with frog-like faces and large fangs. They have a single spike on their heads and many spikes on their shells, as well as stubby arms and legs, giving a slight resemblance to Bowser's species. They only appear during the Mario Party minigame Key-pa-Way, where they guard a Bowser Key, and will stun anyone they touch. They can, however, be jumped over. Only five appear in the minigame.

Spiny

Spiny artwork from New Super Mario Bros. 2
A Spiny in New Super Mario Bros. 2
Main article: Spiny

Spinies (Japanese トゲゾー Togezō) are four-legged Koopas known for their spiked shells. They appear to have a symbiotic relationship with Lakitus, another Koopa variant which throw Spiny Eggs at their opponents.

Other Spiny species

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese カメー族[7][8]
Kame-ichizoku
カメ[9]
Kame-zoku

Turtle Tribe

Turtle Tribe

Chinese 慢慢龜
Mànmànguī
Slow Tortoise

Italian Koopa
-
Portuguese Koopa
-
Russian Купа
Kupa
Koopa

References

  1. ^ Size comparison chart.
  2. ^ 1993 Nintendo Character Guide Comparison Chart that includes some Koopalings and 1993 Nintendo Character Guide Comparison Chart that includes Toad. Press The Buttons. Retrieved October 14,2015.
  3. ^ 1993 Nintendo Character Guide Comparison Chart that includes some Koopalings
  4. ^ "Bowser's youngest Koopaling, Larry, has taken over the Grass Land." - Nintendo Power Strategy Guide for Super Mario Bros. 3, page 9.
  5. ^ 「モグラようなカメからニョキッとてきてスパナをげてくる。飛行船乗組員だ。」 ("Mole-like members of the Turtle Tribe. They will pop out of a hole to throw their spanner. They are the maintenance crew of the airship.") - Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet, page 38.
  6. ^ "Rocky is a turtle who kind of looks like a mole. He will suddenly appear and start to throw wrenches at Mario." - Super Mario Bros. 3 English instruction booklet, Page 37.
  7. ^ Page 4 of the Japanese manual of Super Mario Bros..
  8. ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet, page 35.
  9. ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet, page 38.