Goombas

Goombas (), known in Japan as and originally Little Goomba, are a fictional species from Nintendo's ''Mario'' franchise. They first appeared in the NES video game ''Super Mario Bros.'' as the first enemy players encounter, part of Bowser's Army. They have appeared outside video games, including in film and television. They are brown mushroom-like creatures with long black eyebrows, a sharp underbite, a tan stem, dark brown feet, no limbs, and are most commonly seen walking around aimlessly, often as an obstacle, in video games. They were included late in the development of ''Super Mario Bros.'' as a simple, easy-to-defeat enemy.

The species is considered one of the most iconic elements of the ''Super Mario'' series, appearing in nearly every game in the series, and is often ranked amongst the most famous enemies in video games. In 2009, ''CraveOnline'' described it as the series' "everyman". The video game incarnation has been made into several plush toys.

Concept and creation

Goombas were introduced in the video game ''Super Mario Bros.'', and were the last enemy added to the game after playtesters stated that the Koopa Troopa was too tricky as an enemy. As a result, the designers decided to introduce the Goomba as a basic enemy. However, they had very little space left in the game. They used a single image twice to convey the notion that the Goombas are walking, flipping it back and forth, causing it to look lopsided as it walks, and giving the appearance of a trot. The Goomba's resemblance to the Super Mushroom forced designers to change the mechanics and appearance of the Super Mushroom. They used the Goomba's ability to be jumped on and defeated to teach players how to deal with enemies and to not fear the Super Mushroom.

Goombas resemble shiitake, with bushy eyebrows and a pair of tusk-like teeth sprouting from their lower jaw (similar to a bulldog). They also appear to have shoe-like feet coming from their stalks.

Early concept art for the live-action ''Super Mario Bros.'' film showed that the design of the Goombas were originally intended to be for Koopa Troopas, another kind of ''Mario'' enemy. A separate company from the primary makeup departments designed the Goombas in the film.

Name

The name Goomba is derived from "Goombah" (from Neapolitan ) which refers to an Italian American man. Also, in Hungarian, means . In Japan, Goombas are called , which loosely translates as .

Appearances

Goombas debuted in ''Super Mario Bros.'', described in the manual as Little Goomba, and have reappeared in nearly all later games in the series. In the 2D games, they walk aimlessly in a straight line, turning only at walls and gaps in the ground. They can be defeated by jumping on them, which flattens them. In ''Super Mario 64'', and all their 3D Mario appearances, they will pursue Mario when he is near (instead of just walking aimlessly). In ''Super Mario Sunshine'', Goombas are not present, but an enemy called the is described in ''The Perfect Guide of Super Mario Sunshine'' as the "Isle Delfino versions of Goombas".

Several variations of the Goomba have appeared throughout the series. There are larger versions called , (also called Giant Goombas, or Mega Goombas), and smaller versions called (or ). In one level of '' Super Mario Bros. 3'', Goombas can be seen wearing a shoe called "Goomba's Shoe". ''Super Mario World'' replaces the normal Goomba with a more round variation, later named . ''Super Mario Land'' features a unique type of Goomba called the Goombo (also called ), and its sequel has an undead variation known as , as well as a variation wearing a diving helmet known as . Other variations include (first seen in ''Super Mario Galaxy''), (first seen in ''New Super Mario Bros. 2''), (first seen in ''Super Mario 3D Land''), (first seen in ''New Super Mario Bros. U''), (first seen in ''Super Mario 3D World''), and (first seen in ''Super Mario Maker 2''). Some games also feature stacks of Goombas called . A giant Goomba called Mega Goomba appears as a boss in ''New Super Mario Bros.'' In ''Super Mario Odyssey'', Goombas sometimes wear hats that depend on what kingdom they are in. They can be captured, which allows them to form Goomba Towers. In addition, a pink female Goomba known as Goombette makes her debut in the aforementioned game. She is affectionate with other Goombas, but flees if Mario comes near. In '' Super Mario Bros. Wonder'', some Goombas sleep and will not attack the player if he wakes up the Goomba. ''Wonder'' also contains a select Wonder Flower effect that, in select levels, turns Mario and the other playable characters into Goombas.

Goombas appear in each of the ''Mario'' role-playing games. ''Super Mario RPG'' introduces the first non-hostile Goombas, while the follow-up game ''Paper Mario'' introduces a Goomba village, and a playable Goomba called Goombario. The series has also seen its fair share of Goomba variations, such as , , and . A second playable Goomba is introduced in ''The Thousand-Year Door'' called Goombella. Goombas also appear in the ''Mario & Luigi'' series, where they assume enemy roles. In ''Bowser's Inside Story'', a unique Goomba known as Private Goomp is introduced who reappears in '' Dream Team''. Bowser's Inside Story also showcases cell-like Goombas inside of Bowser's body while '' Paper Jam'' adds Goombas. In '' Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions'', the titular minions are led by Captain Goomba, the first Goomba that Mario and Luigi fight, who clashes with Private Goomp while on his quest to save Bowser from Fawful. Goombas have appeared in several other spin-off titles in and out of the ''Mario'' series, including the second, third, fourth, and fifth titles of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, '' Super Smash Bros. Melee'', ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U'' and ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. They have a playable appearance in the ''Mario'' baseball video games, '' Mario Superstar Baseball'' and ''Mario Super Sluggers''. They are playable in the 2018 ''Mario Party'' title, ''Super Mario Party'', and its 2024 sequel ''Super Mario Party Jamboree''. Goombas are also obstacles in various ''Mario Kart'' courses and were one of the playable doctors in the mobile game '' Dr. Mario World'' as Dr. Goomba Tower. Goombas also made an appearance in the ''CD-i'' game ''Hotel Mario''.

In other media

In the 1989 television cartoon '' The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'', Goombas are loyal soldiers in King Koopa's army. The general appearance of the Goomba resembles the ones found in the Mario video games. In several of the episodes, the Goombas appear as zombies, pirates, or other themed variations in accordance with the plot. When the show spun off into '' The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'', they continued their job as soldiers in the Koopa army in some episodes. However, the ''Super Mario World'' cartoon only featured them twice. Goombas were included in an Ice Capades show featuring characters from the ''Mario'' series.

In the ''Super Mario Bros.'' live-action film, Goombas were originally inhabitants of Dinohattan who opposed the tyrannical President Koopa's rule, and were devolved as punishment for this disloyalty. In the film, upon being de-evolved, these people became Goombas, who were large, reptilian monsters (as opposed to the usual mushroom appearance seen in the games) with hulking bodies and disproportionately small, circular heads, who wore trenchcoats.

Goombas appear as enemies in '' The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening'' and its remake in the underground side-scrolling passages throughout the game, and also in the seventh dungeon, Eagle's Tower. In the remake, a Goomba figurine can be won from a crane game.

A Goomba can also be spotted as an easter egg on "Basic Run" in ''Wii Fit Plus''.

Multiple variations appear in all the games of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, appearing either as background elements or regular enemies.

Goombas reappear as part of Bowser's minions in the 2023 film ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''.

Reception and promotion

The Goomba has become an icon of the ''Mario'' series, both in its appearance and the concept of "stomping on them", often referenced as one of the key elements of the original ''Super Mario Bros.'' The Goomba has appeared in multiple pieces of merchandise, including a Happy Meal toy as part of a '' Super Mario Bros. 3'' promotion by Nintendo and McDonald's. A plush Goomba that plays the Goomba "defeat" noise as well as the Game Over tune at certain points was also released. ''IGN'' editor Craig Harris described the Goomba as a "household name" along with Koopa Paratroopas and King Koopa. Video game musician and reviewer Tommy Tallarico commented that many new converts to gaming have "never even made Super Mario smoosh a "Goomba". In a criticism of video game storytelling, ''Gamasutra'' editor Daniel Cook referenced Goombas being mushrooms, but also that it was a less important fact than them being squat, to-scale with the world, and able to be squashed. In an article discussing happiness in video games, ''Gamasutra'' editor Lorenzo Wang listed the sound the Goomba makes when it's squished as one of his pleasures. ''IGN'' editor Mark Birnhaum praised the sound effects of ''Super Mario Bros.'', giving similar praise to the sound of the Goomba being stomped on. It was compared to the Met enemy from the ''Mega Man'' series, calling them the "Goomba of the ''Mega Man'' series". In 2009, ''CraveOnline'' editor Joey Davidson described the Goomba as the series' "everyman", describing it as both defenseless and of little threat, listing such exceptions as the giant Goomba seen in ''Super Mario Galaxy''. A common enemy in ''Braid'' has been compared to the Goomba, ''Gaming Age'' editor Dustin Chadwell calling it a "slightly skewed version of the Goomba". ''GameDaily'' listed Goomba as the fourth best ''Mario'' enemy, stating that every gamer has run into one as Mario before. ''Destructoid'' listed the deaths of Goombas as one of the six sinister things about ''Super Mario'', saying that "whether or not the Goombas are actually working for Bowser, they certainly don't seem like killers, or even soldiers. They walk around aimlessly, and if you touch them, you get hurt. Is that worth killing over?" ''Nintendo Power'' listed them as one of their favorite punching bags, stating that while it's hard not to feel bad for them, it is still satisfying.

The live-action ''Super Mario Bros.'' film version of the Goomba has received negative reception. ''IGN'' editor Jesse Schedeen called Bowser and his Goombas the most screwed up part of the film, commenting that it would be difficult to create a live action version of the Goomba that deviates from the original version more than this. An ''Entertainment Weekly'' article called the design creepy, stating that its "foam-latex skin had to be baked for five hours at 200 degrees to achieve that lovely reptilian effect". The facial design of the character Venom in ''Spider-Man 3'' was compared to the film versions of the Goomba by ''CraveOnline'', describing Venom's face as stupid, short, and rounded. Hal Hinson of ''The Washington Post'' called the Goombas "big dumb goons with shrunken little dino heads", yet also calling them the "best movie heavies since the flying monkeys in 'The Wizard of Oz.

Notes

References

{{Mario franchise

Anthropomorphic video game characters
Fictional fungi
Fictional henchmen in video games
Fictional monsters
Mario (franchise) enemies
Video game characters introduced in 1985
Video game species and races