Goomba
- “The Goombas have lost...Again?! Is this our destiny?! To be trampled by oppresive feet for all eternity? No, we will definitely triumph next time! The Goombas' fate is not defeat, but perseverance!”
- —Goomboss, Super Mario 64 DS
Goombas (also rarely known as Little Goombas; in Japan, as Kuribo – roughly translated as "chestnut people") are one of the major species of the Mushroom Planet, 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 (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.
History
Betrayal and the Early Years
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 Koopa Troop. Some Goombas continued to live in peace with the Mushroom Kingdom (such as the Goomba family of Goomba Village), while others became independent bandits and thieves.
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 on Yoshi's Island: 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 were not much of a threat. However, these Goombas were extremely resilient. When Yoshi stomped the brown fungus, the Goomba would flatten like a pancake, but not be destroyed. The squished Goomba could still walk into and damage Yoshi. 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 or 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.
Baby Bowser would later use Goombas as castle guards during the Shroob invasion, as depicted in the game of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. In this adventure, Goombas were considered the weakest member of the Koopa Troop. Goombas patrolled the halls of Baby Bowser's Castle, attacking any intruder who would dare enter Prince Bowser's fortress. To attack, a Goomba would simply run into an intruder. They could be easily 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.
Invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom
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 in mass during Bowser's first invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom. In the game, Goombas occupied almost every level, except underwater levels, where Goombas cannot naturally survive. These enemies resided not only above ground, but also in underground 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 Koopa 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.
Bowser would again deploy a large quantity of 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.
Tatanga, Wario, and Captain Syrup
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.
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: 6 Golden Coins. Goombas were not deployed in large numbers though; the mushrooms were limited to just a few levels. However, the ghastly Boombas, the conjectural 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.
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.
Battle for the Mushroom World
During the events of Super Mario Bros. 3, Goombas were deployed by the Koopa Troop in high numbers across the seven kingdoms of the Mushroom World. These Goombas behaved just like their brethren from SMB and SMB:TLL. 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.
Dinosaur Land and the "Round" Goombas
During the Koopa Troop's invasion of Dinosaur Land in the game Super Mario World, Goombas were once again deployed in large numbers. However, these bad mushrooms did not appear in mass; instead, Koopa Troopas were the common soldiers seen in the field. Interestingly, while some Goombas were stationed in certain locations as guards, others were dropped from the sky in droves in surprise offenses against the Mario Bros. These Goombas would arrive in the field by either parachuting from above, or by floating in bubbles (which would burst upon coming into contact with any object). The former variety assumed the name "Paragoomba", while Goombas with wings (who also aided their wingless brethren in many battles) were called "Winged Goombas".
The Goombas that appeared in Super Mario World were dramatically different than those seen in previous games. As a matter of fact, these Goombas were so different than those of past Mario games that the Japanese version of Super Mario World even gave them a different name (Kuribon), seemingly rendering them a subspecies in Japan. Although these creatures walked in straight paths to attack, like previous Goombas, these new baddies did not look the older ones. These Goombas did not have mushroom-shaped heads; their heads were spherical. These Goombas also lacked a stem; the creature's two feet were attached directly to the bottom of the head. As such, they resembled angry chestnuts more than scowling mushrooms. These "round" Goombas were also much more resilient than previous Goombas (besides the ones from Yoshi's Island). The baddies could not be defeated by a normal stomp attack; only the powerful Spin Jump could destroy a Goomba in one hit. Both Yoshi's eating attack and a fireball strike could transform a Goomba into a gold coin. A normal jump would only flip the creature over, rendering it immobile. Interestingly, Mario or Luigi could actually pick up an immobile Goomba and kick the fungus at other enemies to destroy them. However, the immobile Goomba would eventually resuscitate itself, and hurt Mario upon being revived (if the creature was not thrown in enough time). All these behaviors are reminiscent of the Koopa Troopa from previous games, whose shell could be picked up and thrown to attack other enemies, and who would revive and attack Mario if not thrown quickly enough.
The Koopa Troop Fractures
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 advisor 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 the Mushroom Planet. 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 has 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.
Assault on Mushroom Castle
Goombas were a staple force during Bowser's attack on Princess Peach's Castle, as seen in the games Super Mario 64 DS (and Super Mario 64). 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.
Goomba vs. Goomba
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 behave similarly to their counterparts in Super Mario 64 DS. 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.
Trailing Cackletta and Goombas of the Beanbean Kingdom
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. 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. Tanoombas the Baby Mario Bros. fought on Thwomp Volcano reappeared. In this game, the shape-shifting Goombas lived 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 on the Seafloor.
Scum and Villainy
- “That's a Goomba. Umm... Yeah, I'm one of those, in case you hadn't noticed. Ahem... It says here: "Goombas are underlings of underlings." ...That is totally rude!”
- —Goombella, 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, PM: TTYD 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.
Princess Peach and her Goomba Problems
During the present-time events of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Princess Peach has 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.
During the events of Super Princess Peach, the Princess had an even bigger Goomba problem. 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.
Bowser Jr.'s Revenge
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.
The Third Paper Goombas
Goombas again appear in the game for the Wii, Super Paper Mario. In this game, Goombas are the first enemies ever seen. Tippi seems to make fun of them, saying that Goombas "put the under in underlings". Their HP is lowered to 1 in this game, but attack and defense stay the same. Their card is found on behind a tall pipe that Mario must flip to get behind it. The card is virtually impossible not to get, as Mario must go behind the pipe, and there is little room behind it. Here is its statistics:
HP: 1
Attack: 1
Tattle (normal version): It's a Goomba, one of Bowser's minions... Max HP is 1 and Attack is 1. It really puts the "under" back in "underlings"... It has no remarkable traits... They are pretty much the lowest of the low... But I hear Goombas do have their fans, so what can you do...
Tattle (flipping version): It's a Goomba, one of Bowser's minions...Max HP 1, Attack 1. It really puts the "under" back in "underlings"... It has no remarkable traits... Well, except this one has the ability to flip between dimensions... But I hear Goombas do have their fans, so what can you do...
This game also introduces Headbonk Goombas, which are throwbacks to the previous two Paper Mario games, where their main attack is the Headbonk.
The Future
Goombas are set to appear in Super Mario Galaxy, leaving the confines of the Mushroom Planet to set up camp on other planets.
Other Events
Mario Party Contests
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. Besides these notable examples, Goombas have appeared as shopkeepers, in mini-games, and on gameboards to initiate certain events.
Mario Kart Races
Goombas have appeared in two Mario Kart games, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS. 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.
Mario Sports Competitions
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.
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 Smash Bros. Tournaments
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.
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 Marioverse, 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.
The Legend of Zelda
Interestingly, Goombas have appeared outside of the Marioverse. In the game The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Goombas resided in various underground passages and dungeons on Koholint Island. These mushrooms often appeared with another creature from the Marioverse, the Piranha Plant. The hero of Hyrule Link could either jump on a Goomba to defeat it or slash the baddie with his sword. Often, Link would be rewarded with a small recovery heart to heal himself.
Characteristics and Traits
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 live in peace with 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.
It is also stated in some games that the Goombas were once part of the Mushroom Kingom's forces that changed sides.
Sub-Species
- Bellhop Goomba – A Goomba that resides in hotels.
- Boomba – The ghosts of deceased Goombas.
- 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.
- Goombette – A powerful, yet tiny, Goomba.
- Goomerang Brother - A somewhat freakish fusion of a Goomba and a Boomerang Brother
- Goomdiver – Scuba diving Goombase that reside underwater.
- Grand Goomba – A gigantic Goomba.
- Gritty Goomba – A desert dwelling Goomba wrapped in bandages.
- Hyper Goomba – A powerful green Goomba.
- Hyper Paragoomba – A powerful green Paragoomba.
- Hyper Spiky Goomba – A powerful green Spiky Goomba.
- Headbonk Goomba - A Goomba which can utilize a powerful Headbonk.
- Dark Headbonk Goomba - Dark and gloomy version of Headbonk Goombas.
- 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
- 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.
- Zombie Goomba - Undead, mindless and scarred Goombas.
Possible Relatives
- Chibibo – A likey relative of the Goomba from Sarasaland.
- Goom - A possible relative of the Goomba from the Wario Land series.
- Strollin' Stu – A Goomba-like creature from Isle Delfino.
- Spooky Mask - A possible relative from the Pumpkin Zone.
Notable Goombas
- Blue Goomba – Paper Mario
- Gary – Super Paper Mario
- Goomba King – Paper Mario (known as Goomboss in the other games)
- Goombaria – Paper Mario
- Goombario – Paper Mario
- Goombella – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
- Goom Goom – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
- Gooma – Paper Mario
- Goomama – Paper Mario
- 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
- Toad – Super Mario Bros. film
Related Items
- Goomba's Shoe (previously known as Kuribo's Shoe) – Super Mario Bros. 3
- Goomnut – Paper Mario
Other Information
Paper Mario Stats and Tattle Information
- HP: 2
- Attack: 1
- Defense: 0
- Location: Goomba Road
- Tattle: This is a Goomba. Goombas are what you'd call "small fries." Actually, they're pretty much the smallest fries. ...Hey, wait! I'm one of 'em! You can jump on them or whack 'em with the Hammer. These guys are old school. They've been around since you were in Super Mario Bros.!
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
- 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..."
Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Melee
Goombas are actually traitors who've defected from the Mushroom Kingdom's forces. They're a slow and predictabl nuisance, as they always try to wander into Mario's path. Fortunately for Mario, they don't have much stamina, as a single jump on the head is generally enough to defeat them.
Appearances in Other Media
Anime
In the Japanese-exclusive anime video The Great Mission to Save Princess Peach, 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 The Great Mission to Save Princess Peach 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 here 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 and ran away to parts unknown.
Cartoons
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.
Publications
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. 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.
Film
Goombas from the Super Mario Bros. movie 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 their kindness.
Name Analysis
Many characters, species, and places in the Marioverse 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.
- In 1990, McDonalds'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.
- Species
- Enemies
- Koopa Troop
- Mario Party Characters
- Playable Characters
- Hosts
- Goombas
- Super Smash Bros. Enemies
- Super Smash Bros. Species
- Super Smash Bros. Places
- Yoshi Enemies
- Yoshi Species
- Mario Superstar Baseball Characters
- Super Smash Bros. Trophy Characters
- Super Mario RPG Enemies
- Mario & Luigi Series Enemies
- Paper Mario Series Enemies
