Goombella

Goombella
	; Artwork from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)
Species	Goomba
First appearance	Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
Latest appearance	Super Mario Run (version 3.2.0, cameo) (2024)

“My name's Goombella. I'm a junior at the University of Goom. Nice to meet ya!”

—Goombella, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)

Goombella is a major character in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and its Nintendo Switch remake. A third-year co-ed student studying archaeology at the University of Goom,^[1] Goombella is a smart and sassy but friendly Goomba and the first companion to join Mario on his quest. She provides tattle information to Mario about his location or the character who stands in front of him throughout his journey.

History[edit]

Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]

Goombella's sprite

When Mario arrives at Rogueport at the beginning of the game, he sees a pink Goomba girl being attacked by Lord Crump and his minions. Mario helps her to defeat Lord Crump. She temporarily teaches Mario about the Action Commands. After defeating Lord Crump, he brings out his army to punish them, but they make their getaway to the plaza. Goombella, a junior at the University of Goom, thanks Mario, kisses him, learns about the map he has and that the princess had disappeared, and joins his party.

She possesses similar abilities to Goombario from the original Paper Mario, sharing the moves Headbonk, Tattle, and Multibonk with him. Unlike Goombario, however, an Action Command must be successfully performed for Goombella to Tattle an enemy in battle. Also unlike Goombario, she unlocks Multibonk at Super Rank rather than Ultra Rank and learns the move Rally Wink instead of Charge.

Goombella reading the Tattle Log

Her Tattle ability, which can be used in both battle and on the field, gives the player mostly helpful information on places, people, and enemies. Like Goombario's summaries, Goombella inserts her own little opinions in her descriptions, some of which are humorous. For example, she shows signs of resentment upon reading the "underlings of underlings" comment her book says regarding Goombas, comments about being jealous of a Paragoomba's wings, and points out that it is nice to have access to a bathroom now and then (a field-only one, stated in the Glitz Pit's major league locker room, where the bathroom is always occupied). Goombella's Tattles often include hints to help out Mario (e.g. telling Mario to check the grass in Petal Meadows). In the final chapter, near the last two rooms, she stops helping because she is unable to think of anything else to say. Goombella usually provides Partner Hints in the Nintendo Switch remake, unless another partner is needed for the current situation.

Goombella also has a tendency to break the fourth wall. For example, in Glitzville, she mentions how far Cheep Cheeps have come since Super Mario Bros., and in Twilight Town she says that if there were not people like the gatekeeper in every town, games would be beaten too easily. At both times, she stops abruptly after she says the comment, seeming to point out that game characters know about the fourth wall, but are not supposed to talk about it.

At the end of the game, Goombella writes an email to Mario, explaining what happened with herself and her friends. She starts to tell Mario something else, but then changes her mind and keeps her secret. Goombella becomes Professor Frankly's assistant at the end.

Battle abilities[edit]

Goombella using Headbonk in the Nintendo Switch remake

In battle, Goombella can attack enemies with her Headbonk ability, functioning similar to Mario's Jump attack, hitting any enemy up to two times. She cannot attack spiky or fiery enemies, and will instead take one damage if she does so.

Goombella can look up enemies with her Tattle ability, revealing their stats and abilities, as well as permanently displaying their HP during all battles with them. If the move is failed however, nothing will happen. Tattling on an enemy will also list them in Goombella's Tattle Log, where they can be viewed at any time while exploring. In the Nintendo Switch remake, Tattle checks can be performed on enemies that have already been tattled on, which involve Goombella repeating their Tattle information without using up a turn.

Once Goombella reaches Super Rank, she will gain the Multibonk ability, which allows her to continuously Headbonk a single enemy until an Action Command is missed or after enough attacks. Once Ultra Rank is obtained, Goombella learns Rally Wink, which allows Mario to gain a second turn if successful.

Super Paper Mario[edit]

In Super Paper Mario, Goombella appears as a Catch Card won by completing the Duel of 100 in Sammer's Kingdom. She also appears very briefly during the intro, where she and all the other partners from the previous Paper Mario titles can be seen in a photograph at the Mario Bros.' House.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]

Though she does not appear in the game, Goombella is mentioned in Paper Mario: Sticker Star when Mario searches the junk yard in Shy Guy Jungle before clearing it with a vacuum or goat thing. He can find a paper written by her. She has been researching the Chomp Ruins during the events of the game, but is not seen in the ruins nor anywhere else in the game, presuming she had finished the research or left the paper behind. The paper says:

"Observations on the Ancient Civilization of the Chomp Ruins"
University of Goom
Goombella

Super Mario-kun[edit]

Goombella, alongside Koops, is one of Mario's two partners in the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door arc of Super Mario-kun. Like in the game, she joins Mario after he helps her escape Lord Crump and his X-Nauts.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

There are a few items of Goombella in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there is both a sticker and a trophy of Goombella. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, there is another trophy of Goombella.

Super Mario Run[edit]

Goombella appears as statue, together with Mario and Koops, in Super Mario Run. Her statue was given as a reward after completing six event missions from May 23, 2024 to June 27, 2024.^[2] Her statue then becomes available to be placed in the Mushroom Kingdom through Kingdom Builder.

General information[edit]

Physical appearance[edit]

Goombella is a female Goomba who wears a helmet with a light and a matching torso with a red tie, and also has a large, blond ponytail. She has a pink head and brown shoes.

Personality[edit]

Goombella is shown to be loyal to Mario as well as having street smarts regarding Rogueport, as well as peppy. She also at times can be very sarcastic, as when encountering three Goombas in the sewers who gave her unwanted attention, in the Nintendo GameCube version, she mentions that it is "so sweet" that they thought of her to the extent of "totally barfing" in an attempt at refusing them. Her dialogue in the English version indicates she is a valley girl.

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo GameCube)[edit]

In-game description: Goombella is a smart, if sassy, Goomba girl. She hopes to be an archaeologist one day. Press to ask her about where you are or about enemies you meet in battle. She attacks with Headbonks.
Instruction booklet descriptions
- A cute University of Goom co-ed in her second year of an archaeology major.^[1]
- Provides useful information about the surrounding area or the person/enemy in front of you.^[3]
Player's Guide: Goombella is the first companion who joins Mario on his journey. She's a smart (though somewhat sassy) Goomba girl with aspirations to become an archaeologist. Press the X Button to ask her about your current location or the person standing in front of you.^[4]

Attacks[edit]

HP

Initial: 10 HP
Super Rank: 20 HP
Ultra Rank: 30 HP

Attack	FP Needed	Effect	Action Command	Attack Power	Move Rank
Headbonk	0	Bonks single enemy two times similarly to Mario's Jump move.	Press right before landing.	Initial: 1/2 (1+1) Super: 2/4 (2+2) Ultra: 3/6 (3+3)	Initial
Tattle	0	Reveals enemy's description and stats, previously tattled enemies have visible HP.	Align the cursor with Goombella's target.	N/A	Initial
Multibonk	3	Similarly to Mario's Power Bounce move, Goombella bonks an enemy multiple times until the player misses an Action Command.	Press each time before landing on an enemy.	Super: 2-1-1-etc. Ultra: 3-2-1-etc.	Super Rank
Rally Wink	4	Gives Mario a second turn in battle.	Tap to the fill the gauge. When it reaches OK, tap the . The player might have to press and after, watch the screen.	N/A	Ultra Rank

Statistics as an enemy[edit]

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door enemy
Goombella (1)
	Max HP	N/A	Attack	1	Defense	0
	Location(s)	Rogueport	Role	Training	Level	0
	Sleep?	N/A	Dizzy?	N/A	Confuse?	N/A
	Tiny?	N/A	Stop?	N/A	Soft?	N/A
	Burn?	N/A	Freeze?	N/A	Fright?	N/A
	Gale Force?	N/A	KO?	N/A	Moves	Headbonk (1)
	Exp. points	0	Coins	N/A	Items	none
Tattle Log #: N/A	Log	N/A
Tattle Log #: N/A	Tattle	N/A

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door enemy
Goombella (2)
	Max HP	10-20	Attack	1-2	Defense	0
	Location(s)	Creepy Steeple	Role	Support	Level	0
	Sleep?	N/A	Dizzy?	N/A	Confuse?	N/A
	Tiny?	N/A	Stop?	N/A	Soft?	N/A
	Burn?	N/A	Freeze?	N/A	Fright?	N/A
	Gale Force?	N/A	KO?	N/A	Moves	Headbonk (1-2), Multibonk
	Exp. points	0	Coins	N/A	Items	none
Tattle Log #: N/A	Log	N/A
Tattle Log #: N/A	Tattle	N/A

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)[edit]

Website description:
- English (American):
  “My name's Goombella. I'm a junior at the University of Goom. Nice to meet ya!”^[5]
- English (British):
  This peppy archaeology student has a wealth of knowledge about Rogueport and its inhabitants. She’s hunting for the Crystal Stars too, and teams up with Mario shortly after he arrives in town.^[6]
- Other languages:
  - Japanese:
    クリフォルニア大学に通うクリボーの女の子。考古学者のタマゴ。伝説のお宝を探しにゴロツキタウンを訪れ、マリオと出会う。^[7]
  - Czech:
    Tato energická studentka archeologie má o Rogueportu a jeho obyvatelích bohaté znalosti. Také pátrá po Crystal Stars a krátce po příjezdu do města se spojí s Mariem.^[8]
  - Dutch:
    Deze energieke archeologiestudente weet ontzettend veel over Boevechem en de bewoners. Zij is ook op zoek naar de juweelsterren. Vlak nadat Mario in het stadje arriveert, besluit Goombella om met hem samen te werken.^[9]
    (Translation: This energetic archeology student knows a whole lot about Rogueport and the inhabitants. She is also looking for the Crystal Stars. Shortly after Mario arrives in the town, Goombella decides to work together with him.)
  - French (Canada):
    « Je m'appelle Goomélie. Je suis en troisième année à l'université de Goombrooke. Enchantée! »^[10]
  - French (Europe):
    Cette pétillante étudiante en archéologie déborde de connaissances sur Port-Lacanaïe et ses habitants. Elle aussi est à la recherche des Gemmes Étoile, et elle fait équipe avec Mario peu après son arrivée en ville.^[11]
  - German:
    Diese energische Archäologiestudentin quillt geradezu über mit Wissen über Rohlingen und seine Bewohner. Auch sie sucht nach den Sternjuwelen und schließt sich Mario kurz nach seiner Ankunft in der Stadt an.^[12]
  - Hungarian:
    Ez a virgonc régészhallgató rengeteg ismerettel rendelkezik Rogueport városáról és lakóiról. Ő is a Crystal Starokra vadászik, és nem sokkal azután, hogy Mario megérkezik a városba, csatlakozik hozzá.^[13]
  - Italian:
    Questa briosa studentessa di archeologia sa tutto quel che c’è da sapere su Fannullopoli e i suoi abitanti. Anche lei dà la caccia alle Gemme Stella, e unisce le forze con Mario poco dopo il suo arrivo in città.^[14]
  - Polish:
    Ta rezolutna studentka archeologii ma ogromną wiedzę na temat Rogueport i jego mieszkańców. Sama również poluje na Crystal Stars i dołącza do Mario wkrótce po jego przybyciu do miasta.^[15]
  - Portuguese (Portugal):
    Esta enérgica aluna de arqueologia é extremamente versada em Rogueport e os seus habitantes. Ela também está à procura das Crystal Stars e une forças com o Mario pouco após a sua chegada à cidade.^[16]
  - Slovak:
    Tato energická studentka archeologie má o Rogueportu a jeho obyvatelích bohaté znalosti. Také pátrá po Crystal Stars a krátce po příjezdu do města se spojí s Mariem.^[17]
  - Spanish (Latin America):
    “Me llamo Goomarina. Soy estudiante de tercer año en la Universidad de Goom. ¡Es un placer!”.^[18]
  - Spanish (Europe):
    Esta inquieta estudiante de arqueología tiene un extenso conocimiento de Villa Viciosa y sus habitantes. También busca los cristales estelares y unirá fuerzas con Mario poco después de que este llegue a la ciudad.^[19]

Statistics as an enemy[edit]

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door enemy
Goombella (1)
	Max HP	N/A	Attack	1	Defense	0
	Location(s)	Rogueport	Role	Training	Level	0
	Sleep?	N/A	Dizzy?	N/A	Confuse?	N/A
	Tiny?	N/A	Stop?	N/A	Soft?	N/A
	Burn?	N/A	Freeze?	N/A	Fright?	N/A
	Gale Force?	N/A	KO?	N/A	Moves	Headbonk (1)
	Exp. points	0	Coins	N/A	Items	none
Tattle Log #: N/A	Log	N/A
Tattle Log #: N/A	Tattle	N/A

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door enemy
Goombella (2)
	Max HP	10-20	Attack	1-2	Defense	0
	Location(s)	Creepy Steeple	Role	Support	Level	0
	Sleep?	N/A	Dizzy?	N/A	Confuse?	N/A
	Tiny?	N/A	Stop?	N/A	Soft?	N/A
	Burn?	N/A	Freeze?	N/A	Fright?	N/A
	Gale Force?	N/A	KO?	N/A	Moves	Headbonk (1-2), Multibonk
	Exp. points	0	Coins	N/A	Items	none
Tattle Log #: N/A	Log	N/A
Tattle Log #: N/A	Tattle	N/A