Koopa
From Freepedia
Koopa is the name of many of the fictional species of turtles in the Mario series of video games. Koopas exist in the Mushroom Kingdom, and are one rank above Goombas. There appear to be two distinct species of Koopa. One, the Koopa Troopa, are turtle-like, usually with a red or a green shell. See the articles on Koopa Troopa and Koopa Paratroopa for more. Some variants are the Lakitu, Hammer Brothers and Magikoopa species.
The second species is represented by King Bowser Koopa and his children. They are large bipedal turtles with spiked shells, claws, horns and (strangely enough, for reptiles) hair. They can also breathe fire. These Koopas are intent on conquering various kingdoms, and use the smaller Koopa Troopas as soldiers.
The word Koopa is a corruption of kappa, a creature from Japanese mythology that resembles a turtle.
Naming conventions:
- Koopa Troopa - Moves on land only. After Super Mario Bros 3, the Koopa visibly walks on two hind legs rather than crawling. Koopa Troopas are often called simply "Koopa".
- Koopa Paratroopa - Equipped with wings that allow either sustained flight or continuous jumping. Koopa Paratroopas are often called simply "Paratroopa". In most games, stomping on them causes them to lose their wings and turn into normal Koopa Troopas. Usually, Green Paratroopas bounce or fly in one direction (unless they hit a wall, making them turn around) and will fall to their death if they reach a pit. Red ones, however, will go up and down or left and right in one spot.
- Green Koopa - The most basic Koopa, does not recognize edges and will fall to their death. In the Super Smash Bros. series, you can throw these shells at enemies, causing damage (rumor says it does more if thrown on the head), but it will continue through enemies (unless you shield, causing it to halt) and eventually fall off edges. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, if you jump onto them like in classic Mario games, they will go in the direction opposite the half you stomped on (for example, if you step on the left half of the shell, it will go in the right direction, and vice versa), and stomping on it again will cause it to stop.
- Red Koopa - Recognizes edges and performs an about-face to avoid them. In Super Mario World, when Yoshi shoots three fireballs when eating a red shell and spitting them back out. In the Super Smash Bros. Series, if they're thrown onto the ground, they'll move back and forth, usually hitting the closer character (even if you made it move), and they will not fall off of platforms, reflecting their sense for cliff edges. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, stomping it is usually not the best option, for it will still go back and forth for the closer enemy.
- Blue Koopa - Same as Red Koopa but walks faster. When knocked out of its shell, it will kick the shell at Mario. When not in its shell, it can catch shells kicked at it and kick them back. Its shell gives a flying ability to Yoshi when eaten. First Appears in Super Mario World.
- Yellow Koopa - The AI of a Yellow Koopa instructs it to home in on Mario, changing direction every time Mario passes over or under but it can fall off edges like the green koopa. One coin will pop out when knocked out of its shell. When a yellow Koopa returns to its shell, it becomes Invincible, flashing different colors and hurtting anything in its path, friend or foe. It can only be defeated by Eating it or a Spin Jump. Its shell gives the stomping, flying and fire spiting ability to Yoshi when eaten. First appears in Super Mario World.
- Hammer Bros. - Equipped with hard armor, helmet, and throwing hammers. They usually fight in groups of two or more.
- Boomerang Bros. - Like Hammer Bros. Except that they fight with a Boomerang that can return back to them after being thrown.
- Fire Bros. - Equipped with Hammer Bros. armor. Have red skin and spit fireballs. They also usually fight in groups of two or more.
- Sledge Bros. - Heaviest of the Koopa Bros. They throw Hammers and use their weight to create immobilizing earthquakes.
- Lakitu - Resembles a Koopa, though possibly not part of the Koopa family proper. It wears eyeglasses and is almost always found riding in a small cloud with a face. It throws Spiny eggs that hatch into adult Spinies upon hitting the ground. Also a supporting character in many games (Mario Kart series, Mario Tennis)
- Magikoopa - Casts spells that can transform blocks and other objects into creatures such as Koopa Troopas. Kamek, a Magikoopa, was the caretaker of Baby Bowser in Yoshi's Island.
- Koopatrol - Elite Koopa soldiers found in the Paper Mario series. They are Koopas covered in armour (which makes it tough to damage) and spikes (which keeps you from jumping on them). They're one of the more trickier enemies to defeat.
- King Bowser Koopa - The patriarchal Koopa. There is no Koopa Queen known to exist. In Super Mario Bros., one King Koopa is the boss of each world in the Mushroom Kingdom, but if one is defeated with fireballs, it is revealed that the Koopa is actually a normal enemy, such as a Goomba or a Lakitu, in disguise. Only the Koopa King of World 8 was the real thing. Bowser appears in Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Story as a young Baby Bowser.
Koopa Kids, the offspring of King Bowser:
- Larry Koopa
- Morton Koopa Jr.
- Wendy O. Koopa
- Iggy Koopa
- Roy Koopa
- Lemmy Koopa
- Ludwig Von Koopa
- Boom Boom - A fortress guard for fortresses on Super Mario Bros. 3
- Bowser Junior - Bowser's son in Super Mario Sunshine and partner various sport and racing games.
