Koopa

A Koopa depicted in New Super Mario Bros.
Koopa
Type	Turtle
Debut	Super Mario Bros.

The Koopa is the name for a diverse race of turtle-like creatures 'that are featured in the Super Mario series, where they usually serve as antagonists under the rule of King Bowser Koopa. The basic type of Koopa is a beaked grunt known as the Koopa Troopa.

Information

The term "Koopa" is usually applied as a blanket term to cover all of the turtle-like creatures appearing throughout the series. There are a number of varieties which differ in areas such as height, build, the type of shell, level of competence and weapons used. Koopas all have shells (worn like clothes) which usually act as protection. Most Koopas are also able to withdraw into their shells and slide around in order to attack others without risk of being hurt. Some Koopas, especially those of higher class, have spiked shells. In other cases, the shells serve little purpose beyond being worn by the Koopa in question. Other differences between types of Koopas are some having hooked beaks while others have more human-like faces, whether they are bipedal or quadrupedal, the presence of hair and whether or not they can spit fireballs. Koopas can become quite large and heavy, to the point where some can unleash powerful hip drops which can produce shockwaves.

Koopas were initially depicted as hostile creatures and have been commanded by the Koopa King, Bowser, in his many campaigns against the Mushroom Kingdom. Bowser has often referred to his forces as his Koopa Troop. Later games have shown that there are friendly Koopas living in or around the Mushroom Kingdom in small towns such as Koopa Village and Petalburg. The Koopa's homeland is unknown, especially since Bowser has many fortresses and castles around the Mario world. One possibility is the region that was known as the Dark Land in Super Mario Bros. 3. Although the Koopas are primarily loyal to Bowser, they have also been shown amongst the ranks of other villains such as Tatanga and Wario. The Koopas may even have preceded Super Mario Bros., as the original Mario Bros. game featured enemies known as Shellcreepers who were nearly identical to a quadruped version of the Koopa Troopas.

The original Super Mario Bros. instruction manual refers to the Koopa as "a tribe of turtles well known for their dark magic", although later games would show usage of dark magic within the Koopa race to be limited to Magikoopas and occasionally Bowser. Koopas were extensively used in nearly all of Bowser's campaigns except for Super Mario Sunshine; in that game, the only Koopas aside from Bowser and his son were the Electrokoopas. They have also been scarce in games set in in the past, such as Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. In this game the only Koopas present are Baby Bowser, Kamek and Koopa Troopas in only a few levels, one of which becomes a boss known as Hookbill Koopa.

After Koopas die, usually their skeletons sometimes are reanimated as creatures called Dry Bones. In New Super Mario Bros., it is shown that Bowser also has a special pot that can be used to bring him back to life if his body is ever disintegrated, and it is possible that other Koopas use this technique as well. The same game also showed Bowser to have a skeletal form known as Dry Bowser.

Koopa Troopa

The Koopa Troopas are the "average" members of the Koopa race who often act as infantry in Bowser's armies. They are smooth-shelled turtles who, when attacked, will either withdraw into their shells or be forced out of them, depending on the game. The shell can then be kicked around to destroy other enemies, although a Koopa Troopa will regain its shell if left to its own devices long enough. Koopa Troopas are most commonly shown as bipedal, although some games have had them on all fours.

They usually have different behaviors depending on their shell color, with the most commonly used variations being green and red. Green Koopa Troopas are known for moving blindly ahead and can usually walk off cliffs, while the Red Koopa Troopas will turn at ledges and seem to be a bit smarter. Two variations, the Blue and Yellow Koopa Troopas, were only featured in Super Mario World. The blue ones were faster versions of the Red Koopas that, when separated from their shells, would kick other shells at Mario. The Yellow Koopa similarly has an effect when separated from its shell, as any shell it enters will flash and become invincible, and in this form it relentlessly pursues Mario.

A winged version of the Koopa Troopa has also appeared since Super Mario Bros. and is shown nearly as often. This type is known as the Koopa Paratroopa, and they have the same variations in shell color. The green ones will usually bounce around instead of actually flying, while the red-shelled ones will actually fly in a set pattern. Blue Paratroopas have also appeared primarily within the RPG games, where they are usually allies. Paratroopas will lose their wings and become normal Koopa Troopas after being jumped on. In Super Mario RPG, Paratroopas appeared often in place of standard Koopa Troopas and were known as Sky Koopas and Malakoopas. While the Green Koopa Troopa is the most commonly shown, with Paratroopas it is usually the red variant that is featured.

There have been several playable Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas within the RPG games. Paper Mario had the Troopa Kooper and the Paratroopa named Parakarry, while Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door had Koops.

In Dr. Mario World, Koopa Troopa and Koopa Paratroopa were available as assistant characters, and a doctor version of the Koopa Troopa was made available as a playable character starting in late May 2020. The assistants and character were all available at random through the game's Staffing feature.

Subspecies

There are a variety of Koopa subspecies that have appeared throughout the games, with the most prominent being the following.

• Buzzy Beetle
• Chargin' Chuck
• Dry Bones
• Hammer Bros.
  • Boomerang Bros.
  • Fire Bros.
  • Sumo Bros.
• Lakitu
• Magikoopa
• Spiny

Additionally, although they do not have a proper subspecies, there are traits shared by Bowser, his children and Koopa bosses known as Boom Boom. They have more human-like faces, hair and spiked shells. They also seem to be more intelligent than normal Koopas, possibly due to being of a higher class.

Koopa Troopa/Paratroopa Variants

• Ankoopa - This is a large and husky type of Koopa appearing in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. It blocks the brothers' path in the manner of an anchor and can only be knocked over using the Firebrand Bros. attack.
• Bombshell Koopa - Unique Koopas found in Sarasaland in Super Mario Land. When Mario Stomps on their shells, they will explode in a few seconds. They originally went by the name of Nokobon.
• Dark Koopa/Dark Paratroopa - Found in the Toad Town Sewers in Paper Mario, these dark-shelled Koopas can make Mario dizzy by spinning wildly. They were simply more powerful Koopas in Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, with their dizzy effects being passed on to Shady Koopas, and Dark Paratroopas were introduced. In Super Paper Mario, the Dark Koopa and Dark Paratroopa are stronger, shadowy versions of the original enemies found in the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials.
• Electro-Koopa - Only appearing in Super Mario Sunshine, these Koopas will launch their electric Shells towards Mario in an attempt to electrocute him. They have a different design than most Koopas and notably walk on all fours.
• Gargantua Koopa/Colossal Koopa Paratroopa - These are the giant versions of the Koopas found in Big Island in Super Mario Bros. 3.
• Glad Red Koopa/Paratroopa - This is an emotional variant from Super Princess Peach caused by the Vibe Wand's effects. Their behaviors are similar to Red Koopas but more gleeful. The Glad Red Koopa Troopa is known to skip.
• Heavy Troopa - This is an obese version of the Paratroopa featured in Super Mario RPG. They are primarily found around Nimbus Land and some worked for Valentina. They are very powerful yet lazy and take several turns to prepare their attacks. Heavy Troopas have red shells, and a stronger green-shelled version known as the Tub-o-Troopa is found at Bowser's Keep.
• Koopa Striker - Soccer-playing Koopas usually found in pairs, they kick soccerball-like shells towards Mario in hopes of defeating him. Paired versions are known as Toopa Strikers, and the more powerful versions are known as Soopa Strikers and Dark Strikers. They appear in Super Paper Mario.
• Koopatrol - The most powerful Koopa subspecies. They have the ability to charge their attacks, and their pointy helmets makes jumping on them a bad idea. They are usually used as guards in the Paper Mario games. There is also a stronger version called the Dark Koopatrol. In The Thousand Year Door one known as The Koopinator was faced at the Glitz Pit, and in Super Paper Mario it was a stronger and shadowy version of the Koopatrol from the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials.
• KP Koopa/KP Paratroopa - Gold-shelled Koopas fought in the Glitz Pit in The Thousand Year Door, they have no outstanding characteristics, and are basically the same as normal Koopas.
• Mad Green Koopa/Paratroopa - An emotional variant from Super Princess Peach caused by the effects of the Vibe Wand. They are aggressive and will rush at Peach when she is sighted.
• Shady Koopa/Shady Paratroopa - These are enemies faced in the Glitz Pit in The Thousand Year Door. They are blue-shelled and shown with a darker pigmentation. Shady Koopas can attack even when flipped onto their backs
• Super Koopa - Koopas donning capes instead of shells. They appear in Super Mario World and soar through the air in hopes of defeating Mario. They will usually drop Cape Feathers upon defeat.
• Terrapin - This is an armored green Koopa (in a similar vein as the later Koopatrol) from Super Mario RPG. The stronger red-shelled version is known as Terra Cotta. Oddly enough, the Terrapin design was even used for non-playable Koopas within the game such as Chef Torte.

Other

• Koopeleon
• Snooze-A-Koopa

Sports

Koopa Troopas and Patatroopas have sometimes made playable appearances in sports games. Unless otherwise noted, all Koopa Troopas are usually green-shelled, while the Paratroopas that appear are typically red-shelled.

• Kart Racing: A Koopa Troopa was one of the original racers from Super Mario Kart. It returned as a playable racer in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart Tour (unlocked through the game's gacha feature or in-game shop). A Paratroopa was also playable in Double Dash!!. Other Koopa Troopas made available in Tour included a red and gold Freerunning Koopa, the former being made available starting in December 2019, while the latter was available only during certain tours, starting with the New Year's Tour in January 2020.
• Golf: There have been playable appearances by a Koopa Troopa in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour and a Paratroopa in Mario Golf: World Tour (unlocked by collecting 50 Star Coins in Challenge Mode).
• Tennis: Koopa Troopa was playable in Mario's Tennis, Mario Power Tennis and Mario Tennis Aces (unlocked by participating in a July 2018 online tournament or through a free update the following month). A red Paratroopa was also playable in Mario Tennis, Mario Power Tennis (unlocked by clearing all World Open cups in Doubles) and Mario Tennis Aces (unlocked by taking part in an November 2018 online tournament or through a free update the following month).
• Soccer: Koopa Troopas appear as sidekick characters in Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged.
• Baseball: Green and Red Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas were available as team players in Mario Superstar Baseball and Mario Super Sluggers.
• Other Sports: The Paratroopa could be unlocked as a playable character in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 by beating the Mushroom Tourney with at least a bronze cup. In Mario Sports Superstars, Koopa Troopas were available as side characters for baseball and soccer games (both green and red, with blue and yellow also being available for soccer), and Paratroopas (green, red, blue and yellow) were available for soccer only. Koopa Troopas also appeared as enemies in the Road to Superstar minigame.

Mario Party

Within the Mario Party games, Koopas mostly appear as minor characters and usually run the Koopa Bank on various boards. A Koopa Troopa was also available as a partner for the Battle Mode of Mario Party 3. In the Story Mode of Mario Party 4, a Koopa Troopa with a bowtie appeared as one of the game's hosts, who were throwing the player's character's birthday party. A Paratroopa Orb appeared in Mario Party 5 and 6 with different effects each time. A Koopa also plays a role in the story of Mario Party DS, where he enlists the help of Mario's friends to save his grandfather, Koopa Kreg, after he was trapped in a magic book. Once Kamek was defeated and Kreg freed, the Koopa thanked them with a Sky Crystal.

The Koopa Troopa has eventually made appearances as a playable character in Mario Party 9 and Super Mario Party. In Super Mario Party, Paratroopas also appear on boards and will offer to take a character to another character's location for 5 coins.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II, one unnamed character (who gives Mike Jones a pizza to deliver to Cleopatra) is seen mounted on a Koopa Troopa in the desert.
• In Mario is Missing! and Mario's Time Machine, Koopas need to be sought out to retrieve artifacts from them. They cannot deal any damage in this version and cartoonishly disintegrate when stomped on.
• In Hotel Mario, Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas appeared and were referred to as Koopas ans Flying Koopas. The Koopa Troopas would go around the close doors opened by Mario, while Paratroopas acted as standard enemies. There was also a stronger (and formally dressed) version of the Paratroopa that was called the Z Koopa.
• Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas appear as enemies in the Adventure Modes of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl as well as in the Smash Run mode of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, where they are dispatched in a similar manner as in the games. Green Koopa Shells also commonly appear as items throughout the games.
  • They are also represented by one trophy each in Melee, two trophies (of the red and green color variations for both) and a sticker each (of a Koopa from Super Mario Strikers and Paratroopa from Super Paper Mario) in Brawl, two trophies each (again of both color variations in the 3DS version, while the Wii U version only has the Green Koopa and Red Paratroopa) in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U and as a Novice-Rank Support Spirit (for the Green Koopa) in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The Spirit's Support effect is for player to start a fight equipped with a Green Shell, and its Spirit can be fought in a Spirit battle where it possesses a Squirtle and fights with Green Shells. The Green Koopa Troopa is also featured in the art used for the Standard Kart's Spirit.
• A Koopa Troopa appears as an opponent in Yakuman DS.
• In Scribblenauts Unlimited, it was possible to generate green and red-shelled Koopa Troopas.
• In Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas (with green, red and yellow variations appearing for both) appeared as enemies and recruitable allies. Most of them also appeared as partners for the enhanced forms of some of the Koopalings. The Koopas could also be transformed into their big counterparts and Dry Bones with the right mushrooms.
• In Nintendo releases of SkyLanders: Superchargers, Koopa Troopas and Paratroopas appear as part of Bowser's moveset. Bowser is also shown to be able to turn Koopa Troopas into Dry Bones.
• Through the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack available for Nintendo releases of Minecraft, green Koopa Troopas replace sheep and turtles, while Paratroopas replace Vexes. It also includes a playable Koopa Troopa skin.

Trivia

• In the Japanese version, Koopa (or as it is spelled there, "Kuppa") is used as the name for Bowser, and "Noko Noko" is used for Koopas instead. The name of "Kuppa" was apparently inspired by a Korean dish.
• Koopa Troopas are usually humorously depicted with t-shirts and shorts under their shells.
• In the Paper Mario games, the Koopa Troopa enemies are differentiated from the friendly Koopas by the enemies wearing shades.

See Also

• Mecha-Koopa
• Koopea