Kooper

Kooper as seen in Paper Mario
Kooper
Species	Koopa Troopa
Weaponry	Blue Koopa Shell
Debut	Paper Mario

Kooper is a Koopa Troopa who acts as the second recruitable partner in the original Paper Mario. He is a blue-shelled Koopa Troopa who has several distinguishing elements to his appearance, such as his red armbands and bandana. His artwork also depicts him with a pair of bandages on one cheek, although that is absent from his in-game sprite.

Background

Kooper lived in Koopa Village. For his entire life, he lived next door to Professor Kolorado, the famed archeologist and adventurer. Kooper grew up admiring the professor and listened to tales of his discoveries. He aspired to become an archeologist and go on adventurers as well. So he came to yearn for adventure.

During the first chapter of Paper Mario, Mario arrived at the Koopa Village while they were dealing with a situation. A pack of Fuzzies had attacked the village and stolen all of the villagers' shells. Kooper was one of the victims. Although he attempted to fend off his assailant, the Fuzzy managed to escape. Kooper pleaded with Mario to help him, and Mario was ultimately able to retrieve the shell for him from the forested area behind Kooper's house. Kooper arrived to claim his shell and offered to join Mario's group, as he saw this as the opportunity for adventure that he had been hoping for. Kooper joined just in time to help Mario to defeat a group of Fuzzies.

Kooper remained with Mario for the rest of his adventure. This included meeting up with and working with Kolorado at the Dry Dry Desert in the second chapter. After Bowser was defeated, Kooper was asked to accompany Kolorado's group in an expedition to the Crystal Palace, as Kooper had explored it during their adventures. However, they were stopped by Parakarry, who brought Kooper an invitation to a celebration that would be held at Princess Peach's Castle. Kooper felt conflicted, as he did not want to abandon the research team, but Kolorado persuaded him that he should attend the celebration as the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom. With that, Kooper set off to attend the celebration.

Abilities

Kooper uses the Shell Toss to hit a switch.

Outside of battle, Kooper can duck into his shell and be kicked by Mario to get a preemptive strike against enemies or to grab items and hit switches on the other side of impassable gaps. While his shell can defy gravity, it cannot pass through walls.

In battle, Kooper has the following attacks:

• Shell Toss - Kooper spins in place, then slides into the front enemy on the ground, similar to Mario's Hammer.
• Power Shell - For 3 FP, Kooper spins in place and then hits every enemy on the ground.
• Dizzy Shell - For 4 FP, Kooper whips up a tornado that can make all ground-bound enemies dizzy for a few turns.
• Fire Shell - For 5 FP, Kooper's shell will catch fire, then blaze through all ground-bound enemies. This is the only attack in Paper Mario that does fire damage.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• Kooper appeared in the Super Mario-Kun manga during its Paper Mario arc, where he played a similar role as in the game. Kooper and Goombario were Mario's most consistent partners in the arc, while the other partners' appearances were temporary. Kooper and Goombario also made a cameo appearance in the following volume, which was redubbed Super Wario-Kun, where they were seen with Mario before being pushed away by Wario.

Canceled Appearances

• Like the rest of the Paper Mario partners, Kooper seems to have been intended to make a cameo appearance in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door; a remade sprite of him was found in the game's files. However, only Parakarry and Bow made the final cut, and it is unknown what Kooper's intended appearance may have entailed.

Trivia

• His name seems to be a simple play on the name "Cooper" and "Koopa". His Japanese name is "Kameki", which is a play on "kame", the Japanese word for "turtle".
• Before recruiting him, Goombario can provide a Tattle about him "It's a pity that he's missing his shell. How embarrassing! His name is Kooper. I wonder if he'd be our friend for life if we got his shell back for him."
• If Mario kicks Kooper while standing underneath the Save Block outside of the Toad House in Toad Town, their sprites will merge when Kooper returns.
• Kooper can receive three letters throughout the game: first from Kolorado's wife, then Koover, and finally a secret admirer.
• His role was succeeded by a different Koopa named Koops in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Koops had a different personality, but he otherwise had similar abilities and also joined during that game's first chapter.
• In Super Paper Mario, Kooper is seen in a group picture of all of the Paper Mario partners that can be seen displayed in Mario's house, and a Catch Card of Kooper can also be found on the thirtieth floor of the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials. It can be sold for 329 coins.
  • #242 "This is Mario's good buddy Kooper from Paper Mario. His Power Shell move was, and is, a thing of beauty."
• A sticker of Kooper appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.