Unshelled Koopa
| Unshelled Koopa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork of a Beach Koopa chasing its shell, from Super Mario 3D World | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario World (1990) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021) | ||
| Variant of | Koopa Troopa | ||
| |||
| |||
A Beach Koopa,[1] also known as a Koopa without a Shell,[2] Shell-less Koopa Troopa,[3] or Unshelled Koopa Troopa,[4] is a Koopa Troopa that has lost its shell and wears nothing more than an undershirt (and/or, in some cases, boxer shorts), first appearing in Super Mario World. In their original appearance, Beach Koopas appear small and hunched over, but they were later depicted as being able to walk around like normal, shell-wearing Koopa Troopas. In many of the Mario platformers, when a Beach Koopa finds a shell, it reverts to a normal Koopa Troopa.
History
Mario Bros.
While technically not shell-less Koopas, in the original arcade version of Mario Bros., if the Shellcreepers are left alone, not attacked, while they are upside down, they will pop out from their shells to flip back their shells. When this happens, they highly resemble shell-less Koopas, wearing a sleeveless white shirt and shorts.
Super Mario series
Super Mario World
When first knocked out of its shell, a Koopa is extremely vulnerable. If given enough time, it will right itself and pace forwards in search of a new shell. Koopas without Shells act very similarly to their shelled counterparts: Green ones fall off cliffs, while red ones and the slightly faster blue ones try to avoid falling; the yellow ones act like a quicker green one, but they will also follow Mario or Luigi and attempt to jump over shells thrown at them. The technical reason for the small, hunched-over appearance is so the "sliding out" graphics have the same hitbox parameters as the walking sprites, as each sprite for each individual object in Super Mario World must use the same hitbox.
Green and red Koopas without Shells will become the color of the shell they enter. If the shell is upside down, they will kick it rightside up before entering. Yellow Koopas without Shells will attempt to jump into any nearby shell; once it enters a shell, it will become a flashing Shell, which will flash rainbow colors and spin around after Mario or Luigi. If two Koopas without Shells enter the same shell simultaneously, they will become only one Koopa Troopa.
Blue Koopas without Shells are visually distinctive, with larger bodies and a lack of vulnerability upon being removed from their shells. Instead of reentering them, they will kick any shell they come into contact with, even stopping moving ones thrown at them; they will also do the same with stunned Goombas, Bob-ombs, flashing Grab Blocks, and Buzzy Beetle shells in their path. In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, this also allows them to withstand enemies spat at them by Yoshi while Luigi is riding him. Blue Koopas without Shells may also appear while sliding down slopes towards Mario or Luigi. Any Super Koopa who wields a flashing cape will revert into a blue Koopa without a Shell after being stomped on and relinquishing its Cape Feather.
The original artwork of a Koopa being knocked out of its shell serves as the basis for a similar artwork that appears as a stamp in Super Mario 3D World.
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario can attack a Koopa Troopa to knock it out of its shell, transforming the Koopa Troopa into a Beach Koopa. Attacking the Beach Koopa defeats it and releases a Blue Coin. If not defeated, the Beach Koopa will frantically attempt to dive back into its shell—this occurs even if one of the player characters is riding it, typically resulting in the Beach Koopa's defeat. Even after the shell is destroyed, the Beach Koopa will run aimlessly as if it never lost its shell.
Super Mario Sunshine
In Super Mario Sunshine, Blue Electrokoopas throw their shell at Mario, effectively becoming 'Beach Koopas' temporarily. Mario can defeat these Electrokoopas by jumping on them after they throw their shell, giving him one Coin; he can also squirt them with water, stunning the Electrokoopa and electrifying it with its own returning shell, giving Mario four Coins instead. These Koopas have pink boxer shorts.
Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Beach Koopas reappear in Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port. Unlike in other games, they share the same behavior as regular Koopa Troopas in the game, except they have an angry look. If the player keeps them away from their shells long enough or throws the shells away, they will become disappointed and briefly stop chasing the player.
Super Mario Maker series
In Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, Beach Koopas appear after they are knocked out of their shells in the Super Mario World game style. Red Beach Koopas make their first appearance since Yoshi's Island DS, only appearing if a Red Koopa Troopa in the level is stomped on.
In Super Mario Maker 2, the above is also true of the Super Mario 3D World game style; Red Beach Koopas make their first 3D appearance. Beach Koopas can also drive Koopa Troopa Cars in the Super Mario 3D World style; after defeating them, the player can then drive the car themselves.
Super Mario World television series
One Koopa without a Shell appears in the Super Mario World episode "Fire Sale", where the silent Koopa Troopa henchman of Kootie Pie Koopa is continually knocked out of his shell, usually during one of Kootie Pie's violent temper-tantrums. He wears yellow shorts with red hearts on them.
Mario is Missing!
Although normal Koopas without Shells do not appear in the MS-DOS version of Mario is Missing!, the ending features Luigi removing Bowser's shell. When he does so, Bowser is shown to be wearing polka-dotted boxer shorts, similar to a Koopa without a Shell. In the NES version, a normal Koopa without a Shell appears after the small Bowser's defeat.
Yoshi series
Beach Koopas are also found in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 and Yoshi's Island DS, although here, they walk upright when evicted from their shells, instead of becoming small and hunched over, as in Super Mario World. This is due to them not ever sliding, meaning they can have the same hitbox as an ordinary Koopa Troopa. In these games, they are shirtless and wear colored shorts, likely inspiring their name. Additionally, in Yoshi's Island, Hookbill the Koopa becomes a Beach Koopa upon defeat.
Paper Mario
Beach Koopas make a brief appearance in Paper Mario, when the Fuzzies appearing in Koopa Village steal the local Koopa Troopas' shells. This fate also befalls Kooper, though Mario eventually returns his shell to him.
Super Princess Peach
Beach Koopas reappear in Super Princess Peach, appearing as they do in the Yoshi sidescrollers, but with a noticeable smile compared to their other appearances. Like Blindfold Boos, blue Podoboos, and Security Thwomps, they do not appear in the in-game glossary.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Beach Koopas also appear in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. If the player counterattacks a Koopa Troopa's shell attack with the hammer, it will get knocked out of its shell before it gets back in.
Other appearances
The concept of a shell-less turtle enemy was planned for the original Super Mario Bros. It had the tentative name 「ベア クリーパー」 (Bea Kurīpā, Bare Creeper), and it appears to have held a pointed weapon.[5]
Profiles and statistics
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
- Official Nintendo Player's Guide: Shorn of its shell, the Koopa Troopa shows he's no Schwarzenegger. You can make him into an egg, though.[1]
Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.
- Bio: ノコノコやマントガメを踏むと現れる。こうらを蹴り飛ばすタイプもいる。[6]
They appear when you step on Koopa Troopas or mantled turtles. There is also a type that kicks off the shells.
Gallery
Super Mario World
Super Mario World
Super Mario World
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
Super Mario 3D World (stamp)
Japanese commercial for a Super Mario World themed desk from Kurogane
Super Mario Fun Picture Book 1: Search for the Super Star
Super Mario Adventure Game Picture Book 3: Take down the Bomb King!
Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 6: Let's Bring Back the Shells
Super Mario Picture Book with Peel-and-Release Stickers 6: Let's Bring Back the Shells
Stamp artwork from Super Nintendo World
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | はだかノコノコ[7] Hadaka Nokonoko |
Naked Koopa Troopa | |
| German | Panzerloser Koopa[?] | Shell-less Koopa | |
| Italian | Koopa Beach[8] | Beach Koopa | |
| Spanish | Koopa de Playa[citation needed] | Beach Koopa |
References
- ^ a b M. Arakawa. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Player's Guide. Page 126.
- ^ M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 50.
- ^ Stratton, Bryan. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2–Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 21.
- ^ English Super Mario World entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved August 13, 2022. (Archived August 13, 2022 14:17:58 UTC via archive.today.)
- ^ Nintendo (September 14, 2015). Nintendo Digital Event @ E3 2015. YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ 「スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), page 55.
- ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario World section, page 55.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Encicloepdia; pag. 55
- Koopa Troopas
- Bowser's Fury enemies
- Super Mario 3D World enemies
- Super Mario 64 enemies
- Super Mario Maker enemies
- Super Mario Maker 2 enemies
- Super Mario World enemies
- Super Mario World (television series)
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island enemies
- Super Princess Peach enemies
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
- Yoshi's Island DS
