What is your favorite generic Mario enemy?

[Garlador]

Mario games are legendary and arguably the most famous video game characters of all time. It's a real testament to the developers for bringing so many weird characters to life and making them household names. Beyond the named characters and villains, even Mario's more generic enemies are full of personality and often given their time in the spotlight.

Whether it's Koopa Troopa in Mario Kart games, Piranha Plant being a selectable fighter for Smash Bros, or Blooper in Mario Party 8, the background adversaries that Mario tangles with are an equally beloved part of the Mario universe.

So which ones are your favorites?

For some reason, I've always been fond of Shy Guys.

Just something about these tiny, bashful baddies stuck with me. It's like if Nintendo did Jawas .Considering they originated in Super Mario World 2, which wasn't technically a Mario game at first, apparently Nintendo agreed since they were integrated into the Mario franchise properly soon after.

There are hundreds of other examples - some more well-known than others. What's yours?

 

[DNAbro]

Shy Guys easily.

 

[Cipher Peon]

Boo. They're ghosts, that's fun

 

[NotLiquid]

An enemy so good even Bayonetta adopted one.

Shy Guys and Piranha Plants are good runner ups, the latter especially has always been a flexible and varied species which Smash captured so well.

 

[Exist 2 Inspire]

 

[Reddaye]

Hard for me to pick between Boo and Koopa Troopa. I'm gonna say Troopa...just because they came to mind first!

 

[Zalman]

I've always loved how jolly Koopa Troopa is. Enjoyed his role in Mario Party 4 as one of the board owners.

 

[Poltergust]

Boos, of course.

After that would be Hammer Bros and Shy Guys.

 

[doops.]

Hammer Bros, easily. I admire their 'fuck you, and you, and especially you' attack strategy. Real go-getters, them.

 

[blame space]

 

[Izzwan]

I like Shy guys as well, always wondered what they look like without the mask.

 

[Crashman]

Rex.

But out of the more common types, Dry Bones and Chain Chomps.

 

[kamineko]

i really like chain chomps, shy guys, and piranha plants. so creative

shy guys probably best of all

 

[ned_ballad]

Either Boo or Dry Bones

If Dry Bones is playable in a game, I usually pick it

There's something just kinda grotesque about playing as a cartoon zombie Koopa that the series just plays completely straight like they're just normal in the Mario world to have zombies like that. Like they aren't just undead Koopas that Mario has killed in the past lol

 

[Tuorom]

He's a turtle....and a weapon

 

[Mesoian]

Bullet Bills.

 

[Berordn]

piranha plant is a jolly lad who just wants to eat and who can resist that face

nobody.

 

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

Gotta be the Fuzzys

 

[blame space]

He's a turtle....and a weapon

Click to shrink...

get this giant land koopa out of here

 

[Gartooth]

The Mario Kart series has really endeared me to Lakitu with him being the iconic flag man. In 2D Mario he's a dick. lol

 

[Kcoe27400]

Goombas look absolutely hilarious. They are the best

 

[Amnixia]

Goombas and Boos. Don't ask me to explain why, I just do.

 

[Paper Wario]

Magikoopas are the coolest but i am also a big fan of Lakitu and Boos

 

[Bear]

Chargin' Chuck. They terrified me as a kid and I've since grown to love them.

 

[Solid SOAP]

 

[super-famicom]

Phanto

 

[Forkball]

Shy Guys, followed by Ninjis.

 

[Why would you do that?]

These guys

They're really cute, lol. It almost feels like they shouldn't actually be an enemy at all.

 

[Poltergust]

Click to shrink...

All these clips and not a single "HI-HO". >:(

 

[the magical kitsune]

It's very hard to choose, but among the underdogs I'd choose snifits, bullies and tap-taps. My overall favorite is probably Lakitu and all the Lakitu variants.

 

[Deleted member 11008]

Koopa Tropa are my favorite. They look cute and are useful. There are amiibo or figurines? I would like get one ay least.

 

[TreIII]

Another reason why 3D World is one of my fave all-time Mario games?

It bought back one of my fave enemies from World! Chargin' Chucks!

 

[arcadepc]

Buzzy Beatles.

Liked to fill them with fireballs

 

[Pirateluigi]

The answer is Shy Guys, but I honestly love most of them.

 

[Dinjoralo]

Mario 3D World has these huge ants that are too dang cute.

 

[Vito]

Boo. They're ghosts, that's fun

Click to shrink...

Nailed it.

 

[tapedeck]

Shy Guy is my favorite as well.

However Mouser is a close second and always stuck with me as a kid.

 

[Tochtli79]

Boo: their mischievous smirk, their giggle, their shyness, how can you not love them? Plus they always come with iconic levels.

 

[blame space]

was psyched to see some nipper plants in the new paper mario.

 

[PucePikmin]

Spikes. For whatever reason they made this huge impression on my young mind when they added them in Mario 3, and I'm delighted whenever they pop back up.

 

[Sargerus]

Boos are cute

 

[flashman92]

Always pick boos in whatever games they're in

 

[BlueKaty]

Rip van fish

 

[LordHuffnPuff]

A Goomba

 

[blame space]

Rip van fish

Click to shrink...

this is a mood

 

[mute]

Hammer bros. Good luck getting past one if they are on steps.

Another reason why 3D World is one of my fave all-time Mario games?

It bought back one of my fave enemies from World! Chargin' Chucks!

Click to shrink...

I also love these guys but honestly have no idea why they are there.

 

[Peleo]

I love the enemy design in Mario, feel it's one of the best aspects of the series. Answering the question, it would be my avatar

 

[808s & Villainy]

These guys

They're really cute, lol. It almost feels like they shouldn't actually be an enemy at all.

Click to shrink...

The perfect balance of cute and cool. It's like a well designed Pokemon

 

[Andrew J]

My first game was Super Mario World, so I've always liked Rexes. And they've barely showed up anywhere else since!

 

[Tom Nook]