I didn't know that Nintendo retconned an iconic Super Mario enemy recently. Some Goombas are now Galoombas

[entremet]

Some gaming esoterica here, I know they were in 3D World, but it didn't click until a recent replay of SMW.

If you see the bottom sprite, those were called Goombas in SMW. As a kid, I thought, wow, what a crazy redesign. They lost their mushroom shape but you could grab and kick them. No more satisfying squish. I just thought it was redesign. The koopas also got a big redesign in SMW. They were bipedal and came out of their shells. SoI thought it was just an evolution of classic Mario enemies in the 16 bit era.

if you beat the game, they're called Goombas in the enemy staff roll.

However, I just noticed that these were in later Mario games with Goombas and were renamed to Galoombas. Personally, I wished these things would've stayed the default goomba.

However, doing some quick research looks like they were a different enemy all along. If you look at the Japanese, back in the SMW days, they were called Kuribon. While Goombas are called Kuribō. So looks like Nintendo might have fixed a localization error.

 

[MrKlaw]

Is it some kind of chestnut or similar?

 

[Bengraven]

One of my least favorite parts of SMW was the redesigned Goombas. Glad they retconned this.

 

[entremet]

One of my least favorite parts of SMW was the redesigned Goombas. Glad they retconned this.

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From a game design perspective, galoombas were genius in SMW. Because you got use the new grab and kick mechanics. They taught it you it.

 

[gr8kamon]

Child me feels vindicated because I didn't think they were the same thing until Mario Maker when they were in the SMW tileset instead of Goombas. Happy to know the TRUTH

 

[red mage]

I never noticed the Koopa redesign lmao

 

[Liam Allen-Miller]

One of my least favorite parts of SMW was the redesigned Goombas. Glad they retconned this.

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It was not retconned; in the Japanese version, they are correctly labelled as "Kuribon", compared to the default Goomba being named "Kuribo". It was a difference in localization (possibly even an error) that got them called Goomba in other regions. (See page 33 of this manual for the original "kuribon" text: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-VAAAJ.pdf)

 

[Acetown]

The Japanese name translates to chestnut person so their Super Mario World design accurately reflects the name. Why they chose to call an enemy that's obviously a mushroom Kuribō is the real mystery.

 

[Bengraven]

It was not retconned; in the Japanese version, they are correctly labelled as "Kuribon", compared to the default Goomba being named "Kuribo". It was a difference in localization (possibly even an error) that got them called Goomba in other regions. (See page 33 of this manual for the original "kuribon" text: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-VAAAJ.pdf)

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Interesting! I dig that.

Makes sense since I thought they looked like acorns.

 

[entremet]

It was not retconned; in the Japanese version, they are correctly labelled as "Kuribon", compared to the default Goomba being named "Kuribo". It was a difference in localization (possibly even an error) that got them called Goomba in other regions. (See page 33 of this manual for the original "kuribon" text: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-VAAAJ.pdf)

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I say this in the OP.

But the error was so big that it does feel like a retcon. Plus they fill the Goomba's place in SMW, so it's kinda interesting how they replaced them instead of being included with them.

Seems like a punny thing too since the names are very similar in Japanese, but mean different things.

 

[BassForever]

I say this in the OP.

But the error was so big that it does feel like a retcon. Plus they fill the Goomba's place in SMW, so it's kinda interesting how they replaced them instead of being included with them.

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A mistranslation being fixed later on isn't a retcon, it's a mistranslation. Same with Aeris vs Aerith.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

From a game design perspective, galoombas were genius in SMW. Because you got use the new grab and kick mechanics. They taught it you it.

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And you can still instakill them in one hit with the spin jump.

 

[entremet]

A mistranslation being fixed later on isn't a retcon, it's a mistranslation. Same with Aeris vs Aerith.

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This is a bit more interesting than a simple mistranslation, which is the origin.

For example, these enemies completely replace the iconic Goombas in SMW. They're not an addition to Goombas like later Mario games. So the perception is way different than the FFVII one.

You had millions of kids growing up with these as goombas.

 

[The Mango Sentinel]

From a game design perspective, galoombas were genius in SMW. Because you got use the new grab and kick mechanics. They taught it you it.

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Couldn't you do that in SMB3 though?

Or am I not remembering correctly.

Plus, couldn't they have just taught you with regular ass Koopa troopas?

 

[entremet]

Couldn't you do that in SMB3 though?

Or am I not remembering correctly.

Plus, couldn't they have just taught you with regular ass Koopa troopas?

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You can grab and kick shelled enemies. Goombas could not be grabbed. SMW also included vertical throwing.

 

[BassForever]

Couldn't you do that in SMB3 though?

Or am I not remembering correctly.

Plus, couldn't they have just taught you with regular ass Koopa troopas?

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Goombas are native to the mushroom kingdom
Galoombas are native to dinosaur island

This is extremely critical lore and there will be a quiz

 

[Hrist]

I don't agree that this is "a big error", nor a retcon, entremet. It feels so to you, but...

...even the japanese manual points out specifically that they move, act and look similar to Goomba. At the time, the English team may just have decided to handle them as a subspecies of goomba, just like a Siamese Cat and a Main Coon both are cats, both Kuribon and Kuribo could be the same species.

So it may not even have been an error, just a reasonable localization decision. The only difference in the name is an extra n-character at the end. And if it was an error, it likely was because of how things were translated at the time, often with poor references.

 

[entremet]

I don't agree that this is "a big error", nor a retcon, entremet. It feels so to you, but...

...even the japanese manual points out specifically that they move, act and look similar to Goomba. At the time, the English team may just have decided to handle them as a subspecies of goomba, just like a Siamese Cat and a Main Coon both are cats, both Kuribon and Kuribo could be the same species.

So it may not even have been an error, just a reasonable localization decision. The only difference in the name is an extra n-character at the end. And if it was an error, it likely was because of how things were translated at the time, often with poor references.

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Def.

Apparently, still many people think these are Goombas lol. Again, this is just a fun thread on this funny fact. And they only got an official non-Japanese name 10 years ago with 3DWorld.


View: https://youtu.be/O0RRbawPcBw?si=yE4FXoVs0j3jcNyh

 

[red mage]

One of my least favorite parts of SMW was the redesigned Goombas. Glad they retconned this.

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It was not retconned; in the Japanese version, they are correctly labelled as "Kuribon", compared to the default Goomba being named "Kuribo". It was a difference in localization (possibly even an error) that got them called Goomba in other regions. (See page 33 of this manual for the original "kuribon" text: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-VAAAJ.pdf)

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Interesting! I dig that.

Makes sense since I thought they looked like acorns.

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OP actually mentioned that in the OP:

If you look at the Japanese, back in the SMW days, they were called Kuribon. While Goombas are called Kuribō. So looks like Nintendo might have fixed a localization error.

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[Ashes of Dreams]

For some reason I thought that when you completed the Special Zone it changed the Galoombas into Goombas but after reading this thread I looked it up and that isn't true at all. My memory has been lying to me for years.

 

[NeonZ]

I didn't realize they were supposed to be Goombas (in the localization at least) until years later. Not only their design and mechanics were different, they were late game enemies, rather than being around from the start like Goombas.

 

[entremet]

I didn't realize they were supposed to be Goombas (in the localization at least) until years later. Not only their design and mechanics were different, they were late game enemies, rather than being around from the start like Goombas.

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Yeah, it's in the American manual too. Page 23.

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAAE.pdf

 

[Hrist]

Def.

Apparently, still many people think these are Goombas lol. Again, this is just a fun thread on this funny fact. And they only got an official non-Japanese name 10 years ago with 3DWorld.

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It's definitely a fun detail!

They get different space too, half a page in Japanese. And English only gets the first line of the text, the "lore/story" of them got cut entirely. The japanese says the same as EN, then goes on that they look and move like Kuribo, and then speculates they might be distant relatives. Not important, so Nintendo of America just cut it, I guess.


It's somewhat interesting how today's serious wiki-treatment of game lore (everything must be exactly categorized!) clashes with the rather loose handling a few decades back. Goomba vs Galoomba, the Zelda timeline, the way the original Warcraft lore was created in an afternoon (and is now taken super seriously!). A couple decades back, everything flew loose and was pieced together by duct tape. I miss that.

 

[MoonlitBow]

For example, these enemies completely replace the iconic Goombas in SMW. They're not an addition to Goombas like later Mario games. So the perception is way different than the FFVII one.

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SMW also took place in a different part of the world than the Mushroom Kingdom, so it makes sense that it features very different enemies than what are normal.

 

[entremet]

SMW also took place in a different part of the world than the Mushroom Kingdom, so it makes sense that it features very different enemies than what are normal.

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Oh for sure, but it still had classic enemies--Koopas, Bullet Bills, Lakitu, etc.

It wasn't that different like, say, its sequel, Yoshi's Island, which really distinguished that world. Yoshi's creatures list is now pretty distinguished funny enough. This is best seen in the recent Yoshi's Island MK8D track.

 

[Crashman]

From what I understand, the issue comes up due to Goomba's Japanese name. Goombas are Kuribo, which translates out to Chestnut guy, more or less, which itself is probably a misunderstanding of whomever was naming them originally, misinterpreting the sprite. Regular Goombas are based on shiitake mushrooms, but because of that weirdness at the beginning were named after chestnuts, so come SMW, you get the joke of the Galoomba, who are actually little chestnut creatures for real this time.

But in English, they were never given a name that reflected that they were either mushrooms or chestnuts.

 

[Victim]

SMW also took place in a different part of the world than the Mushroom Kingdom, so it makes sense that it features very different enemies than what are normal.

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yea, I think it was dinosaur land or something. It seemed they wanted to make a more "normal" world because SMB2 was weird in a surreal sense and SMB3 was just mario-weird

 

[red mage]

They get different space too, half a page in Japanese. And English only gets the first line of the text, the "lore/story" of them got cut entirely. The japanese says the same as EN, then goes on that they look and move like Kuribo, and then speculates they might be distant relatives. Not important, so Nintendo of America just cut it, I guess.

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So it's not a localization error; they deliberately removed these little guys' lore in order to justify the "Goomba" name

 

[JuicyPlayer]

One of my least favorite parts of SMW was the redesigned Goombas. Glad they retconned this.

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The beta screenshots of SMW have traditional goombas. I wish they kept them too.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

I didn't realize they were supposed to be Goombas (in the localization at least) until years later. Not only their design and mechanics were different, they were late game enemies, rather than being around from the start like Goombas.

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Don't they first show up in Donut Plains, which is 'World 2'? That's closer to the start than late game.

 

[Bengraven]

Off topic but god I miss that 80s/early 90s hand drawn art in instruction manuals. So charming and the colors always popped. Hated when they switched to CG style or no pictures in late SNES/64 era.

 

[entremet]

Off topic but god I miss that 80s/early 90s hand drawn art in instruction manuals. So charming and the colors always popped. Hated when they switched to CG style or no pictures in late SNES/64 era.

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Isn't there a specific artist that did those? They're very iconic. I'm talking about the Mario games.

 

[Bengraven]

Isn't there a specific artist that did those? They're very iconic. I'm talking about the Mario games.

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That's who I'm thinking of too. Especially 3 and World.

 

[NeonZ]

Don't they first show up in Donut Plains, which is 'World 2'? That's closer to the start than late game.

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I remember them mostly from Forest of Illusion. But looking now apparently they are in the last Donut Plains stage before the castle.

 

[Dyle]

As a kid it never made sense to me that they would fundamentally redesign an enemy like this. Goombas' most important trait is that they get squashed. Something that can't get squashed could not be a Goomba

 

[Hrist]

Off topic but god I miss that 80s/early 90s hand drawn art in instruction manuals. So charming and the colors always popped. Hated when they switched to CG style or no pictures in late SNES/64 era.

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Me too, they really were lovely. Tunic is incredibly nostalgic for that aspect alone.

...I also miss the really big "guidebooks" Nintendo sometimes added to games, like Secret of Mana. As a child I loved reading over these long after I played the game. Filled with little illustrations too.

 

[Drain You]

I had no idea people called those enemies in SMW goombas.

 

[andymcc]

Off topic but god I miss that 80s/early 90s hand drawn art in instruction manuals. So charming and the colors always popped. Hated when they switched to CG style or no pictures in late SNES/64 era.

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the full color manuals for Nintendo first party titles were so good too.

I remember always pouring over the details in them when I was younger (esp SMB3)... Sega's manuals were always black & white and pretty lousy-- even for Sonic.

 

[MisterHero]

I always assumed they were Dinosaur Island relatives of Goombas

 

[Jaded Alyx]

I had no idea people called those enemies in SMW goombas.

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The game itself called them that.

 

[Drain You]

The game itself called them that.

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Yea, and I'm saying I had no idea.

 

[Spoit]

Aw, even you said gal-oombas, I was just thinking of the one with the ponytail

 

[CyberWolfBia]

If they have a different function, they should have a different name. I was glad 3D World when cleared that up.

 

[Cow Mengde]

These guys can't even be killed like a regular Goomba. I like this retcon.

 

[Empyrean Cocytus]

Yeah I wasn't a fan of them in SMW. Then again it was nice they could be used as projectiles ala Koopa shells.

 

[mudron]

Yeah, those things were clearly not Goombas, even back in 1991.

 

[Li Kao]

The Japanese name translates to chestnut person so their Super Mario World design accurately reflects the name. Why they chose to call an enemy that's obviously a mushroom Kuribō is the real mystery.

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Kuribon translates to chestnut person ? So what is the translation of Kuribo ?

 

[TacoSupreme]

I only played SMW at a friend's house back when I was a kid, so I somehow never realized that those abominations were called Goombas in the credits. Let's hope that no one ever again makes the mistake of conflating the magnificent and refined Goomba with the vile and grotesque Galoomba.

 

[NaikoGames]

Galoomba sounds funny as hell