BuzzyBeetleLover
Koopa Troopa
If it isn't obvious, I am a big fan of the Koopa Tribe. The Koopa Tribe is a species of turtles (Such as Koopa Troopas, Magikoopas, Hammer Bros, Lakitu's, etc) that appear all throughout the Mario Series, the tribe is run by the Koopa family aka Bowser's Bloodline. Despite the tribe being dedicated to the Koopas, Bowser also has minions that aren't related to the Koopas like (Shy Guys, Piranha Plants, Bob-Ombs, and most importantly) Goombas, who weren't part of Bowsers army but instead the Mushroom Kingdom. Despite the Non-Turtle minions being apart of the army, Bowsers Koopa clan serve a way more important role with most of his right hand men being Koopas (Iggy and Spike, Bowser JR [who's also the prince], Kammy Koopa, Kamek, and the Koopalings).
Why am I talking about the Koopa clan then? Mario + Rabbids is the Answer. Mario + Rabbids revolves around a Rabbid named Spawny who merged the Rabbids with the Mario Universe, as a result some Rabbids were turned corrupted thanks to Spawny's incompetence. Bowser Jr decided to use Spawny to create a Rabbid army so Mario and Co. Go on another adventure to save Spawny. Throughout the game you come across many of Bowsers minions such as Goombas, Chain Chomps, Boos, and more. So what's the problem with the game, it's such a simple premise. Koopas are completely absent. Besides Bowser Jr, Both Yoshi's, and Bowser, no other Koopas show up in this game at all! Even the more important Koopas such as Kamek don't appear, but why? Well let's first talk about the Minor Koopa Cameo's. The Cameo's are very lack luster and are solely supposed to be little References rather than anything important which is why not even the Mario wiki has it covered:
#1: A series of Gerna-Duck Koopas appear with them referencing Bowser, Bowser Jr, Kamek, Yoshi, and Para-Koopa
#2: Koopa Para-Troopas appear as sprites in the Background of Genius girls room
#3 A single Koopa appears on top of Rabbid Mario's 'Splatformer"
#4: In Bowser Jrs Lair, A Koopa Shell appears on Bowser Jr's plans as well as his speakers
#5: A Spiny Shell appears on the icon for the Hopper Enemy. This is because the developers decided to use the concept art as actual icons as Hoppers don't shoot Spiny shells
#6: Beep-0 turns into a Koopa Shell in the "Lift" icon
#7: A Turtle appears for the "Bowser Jrs Lair Challenge" on the Mario + Rabbids Twitter/Facebook page
#8: Spikes make several references in the game, including their rollers appearing throughout Spooky trails and The Lava Pit, and Spikes getting 2 weapons dedicated to them
#9: Koopa heads can be seen in the concept art for the castle gates
#10: Lava Valkyries wear Buzzy Beetle-Like armor
#11: A Purple shelled Turtle appears in the beginning of the game
Besides these references, Koopas had to kick the bucket in order for the Rabbids and other Niche enemies to get time in the spotlight.Though there is an enemy type called "Supporters" who wear bags (Sherbert and Lava Supporters have Shell patterns on their bags) and some of them (Sherbert) wear body suits that look much like a Koopa Plastron. They even get flipped on their backs when dashed and tucked under their bags when stomped, which makes this and a certain robot we'll get to later the only Koopa-Rabbid hybrids in the Entire Series.
Now we must talk about Mario + Rabbids Sparks of hope, the Sequel to Kingdom Battle (the game I was just discussing). Despite being a sequel, Sparks of Hope is drastically different in many ways. From adding new weapon types to every character, to adding more original locations and characters to the series, they did 1 thing that made the game way better; Finally added Bowsers minions as actual enemies! but wait, does that mean we got more Koopa representation?!....
We got only 1 Koopa. This is a great step in the right direction, except for the fact that every other minion of Bowsers is not a Koopa (Goomba, Armored Goomba, Bob-Omb, and Thwomps). The rest are more Rabbids, even more than kingdom battle! Though the game has a bit more notable Koopas which includes; Bowser Himself, Darkmess Bowser, Magikoopa the Magnificent, Magikoopas, Probes, Dorrie, and.....
Rabbid Mechakoopas!
This, is a Rabbid Mechakoopa. A Hybrid of the Mario Series existing enemy: Mechakoopas, Robotic Koopa Troopas. Bowser can summon these guys during a battle, once summoned they pretty much act like supporting Bob-ombs. They can even be lifted up and tossed to wherever you like. There's 3 types:
The Regular Rabbid MechaKoopa
The Fire Rabbid MechaKoopa
and
The Darkmess Rabbid MechaKoopa
the second Koopa enemy behind the Magikoopa.
So with all these Koopas, surely this has to satisfy the Koopa family. It doesn't. Besides Probes, you don't meet any Koopas until you meet Bowser and the Mechakoopas in Pallete Prime AKA world 3. Dorrie only appears in 1 DLC during the final boss, Magikoopas only appears in the final world, Barrendale Mesa, Magnificent appears as a secret boss in Terra Flora, and Darkmess Bowser (+ The Mechakoopas) is the 1st boss of the 5th world. Probes are the only Koopas in the game that commonly appear in every world, and they don't even do much. Maybe Conkdors can be counted because of the Shell and Eyes but that's a little too pushy. We lost Koopas to Crowbers and Coin Coffers..
And the most confusing part is, Most Koopa can be an enemy in Sparks of hope!
Hammer (Fire, Boomerang, Ice) Bros, Dry Bones, Buster Beetles, Pom Pom, All these Koopas throw some kind of projectile. Even the Koopa Troopa itself could've been added because the Armored Goomba itself feels more like a Koopa than a Goomba. Turns out, during the making of the trailer for Sparks of hope, Koopa Troopas were meant to appear alongside other enemies.
If Bowser or Yoshi was easily added as playable characters, we could've had a little more Koopa enemies or even better, Koopa-Rabbid Hybrids.
Does this ruin the Mario + Rabbids for me? Absolutely NOT! Mario + Rabbids is some of the best Mario RPG's, i'd even say Sparks of Hope is up there with the Thousand Year Door, I just think it's weird that their are no Koopas. I like to use Bowsers Fury as an example of what Mario + Rabbids should've done to the Koopas, since Bowsers Fury has a few things in common with the Mario + Rabbids Series.
What do you think?
Why am I talking about the Koopa clan then? Mario + Rabbids is the Answer. Mario + Rabbids revolves around a Rabbid named Spawny who merged the Rabbids with the Mario Universe, as a result some Rabbids were turned corrupted thanks to Spawny's incompetence. Bowser Jr decided to use Spawny to create a Rabbid army so Mario and Co. Go on another adventure to save Spawny. Throughout the game you come across many of Bowsers minions such as Goombas, Chain Chomps, Boos, and more. So what's the problem with the game, it's such a simple premise. Koopas are completely absent. Besides Bowser Jr, Both Yoshi's, and Bowser, no other Koopas show up in this game at all! Even the more important Koopas such as Kamek don't appear, but why? Well let's first talk about the Minor Koopa Cameo's. The Cameo's are very lack luster and are solely supposed to be little References rather than anything important which is why not even the Mario wiki has it covered:
#1: A series of Gerna-Duck Koopas appear with them referencing Bowser, Bowser Jr, Kamek, Yoshi, and Para-Koopa
#2: Koopa Para-Troopas appear as sprites in the Background of Genius girls room
#3 A single Koopa appears on top of Rabbid Mario's 'Splatformer"
#4: In Bowser Jrs Lair, A Koopa Shell appears on Bowser Jr's plans as well as his speakers
#5: A Spiny Shell appears on the icon for the Hopper Enemy. This is because the developers decided to use the concept art as actual icons as Hoppers don't shoot Spiny shells
#6: Beep-0 turns into a Koopa Shell in the "Lift" icon
#7: A Turtle appears for the "Bowser Jrs Lair Challenge" on the Mario + Rabbids Twitter/Facebook page
#8: Spikes make several references in the game, including their rollers appearing throughout Spooky trails and The Lava Pit, and Spikes getting 2 weapons dedicated to them
#9: Koopa heads can be seen in the concept art for the castle gates
#10: Lava Valkyries wear Buzzy Beetle-Like armor
#11: A Purple shelled Turtle appears in the beginning of the game
Besides these references, Koopas had to kick the bucket in order for the Rabbids and other Niche enemies to get time in the spotlight.Though there is an enemy type called "Supporters" who wear bags (Sherbert and Lava Supporters have Shell patterns on their bags) and some of them (Sherbert) wear body suits that look much like a Koopa Plastron. They even get flipped on their backs when dashed and tucked under their bags when stomped, which makes this and a certain robot we'll get to later the only Koopa-Rabbid hybrids in the Entire Series.
Now we must talk about Mario + Rabbids Sparks of hope, the Sequel to Kingdom Battle (the game I was just discussing). Despite being a sequel, Sparks of Hope is drastically different in many ways. From adding new weapon types to every character, to adding more original locations and characters to the series, they did 1 thing that made the game way better; Finally added Bowsers minions as actual enemies! but wait, does that mean we got more Koopa representation?!....
We got only 1 Koopa. This is a great step in the right direction, except for the fact that every other minion of Bowsers is not a Koopa (Goomba, Armored Goomba, Bob-Omb, and Thwomps). The rest are more Rabbids, even more than kingdom battle! Though the game has a bit more notable Koopas which includes; Bowser Himself, Darkmess Bowser, Magikoopa the Magnificent, Magikoopas, Probes, Dorrie, and.....
Rabbid Mechakoopas!
This, is a Rabbid Mechakoopa. A Hybrid of the Mario Series existing enemy: Mechakoopas, Robotic Koopa Troopas. Bowser can summon these guys during a battle, once summoned they pretty much act like supporting Bob-ombs. They can even be lifted up and tossed to wherever you like. There's 3 types:
The Regular Rabbid MechaKoopa
The Fire Rabbid MechaKoopa
and
The Darkmess Rabbid MechaKoopa
the second Koopa enemy behind the Magikoopa.
So with all these Koopas, surely this has to satisfy the Koopa family. It doesn't. Besides Probes, you don't meet any Koopas until you meet Bowser and the Mechakoopas in Pallete Prime AKA world 3. Dorrie only appears in 1 DLC during the final boss, Magikoopas only appears in the final world, Barrendale Mesa, Magnificent appears as a secret boss in Terra Flora, and Darkmess Bowser (+ The Mechakoopas) is the 1st boss of the 5th world. Probes are the only Koopas in the game that commonly appear in every world, and they don't even do much. Maybe Conkdors can be counted because of the Shell and Eyes but that's a little too pushy. We lost Koopas to Crowbers and Coin Coffers..
And the most confusing part is, Most Koopa can be an enemy in Sparks of hope!
Hammer (Fire, Boomerang, Ice) Bros, Dry Bones, Buster Beetles, Pom Pom, All these Koopas throw some kind of projectile. Even the Koopa Troopa itself could've been added because the Armored Goomba itself feels more like a Koopa than a Goomba. Turns out, during the making of the trailer for Sparks of hope, Koopa Troopas were meant to appear alongside other enemies.
If Bowser or Yoshi was easily added as playable characters, we could've had a little more Koopa enemies or even better, Koopa-Rabbid Hybrids.
Does this ruin the Mario + Rabbids for me? Absolutely NOT! Mario + Rabbids is some of the best Mario RPG's, i'd even say Sparks of Hope is up there with the Thousand Year Door, I just think it's weird that their are no Koopas. I like to use Bowsers Fury as an example of what Mario + Rabbids should've done to the Koopas, since Bowsers Fury has a few things in common with the Mario + Rabbids Series.
What do you think?
