Mario Dashes Past Two Goombas

About this drawing

Mario running from Goombas is a sight fans have known since 1985. In Mario's first big side-scrolling adventure, the Goomba was the very first enemy on screen, so it taught a whole generation of players how to stomp on the bad guys.

A Goomba looks like a brown mushroom with feet, angry eyebrows and two little fangs. It shuffles back and forth and never jumps or attacks from a distance. One well-timed hop on its head is enough to flatten it like a pancake, but brushing into one from the side still costs Mario.

The old game manuals explained that Goombas once lived peacefully in the Mushroom Kingdom before switching sides to join Bowser's army. Their Japanese name, Kuribo, comes from the word for chestnut, which explains their round, nutty shape.

Since then Goombas have appeared in nearly every Mario game. They show up in crowds, stacked into towers, hiding in pipes and even riding in shoes. They may be the weakest enemies around, yet they remain one of the most recognizable creatures in video game history. Not bad for a little walking mushroom with a frown.

• mario
• goombas
• video games
• bubbles