Troopa

Troopa is a term used in the Mario video game franchise to refer to the Koopa Troopa, a recurring turtle-like enemy. Koopa Troopas are bipedal reptiles with a hard shell on their backs, typically colored green or red. They are among the franchise’s most recognizable foes and have appeared in numerous games across the main series and spin-offs since their debut.

In standard platform games, a Koopa Troopa can be defeated by jumping on it, which causes it to retreat into its shell. The shell can then be kicked to travel as a projectile, capable of hitting other enemies or solving certain puzzles. Depending on the game, the shell may stop after moving a distance or when it hits a boundary, and the Koopa Troopa may re-emerge afterward. Winged variants known as Paratroopa can fly for short distances before landing and continuing to walk on the ground.

Koopa Troopas appear across a wide range of Mario titles, from classic side-scrollers to modern 3D adventures. In addition to platformers, Koopa Troopa is a playable racer in the Mario Kart series and appears in various Mario Party and sports titles, typically depicted as a versatile and enduring character within the cast.

Name and usage: The official English-language name in most materials is Koopa Troopa; Troopa is a shorthand form used by fans and in some localized texts to refer to the species. The two terms are closely linked and often used interchangeably in discussions of this familiar Mario foe.