Goomba

Goombas are enemies in Link's Awakening. They are directly based on the Goomba enemies from the Mario series.

Characteristics

Goombas appear in side-scrolling areas, predominately in dungeons. Their behavior is largely identical to the Goomba enemies of the Mario series: they simply move back and forth, turning direction only when they hit an obstacle. They are weak enemies that can be defeated by any manner of attack; however, Link can also stomp on them from above and flatten them, identically to how these enemies are defeated by jumping on them in the Mario games. Link can defeat them in this manner by either dropping onto them from a platform above, or by using the Roc's Feather to jump and land on them. When they are stomped on, a Heart is guaranteed to drop.

While Goombas appear mostly in side-scrolling areas, they also appear in normal, top-down locations late into the Eagle's Tower. In these areas they move around randomly. Link can still stomp on them with the Roc's Feather.

Goombas can be found in Tail Cave, Bottle Grotto, in the underground passage leading to Kanalet Castle, Catfish's Maw, Face Shrine, Turtle Rock, and the aforementioned Eagle's Tower.

Trivia

Goombas are based on Shiitake mushrooms.^[1]

Nomenclature

The name Goomba is possibly derived from the Italian slang word "goombah", which has several definitions. It can mean friend or alternately a member of a gang. Their Japanese name, Kuribō, is a portmanteau "kuri", meaning chestnut, and "bō", meaning guy.