History Main / TheGoomba

** Mets or [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Metools/Metalls/Metaurs]] have managed to appear in every series except ''Mega Man Legends''. Unique in that they are invincible when under their helmets and when they aren't they are peppering Megaman with bullet fire.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bug}} Too!'': The easiest enemy in the game was a small blue bug found in the ''second'' world that made marching noises, had no defences, and took one hit to die. Bowling Ball Larvae, the first enemy in the game (provided that you took Scene 1) were also a pushover, hitting them once removed their armor making them harmless, and would die eventually if not hit a second time. However, they were also TheSpiny -- they would hurt a {{Goomba Stomp}}ing player character when they were curled into a ball (their "turning around" animation had them do this), and it so happened that ''several'' of them in the first world are constantly rolling around invulnerable to damage, becoming stage hazards.

* Yellow beetles in ''VideoGame/{{Bug}}'' They're the first enemy Bug faces, are slow, have no special ability, and take one hit to die.

The Goomba is often simplistic in appearance, suggestive of a nuisance rather than a genuine threat. They can easily be AdorableEvilMinions. The WaddlingHead is common Goomba-type enemy found in [[PlatformGame Platformers]]. In western fantasy {{Role Playing Game}}s, [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent goblins]] and [[RatStomp giant rats]] most get this role. While in Japanese {{Role Playing Game}}s and fantasy games, (thanks in part to ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuest Dragon Quest's]]'' popularity) [[CuteSlimeMook slimes]] have been elevated to this role.

* The basic blue slimes in ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'', and sometimes the red she-slimes. [[spoiler:''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' subverts this for {{Foreshadowing}}.]]

* Lampshaded by Kazuma in ''Literature/KonoSuba'' when one of the Demon King's Generals turns out to be a slime, which he assumes is just one of those rank-and-file ''VideoGame/DragonQuest''-style slimes. It turns out slimes are [[PoisonIsCorrosive far]], ''[[PersonOfMassDestruction far]]'' [[NighInvulnerable more]] [[ExtremeOmnivore dangerous]] in the fantasy world Kazuma inhabits.

** The lowly Zombieman is incredibly weak. They can be taken down with just about anything--even non-berserked fists can make quick work of them. They're also solely armed with a rifle that behaves like the player's pistol--but is horrifically inaccurate, meaning that Zombiemen can only really hit the player by blind luck. They're still nothing to sneeze at in larger numbers because, much like their more advanced former human brethren, they are {{hitscan}}ners, so their shots cannot be dodged at any distance.

* ''VideoGame/{{Descent}}'': The Class 1 Drone robot.

* Zombies and imps in ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''.
** The lowly Zombieman is incredibly weak. They can be taken down with just about anything--even non-berserked fists can make quick work of them. They're also solely armed with a rifle that behaves like the player's pistol--but is horrifically inaccurate, meaning that Zombiemen can only really hit the player by blind luck. They're still nothing to sneeze at in larger numbers because much like other zombies, they are {{hitscan}}ners and their attacks cannot be dodged like most other enemies' attacks can.
** Shotgun Guys are more dangerous--their shotguns are still much weaker than the player's, but they're essentially making three Zombieman attacks at once with the same accuracy, tripling their chance to hit. They also have slightly more health.
** Imps can take multiple bullets or one shotgun blast, but are relegated to Goomba status because of their slow moving, easy to dodge fireballs. They are only really a threat at point blank or in very narrow corridors.
** Chaingun Guys are the only zombie worthy of respect; with enough health to tank multiple bullets and a rapid-fire Chaingun, they are quite a bit more deadly than other fodder monsters.

* ''VideoGame/{{Hexen}}'' has the [[MultipleHeadCase two-headed Ettins]], weak, goblin-like enemies who does pitiful damage and dies easily.

[-[[https://www.deviantart.com/blistinaorgin/art/MAD-Goombas-396912742 Image]] by [[https://www.deviantart.com/blistinaorgin blistinaorigin]].-]]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Spyborgs}}'' starts off with Carrions, small robotic mooks who dies in a few hits, and slightly-stronger Reapers, whose ExtendableArms gives it a ''slightly'' better reach than Carrions but not by much. ALthough they're later replaced by Carrion EX and Reaper EX, [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority red-and-black]] versions whom are far more competent and dangerous.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'': Goombas are back in 3D, and while they become more agressive, they can be defeated in every possible way the game offers (stomping, ground pounding, sliding, item throwing, and even [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness punching, kicking, and tackling]]). In the first level, Bob-Ombs also fit in a certain way, as they introduce the player that they can carry some enemies and throw at them, a skill [[ChekovsSkill that becomes useful]] for [[KingMook King Bob-Omb]] in the same level, and [[EliteMooks Chuckya]] in later levels.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'': The game marks the debut of the Shy Guys, masked mooks that walk around like Goombas do in other games. They have since become the most basic enemies in ''VideoGame/YoshisIsland'' (the actual Goombas show up later in ''Yoshi's Island'', and are a bit tougher than normal). They usually replace the TropeNamer in games like these where stomping isn't the core mechanic to get rid of enemies[[note]]In ''Super Mario Bros. 2'', you must pick them up and throw them on other enemies, and while you can actually stomp them in ''Yoshi's Island'', the game encourages you to eat them and transform them into eggs.[[/note]].

* Lampshaded by Kazuma in ''LightNovel/KonoSuba'' when one of the Demon King's Generals turns out to be a slime, which he assumes is just one of those rank-and-file ''VideoGame/DragonQuest''-style slimes. It turns out slimes are [[PoisonIsCorrosive far]], ''[[PersonOfMassDestruction far]]'' [[NighInvulnerable more]] [[ExtremeOmnivore dangerous]] in the fantasy world Kazuma inhabits.

* Green-clad Wukou mooks in ''VideoGame/NineMonkeysOfShaolin'' are the first enemies encountered, and a breeze to take down. They have mediocre health, are slow in attacking, and can be easily bested even though you're only armed with your StarterEquipment, a dinky oak staff. Later on you'll face orange, yellow and red Wukou soldiers which puts up a far better fight, though at that point you already have powerful [[BladeOnAStick spears]] and [[CarryABigStick maces]].

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/KidRadd'''s eponymous [[ShowWithinAShow video game in the webcomic]] features a plant-like minor enemy that [[RedHerringShirt becomes Kid Radd's best friend when they escape from the game]]. That particular enemy's name is Bogey, and he retains his [[CollisionDamage ability to hurt Radd on contact]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': [[OurImpsAreDifferent Imps]] play this role in the in-universe reality-altering game of Sburb. They're the earliest enemy kind encountered and the most simple, and although at first they are shown to be a legitimate threat to low-level players they tend to get torn through pretty fast. That doesn't mean they can't get stronger...

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'': This is the general use of the Scorpion light tank. Slow, poorly armored, and armed only with a single weak autocannon, the Scorpion's primary selling point is that it's cheap and expendible. It's not capable of posing a serious threat to most Battlemechs... [[ZergRush individually]].
* Many ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' [=DMs=] use goblins or kobolds as the [=PCs=]' very first enemies. That said, if the DM uses their abilities -- sneaking and trapmaking, respectively -- to their fullest (which few do), they can be very challenging indeed.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has its goblins, who have become so iconic that they're the unofficial mascot for the Paizo company, the Pathfinder and Starfinder games, and have been made playable PC's because the players just love them so. They're available as plushies, giant standing replicas 3 feet tall, and endless miniatures. One glance will sell most people: [[https://starfinderwiki.com/w/images/8/8d/Space_goblin.jpg Starfinder Goblin]].

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Zaku and its clones in the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' multi-verse. In fact, they are named after the Japanese equivalent term "zako" (usually translated as "small-fry"). Ramba Rai's [[MemeticMutation infamous]] "This is No Zaku" line is showing that the story's has moved pass the basic level for Amuro.
* Lampshaded by Kazuma in ''LightNovel/KonoSuba'' when one of the Demon King's Generals turns out to be a slime, which he assumes is just one of those rank-and-file ''VideoGame/DragonQuest''-style slimes. It turns out slimes are [[PoisonIsCorrosive far]], ''[[PersonOfMassDestruction far]]'' [[NighInvulnerable more]] [[ExtremeOmnivore dangerous]] in the fantasy world Kazuma inhabits.
[[/folder]]

** The lowly Zombieman is incredibly weak. Aside from having only 20 HP, they're solely armed with a rifle that behaves like the player's pistol--but is horrifically inaccurate, meaning that Zombiemen can only really hit the player by blind luck. They're still nothing to sneeze at in larger numbers because much like other zombies, they are {{hitscan}}ners and their attacks cannot be dodged like most other enemies.

** Imps have a healthy 60 HP, but are relegated to Goomba status because of their slow moving, easy to dodge fireballs. They are only really a threat at point blank or in very narrow corridors.
** Chaingun Guys are the only zombie worthy of respect; with 70 HP and a rapid-fire Chaingun, they are quite a bit more deadly than other fodder monsters.

** The original game has the Hellions and Skulls- two [[GangOfHats street gangs]], one a group of Satanists, the other a death cult. Both are explicitly at the bottom of the heap in both games.
* ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'' have the Snakes, which are naga-like humanoids. By level 10, you'll be thoroughly sick of fighting them, and won't see them again... until the late 40s, where one set of missions sends you back to the starting zone to fight Elder Snakes and their goddess, who are proportionately much tougher.