Enemies

This is a sub-page of Proto:Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga/Early Sprites.

Normal Enemies#

Goomba#

Goomba's shoes were gray in the prototype, instead of brown. Can be seen in a prerelease screenshot.

Dry Bones#

Proto	Final

Dry Bones is a little different from the final version, with a much pointier head, larger teeth, and a lack of jaw. Interestingly, Dry Bones' damage sprite in the final game is a holdover from this design. Can be seen in a prerelease screenshot as well.

Rex#

Rex had an extra couple shines on his head that were removed from the final. On a side-note, the middle-squished variant is unused in this build: jumping on a tall Rex will instantly squish it down to the third variant.

Lakipea#

Lakipea's overworld sprites differ slightly compared to the final. It's depicted with mischievous eyes and a differently-shaped head and leaf. These might be remnants of an older design for the enemy. Either way, they were changed in the final to better match its battle sprites.

Spiky Snifit#

Proto	Final

Spiky Snifit in the prototype has a less rounded left eye and the mask strap is in a different position than the final version, in addition to its beak being much simpler.

Proto	Final

When Spiky Snifit takes damage in the prototype, it closes its eyes. It also winks when attacking. The graphics for this still exist in the final game, unused.

Yo Bro#

Proto	Final

Yo Bros looked drastically different, wearing completely different attire and having skinnier limbs.

Chuck Guy and Elite Chuck Guy#

Proto	Final

Proto	Final

Chuck Guys were originally not Shy Guys at all. The stronger variant that appeared in Guffawha Ruins was yellow instead of light blue, and wielded a shield.

Proto	Final

Interestingly, their overworld sprites depict them as bipedal, whereas their sprite in battle is quadrepedal.

Hammer Bro#

Proto	Final

A Hammer Bro with a Beanified appearance. Exists alongside the final variant within this build.¹ Also exists in the final game, but without its palette.

An early damaged sprite for the beanified Hammer Bro.

Viruses#

Each virus had a more off-model, sillier design, with black shoes rather than the final's brown. They also had multiple digits instead of round featureless glove-hands.

Their overworld sprites were much smaller, perhaps coincidentally in a manner similar to the Blue Viruses that Toothies in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story spit up. Interestingly, the overworld sprites in both the proto and final versions are all identical recolors of the Blue Virus.

Red Virus#

Proto	Final

Proto	Final

The Red Virus was de-exaggerated, but otherwise kept all of its defining features. One of its pupils is taller than the other.

Blue Virus#

Proto	Final

Proto	Final

The Blue Virus had its inner "ears" defined and colored pink. They were changed back into plain blue antennae in the final. Its eyes point up and down.

Yellow Virus#

Proto	Final

Proto	Final

The Yellow Virus was drawn somewhat uniquely from the other two viruses, with a big toothy grin.

Laser Snifit#

Proto	Final

Proto	Final

The Laser Snifit had a very different-looking design with blue eyes, a different laser on its mouth, and a slightly differently-shaped head. The enemy is fully animated, unlike the rest of the Woohoo enemies in this build. Its overworld sprite was also originally much smaller.

When damaged in battle, a slight animation error occurs where its laser gains an extra ring:

Mecha Blooper#

Proto	Final

Mecha Blooper had a different look, with plating on its head and different "oxygen" pipes, as well as a much smaller mouth.

Gritty Goomba#

Proto	Final

Gritty Goomba's shoes changed color as well. However, its overworld sprites were not touched, meaning that the shoe color was kept in the final for those sprites for some reason. The early design is also one pixel wider.

Pestnut Color Test#

Animation ID 40A3 appears to be something of a color test for the Pestnut enemy. Six different colors of it are plastered onto a grassy background from Chucklehuck Woods. Only the top-right color of the colors shown ended up being used. Also exists in the final game under Animation ID 4185.

Bosses#

Queen Bean#

Proto	Final

Although Queen Bean's boss fight isn't encountered normally in this build, the fight is programmed in, but is in an early state. Design-wise, her crown was redrawn.

Found within her battle graphics bank only in this build are these rough sketches for her arms and hands in two different poses. The first sketch reveals that she was originally planned to have her hands angled down instead of pointing straight up. The second one shows her arms while charging a shockwave, which depict her hands open instead of balled into fists.

Lemmy Koopa#

Proto	Final

Lemmy had his trademark ball with him originally. The ball was omitted from the final game, also the sprite resembles more his Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork.

Wendy O. Koopa#

Proto	Final

Wendy's stance is a little different, she has more shading in her snout, and also resembles more her Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork.

Larry Koopa#

Proto	Final

Larry wasn't super-angry all the time yet, and again resembles more his Super Mario Bros. 3 artwork.

References#