Red Shell

The Red Shell is an throwing item from the Super Mario series and is an item that appears in Super Smash Flash 2. It is one of the 3 items from the shell family, which also includes the Green Shell and the Spiked Shell. Unlike the Green Shell, the Red Shell never fall from the edges and follows any character around.

Origin
Red Shells have appeared in every Mario game that has a Red Koopa Troopa ever since Super Mario Bros.; however, the way the Red Shell acts in the Super Smash Flash series originates from its behavior in the Mario Kart series, where it homes in on other characters causing the kart that got hit to flip out in an attempt for the thrower to steal a place. Oddly, Red Shells can backfire too but only in case the thrower can actually come in contact with it again, which is actually hard in Mario Kart. This was transalated into SSF2 as well, and it is much easier to get caught by the shell as it can go against its thrower. Its behavior could also be referencing the behavior of Red Koopas, as they don't walk off of ledges like other enemies do.

In Super Smash Flash
Though Red Shells as items are missing in the original Super Smash Flash, there are Red Koopa Troopa found in the level, Super Mario World in Adventure Mode, that obviously wear Red Shells. But this is only cosmetic, their shells cannot be used as items because one hit defeats the Koopas instantly.

In Super Smash Flash 2
The Red Shell debuts in the Super Smash Flash series with the fan game Super Smash Flash 2 as it was present in the original Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, but ironically not in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the game SSF2 is based on. When the Red Shell is used, it slides across the floor and chases to the nearest character, but it can aslo backfire to its thrower, however it doesn't deal as much damage as the Green Shell, but it continues to move around and hitting enemies, so the item can be way more effective. Once thrown, the Red Shell cannot be stopped, it can be reflected, but this doesn't change its behaviour. The Red Shell never drops from edges and it can stay near to the edge as long a character is on the other side of the edge about to fall, this can sometimes hinder their Recoveries if they dare to miss the ledge.

External link

 * Shells' entry at the Smash Flash DOJO!!