Editing ! Block

{{distinguish|? Block|Surprise Ball}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:SM64 Exclamation Mark Block.png|215px]]<br>Yellow block artwork from ''[[Super Mario 64]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario 3D All-Stars]]'' ([[List of games by date#2020|2020]])
}}
'''! Blocks''', also called '''Exclamation Mark Blocks'''<ref>''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet, page 21.</ref> or '''! Platforms''',<ref>Williams, Drew. ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'' Player's Guide. Page 126. "''The ! Platforms will flash on and off after you stomp a Switch, giving you time to jump through them to another Switch.''"</ref> are floating [[block]]s that first appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Since their debut, ! Blocks have made recurring appearances in the ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' franchise, appearing in various colors and serving different functions. In most games, hitting a ! Block causes a certain event to occur; in others, ! Blocks instead release items, or do nothing at all and simply serve as [[platform]]s.

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario World'' / ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''====
In ''Super Mario World'' and [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]], there are four types of Exclamation Mark Blocks (also referred to as '''Switch Blocks'''):<ref name=Prima>Stratton, Bryan. ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2–Prima’s Official Strategy Guide''. Page 17.</ref> '''Yellow Blocks'''<ref>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 58.</ref> (or '''Mushroom Blocks'''),<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 28, page 18.</ref> '''Green Blocks''',<ref>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 125.</ref> '''Red Blocks''',<ref>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 98.</ref> and '''Blue Blocks'''.<ref>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page  107.</ref> They all start out as outlines, more specifically [[Dotted-Line Block]]s. [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] can turn every Exclamation Mark Block of a certain color solid by activating its [[! Switch]] in the corresponding [[Switch Palace]]. Exclamation Mark Blocks mainly serve as platforms, although the Yellow and Green Blocks always contain a specific power-up too: a [[Super Mushroom]] and [[Cape Feather]], respectively. The Red and Blue Blocks do not contain any power-up and only serve as platforms and/or walls.

====''Super Mario 64'' / ''Super Mario 64 DS''====
In ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', all four color variations of ! Block return, each with a distinct purpose. The red, green, and blue ones are collectively called [[Cap Block]]s, and they start the game as transparent outlines. Mario can turn all of them solid if he activates each of their corresponding [[Cap Switch]]es. '''Yellow blocks'''<ref>''Super Mario 64'' English instruction booklet, page 18.</ref> (or '''Yellow Blocks'''),<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide. Pages 21, 69, 80, 92, 96, 108, and 127.</ref> also named '''! Boxes''',<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide. Page 8.</ref> are the most common variant. They contain various items, such as [[coin]]s, a [[Power Star]], or a [[1-Up Mushroom|1UP Mushroom]]. Some even contain a [[Green Shell|Koopa Shell]]. 

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''{{'}}s Adventure mode, due to [[cap]] changes, the three Cap Blocks were reduced to a type of red [[? Block]]. However, yellow blocks (simply called ! Blocks)<ref>''Super Mario 64 DS'' instruction booklet, page 29.</ref> retain their role. In [[Super Mario 64 DS#VS mode|VS Mode]], a large yellow block called a '''VS Item Block'''<ref>''Super Mario 64 DS'' internal object name (<tt>VS_ITEM_BLOCK</tt>)</ref> appears in the courses [[Sunshine Isles]] and [[Battle Fort]], and it provides [[Yoshi]], Luigi, and [[Wario]] with [[Wing Cap|Wings]]. In the Korean version, a yellow block appears on the roof of the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]], and it grants unlimited [[extra life|1-UP]]s.<ref>[https://blog.naver.com/k9y7h2/120124962785 Video showing the ! Block in the Korean version of ''Super Mario 64 DS'']. ''Naver''. Retrieved October 15, 2020.</ref>

====''New Super Mario Bros.'' series====
{{main|Super Guide Block}}
A type of ! Block called a Super Guide Block appears in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' and ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', and it causes a CPU-controlled Luigi to clear the current [[level]] for the player, following a preset path.

====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
Both regular block-sized and large red ! Blocks appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' in multiple levels, including [[World 4-2 (Super Mario 3D Land)|World 4-2]], [[World 4-3 (Super Mario 3D Land)|World 4-3]], and {{world-link|s4|airship|Special 4-Airship}}. Each time one is hit, it spawns a [[face block (platform)|face block]] in a specific path, often leading to out-of-reach locations and collectibles, though the blocks disappear after a short time. The ! Block darkens after all of its face blocks have been spawned, and it can be hit again after all of the face blocks have disappeared.

====''Super Mario 3D World''====
{{main|Switch Block (Super Mario 3D World)}}
A large red ! Block known as a Switch Block appears in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', and it changes [[track]]s when hit.

====''Super Mario Maker 2''====
[[File:SMM2 Platform Block.png|thumb|A ! Block in ''Super Mario Maker 2'']]
In ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'', giant yellow ! Blocks appear as course elements in the ''Super Mario 3D World'' style. When hit multiple times, they produce giant [[Empty Block]]s in an identical manner to the [[Mega ? Block]]s in [[Super Block Land]] in ''Super Mario 3D World''. When [[Ground Pound|ground-pound]]ed, the blocks appear all at once. After a period of time, the blocks disappear. In editing mode, the path in which the blocks form can be set by the player like [[Snake Block]]s, [[Clear Pipe]]s, and [[Piranha Creeper]]s.

===''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3''===
Both small and large ! Blocks (referred to as '''switches''')<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 58, pages 80, 83, 88.</ref> appear in ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', triggering different events when hit. In [[Course No.05]], [[Course No.15]], and [[Course No.38]], a ! Block can be found in a small room and causes certain unbreakable blocks in the previous room to disappear. The giant ! Blocks appear instead of [[Goal door (Wario Land series)|goal door]]s at the end of [[Course No.12]], Course No.38, and [[Course No.39]]. In Course No.12, activating the giant ! Block causes the lid to fall on top of [[Mt. Teapot]], turning [[Course No.10]] into [[Course No.13]]; in Course No.38 and Course No.39, the ! Blocks demolish the outer portions of [[Syrup Castle]], revealing its core (later revealed to be a statue of [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]]).

===''Hotel Mario''===
In a cutscene of ''[[Hotel Mario]]'', [[Luigi]] kicks a ! Block that then grows a [[beanstalk]] in order to reach [[Lemmy's High-ate Regency Hotel]].

===''Yoshi'' franchise===
[[File:Leapin' Lava Meltdown.png|thumb|left|! Blocks in ''Yoshi's New Island'']]
In ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' (and [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|its GBA reissue]]), ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'', ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]'', and ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', Dotted-Line Blocks temporarily become solid ! Blocks after a nearby Switch is pressed, allowing a [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] to use them as platforms.
{{br}}

===''Super Mario-kun''===
[[File:ExclamatoryBoxSuperMarioKun.png|thumb|Mario getting thrown against a ! Block in ''Super Mario-kun'']]
Several ! Blocks appear in ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'', where their role reflects whatever the volume is adapted from. In volume 16 of ''Super Mario-kun'', which is based on ''Super Mario 64'', they give Mario power-ups the same as in the game.
{{br|left}}

===''Mario Party''===
! Blocks can also be seen as part of the treasure hoard inside the safe in the ''[[Mario Party]]'' [[minigame]] [[Key-pa-Way]]. One of the ! Blocks is purple. Also, in the [[Mushroom Bank]], the safe that keeps the items bought from the [[Mushroom Shop]] resembles a red ! Block.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
! Blocks appear on [[Princess Peach's Castle (Super Smash Bros. Melee)|Princess Peach's Castle]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', where they, alongside two same-colored platforms, appear for a brief time after the player presses a switch of the same color (red, blue, or green). They release items when hit or touched, becoming empty upon doing so. In addition, the green block from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' appears as the [[Cap Block#Super Smash Bros. series|Metal Box]] item in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]] starting with ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''.

===''Mario & Luigi'' series===
A few ! Blocks also appear in all installments of the [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]] (called '''Switch Blocks''' in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''<ref>Thomason, Steve. ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' Player's Guide. Page 11.</ref> and '''Event Blocks''' in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''<ref>Hoffman, Chris. ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' Player's Guide. Page 10.</ref>). They have various functions and can activate events. Purple-colored ! Blocks are introduced in these games, and they have varying effects. These blocks are colored orange in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]''. Three special ! Blocks in ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' are used to create three giant ! Blocks on [[Yoshi's Island (location)|Yoshi's Island]] and destroy giant ! Blocks of the same color in [[Thwomp Caverns]], allowing the Mario quartet to traverse farther down the volcano. The blue variety later appears in the [[Star Shrine]], where it would change color depending on whether [[Baby Mario]] or [[Baby Luigi]] hit it.

===''Super Princess Peach''===
[[File:Fury Volcano 4-3.png|thumb|An orange ! Block in ''Super Princess Peach'']]
! Blocks, coming in a pink version of their ''Super Mario 64'' appearance, also appear in ''[[Super Princess Peach]]'', where they each contain a trapped [[Toad (species)|Toad]] that needs to be rescued. There are three in each level, and each Toad needs to rescued in order to complete the game. The Toad's cry for help can also be faintly heard when the player is near the block. Orange ! Blocks with an original design also appear, and they serve as switches to toggle certain platforms.

===''Minecraft''===
In the Super Mario Mash-up in ''[[Minecraft]]'', a yellow block from ''Super Mario 64'' appears as a painting, along with the red, green, and blue Cap Blocks. 3D pixel art of red and orange ! Blocks appears in the world premade for the pack.

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', yellow ! Blocks can be seen inside the antiques shop.

==Profiles==
===''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''===
*'''[[Prima Games]]:''' "''Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue Switch Blocks are not solid and appear only as outlines when you first see them. When you hit the Switch in the appropriate Switch Palace, however, the outlined blocks become solid blocks of that color with exclamation points on them. They often allow you to reach areas you couldn’t normally get to.''"<ref name=Prima/>

===''Super Mario Maker 2''===
*'''North American website bio:''' "''The ! Block extends when hit. Ground pound to expand it faster.''"

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMW Yellow Exclamation Mark Block.png|The Yellow Block from ''[[Super Mario World]]''
SMW Green Exclamation Mark Block.png|The Green Block from ''Super Mario World''
SMW Red Exclamation Mark Block.png|The Red Block from ''Super Mario World''
SMW Blue Exclamation Mark Block.png|The Blue Block from ''Super Mario World''
HM Exclamation Mark Block.png|''[[Hotel Mario]]''
Exclamation Mark Block MP2.png|''[[Mario Party 2]]''
Blue Explanation Mark Block.png|''[[Mario Party 3]]''
Chance Block MP3.png|''Mario Party 3''
File:Metal Cap - KC manga.png|[[Super Mario (Kodansha manga)|''Super Mario'' (Kodansha manga)]]
WL4-Switch.png|''[[Wario Land 4]]''
MLSS ExclamationBlock.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''
MLSSExclamationBlock.png|''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''
!BlockSM64DS.png|''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''
Exclamation Block ML-PIT.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''
MLPiT Exclamation Mark Blocks.png|Colored ! Blocks from ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time''
MLBISExclamationBlock.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''
Minecraft Wii U Yellow Block Painting.png|''[[Minecraft]]''
MLSSBMExclamationBlock.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]''
Bowser'sMinionsSM64Block.png|''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''
SMM2 Exclamation Block SM3DW icon.png|''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]''
SM3DAS SM64 2D Artwork.jpg|''[[Super Mario 3D All-Stars]]''
</gallery>

==Additional names==
===Internal names===
{{internal names
|game1=''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''
|file1=<tt>G:/content0.game/romfs/obj.bch.z</tt>
|name1=obj_blk_switch01a
|meaning1=Switch Block; compare [[Switch Block (Yoshi's Island series)#Internal names|Switch Block]]
}}

===Names in other languages===
{{foreign names
|Jap=ビックリブロック<br>''Bikkuri Burokku''<br>きいろいブロック<ref>''Super Mario 64'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 18.</ref><br>''Kiiroi Burokku''<br>オレンジブロック<ref>''Super Mario 64 DS'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 29.</ref><br>''Orenji Burokku''
|JapM=Surprise Block<br><br>Yellow Block (''Super Mario 64'')<br><br>Orange Block (''Super Mario 64 DS'')
|Spa=Bloque !
|SpaM=! block
|Dut=!-blok
|DutM=! Block
|Ita=Blocco !<br>Pulsante ! (''Wario Land 4'')
|ItaM=! block<br>! Switch
|Fra=Bloc en point d'exclamation<br>Bloc ! (''Super Mario Maker 2'')
|FraM=Exclamation mark block<br>! Block
|PorA=Bloco de Exclamação
|PorAM=Exclamation Block
|PorE=Bloco !<ref> Nintendo Portugal. (May 15, 2019). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG5PwoP3Ch8 Super Mario Maker 2 Direct - 15/05/2019]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved August 7, 2021.</ref>
|PorEM=! block
|Rus=Блок «!»
|RusR=Blok «!»
|RusM=Block "!"
|Ger=!-Block
|GerM=-
|ChiS=！砖块
|ChiSR=! Zhuānkuài
|ChiSM=! Block
|ChiT=！磚塊<ref>[https://www.smashbros.com/TC/blog/index.html?pageCount=2&category=cat11_stage Official traditional Chinese website for ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']. Retrieved April 5, 2020.</ref>
|ChiTR=! Zhuānkuài
|ChiTM=! Block
|Kor=!블록<ref>한국닌텐도 공식 채널 (May 16, 2019). [https://youtu.be/GPn-xZbmZ2Q  슈퍼 마리오 메이커 2 Direct 2019.5.16]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved November 11, 2022.</ref>
|KorR=! Beullok
|KorM=! Block
}}

==Trivia==
*In some [[list of New Super Mario Bros. pre-release and unused content|pre-release version]]s of ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', a yellow block from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' can be seen, automatically switched to a [[Cap Block|green block]] from the same game if hit.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9r99rNi-6s&t=51s Video showing an early E3 prototype of ''New Super Mario Bros.'']</ref>
*In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', there is a red [[! Switch]], which activates [[Red Block]]s, that acts similarly to the ones in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', but there are no "!" symbols on them.

==References==
<references/>

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