Editing ! Block

'''! Blocks''', also called '''Exclamation Mark Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet|page=21|publisher=Nintendo of America|location=Redmond|language=en-us|date=1991}}</ref> or '''! Platforms''',<ref>{{cite|quote=The ! Platforms will flash on and off after you stomp a Switch, giving you time to jump through them to another Switch.|author=Williams, Drew|title=''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'' Player's Guide|isbn=1-930206-25-9|page=126|date=2002|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> are floating [[block]]s that first appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Since their debut, ! Blocks have made recurring appearances in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super 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.

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>{{cite|author=Stratton, Bryan|language=en-us|date=February 26, 2002|title=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Prima’s Official Strategy Guide''|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|page=17|isbn=0-7615-3913-1}}</ref> '''Yellow Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Mario Mania]]'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=58}}</ref> (or '''Mushroom Blocks'''),<ref>{{cite|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=September 1991|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 28|page=18}}</ref> '''Green Blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=125}}</ref> '''Red Blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=98}}</ref> and '''Blue Blocks'''.<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|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.

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>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64'' English instruction booklet|page=18|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1996|location=Redmond, WA|language=en-us}}</ref> (or Yellow Blocks),<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=21, 69, 80, 92, 96, 108, and 127|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> also named '''! Boxes''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=8|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> are the equivalent of the common [[? Block]]s in other games.<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo of America|date=August 19, 2024|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JApUMBscKOc&t=223s|title=Nintendo Museum Direct|publisher=YouTube|language=en|accessdate=August 20, 2024}}</ref> 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>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64 DS'' instruction booklet|page=29|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2004|language=en-us}}</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>{{cite|url=blog.naver.com/k9y7h2/120124962785|title=Video showing the ! Block in the Korean version of ''Super Mario 64 DS''|publisher=Naver|accessdate=October 15, 2020}}</ref>{{better source}}

Standard-sized ! Blocks return in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' when wearing the Add ! Blocks badge. They will appear in predetermined locations in courses, and may serve as platforms or contain [[coin]]s or items. In this game they feature a plain look, reminiscent of their appearance in ''Super Mario World'', with a more rounded exclamation mark instead of the angular design introduced in ''Super Mario 3D Land''.<ref name=GamespotFootage>{{cite|author=GameSpot|date=August 31, 2023|url=youtu.be/3wMow-8uBLs|title=Super Mario Bros. Wonder Preview|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=September 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name=IGNFootage>{{cite|author=IGN|date=August 31, 2023|url=youtu.be/t4ELPcBVCBo|title=Super Mario Bros. Wonder: The First Preview|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=September 18, 2023|language=en}}</ref> Like [[? Block]]s, ! Blocks turn purple during [[Wonder Effect]]s.

Both small and large ! Blocks (referred to as '''switches''')<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 58|date=March 1994|author=Tilden, Gail, et al.|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=80, 83, and 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]]).

A few ! Blocks (called '''Switch Blocks''' in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''<ref>{{cite|author=Thomason, Steve|title=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' Player's Guide|page=11|isbn=1-930206-43-7|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2003}}</ref> and '''Event Blocks''' in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''<ref>{{cite|author=Hoffman, Chris|title=''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' Player's Guide|date=November 18, 2005|isbn=1-59812-006-9|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=10}}</ref>) are objects in every game of the [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]]. 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]]''. In ''Dream Team'', the [[Pi'illo Castle]] underground section has two ! Blocks which, after being hit, duplicate and turn purple with gray Pi'illo insignias. The first challenge with them involves finding which of the insignia has the logo rotating differently. For the second challenge, one block will flash colors, then be shuffled with two others. Hitting the right block in both cases allows Mario and Luigi to progress.

 

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.

|Jap=ビックリブロック<ref>{{cite|author=Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors|date=October 19, 2015|title=『[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック]]』|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|location=Tokyo|language=Japanese|page=61, 186|isbn=978-4-09-106569-8}}</ref>

|Jap2=きいろいブロック<ref>{{cite|title=スーパーマリオ{{ruby|６４|六十四（ろくじゅうよん）}} (''Sūpā Mario Rokujūyon'') instruction booklet|page=18|date=1996|language=ja|publisher=Nintendo}}</ref>

|Jap4=オレンジブロック<ref>{{cite|title=スーパーマリオ６４ＤＳ (''Sūpā Mario 64 DS'') instruction booklet|page=29|date=2004|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja}}</ref>

|Ita2=Blocco "!" giallo<ref>{{cite|date=November 15, 2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=91}}</ref>

|Fre=Bloc en point d'exclamation

|Fre2=Bloc ! (''Super Mario Maker 2'')

|FreM=Exclamation mark block

|Fre2M=! Block

|PorE=Bloco !<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo Portugal|date=May 15, 2019|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG5PwoP3Ch8|title=Super Mario Maker 2 Direct - 15/05/2019|publisher=YouTube|language=pt|accessdate=August 7, 2021}}</ref>

|ChiT=！磚塊<ref>{{cite|url=www.smashbros.com/TC/blog/index.html?pageCount=2&category=cat11_stage|title=Official traditional Chinese website for ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''|language=zh-hant|accessdate=April 5, 2020}}</ref>

|Kor=!블록<ref>{{cite|author=한국닌텐도 공식 채널|date=May 16, 2019|url=youtu.be/GPn-xZbmZ2Q|title=슈퍼 마리오 메이커 2 Direct 2019.5.16|language=ko|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref>

*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>{{cite|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9r99rNi-6s&t=51s|timestamp=0:51|title=NSMB E3 - Early Prototype|date=November 1, 2009|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 13, 2024}}</ref>

{{navboxes|