Editing ? Block

{{item-infobox

|title = Question Block

|image = [[File:Question Block NSMB.png|200px]]

|first_appearance = ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[1985]])

|latest_appearance = ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' ([[2011]])

|effect = Releases an item or coins when hit.

The '''Question Block''' (shortened as '''? Block''', also known as the '''Mystery Block''' in ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' and the '''Prize Block''' in ''[[Super Mario World]]'') is one of the many [[block]]s found in the ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' universe, and one of the most common. Question Blocks are usually seen floating in midair, often containing [[Gold Coin]]s, [[Super Mushroom]]s, or [[Fire Flower]]s. In some games (for example ''[[Paper Mario]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', as well as several classic platformers) there are some invisible Item Blocks. Beginning in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', there are different ways to hit the block other than simply punching it from below. One example is when Mario or [[Luigi]] use the [[Super Leaf]], [[Tanooki Suit]] or [[Cape Feather]], they can use their tails or cape to whack the Question Block. Another example is using the [[Koopa Shell]]; [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] can kick the Koopa Shell at the Item Block. In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' and ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', a [[Ground Pound]] may also be used.

Much mystery enshrouds the Question Blocks, and little detail has been given about their origin. ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', however, gave the explanation that [[Bowser]], using the [[Koopa Troop|Koopa Clan]]'s famous dark magic, had cursed the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], turning its citizens (presumably the [[Toad (species)|Toads]]) into a variety of objects, including [[brick]]s (which the Item Blocks could alternately be thought of as). The game's manual later talked about how [[Mario]] could "come across Mushroom People who had been turned into bricks" and receive items from them. Although this is the only official history origin of the Item Blocks, it would appear to have been long retconned out of Mario games, with Question Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. Item Blocks are not to be confused with [[Exclamation Mark Block]]s, which are similarly floating blocks.

[[File:SMB Qblock.svg|frame|left]]

''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' was the Question Block's debut appearance in the ''Mario'' series, along with a handful of other items. They appeared to be flashing and they gave Mario either coins or items that can help [[Mario]]. They are very common, since they are sometimes needed to complete a level or help Mario in a tough situation. Some blocks are hidden and can be only seen when Mario happens to hit them. Some blocks also release [[Beanstalk]]s into the air, making it available of climbing.

These blocks reappeared in the sequel ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' with the exact same appearance and function. Because of that, no changes has been made to these blocks, however, certain Question Blocks could contain the new tricky non-Power-up, the evil [[Poison Mushroom]]s, which was introduced in ''The Lost Levels'' as well. So the game used certain Question Block as traps by the [[Koopa Troop]].

Although absent in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', Question blocks had a slightly different design change; they were no longer flashing and the ? marks on the blocks seem to be moving in the game, ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. They still cough up coins and other items that can help Mario when hit upon.

[[File:FlyingBlockSMW.gif|frame]]

The Prize Blocks of ''[[Super Mario World]]'' had eyes and seemed to be re-animations of that game's [[Rotating Block]]s. They also gave Rotating Block-like angry eyes when hit; these expressions-when-hit are often seen even in non-eyed Question Blocks today, making the Prize Block a possible relative of the Rotating Block. Otherwise, no function-related changes has been made. There are also flying variants called [[Flying Question Block]]s (or '''Flying ? Blocks'''), which fly left to right while moving up and down, but some of them fly always at a same direction. A red Question Block only found in the dark area of [[Bowser's Castle]] activates a spotlight.

Question Blocks could be found once again in ''[[Super Mario Land]]''. Here, they serve the exact same purpose and function as the previous games they appeared in.

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', red Question Blocks replace the red, blue, and green [[! Block]]s. They are initially transparent, and had to be activated by hitting the [[? Switch]] in [[Tower of the Wing Cap|a secret level named after the switch]]. They contain either [[Power Flower]]s, [[Cape Feather|Feather]]s or [[Bob-omb]]s, depending on character and hat status. [[File:SM64DS FloatingPower.jpg|thumb|Mario using his Power Flower ability, with a red Question Block in the background]]

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', red Flying Question Blocks similar to the ones from ''Super Mario World'' fly around the world map, moving to different levels every time [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] lose a life, complete a level, enter a [[Toad House]], etc. Five items can be inside: a [[Fire Flower]], [[1-Up Mushroom]], [[Mini Mushroom]], [[Mega Mushroom]], or a [[Blue Shell]]. Normal Flying Question Blocks from ''Super Mario World'' also appear, but all of them fly left to right, and some ones don't move from place, but still move up and down. Also, in two [[Ghost House]]s, Question Blocks that contain [[Boo]]s appear. The original yellow Question Blocks also appear and the Beanstalk sprouting blocks make an appearance again. The game also features rare [[Spiky Question Block]]s in [[World 6 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 6]], which only appear in the game. Mario must be careful to hit the block only on a spikeless side. If the player hits the question block fast enough, a mushroom will come out.

Unlike in the other games, where the player could only hit Question Blocks from below or throw something at them to release an object, Question Blocks in this game can also be [[Ground Pound|ground pounded]].

[[File:Galaxy_QuestionBlock.jpg|thumb|left|A Question Block in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''.]]

In ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', Question blocks contained [[Star Bit]]s and coins, and could usually be hit multiple times before vanishing. If the player manages to hit a Question Block with Star Bits, it would release a multitude of Star Bits before disappearing. Unlike in ''New Super Mario Bros.'', Question Blocks in this game cannot be ground pounded.

The Question blocks make a return in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. Here, they have the exact function and appearance as in ''New Super Mario Bros.'' but some behave differently from the average Item block. In some levels, for example, some blocks tend to sway left and right along with other objects such as brick blocks and coins. Others lay in the water in some levels, where it is easier to ground pound them. Flying Question Blocks also appear, acting the same way as in the previous game, but the red ones that appear in the map didn't reappear.

[[File:Flying Block.PNG|thumb|A Flying Question Block from ''Super Mario Galaxy 2''.]]

Question Blocks from ''Super Mario Galaxy'' re-appear in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]''. In this game, they once again release a bunch of [[Star Bit]]s when hit. [[Coin Block]]s that resemble Question Blocks also appear. Like in ''Super Mario Galaxy'', coins can be released one at a time from Coin Blocks. Question Blocks that release one Star Bit at a time when hit repeatedly do not return. The Flying Question Blocks from ''Super Mario World'' also appear, and they act the same; however, they don't move up and down while flying, and they vanish when they are hit, the same as normal Question Blocks in this game. They make chirping noises while they fly (like a bird).

[[File:Question Block 3D.png|thumb|left|The artwork of a Question Block from ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''.]]

Question Blocks appear in the [[Nintendo 3DS]] game, ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''. Unlike past 3D ''Super Mario'' games, they can be activated with a [[Ground Pound]] and transformed into [[Used Block]]s. Like past ''Super Mario'' games, they can produce items, such as the [[Super Leaf]]. A rare wearable version called the ''[[Question Box]]'' is introduced, which continuously provides coins to the player as he moves or jumps. Like the [[Propeller Block|Propeller Box]], if the player finishes a level with a Question Box, he is awarded an extra life and the box is removed. Rectangular Question Blocks are also introduced, which have the same effect as a normal block; however, they give the player three coins in one hit.

====''New Super Mario Bros. 2====

The Question Blocks are set to appear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]''.

===''Paper Mario'' series===

[[File:Block TTYD.png|thumb|50px]]

In the [[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]], Red Question Blocks contain [[badge]]s and yellow ones contain coins or items. Question Blocks are sometimes invisible at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using [[Watt]] in ''Paper Mario''). Once they're visible, they can also be used as stepping stones.

In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' during [[Bowser]]'s event, [[Meat]] will come out of the Question blocks. If the player obtains four of these Meats, Bowser will grow huge, allowing him to smash through objects.

Question Blocks will also appear in ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]].

In the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]], from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' and onwards, similar item blocks, called [[Item Box]]es are found on every track. However, they are usually not flying up in the air but they are floating on the ground and they are usually semi-transparent and reappear when they get hit.  

In ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', on the track [[Coconut Mall]], there is shop that is selling Question Blocks along with other classic Mario items. In the track [[Grumble Volcano]], there are giant Question Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks.  

Question Blocks make an appearance as objects in the latter two games in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Question Blocks appeared on the [[Mushroom Kingdom (stage)|Mushroom Kingdom]] stage and could contain items if attacked or simply smashed from below. They also appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' in the [[Mushroomy Kingdom]] stage, with the same purpose.

Question Blocks were one of many types of block to appear in the [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]]. They can give Mario and Luigi coins or items that can help them, similar to the series the blocks normally appear in. One hit on, they turn brown and they won't offer any more items. If Mario and Luigi happen to have 99 of the item found in the block, the item will remain in the block. This also applies if the player has 9999 coins.

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', there is a room in the [[Woohoo Hooniversity]] which is designed to study different kinds of Question Blocks. The blocks found in this room are from ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario World'', ''Paper Mario'' and ''Super Mario 64''.

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'', Question Blocks look more like those in ''New Super Mario Bros.''. This game also featured a character named [[Broque Monsieur]], who appears to be made from Question Blocks. Some other characters such as [[Broggy]] and [[Broque Madame]] also appeared to be made from blocks.

File:SMB Question Block.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''

File:SMASBlock.png|''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' (''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'')

File:Ani smb3qblock.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''

File:Question Block.gif|''Super Mario Bros. 3'' (''Super Mario All-Stars'')

File:Super Mario Land Block.PNG|''[[Super Mario Land ]]

File:Block Super Mario World.png|''[[Super Mario World]]''

File:Super Mario Land 2 Block.PNG|''[[Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins]]

File:YS Artwork --Block.jpg|''[[Yoshi's Story]]''

File:Paper_Block.png|''[[Paper Mario]]

File:Block Superstar Saga.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''  

File:MALSS SMB Qblock.gif|''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' (retro block)

File:MALSS SMW Qblock.gif|''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' (retro block)

File:Mario Luigi Style Paper Mario Block.png|''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' (retro block)

File:Block TTYD.png|''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''

File:Mario Luigi Bowser Story Block.png|''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''

File:Question Block NSMB.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]''

File:QuestionMarkBlockNSMB.png|''New Super Mario Bros.'' (sprite)

File:Galaxy_QuestionBlock.jpg|''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''

File:Q Block.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''

File:PM3DS Qblock.png|''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'' ([[Nintendo 3DS]])

File:Question_Block_3D.png|''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''

==Trivia==

*In both versions of [[Nintendo Monopoly]], the Question Block cards replace the traditional Chance Cards.

{{BoxTop}}

{{SM64}}

{{The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3}}

{{Super Mario World TV}}

{{Yoshi's Story}}

[[Category:Super Mario Bros. 3]]

[[Category:Super Mario World]]

[[Category:Super Mario 64]]

[[Category:New Super Mario Bros.]]

[[Category:New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]

[[Category:The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]

[[Category:Super Mario Land]]

[[Category:Super Mario Bros.]]

[[Category:Mario Pinball Land]]

[[Category:Super Mario 3D Land]]