Editing ? Block

{{item-infobox

|image=[[File:Question Block Artwork - Super Mario 3D World.png|200px]]

|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[List of Mario games by date#1985|1985]])

|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' ([[List of Mario games by date#2015|2015]])

|effect=Releases an item or coins when hit.

}}

A '''? Block''' (alternatively '''Question Block''', known as a '''Mystery Block''' in the ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' manual and a '''Prize Block''' in ''[[Super Mario World]]''<ref>''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' instruction booklet, page 19.</ref>) 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 [[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]], [[Luigi]], [[Toad]] or [[Princess Peach|Peach]] 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]], [[Luigi]], [[Toad]] or [[Princess Peach|Peach]] can kick the Koopa Shell at the Item Block. In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' series and ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', a [[Ground Pound]] may also be used to activate it.

 

In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the manual states 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 Block|brick]]s (which the ? Blocks could alternately be thought of as). [[Princess Peach]] could apparently reverse this spell, so she was kidnapped by the "Koopa Clan". 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 origin story of the ? Blocks, it would appear to have been long since retconned out of ''Mario'' games, with ? Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. ? 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.]]'' is the ? Block's debut appearance in the ''Mario'' series, along with a handful of other items. They appear to be flashing and they give 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 for climbing.

These blocks reappear in the sequel ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' with the exact same appearance and function. No changes have been made to these blocks, but certain ? Blocks can contain the new tricky non-Power-up, the [[Poison Mushroom]], which were introduced in ''The Lost Levels'' as well.

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

[[File:FlyingBlockSMW.gif|frame]]

The ? Blocks of ''[[Super Mario World]]'' have eyes and seem to be re-animations of that game's [[Rotating Block]]s. They also are given Rotating Block-like eyes when hit; these expressions-when-hit are often seen even in non-eyed ? Blocks. Otherwise, no function-related changes has been made. There are also flying variants called [[Flying ? Block]]s which fly left to right while moving up and down. A red ? Block only found in the dark area of [[Bowser's Castle]] activates a spotlight.

[[File:SM64DS FloatingPower.jpg|thumb|Mario using his Power Flower ability, with a red ? Block in the background]]

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', red ? Blocks replace the red, blue, and green [[Exclamation Mark Block|! Blocks]] from ''[[Super Mario 64]]''. 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 the character and hat status.

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', red Flying ? 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 ? Blocks from ''Super Mario World'' also appear, but while some of them fly left to right, others only move up and down. In two [[Ghost House]]s, ? Blocks that contain [[Boo]]s appear. The original yellow ? Blocks also appear and the Beanstalk-sprouting blocks make an appearance again. The game also features rare [[Spiky ? Block]]s in [[World 6 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 6]], which only appear in this 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 can only hit ? Blocks from below or throw something at them to release an object, Question Blocks in this game can also be [[Ground Pound|ground pounded]].

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

The ? 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 stationary ? 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 ? Blocks also appear, acting the same way as in the previous game, but the red ones that appear in the map didn't reappear. There is also a species called a [[Ghost Block]]. Sometimes, when not in mutiplayer, a [[Toad (species)|Toad]] is trapped in a block; if Mario brings the Toad to the end of the level, he is awarded with a Mushroom house.

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

? 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. 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 ? 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 instead of turning into a [[Used Block]] when they are hit, the same as normal ? Blocks in this game. They make chirping noises while they fly (like a bird). They won't trigger if the player attempts to [[Ground Pound]] its top.

? 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 [[Block (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 ? Blocks''' are also introduced, which have the same effect as a normal block; however, they give the player three coins in one hit and can contain items.

The ? Blocks reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. Rectangular ? Blocks from ''Super Mario 3D Land'' also reappear, with the same function as before. The rectangular blocks are also used as the platforms [[Reznor]]s stand on.

The ? Blocks also reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', acting as in the previous games. [[Giant ? Block]]s and [[Ghost Block]]s also return in this game.

====''Super Mario 3D World''====

Both regular ? Blocks and Rectangular ? Blocks reappear in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''. The wearable Question Box from ''Super Mario 3D Land'' also appears, except this time they can only be produced after hitting a [[Coin Block]] enough times, similar to the [[Gold Block]] from ''New Super Mario Bros. 2''. They are also shinier than a regular ? Block.

====''Super Mario Land''====

? Blocks appear in ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', although they are much smaller due to the gameplay resolution.

====''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins''====

? Blocks again have the same purpose in ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'', more closely matching the usual appearance.

====''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3''====

[[File:RiceBeachCourse1FaceBlock.png|thumb]]

? Blocks have been redesigned for ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', now having faces rather than its distinctive question mark, but still serving the same function. Its expression is initially cheerful, but when used, it changes into a grumpy one. [[Wario]] can hit one of these blocks by jumping from the bottom or [[Dash Attack|slamming]] from the side; upon doing so, a 1 Gold Coin, [[1 UP Heart]], or [[Power Up Pot]] may appear. These power-ups can be one of the following: [[Garlic Bottle|Garlic]], [[Bull Pot|Bull]], [[Dragon Pot|Dragon]], or [[Jet Pot|Jet]]. The player can also reveal the contents by heating it with [[Dragon Wario]]'s flames.

In ''[[Virtual Boy Wario Land]]'', ? Blocks start out with their usual design, but used ones have the same unhappy face.

{{main|Mystery Crate}}

A similar block can be found in ''[[Yoshi's Story]]''. This time, they are known as the Mystery Crate.

In the [[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]], red ? Blocks contain [[badge]]s and yellow ones contain coins or items. ? Blocks are sometimes invisible at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using [[Watt]] in ''Paper Mario'' and [[Tippi]] in ''Super Paper Mario''). Once they are 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 ? Blocks. If the player obtains four of these Meats, Bowser will grow huge, allowing him to smash through objects.

In ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', some ? Blocks may cause a [[Zombie Shroom]] to pop out of it.

In ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', ? Blocks have their sides peeled off upon being hit. Additionally, Mario can use [[Kersti]]'s "paperizing" power to create these blocks from small sized stickers from his album. All the player needs to find is a small "paperizing" zone with red dotted outlines. From there Mario can stick any small sticker, except Thing stickers, to it. Most of the time, when Mario hits the ? Block which he just created after "paperizing", the sticker he used to create it will come out differently; mostly the sticker's outcome will either become a better class sticker (e.g. from a Hammer Sticker to a Shiny Hammer Sticker) or into another different type of sticker (e.g. from a Hammer Sticker into a Jump Sticker). Rarely, when one sticker is used to create a ? Block, three stickers will come out of it. If [[Piranha Plant]]s are under ? Blocks, they are not hostile, but Mario cannot get the sticker. Instead, if Mario attempts to jump on them, the ? Block is not hit and Mario will recive damage.

In the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]], from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' 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 ? Blocks along with other classic Mario items. In the track [[Grumble Volcano]], there are giant ? Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks.

In ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'', on the track [[Cloudtop Cruise]], drivers land on a giant stone ? Block after a gliding section which has a beanstalk growing out of the side of it.

? 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]]'', ? Blocks appeared on the [[Mushroom Kingdom (stage)|Mushroom Kingdom]] stage and can contain items if attacked or simply smashed from below. They also appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' in the [[Mushroomy Kingdom]] stage and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' in the [[3D Land]] stage, with the same purpose.

? Blocks are 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 ? 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]]'', ? 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 ? Blocks. Some other characters such as [[Broggy]] and [[Broque Madame]] also appeared to be made from blocks.

In ''[[Nintendo Land]]'', presents resembling ? Blocks can be won from the [[wikipedia:Pachinko|pachinko]] minigame found in the central tower of the main plaza. For every stage completed in the minigame, a ? Block will fly out of the tower. After locating the ? Blocks on the plaza grounds, the player can tap them open to reveal different prizes based on objects found in the 12 attractions of the game. Mini ? Blocks also appear on the Jukebox prize and when tapped, will unlock a song the Player can play in the main plaza.

Large ? Blocks appear in ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'' on a variety of courses. If the player hits the ball through one, they can earn a usable item.

? Blocks reappear in ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''. They can be activated by having [[turnip]]s thrown at them or by touching them on the GamePad.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vsfIMs3o4</ref>

===''Super Mario Maker''===

{{newsubject|section=yes}}

? Blocks reappear in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' as objects that can be placed into levels.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmdHlh4xylo</ref> Power-ups, springboards, P-Switches, beanstalks, Yoshi Eggs, Goomba Shoes, and enemies can be placed in these blocks.

==''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U'' Trophy information==

{|border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 width=100%

|-

!width="10%"|Name

!width="20%"|Appears in

!NTSC-U Description

|-

!? Block

|[[File:SSB4TrophyQuestionBlock.png|100px]]

|align=center bgcolor=lightblue|'''NES''' Super Mario Bros. (10/1985)<br>'''Wii U''' New Super Mario Bros. U (11/2012)

|''How many times do you think you and Mario have punched ? Blocks? What if we added up the numbers for the entire world? If you were walking down the street and suddenly found a ? Block just floating there, would you jump up and punch it like Mario?''

|''How many times do you think you've made Mario hit a ? Block? How many times do you think everyone in the world's done it...? If you saw one just floating in mid-air while you were walking down the street one day, what would you do? Would you jump up and hit it?''

|}

<small>Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.</small>

{{morepic}}

<center><gallery>

File:SMB Question Block.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''

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

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

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

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

</gallery></center>

{{Foreignname

|Jap=ハテナブロック

|JapR=Hatena burokku

|JapM=? Block / Question Mark Block

|Por=Bloco de Prêmios (''Super Mario World'' manual)

|PorM=Prizes Block

|FreA=Bloc ?

|FreAM=-

|FreE=Caisse ?

|FreEM=? Crate

|GerM=? Block

|Spa=Bloque ?

|SpaM=? block

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