Backward Somersault
- This article is about the jumping move from Super Mario 64. For the forward somersault, see Roll.
- "Back Flip" redirects here. For the custom variant for Diddy Kong's Monkey Flip special move in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, see Monkey Flip.
- “If you jump while crouching with
, you'll do a backward somersault! You can go super high!” - —Board, Super Mario Galaxy 2
The Backward Somersault (or backward somersault), also referred to as the Backflip[1] (or back-flip)[2] and Crouch Jump on the official Super Mario 3D Land website, in the Super Mario 3D World manual,[3] and in Super Mario Maker 2, is an advanced type of jump introduced in Donkey Kong for the Game Boy. The player can perform it by pressing 
while moving and pressing 
in the opposite direction. Backflips allow Mario to quickly reach higher platforms. They require movement to execute them, so they cannot be performed on small platforms easily. The move can also be performed in Mario vs. Donkey Kong in the same way.
The Backward Somersault returns in Super Mario 64, and it has been present in every 3D game of the Super Mario franchise since, along with the similar Side Somersault. To perform a Backward Somersault in this game, Mario must jump while crouching. He jumps high and flips over in midair, moving backwards. Mario may chain it to a Ground Pound, and the player can also control the backwards horizontal distance by holding back on the Control Stick.
This move is also present in Donkey Kong 64, working as it did in Super Mario 64, though it can also go straight up and forwards.
In Super Mario Sunshine, though Mario cannot crouch, he can perform a Backward Somersault if he sprays water, then lets go of the pump while jumping. Doing so creates a blast of water.
In Super Mario 64 DS, in addition to Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario can perform this move. Luigi spins to slow his descent after performing it.
In Super Mario Galaxy, performing this move on the edge of certain platforms in Freezy Peak causes Mario to take a dive in the lake.
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, this move is also used to manually dismount Yoshi; it thus prevents him from ground-pounding.
In Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, and the Super Mario 3D World style in Super Mario Maker 2, this move must be charged up first by crouching, like the Power Squat Jump from Super Mario Bros. 2, and it can also go straight up and forwards, as in Donkey Kong 64.
The move returns in Super Mario Run, where characters perform it if the screen is tapped while they are on a Backflip Block. Moving backward in this way enables them to wall-jump from backward-facing walls that are otherwise ignored. While characters are using the backflip, the Midair Spin, Flutter Jump, Floaty Jump, and Double Jump cannot be used. If an enemy is stomped with this, the player stops backflipping and does a regular jump while facing backward.
In Super Mario Odyssey, Mario can perform Backward Somersaults continuously if any of the shoulder buttons (
, 
, 
, or 
) are held.
Profiles[edit]
Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
- Website description:
- English (American):
Mario charges up kinetic energy when he crouches. Harness it to jump even higher. - English (British):
Press the B Button (or the A Button) while crouching to perform a Crouch Jump. Mario jumps higher than with an ordinary jump.
- English (American):
Gallery[edit]
Artwork from Donkey Kong
Screenshot from Super Mario 64
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | バック宙[4] Bakku chū |
Literally "Back air" | |
| バックフリップ (Mario vs Donkey Kong)[5] Bakkufurippu |
Backflip | ||
| ハイジャンプ (Mario vs Donkey Kong manual)[6] Hai Janpu |
High jump | ||
| French (NOA) | Salto arrière[7][8] | Backwards Somersault | |
| Flip-flap[9][10] | Flip-flap | ||
| Saut Périlleux arrière[11] | Backward Perilous Jump | ||
| Saut périlleux (Donkey Kong 64)[12] | Perilous Jump | ||
| Culbute arrière[13] | Backward Somersault | ||
| German | Rückwärtssalto[14] | Backflip | |
| Italian | Capriola all'indietro[15][16][17][18][19][20] | Backwards somersault | |
| Salto mortale all'indietro (Super Mario 64)[21] | Backflip; lit. "Backwards deadly jump" | ||
| Capovolta all'indietro (Mario vs Donkey Kong)[22] | Backwards somersault | ||
| Salto da abbassato[23][24] | Backwards jump | ||
| Korean | 백 텀블링[?] Baek Teombeulling |
Back Tumbling | |
| Portuguese (NOA) | Salto Mortal Para Trás[25] | Backward Somersault | |
| Portuguese (NOE) | Salto Agachado[?] | Crouch Jump | |
| Salto (Agachado)[?] | Jump (Crouched) | Super Mario 3D Land | |
| Russian | Прыжок присев[?] Pryzhok prisev |
Crouch Jump | Super Mario 3D Land |
| Сальто назад[?] Sal'to nazad |
Backwards Somersault | Super Mario Odyssey | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Salto Agachado[?] | Crouch Jump | |
| Salto Hacia Atrás[26] | Backwards Jump | ||
| Spanish (NOE) | Salto Agachado[?] | Crouch Jump | |
| Salto hacia atrás (Mario vs Donkey Kong)[27] | Backwards jump | ||
| Voltereta Mortal (SMG/SMG2)[?] | Somersault |
Trivia[edit]
- In Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, performing a Backward Somersault from the edge of a platform toward a body of water causes Mario to instead do a diving move into the water, as long as the platform's surface is high enough above the water level.
- Super Mario Odyssey contains an incomplete sentence when displaying instructions for a Backward Somersault on a sign: "If you're looking for the easiest way to get somewhere that a regular jump won't quite reach. Stop, crouch, and press
to do a Backward Somersault."
References[edit]
- ^ Game Boy Donkey Kong American English Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console digital manual, tab 3: "Controls".
- ^ 1994. Game Boy Donkey Kong instruction booklet. Nintendo of America. Page 10.
- ^ Super Mario 3D World manual (PDF). Nintendo of America. Page 17. Archived March 13, 2021, 13:09:03 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine.
- ^ Super Mario Odyssey (1.2.0) Action Guide, Japanese language.
- ^ Mario vs Donkey Kong Japanese version, Help Box in Level 1-6.
- ^ 2004. マリオ
vs. ドンキーコング (PDF). Page 9. - ^ Super Mario Galaxy instruction booklet, French segment.
- ^ Super Mario Galaxy 2 move pamphlet, French side.
- ^ 1997. Super Mario 64 Instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (French). Page 51.
- ^ 2002. Super Mario Sunshine Instruction booklet. Nintendo of Europe (French). Page 21.
- ^ 2005. Super Mario 64 DS Instruction booklet (PDF). Page 53.
- ^ 1999. Donkey Kong 64 Instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (French). Page 31.
- ^ Super Mario Odyssey actions menu.
- ^ Mario vs Donkey Kong instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (German). Page 14.
- ^ Donkey Kong Italian e-manual. Page 11.
- ^ Super Mario Sunshine Italian manual. Page 21.
- ^ 2005. Super Mario 64 DS European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 91.
- ^ Super Mario Galaxy Italian manual. Page 15.
- ^ Super Mario Galaxy 2 Italian manual. Page 17.
- ^ Super Mario Odyssey Italian in-game guide, basic moves
- ^ Super Mario 64 Italian e-manual. Page 32.
- ^ Mario vs Donkey Kong instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 44.
- ^ Super Mario 3D Land Italian e-manual. Page 8.
- ^ Super Mario 3D World Italian manual. Page 17.
- ^ Super Mario 64 Brazilian instruction booklet. Page 11.
- ^ Super Mario Galaxy instruction booklet, Spanish segment.[page number needed]
- ^ 2004. Mario vs Donkey Kong European instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (European Spanish). Page 34.
