Ball and chain (windup)

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Ball and chain
A Boo Guy operating a ball and chain from Yoshi's New Island
A ball and chain from Yoshi's New Island
First appearance Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Latest appearance The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Variant of Spinner

Ball and chains[1] are spiked balls on chains that appear in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (and its reissue) and Yoshi's New Island. They typically appear in castles and forts.

Each ball and chain is wound up by a Boo Guy that sits in the wall. Once a ball and chain is wound up as far as it goes, the Boo Guy lets go and the heavy ball drops. If the ball touches a Yoshi, Baby Mario will fall off the Yoshi's back. The Boo Guys take some time to wind up the maces, giving the Yoshi time to safely pass underneath. Ball and chains, as well as the Boo Guys that operate them, are invincible.

In Yoshi's Story, similar objects appear alongside Ball 'N' Chains in The Tall Tower and Magma Castle. Unlike in the Yoshi's Island games, they are not operated by Boo Guys, they are black, and there is a pause before they drop down. They also have the same appearance as the game's Ball 'N' Chains.

Similar ball and chains appear as anchors for Bowser's Castle in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese まきあげドスン[2][3]
Makiage Dosun
From「げる」(makiageru, to wind up) and「ドスン」(dosun, crushing sound); later the name of spiked weight
てっきゅうドスン[4][5]
Tekkyū Dosun
From「鉄球てっきゅう」(tekkyū, iron ball) and「ドスン」(dosun, crushing sound)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Crack the rock below the third ball and chain then drop down the gap to collect two red coins. Continue walking down to the bottom and enter the secret door. Shoot the floating clouds to reveal stairways which take Yoshi to the top of the screen and another two coins below a ball and chain. Now shoot the cloud between the walls to reveal a stairway to the right and collect a flower. (HOOKBILL THE KOOPA’S CASTLE)" – April 1996. Nintendo Magazine System (UK) #43. Page 67.
  2. ^ 1995. 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオヨッシーアイランド」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook - Super Mario: Yossy Island). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 82.
  3. ^ 2002. 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオアドバンス3」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook - Super Mario Advance 3). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 116.
  4. ^ TCRF. Proto:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island/ys romX 0 § World 3. The Cutting Room Floor (English). Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  5. ^ 2014. 「任天堂公式ガイドブック ヨッシー New アイランド」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Yoshi's New Island). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 276.