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{{LLQuote|What's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? How about Diddy and Dixie in a barrel?|''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' manual, page 18}}
{{item-infobox
|name=Barrel
|image=[[File:BarrelDKCR.png|175px]]
|description=A barrel used mainly throughout the [[Donkey Kong (series)|''Donkey Kong'' series]].
|first_appearance=''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'' ([[List of Mario games by date#1981|1981]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Party 10]]'' ([[List of games by date#2015|2015]])
}}
'''Barrels''' are weapons that [[Cranky Kong|Donkey Kong]] used against [[Mario]] in the [[Donkey Kong (game)|''Donkey Kong'' arcade game]]. Since then, barrels have shown up in many other ''Donkey Kong'', ''Mario'', and miscellaneous games of the universe. Regular barrels can usually be heaved and used to attack enemies or destroy thin and not so strong walls and surfaces. However, this is not the only role played by barrels; they can also be found in other stances: as immovable obstacles or mere platforms. Their physical appearance might change slightly from game to game (e.g. the number of hoops rimming the barrels, their tints and colorition, their size), but these are mostly aesthetic and do not modify the gameplay.

Many variations of the normal barrel appear in the games, and a list where each of them is mentioned can be found [[Barrel#Types of barrels|below]]. However, most of the article's body centers on the regular type of barrel, comprising as less information as possible about the other types, leaving them described within other articles.

==Appearance==
In the ''Mario'' universe, barrels do not differentiate at all from those in the [[Earth|Real World]]. A barrel is made of several vertical convex staves (fourteen in the latest appearances) bound to form a pseudo-cylindrical vase, which is the barrel itself. Four gray steel hoops (only three in the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' games, and two in ''Wario Land 3'') circle the staves<ref>It is confirmed in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction manual, at page 16, that regular barrels have hoops made of steel: ''"Steel rimmed barrels roll over enemies until they hit a wall."''</ref>: two of them are each placed at one of the barrel's base, while the other are donned on the barrel's bigger circumferences. Usually, barrels do not contain anything, as they do not leave anything when broken.

==History==
===''Donkey Kong'' series===
====''Donkey Kong''====
[[File:Donkey Kong-Barrel Artwork.png|thumb|180px|Artwork of a Barrel from ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]''.]]
[[File:Barrel.png|frame|left]]
In ''[[Donkey Kong (game)|Donkey Kong]]'', the first threat [[Mario]] ever faces is from a blue barrel that [[Cranky Kong|Donkey Kong]] tosses in level [[25m]]. When this blue barrel rolls into the [[Oil Drum]] at the start, it will spawn a [[Fire|Fireball]]. Donkey Kong mostly throws brown barrels at Mario which the hero could jump over - once successfully passed over, a barrel will roll further and it won't represent a peril for Mario anymore (also, with every dodge, the player is granted 100 points). With the aid of a [[hammer]], the chubby carpenter can smash the barrels, and this is going to award him 500 points.

Barrels are set as obstacles for the player yet again in the [[Donkey Kong (Game & Watch)|Game & Watch port of the original ''Donkey Kong'']]. It is safe to be specified that barrels reappear in later games where this version of ''Donkey Kong'' is remade. These include ''[[Game & Watch Gallery 2]]'', ''[[Game & Watch Gallery 4|4]]'', and ''[[Game & Watch Collection]]''. In these games, although barrels are thrown by the infamous ape like before, this time around, there is no mean to destroy one.

====''Donkey Kong Circus''====
In ''[[Donkey Kong Circus]]'', Donkey Kong is forced by Mario to balance on a barrel that acts as a circus ball. He has to dodge [[Fire|Fireballs]] that fall from the Oil Drums above, and juggle [[pineapple]]s, all while riding the barrel.

====''Donkey Kong '94''====
[[File:Barrel DKGB.jpg|frame|left]]
The first four levels of the [[Game Boy]] version of ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'' is an almost exact imitation of the classic arcade game, which means that barrels appear once again in the 25m stage. The ape foe whom Mario pursues throws them and tries to hinder the plumber. When he jumps over one, he is awarded 100 points, just like in the original game. Nevertheless, the player only earns 300 points upon destroying a barrel with a hammer, unlike in the arcade ''Donkey Kong''; later in its Game Boy remake, when the adventure of Mario starts to take a more extended shape, Donkey Kong still uses barrels occasionally, so as to down the hero. When a rolling barrel encounters an edge and falls down to the platform underneath, Mario needs to perform a [[handstand]] right under the falling barrel and stop it with his feet. The barrel will then land upright, and can be picked up and put to good use - Mario has to hurl the barrel back at Donkey Kong in order to harm him. Barrels can only be picked up when they are standing, otherwise Mario cannot stand one. Sometimes, it is not necessary for the plumber to do the aforementioned procedure, whereas barrels can stop automatically. But in certain battles, such as in the final one with the overgrown Kong, barrels slip from platforms and fall off the screen, and Mario has to handstand beneath the barrels to stop them.

====''Donkey Kong Country'' and ''Donkey Kong Land'' series====
[[File:DK throwing a barrel.png|thumb|right|Artwork of Donkey Kong getting set to hurl a barrel.]]
The game ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'' introduces '''Regular Barrels'''<ref>Called as such in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction booklet, at page 16.</ref> - and also some other types - as weapons used by [[Donkey Kong]] in combat with enemies. They appear frequently in many levels throughout the game. When Donkey Kong picks up a barrel, he lifts it above his head by using his powerful arms. This can be done if the player presses {{button|snes|A}} on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] controller when the ape hero is next to the barrel. However, [[Diddy Kong]], the second hero, is not as strong to lift the barrel up, and only carries it in front of his body; nevertheless, this is a good technique used to protect himself from hazards. The barrel can then be hurled by releasing the {{button|snes|A}} button. Regular barrels are necessary to destroy tough or well protected enemies, including [[Zinger]]s and [[Krusha]]s, and are sometimes needed when having to take down bosses, such as [[Queen B.]], [[Kreepy Krow]] or [[King K. Rool#Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!|Baron K. Roolenstein]]. In the battles where the enumerated bosses are present, there are certain methods of acquiring barrels, shown in the enumeration's respect: they can either spawn repeatedly without the player's input, appear after defeating a living [[Mini Necky]], or falling from the ceiling after the player pulls some pipes.

The mechanic of a barrel is simple: after it gets picked up and thrown, it will start to roll on the ground until it hits a wall, and it breaks afterwards; every enemy who withstands this mighty weapon will be overthrown and downed by it. Later in the game, Donkey and Diddy Kong encounter abominable orangutan-looking foes called [[Manky Kong]]s, which, much like Donkey Kong in the original ''Donkey Kong'', toss dangerous barrels at the heroes. These barrels only break when they hit a wall, and oddly enough, when [[Rambi the Rhino|Rambi]] bumps into a barrel thrown by a Manky Kong, the wooden weapon will not shatter its staves, but instead will simply fall off-screen.

[[File:Diddy comedy.png|thumb|left|[[Diddy Kong]] and a [[Krusha]], standing next to a lone barrel in ''[[Donkey Kong Land]]''.]]
After ''Donkey Kong Country'', throughout the other many adventures of the [[Kong]]s, barrels still have the same function as they had in the aforementioned game. ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'''s barrels do not sport any apparent change, and so they remained in ''[[Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' and [[Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D|its remake]], and ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''. Apart from the ''[[Donkey Kong Country (series)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' series, barrels also make appearances in the ''[[Donkey Kong Land (series)|Donkey Kong Land]]'' games, and retain the exact same function. While ''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Land 3]]'' are full of barrels, the first ''[[Donkey Kong Land]]'' features a very small amount of normal barrels, three to be more precise, each in the following levels: [[Jungle Jaunt]], [[Freezing Fun]] and [[Tricky Temple]]. In this game, barrels are smaller and take the form of wooden kegs.

In ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', [[Dixie Kong]] can lift barrels over her head with her ponytail. Also, exclusively in ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', [[Kiddy Kong]]'s method of holding barrels is the same as Diddy Kong's.

There are some barrels in the first ''Donkey Kong Country'' which do not display steel hoops, but instead weaker-looking, greenish ones. These are named '''Vine Barrels'''<ref>Also stated in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' instruction booklet, at page 16.</ref>, and their "hoops" are of vegetal origins, hence the name. When these are thrown, they will roll on the ground just like common barrels, yet they are so fragile they will break when hitting an enemy. Barrels in ''Donkey Kong Country 3'' function the same, although these do not sport any change in appearance from generic barrels.

[[File:Barrel Drop Bounce.png|thumb|right|[[Kiddy Kong|Kiddy]] bouncing on some barrels that drop down a waterfall.]]
Not only the ape heroes use barrels, but also other enemies are shown to possess or find the helpfulness of these objects. As stated above, Manky Kongs use barrels from an unlimited supply as weapons and always toss them towards the player. [[Kannon]]s from ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' wield small bombards that shoot barrels, obviously serving as projectiles here, and can be destroyed by a stomp or by hitting a wall. [[Klobber]]s, also from ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', hide inside barrels and can be easily mistaken for normal barrels; however, these enemies prevail and start ramming into the player once he or she approaches them. Therefore, Klobbers use barrels as shields against the player, and also as outfit to improve comical effect. Just one stomp and it can be picked up like a regular barrel, or perish from an Animal Buddy attack. In ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', very similar foes called [[Knocka]]s use barrels in the same manner, only that now these are painted green with an obnoxious smile, and they feature a slit above this smile to allow the enemy inside to see outside. Thus, the Knockas' barrels can be distinguished from regular barrels with no difficulty. [[Belcha]], the first boss of ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', is itself a large, animated barrel. It "spits" barrels from a hole that serves as a mouth. These barrels contain yellow [[Knik-Knak]]s, that will only reveal when the player jumps on the barrels and breaks them.

[[File:7-Barrel.png|thumb|left|A Barrel next to a "7" number in the [[Game Boy Color]] version of ''[[Donkey Kong Country]].]]
In some instances, barrels also act as platforms. This is shown in ''Donkey Kong Country 2'' and ''Donkey Kong Land 2'', where tuns stay either aligned or stacked on top of each other on the ship deck levels, such as [[Gangplank Galley]] and [[Rattle Battle]]. They technically function as terrain not only for the players, but also for enemies and the carriable objects. However, barrels that aren't just foreground elements, as the player and/or the environment can interact with them, are mainly featured in ''Donkey Kong Country 3''. [[Ellie the Elephant]] is able to suck up and transport barrels with her trunk, and then throw them in the water; if done correctly, the barrels will come to the surface of the river, and thus Ellie can use them as pseudo-bridges to pass the dangerous water guarded by [[Nibbla]]s. This can be seen in [[Bobbing Barrel Brawl]]. In the stage, [[Barrel Drop Bounce]], many barrels fall down the cascade here. The cause of their appearance is not shown, but they break for sure upon hitting ground. While they are still falling down the cascade, the Kongs can hop on them and quickly jump again on solid platforms; rows of barrels dropping down can also be encountered and stepped on with care in order to reach further platforms.

Finally, there are barrels that only deck the levels in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, meaning that the player cannot interact with them, as they are either foreground or background elements. Situations like these can be found in: the swamp-themed levels of ''Donkey Kong Country 2'', where many barrels stand disorderly alongside vegetation, right before the camera; the tree-themed stages from ''Donkey Kong Country 3'', where they are sticked to the background wall and can be easily confused with carriable barrels due to their proximity; beach or ship levels in ''Donkey Kong Country Returns'' and ''Tropical Freeze'', where big-sized barrels are stacked on each other alongside other wooden objects, such as crates.
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====''Donkey Kong 64''====
In ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'', regular-looking barrels are commonly featured as design patterns for many constructions in the game (e.g. [[Cranky's Lab]] has the shape of a large barrel, so does the slot machine in the [[Batty Barrel Bandit]] minigame). [[Klobber]]s return from a [[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest|past game]], along with their clothing composed of barrels. This time, the enemies can straightfowardly harm the [[Kong]]s by bumping into them with the barrels they wear. Otherwise, they behave the same as before.

Inside the main sunken ship of [[Gloomy Galleon]], and also inside the barn with the club-wielding [[Kosha]] in [[Fungi Forest]], one can find barrels. These are relatively big, and only fulfil decorative purposes without offering the possibility of being picked up by the player. On the other hand, barrels that ''can'' be grabbed and thrown just like in the past ''Donkey Kong'' games are rather uncommon here. These are small, and the player's character can take one in his arms if button {{button|n64|b}} on the controller is pressed. Pressing this button again will make the character throw the barrel, which will roll continuously on the ground until hitting a wall. Two areas of the game feature barrels that function as handy objects: one of [[Cranky Kong]]'s training minigames takes place inside the first of these areas; the other one is Diddy Kong's igloo from [[Crystal Caves]], which can be accessed much later in the game.

In the main menu of the game, Donkey Kong takes a barrel, lifts it above him, and waits for the player to select an option. Once the option has been selected, the ape will throw the barrel and destroy it.

Additionally, Donkey Kong's [[bongo]]s are objects that look like regular barrels. He plays them whenever the player presses {{button|n64|Z}} and then {{button|n64|Cup}} on the controller. Upon playing the barrel bongos, Donkey Kong releases a powerful sound wave which knocks out every enemy that stays in a certain attack radius from the place where the bongos have been played. This is the essential idea behind the [[Bongo Blast]] attack.

[[File:DonkeyKonga.jpg|thumb|left|The Kongs playing music on [[bongo]]s that have the shape of barrels.]]

====''Donkey Konga'' series====
The first game of the series, ''[[Donkey Konga]]'', reveals a story that shows how [[Donkey Kong]] and [[Diddy Kong]] found a lone pair of small barrels while strolling on the beach. Later on, when asked by the two what these barrels are supposed to be - supposing they are meant to be a cunning trap from [[King K. Rool|K. Rool]] -, [[Cranky Kong]] explains they are magic [[bongo]]s that can be played on.

All three games from the series are centered on playing the barrel bongos in the rhythm of several musical compositions. A set of such bongos even comes bundled with the game in real life, which serves as the controller for the game, and the player has to physically strike them in order to make Donkey Kong do the same thing behind the screen.

====''Donkey Kong Jungle Beat''====
[[File:Massive Canyon.PNG|thumb|right|Sequence of a level in ''Donkey Kong Jungle Beat''. Notice the barrel at the upper left of the screen, which already contains 42 bananas.]]
In ''[[Donkey Kong Jungle Beat]]'', small barrels are used to transport [[Donkey Kong]] to different kingdoms. Every barrel has a letter in front of them, with each letter spelling out the initials of ''Donkey Kong Jungle Beat''. The D Barrel links to the [[Banana Kingdom]], [[Orange Kingdom]], [[Watermelon Kingdom]], and [[Apple Kingdom]]. The K Barrel warps the player to the [[Strawberry Kingdom]], [[Pineapple Kingdom]], [[Lemon Kingdom]], and [[Grape Kingdom]]. The J Barrel goes to the [[Cherry Kingdom]], [[Peach Kingdom]], [[Melon Kingdom]], and [[Durian Kingdom]]. The B Barrel introduces the player into the [[Pear Kingdom]], [[Lychee Kingdom]], [[Chili Pepper Kingdom]], and [[Star Fruit Kingdom]]. Completing all the kingdoms in each barrel allows Donkey Kong access to the next barrel.

The heads-up display of the game permanently features a large barrel, lying horizontally in the upper left corner of the screen. On this barrel stays written the number of [[banana]]s Donkey Kong has collected in the level he is currently in. As a matter of fact, the ape hero uses this barrel to transport the bananas.

====''DK'' series====
In ''[[DK: King of Swing]]'' and ''[[DK: Jungle Climber]]'', barrels are mere harmless obstacles the [[Kong]]s can find in their way. They can be broken if the player charges into them. Upon destruction, they reveal bonuses, such as [[banana]]s and [[DK Coin|medals]]. Before getting destroyed, barrels can be stood on, just like on ground.

Likewise, only in ''King of Swing'', the player can store the first 50 bananas collected throughout the game inside a barrel, which is shown on the bottom right corner of the screen as an icon. The bananas can be consumed by the Kong to gain invincibility, and if the player has less than fifty banans left afterwards, the barrel will disappear and make room for four or less bunches of ten bananas.

====''Donkey Kong Barrel Blast''====
[[File:BongoSize.jpg|thumb|Size comparison chart of the characters from ''Donkey Kong Barrel Blast''. Note the varying barrel jets.]]
Normal barrels play the role of both obstacles and thrust jets used by players in the [[Wii]] racing game, ''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''. The barrels in the first category are encountered in strings on the racetracks. One can avoid these hindrances by hopping over them, and if one were to crash into a barrel, he or she would break it and severely decelerate. Nonetheless, players can charge with a [[Wild Move]] into barrels and destroy them successfully without slowing down; if done correctly, they will be awarded five [[banana]]s for each performance. A while after a barrel got destroyed, another one will spawn and take its place. Along with normal barrels, [[Steel Keg]]s can be found throughout the course.

The barrels in the second category are bongos that characters wear. They are, in fact, small jets which propel the characters forward, and are therefore the main way of locomotion in the game. A character wears two such rocket bongos, one on each side of his or her body - the only exception being [[King K. Rool]], who rides a single cockpit barrel. The barrel bongos' color, pattern, and size vary from character to character. For instance, [[Diddy Kong]] drives on two small, brown barrels, and [[Kip]]'s barrels are the same size and color, with the only difference being the spiky hoops around the barrels. On the other hand, [[Kritter]] has gray bongos, and so on. Despite the bongos appearing in this game, the real life bongo controllers are not supported here, unlike in ''Donkey Konga'' for the [[GameCube]] (see the section [[Barrel#Donkey Konga series|above]]).

Additionally, the windmills in the [[DK Jungle (Donkey Kong Barrel Blast)|DK Jungle]] course have long, flattened barrels for blades.

===''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series===
[[File:Barrel_MvsDK.png|frame|left]]
[[File:DK_MvsDK.jpg|thumb|right|Donkey Kong carries a barrel, in an artwork for ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong''.]]
Just like in the Game Boy remake of ''Donkey Kong'', barrels can be used by Mario as improvised artillery against [[Donkey Kong]] in ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]''. They are relatively common, and most of them can be found lying on the ground in [[Donkey Kong Jungle (world)|Donkey Kong Jungle]]. Once picked up, they can be carried by the player to any accessible place and either tossed at enemies, or put convenably to serve as helpful platforms for Mario to reach very high knolls. Likewise, they can be placed on [[Spike (obstacle)|spikes]]. The only boss battles where Donkey Kong uses the common wooden objects against Mario are [[Fire Mountain#3-DK|3-DK]] and [[Fire Mountain Plus#3-DK+|3-DK+]]. They can be deflected with a [[handstand]].

The last battle with Donkey Kong before accessing the "Plus" worlds, the one where Mario needs to free the [[Toad (species)|Toads]], has the ape roll a spiky "variety" of barrels towards the plumber, which damage him easily. They cannot be stopped - not even with a handstand. Big tuns, labeled "DK" on the side facing the player, are also thrown by Donkey Kong, and cannot be braked either, unless Mario liberates all three Toads. Once these large barrels take off the screen, the Toads quickly appear with them back, transpoting and placing them safely in the center of the bottom platform. The "DK" tuns are the only weapon against the main foe in this fight. Whilst this fight has no normal barrel, the very last battle of the game contains them. They are plummeting from the sky, along with other potentially dangerous objects, once Donkey Kong, who controls a large mecha robot, pounds its fist on the ground.

===''Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario'' series====
=====''Super Mario Bros. Special''=====
[[File:Barrel SMBS.png|frame|left]]
''[[Super Mario Bros. Special]]'' marks the second time barrels are used in the ''Mario'' series. In this game, barrels are not called as such, but rather credited as '''Tarusar'''. They are introduced in World 3-4 and continue to appear occasionally throughout the game. These obstacles did not change since their latter and first appearance in ''[[Donkey Kong]]''; they just roll continously towards the hero, either on castle stairs or on steep mushroomy platforms. Here, barrels apparently spawn and plummet from high areas, and their source is nowhere to be seen. [[Mario]]'s simple stomps cannot destroy the wooden hazards, although the game features the [[hammer]], whose head can crush everything, not to except barrels.

=====''New Super Mario Bros.''=====
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', large, horizontal barrels can be found buoying above the surface of water. Mario or Luigi can use them as platforms to skip over [[Skeeter]]s and, eventually, avoid swimming. However, these barrels cannot float on the water and sustain the respective hero at the same time, and so they will sink continuously until he liberates them from the pressure. Under the effects of a [[Mini Mushroom]], the hero can prevent the tuns from going down when stepping on them, and thus staying afloat they act as normal platforms. The barrels can be found in [[World 3-A (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 3-A]] and [[World 8 (New Super Mario Bros.)|World 8-2]].

=====''Super Mario Galaxy''=====
Some [[Octopus (Super Mario Galaxy)|Octopuses]], which are [[Octoomba]] foes from ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', prefer to stay inside barrels and shoot their projectiles from there, making those barrels act as warfare trenches. Besides this aesthetic purpose, barrels do not serve any other function.

=====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''=====
[[File:BarrelNSMBW.png|frame]]
Barrels are placed throughout deserts and haunted mansions in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', this time as handy items. They can be toted and thrown by the player in order to defeat certain enemies, just like in ''Donkey Kong Country''. However, they can also harm other players if they get hit by one. [[Broozer]]s can punch barrels to make them roll and use them as obstacles against the player. As seen in [[World 2-2 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 2-2]], barrels can easily break when in contact with a [[Spiked Ball|spiked ball]], whether they roll into them or stand still.

Along with the barrels that can be carried, the game features the tun-sized variety from ''New Super Mario Bros.'', which float on the water and sit horizontally. They respect the same physics as in the mentioned game, and appear in [[World 4-2 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 4-2]].

=====''Super Mario Galaxy 2''=====
With the return of Octopuses from ''Super Mario Galaxy'', barrels reappear in the [[Super Mario Galaxy 2|successor]] of this game. They are used in the same manner as in the previous game. Octopuses inside barrels can be seen in [[Shiverburn Galaxy]] and [[Grandmaster Galaxy]]. Likewise, in the game, there is a boss character named [[Prince Pikante]] who drives a small tank, whose body is composed of an armored barrel.

=====''Super Mario 3D Land''=====
Barrels appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''. In the final boss battle with [[Bowser]], there is a point in the battle where Bowser throws barrels at [[Mario|the hero]], a reference to the original ''Donkey Kong'' arcade game.

=====''New Super Mario Bros. 2''=====
The barrels that buoy on waters, whose first appearance was in ''New Super Mario Bros.'', make another appearance in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', with no change overall to their physical behavior when in contact with the player. They are only present in [[World 3-1 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 3-1]].

=====''New Super Mario Bros. U'' / ''New Super Luigi U''=====
Barrels reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', and act just as in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. In this game they are less common, only appearing in some [[Ghost House]]s with [[Broozer]]s. Barrels return in ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'' as rare items, only found in the level [[Broozers and Barrels]].

====''Mario Kart'' series====
[[File:Banana Trophy.png|thumb|300px|The [[Banana Cup]] from the ''Mario Kart'' games is often depicted as a smiling [[Banana|banana peel]] standing atop a miniature '''barrel'''. In this promotional picture from [[Club Nintendo (rewards program)|Club Nintendo]] is a stance of a real life banana trophy made after the one from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''.]]
In the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, barrels first show up in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'' as items that can be used only by [[Donkey Kong]]. He can acquire one by chance if he passes through an [[Item Box]]. The barrel can then be sent rolling forward or backward, depending on the player's choice, and it can represent a hazardous obstacle for other players. These barrel items return in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'', functioning in the same way as they did in the predecessor named above.

In the latter ''Mario Kart'' games, barrels are scattered around various courses; should a player bump into one of these with his/her [[kart|vehicle]], the barrel will break and free an aleatory item, which can help or hinder the player. In these games, the general appearance of barrels is much more realistic - appearance that was also approached in the ''Donkey Kong'' series - than that from the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' games.

Regular barrels and [[DK Barrel]]s, the latter functioning the same as the former, are scattered respectively in [[Wario Shipyard]] and [[DK Jungle]], two racetracks from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. The players can interact with them the way described above - however, unless they wear the power of a [[Super Star]] or use external forces, such as [[fireball]]s or [[Bob-omb]]s, their kart will decelerate significantly upon bumping into a barrel, which makes it risky to destroy such object just for the sake of the items found inside. With the return of DK Jungle in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'', DK Barrels reappear. Regular barrels are found on the [[airship]] section of [[Cloudtop Cruise]], and also on the boardwalk part of [[Wild Woods]]. [[Toad Harbor]] features barrels decorated with flowers, which are found on both the actual racetrack and among the audience, along with large, wooden boxes. Despite their slightly changed appearance, they are, technically, the same as common barrels. Additionally, in [[Bone-Dry Dunes]], some decorative barrels are stacked up together and placed under the tents surrounding the finish line.

[[File:Protected Barrel.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wario]] next to a barrel that is protected by bars.]]
[[Vase]]s and [[crate]]s from the ''Mario Kart'' games can be technically compared to barrels, as they reveal secrets upon crashing into them. In ''Mario Kart 7'', barrels, as well as vases, are more much more solid and cannot be destroyed ''while playing on [[Mario Kart (series)#Time Trial|Time Trial]]''. Here, they are shown to be shielded by metallic bars that surround their bodies vertically and horizontally. This feature was eliminated in ''Mario Kart 8''.

A [[kart]] that appears in both ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', the [[Barrel Train]], has an elongated barrel as the main aesthetic component.

{{multiple image
 | align = left
 | width = 200
 | footer = <center>'''Screenshots of several racetracks from ''Mario Kart'' games, taken in places with barrels.'''</center>
 | image1 = Blue Shell and Crabs.jpg|200px
 | caption1 = <center>[[Wario Shipyard]]</center>
 | image2 = Baby Rosalina on Airship.jpg|200px
 | caption2 = <center>[[Cloudtop Cruise]]</center>
 | image3 = Decorated barrels.jpg|200px
 | caption3 = <center>[[Toad Harbor]]</center>
 | image4 = Tree Top Town.jpg|200px
 | caption4 = <center>[[Wild Woods]]</center>
 }}
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====''Mario Party'' series====
=====''Mario Party''=====
Barrels are decorative elements on the [[DK's Jungle Adventure]] board in ''[[Mario Party]]''. They can be mostly seen lying amongst ruins.

=====''Mario Party 2''=====
[[File:MP2 RollOuttheBarrels.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Roll Out the Barrels]] from ''[[Mario Party 2]]'']]
In ''[[Mario Party 2]]'', the board [[Pirate Land]] has barrels placed on its surface amongst other props, or buoying on water, in order to enhance the pirate ship atmosphere. However, they gain a more significant role in a minigame called [[Roll Out the Barrels]], which is specific to Pirate Land. The minigame is a [[wikipedia:Shell game|shell game]] where items are placed beneath barrels, which are swapped quickly. The player is then left to decide under which barrel is hiding his or her prefered item.

=====''Mario Party 4''=====
There is not much to say about the appearance of barrels in ''[[Mario Party 4]]'', apart from the fact that many of them are spread negligently inside the sea water on the [[Koopa's Seaside Soiree]] board.

=====''Mario Party 5''=====
Two boards from ''[[Mario Party 5]]'', namely [[Pirate Dream]] and [[Undersea Dream]], feature ornamental barrels that support their themes.

=====''Mario Party 6''=====
A [[minigame]] in  ''[[Mario Party 6]]'', titled [[Blooper Scooper]], has the characters trying to avoid getting pulled by an oversized [[Blooper]] into a water vortex. They are surrounded by many objects from their shipwreck, which they have to dodge (otherwise, they will be brought closer to the giant creature). Some of these objects are barrels that reveal nothing when getting broken, even though they have mysterious stars textured on their lids.

=====''Mario Party Advance''=====
In the minigame [[Barrel Peril]] of [[Mario Party Advance|this game]], the player has to pass a long alley sentried with [[Chain Chomp]]s while wearing a barrel. The barrel protects the player from the enemies' hasty attacks, but only if he or she hides completely inside the object. Other than being a shield to perils, the barrel does not serve any other function inside the minigame.

=====''Mario Party 8''=====
In ''[[Mario Party 8]]'', some barrels are scattered through the market located near the starting point of [[Goomba's Booty Boardwalk]]. More of them can be found sticked together in small groups on the same board, either next to other wooden objects (such as crates and chests), or near the pier that leads to the end of the board, or in the vicinity of [[DK Space]]s.

=====''Mario Party 10''=====
Slot machines that take the form of barrels appear in ''[[Mario Party 10]]'', on [[Donkey Kong Board|Donkey Kong's amiibo board]]. Here, apart from being miniatural, barrels have golden hoops. There are three [[Event Space]]s on the board from where the player can access these barrel slot machines, and there are three of these corresponding to each space. The only jackpot one can earn from a barrel slot machine is composed of coins that come in different amounts. Once the player's [[amiibo]] hits every barrel, the number of coins won from each one will sum up with the others and the prize for the player shall be the total amount of coins.

====''Mario Baseball'' series====
[[File:BarrelBatters.PNG|thumb|[[Barrel Batter]]]]
Each of the games from this series, ''[[Mario Superstar Baseball]]'' and ''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'', contains a stadium that represents a homage to the ''Donkey Kong'' games. The stadiums are [[Donkey Kong Jungle (stadium)|Donkey Kong Jungle]] and [[DK Jungle (stadium)|DK Jungle]]. Both feature [[Barrel Cannon]]s out of their bounds, which shoot large barrels. These roll on the stadiums' fields and hinder the baseball players from getting the ball if they stand before them. Barrels roll continuously until they slam into a wall, in which case they will crumble and de-spawn.

In the ''Mario Superstar Baseball'' version of the stadium, a minigame called [[Barrel Batter]] takes place. In this minigame, the batter has to launch the ball with his bat into rows of colored barrels that stay right in the front of the player. The more barrels of the same color hit consequently, the more points the player gains.

The ''Mario Super Sluggers'' version of the stadium hosts another minigame, titled [[Barrel Basher]]. The batter is given a small wall in front of him/her which serves as a shield against the many rapid barrels (and also powerful [[Bob-ombs]]) that come from several Barrel Cannons. Despite the protection granted by the shield, the safety of the player is still precarious, as the barrels can damage the shield upon bumping into it. The target in the minigame is to destroy as many barrels as the player can and prevent the wall from falling apart. If not broken in time, the barrels may successfully uncover the player by destroying the wall, leaving him or her exposed to other dangerous barrels. Upon breaking a barrel, the score of the player increases; some of the barrels are shiny and are more worthy than regular barrels.

====Other appearances in the ''Mario'' series====
[[File:BarrelPMSS.png|frame|left|A barrel sticker from ''Paper Mario: Sticker Star''.]]
[[File:Barrel M&W.png|frame|right]]
Among the many objects [[Wario]] puts on Mario's head to cover his sight in the Japan-exclusive game, ''[[Mario & Wario]]'', there is also a barrel. Since every object is changed depending on the theme of each world in the game, the barrel whom Mario wears is seen in [[Kumotori Yama]], the third world.

In ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'', the [[Sunken Ship]] contains large piles of barrels. They help maintaining the old ship scenery, but also help [[Mario]] climb high walls, as they are grouped and formed in stairs. Later in the game, one of the puzzles hosted by [[Dr. Topper]] inside [[Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Keep]] had the player guess how many barrels are stacked up in a large heap seen from the usual in-game perspective. In another area of Bowser's Keep, Mario confronts a [[Chained Kong]] that stands atop a high place in a lofty room and hurls barrels down several stairs, whom the hero must dodge; this is a homage to the classic ''Donkey Kong''.

''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' included items known as [[Water Barrel]]s, which can be broken open and used to refresh [[F.L.U.D.D.]]'s water supply, clear large patches of [[Graffiti]], or to instantly cool things down.

[[Bink]] challenges Mario and [[Luigi]] to a [[Barrel (minigame)|minigame]] in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''. In this minigame, the objective is to arrange rows of barrels of the same color.

Rare barrel [[Sticker (Paper Mario: Sticker Star)|stickers]] can be found in ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]''. Two of them may appear if the player defeats the [[Broozer]]s in [[Bowser Jr.]]'s [[Airship]]. The barrel stickers provide actual wooden barrels, whom Mario can use to defeat one enemy at a time, with an attack power of three to five points.

There are many barrel chalk drawings on the blackboard that serves as background for [[Donkey Kong's Crash Course]], an attraction in ''[[Nintendo Land]]''.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
[[Image:BrawlBarrels.jpg|thumb|Distinct varieties of Barrels that appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.]]
Barrels also appear as items in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', where they contain one to four items and can roll along inclines. They also sometimes explode when broken. They return in subsequent ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' games, alongside [[Crate]]s. In these games, barrels change appearance depending on the stage in which they appear. For example, they turn into Present Barrels on the [[Yoshi's Island (place)|Yoshi's Island]] stage; though the effect of the barrels remains unchanged.

===''Wario'' series===
====''Wario Land'' series====
{{LLQuote|Tote those barrels and heave 'em through the hard pink blocks.|''Wario Land 3'' official guide<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20000903005631/http://www.warioland3.com/strategy/index.asp An official site with guides to finding treasures in ''Wario Land 3''. The guide to the first treasure in The East Crater stage involves the use of barrels.]</ref>}}
Rather small, keg-like barrels are featured as carriable objects in ''[[Wario Land 3]]''. They can be picked up easily and hurled at enemies, as well as fragile or hard blocks, in order to destroy them. They can also be stood on, serving as platforms. Barrels break instantly after hitting solid ground, but they respawn in their default location after Wario departs from it and returns afterwards. They are also weak to [[Ground Pound|ground pound]] attacks and shoulder charges. Most of these descriptions make them functionally similar to [[Glass Block]]s from ''[[Wario Land II]]''. Examples of stages where the player can find barrels are [[The Big Bridge]] and [[The East Crater]].

Additionally, in both ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'' and ''[[Wario Land II]]'', big-sized barrels are present as handy platforms, and they are always staying vertically. They can be mostly found in maritime areas, like the [[Rice Beach]] or the [[SS Tea Cup]].

====''WarioWare'' series====
Barrels briefly showed up in a [[microgame]] from [[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]], called [[Donkey Kong (WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!)|Donkey Kong]]. This microgame is based upon [[25m]], the very first level of ''Donkey Kong'' for the arcade. The microgame has Donkey Kong constantly tossing barrels at [[Mario|Jumpman]]; the character needs to dodge them while he stands still. Likewise, in [[WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase]], barrels are featured in an extremely similar microgame, again named [[Donkey Kong (WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase)|Donkey Kong]], in which the player must protect Jumpman - who continuously walks on the girders and clambers ladders - from the barrels thrown by the simian foe.

====''Wario World''====
Barrels appear during the battle with [[Captain Skull]] in ''[[Wario World]]''. They can be destroyed by being thrown or by any of [[Wario]] and Captain Skull's various attacks, and may contain Coins, [[Garlic]], or nothing at all. They can also be used as weapons against Captain Skull, as they will knock the captain out if hurled at him. Throwing either a barrel or Captain Skull's bombs at him is required during the second half of the battle, when he becomes immune to Wario's [[Wario Punch|punches]].

===''NES Remix'' series===
In ''[[NES Remix]]'' and ''[[Ultimate NES Remix]]'', barrels represent obstacles for the player in many challenges that are based on the level [[25m]] of the arcade ''Donkey Kong''. They follow the same physical rules just as in their original appearance in the ''Mario'' games - they are thrown by DK and roll down the inclined beams. Jumpman still earns 100 points from hopping over the barrels, and these points are added up to an actual score, since the said challenges are actually sequences from the original game, which is merely emulated and screened. Challenges often require the hero to jump over one or even more rolling barrels at once, or to jump over a set number of unconsequent barrels.

==Types of barrels==
In many of the games of the ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' universe, mostly in the ones from the ''[[Donkey Kong (series)|Donkey Kong]]'' series, a handful of barrel variations, derivated from the classic barrel, appear. Each fulfils a unique function that may or may not help the heroes. Oddly enough, [[DK Barrel]]s, [[Auto Fire Barrel]]s and [[Barrel Cannon]]s are actually more oftenly found by players, than regular barrels. Below is a list with all types of barrels:
{|
|-
|
*[[Animal Barrel]]
**[[Ellie Barrel]]
**[[Enguarde Barrel]]
**[[Rambi Barrel]]
**[[Rattly Barrel]]
**[[Squawks Barrel]]
**[[Squitter Barrel]]
|
*[[Auto-Fire Barrel]]
*[[Barrel Cannon]]
*[[Bonus Barrel]]
*[[Booster Barrel]]
*[[DK Barrel]]
*[[Funky Barrel]]
*[[Invincibility Barrel]]
|
*[[Jumbo Barrel]]
*[[On and Off Barrel]]s
*[[Plus and Minus Barrels]]
*[[Rotatable Barrel]]
*[[Star Barrel]]
*[[Steel Keg|Steel Barrel]]
*[[Steerable Barrel]]
|
*[[Stop and Go Barrel]]
*[[Tag Barrel]]
*[[TNT Barrel]]
*[[Tracker Barrel]]
*[[Warp Barrel]]
*[[Water Barrel]]
*[[Trigger Barrel]]
|}

==Official profiles and statistics==
===Trophy information===
====''Super Smash Bros. Melee''====
{|border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 width=100%
|-
!width=100px|Name!!width=100px|Image!!width=150px|Game!!|Description
|-
!Barrel
|[[Image:Trophy116.PNG|100px]]
|align=center|''Super Smash Bros.''<br>04/99
|''Like Crates, Barrels are often filled with items and occasionally explosive. Thrown Barrels may break on contact or go rolling along the ground to smash into characters. Like the Crate, the Barrel is heavy, so it will restrict the speed at which the character carrying it can move. This speed differs between characters.
|-
|}

====''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''====
{|border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 width=100%
|-
!width=100px|Name!!width=100px|Image!!width=200px|Game!!|Description
|-
!rowspan=2|Barrels
|rowspan=2|[[File:BrawlTrophy532.png|100px]]
|align=center|'''N64''' ''Super Smash Bros.''
|rowspan=2|''Item holders similar to crates--their appearance will also change to fit the area. When you throw a barrel, it won't shatter, but rather roll across the stage. When a rolling barrel hits a character, that character gets sent sailing. Barrels are heavy, so you'll need two hands to pick them up, and your foot speed will decrease too.''
|-
|align=center|'''Wii''' ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''
|-
|}

====''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U''====
{|border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 width=100%
|-
!width="10%"|Name
!Image
!width="20%"|Appears in<br>(Wii U version only)
!Description
|-
!Barrels
|[[File:BarrelTrophy3DS.png|100px]]
|align=center|'''N64''' Super Smash Bros. (04/1999)<br>'''Wii U''' Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
|''These barrels are crammed full of items, but they're also incredibly tough to break. No baby hits here&ndash;attacking too lightly will just send the barrel rolling away, making it a dangerous obstacle for both you and your foes. And if others break the barrel, they'll get the items you wanted.''
|}

==Gallery==
{{morepic}}
<center><gallery>
Image:DKGameBoy.png|The mean ape Donkey Kong prepares to throw a barrel. Artwork for ''Donkey Kong'' on the [[Game Boy]]
Image:Dixie&Barrel DKC2.jpg|[[Dixie Kong]] heaves a barrel with her ponytail. Artwork for ''Donkey Kong Country 2''
Image:Kiddy&Barrel DKC3.png|[[Kiddy Kong]] tosses a barrel. Artwork for ''Donkey Kong Country 3''
Image:Normal diddy.jpg|[[Diddy Kong]] wearing barrel bongo jets. Artwork for ''Donkey Kong Barrel Blast''
Image:MKAGPDX Barrel.png|Artwork of a barrel from ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]''
</gallery></center>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreignname|float=1
|Jap=樽
|JapR=Taru
|JapM=Barrel
|Spa=Barril
|SpaM=Barrel
|Por=Barril
|PorM=Barrel
|Ita=Botte
|ItaM=Barrel
|Fra=Tonneau
|FraM=Barrel
|Ger=Fass
|GerM=Barrel
|Kor=원통
|KorR=Wontong
|KorM=Barrel
|Chi=桶
|ChiR=Tǒng
|ChiM=Barrel}}
<br clear=all>
==References==
<references/>
{{NIWA
|SmashWiki=1
|DKWiki=1}}
{{BoxTop}}
{{navtemplate|
{{Barrels}}
{{DK}}
{{DKC}}
{{DKL}}
{{DKC2}}
{{DKL2}}
{{DKC3}}
{{DKL3}}
{{SSB}}
{{DK64}}
{{SSBM}}
{{MKAGP2}}
{{MK}}
{{SSBB}}
{{DKCR}}
{{NSMBW}}
{{SSB4}}}}
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