View source for Gravity

[[File:SMG Dark Matter Plant Gravity Wall.png|thumb|300px|A [[gravity field]] pulls [[Mario]] towards [[dark matter]] in ''Super Mario Galaxy'']]
'''{{wp|Gravity}}''' in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] is a theoretical force that draws two or more objects together. While gravity points in a consistent direction in most ''Super Mario'' media, some games have mechanics that revolve around altered and planetary gravity. Gravity itself informs other game mechanics, such as the presence of [[pit]]s as an obstacle. In 3D platforming games, shadows are usually cast along the direction of gravity, to help show how objects are aligned in space.

The [[Moon]]'s gravitational pull being weaker than [[Earth]]'s own is often referenced in the ''Super Mario'' franchise, by having locations on the Moon use lighter gravity or otherwise using gravity altering mechanics. It is also linked to cosmic-ness in general.

==History==
<!--This only covers appearances where gravity can be altered or plays a central role in the plot.-->
===''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''===
[[File:RaphaelTheRavensCastle2.png|thumb|left|Gravity in the battle against [[Raphael the Raven]] allows him and Yoshi to run around on the [[moon]].]]
Altered gravity in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' is featured only in the boss fight of [[Raphael The Raven's Castle]], where [[Yoshi]] must run around the [[moon]] and [[Ground Pound]] the [[Stump]]s to attack [[Raphael the Raven]] on the other side. Yoshi is always shown upright; the arena rotates under him.
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===''Yoshi Topsy-Turvy''===
Gravity in ''[[Yoshi Topsy-Turvy]]'' is a key gameplay mechanic. The player can manipulate gravity and tilt the world accordingly by tilting [[Game Boy Advance]] left or right, resulting in items, enemies tilting in the same direction, or sometimes even obstacles such as [[boulder]]s.
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===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Galaxy'' / ''Super Mario Galaxy 2''====
Gravity in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]'' can have its direction expressed by the shape and appearance of a planetoid, but is actually controlled by invisible game objects that direct gravity toward the surface of basic shapes:<ref>[//youtube.com/watch?v=QLH_0T_xv3I&lc=UgzPATZZz3gnzZAYd3F4AaABAg.9H3VViQ_kFI9H3jSMeTVDu]</ref><ref>[//kuribo64.net/objectdb/smg.php?game=2]</ref>
*'''<code>GlobalPlaneGravity</code>''': Gravity vectors point in a consistent parallel direction, toward a plane. This can work like gravity in other games, or point in other directions like upside down or sideways. There is a variant with a finite hitbox, <code>GlobalPlaneGravityInBox</code>. In 2D sections, areas with different planar gravities may be indicated with [[gravity field]]s.
*'''Sphere''': Gravity vectors point toward a sphere, as is typical of a planet. The [[Gateway Galaxy]]'s planets all exhibit this gravity field, and another example is the small asteroid visited in the [[Good Egg Galaxy]]'s third mission, [[King Kaliente's Battle Fleet]], as well as the Question Mark Planet's moon in the [[Gusty Garden Galaxy]].
*'''<code>GlobalCubeGravity</code>''': Gravity vectors point parallel to the faces of a cube, with abrupt transitions along the diagonals from the edges. An example is the [[Gusty Garden Galaxy]]'s Puzzle Cube.
*'''<code>GlobalWireGravity</code>''': Gravity vectors point toward a line-based path. The line can be straight (as with the Pill Planet in the [[Good Egg Galaxy]] or curved (as with the Question Mark planet in the [[Gusty Garden Galaxy]]).
*'''<code>GlobalConeGravity</code>''': Gravity vectors point toward the curved surface of a conical frustum. Examples include the [[Sea Slide Galaxy#Ocean Pudding Planet|Ocean Pudding Planet]] in [[Sea Slide Galaxy]], the [[Toy Time Galaxy#Frozen Dessert Area|giant ice cream cone planet]] in [[Toy Time Galaxy]], and the Starting Planet of the [[Dreadnought Galaxy]] (only in [[Infiltrating the Dreadnought]]; in [[Revenge of the Topman Tribe]], it has Global Disk Gravity, and its top part is squashed to accommodate.)
*'''<code>GlobalDiskTorusGravity</code>''': Gravity vectors point toward the edge of an open disk, creating a torus (doughnut)-shaped field. The Hedge Ring Planet in the [[Gusty Garden Galaxy]] and the Starting Planet of the [[Freezeflame Galaxy]] exemplify this.
*'''<code>GlobalDiskGravity</code>''': Gravity vectors point toward the surface of a closed disk, rounded between faces in the space around the edge. The [[Battlerock Galaxy]]'s Starting Planet (and, by extension, that planet's copies) and the main part of the Starting Planet of the [[Good Egg Galaxy]] have this gravity field, and in the [[Dreadnought Galaxy]], the Starting Planet gets this gravity field in [[Revenge of the Topman Tribe]].
*'''Wedge''': Gravity vectors point toward a concave shape, that of the curved ramps in the [[Good Egg Galaxy]] [[Good Egg Galaxy#Starting planet|starting planet]]'s secret room. Another example on the same planet is the curved part of the walkway up the tower.
*'''<code>GlobalBarrelGravity</code>''': Only found in ''Super Mario Galaxy 2''. The gravity vector field curves around the center axis of a cylinder. Two examples are the [[Tall Trunk Galaxy#Wood Drum Planet|Wood Drum Planet]] and [[Tall Trunk Galaxy#Wood Circle Cut Planet|Wood Circle Cut Planet]] in [[Tall Trunk Galaxy]], each with relatively perpendicular 2D sections to each other; the former snaps Mario to a cylindrical shell, and the latter to a circular cross-section.

In practice, this leads to four main conceptual models of gravity:
*Planetary gravity, which draws Mario in on all sides of the planet. This allows Mario to traverse the underside of a planet. An example of this is the mini-planets in the [[Gusty Garden Galaxy]].
*Absolute gravity, which pulls Mario down, regardless of the planet's center. Mario is expected to slide down slopes, rather than rotating to stand on them. Falling off of the planet acts as a [[bottomless pit]], causing Mario to lose a life even if he is not pulled into a [[black hole]]. An example is [[Honeyhive Galaxy]]'s [[Honeyhive Galaxy#Starting Planet|starting planet]].
*Outward gravity, which pulls Mario to the sides of a planet when he is inside one. Examples include the Tower Planet in [[Bowser's Galaxy Reactor]], and the [[Warp Pipe]] area on the inside of the Asteroid Planet in [[Good Egg Galaxy]].
*Toroidal gravity, also referred to as{{ref needed}} "orbital" or "fall forever" gravity, which pulls Mario around the curved surface of a cylindrical planetoid. Another example is the [[Space Storm Galaxy#Abandoned Rocketship Planet|Abandoned Rocketship Planet]] in [[Space Storm Galaxy]]. The first cylindrical planet visited in the [[Sky Station Galaxy]]'s second mission, [[Storming the Sky Fleet]], has this type of gravity field inside.

Gravity is also manipulated in several levels, using [[gravity switch]]es, which change the direction of gravity of the surrounding area; [[gravity spotlight]]s, which push Mario toward a surface or another place like a tractor beam; and the [[grate]]s and dirt patches in [[Flipsville Galaxy]], which flip Mario's gravity when crossed. [[Pull Star]]s, [[Sling Star]]s, and [[Launch Star]]s allow Mario to ignore gravity while they are used.

[[Black hole]]s use gravity to draw [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] into them if they get too close, causing them to lose a life.

While shadows are still usually cast along the direction of gravity, there are exceptions when other spatial information is more important. For example, [[coin]]s cast their shadows toward [[honey wall]]s to show their position in space, even though it is not because of gravity that [[Bee Mario]] sticks to these walls. These exceptions are handled with invisible game objects similar to the ones that control gravity.

====''Super Mario Odyssey''====
Gravity in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'' can be altered in certain 2D sections accessed by [[8-bit pipe]]s. Mario can walk across any curved surface, with gravity changing to match. Some areas have gravity fields that determine gravity. Others, such as ones seen in the [[Moon Kingdom]], have Mario hopping to circular 2D planets with different gravity.

Locations on the Moon, those being the Moon Kingdom, [[Dark Side]], and [[Darker Side]], have lighter gravity. While there, Mario jumps higher and falls slower. This does not apply to the rebounding off walls following a [[roll]], [[Long Jump|long jump]], [[dive]], or [[Quick Swim|quick swim]], all of which result in fairly constant rate rises and falls. This effect extends to 2D sections, but does not affect underground areas such as the [[Underground Moon Caverns]]. It also does not affect underground 2D sections. The interiors of the [[Wedding Hall]] and the [[Odyssey]] are excluded, but this does not indicate buildings are exempt because the interior of [[Rabbit Ridge Tower]] is included.

===''Super Paper Mario''===
[[File:SPM Outer Limits.PNG|thumb|left|Mario in the [[Outer Limits]] in ''Super Paper Mario'']]
Gravity in Chapter 4 of ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' is different than in other appearances, due to taking place in [[Outer Space]]. In Chapters 4-1 and 4-3, there is no gravity, allowing the player to navigate freely. Pressing any direction on the [[nwiki:Wii Remote|Wii Remote]]'s D-Pad {{button|wii|Pad}} will automatically propel them in the given direction. When [[flip]]ped into 3D, the player can only move laterally due to the lack of other controls for vertical movement. They cannot [[stomp]] enemies in zero gravity and must instead use [[Squirps]]' Squirt Beam.

Chapter 4-2 takes place on [[Planet Blobule]], which has low gravity, allowing the characters to jump much higher than normal and to fall much slower.

Chapter 4-4 takes place in the [[Whoa Zone]], which has normal gravity. However, entering certain doors and pipes may place the characters on the walls or ceiling of a room. Later in the level, [[gravity switch]]es are found, which change the direction of the player's personal gravity.
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===''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team''===
{{main|Luiginary Gravity}}
{{main|Luiginary Antigravity}}

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'', gravity in the [[Dream World]] can be affected by two [[Luiginary Work]]s: [[Luiginary Gravity]] and [[Luiginary Antigravity]]. Luiginary Gravity changes gravity to point in any one of the four cardinal directions, and Luiginary Antigravity removes gravity so that Mario can swim through the air.

===''Mario Kart'' series===
====''Mario Kart 7''====
In ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', one portion of [[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] takes place on the Moon. This segment has lighter gravity, enabling higher jumps and slower falling. It is very similar to the effect of [[underwater driving]] in the game, except without water or the propellers that [[kart]]s use.

====''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====
{{main|Anti-gravity}}
[[File:MK8 Mario Anti-Gravity Standard Kart Artwork.png|thumb|Mario driving a kart with anti-gravity.|150px]]
Gravity in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe|its Nintendo Switch version]] appears in the form of [[anti-gravity]], which allows vehicles to drive on upside-down and vertical sections of courses, and to perform [[Spin Boost]]s. According to ''Mario Kart 8'' producer [[Hideki Konno]], this mechanic was inspired by the aforementioned portion of 3DS Rainbow Road in ''Mario Kart 7''.<ref>GamersPrey (May 1, 2014). [https://youtu.be/Neb3082iJpg?t=123 <nowiki>Mario Kart 8 - Direct Presentation 30.04.2014 [HD]</nowiki>]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved August 31, 2022.</ref> 
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==Gallery==
<gallery>
YTT-Spirit of Surprises Screenshot3.png|The [[Spirit Who Loves Surprises]] teaching [[Yoshi]] how to use Gravity in ''Yoshi Topsy-Turvy''
SPM Whoa Zone Gravity Switch Vertical.png|Mario in the Whoa Zone near a gravity switch in ''Super Paper Mario''
</gallery>

==References==
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[[Category:Yoshi Topsy-Turvy]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario]]
[[Category:Super Mario Galaxy]]
[[Category:Super Mario Galaxy 2]]
[[Category:Super Mario Odyssey]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]