Hidden Block (Mario Party series)
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Hidden Blocks are a game mechanic in the Mario Party series debuting in Mario Party 2. They are the successor to the very similar Event Blocks of Mario Party. Hidden Blocks generally look like Brick Blocks and usually contain either many coins or a Star. A Hidden Block usually appears from landing on a random Blue Space.
Every Mario Party game with a toggle-able "bonus" option that controls the presence of Bonus Stars causes Hidden Blocks to not appear randomly.[1] The only exception is Mario Party Superstars, where Hidden Blocks still appear even when Bonus Stars are turned off, giving both the usual coins and occasional Star.[2]
History[edit]
Mario Party 2[edit]
Hidden Blocks look like a classic Brick Block with a question mark on top in Mario Party 2, matching the look of Event Blocks from Mario Party. Two Hidden Blocks are placed in random Blue Spaces in Party Mode, though not potential Star Space,[1] but one Hidden Block always has 20 coins and the other a Star. When a Hidden Block is revealed, a different one spawns quietly in its place.
Mario Party 3[edit]
Hidden Blocks were redesigned to be a stylized purple block with an orange question mark on the front. A third Hidden Block was added, containing a random item, usually a Skeleton Key (72% of the time), a Magic Lamp (8%), a Lucky Charm (5%), a Koopa Kard (5%), a Wacky Watch (5%), or a Barter Box (5%).[1]
Mario Party 4[edit]
Hidden Blocks now look like a golden treasure chest with a red question mark on its lid in Mario Party 4. There is only one Hidden Block at a time, equally as likely to contain either twenty coins or a Star. Items do not appear in Hidden Blocks.[1]
Mario Party 5[edit]
Their name is parsed hidden blocks in Mario Party 5. They are Brick Blocks again, except with a golden question mark. There is only one at a time, but it always contains ten coins. A hidden block is never on a space with a Capsule, always relocating if one is placed, but hidden blocks can now appear at a potential Star Space, as long as the Star is not there.[1] Landing on a Coin Block Capsule can summon a "coin block," working the same as a hidden block despite the different name.
The Coin Block Capsule that appears in this game allows the player to summon a Hidden Block of sorts when used or landed on. The resulting block looks identical to a hidden block and contains ten coins, but it is called a "coin block" instead, and it is not placed randomly.
Mario Party DS[edit]
A board can have only one Hidden Block at a time in Mario Party DS. The function varies: gaining a number of coins depending on how fast 
is pressed repeatedly in five or ten seconds; one-three Stars; a Ztar (if the player has at least one Star); or an item block that fills the player's inventory until they have three items. Hidden Blocks usually look like Brick Blocks, but those with either 1-3 Stars are golden blocks depicting a Star and those with items are golden blocks with a golden sack on the front. The Block Sensor also relocates the Hidden Block to the space the user lands on the same turn, even if it is not a Blue Space.[1]
Super Mario Party[edit]
Hidden Blocks resemble Gold Blocks in Super Mario Party. Discovering a Hidden Block reveals a roulette wheel, which usually gives between 4 to 15 coins, or a Star if it lands on a small section. Mario Party mode always has two Hidden Blocks on random Blue Spaces. There is also the Hidden Block Card, which summons the location of a Hidden Block. Partner Party mode always hides two Hidden Blocks, and the player's controller rumbles when they pass one.[1]
Mario Party Superstars[edit]
Hidden blocks retain their design in Mario Party Superstars, though the roulette mechanic is not retained from Super Mario Party. Lower ranked players are more likely to achieve a Star. Landing on a space with a hidden block also plays the sound effect when landing on a special space.
Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
Hidden Blocks, parsed in lowercase except in the Pro Rules explanation, reappear in Super Mario Party Jamboree, being the same as in Mario Party Superstars. Hidden Blocks can sometimes appear from a Red Space. They are absent from Pro Rules. Getting a Star from a Hidden Block unlocks the "Lucky Star" achievement.
Profiles[edit]
Mario Party 2[edit]
- Wii Virtual Console manual description:
- English:
If you choose to have bonuses, Hidden Blocks will sometimes appear when you land on a Blue Space. You can get coins or stars when you hit a hidden block.
- English:
Gallery[edit]
Super Mario Party
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese (simplified) | 隐藏砖块[?] Yǐncáng Zhuānkuài |
Hidden Block | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 隱藏磚塊[?] Yǐncáng Zhuānkuài |
Hidden Block | |
| French | Bloc caché[?] | Hidden Block | |
| Bloc secret[?] | Secret block | Mario Party 3 | |
| Italian | Blocco nascosto[?] | Hidden Block |
Notes[edit]
- Mario collects a Mushroom from a Hidden Block during the Battle Royale tutorial sequence in Mario Party 3, despite it not being possible during gameplay.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Mario Party Legacy (October 11, 2019). Hidden Blocks in Mario Party Explained | Rare Oddities #10. YouTube (English). Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ Vernias (August 27, 2023). MARIO PARTY we have to tie [🔴Mario Party w/ Sophist, King of Skill, and TCNick3] (2:19:17). YouTube (English). Retrieved August 28, 2023.
