Message Block

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Message Block
Message Block
Artwork from Yoshi's Crafted World
First appearance Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024)
“Roses are red, violets are blue, never forget, what I say to you. Timing is vital, aim must be true, measure the angle and win, do!”
Message Block, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Message Blocks are blocks that provide tips and hints to player characters in various platforming titles of the Super Mario franchise. Message Blocks make their first appearance in Super Mario World.

History[edit]

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

SMW Messblock.png

Message Blocks[1] first appear in Super Mario World, where they usually describe a new level in the beginning stages of the game or explain a new game mechanic, known as Tourist Tips. Unlike later appearances, these Message Blocks feature no face in Super Mario World but instead look like blue blocks with an orange speaker. They reappear in the port Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.

Mario's Time Machine[edit]

In the NES version of Mario's Time Machine, similar blocks known as information boxes[2] (or info boxes[2]) make an appearance to provide hints.

Yoshi's Island series[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

Sprite of a Message Block from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its Game Boy Advance version, Message Blocks (also named Messages[3] and Information Blocks[4]) teach the player controls and give tips rather than provide information outright.

This is the first game where Message Blocks appear as a white block with a smiley facial expression and yellow cheeks, a look that they have retained in most of their returning appearances.

Yoshi's Island DS[edit]

Message Block in the game Yoshi's Island DS.

In Yoshi's Island DS, Message Blocks[5] (also named Hint Blocks[6]) are much the same as before, but return to their Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island form.

Yoshi's New Island[edit]

Screenshot of Yoshi's New Island.
A Message Block in Yoshi's New Island

Message Blocks return in Yoshi's New Island. Their instructions change depending on the control type used, whether it is traditional button-style egg-throwing or gyro tilt to aim. Some Message Block hints additionally automatically appear when a Yoshi does an action for the first time, such as dropping Baby Mario. Message Blocks can also explain stage features in a level new to players such as instructing to ground pound a Tatami Block. A list of all Message Block hints can be found here.

Yoshi's Story[edit]

YS Hingblock.gif

In Yoshi's Story, Message Blocks (or Message Boxes[7]) have the exact same role as in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. They were made a lot bigger, and their mouths continually move.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Message Blocks in Super Smash Bros. appear in the stage Yoshi's Island where two can be seen in the background along with the Super Happy Tree and are referred to as face blocks in the Super Smash Bros. official strategy guide.[8] The same stage also makes a reappearance as playable for the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, along with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]

Help Block MVDK Original
A Help Box from Mario vs. Donkey Kong, if a language other than English is selected.
A Help Box in the remake

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, there are Help Boxes[9] that act similar to Message Blocks and give hints when hit from any side. They are black boxes with the word "HELP" and a question mark written in white. They appear in several levels, and show how to perform Mario's moves. If the game's language is set to any language other than English in the European version, the Help Boxes appear as black boxes with only a white question mark.

In the game's remake for the Nintendo Switch, the box has a lavender outline, and now features a question mark in the modern Super Mario typeface across all regions. Help Boxes are removed from the level if it is played in Time Attack mode.

Super Princess Peach[edit]

PerryBlock.png

In Super Princess Peach, there are blocks that act similar to Message Blocks and give hints when hit from any side. They are referred to as "kassarbrock" in their internal file names, which is Japanese for "Perry Block". They are yellow and blue, resembling Perry. In every boss level, before Peach enters the pipe, they appear warning the player about the boss and providing tips on how to defeat it.

Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]

Message block in Yoshi's Woolly World

Only five Message Blocks appear in Yoshi's Woolly World, with three in the first level and two in the third. They retain the appearance from Yoshi's Island DS; however, their mouths now continually move, like in Yoshi's Story. Their cheeks are pink this time.

Yoshi's Crafted World[edit]

Message Blocks return in Yoshi's Crafted World, behaving exactly the same as in past appearances.

Unused appearances[edit]

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

The Message Block as seen in Super Mario World appears in concept art for the Jaxi in Super Mario Odyssey, where it is part of the bus stop.

Profiles[edit]

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

  • Nintendo 3DS digital manual description: "Hit them from underneath to get helpful hints."

Gallery[edit]

Additional names[edit]

Internal names[edit]

Game File Name Meaning

Super Princess Peach data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_ncg.bin
data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_cl.bin
kassarbrock_D06_ncg
kassarbrock_D06_cl
Perry Block

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese メッセージブロック[10][11]
Messēji Burokku
Message Block
Chinese 提示座[?]
Tíshì zuò
Board
French Bloc de message[?] Message block
Boite à message[12] Message Box
Italian Blocco Messaggio[13] Message Block Super Mario World
Blocco[14] Block Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Dado del Messaggio[15] Message dice/cube Yoshi's Story
Mattone messaggio[16] Message brick Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Blocco messaggio (from Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 onwards)[?] Message block
Portuguese Bloco de Massagem[?] Massage[sic] Block Super Mario World manual
Russian Блок-справка[?]
Blok-spravka
Reference Block
Spanish (NOA) Bloque de mensaje[?] Message block
Bloque mensajero[17] Messenger block
Help Box
Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ヘルプボックス[18]
Herupu Bokkusu
Help Box
Italian Blocco informativo[19] Informative block

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1991. Super Mario World instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 22.
  2. ^ a b 1994. Mario's Time Machine NES instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 9.
  3. ^ January 1996. Nintendo Magazine System (UK) issue 40. Page 21.
  4. ^ September 1995. Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #30. Page 15.
  5. ^ 2006. Yoshi's Island DS instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 17.
  6. ^ Williams, Drew (2006). Yoshi's Island DS Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). ISBN 1-59812-016-6. Page 6 and 11.
  7. ^ Prima Bath (April 7, 1999). Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-2103-8. Page 112.
  8. ^ 1999. Super Smash Bros. Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames. ISBN 1-56686-900-5. Page 114.
  9. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong American English Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console digital manual, tab 13: "Items and Features".
  10. ^ Super Mario World Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)
  11. ^ 1995. Super Mario: Yossy Island Japanese instruction booklet. Nintendo (Japanese). Page 16.
  12. ^ Yoshi Story instruction booklet, French segment. Page 59.
  13. ^ Super Mario World Italian manual. Page 22.
  14. ^ Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island GIG's Italian manual. Page 8.
  15. ^ 1998. Yoshi's Story European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 123.
  16. ^ 2002. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 European manual. Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 109.
  17. ^ Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Spanish instruction booklet[page number needed]
  18. ^ 2004. マリオvs.ブイエスドンキーコング (Mario buiesu Donkī Kongu) instruction booklet. Nintendo (Japanese). Page 13.
  19. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Italian e-manual. Page 13.