Editing Item Box

{{item infobox
|name=Item Box
|image=[[File:ItemBoxMK8.png|200px]]<br>Artwork from ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
|effect=Gives an item when broken
|first_appearance=''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' ([[List of games by date#1996|1996]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'' ([[List of games by date#2020|2020]])
}}
{{Quote|Touch an Item Box to {{color|red|break it open}}!|[[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]]|[[Mario Kart Tour]]}}

'''Item Boxes''' (or '''item boxes''') are boxes featured mainly in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]]. They first appear in ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', replacing the [[? Panel]]s of ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', and return in all subsequent games. Item Boxes resemble [[? Block]]s but have a generally translucent and multicolored design, and would receive an iridescent checkerboard pattern later on. When a character passes through them, they get a random [[List of items|item]]. Item Boxes have a hazardous counterpart, [[Fake Item Box]]es, which do not grant items but flip players over. Item Boxes always hand out items depending on racers' positions, with more effective items going to gradually lower ranked players, with players in first position usually receiving either just a [[Green Shell]] or a [[Banana Peel|Banana]].

By holding and not releasing the "use item" button on a controller, players can hold some items behind them, such as Bananas and shells, referred to as "dangling."<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Kart DS'' instruction booklet|page=10|date=2005|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref> This allows players to protect themselves from rear attacks or collisions with other racers and, in most of its appearances, collect another item for use after the existing one is used up or is destroyed.

==History==
===''Mario Kart'' series===
====''Mario Kart 64''====
[[File:MK64 Item Box.png|thumb|100px|Screenshot from ''Mario Kart 64'', showing their original octahedron shape]]
''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' is the first game to utilize Item Boxes, replacing [[? Panel]]s from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''. Instead of being flat, square, and yellow like ? Panels, they have an [[wikipedia:octahedron|octahedron shape]] with a ? in the center, and are multicolored and translucent. Colliding with an Item Box will provide the character with a random item; the item received is determined based on the place of the character - the farther back they are, the more powerful items they will get. Unlike ? Panels, Item Boxes respawn almost immediately after being used. The items can also be held behind the karts, a feature that did not exist with ? Panels.

Two of the Item Boxes and provide only [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]]s,<ref>{{cite|quote=Collect this box to receive a Spiny Shell.|author=Owsen, Dan, Scott Pelland, and Paul Shinoda|title=''Mario Kart 64'' Player's Guide|page=19}}</ref> and are marked with a sideways question mark. They appear hanging from the balloon in [[N64 Luigi Raceway|Luigi Raceway]] and atop a large rock on [[N64 Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Troopa Beach]].

====''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''====
[[File:ItemBox MKSC.png|thumb||left|Artwork from ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', the first game in which Item Boxes are redesigned]]
Item Boxes return in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', where they have been redesigned: they are cube-shaped, have white outlines, are not translucent, and have a bolder question mark on each of their faces, which themselves have different colors. Most are found in groups of three but some boxes are isolated in uncommon locations in the track. The Item Boxes rotate on one axis, except in Single-Pak Multiplayer, where they shrink and extend slightly instead.

====''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''====
[[File:MKDD ItemBox.png|thumb|100px|Artwork from ''Mario Kart Double Dash!!'', showing its second redesign]]
In ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', Item Boxes make a reappearance, along with a new variety named Double Item Boxes. Unlike regular Item Boxes, Double Item Boxes grant both the driver and the thrower items. Item Boxes have once again been redesigned: they are still shaped like cubes, but they have a checkerboard texture, gain beveled edges, and feature translucency with one question mark like in ''Mario Kart 64'', though the question mark itself is bolder and wider and has a blue outline. Also like in ''Mario Kart 64'', they rotate sideways. Items themselves can now be lost and fall on the ground, such as when the player is struck by Lightning. 

Item Boxes can travel independently for the first time. In [[GCN Mushroom Bridge|Mushroom Bridge]] or [[Mushroom City]] they will follow the track like the other cars, while some in [[GCN Peach Beach|Peach Beach]] or [[GCN Sherbet Land|Sherbet Land]] just travel back and forth. Moving Item Boxes respawn where they were last broken, except in Mushroom Bridge and Mushroom City, where they respawn in the pipe shortcut and in alleyways, respectively. It is also the only game where items from Item Boxes cannot be dangled.

In split-screen mode except for Battle Course stages, Item Boxes are brighter checkerboard texture than the normal checkerboard texture. In Bob-omb Blast, Item Boxes and Double Item Boxes only yield [[Bob-omb]]s, with the question mark icon depicting a Bob-omb icon to reflect this.
{{br|left}}

====''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' sub-series====
[[File:ToadItemBoxes.png|thumb|The hexagonal item boxes from ''Mario Kart Arcade GP 2'']]
Item Boxes in the [[Mario Kart (series)#Arcade games|''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' sub-series]] are designed with a honeycomb-like hexagonal structure instead, but they still work the same way.

====''Mario Kart DS''====
The Item Boxes of ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' are based on their appearance in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', except with the beveled edges replaced with white borders, the checkerboard pattern using rainbow and transparent squares, and the question mark made smaller and recolored to be gray with a black outline. Double Item Boxes do not return due to the lack of a two-driver mechanic. The player is usually able to dangle Item Boxes but with exceptions such as [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]] and [[Blooper]]. They also do not appear physically in the racer's hands and are no longer dropped when the player is hit by shells.

In [[DS DK Pass|DK Pass]], there is an Item Box atop a large hill that always yields either a [[Super Star|Star]], [[Triple Mushroom]], a Mushroom, or rarely a [[Red Shell]]. Similar Item Boxes appear during missions where the player has to win a racer against an opponent.

In multiplayer battle mode, defeated players can deploy unlimited Item Boxes in the manner of Bananas, but with a short pause between each one deployed.

The Item Box roulette sound effect of [[DS Waluigi Pinball|Waluigi Pinball]] has arcade-like noises, fitting the theme.

====''Mario Kart Wii''====
Item Boxes return in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', where they lose their checkerboard textures and white outlines and have with dot textures and more rounded corners. They also now change colors, and the question mark is slightly wider and white with a blue outline as in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' They act in a similar manner as in the previous games and nothing has been changed relating to function when an item is received. However, they do reappear at a slower rate than its precedents. Item Boxes are shown to be produced from [[Brick Block]]s in [[Toad's Factory]].

In [[Chain Chomp Wheel]], some Item Boxes are in the center of a large star-shaped ring, and such Item Boxes often yield a [[Super Star|Star]] or the occasional [[Mushroom]].

In multiplayer modes, Item Boxes have spinning question marks inside them as opposed to being static in single-player mode.

====''Mario Kart 7''====
[[File:MK7 Current.png|thumb|Item Boxes in ''Mario Kart 7'']]
Item Boxes return in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' with mostly the same design as ''Mario Kart Wii'', except they do not change colors, the blue outline of the question mark is more pronounced, and the question mark itself is flat and floats up and down. Dangled items are no longer uncontrollably flung when the player is hit from the front, and items such as the [[Bob-omb]] and Spiny Shell no longer cause items in reserve to dissipate. Unlike in ''Mario Kart DS'', they do not appear on the bottom screen's map.

While the "super Item Box" of {{classic|DS|DK Pass}} remains intact, the Spiny Shell-only Item Boxes from {{classic|N64|Luigi Raceway}} and {{classic|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach}} have been replaced with a regular Item Box and a [[Coin]] respectively. {{classic|DS|Waluigi Pinball}} also retains its unique item roulette sound.

====''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====
Item Boxes reappear in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' with the same function as in previous games. The appearance remains about the same from ''Mario Kart 7'', except it is a crystalline gray instead of a rainbow color, and the question mark is slightly larger, features a beveled outline, and now pulsates. This time, dangling no longer results in a freed item slot, while items also appear in the drivers' hands, a detail returning from ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''. Some items, such as the [[Triple Bananas]] and [[Crazy Eight]], activate automatically. Items are no longer lost when the player falls off the track, and when they are lost, they do not fall on the ground. The box has a new sound effect, for both the Item Box itself and the item roulette. In ''Mario Kart 8'', the items players can receive are solely determined by their distance behind the leader, rather than position. In [[Animal Crossing]], there are Item Boxes after the glider segment that are held up by balloons, which can be obtained by either gliding through the Item Box or by breaking the balloon. The Item Boxes in certain stages have special sound effects from their respective games, as opposed to the normal sound; Animal Crossing's play a variant of the music when a profile is loaded or saved, [[Hyrule Circuit]]'s play the chest opening jingle from ''The Legend of Zelda'' games. 

''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' retains not only Item Boxes but also Double Item Boxes, though without the two-driver mechanic. The player can only use one item at a time and receive a second item from a standard Item Box if there is a slot available. Additionally, Double Item Boxes are no longer randomly generated; rather, they appear in the same spot every time. There are two courses that do not have Double Item Boxes: {{classic link|GCN|Baby Park}} and {{classic link|DS|Shroom Ridge}}.  In this game, the item given is now determined by both distance and position. [[Urchin Underpass]]' play the stat slot sound from ''Splatoon''. {{classic|DS|Waluigi Pinball}} also retains its unique item roulette sound. The time for an Item Box to regenerate was shortened slightly in version 2.0,<ref>{{cite|quote=Shortened the time it takes for an item box to regenerate when it gets taken by someone else.|title=''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' Update History {{!}} Nintendo Switch {{!}} Support|publisher=Nintendo UK|url=www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/Game-Updates/Mario-Kart-8-Deluxe-Update-History-1558546.html}}</ref> and furthered in version 2.1.0 to the point of regenerating near instantaneously.<ref>{{cite|quote=Further shortened the time it takes for item boxes to regenerate after another player takes them.|title=''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' Update History {{!}} Nintendo Switch {{!}} Support|publisher=Nintendo UK|url=www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/Game-Updates/Mario-Kart-8-Deluxe-Update-History-1558546.html}}</ref>

====''Mario Kart Tour''====
[[File:MKT Frenzy Item Box Bobomb.png|thumb|120px|A Frenzy Item Box found in a ''Mario Kart Tour'' [[Goomba Takedown]] challenge, giving the player a [[Bob-omb]] [[Frenzy]]]]
Item Boxes return once again in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' with the same design as ''Mario Kart 8''. They reappear much faster than in previous games. Replacing the Double Item Box is a feature allowing each character to hold two or three items on certain courses. When the racer drives through an Item Box, an item will be rolled in all empty item slots; if the Auto-Item feature is turned on, the remaining items will be used and all slots will be rolled. When all three item slots (if available) show the same item, [[Frenzy]] mode is activated, granting the player invincibility and allowing infinite uses of that item for a short time.

In general, if a racer drives through a spot where an Item Box that was broken by another driver is supposed to be, they will still obtain items even if the Item Box has not respawned yet; this is contrary to previous appearances, where racers would miss getting an item from an Item Box in the time it took to respawn. A ''Mario Kart Tour'' feature on the {{wp|App Store (iOS/iPadOS)|App Store}} stated that players can miss an Item Box if it has not physically reappeared after breaking;<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20220212163155/https://apps.apple.com/us/story/id1533872240|title=5 Speedy Tips for Mario Kart Tour|publisher=apple.com|location=United States|accessdate=February 12, 2022 ({{file link|App Store screenshot story 5 Speedy Tips for MKT.png|Screenshot}})|quote=If a racer in front of you gets an Item Box, you'll miss it before it respawns.}}</ref> this is only true for Item Boxes found within [[Clampy|Clampies]], which do not reappear until a Clampy closes and reopens its valves to produce another Item Box, or when [[Car (obstacle)|traffic]] breaks the Item Boxes.

Some bonus challenges contain Item Boxes with the question mark replaced by the image of an item, such as a [[Bob-omb]]. These will immediately give the player one of that item, regardless of how many item slots the driver has. The player also cannot activate a Frenzy with such Item Boxes, even if three are collected. Another special type of Item Box introduced in the [[Valentine's Tour]] has a pink appearance with a rainbow outline on the question mark, and immediately activates a Frenzy of a given item. This special Item Box appears in the [[Goomba Takedown]] bonus challenges held at [[SNES Mario Circuit 2]], [[SNES Vanilla Lake 1]] and [[Wii Mushroom Gorge]], as well as the [[Take them out quick!]] bonus challenge held at [[N64 Frappe Snowland]].

Like in previous appearances, DS Waluigi Pinball retains its unique item roulette sound.

====''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit''====
Item Boxes appear once again in ''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'', where they act identically to ''Mario Kart 8''. Here, they act as a gate customization option. Any racer who drives through the customized gate will trigger an item roulette.

===''Mario & Sonic'' series===
[[File:Dream Race Item Box.png|thumb|left|An Item Box in [[Dream Race (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Wii)|Dream Race]], a Dream Event in the Wii version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'']]
In the [[Mario & Sonic (series)|''Mario & Sonic'' series]], Item Boxes appear in various [[Dream Event]]s, functioning identically as in the ''Mario Kart'' games, but the items that they give vary, depending on the event or even position of the player. In the [[Wii]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'', Item Boxes only appear in the [[Dream Race (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Wii)|Dream Race]] and [[Dream Platform]] events. In the [[Nintendo DS]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Nintendo DS)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games]]'', Item Boxes appear in the [[Dream Race (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for Nintendo DS)|Dream Race]], [[Dream Canoe]], [[Dream Shooting]] and [[Dream Long Jump (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games)|Dream Long Jump]] events. The items that can be obtained from these boxes vary depending on the event being played and in some events, the position of the player when they collect the Item Box. In the [[Nintendo DS]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS)|Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'', Item Boxes appear in [[Ski Cross Racing]], [[Rocket Ski Jumping]], [[Extreme Snowboarding]] and [[Ski Shooting]]. In the game's [[Wii]] [[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)|version]], Item Boxes appear in both the [[Dream Alpine (Individual)|Individual]] and [[Dream Alpine (Team)|Team]] versions of Dream Alpine, the [[Dream Ski Cross (Individual)|Individual]] and [[Dream Ski Cross (Team)|Team]] versions of Dream Ski Cross, the [[Dream Snowboard Cross (Individual)|Individual]] and [[Dream Snowboard Cross (Team)|Team]] versions of Dream Snowboard Cross, [[Dream Short Track]], [[Dream Bobsleigh]], [[Dream Ice Hockey]], [[Dream Curling]] and [[Dream Snowball Fight]]. Additionally, in Dream Ice Hockey, one of the events that may occur when collecting a [[Wild Ball]] is a large number of Item Boxes appearing on the rink.

===''Mario Party: Star Rush''===
[[File:Bowser's Shocking Slipup.jpg|thumb|Item Boxes in [[Bowser's Shocking Slipup]], a minigame in ''Mario Party: Star Rush'']]
Item Boxes make an appearance in the minigame, [[Bowser's Shocking Slipup]] in ''[[Mario Party: Star Rush]]''. Here, depending on the timing hit, they can deliver [[Lightning|Lightning Bolt]]s to [[Bowser]] or cause [[Banana|Banana Peel]]s to spawn, which can stun players. Double Item Boxes appear and give out twice the number of items. During the second phase of the battle, Item Boxes spin faster.
{{br}}

==Profiles and statistics==
===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
{{SSBB sticker
|name=Item Box
|image=[[File:Item Box Sticker.png]]
|game=''Mario Kart Double Dash!!''
|effect=[Freezing] - Attack +8 
}}

===''Mario Kart Wii''===
[[File:MKW Item Box Trading Card.jpg|thumb|60px]]
'''Trading card information:''' ''Usually found strung out in a single line across the track, Item Boxes contain all of the Power-Ups, offensive and defensive items that make the Mario Kart series so interesting and enjoyable. From Bananas to Bob-ombs, don't miss your chance to hit an Item Box because you're definitely going to want what's inside. And if you use the Items to your advantage, they'll help you win!''<br>
*'''''Game Tip!'''<br>Item Boxes aren't always found in obvious locations. On some tracks you'll find them being pulled behind moving objects. Grab them anywhere you can!''

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
ItemBoxMKDS.png|''Mario Kart DS'' model
MKW Item Box Artwork.png|''Mario Kart Wii'' artwork
MK8-Line-Item-NO.gif|''Mario Kart 8'' LINE sticker
MKT 138CB.png|''Mario Kart Tour'' badge
MKT Item Box.png|''Mario Kart Tour'' screenshot
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=アイテムボックス
|JpnR=Aitemu Bokkusu
|JpnM=Item Box
|Chi=道具箱
|ChiR=Dàojù Xiāng
|Chi2=问号方块
|Chi2C=<ref>{{cite|author=腾讯NintendoSwitch|date=March 27, 2020|url=www.bilibili.com/read/cv5319257|title=想在《马力欧卡丁车8 豪华版》中占据上风？这些游戏小技巧值得一试|publisher=Bilibili|language=zh-hans|accessdate=March 27, 2020|archive=web.archive.org/web/20201124224147/https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv5319257}}</ref>
|Chi2N=Chinese release of ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|Chi2R=Wènhào Fāngkuài
|ChiM=Item Box
|Chi2M=Question Block
|Dut=Voorwerpdoos
|Dut2=Voorwerpkist
|Dut2N=''Mario Kart 8'' electronic manual
|DutM=Item Box
|Dut2M=Item Box
|Fre=Boîte à objets
|Fre2=Boîte à bonus
|Fre2N=''Mario Kart 64'' instruction booklet
|FreM=Item box
|Fre2M=Bonus box
|Ger=Itembox
|GerM=Item Box
|Ita=Cubo oggetto
|Ita2=Riquadro Oggetti
|Ita2N=''Mario Kart 64'' instruction booklet
|Ita3=Blocco "?"
|Ita3N=''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' website
|Ita4=Scatola
|Ita4N=''Mario Kart DS'' website
|Ita5=Scatola oggetto
|Ita5N=''Mario Kart Wii'' and ''Mario Kart 7'' websites
|ItaM=Item cube
|Ita2M=Item Square
|Ita3M="?" block
|Ita4M=Box
|Ita5M=Item box
|Kor=아이템박스
|KorR=Aitem Bakseu
|KorM=Item Box
|Por=Caixa de itens
|PorM=Item box
|Spa=Caja de objetos
|SpaM=Item box
|Swe=Objektlåda
|SweM=Item box
}}

==References==
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[[Category:Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games items]]
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[[Category:Mario Kart 64 objects]]
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