Editing Message Block

{{species infobox
|image=[[File:YCW Message Block.png|200px]]<br>Artwork from ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' ([[Nintendo Switch]]) ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
}}
{{quote|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 [[block]]s that provide tips and hints to player characters in various platforming titles of the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise.

==History==
===''Super Mario World'' / ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''===
[[File:SMW Messblock.png|frame]]
Message Blocks<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet|page=22|date=1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> first appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' and return in [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]]. From their [[Tourist Tips]], Message Blocks usually describe a new level at the start. They are designed as blue blocks with an orange speaker on each.

===''Mario's Time Machine''===
The [[Mario's Time Machine (Nintendo Entertainment System)|NES version of ''Mario's Time Machine'']] has similar hint-providing blocks known as '''information boxes'''<ref name=MTMNES>{{cite|title=''Mario's Time Machine'' NES instruction booklet|date=1994|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|page=9}}</ref> (or '''info boxes'''<ref name=MTMNES/>).

===''Yoshi's Island'' series===
====''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' / ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''====
[[File:YI Hintblock.gif|frame]]
Message Blocks (also named '''Messages'''<ref>{{cite|author=Upchurch, David, et al.|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (UK) issue 40|publisher=EMAP|language=en-gb|page=21|date=January 1996}}</ref> and '''Information Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (AU) Issue #30|date=September 1995|language=en-au|publisher=Catalyst Publishing|page=15}}</ref>) appear in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' and [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|its reissue]] to teach the player controls and give tips. This game codified their design as being a white block with a smiley facial expression and yellow cheeks.

====''Yoshi's Island DS''====
[[File:YIDS Hint Block.png|frame]]
Message Blocks<ref>{{cite|title=''Yoshi's Island DS'' instruction booklet|page=17|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2006}}</ref> (also named '''Hint Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|author=Williams, Drew|title=''Yoshi's Island DS'' Player's Guide|date=2006|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|isbn=1-59812-016-6|page=6 and 11}}</ref>) are the same in ''[[Yoshi Island DS]]'' as the previous game.

====''Yoshi's New Island''====
{{main|List of Yoshi's New Island Message Block hints}}
[[File:13.2.14 Screen 04 - Yoshi's New Island.png|thumb|A Message Block in ''Yoshi's New Island'']]
Message Blocks return in ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''. Their instructions depend on the control type used, whether it is traditional button-style egg-throwing or gyro tilt to aim. Some Message Block hints appear when an event first occurs, like [[Baby Mario]] going off of Yoshi's back. Message Blocks can also explain new level features, such as ground-pounding [[Tatami Block]].

===''Yoshi's Story''===
[[File:YS Hingblock.gif|frame|left]]
In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', Message Blocks (or '''Message Boxes'''<ref>{{cite|author=Prima Bath|title=''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|isbn=0-7615-2103-8|language=en-us|page=112|date=April 7, 1999}}</ref>) 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===
Message Blocks, or '''face blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Smash Bros.'' Official Strategy Guide|date=1999|publisher=BradyGames|isbn=1-56686-900-5|page=114}}</ref> appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' as part of the stage [[Super Happy Tree (stage)|Yoshi's Island]], where two appear in the background with the [[Super Happy Tree]]. They retain this appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.
{{br|left}}

===''Mario vs. Donkey Kong''===
{{multiple image
|align=left
|image1=HelpBlockMVDKO.gif
|width1=16
|image2=MvsDK HelpBoxInternational.png
|width2=16
}}
[[File:HelpBlockMVDK.png|thumb|A Help Box in the remake]]
There are '''Help Boxes'''<ref>''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' American English Nintendo 3DS [[Virtual Console]] digital manual, tab 13: "Items and Features".</ref> in ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' that work similarly 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. In the European release, all languages other than English depict the Help Boxes as black boxes with only a white question mark.

In the game's [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)|remake]], the box has a lavender outline and now features a question mark in the [[List of fonts#Modern Super Mario typeface|modern ''Super Mario'' typeface]] across all regions. Help Boxes are not present within [[Time Attack (Mario vs. Donkey Kong for Nintendo Switch)|Time Attack]] mode.

===''Super Princess Peach''===
[[File:PerryBlock.png|thumb|left|x50px]]
Blocks functioning similarly to Message Blocks appear in ''[[Super Princess Peach]]''. They are referred to as "kassarbrock" in their internal file names, which is Japanese for "Perry Block". They are yellow and blue, resembling [[Perry]]. These blocks can be hit from any side, and they always appear in every boss level before the [[Warp Pipe|pipe]], warning the player about the boss and giving tips on how to defeat it.
{{br|left}}
===''Yoshi's Woolly World'' / ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World''===
[[File:YWW Message Block.jpg|thumb]]
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''===
Message Blocks return in ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]'', behaving exactly the same as in past appearances.

===''Minecraft''===
In ''[[Minecraft]]'', the Super Mario Mash-up pack reskins the Command Blocks to have the same appearance as Message Blocks from ''Super Mario World''.

===Unused appearances===
====''Super Mario Odyssey''====
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.
{{br}}

==Profiles==
===''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''===
{{multilang profile
|type=manual
|Eng=Receive helpful Tourist Tips from these conveniently located blocks.}}

===''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''===
{{multilang profile
|type=manual
|Eng=Hit them from below to get helpful hints.}}

{{multilang profile
|type=vc_3ds
|Eng=Hit them from underneath to get helpful hints.}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMW Message Block.jpg|''[[Super Mario World]]''
SMW2 Message Block art.png|''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''
SMW2 Message Block.png|''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''
Message Block YS artwork.jpg|''[[Yoshi's Story]]''
Story Message Block.png|''Yoshi's Story''
YIDS Hintblock.png|''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]''
Hint Block Artwork - Yoshi's New Island.png|''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''
YWW W1-1.jpg|''Yoshi's Woolly World''
Message Block SMKun.png|''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
SNW YA Clip Set.png|Artwork used for a clip set for [[Super Nintendo World]]
</gallery>

==Additional names==
===Internal names===
{{internal names
|game1=''[[Super Princess Peach]]''
|file1=<tt>data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_ncg.bin</tt><br><tt>data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_cl.bin</tt>
|name1=kassarbrock_D06_ncg<br>kassarbrock_D06_cl
|meaning1=[[Perry#Names in other languages|Perry]] Block
}}

===Names in other languages===
{{foreign names
|Jap=メッセージブロック
|JapC=<ref>''Super Mario World'' Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)</ref><ref>{{cite|language=Japanese|publisher=Nintendo|date=1995|title=''Super Mario: Yossy Island'' instruction booklet|page=16}}</ref>
|JapR=Messēji Burokku
|JapM=Message Block
|Chi=提示座
|ChiR=Tíshì zuò
|ChiM=Board
|Por=Bloco de {{hover|Massagem|meant to be Mensagem}}
|PorN=''Super Mario World'' manual
|PorM=Massage{{sic}} Block
|Fre=Bloc de message
|Fre2=Boite à message
|Fre2C=<ref>{{cite|url=fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_YoshisStory_FR.pdf|language=fr|format=PDF|title=Yoshi Story instruction booklet, French segment|page=59}}</ref>
|FreM=Message block
|Fre2M=Message Box
|Ita=Blocco Messaggio
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario World]]'' Italian manual|page=22}}</ref>
|ItaN=''Super Mario World''
|Ita2=Blocco
|Ita2C=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' GIG's Italian manual|page=8}}</ref>
|Ita2N=''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''
|Ita3=Dado del Messaggio
|Ita3C=<ref>{{cite|date=1998|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|title=''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' European manual|page=123}}</ref>
|Ita3N=''Yoshi's Story''
|Ita4=Mattone messaggio
|Ita4C=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]'' European manual|language=it|page=109|date=2002|publisher=Nintendo of Europe}}</ref>
|Ita4N=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''
|Ita5=Blocco messaggio
|Ita5N=From ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'' onward
|ItaM=Message Block
|Ita2M=Block
|Ita3M=Message dice/cube
|Ita4M=Message brick
|Ita5M=Message block
|Rus=Блок-справка
|RusR=Blok-spravka
|RusM=Reference Block
|SpaA=Bloque de mensaje
|SpaA2=Bloque mensajero
|SpaA2C=<ref>''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' Spanish instruction booklet{{page needed}}</ref>
|SpaAM=Message block
|SpaA2M=Messenger block
}}
;Help Box
{{foreign names
|Jap=ヘルプボックス
|JapC=<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/data/software/manual/man_PAGJ_00.pdf|title=マリオ{{ruby|vs.|ブイエス}}ドンキーコング (Mario buiesu Donkī Kongu) instruction booklet|format=PDF|date=2004|publisher=Nintendo|language=Japanese|page=13}}</ref>
|JapR=Herupu Bokkusu
|JapM=Help Box
|Ita=Blocco informativo
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' Italian e-manual|page=13}}</ref>
|ItaM=Informative block
}}

==References==
<references/>

{{navboxes|
{{Blocks}}
{{SMW}}
{{MTM}}
{{YI}}
{{Yoshi's Story}}
{{MVDK}}
{{YIDS}}
{{YNI}}
{{YWW}}
{{YCW}}
}}
[[Category:Blocks]]
[[Category:Animate objects]]
[[Category:Mario vs. Donkey Kong objects]]
[[Category:Mario's Time Machine]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
[[Category:Super Mario World objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island objects]]
[[Category:Super Princess Peach objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Crafted World objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island DS objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]
[[Category:Yoshi's New Island objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Story objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Woolly World objects]]
[[de:Info-Block]]
[[it:Blocco messaggio]]