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[[Image:Countdowntimer.PNG|frame]]
{{distinguish|Time Limit|Star Power}}
The '''Countdown Timer''', is a feature in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]'', and ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]''. It was known as just the '''Timer''' in the original release of the game. This feature is first explained in the "[[Welcome to Yoshi's Island]]" level. If [[Yoshi]] hits an enemy, the countdown will begin. The countdown will stop when Yoshi grabs [[Baby Mario]] (or any other baby in ''Yoshi's Island DS'') in a [[bubble]]. [[Star]]s and [[Middle Ring]]s will give the player one and ten more seconds, respectively, up to a maximum of thirty. If the Countdown Timer reaches zero, a few [[Toady|Toadies]] come and steal Baby Mario (or whichever baby is currently riding on Yoshi's back in ''Yoshi's Island DS'').
[[File:Countdown Timer SMW2.png|frame]]
{{quote|If [[Baby Mario]] falls off Yoshi's back, the Countdown Timer will begin. When it reaches 0, [[Kamek's Toadies|Kamek's toadies]] will swoop in and kidnap Baby Mario!|In-game text|''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''}}
The '''Countdown Timer''' (or just the '''timer'''), also known as the '''counter''',<ref name=YNI>''Yoshi's New Island'' digital instruction manual, Page 9 / 17 Playing the Game.</ref> is a feature in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' (and [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|its reissue]]), ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'', and ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''. This feature is first explained in the level [[Welcome To Yoshi's Island]]. If a [[Yoshi (species)|Yoshi]] takes damage, [[Baby Mario]] (or any other baby in ''Yoshi's Island DS'') flies away in a [[bubble]] and starts crying, and the timer begins, indicating how long [[star (Yoshi's Island series)|star]] power can protect him. The Countdown Timer stops when the Yoshi retrieves the baby, and the timer slowly restores to ten seconds if it is nine or less. The timer turns from white to red when it falls below ten (in ''Yoshi's Island DS'', the timer turns yellow below ten seconds and red in the last three seconds). If the Countdown Timer reaches zero, [[Kamek's Toadies]] come and steal Baby Mario (or whichever baby is riding on the Yoshi's back in ''Yoshi's Island DS''), and the player loses a life. Stars add one more second to the timer, and [[Checkpoint Ring]]s add ten more seconds, up to 30. If the player has reached the maximum, any extra stars released from [[Winged Cloud]]s and [[tulip]]s are replaced by [[coin]]s. The Countdown Timer also plays a part in determining the score for completing a [[level]], with a [[point]] awarded for each second left on the timer.


When the Yoshi retrieves the baby, the Countdown Timer will slowly restore to ten seconds. However, if Yoshi recovers the baby while the Countdown Timer shows more than ten seconds, no increase is awarded. In ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' and ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'', in addition to collecting individual Stars to increase the timer, the Yoshis can use items called [[10 Point Star]]s and [[20 Point Star]]s to increase the timer by ten and twenty seconds respectively.
In ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' and its reissue, in addition to collecting individual stars to increase the timer, the Yoshis can use items called [[10-Point Star]]s and [[20-Point Star]]s.


==Other Appearances==
==Profiles==
In addition to the ''Yoshi's Island'' main series, the timer also made other appearances in the ''Mario'' spin-offs and in addition to that, it starts at three seconds instead of the usual ten in the ''Yoshi's Island'' series. When the timer reaches zero, then the race, battle, or mini-game begins.
===''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''===
{{Multilang profile
|type=manual
|EngE=If you get hit by an enemy and take damage, Baby Mario will fall off of Yoshi's back. When this happens, the power of the stars will protect Baby Mario for a short while. A timer appears to show just how long this protection lasts. If the counter reaches zero, Baby Mario will be swept away by Kamek's toadies. Try to get Baby Mario back on Yoshi's back before time runs out!''<ref>{{cite|format=PDF|url=cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/game_boy_advance_8/Manual_GameBoyAdvance_YoshisIslandSuperMarioAdvance3_EN_DE_FR_ES_IT.pdf|date=2002|title=''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'' instruction booklet|page=9|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|language=en-gb}}</ref>}}


===''Mario Kart'' series===
==Names in other languages==
[[Image:Luigi Circuit (Mario Kart Double Dash!!).jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Countdown Timer as seen in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''.]]
{{foreign names
The Countdown Timer appeared in three ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' games and it can be seen in the middle of the game screen (top screen in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'') to tell the player when the race officially starts.
|Jpn=スターのおまもり / スターのお{{ruby|守|まも}}り
|JpnC=<ref>{{cite|language=ja|format=PDF|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-VADJJ.pdf|title=スーパーマリオ ヨッシーアイランド (''Sūpā Mario: Yosshī Airando'') instruction booklet|page=11|date=1995|publisher=Nintendo}}</ref><ref>{{cite|language=ja|publisher=Nintendo|title=「ヨッシー New アイランド 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (''Yoshi's New Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'')|page={{file link|Yoshi New Island Shogakukan P20.jpg|20}}|date=August 9, 2014|isbn=978-4-09-106542-1}}</ref>
|JpnR=Sutā no Omamori
|JpnM=Star Charm
|Ger=Sternenzähler
|GerM=Star Counter
|Fre=Compteur
|FreM=Counter
|Spa=Contador
|SpaM=Counter
|Ita=Cronometro / Il cronometro delle stelle
|ItaM= Timer / Star Timer
}}


===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
==References==
The Countdown Timer also appeared in both ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' to tell the fighters when the battle starts and only the announcer of the game can count it off.
<references/>
 
=== ''Mario Power Tennis''===
In the game ''[[Mario Power Tennis]]'', the timer appeared in some of the mini-games and it tells the player when to start the mini-game.
 
===''Super Mario Galaxy'' series===
[[File:Rightside Down Galaxy - The Great Crate Incinerator.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Countdown Timer as seen in ''Super Mario Galaxy 2'', signaling the start of the [[Crate Burning]] mini-game.]]
In both ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2|its sequel]]'', the Countdown Timer made an appearance to tell the player when the race, mini-game, or challenge starts, depending on which galaxy the player is at right now.
 
===''Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem''===
In ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem]]'', the timer appeared on the Touch Screen and it tells the player when the battle against [[Donkey Kong]], mini-game, or Special Level starts.


{{YI}}
{{YIDS}}
{{YNI}}
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Game Mechanics]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island DS]]
[[Category:Yoshi's New Island]]

Latest revision as of 22:36, January 23, 2025

Not to be confused with Time Limit or Star Power.
Sprite of the Countdown Timer inSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
“If Baby Mario falls off Yoshi's back, the Countdown Timer will begin. When it reaches 0, Kamek's toadies will swoop in and kidnap Baby Mario!”
In-game text, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

The Countdown Timer (or just the timer), also known as the counter,[1] is a feature in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (and its reissue), Yoshi's Island DS, and Yoshi's New Island. This feature is first explained in the level Welcome To Yoshi's Island. If a Yoshi takes damage, Baby Mario (or any other baby in Yoshi's Island DS) flies away in a bubble and starts crying, and the timer begins, indicating how long star power can protect him. The Countdown Timer stops when the Yoshi retrieves the baby, and the timer slowly restores to ten seconds if it is nine or less. The timer turns from white to red when it falls below ten (in Yoshi's Island DS, the timer turns yellow below ten seconds and red in the last three seconds). If the Countdown Timer reaches zero, Kamek's Toadies come and steal Baby Mario (or whichever baby is riding on the Yoshi's back in Yoshi's Island DS), and the player loses a life. Stars add one more second to the timer, and Checkpoint Rings add ten more seconds, up to 30. If the player has reached the maximum, any extra stars released from Winged Clouds and tulips are replaced by coins. The Countdown Timer also plays a part in determining the score for completing a level, with a point awarded for each second left on the timer.

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and its reissue, in addition to collecting individual stars to increase the timer, the Yoshis can use items called 10-Point Stars and 20-Point Stars.

Profiles[edit]

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

  • Instruction booklet description:
    • English (British):
      If you get hit by an enemy and take damage, Baby Mario will fall off of Yoshi's back. When this happens, the power of the stars will protect Baby Mario for a short while. A timer appears to show just how long this protection lasts. If the counter reaches zero, Baby Mario will be swept away by Kamek's toadies. Try to get Baby Mario back on Yoshi's back before time runs out![2]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スターのおまもり / スターのおまも[3][4]
Sutā no Omamori
Star Charm
French Compteur[?] Counter
German Sternenzähler[?] Star Counter
Italian Cronometro / Il cronometro delle stelle[?] Timer / Star Timer
Spanish Contador[?] Counter

References[edit]

  1. ^ Yoshi's New Island digital instruction manual, Page 9 / 17 Playing the Game.
  2. ^ 2002. Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo of Europe (British English). Page 9.
  3. ^ 1995. スーパーマリオ ヨッシーアイランド (Sūpā Mario: Yosshī Airando) instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo (Japanese). Page 11.
  4. ^ August 9, 2014. 「ヨッシー New アイランド 任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Yoshi's New Island Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Nintendo (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106542-1. Page 20Media:Yoshi New Island Shogakukan P20.jpg.