? Block: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:QuestionBlock_NSMB.jpg|thumb|A '''? Block'''.]]
[[Image:QuestionBlock_NSMB.jpg|thumb|A '''? Block'''.]]
The '''? Block''' (known as the '''Mystery Block''' in ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' and '''Prize Block''' in ''[[Super Mario World]]'') is one of the many [[block]]s found in the [[all worlds|Mario universe]], and one of the most common. ? Blocks are usually seen floating in midair, often containing [[Gold Coin]]s, [[Super Mushroom]]s, or [[Fire Flower]]s. In some games (for example ''[[Paper Mario]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', as well as several classic platformers) there are some invisible ? Blocks. ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', the game shows different ways to hit the block other than simply punching it from below. One example is when Mario or [[Luigi]] use the [[Tanooki Suit]], the Mario Bros. can use their tails to whack the ? Block. Another example is by using the [[Koopa Shell]], when [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] kick the Koopa Shell to the ? Block; the ? Block will pop out containing a Coin or an item. In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', a [[Ground Pound]] may also be used.
The '''? Block''' (known as the '''Mystery Block''' in ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' and '''Prize Block''' in ''[[Super Mario World]]'') is one of the many [[block]]s found in the ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' universe, and one of the most common. ? Blocks are usually seen floating in midair, often containing [[Gold Coin]]s, [[Super Mushroom]]s, or [[Fire Flower]]s. In some games (for example ''[[Paper Mario]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', as well as several classic platformers) there are some invisible ? Blocks. ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', the game shows different ways to hit the block other than simply punching it from below. One example is when Mario or [[Luigi]] use the [[Tanooki Suit]], the Mario bros. can use their tails to whack the ? Block. Another example is by using the [[Koopa Shell]], when [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] kick the Koopa Shell to the ? Block; the ? Block will pop out containing a Coin or an item. In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', a [[Ground Pound]] may also be used.


[[Image:QuestionMarkBlockNSMB.png|left|thumb|64px|A ? Block from ''New Super Mario Bros.''.]]
Much mystery enshrouds the ? Blocks, and little detail has been given about their origin. ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', however, gave the explanation that [[Bowser]], using the [[Koopa Troop|Koopa Clan]]'s famous dark magic, had cursed the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], turning its citizens (presumably the [[Toad (species)|Toads]]) into a variety of objects, including [[brick]]s (which the ? Blocks could alternately be thought of as). The game's manual later talked about how [[Mario]] could "come across Mushroom People who had been turned into bricks" and receive items from them. Although this is the only official history origin of the ? Blocks, it would appear to have been long retconned out of official Mario games, with ? Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. ? Blocks are not to be confused with ! Blocks, which are similarly floating blocks.


The ? Blocks of ''Super Mario World'' had eyes and seemed to be reanimations of that game's [[Turning Block]]s. They also gave Turning Block-like angry eyes when hit; these expressions-when-hit are often seen even in non-eyed ? Blocks today, making the ? Block a possible relative of the Turning Block. In the ''Paper Mario'' series, Red ? Blocks contain [[badge]]s and yellow ones contain coins or items. ? blocks are sometimes invisible at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using [[Watt]] in ''Paper Mario''). Once they're visible, they can also be used as stepping stones. In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' during [[Bowser]]'s event, [[Meat]] will come out. If the player obtains four of these Meats, Bowser will grow huge, allowing him to smash through objects.
==History==
[[Image:QuestionMarkBlockNSMB.png|right|thumb|64px|A '''? Block''' from ''New Super Mario Bros.'']]
? Blocks first appeared in the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', and have been featured in almost every major ''Mario'' title since, including ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', ''[[Mario Land]]'' and most recently, ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''.
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario World''====
The ? Blocks of ''[[Super Mario World]]'' had eyes and seemed to be reanimations of that game's [[Turning Block]]s. They also gave Turning Block-like angry eyes when hit; these expressions-when-hit are often seen even in non-eyed ? Blocks today, making the ? Block a possible relative of the Turning Block.


In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', red ? Blocks replace the red, blue, and green [[! Block]]s. They are initially transparent, and had to be activated by hitting the [[? Switch]]. They contain either [[Power Flower]]s, [[Cape Feather|Feather]]s or [[Bob-omb]]s, depending on character and hat status. In the ''[[Mario Kart]]'' series (starting with ''[[Mario Kart 64]]''), similar item blocks, called [[Item Box]]es are found on every track. However, they are not flying up in the air but they are floating on the ground. ? Blocks were also replaced by the Item Box-like [[? Panel]]s in the games ''[[Mario Hoops 3 on 3]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''. In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', red flying ? Blocks fly around the world map, moving to different levels every time [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] [[ Game Over|die]] or complete a level. Five items can be inside: a [[Fire Flower]], [[1-Up Mushroom]], [[Mini Mushroom]], [[Mega Mushroom]], or a [[Blue  Shell]].Also in two [[Ghost House]]s a ? block appears but contains a [[Boo]]. The original yellow ? Blocks also appear. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', ? Blocks appeared on the [[Mushroom Kingdom (stage)|Mushroom Kingdom]] stage and could contain items if smashed from below. They also appear in [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]] in the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, with the same purpose.
====''Super Mario 64 DS''====
In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', red ? Blocks replace the red, blue, and green [[! Block]]s. They are initially transparent, and had to be activated by hitting the [[? Switch]]. They contain either [[Power Flower]]s, [[Cape Feather|Feather]]s or [[Bob-omb]]s, depending on character and hat status.


[[image:Galaxy_QuestionBlock.jpg|thumb|left|A '''? Block''' in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''.]]
====''New Super Mario Bros.''====
Much mystery enshrouds the ? Blocks, and little detail has been given about their origin. ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', however, gave the explanation that [[Bowser]], using the [[Koopa Troop|Koopa Clan]]'s famous dark magic, had cursed the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], turning its citizens (presumably the [[Toad (species)|Toads]]) into a variety of objects, including [[brick]]s (which the ? Blocks could alternately be thought of as). The game's manual later talked about how [[Mario]] could "come across Mushroom People who had been turned into bricks" and receive items from them. Although this is the only official history origin of the ? Blocks, it would appear to have been long retconned out of official Mario games, with ? Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. ? Blocks are not to be confused with ! Blocks, which are similarly floating blocks.
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', red flying ? Blocks fly around the world map, moving to different levels every time [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] [[ Game Over|die]] or complete a level. Five items can be inside: a [[Fire Flower]], [[1-Up Mushroom]], [[Mini Mushroom]], [[Mega Mushroom]], or a [[Blue  Shell]].Also in two [[Ghost House]]s a ? block appears but contains a [[Boo]]. The original yellow ? Blocks also appear.


====''Super Mario Galaxy''====
[[Image:Galaxy_QuestionBlock.jpg|thumb|left|A '''? Block''' in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''.]]
In ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', ? blocks contained [[Star Bit]]s and coins, and could usually be hit multiple times before vanishing. If the player manages to hit a ? block with star bits enough times, it would, as aforementioned, vanish, though when it does a multitude of star bits will scatter across the stage.
In ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', ? blocks contained [[Star Bit]]s and coins, and could usually be hit multiple times before vanishing. If the player manages to hit a ? block with star bits enough times, it would, as aforementioned, vanish, though when it does a multitude of star bits will scatter across the stage.
===[[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]]===
In the ''Paper Mario'' series, Red ? Blocks contain [[badge]]s and yellow ones contain coins or items. ? blocks are sometimes invisible at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using [[Watt]] in ''Paper Mario''). Once they're visible, they can also be used as stepping stones.
In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' during [[Bowser]]'s event, [[Meat]] will come out. If the player obtains four of these Meats, Bowser will grow huge, allowing him to smash through objects.
===[[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]]===
From ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' and onwards, similar item blocks, called [[Item Box]]es are found on every track. However, they are not flying up in the air but they are floating on the ground.


In ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', on the track [[Coconut Mall]], there is shop that is selling ? Blocks along with other classic Mario items. In the track [[Grumble Volcano]], there are giant ? Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks.  
In ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', on the track [[Coconut Mall]], there is shop that is selling ? Blocks along with other classic Mario items. In the track [[Grumble Volcano]], there are giant ? Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks.  


[[Broque]] is a character in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''. He speaks with a French accent and appears to be made from ? Blocks.
===[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]===
==Trivia==
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', ? Blocks appeared on the [[Mushroom Kingdom (stage)|Mushroom Kingdom]] stage and could contain items if smashed from below. They also appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' in the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, with the same purpose.
*In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', there is mini-game game called [[Melon Race]] in which [[Yoshi]] must hit a ? Block and race a melon-eating [[Chain Chomp]].
 
*In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', there is a room in the [[Woohoo Hooniversity]] which is designed to study different kinds of ? Blocks.
===[[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]]===
*The ? Block is a piece of furniture that the player can buy in the game ''[[wikipedia:Animal Crossing|Animal Crossing]]'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]].
? Blocks were one of many types of block to appear in this series.
*In all ''Nintendogs'' games, it is possible to get a ? Block item.
 
<br clear=all>
In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', there is a room in the [[Woohoo Hooniversity]] which is designed to study different kinds of ? Blocks.
 
''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'' featured a character named [[Broque]], who appears to be made from ? Blocks.
 
==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
<center><gallery>
Image:SMB Question Block.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''<br>(1985, NES)
Image:SMB Question Block.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''<br>(1985, NES)
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Image:Question Block.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''<br>(1993, SNES)
Image:Question Block.gif|''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''<br>(1993, SNES)
</gallery></center>
</gallery></center>
==Trivia==
*In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', there is mini-game game called [[Melon Race]] in which [[Yoshi]] must hit a ? Block and race a melon-eating [[Chain Chomp]].
*The ? Block is a piece of furniture that the player can buy in the game ''[[wikipedia:Animal Crossing|Animal Crossing]]'' for the [[Nintendo GameCube]].
*In all ''Nintendogs'' games, it is possible to get a ? Block item.
<br clear=all>
<br clear=all>
{{SM64}}
{{SM64}}
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{{The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3}}
{{The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3}}
{{Super Mario World TV}}
{{Super Mario World TV}}
[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Items]]
[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Blocks]]
[[Category:Blocks]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]

Revision as of 01:57, December 19, 2009

The ? Block (known as the Mystery Block in Super Mario Land and Prize Block in Super Mario World) is one of the many blocks found in the Mario universe, and one of the most common. ? Blocks are usually seen floating in midair, often containing Gold Coins, Super Mushrooms, or Fire Flowers. In some games (for example Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, as well as several classic platformers) there are some invisible ? Blocks. Super Mario Bros. 3, the game shows different ways to hit the block other than simply punching it from below. One example is when Mario or Luigi use the Tanooki Suit, the Mario bros. can use their tails to whack the ? Block. Another example is by using the Koopa Shell, when Mario or Luigi kick the Koopa Shell to the ? Block; the ? Block will pop out containing a Coin or an item. In New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, a Ground Pound may also be used.

Much mystery enshrouds the ? Blocks, and little detail has been given about their origin. Super Mario Bros., however, gave the explanation that Bowser, using the Koopa Clan's famous dark magic, had cursed the Mushroom Kingdom, turning its citizens (presumably the Toads) into a variety of objects, including bricks (which the ? Blocks could alternately be thought of as). The game's manual later talked about how Mario could "come across Mushroom People who had been turned into bricks" and receive items from them. Although this is the only official history origin of the ? Blocks, it would appear to have been long retconned out of official Mario games, with ? Blocks now seemingly being a natural feature of the Mushroom Kingdom. ? Blocks are not to be confused with ! Blocks, which are similarly floating blocks.

History

A ? Block from New Super Mario Bros.
A ? Block from New Super Mario Bros.

? Blocks first appeared in the original Super Mario Bros., and have been featured in almost every major Mario title since, including Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario Land and most recently, New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Super Mario series

Super Mario World

The ? Blocks of Super Mario World had eyes and seemed to be reanimations of that game's Turning Blocks. They also gave Turning Block-like angry eyes when hit; these expressions-when-hit are often seen even in non-eyed ? Blocks today, making the ? Block a possible relative of the Turning Block.

Super Mario 64 DS

In Super Mario 64 DS, red ? Blocks replace the red, blue, and green ! Blocks. They are initially transparent, and had to be activated by hitting the ? Switch. They contain either Power Flowers, Feathers or Bob-ombs, depending on character and hat status.

New Super Mario Bros.

In New Super Mario Bros., red flying ? Blocks fly around the world map, moving to different levels every time Mario or Luigi die or complete a level. Five items can be inside: a Fire Flower, 1-Up Mushroom, Mini Mushroom, Mega Mushroom, or a Blue Shell.Also in two Ghost Houses a ? block appears but contains a Boo. The original yellow ? Blocks also appear.

Super Mario Galaxy

? Block
A ? Block in Super Mario Galaxy.

In Super Mario Galaxy, ? blocks contained Star Bits and coins, and could usually be hit multiple times before vanishing. If the player manages to hit a ? block with star bits enough times, it would, as aforementioned, vanish, though when it does a multitude of star bits will scatter across the stage.

Paper Mario series

In the Paper Mario series, Red ? Blocks contain badges and yellow ones contain coins or items. ? blocks are sometimes invisible at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using Watt in Paper Mario). Once they're visible, they can also be used as stepping stones.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door during Bowser's event, Meat will come out. If the player obtains four of these Meats, Bowser will grow huge, allowing him to smash through objects.

Mario Kart series

From Mario Kart 64 and onwards, similar item blocks, called Item Boxes are found on every track. However, they are not flying up in the air but they are floating on the ground.

In Mario Kart Wii, on the track Coconut Mall, there is shop that is selling ? Blocks along with other classic Mario items. In the track Grumble Volcano, there are giant ? Blocks on some of the sinking mountains, along with regular Brick Blocks.

Super Smash Bros. series

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, ? Blocks appeared on the Mushroom Kingdom stage and could contain items if smashed from below. They also appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, with the same purpose.

Mario & Luigi series

? Blocks were one of many types of block to appear in this series.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, there is a room in the Woohoo Hooniversity which is designed to study different kinds of ? Blocks.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story featured a character named Broque, who appears to be made from ? Blocks.

Gallery

Trivia


Template:The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 Template:Super Mario World TV