P Switch
- This article is about the object originally known as Switch Block. For other uses, see Switch Block.
Template:Item-infobox P Switches (alternatively P-Switches[1] and also known as Switch Blocks[2][3] or P Switch Blocks[4]) are objects found in several Super Mario games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, New Super Mario Bros., and Super Mario 3D Land. They are initiated by jumping on them. Upon activation, they temporarily turn all Brick Blocks from an area into coins and vice-versa. On some occasions, they likewise cause arrays or groups of Blue Coins to appear on-screen. As these effects are temporary, they are usually accompanied by a characteristic jingle or clock-ticking that marks their duration.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3
In Super Mario Bros. 3, a P-Switch can cause the animations of ? Blocks, Brick Blocks, Jump Blocks, and coins to stop. In the original NES version, certain P-Switches appear in alternate colorations due to palette limitations; for instance, one in World 2-3 is purple with tan details. In all versions, the P-Switches cause the Toad House theme to play while they are active.
Super Mario World
Super Mario World is the first game in which P Switches can be carried by Mario and saved for later. There is a glitch making Mario carry the switch after it has been pressed for a short time if he is quick before it disappears. In all other games, Mario cannot carry the switches and must use them on the spot.
The game introduces Gray P Switches, which makes most enemies turn into Gray Coins. Collecting eight of these coins awards Mario an extra life. Collecting one more gives Mario two extra lives. After nine coins, Mario will earn three extra lives for each additional coin.
Super Mario 64
- Main article: Blue Coin Block
P Switches themselves do not appear in Super Mario 64. However, their ability to cause Blue Coins to appear is given to a similar object called the Blue Coin Block. Unlike P Switches had previously been depicted, Blue Coin Blocks cannot cause coins and Blocks to become each other. However, certain Purple Switches can cause boxes to appear from thin air in a similar manner.
New Super Mario Bros.
In New Super Mario Bros., P Switches return with the same function as in previous games, either spawning in blue coins or turning Brick Blocks into coins and vice versa, as well as P Switches having more level-specific functions such as revealing staircases and certain doors in World 3-Ghost House. Unlike in previous games, certain P Switches can be reused multiple times.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, P Switches return, acting similarly to their appearance in New Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario 3D Land
P Switches appear in Super Mario 3D Land, where they are designed as having a flat surface with a deep blue "P" printed on it, making them more like buttons. When pressed, they become red. Unlike in previous games, P Switches work more like the ? Coins of the Super Mario Galaxy games, in that they either trigger an event or generate a row of notes upon activation.
New Super Mario Bros. 2
P Switches return in New Super Mario Bros. 2, acting similarly to their appearance in New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. U
In New Super Mario Bros. U, P Switches return, once again acting similarly to their appearance in New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Luigi U
P Switches return in New Super Luigi U, acting similarly to their appearance in New Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario 3D World
P Switches appear in Super Mario 3D World. They have the same appearance as they do in Super Mario 3D Land, but with a white "P"; they do not change colors when pressed. In addition to their effects from 3D Land, they can once again spawn Blue Coins (except in Rainbow Run, where they spawn regular coins from the sky). There are also square panels with a white "P" that have similar effect to P Switches (known in the Prima guide as Trample Switches[5]), although more than one often has to be pressed at a time to activate the effect. They can be activated by other methods than just the player stepping on them (like throwing Brolders on them). Golden P Switches appear in some of the bonus areas entered via golden Warp Pipes and in the Coin Express. When pressed, they spawn a large amount of coins.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS
P Switches reappear in Super Mario Maker and Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, retaining their functions of changing Brick Blocks to coins and vice versa. They also stop conveyor belts from moving, as they did in Super Mario Bros. 3. They can also be carried like in Super Mario World, which applies to the other styles except Super Mario Bros., where Mario couldn't carry objects. An update on December 21, 2015 introduced P Warp Doors. These blue doors act as a normal Warp Door, but are only usable when a P Switch is activated. When a P Switch is shaken in edit mode, it transforms into a key.
They can be used in all four styles, retaining their designs in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World (blue version) and New Super Mario Bros. U, after the 1.30 update. During the original release, the P Switch was colored as orange with a brown P in the Super Mario Bros. style, while ? Switches appeared in the New Super Mario Bros. U style, instead of P Switches. The update changed both switches back to the original P Switch appearances from the other games, although the coloring in the New Super Mario Bros. U style is closer to dark blue than the original's cyan.
Super Mario Odyssey
P Switches appear once again in Super Mario Odyssey. They are now square-shaped rather than circular. They mainly appear in Moon Pipes but can appear elsewhere. They act as they do in Super Mario 3D Land.
Super Mario Maker 2
This section is referring to a subject in an upcoming or recently released game. When the game is released, or more information about this subject is found, this section may need major rewriting.
This notice should be removed after a month has passed since the game was first released.
P Switches appear in Super Mario Maker 2. They appear and function the same as in Super Mario Maker, although like POW Blocks, they now flash in the Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U styles.[6] In addition, a new design based on the other games is used in the Super Mario 3D World style rather than the flatter appearance.
Yoshi
P Switches make a minor appearance in Yoshi, after the player clears levels 28 and higher of the B-Type game, rewarding the player 1,500 points. Likely owing to the game's lack of blue palette for the sprites for the NES version, they appear red.
Super Smash Bros. series
A P Switch appears in the Golden Plains stage in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If a fighter steps on or attacks one, Blue Coins will temporarily appear among the ordinary coins while the P Switch music plays over the stage music, as in the New Super Mario Bros. series. A P Switch also appears as a trophy.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
P Switches also appear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. They are generally used to alter the layout of the stage, allowing the player to progress.
Effects
When pressed, a P Switch makes a change in the stage for a limited amount of time. This includes:
- Turning Brick Blocks, Empty Blocks (in Super Mario World), and Rotating Blocks (in Super Mario Maker's Super Mario World style) into coins or vice versa.
- Changing enemies into Gray Coins (Super Mario World Gray P Switch only)
- Turning Munchers into coins (Super Mario Bros. 3; Gray P Switch only in Super Mario World)
- Allowing Mario to access a hidden door (Appears as a white light in remakes of Super Mario Bros. 3, a blue door in Super Mario World and a blue door with a P in Super Mario Maker. Appears as a normal door in all other games.)
- Making Blue Coins appear.
- Making hidden ? Blocks appear. (Super Mario World)
- Stopping conveyor belts from moving (Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Maker)
Official Profiles
Super Mario Bros. 3
- 3DS Virtual Console Manual Bio: "If you step on these, something special may happen."
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophy
| Name | Image | American English Description | British English Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| P Switch | 
|
This fun item has been popping up ever since it first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. Jumping on it produces coins...reveals hidden doors... The effect is different from game to game. On Golden Plains, the P-Switch will make a ton of blue coins appear. This is a great way to get yourself a large stack! | This switch made its debut in Super Mario Bros. 3 and has been a mainstay of the series ever since. Depending on the game, it can have all sorts of effects. In this one, you can step on it (or attack it, if you like) to make tons of blue coins appear. There's no better way to get yourself a formidable stack of coins! |
Gallery
Blue P Switch artwork from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Sprite from Super Mario Bros. 3
Blue P Switch artwork from Super Mario World.
P Switch sprite from Super Mario World.
Gray P Switch sprite from Super Mario World.
Yoshi (Game Boy version)
P Switch from New Super Mario Bros. 2.
P Switch from Super Mario 3D World.
P Switch from Super Mario Maker (Super Mario Bros. style), in versions until 1.21
P Switch from Super Mario Maker (in versions from 1.30 on) / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (Super Mario Bros. style)
P Switch from Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (Super Mario Bros. 3 style)
P Switch from Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (Super Mario World style)
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | スイッチブロック[7][8] Suicchi Burokku Pスイッチ P Suicchi |
Switch Block P Switch |
|
| Dutch | P-schakelaar[9] | P switch | |
| German | P-Block[?] | P-Block | |
| Italian | Blocco Interruttore P[?] | P Switch Block | |
| Portuguese | Bloco de Transformação[?] | Transformation Block | |
| Russian | Переключатель 《P》[?] Pereklyuchatel' 《P》 |
P switch | |
| Spanish | Interruptor P[?] | P Switch |
Trivia
- Before the announcement of the 1.3.0 update for Super Mario Maker, the original blue design of the P Switch in the Super Mario Bros. style was accidentally leaked through the preview screenshot of the Mercedes-Benz Jump'n'Drive Event Course.
References
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 11, page 12.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 English instruction booklet, page 17.
- ^ Super Mario World English instruction booklet, page 22.
- ^ New Super Mario Bros. British English instruction booklet, page 18.
- ^ Super Mario 3D World Prima eGuide
- ^ Nintendo of Japan Instagram
- ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet, page 16.
- ^ Super Mario World Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)
- ^ Nintendo Nederland. (March 9, 2016). Super Mario Maker - Gesloten deuren! Spijkerzuilen! Roze munten! (Wii U). Youtube. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- Switches
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Objects
- Mario & Wario
- New Super Luigi U Objects
- New Super Mario Bros. Objects
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 Objects
- New Super Mario Bros. U Objects
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii Objects
- Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Objects
- Super Mario Bros. 3 Objects
- Super Mario Maker Objects
- Super Mario Maker 2 Objects
- Super Mario Odyssey Objects
- Super Mario World Objects
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
- Yoshi (game)
