Falling spike
| Falling spike | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork of a falling spike from Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario Land (1989) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024) | ||
| Variant of | Spike Trap | ||
| |||
Falling spikes[1][2] are spikes that fall from ceilings, and were introduced in Super Mario Land.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Land
In Super Mario Land, a lone falling spike appears in the Easton Kingdom, specifically World 3-2. In comparison to later examples, this one moves rather slowly, and resembles a conjoined pair of stalactites. Many such stalactites appear on the ceiling of this stage, without falling. Even after this one falls, the stalactites appear to remain on the ceiling because its sprite is layered on top of the stalactites. In Expert Level, there are six in that level. Some of them are not layered on top of any stalactites so they leave gaps after falling.
Super Mario World
In Super Mario World, falling spikes are found only in castles and fortresses, and are typically grouped together with standard spikes. They are slightly off-color compared to normal spikes. Unlike Icicles, falling spikes will remain on the ceiling until Mario or Luigi approach one, which will trigger it into falling, similar to a Thwomp. Once it falls, a falling spike will continue to fall through the floor until it disappears. If the player goes out of range and back again, the falling spike will return.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Falling spikes also appear in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in the Pumpkin Zone's first and second levels. It behaves the same as in earlier games.
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Falling spikes also appear in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, in the level Bowser's Last Stand. While they act as they did in Super Mario World, they look the same as normal spikes.
Yoshi's Story
In Yoshi's Story, falling spikes appear in the fight against Baby Bowser, where they only fall if hit by an egg or Bob-bomb. By doing so, they can be used to damage Baby Bowser while he is riding one of the ghosts. After falling, they grow back shortly afterward.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, falling spikes get stuck on the floor after they fall when approached and then drill into the floor and soon regenerate on the ceiling after a few seconds, acting like a faster version of the icicles from the Game Boy Donkey Kong. Mario and Mini-Mario can use it as a platform. In the original, they are silent, whereas in the remake, they produce a sound like the icicles.
Gallery
Artwork from the Super Mario Kodansha manga
Sprite from Super Mario Land
Sprite from Super Mario World
Sprite from Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Sprite from Yoshi's Story
Sprite from Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Additional names
Internal names
| Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) | Model/SpikeFalling.bfres.zs | SpikeFalling | Falling Spike |
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 落ちてくるトゲ[3][4] Ochitekuru Toge |
Falling Spike | |
| トゲ[5] Toge |
Spike | ||
| トゲック[6] Togekku |
From「棘」(toge, thorn) and possibly「チクチク」(chiku-chiku, bristling) | ||
| スパイク[7][page number needed] Supaiku |
Spike | ||
| French | Pique chutant[?] | Falling Spike | |
| Aiguillon[?] | Sting | ||
| Italian | Spuntoni cadenti[8] | Falling spikes Falling spike |
|
| Spuntone cadente[9] | - | ||
| Spanish (NOE) | Pincho[10] | Spike |
References
- ^ "FALLING SPIKES When you see yellow spikes along the ceiling, take a close look at them; some of them fall as you swim underneath. Falling spikes are a darker yellow, and they quiver before they fall." – Stratton, Bryan (February 26, 2002). Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Prima’s Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-3913-1. Page 50.
- ^ English Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved August 13, 2022. (Archived August 13, 2022, 13:51:45 UTC via archive.today.)
- ^ 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario Land section. Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 48.
- ^ 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオワールド」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario World). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 93.
- ^ 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario World section. Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 61.
- ^ 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオランド２ ６つの金貨」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 14.
- ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 48.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 61.
- ^ Official Mario vs. Donkey Kong website. Guías Nintendo (European Spanish).
| Super Mario Land | |
|---|---|
| Protagonists | Mario • Princess Daisy |
| Bosses | King Totomesu • Dragonzamasu (Tamao) • Hiyoihoi • Biokinton (Chicken) • Tatanga (Pagosu) |
| Locations | Sarasaland (Birabuto Kingdom • Muda Kingdom • Easton Kingdom • Chai Kingdom) |
| Levels | World 1-1 • World 1-2 • World 1-3 • World 2-1 • World 2-2 • World 2-3 • World 3-1 • World 3-2 • World 3-3 • World 4-1 • World 4-2 • World 4-3 • Expert Level |
| Items & vehicles | Super Mushroom • Superball Flower • Star • 1UP heart • Coin • Marine Pop • Sky Pop • Switch • Lift Block |
| Enemies & obstacles | Batadon • Bombshell Koopa • Bullet Biff • Bunbun • Chikako • Dropping lift • Falling block • Falling spike • Fly • Ganchan • Gao • Gunion • Goombo • Honen • Kumo • Mekabon • Nyololin • Pionpi • Pipe Fist • Piranha Plant • Pompon Flower • Roketon • Roto Disc • Suu • Tokotoko • Torion • Yurarin • Yurarin Boo |
| Other | Brick • Bonus game • Das Super Mario Spiel • Gallery • Glitches • Goal • Media • Mystery Block • Sub-area • Soundtrack |
