Blockstepper
- Not to be confused with Blockstopper!
| Blockstepper | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Super Mario 3D World | |
| First appearance | Super Mario 3D World (2013) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021) |
Blocksteppers[1] are enemies in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. They are red block-shaped creatures with eyes similar to the eyes on Propeller Blocks, cornet-like mouths, and two feet. They also wear brown soldier hats and have windup keys on their backs similar to those of Bob-ombs. Part of their name is a portmanteau of "block," which they resemble, and "lockstep," referring to their synchronized marching formation. Blocksteppers appear in various levels, where they continually march back and forth along a set path (in autoscrolling levels, they instead constantly move forwards). They always travel in groups of two or more, forming lines of several Blocksteppers each. Characters can defeat any Blocksteppers in a group by jumping on them; ground-pounding or synchro-ground-pounding them; clawing, pouncing on, and claw-diving at them while in Cat forms; throwing fireballs at them while in Fire forms; throwing boomerangs at them while in Boomerang forms; tail-attacking them while in Tanooki forms; or coming into contact with one while in Lucky Cat forms, Invincible forms, or White Tanooki forms (as well as White Cat forms in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury). Defeating any Blockstepper in a group causes the rest of the Blocksteppers to scatter as they frantically run around, during which period more or all of the group can be defeated. After a few seconds, they regain composure and angrily chase after any characters nearby in unison.
In the Bowser's Fury campaign, Cat Blocksteppers appear, and they are identical to normal Blocksteppers in function but with cat ears and tails. They are encountered on Pounce Bounce Isle.
Gallery
Screenshot from Super Mario 3D World
A group of Blocksteppers vocalizing in art from the Super Mario 3D World Original Soundtrack
A Cat Blockstepper from the Bowser's Fury campaign
Cat Blocksteppers in a Japanese commercial promoting the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | マーチ[2] Māchi |
March | |
| French | Blockstepper[?] | - | |
| German | Links-Zwo[?] | Clipping of "Links, zwo, drei, vier!" (the German marching phrase "Left, two, three, four!") | |
| Italian | Blockstepper[3] | - | |
| Portuguese | Marchabloco[4] | Portmanteau of marchar ("to march") and bloco (block) | |
| Russian | Маршинист[?] Marshinist |
Pun on марш (marsh, "march") and машинист (mashnist, "machinist") | |
| Spanish | Marchabot[?] | Portmanteau of marchar ("to march") and "robot" |
Trivia
- Blocksteppers' chanting while undisturbed is a similar noise to those of Pikmin.
References
- ^ Musa, Alexander, and Geson Hatchett (November 22, 2013). Super Mario 3D World PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-804-16249-4. Page 26.
- ^ Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit) et al. (October 19, 2015). Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario 3D World section. Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. Page 227.
- ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 227.
- ^ Nintendo Portugal (July 9, 2015). O Programa do Mario Gato - Episódio 1 (4:32). YouTube (European Portuguese).
