Pendulum

This article is about the recurring obstacle. For the enemy also referred to as a "plant-pendulum", see Piranha Pest § Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time.

Pendulums are uncommon hazards in the Mario franchise. They first appear in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS as somewhat common obstacles throughout Tick Tock Clock. In Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, pendulums appear on the course Tick-Tock Clock as obstacles. In most cases, pendulums block or damage the player's character when touched.

History

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS

In The Pit and the Pendulums, Mario must carefully cross a couple of pendulums twice to acquire the Power Star.

In Super Mario 64 and its remake, pendulums appear throughout Tick Tock Clock as part of the level's clock-based aesthetic. A small pendulum swings within the grandfather clock this level takes place in, likely the one encountered at the very bottom of the level. Certain other pendulums appear higher in the stage, often over pits, requiring Mario to time his jumps when encountered.

In The Pit and the Pendulums from Super Mario 64, two pendulums provide a decent challenge for Mario halfway up the clock, requiring him to cross past them and back without getting pushed off, which results in him dropping a good distance. In Super Mario 64 DS, this mission is replaced with The Pendulum Switch Star; although the overall objective remains the same, a Star Switch must be activated for the Power Star to be collected within a time limit.

Notably, the pace at which the pendulums swing is dependent on the time the clock displays when Mario jumps through it. Depending on this, the pendulums may swing at a quick pace, or they may not swing at all. If this is the case, the pendulums are frozen in place, proving much less of a threat.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

In Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, a group of pendulums swinging in unison appears as platforms near the top of the Clock Tower.

Mario Kart series

Racers about to clear a ramp with a large pendulum in front of it in Mario Kart 8

In Mario Kart DS, a single larger pendulum appears as a hazard on Tick-Tock Clock before the gears section, swinging at a slower rate. If a racer collides with it, they are knocked.

In Mario Kart 8 and its Nintendo Switch port, an extra pendulum was added after the clock face, both displaying the Lightning Cup emblem on both sides. They now swing right in front of ramps the racers are required to cross. Unlike in Mario Kart DS, colliding with the pendulums just slows down the racers, who usually drop down in front of the ramp.