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 appear in the Super Mario franchise as hazards that block or damage the player's character on contact. They first appear in Super Mario 64.
History
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
Pendulums in Super Mario 64 and its remake appear throughout Tick Tock Clock as an integral 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. 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.
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. Super Mario 64 DS has the mission The Pendulum Switch Star instead, but the overall objective is similar in that a Star Switch must be activated for the Power Star to be collected within a time limit.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Pendulums in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat appear in groups and swing in unison as platforms near the top of the Clock Tower.
Mario Kart series
Pendulms in the Mario Kart series appear as hazards on the Tick-Tock Clock course, introduced in Mario Kart DS, and knock over characters on contact. The original iteration of the course has only a single large pendulum that appears before the gears section, swinging at a slower rate, but the iteration in Mario Kart 8 and its Nintendo Switch port adds an extra pendulum 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.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 振り子[1] Furiko |
Pendulum | |
| Italian | Pendolo[2] | Pendulum |
References
- ^ Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 92.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 92.
