Wall Jump

Mario performing a Wall Jump as illustrated in a Super Mario Sunshine manual

“While sliding down a wall, press to wall-jump! See how high you can get with this technique!”

—Board, Super Mario Galaxy 2

The Wall Jump (or wall jump), also known as the Wall Kick (or wall kick), is a special move that can be used by several characters, most notably Mario. The move is activated by jumping towards a wall and hitting the jump button again upon colliding with the wall. If that is done in narrow passages, characters can jump between the walls to ascend to a higher platform or over an obstacle.

History

Super Mario series

Mario performing a Wall Jump in Super Mario 64

Mario performing a Wall Jump in Super Mario 3D Land

In many early games, before the implementation of the actual wall-jumping mechanic, maneuvers similar to the Wall Jump exist as glitches. For example, in Super Mario Bros., if Mario lands on a wall on a 16×16 boundary (so that his foot is on the top corner of a block), the player is able to jump from that point with frame-perfect timing. Similar glitches also exist in Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.

The Wall Jump itself was first implemented in Super Mario 64. Here, if Mario jumps at a wall, he bounces off, but if the player presses as soon as Mario hits the wall, he kicks off it instead, ascending higher than usual. If the player presses too late, Mario simply falls down. The angle of the Wall Jump can also be adjusted, based on the angle Mario jumps at the wall. In games starting from Super Mario Sunshine onward, Mario slides down the wall, making wall-jumping easier and the timing of the jump adjustable. This characteristic carries over to Super Mario 64 DS, where Mario is the only character that can wall-jump. Due to the and buttons having their functions swapped, the text box that appears after the player collects the Mario Cap for the first time provides incorrect controls.

Starting from New Super Mario Bros. onwards, Luigi is able to wall-jump as well. In the New Super Mario Bros. series, Mario, Luigi, Yellow Toad, and Blue Toad are capable of wall-jumping. In New Super Luigi U, Nabbit is also capable of wall-jumping. In New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U, the player can perform a Spin Jump while wall-jumping.

In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Mailtoad mentions that Captain Toad has the ability to wall-jump, as he was able to scale a canyon in pursuit of The Chimp in the Fluffy Bluff Galaxy; however, Captain Toad is unable to jump at all in Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (and its Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS ports of the same name), and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, likely due to his heavy backpack. Toad, Princess Peach, and Rosalina are able to wall-jump in Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury.

Mario performing a Wall Jump in Super Mario Run

In Super Mario Run, characters can wall-jump off the sides of most walls and platforms when players tap the screen when they are holding on to a wall. In Toad Rally, performing consecutive Wall Jumps attracts more Toads.

In Super Mario Maker (and its 3DS version) and Super Mario Maker 2, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Toadette can all wall-jump, but only in the New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario 3D World styles.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Minis can wall-jump against Wall Jump Bars. When a Mini approaches a Wall Jump Bar, it automatically starts moving against it. If the player taps the Mini with the stylus before it slides off the Wall Jump Bar, it performs a Wall Jump.

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

Mini Mario executing the Wall Jump in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge

The Wall Jump appears in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge as Mini Mario's special ability. From a horizontal surface, Mini Mario will automatically stick to a wall and bounce off it, continuously jumping between it and any other wall until the toy reaches a platform. Wall Jumps are not performed if Mini Mario touches a wall as it walks up a slant or bounces from a Spring.

This ability is essential in reaching Mini Mario's assigned door in Level 5, located at the top of the stage. After clearing the level through said door, Mini Mario gains access to the Boost Pad Bonanza set of levels, which make extensive use of the Wall Jump ability.

Mario Superstar Baseball

In Mario Superstar Baseball, the Wall Jump is used as a special fielding ability that Mario, Luigi, Bowser Jr., Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, and Toadette can use. When one of these characters jumps near a wall, they take a great leap off it, covering distance at a vertical angle. The move is used to catch low home run balls. In Mario Super Sluggers, this special ability is absent, possibly replaced by the Buddy Jump move.

Mario Tennis Aces

In Mario Tennis Aces, Mario uses the Wall Jump as part of his Special Shot, called the Blazing Wall Jump.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

Wall-jumping makes an appearance in Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, where Donkey Kong is able to do it. While it operates similarly to its use in other games, the player must be constantly tapping the control stick or hitting the bongo in the direction of the wall to be able to slide down it.

Super Smash Bros. series

Starting in Super Smash Bros. Melee, several characters can wall-jump in the Super Smash Bros. series; the move works by tilting the control stick in the direction away from the wall when against a wall. Since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, some of these characters are able to wall-cling as well, which allows them to stick to a wall for a few seconds as long as players hold the control stick in the direction facing the wall. Only six characters are able to wall-cling: Lucario, Diddy Kong, Squirtle, Greninja, Sheik, and Bayonetta.

Although Luigi was able to wall-jump in the E3 demo of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and despite his ability to wall jump in the New Super Mario Bros. games, he cannot in the final game or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

One of Peach's transformations in Princess Peach: Showtime!, Ninja Peach, can use wall jumps, which is mandatory to perform in some sections of the three levels in which she appears, including to get out of the room where she first receives the transformation in the Ninjutsu: The Art of Rapids level.

Profiles

Super Mario Sunshine

• Instruction booklet description: Jump toward a wall then jump again as soon as Mario makes contact. Perform successive wall kicks between two walls to climb higher and higher.
  NOTE! Never give up! Try pressing even when sliding down walls!

Super Mario 3D Land

• North American website bio: Mario can do a long running leap to more easily clear wide gaps.
• European website bio: Press the B Button (or the A Button) when sliding down a wall to perform a Wall Jump, which will cause Mario to kick off the wall and jump in the opposite direction. Performing repeated Wall Jumps can take Mario up to some very high places!

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS

• Digital manual description: against a wall midjump

Gallery

• 

  Mario about to jump from a wall in a commercial for a McDonald's Happy Meal tie-in with The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	カベジャンプ Kabe janpu カベキック Kabe kikku[?]	Wall Jump Wall Kick
Chinese (simplified)	踢墙跳[?] Tī Qiáng Tiào	Kick wall jump
Chinese (traditional)	踢牆跳[?] Tī Qiáng Tiào	Kick wall jump
Dutch	Muursprong[?]	Wall jump
French (NOA)	Saut mural Saut au Mur Rebond sur le mur Impulsion	Wall Jump Jump on Wall Bounce on the wall Pulse
French (NOE)	Saut mural[?]	Wall jump
German	Wandsprung[?]	Wall Jump
Italian	Calcio su parete Salto a parete Scalaparete (Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge)	Wall kick Wall jump Wall-climb
Korean	벽차기[?] Byeokchagi	Wall Kick
Portuguese (NOA)	Salto escalada[?]	Climbing jump
Portuguese (NOE)	Salto na parede (Super Mario Bros. Wonder) Salto Ricochete[?]	Jump on the wall Rebound Jump
Russian	Прыжок от стены[?] Pryzhok ot steny	Wall jump
Spanish (NOA)	Salto escalada (Super Mario Odyssey) Salto Escalada (Super Mario Bros. Wonder) Rebotar en la Pared Salto de Muro (New Super Mario Bros. U) Salto de la patada en la pared (Super Mario 64 DS)	Climbing jump Bounce on the Wall Wall Jump Wall kick jump
Spanish (NOE)	Salto Escalada[?]	Climbing Jump