Waterfall

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This article is about the environmental feature. For the move from the Super Smash Bros. series, see List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Brawl#Pokémon Trainer.
Waterfall
Squared screenshot of a waterfall in Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Screenshot from Super Mario Galaxy 2
First appearance Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987, overall)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988, Super Mario franchise)
Latest appearance Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)
Related

Waterfalls[1][2] are recurring elements of underwater, beach, and forest-themed areas in the Super Mario franchise. While often ambiet background elements that cannot be interacted with, they sometimes are ascendable platforms like in Super Mario Bros. 3 or Super Mario Galaxy. In some games like Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Odyssey, the rapids from waterfalls pull the player character towards pits as they try to swim.

History

Super Mario series

Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros. 2

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In Super Mario Bros. 2 and its unlocalized origin Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, waterfalls primarily appear as background scenery. However, they often carry logs that gradually appear at the top before descending down, and these logs can be used as platforms; desert stages have a similar system with certain patches of quicksand with bones traveling down them. Additionally, Trouters often appear jumping from waterfalls. In Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, waterfalls have a two-frame animation; in Super Mario Bros. 2, they have a seven-frame animation (with an eighth frame not appearing due to a programming error); and in all remakes of Super Mario Bros. 2, they have an eight-frame animation.

Super Mario Bros. 3

In Super Mario Bros. 3, waterfalls appear mainly as downward currents: they can be swam in like normal water, but constantly push down on Mario or Luigi as they swim, which is signified by a spray effect over their heads.

Super Mario 64

Mario in the Cavern of the Metal Cap.

In Super Mario 64, waterfalls appear in a few places, notably outside of Mushroom Castle, in the Cavern of the Metal Cap, and on Tall, Tall Mountain. They once again mainly act as downward currents, though one mission has Mario go through one to a cave on the other side.

Super Mario Sunshine

In Super Mario Sunshine, a waterfall appears as a central feature of Noki Bay, and the area's first mission involves restoring it after it is plugged by a giant cork. Its water cuts through the layer of pollution on the bay's surface and can push Mario into the old Noki city in the abyss beneath the bay.

Super Mario Galaxy

Ice Mario wall jumping up the waterfalls.

In Super Mario Galaxy, waterfalls make an important appearance in the secret mission of the Beach Bowl Galaxy, where Ice Mario must use his freezing touch to Wall Jump up them as though they were solid walls.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

A pair of waterfalls are the basis of the "Twin Falls Hideaway" mission in Cosmic Cove Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2. In this galaxy, a pair of waterfalls extending from overhanging platforms pool into the sea. Pressing the Ground-Pound Switch on a nearby causes the sea to freeze over, allowing Mario (or Luigi) to Wall Jump up between them and reach the crystalized Power Star. This mission invokes the abilities of Ice Mario in the previous game, but without the power-up returning.

Virtual Boy Wario Land

Screenshot of Wario with two Waterfall Climbers, from Virtual Boy Wario Land.

In Virtual Boy Wario Land, waterfalls can be swam in. However, they are inhabited by tadpole-like enemies that emerge occasionally.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, a few levels take place beside a waterfall and feature the characters going in front and behind it. Squirt hides in the waterfall and can only be attacked when he shows his eyes from it. Ellie can also suck up water from the falls and launch it from her trunk.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the waterfalls from Super Mario Bros. 2 appear with their logs in Mushroom Kingdom II, acting the same as in that game. Additionally, Kongo Jungle has a similar waterfall in its background, though the logs that travel down it are purely for scenery. However, on rare occasions, a Klaptrap travelling over the falls will end up in the Barrel Cannon below. Both courses appear again in later games in the series.

Paper Mario series

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, a few waterfalls appear throughout Pirate's Grotto. Mario can ride down them if he is in Boat Mode.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

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In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Warm Fuzzy Plains has a waterfall that leads into a stream with a bridge across it. Water's Edge Way takes place beside a large waterfall.

Long Fall Falls ends with Mario's raft falling over the edge of a giant waterfall. The following level, Chomp Ruins, has waterfalls visible in the background. Bomps come in and out of the waterfalls and can push Mario off a bridge.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Different waterfalls appear throughout Paper Mario: Color Splash. There is one that powers the waterwheel in Port Prisma, and when Mario repaints it, he gets washed down the canal.

Indigo Underground contains a few waterfalls. One of the Rescue Squad Toads is behind one and needs to be freed with Cutout.

At Plum Park, there is a waterfall of poison. It is purified once the Teapot is collected.

On Lighthouse Island, a waterfall has treasure behind it. Mario can stop it by pulling a vine. He must visit the site of the waterfall multiple times between the regular and parallel worlds.

The hot springs in Redpepper Crater have waterfalls in them. Going behind one takes Mario to a secret spring with Bowser's minions and a Mini Paint Star.

Paper Mario: The Origami King

In Paper Mario: The Origami King, Eddy River ends with a giant waterfall, featuring coins for Mario to collect by jumping.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese [3]
Taki
Waterfall

References

  1. ^ Sather, Pam, Howard Phillips, and Dan Owsen, editors (1990). Super Mario Bros. 3 Strategy Guide. Redmond: Tokuma Shoten and Nintendo of America. Page 37.
  2. ^ In-game name for "Wall Jumping up Waterfalls."
  3. ^ Sakai, Kazuya (ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). "Super Mario Bros. 3" in 『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). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. Page 41.