? Block: Difference between revisions

|latest_appearance=''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' ([[Nintendo Switch]]) ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

A '''? Block''' (alternatively '''Question Mark Block'''),<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros.'' Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console digital instruction manual|page=10 and 13}}</ref> also called a '''Question Block''',<ref>In-game in the Minigame Match mode of ''[[Mario Party: The Top 100]]''</ref> a '''Mystery Block''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Land'' instruction booklet|page=8|date=1989|publisher=Nintendo of America|author=Nintendo|language=en-us}}</ref> a '''Prize Block''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet|page=22|publisher=Nintendo of America|author=Nintendo|language=en-us|date=1991}}</ref> a brown '''Question Mark Box''',<ref>{{cite|author=Prima Bath|title=''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|page=105|date=April 7, 1999|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|language=en-us|isbn=0-7615-2103-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Prima Bath|title=''Ultimate Nintendo 64 Pocket Power Guide, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|page=79|isbn=0-7615-2083-X|date=April 21, 1999|language=en-us|publisher=Prima Games}}</ref> or simply a '''?''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros.'' instruction manual|page=7|date=1985|publisher=Nintendo of America|author=Nintendo|language=en-us}}</ref> is a type of block found in midair, often containing [[coin]]s, [[Super Mushroom]]s, or [[Fire Flower]]s, and may also be [[Hidden Block|invisible]]. ? Blocks first appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', though beginning with ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', there are different ways to hit the ? Blocks other than simply [[jump]]ing into them from below, such as using a tail whip with a [[Super Leaf]] or [[Tanooki Suit]] or a cape spin with a [[Cape Feather]] to whack the blocks, or kicking a shell at them. As of ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' and its sequels, a [[Ground Pound]] may also be used to activate them. Hitting a ? Block will turn it into an [[Empty Block]]; if the ? Block contains multiple items, it remains as a ? Block until all of its items have been released.

The instruction booklet for ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' states that [[Bowser]], using the [[Koopa Troop|Turtle Tribe]]'s famous dark magic, had cursed the [[Mushroom Kingdom]], turning the [[Toad (species)|Mushroom People]] into a variety of objects, including [[Brick Block|brick]]s. [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]], being the only person who could reverse the spell on her people, was kidnapped by Bowser.<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet|page=2|author=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1985|language=en-us}}</ref> Later, it is mentioned that [[Mario]] can receive a Magic Mushroom, Fire Flower, or [[Super Star|Starman]] from these cursed bricks.<ref>{{cite|quote=If you come across mushrooms who have been turned into bricks or made invisible, they reward you by giving you a power boost.|title=''Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet|page=8|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|author=Nintendo|date=1985}}</ref> This would appear to be the origin of the ? Blocks since the English version also uses the term "brick" to refer to blocks in general,<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet|page=9|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|author=Nintendo|date=1985}}</ref> although the Japanese version properly uses the term "block."<ref>{{cite|title=スーパーマリオブラザーズ (''Sūpā Mario Burazāzu'') instruction booklet|page=9|date=1985|publisher=Nintendo|author=Nintendo|language=Japanese}}</ref>

? Blocks are very common blocks that appear in many levels in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', first appearing in [[World 1-1 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 1-1]]. They appear to be flashing and give coins or items that can help [[Mario]]. They are sometimes needed to complete a level or provide extra help for Mario. A select few release a [[beanstalk]] that Mario can climb to reach the [[Coin Heaven|Bonus Stage]].

These blocks reappear in the sequel ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' with the exact same appearance and function. No changes have been made to these blocks, but certain ? Blocks can contain a new anti-power-up, the [[Poison Mushroom]], which was also introduced in ''The Lost Levels''.

Although absent in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', ? Blocks, also named '''Item Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''NES Game Atlas'' Nintendo Player's Guide|date=1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=31, 35}}</ref> or '''Power-Up blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''NES Game Atlas'' Nintendo Player's Guide|date=1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=36}}</ref> return in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', though their design is slightly different: they do not flash; instead, the ? marks on the blocks scroll sideways. While they work as they did in ''Super Mario Bros.'', the item's direction depends on the side the block was hit on; hitting a block's right side causes a Super or 1-Up Mushroom to move left instead. On one occasion, ? Blocks were distinctly named depending on their contents; those with a Super Mushroom were named '''Mushroom Blocks''', those with a 1-Up Mushroom were named '''1-Up Blocks''', and those with a [[Beanstalk|Vine]] were named '''Vine Blocks'''.<ref>{{cite|title=''NES Game Atlas'' Nintendo Player's Guide|date=1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=29-30, 32, 34}}</ref>

Mystery Blocks, also named Item Blocks,<ref>{{cite|title=Nintendo ''Game Boy'' Player's Guide|page=7|date=1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|author=Nintendo|language=en-us}}</ref> appear in ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', although they are much smaller due to the gameplay resolution.

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the red, green, and blue [[! Block]]s from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' are reduced to a single type of red ? Block. They are initially transparent, and have to be activated by hitting the corresponding [[? Switch#Super Mario 64 DS|? Switch]] in a [[Tower of the Wing Cap|secret course]].

[[File:RiceBeachCourse1FaceBlock.png|thumb|Face Blocks in ''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3'']]

? Blocks, known here as '''Face Blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 88|date=September 1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=[https://imgur.com/a/5m2Mlbg 77]}}</ref> have been redesigned for ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', now having faces rather than its distinctive question mark, but still serving the same function. Its expression is initially cheerful, but when used, it changes into a grumpy one. [[Wario]] can hit one of these blocks by jumping from the bottom or [[Dash Attack|Body Slam]]ming from the side; upon doing so, a 1 Gold Coin, [[Heart (Wario Land series)|heart]], or [[Power Up Pot]] may appear. These power-ups can be one of the following: [[Garlic bottle|Garlic]], [[Viking helmet|Bull]], [[Dragon Pot|Dragon]], or [[Jet Pot|Jet]]. The player can also reveal the contents by heating it with [[Dragon Wario (Wario Land series)|Dragon Wario]]'s flames.

[[File:CoinBlockBlitz.png|thumb|left|? Blocks in the Coin Block Blitz minigame of ''Mario Party'']]

? Blocks appear in some [[minigame]]s in the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]]. In ''[[Mario Party]]'', ? Blocks appear in [[Coin Block Blitz]], each containing one to twelve Coins, and when a ? Block disappears, it means it has been depleted. In ''[[Mario Party 7]]'', ? Blocks appear in the background of [[StratosFEAR!]], and are styled after the ones from the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. In ''[[Super Mario Party]]'', nasal tissue dispensers shaped like a ? Block appear in the background of [[Sizzling Stakes]], and the object of [[Strike It Rich]] is is jump to ? Blocks in rhythm.

In the [[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]], '''Red ? Blocks''' contain [[badge]]s and yellow ones contain coins or items. ? Blocks are sometimes [[Hidden Block|invisible]] at first. They are turned visible by jumping into them (or using [[Watt]] in ''Paper Mario'' and [[Tippi]] in ''Super Paper Mario''). Once they are visible, they can also be used as stepping stones.

In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', ? Blocks (parsed as '''? blocks''' in the original GameCube version) have the same function from the previous game.

{{main-wiki|SmashWiki|Block#? Blocks}}

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', there is a room in the [[Woohoo Hooniversity]] which is designed to study different kinds of ? Blocks. The blocks found in this room are from ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario World'', and ''Paper Mario'', as well as the yellow [[! Block]] from ''Super Mario 64''. The ''Paper Mario'' block is said to appear to be made of soft materials but is quite hard,<ref>{{cite|quote=Appears to be made of soft materials but is actually quite hard. For professionals only.|title=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''|date=2003|language=en}}</ref> the ''Super Mario 64'' block is said to be analyzed for its vanishing technology,<ref>{{cite|quote=Currently analyzing the new technology that makes it vanish when struck...|title=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''|date=2003|language=en}}</ref> the ''Super Mario Bros.'' block is said to be made of secret materials with a metallic look,<ref>{{cite|quote=Made of secret materials from the Mushroom Kingdom. Metallic appearance is quite popular.|title=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''|date=2003|language=en}}</ref> and the ''Super Mario World'' block is said to be made of light, shiny materials that are somewhat shock absorbent.<ref>{{cite|quote=Made of light, shiny materials. Somewhat shock absorbent.|title=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga''|date=2003|language=en}}</ref>

 

? Blocks also appear in ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis]]''. When hit from below, a ? Block produces a single [[Fire Flower]], which can be collected by a Mini to temporarily transform it into its [[Fire Mario|fire form]]. When a Mini hits a ? Block, the sound effect of hitting a ? Block from ''Super Mario Bros.'' is played. However, the "[[Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros.)|Ground Theme]]" can be faintly heard within this sound effect, implying that the sound was not properly isolated, and was instead recorded indirectly from gameplay of ''Super Mario Bros.''

A Question Block<ref>''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'' subtitles</ref><ref>{{file link|TSMBM Monopoly Board.jpg|Monopoly ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'' Edition board}}</ref> appears on the {{file link|Mario Movie Teaser Poster.jpg|first teaser poster}} for ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]''. At the beginning of the film, after [[Bowser]] destroys the [[penguin]]s' castle, he breaks open a Question Block that contains the [[Super Star]]. Later in the film, the [[Training Course (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)|Training Course]] is constructed from a giant Question Block that emerges from water, while normal Question Blocks are scattered throughout the course itself. Question Blocks also appear in the [[Great Ring of Kong]], where Mario hits one and transforms into [[Cat Mario]], causing [[Donkey Kong]] to laugh and exclaim that he got "the cat box". Additionally, upon the film's release, exclusive popcorn tins designed to resemble the Question Block's look in the movie were available to be purchased at participating theaters.

|Jap=?<ref>{{cite|title=スーパーマリオブラザーズ (''Sūpā Mario Burazāzu'') instruction booklet|language=ja|date=1985|author=Nintendo|publisher=Nintendo|page=7}}</ref>

|ChiS=？砖块<ref>{{cite|url=www.ique.com/3ds/arej/adventure/index.html|language=zh-hans|title=超级马力欧 3D乐园:冒险的舞台|publisher=iQue|accessdate=May 13, 2024}}</ref>

|ChiS2=物品箱<ref>{{cite|url=www.ique.com/games/Mariobros/demo_9.htm|title=New 超级马力欧兄弟|publisher=iQue|language=zh-hans|accessdate=May 13, 2024}}</ref>

|ChiS3=问号砖块<ref>{{cite|url=t.bilibili.com/386948498648693818|title=腾讯NintendoSwitch|publisher=Bilibili|language=zh-hans|accessdate=May 8, 2020}}</ref> <small>(''New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe'')</small>

|ChiT=？磚塊<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.com.hk/3dland/adventure/index.html|language=zh-hant|title=超級瑪利歐 3D樂園 繁體中文版 - 香港任天堂網站|publisher=Nintendo HK|accessdate=May 13, 2024}}</ref>

|Ita3=Quadro con punto interrogativo<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario Land]]'' Italian manual|page=8}}</ref>

|Ita5=? Blocco<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' Italian manual|page=9}}</ref>

|Rom2=Bloc de întrebări 3D <small>({{file link|HappyMealMcDonaldsRomania.jpg|McDonald's Romania 2017 Happy Meal box, ''Super Mario'' promotion}})</small>

|SpaE2=Bloque de premio<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' Spanish instruction booklet|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|author=Nintendo|date=2002|language=es-es}}</ref>

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