Mario's Picross: Difference between revisions

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{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
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{{about|the game ''Mario's Picross''|the Club Nintendo comic based on the game|[[Mario's Picross (comic)]]}}
{{about|the game Mario's Picross|the series of games|[[Mario's Picross (series)]]|the Club Nintendo comic based on the game|[[Mario's Picross (comic)]]}}
{{game infobox
{{game infobox
|title=Mario's Picross
|title=Mario's Picross
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|developer=[[Jupiter]]
|developer=[[Jupiter]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|release='''Game Boy:'''<br>{{release|Japan|March 14, 1995|USA|March 1995|Australia|July 25, 1995|Europe|July 27, 1995}} '''Virtual Console (3DS):'''<br>{{release|Europe|July 14, 2011|Australia|July 14, 2011|USA|August 4, 2011|Japan|September 21, 2011}}
|release='''Game Boy:'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|March 14, 1995|USA|March 16, 1995|Australia|July 25, 1995|Europe|July 27, 1995}} '''Virtual Console (3DS):'''<br>{{flag list|Europe|July 14, 2011|Australia|July 14, 2011|USA|August 4, 2011|Japan|September 21, 2011}}
|genre=[[Genre#Puzzle|Puzzle]]
|languages={{languages|en_us=y|jp=y}}
|modes=Single-player
|genre=[[Genre#Puzzle games|Puzzle]]
|modes=Single player
|ratings={{ratings|esrb=K-A}}
|ratings={{ratings|esrb=K-A}}
|platforms=[[Game Boy]], [[Virtual Console]] ([[Nintendo 3DS]])
|platforms=[[Game Boy]], [[Virtual Console]] ([[Nintendo 3DS]])
|media={{media|gb=1|3dsdl=1}}
|format={{format|gb=1|3dsdl=1}}
|input={{input|gb=1|3ds=1}}
|input={{input|gb=1|3ds=1}}
|serials={{flag list|Japan|DMG-APCJ-JPN|USA|DMG-APCE-USA (USA/Europe)}}
}}
}}


'''''Mario's Picross''''' is a [[Genre#Puzzle|puzzle]] game for the [[Game Boy]] developed by [[Jupiter]] and the first game in the [[Nintendo]]-published ''Picross'' series. It was released in 1995 and stars [[Mario]] who appears in the role of an archaeologist. ''Mario's Picross'' is based on paint by number puzzles known as {{wp|Nonogram|nonograms}}. Several sequels have been released since then, most of which are Japan-only games.
'''''Mario's Picross''''' is a [[Genre#Puzzle games|puzzle game]] for the [[Game Boy]] developed by [[Jupiter]] and the first game in the [[Nintendo]]-published [[nwiki:Picross series|''Picross'' series]]. It was released in 1995 and stars [[Mario]], who appears in the role of an archaeologist. ''Mario's Picross'' is based on paint-by-number puzzles known as {{wp|nonogram}}s. Several sequels have been released since then, most of which are Japan-only games.


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
[[File:Mario's Picross puzzle.png|frame|left|A 15x15 square puzzle.]]
[[File:Mario's Picross puzzle.png|frame|left|A 15x15 square puzzle.]]
The objective of each logic puzzle is to reveal a hidden picture in a grid by scraping specific squares of it. Each puzzle starts with an empty grid and several numbers are given at the side of each horizontal row and vertical column of the grid. The numbers tell the player how many squares have to be scraped in each line. The revealed pictures show food, animals and other objects, but also make some [[#Cameos|''Mario'' series references]]. For example, a "5" means that the player has to scrape five consecutive squares in the respective line. If there is more than one number, then there has to be at least one blank square between the scraped areas. For instance, "4 6 2" means that four consecutive squares have to be scraped in the line, followed by at least one blank square. After the blank space(s), the player has to scrape an area of six squares. Again, there has to be at least one blank square between this area and the last two consecutive squares that have to be scraped. If the player is sure that a square doesn't have to be scraped, e.g. when a blank square is needed or all required squares in a line have been scraped, they can mark it with an "X".
The objective of each logic puzzle is to reveal a hidden picture in a grid by scraping specific squares of it. Each puzzle starts with an empty grid and several numbers are given at the side of each horizontal row and vertical column of the grid. The numbers tell the player how many squares have to be scraped in each line.  
 
For example, a "5" means that the player has to scrape five consecutive squares in the respective line. If there is more than one number, then there has to be at least one blank square between the scraped areas. For instance, "4 6 2" means that four consecutive squares have to be scraped in the line, followed by at least one blank square. After the blank space(s), the player has to scrape an area of six squares. Again, there has to be at least one blank square between this area and the last two consecutive squares that have to be scraped. If the player is sure that a square doesn't have to be scraped, e.g. when a blank square is needed or all required squares in a line have been scraped, they can mark it with an "X".
 
The revealed pictures show food, animals and other objects, but also make some [[#Cameos|''Super Mario'' franchise references]].  
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}


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The first two modes, where the puzzles can be played in any order, follow the same rules. Before playing the game, the player can decide to get a hint, which means that the correct squares of a row and a column are already scraped when starting the puzzle. A roulette the player has to stop defines which lines are revealed, which can make a puzzle easier to solve, though it is possible to solve them all without using hints. Each puzzle has a time limit of 30 minutes. Marking squares with an "X" that should be scraped incurs no penalty, but scraping squares that should not be scraped reduces the time limit. The first mistake costs two minutes, the second one four minutes, and any others eight minutes each, meaning that a maximum of five mistakes can be made. If time runs out before the player has revealed the picture, the game is over. For each puzzle, the first and best times are saved, with an "H" to the left of the time if a hint was used to solve a puzzle.
The first two modes, where the puzzles can be played in any order, follow the same rules. Before playing the game, the player can decide to get a hint, which means that the correct squares of a row and a column are already scraped when starting the puzzle. A roulette the player has to stop defines which lines are revealed, which can make a puzzle easier to solve, though it is possible to solve them all without using hints. Each puzzle has a time limit of 30 minutes. Marking squares with an "X" that should be scraped incurs no penalty, but scraping squares that should not be scraped reduces the time limit. The first mistake costs two minutes, the second one four minutes, and any others eight minutes each, meaning that a maximum of five mistakes can be made. If time runs out before the player has revealed the picture, the game is over. For each puzzle, the first and best times are saved, with an "H" to the left of the time if a hint was used to solve a puzzle.


The last mode known as Time Trial comes with different rules. The player does not get a hint at the beginning and there is no time limit. The game does not note wrongly scraped squares, so the player does not know whether a mistake has been made. The 64 puzzles appear randomly; the player is not able to select a specific puzzle.
===Time Trial===
The last mode known as Time Trial comes with different rules. The player does not get a hint at the beginning, and the game does not note wrongly-scraped squares, so the player does not know whether a mistake has been made. The 64 puzzles appear randomly; the player is not able to select a specific puzzle. This random selection is guaranteed to show the player a puzzle they have not yet solved, until all 64 possible puzzles have been solved once.
 
There is no time limit - instead, time counts up from zero, measuring how long the player took to solve the puzzle. Upon completing a puzzle, the player has the option to enter their time into a high-score board of fastest times, with up to three letters to represent their name. This score board is shared across the 64 possible puzzles. After entering a score, the player can decide to "try again" - however this will load a random puzzle, not necessarily the one that was just completed.
 
The default entries on the score board are the following:
* 15:00 - NIN
* 20:00 - APE
* 30:00 - JUP
* 40:00 - MAR
* 50:00 - PIC


==Levels==
==Levels==
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===Easy Picross===
===Easy Picross===
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{|style="text-align:center;width:100%" class=wikitable
|- style="background:lightgray"
|-
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"| '''1''' || Letter L || Letter E || Letter T || Letter S || Letter W || Letter O || Letter R || Letter K
|'''1''' || Letter L || Letter E || Letter T || Letter S || Letter W || Letter O || Letter R || Letter K
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''2''' || Note || Diamond || Spade || [[Heart (item)|Heart]] || Clover || Question Mark || Dollar Sign || Arrow
|'''2''' || Note || Diamond || Spade || [[Heart (item)|Heart]] || Clover || Question Mark || Dollar Sign || Arrow
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''3''' || Crescent || Star || Sailboat || Car || Cactus || [[Apple]] || Chestnut || Doughnut
|'''3''' || Crescent || Star || Sailboat || Car || Cactus || [[Apple]] || Chestnut || Doughnut
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''4''' || Knife and Fork || Flag || Cup || Flask || House || Glove || Balloon || Pencil
|'''4''' || Knife and Fork || Flag || Cup || Flask || House || Glove || Balloon || Pencil
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''5''' || Pot || Umbrella || Bell || Boot || Candle || Faucet || Bulb || Anchor
|'''5''' || Pot || Umbrella || Bell || Boot || Candle || Faucet || Bulb || Anchor
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''6''' || Choplifter || Ball || [[Boo|Boo Diddly]] || Panda || Wild Duck || Chicken || Snail || [[Mario]]
|'''6''' || Choplifter || Ball || [[Boo|Boo Diddly]] || Panda || Wild Duck || Chicken || Snail || [[Mario]]
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''7''' || Lipstick || Silk Hat || Ax || Wood Stove || Locomotive || Frozen Pop || Carrot || [[Whale]]
|'''7''' || Lipstick || Silk Hat || Ax || Wood Stove || Locomotive || Frozen Pop || Carrot || [[Whale]]
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''8''' || Chair || Hourglass || Bottles || Skillet || Coffee Maker || Mail Box || Camera || Scissors
|'''8''' || Chair || Hourglass || Bottles || Skillet || Coffee Maker || Mail Box || Camera || Scissors
|}
|}


===Kinoko Course===
===Kinoko Course===
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{|style="text-align:center;width:100%" class=wikitable
|- style="background:lightgray"
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''1''' || [[Game Boy]] || [[Star]] || High Heel || Bread || [[Cake]] || Hanger || Bus || Tinkle
|'''1''' || [[Game Boy]] || [[Star]] || High Heel || Bread || [[Cake]] || Hanger || Bus || Tinkle
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''2''' || Skate || Shoe || Cap || Telephone || Can || [[Garlic]] || Hand || Hamburger
|'''2''' || Skate || Shoe || Cap || Telephone || Can || [[Garlic]] || Hand || Hamburger
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''3''' || Shovel || Necklace || UFO || [[Bullet Bill]] || Tomato || Flower || [[Big Goomba|Grand Goombas]] || Coffee Cup
|'''3''' || Shovel || Necklace || UFO || [[Bullet Bill]] || Tomato || Flower || [[Big Goomba|Grand Goombas]] || Coffee Cup
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''4''' || Mutt || Overalls || Leaf || Unicorn || Bull || Controller || Onion || Skull and Crossbones
|'''4''' || Mutt || Overalls || Leaf || Unicorn || Bull || Controller || Onion || Skull and Crossbones
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''5''' || [[Snowman]] || Chameleon || Cucumber || Buildings || Pear || Owl || Rice Ball || Soap Bubbles
|'''5''' || [[Snowman]] || Chameleon || Cucumber || Buildings || Pear || Owl || Rice Ball || Soap Bubbles
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''6''' || Baby Buggy || [[Bomb (object)|Bomb]] || Kettle || Weightlifting || Coffee Mill || Plug || Sunglasses || [[Crow]]
|'''6''' || Baby Buggy || [[Bomb (object)|Bomb]] || Kettle || Weightlifting || Coffee Mill || Plug || Sunglasses || [[Crow]]
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''7''' || Vacuum || Nessie || Camel || Oranges || Bucket || Angel || Racing Car || Purse
|'''7''' || Vacuum || Nessie || Camel || Oranges || Bucket || Angel || Racing Car || Purse
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''8''' || Rocking Horse || Ice Cream Cone || Deer || [[Strawberry]] || Bicycle || Atlantic Penguin || Ambulance || Backhoe
|'''8''' || Rocking Horse || Ice Cream Cone || Deer || [[Strawberry]] || Bicycle || Atlantic Penguin || Ambulance || Backhoe
|}
|}


===Star Course===
===Star Course===
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{|style="text-align:center;width:100%" class=wikitable
|- style="background:lightgray"
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''1''' || Bubble Pipe || Shirt || Hermit Crab || Shooting Star || Acorn || Lamp || Sunfish || Green Peas
|'''1''' || Bubble Pipe || Shirt || Hermit Crab || Shooting Star || Acorn || Lamp || Sunfish || Green Peas
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''2''' || Ladybug || Balance || Samurai || Wild Duck || [[Baby Yoshi|Mini Yoshi]] || Weathercock || Crown || Poodle
|'''2''' || Ladybug || Balance || Samurai || Wild Duck || [[Baby Yoshi|Mini Yoshi]] || Weathercock || Crown || Poodle
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''3''' || Scarecrow || [[Grape|Grapes]] || Cannon || Ship || Duckbill || Crab Beetle || Christmas Tree || Tiger
|'''3''' || Scarecrow || [[Grape|Grapes]] || Cannon || Ship || Duckbill || Crab Beetle || Christmas Tree || Tiger
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''4''' || Bowling Pins || Sea Lion || Sunflower || Ice Cream Sundae || Cowboy Hat || Ray || [[Spiny]] || [[Cherry]]
|'''4''' || Bowling Pins || Sea Lion || Sunflower || Ice Cream Sundae || Cowboy Hat || Ray || [[Spiny]] || [[Cherry]]
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''5''' || Palm Tree || Tank || Hawk || Fly || Spinning Top || [[Mushroom]] || Squirrel || Bath
|'''5''' || Palm Tree || Tank || Hawk || Fly || Spinning Top || [[Mushroom]] || Squirrel || Bath
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''6''' || Skiing || Coat || [[Crab]] || Goldfish || Reindeer || Jack-O'-Lantern || Mud || [[Pepper|Chilli Peppers]]
|'''6''' || Skiing || Coat || [[Crab]] || Goldfish || Reindeer || Jack-O'-Lantern || Mud || [[Pepper|Chilli Peppers]]
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''7''' || Radar || Mermaid || Fox || Sumo Wrestler || [[Frog]] || Cat Fish || Racket || Guitar
|'''7''' || Radar || Mermaid || Fox || Sumo Wrestler || [[Frog]] || Cat Fish || Racket || Guitar
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''8''' || Spider || Pelican || Dragonfly || Wild Boar || Beetle || Seal || Kite || Armadillo
|'''8''' || Spider || Pelican || Dragonfly || Wild Boar || Beetle || Seal || Kite || Armadillo
|}
|}


===Time Trial===
===Time Trial===
{|style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{|style="text-align:center;width:100%" class=wikitable
|- style="background:lightgray"
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
! width=40px | Level || A || B || C || D || E || F || G || H
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''1''' || Witch || Bow || Man in the Moon || Alarm Clock || [[Watermelon]] || Straw Hat || Rocket || Rabbit
|'''1''' || Witch || Bow || Man in the Moon || Alarm Clock || [[Watermelon]] || Straw Hat || Rocket || Rabbit
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''2''' || Bird || [[Banana]] || Corn || Ostrich || Teruteru Bouzu || [[Pineapple]] || Feather || Mouse
|'''2''' || Bird || [[Banana]] || Corn || Ostrich || Teruteru Bouzu || [[Pineapple]] || Feather || Mouse
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''3''' || [[Blooper]] || Fish || Monkey || Dirk || [[Buzzy Beetle|Buzzy-Beetle]] || [[Bee]] || Cat || [[Koopa Troopa|Koopa-Troopas]]
|'''3''' || [[Blooper]] || Fish || Monkey || Dirk || [[Buzzy Beetle|Buzzy-Beetle]] || [[Bee]] || Cat || [[Koopa Troopa|Koopa-Troopas]]
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''4''' || Candy || Crane || Ram || Giraffe || Scorpion || Kangaroo || Pig || White Lion
|'''4''' || Candy || Crane || Ram || Giraffe || Scorpion || Kangaroo || Pig || White Lion
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''5''' || Sake Bottle || Flower || Friendly Dog || Shrimp || Hippopotamus || Tulip || Clay Image || Wooden Horse
|'''5''' || Sake Bottle || Flower || Friendly Dog || Shrimp || Hippopotamus || Tulip || Clay Image || Wooden Horse
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''6''' || Socks || Butterfly || Tortoise || Football || Scooter || Koala || Lock || Chick
|'''6''' || Socks || Butterfly || Tortoise || Football || Scooter || Koala || Lock || Chick
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''7''' || [[Cheep Cheep|Cheep-Cheep]]s || Snake || White Eye || Elephant || [[Horse]] || Tea Cup || Pegasus || Rhinoceros
|'''7''' || [[Cheep Cheep|Cheep-Cheep]]s || Snake || White Eye || Elephant || [[Horse]] || Tea Cup || Pegasus || Rhinoceros
|-
|-
|style="background:lightgray"|'''8''' || Angler || Ring || Woodpecker || Grim Reaper || Hedgehog || Dump Truck || Bi-Plane || Sheriff
|'''8''' || Angler || Ring || Woodpecker || Grim Reaper || Hedgehog || Dump Truck || Bi-Plane || Sheriff
|}
|}


==Cameos==
==Cameos==
Some of the pictures show characters, enemies, and items from the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' franchise]]. A picture of the Game Boy appears, too. Caption of these puzzles appear in full uppercase, unlike other puzzles which their caption appear in full lowercase.
Some of the pictures show characters, enemies, and items from the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]]. A picture of the Game Boy appears, too. Caption of these puzzles appear in full uppercase, unlike other puzzles which their caption appear in full lowercase.


'''Easy Picross'''
'''Easy Picross'''
*6C - [[Boo Diddly]]
*6C - [[Boo|Boo Diddly]]
*6H - [[Mario]]
*6H - [[Mario]]
'''Kinoko Course'''
'''Kinoko Course'''
*1A - [[Game Boy]]
*1A - [[Game Boy]]
*1B - [[Star]]
*1B - [[Super Star|Star]]
*3D - [[Bullet Bill]]
*3D - [[Bullet Bill]]
*3G - [[Big Goomba|Grand Goombas]]
*3G - [[Big Goomba|Grand Goombas]]
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*3F - Tobacco
*3F - Tobacco
*4D - Kasa-obake
*4D - Kasa-obake
==Staff==
{{main|List of Mario's Picross staff}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
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==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Due to the game's success in the region, Japan received a number of sequels. The first one was ''[[Mario's Super Picross]]'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] in 1995, followed by the Game Boy title ''[[Picross 2]]'' in 1996. In 1999 and 2000, eight ''[[Picross NP]]'' games for the Super Famicom were released and could be downloaded by the players onto [[Nintendo Power (cartridge)|Nintendo Power cartridges]]. Four of them feature puzzles related to the ''Mario'' series. Of these, ''Mario's Super Picross'' is the only one available outside of Japan, appearing on the European and Australian [[Virtual Console]]s in September 2007 for the [[Wii]] and April 2013 for the [[Wii U]]. Japan received a Virtual Console release in December 2006 for the Wii and April 2013 for the Wii U. In 2012, a Japan-only [[Club Nintendo (rewards program)|Club Nintendo]] exclusive title called ''[[Club Nintendo Picross]]'' was released; that title received a sequel called ''[[Club Nintendo Picross Plus]]'' in 2014.
Due to the game's success in the region, Japan received a number of sequels. The first one was ''[[Mario's Super Picross]]'' for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Famicom]] in 1995, followed by the Game Boy title ''[[Picross 2]]'' in 1996. In 1999 and 2000, eight ''[[Picross NP]]'' games for the Super Famicom were released and could be downloaded by the players onto [[Nintendo Power (cartridge)|Nintendo Power cartridges]]. Four of them feature puzzles related to the ''Super Mario'' franchise. Of these, ''Mario's Super Picross'' is the only one available outside of Japan, appearing on the European and Australian [[Virtual Console]]s in September 2007 for the [[Wii]] and April 2013 for the [[Wii U]]. Japan received a Virtual Console release in December 2006 for the Wii and April 2013 for the Wii U. In 2012, a Japan-only [[Club Nintendo (rewards program)|Club Nintendo]] exclusive title called ''[[Club Nintendo Picross]]'' was released; that title received a sequel called ''[[Club Nintendo Picross+]]'' in 2014.


==References in later games==
==References in later games==
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==Gallery==
==Gallery==
===Logos===
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery widths=230>
MariosPicrossArt3.png|Japanese logo
MariosPicrossArt4.png|International logo
</gallery>
 
===Box art===
<gallery>
Mario's Picross JP cover.jpg|Japanese box art (front)
USA MP Front.jpg|North American box art (front)
USA MP Back.jpg|North American box art (back)
Marios Picross.jpg|European box art (front)
</gallery>
 
===Artwork===
<gallery>
Mario MPicross.png|Mario
Mario's Picross - Mario artwork.png|Mario
Mario's Picross Mario.jpg|Mario
MariosPicrossArt2.png|Mario
MPicross.png|Mario
MariosPicrossMagazine1.png|Mario (''[[Wikipedia:Nintendo Magazine System (Australia)|Nintendo Magazine System]]'')
Mario's Picross - cover art.png|Cover artwork
Mario's Picross - cover art alt.png|Cover artwork (no logo)
</gallery>
 
===Screenshots===
====Title screens====
<gallery>
<gallery>
MP Title Screen.png|Title screen (Game Boy)
Mario MPicross.png|[[Mario]]
MP Title Screen Jap.png|Japanese title screen (Game Boy)
Mario's Picross US EU SGB Title Screen.png|Title screen (Super Game Boy)
Mario's Picross US EU SGB Title Screen.png|Title screen (Super Game Boy)
Mario's Picross SGB Title screen JP.png|Japanese title screen (Super Game Boy)
Mario's Picross Game select.png|Game select menu
</gallery>
Mario's Picross Grand Goombas.png|[[Big Goomba|Grand Goombas]] cameo
 
====Super Game Boy in-game borders====
By default, the Green border will be used.
 
The other colors can be selected if the player holds a specific direction on the {{button|snes|pad}} d-pad while progressing past the title screen:
* Up: Black
* Down: White
* Left: Yellow
* Right: Red
 
If the player enters all four directions without repeats (the order does not matter), a tone will play. Proceeding into the game at this point will load the Clear border.
* However, pressing any direction after the tone but before proceeding will undo this - border selection will revert to the above single-direction options, or the default Green.
 
<gallery>
MarioMPr.png|[[Super Game Boy]] screenshot|Green
Mario's Picross SGB Green border JP.png|Green (Japanese version)
Mario's Picross SGB Black border.png|Black
Mario's Picross SGB Black border JP.png|Black (Japanese version)
Mario's Picross SGB White border.png|White
Mario's Picross SGB White border JP.png|White (Japanese version)
Mario's Picross SGB Yellow border.png|Yellow
Mario's Picross SGB Yellow border JP.png|Yellow (Japanese version)
Mario's Picross SGB Red border.png|Red
Mario's Picross SGB Red border JP.png|Red (Japanese version)
Mario's Picross SGB Clear border.png|Clear
Mario's Picross SGB Clear border JP.png|Clear (Japanese version)
</gallery>
 
====Other====
<gallery>
Mario's Picross Grand Goombas.png|Level 3G
Mario's Picross Game Over.png|[[Game Over]]
</gallery>
 
===Prerelease===
<gallery>
Mario's Picross prerelease 01.png|Prerelease image
Mario's Picross prerelease 02.png|Second prerelease image
</gallery>
 
===Other===
<gallery>
MarioPicrossAd.jpg|Magazine advert
Mario's Picross German Flyer.jpg|German advertisement
Mario's Picross Prototype box.png|Prototype cover of the game box
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The letters in the solutions of the first eight puzzles in 'Easy Picross' spell "LETS WORK."
*The letters in the solutions of the first eight puzzles in 'Easy Picross' spell "LETS WORK."
*Star course 6-G is titled "Mud" in the English localization, despite portraying what appears to be a snail with an elongated shell. In the Japanese version, this puzzle is named タニシ, which is a family of freshwater snails called {{wp|Viviparidae}}. It is possible that the intended localization was "Mud Snail", as the puzzle does bear a resemblance to the {{wp|New Zealand mud snail}}.


==External links==
==External links==
{{NIWA|StrategyWiki=1}}
{{NIWA|StrategyWiki=1}}
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/apcj/index.html Official Site from Nintendo] (Japanese)
{{TCRF}}
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000006924 Japanese Virtual Console Site]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/dmg/apcj/index.html Official website] (Japanese)
*[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/ciYelxIww9-dB0zjLPeFsjcvroA5KbVf North American Site]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000006924 Japanese Virtual Console site]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Game-Boy/Mario-s-Picross-275704.html Nintendo UK Site]
*[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/ciYelxIww9-dB0zjLPeFsjcvroA5KbVf Official American English website]
*[http://www.jupiter.co.jp/e/product/game/gb/picross.html Official Site from Jupiter] (English/Japanese)
*[https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Game-Boy/Mario-s-Picross-275704.html Official British English web page]
{{br}}
*[https://www.jupiter.co.jp/e/product/game/gb/picross.php Official Jupiter website] (English/Japanese)
{{Mario games}}
 
{{Super Mario games}}
{{GB}}
{{GB}}
{{Virtual Console}}
{{Virtual Console}}

Revision as of 19:14, September 27, 2024

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This article is about the game Mario's Picross. For the series of games, see Mario's Picross (series). For the Club Nintendo comic based on the game, see Mario's Picross (comic).
Mario's Picross
North American box art for Mario's Picross
North American box art
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer Jupiter
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Game Boy, Virtual Console (Nintendo 3DS)
Release date Game Boy:
Japan March 14, 1995
USA March 16, 1995
Australia July 25, 1995
Europe July 27, 1995
Virtual Console (3DS):
Europe July 14, 2011
Australia July 14, 2011
USA August 4, 2011
Japan September 21, 2011
Language(s) English (United States)
Japanese
Genre Puzzle
Rating(s)
ESRB:K-A - Kids to Adults
Mode(s) Single player
Format
Game Boy:
Game Pak
Nintendo 3DS:
Digital download
Input
Game Boy:
Nintendo 3DS:
Serial code(s) Japan DMG-APCJ-JPN
USA DMG-APCE-USA (USA/Europe)

Mario's Picross is a puzzle game for the Game Boy developed by Jupiter and the first game in the Nintendo-published Picross series. It was released in 1995 and stars Mario, who appears in the role of an archaeologist. Mario's Picross is based on paint-by-number puzzles known as nonograms. Several sequels have been released since then, most of which are Japan-only games.

Gameplay

A 15x15 square puzzle.
A 15x15 square puzzle.

The objective of each logic puzzle is to reveal a hidden picture in a grid by scraping specific squares of it. Each puzzle starts with an empty grid and several numbers are given at the side of each horizontal row and vertical column of the grid. The numbers tell the player how many squares have to be scraped in each line.

For example, a "5" means that the player has to scrape five consecutive squares in the respective line. If there is more than one number, then there has to be at least one blank square between the scraped areas. For instance, "4 6 2" means that four consecutive squares have to be scraped in the line, followed by at least one blank square. After the blank space(s), the player has to scrape an area of six squares. Again, there has to be at least one blank square between this area and the last two consecutive squares that have to be scraped. If the player is sure that a square doesn't have to be scraped, e.g. when a blank square is needed or all required squares in a line have been scraped, they can mark it with an "X".

The revealed pictures show food, animals and other objects, but also make some Super Mario franchise references.

Modes

The game features 256 puzzles in total. All puzzles are a size of 15x15 squares, except for the 5x5 and 10x10 square puzzles of Easy Picross that are aimed at beginners. The puzzles are split into different modes (64 puzzles each):

  • Easy Picross (for beginners)
  • Picross (split into two courses)
    • Kinoko Course
    • Star Course (unlocked after completing Kinoko Course)
  • Time Trial (unlocked after completing Star Course)

The first two modes, where the puzzles can be played in any order, follow the same rules. Before playing the game, the player can decide to get a hint, which means that the correct squares of a row and a column are already scraped when starting the puzzle. A roulette the player has to stop defines which lines are revealed, which can make a puzzle easier to solve, though it is possible to solve them all without using hints. Each puzzle has a time limit of 30 minutes. Marking squares with an "X" that should be scraped incurs no penalty, but scraping squares that should not be scraped reduces the time limit. The first mistake costs two minutes, the second one four minutes, and any others eight minutes each, meaning that a maximum of five mistakes can be made. If time runs out before the player has revealed the picture, the game is over. For each puzzle, the first and best times are saved, with an "H" to the left of the time if a hint was used to solve a puzzle.

Time Trial

The last mode known as Time Trial comes with different rules. The player does not get a hint at the beginning, and the game does not note wrongly-scraped squares, so the player does not know whether a mistake has been made. The 64 puzzles appear randomly; the player is not able to select a specific puzzle. This random selection is guaranteed to show the player a puzzle they have not yet solved, until all 64 possible puzzles have been solved once.

There is no time limit - instead, time counts up from zero, measuring how long the player took to solve the puzzle. Upon completing a puzzle, the player has the option to enter their time into a high-score board of fastest times, with up to three letters to represent their name. This score board is shared across the 64 possible puzzles. After entering a score, the player can decide to "try again" - however this will load a random puzzle, not necessarily the one that was just completed.

The default entries on the score board are the following:

  • 15:00 - NIN
  • 20:00 - APE
  • 30:00 - JUP
  • 40:00 - MAR
  • 50:00 - PIC

Levels

The puzzles in the game's first three courses are stored in order in the game's memory; this pattern has been used to determine the "order" of the Time Trial puzzles.

Easy Picross

Level A B C D E F G H
1 Letter L Letter E Letter T Letter S Letter W Letter O Letter R Letter K
2 Note Diamond Spade Heart Clover Question Mark Dollar Sign Arrow
3 Crescent Star Sailboat Car Cactus Apple Chestnut Doughnut
4 Knife and Fork Flag Cup Flask House Glove Balloon Pencil
5 Pot Umbrella Bell Boot Candle Faucet Bulb Anchor
6 Choplifter Ball Boo Diddly Panda Wild Duck Chicken Snail Mario
7 Lipstick Silk Hat Ax Wood Stove Locomotive Frozen Pop Carrot Whale
8 Chair Hourglass Bottles Skillet Coffee Maker Mail Box Camera Scissors

Kinoko Course

Level A B C D E F G H
1 Game Boy Star High Heel Bread Cake Hanger Bus Tinkle
2 Skate Shoe Cap Telephone Can Garlic Hand Hamburger
3 Shovel Necklace UFO Bullet Bill Tomato Flower Grand Goombas Coffee Cup
4 Mutt Overalls Leaf Unicorn Bull Controller Onion Skull and Crossbones
5 Snowman Chameleon Cucumber Buildings Pear Owl Rice Ball Soap Bubbles
6 Baby Buggy Bomb Kettle Weightlifting Coffee Mill Plug Sunglasses Crow
7 Vacuum Nessie Camel Oranges Bucket Angel Racing Car Purse
8 Rocking Horse Ice Cream Cone Deer Strawberry Bicycle Atlantic Penguin Ambulance Backhoe

Star Course

Level A B C D E F G H
1 Bubble Pipe Shirt Hermit Crab Shooting Star Acorn Lamp Sunfish Green Peas
2 Ladybug Balance Samurai Wild Duck Mini Yoshi Weathercock Crown Poodle
3 Scarecrow Grapes Cannon Ship Duckbill Crab Beetle Christmas Tree Tiger
4 Bowling Pins Sea Lion Sunflower Ice Cream Sundae Cowboy Hat Ray Spiny Cherry
5 Palm Tree Tank Hawk Fly Spinning Top Mushroom Squirrel Bath
6 Skiing Coat Crab Goldfish Reindeer Jack-O'-Lantern Mud Chilli Peppers
7 Radar Mermaid Fox Sumo Wrestler Frog Cat Fish Racket Guitar
8 Spider Pelican Dragonfly Wild Boar Beetle Seal Kite Armadillo

Time Trial

Level A B C D E F G H
1 Witch Bow Man in the Moon Alarm Clock Watermelon Straw Hat Rocket Rabbit
2 Bird Banana Corn Ostrich Teruteru Bouzu Pineapple Feather Mouse
3 Blooper Fish Monkey Dirk Buzzy-Beetle Bee Cat Koopa-Troopas
4 Candy Crane Ram Giraffe Scorpion Kangaroo Pig White Lion
5 Sake Bottle Flower Friendly Dog Shrimp Hippopotamus Tulip Clay Image Wooden Horse
6 Socks Butterfly Tortoise Football Scooter Koala Lock Chick
7 Cheep-Cheeps Snake White Eye Elephant Horse Tea Cup Pegasus Rhinoceros
8 Angler Ring Woodpecker Grim Reaper Hedgehog Dump Truck Bi-Plane Sheriff

Cameos

Some of the pictures show characters, enemies, and items from the Super Mario franchise. A picture of the Game Boy appears, too. Caption of these puzzles appear in full uppercase, unlike other puzzles which their caption appear in full lowercase.

Easy Picross

Kinoko Course

Star Course

Time Trial

Differences in the Japanese version

In the overseas release of the game, a handful of puzzles were changed to remove references to alcohol and other elements. The puzzles included in the Japanese release are listed below.

Easy Picross

  • 6C - Cocktail
  • 7B - Wine Glass

Kinoko Course

  • 2A - Shogi Piece
  • 2F - Shrine Bell
  • 2H - Rice Pot
  • 4D - Tsukimi Dango
  • 6H - Beer Mug
  • 7F - Folding Fan

Star Course

  • 6H - Niō's Face

Time Trial

  • 1H - Pellet Drum
  • 3D - Shuriken
  • 3F - Tobacco
  • 4D - Kasa-obake

Staff

Main article: List of Mario's Picross staff

Reception

Mario's Picross was unable to sell notably well in either North America or Europe when it was released, leading both territories to no longer receive any more Picross games by Nintendo until Picross DS in 2007[citation needed]. The game, despite citations that the Game Boy's tiny screen makes it difficult to see the puzzles clearly, is considered a cult hit in the Western world[citation needed].

Legacy

Due to the game's success in the region, Japan received a number of sequels. The first one was Mario's Super Picross for the Super Famicom in 1995, followed by the Game Boy title Picross 2 in 1996. In 1999 and 2000, eight Picross NP games for the Super Famicom were released and could be downloaded by the players onto Nintendo Power cartridges. Four of them feature puzzles related to the Super Mario franchise. Of these, Mario's Super Picross is the only one available outside of Japan, appearing on the European and Australian Virtual Consoles in September 2007 for the Wii and April 2013 for the Wii U. Japan received a Virtual Console release in December 2006 for the Wii and April 2013 for the Wii U. In 2012, a Japan-only Club Nintendo exclusive title called Club Nintendo Picross was released; that title received a sequel called Club Nintendo Picross+ in 2014.

References in later games

  • Mario Party 2: Mario's outfit for the Mystery Land board resembles the outfit Mario is depicted as wearing in Mario's Picross.
  • Super Mario Odyssey: A costume Mario can wear in the game is nearly identical to the explorer outfit Mario is depicted wearing in Mario's Picross, and later sequels.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario's Picross.

Trivia

  • The letters in the solutions of the first eight puzzles in 'Easy Picross' spell "LETS WORK."
  • Star course 6-G is titled "Mud" in the English localization, despite portraying what appears to be a snail with an elongated shell. In the Japanese version, this puzzle is named タニシ, which is a family of freshwater snails called Viviparidae. It is possible that the intended localization was "Mud Snail", as the puzzle does bear a resemblance to the New Zealand mud snail.

External links