- This article is about the platforming objects found in many games. For the item in Mario's Time Machine, see Ladder (item).
Ladders in the Super Mario franchise commonly appear as inanimate objects that the player can climb to progress in a level, an area, or a stage.
History
Donkey Kong
Ladders are found throughout Donkey Kong and serve as a connection between two platforms. In 25 m, Mario has to use them in order to get to the top and to avoid barrels and Fireballs, however, barrels can occasionally roll down the ladders and the Fireballs can climb up them as well. Some of the ladders are broken; Mario cannot climb these. He also cannot climb any ladders if he is carrying a hammer. Some of the ladders in the 50 m stage extend and retract. Mario can only climb those up completely if they are fully open.
In the Game Boy version, Ladders appear in several varieties. The static and extending ladders from original versions of Donkey Kong return in several of the later levels. Mario can only climb a ladder if he stands on solid ground, which is an important element in some levels, where he first has to place a road or jump on an icicle to have a platform to stand on from which he can climb the ladder. Another important element in the game's puzzles are ladders than can be placed by Mario himself, also known as Arrow Blocks[1]. If Mario jumps against one such vertical-facing block in the game, the game freezes and the player has to place the ladder in any free point of the level. The ladder will then extend itself upwards and downwards as far as it can. The ladder is timed, and disappears after the time has passed. This timer indicated with a music that starts playing as soon as the ladder is placed and gets faster gradually. The timer can be reset if Mario places another ladder within the first ladder's time limit, or any other placeable objects such as roads, Jump Stands, and blocks. After disappearing, the ladder can then be placed with the same block again.
VS. Wrecking Crew / Wrecking Crew
Ladders reappear in VS. Wrecking Crew and Wrecking Crew, where they serve the same purpose they did in Donkey Kong. The enemies, Eggplant Men, Gotchawrenches, and Foreman Spike, can climb ladders. Ladder walls also appears in this game, and must be destroyed.
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 2
Ladders first appear in the Super Mario series in Super Mario Bros. 2, where they function similar to beanstalks and chains.
Super Mario Bros. 3
In Super Mario Bros. 3, ladders appear in a bonus round in the 2-Player battle mode. The brothers have to use the ladders to find coins hidden in blue ? Blocks. The one who finds the most wins.
Super Mario Land
Ladders also appear in Super Mario Land's bonus game. One ladder, along with Mario, will move between the different platforms until the player presses 
. Mario will then move along the platform, but if he comes across a ladder, Mario will move up or down it onto another platform, collecting a different reward.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the only level to feature ladders is World 2-4, where they are made of ropes. Here, while strong gusts blow, the ladders are pushed up, making them unusable.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Ladders also appear in New Super Mario Bros. U, in the level The Mighty Cannonship, and in New Super Luigi U, in the levels Slippery Rope Ladders and Broozers and Barrels, functioning identically as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Ladders return in both capacities in the Nintendo Switch port, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.
Luigi's Mansion
Several ladders also appear in Luigi's Mansion and its Nintendo 3DS version. One of them appears in Professor E. Gadd's laboratory, though it serves no function, and a second leads between the Courtyard and the Bottom of the Well. A third is found on the bunk bed in The Twins' Room, and two are found on the Roof.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong and its remake, ladders are common objects found in various levels in the game. These ladders are functionally similar to the ones seen in the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong. Some levels feature colored ladders that require pressing a Color Switch of their color to be used, otherwise they appear with a dotted outline and cannot be climbed on. Mini-Marios cannot climb ladders under any circumstance, and may require using other objects in the level to catch up with the player should they use a ladder.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, ladders appear on the Roof and in DK's Hideout. There are two retractable ladders on the Roof that are similar to the ones found in 50m of the original Donkey Kong arcade game.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, Blue Ladders are present. They cause Mini Marios to immediately climb or descend it.
Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, ladders take on a zigzagging design and colored either black, yellow, or white. They are found in various areas, typically appearing out of specific blocks when hit. Ladders with more standard designs are found in the Floro Caverns. Bowser is unable to climb up ladders, most likely due to his size. If he tries, he struggles and mutters, "Can't climb this!"
Super Smash Bros. series
Template:Main-external Ladders appear as an object in a few Super Mario-themed stages in the Super Smash Bros. series. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ladders appear in two Super Mario stages: 75 m and Rumble Falls. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, ladders reappear on 75 m and a Wrecking Crew stage of the same name, though as ladder walls, which can be destroyed if they are attacked. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Ladders appear in the same two stages representing the Super Mario franchise as in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Mario Party series
Ladders are featured in a few minigames of the Mario Party series. In Mario Party: Island Tour, ladders appear in the minigame Mad Ladders, and in Mario Party 10, ladders appear in Mega Goomba's Ladder Leap.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Ladders also appears in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and its Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS ports which Captain Toad and Toadette can climb. During the levels that reappear from Super Mario 3D World, ladders were added due to Captain Toad and Toadette being unable to jump.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ハシゴ[2] / はしご[3] Hashigo |
Ladder | |
Futsū no hashigo |
Usual ladder | ||
| Dutch | Ladder[5] | Ladder | |
| French | Échelle[?] | Ladder | |
| Italian | Scala (a pioli) Muro scalabile (Wrecking Crew; NES Remix)[?] |
Ladder Climbable wall |
|
| Spanish | Escalera[?] | Ladder |
References
- ^ Nintendo Power Volume 61, pages 81 and 82.
- ^ Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet, page 5.
- ^ Game Boy Donkey Kong Japanese instruction booklet, pages 12 and 18.
- ^ Wrecking Crew '98 physical release manual, page 14.
- ^ Game Boy Donkey Kong Dutch Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console digital manual, tab 13: "Voorwerpen".
| Donkey Kong | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Mario • Pauline |
| Levels | 25m • 50m • 75m • 100m |
| Items and objects | Bolt • Conveyor Belt • Hammer • Ladder • Lift • Parasol, Hat & Bag |
| Enemies and obstacles | Barrel • Cement tub • Fire • Fireball • Jack • Oil drum |
| Other | 25m Theme • Gallery • Media • Opening • Staff |
| VS. Wrecking Crew / Wrecking Crew | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Mario • Luigi |
| Items and objects | Coin • Door • Druma • Dynamite • Floor • Golden Hammera • Ladder (Ladder wall) • Lettera • Pillara • Wall |
| Enemies | Eggplant Mana • Fireball • Foreman Spikea • Gotchawrench |
| Phases | VS. Wrecking Crew • Wrecking Crewa |
| Nintendo Land | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | Ganon • Mii • Octopus • Ridley | ||
| Mii character costumes | Captain Falcon • Captain Olimar • Gold Ghost • Link • Luigi • Mario • Pikmin • Samus • Toad (Blue • Green • Purple • Yellow) • Waluigi • Wario | ||
| Objects | ? Block • Automated elevator • Barrel • Bee • Brick Block • Conveyor belt • Gear Crank • Girder • Goal Flag • Goal Gate • Hole • Ladder • Lever • Metallic slide • Moving Rail • Moving Floor • Moving Platform • Mud • Number Flag • Passage • Prize • Roller • Slow Motion Bubble • Spike • Suit of armor • Warp gate • Yoshi Cart | ||
| Items | Battery • Big battery • Blue check mark • Chili plate • Coin • Flashlight • Fruit (Apple • Bananas • Grapes • Melon • Orange • Peach • Pear • Strawberry • Watermelon) • Heart • Present • Super Light • Star • Yoshi egg | ||
| Super Mario attractions | Donkey Kong's Crash Course • Luigi's Ghost Mansion • Mario Chase • Yoshi's Fruit Cart | ||
| Moves | Dash • Jump • Magic • Sidestep • Slide • Tackle | ||
| Miscellaneous | Fuel • Gallery • Media | ||