! Block: Difference between revisions

'''! Blocks''', also called '''Exclamation Mark Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet|page=21|publisher=Nintendo of America|location=Redmond|language=American English|date=1991}}</ref> or '''! Platforms''',<ref>{{cite|quote=The ! Platforms will flash on and off after you stomp a Switch, giving you time to jump through them to another Switch.|author=Williams, Drew|title=''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'' Player's Guide|isbn=1-930206-25-9|page=126}}</ref> are floating [[block]]s that first appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. Since their debut, ! Blocks have made recurring appearances in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise, appearing in various colors and serving different functions. In most games, hitting a ! Block causes a certain event to occur; in others, ! Blocks instead release items, or do nothing at all and simply serve as [[platform]]s.

In ''Super Mario World'' and [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]], there are four types of Exclamation Mark Blocks (also referred to as '''Switch Blocks'''):<ref name=Prima>{{cite|author=Stratton, Bryan|language=American English|date=February 26, 2002|title=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Prima’s Official Strategy Guide''|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|page=17|isbn=0761539131}}</ref> '''Yellow Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Mario Mania]]'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|page=58}}</ref> (or '''Mushroom Blocks'''),<ref>{{cite|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|date=September 1991|title=''Nintendo Power'' Volume 28|page=18}}</ref> '''Green Blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|page=125}}</ref> '''Red Blocks''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|page=98}}</ref> and '''Blue Blocks'''.<ref>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|page=107}}</ref> They all start out as outlines, more specifically [[Dotted-Line Block]]s. [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] can turn every Exclamation Mark Block of a certain color solid by activating its [[! Switch]] in the corresponding [[Switch Palace]]. Exclamation Mark Blocks mainly serve as platforms, although the Yellow and Green Blocks always contain a specific power-up too: a [[Super Mushroom]] and [[Cape Feather]], respectively. The Red and Blue Blocks do not contain any power-up and only serve as platforms and/or walls.

In ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', all four color variations of ! Block return, each with a distinct purpose. The red, green, and blue ones are collectively called [[Cap Block]]s, and they start the game as transparent outlines. Mario can turn all of them solid if he activates each of their corresponding [[Cap Switch]]es. '''Yellow blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64'' English instruction booklet|page=18|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1996|location=Redmond, WA|language=American English}}</ref> (or Yellow Blocks),<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=21, 69, 80, 92, 96, 108, and 127|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English}}</ref> also named '''! Boxes''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=8|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English}}</ref> are the most common variant. They contain various items, such as [[coin]]s, a [[Power Star]], or a [[1-Up Mushroom|1UP Mushroom]]. Some even contain a [[Green Shell|Koopa Shell]]. However, if Mario hits a yellow block without wearing [[Mario Cap|his cap]], a [[Bob-omb]] comes out instead.

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''{{'}}s Adventure mode, due to [[cap]] changes, the three Cap Blocks were reduced to a type of red [[? Block]]. However, yellow blocks (simply called ! Blocks)<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario 64 DS'' instruction booklet|page=29|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2004|language=American English}}</ref> retain their role. In [[Super Mario 64 DS#VS mode|VS Mode]], a large yellow block called a '''VS Item Block'''<ref>''Super Mario 64 DS'' internal object name (<tt>VS_ITEM_BLOCK</tt>)</ref> appears in the courses [[Sunshine Isles]] and [[Battle Fort]], and it provides [[Yoshi]], Luigi, and [[Wario]] with [[Wing Cap|Wings]]. In the Korean version, a yellow block appears on the roof of the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]], and it grants unlimited [[extra life|1-UP]]s.<ref>{{cite|url=blog.naver.com/k9y7h2/120124962785|title=Video showing the ! Block in the Korean version of ''Super Mario 64 DS''|publisher=Naver|accessdate=October 15, 2020}}</ref>{{better source}}

 

Standard-sized ! Blocks return in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' when wearing the Add ! Blocks badge. They will appear in predetermined locations in courses, and may serve as platforms or contain [[coin]]s or items. In this game they feature a plain look, reminiscent of their appearance in ''Super Mario World'', with a more rounded exclamation mark instead of the angular design introduced in ''Super Mario 3D Land''.<ref name=GamespotFootage>GameSpot (August 31, 2023). [https://youtu.be/3wMow-8uBLs Super Mario Bros. Wonder Preview]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 18, 2023.</ref><ref name=IGNFootage>IGN (August 31, 2023). [https://youtu.be/t4ELPcBVCBo Super Mario Bros. Wonder: The First Preview]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 18, 2023.</ref> Like [[? Block]]s, ! Blocks turn purple during [[Wonder Effect]]s.

Both small and large ! Blocks (referred to as '''switches''')<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 58, pages 80, 83, 88.</ref> appear in ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', triggering different events when hit. In [[Course No.05]], [[Course No.15]], and [[Course No.38]], a ! Block can be found in a small room and causes certain unbreakable blocks in the previous room to disappear. The giant ! Blocks appear instead of [[Goal door (Wario Land series)|goal door]]s at the end of [[Course No.12]], Course No.38, and [[Course No.39]]. In Course No.12, activating the giant ! Block causes the lid to fall on top of [[Mt. Teapot]], turning [[Course No.10]] into [[Course No.13]]; in Course No.38 and Course No.39, the ! Blocks demolish the outer portions of [[Syrup Castle]], revealing its core (later revealed to be a statue of [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]]).

A few ! Blocks also appear in all installments of the [[Mario & Luigi (series)|''Mario & Luigi'' series]] (called '''Switch Blocks''' in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]''<ref>{{cite|author=Thomason, Steve|title=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' Player's Guide|page=11|isbn=1-930206-43-7|language=American English|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2003}}</ref> and '''Event Blocks''' in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]''<ref>{{cite|author=Hoffman, Chris|title=''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' Player's Guide|date=November 18, 2005|isbn=1598120069|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=American English|page=10}}</ref>). They have various functions and can activate events. Purple-colored ! Blocks are introduced in these games, and they have varying effects. These blocks are colored orange in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]''. Three special ! Blocks in ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time'' are used to create three giant ! Blocks on [[Yoshi's Island (location)|Yoshi's Island]] and destroy giant ! Blocks of the same color in [[Thwomp Caverns]], allowing the Mario quartet to traverse farther down the volcano. The blue variety later appears in the [[Star Shrine]], where it would change color depending on whether [[Baby Mario]] or [[Baby Luigi]] hit it.

===Names in other languages===

|PorE=Bloco !<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo Portugal|date=May 15, 2019|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG5PwoP3Ch8|title=Super Mario Maker 2 Direct - 15/05/2019|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=August 7, 2021}}</ref>

|ChiT=！磚塊<ref>{{cite|url=www.smashbros.com/TC/blog/index.html?pageCount=2&category=cat11_stage|title=Official traditional Chinese website for ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''|language=Chinese (Traditional)|accessdate=April 5, 2020}}</ref>

|Kor=!블록<ref>{{cite|author=한국닌텐도 공식 채널|date=May 16, 2019|url=youtu.be/GPn-xZbmZ2Q|title=슈퍼 마리오 메이커 2 Direct 2019.5.16|language=Korean|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref>

*In some [[list of New Super Mario Bros. pre-release and unused content|pre-release version]]s of ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', a yellow block from ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' can be seen, automatically switched to a [[Cap Block|green block]] from the same game if hit.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9r99rNi-6s&t=51s Video showing an early E3 prototype of ''New Super Mario Bros.'']</ref>