Clear Pipe

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Clear Pipe
Artwork of a Clear Pipe from Super Mario 3D World
Artwork of a Clear Pipe
First appearance Super Mario 3D World (2013)
Latest appearance The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Effect Allows the player to travel distances inaccessible by a normal jump
“I LOVE GOOMBAS! I love them so much that I made them a clubhouse! Aren't they just SOOOO cute when they scoot through those Clear Pipes?”
Goomba Lover, Super Mario Maker 2

Clear Pipes are pipes that make their debut in Super Mario 3D World. Like Warp Pipes, they are used for traveling distances too far for a normal jump to reach. Unlike Warp Pipes, however, Clear Pipes are transparent, and a player can change direction while in one. Additionally, players automatically enter vertical Clear Pipes without having to press a button.

Clear Pipes were conceived after the director of Super Mario 3D World, Koichi Hayashida, wondered what Mario did in Warp Pipes.[1]

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]

While traveling through Clear Pipes, Mario and the other playable characters cannot use any attacks like on ground. Some enemies, such as Goombas and Koopa Troopas, can travel through Clear Pipes, and are automatically defeated when collided with while inside a Clear Pipe. However, there are certain obstacles found within Clear Pipes that damage the playable characters upon contact, as is the case with spike balls and the fireballs produced by Fire Bros or Fire Piranha Plants. While inside Clear Pipes, fireballs can be destroyed by other fireballs or nearby red POW Blocks from outside the pipes. Coins, Green Stars, and other objects can also be found either moving or stationary inside these pipes.

A cannon variety of Clear Pipes also appears. These ones are similar to Launch Stars and Sling Stars from the Super Mario Galaxy games, as they launch the player to another part of the level. Some of these pipes require the player to manually press A Button to launch themselves out of the cannons.

All of the game's worlds, with the exception of the special worlds, are connected through Clear Pipes. Once a Sprixie Princess is saved from the castle at the end of a world, she constructs a Clear Pipe leading to the next world.

In the Bowser's Fury campaign of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Clear Pipes are the main gimmick of Pipe Path Tower. Notably, this area introduces diagonal, sloped paths for Clear Pipes, something that was not done in their game of origin. In this area, Mario has to travel through different Clear Pipe paths to reach the top to collect a Cat Shine. Blue Coins and Cat Shine Shards can also be found inside Clear Pipes. Fury Bowser is unable to damage Mario if he is in a Clear Pipe.

All Lighthouses that are activated or fully restored have Clear Pipes that allow Mario to travel to the top of the Lighthouse.

Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

In Super Mario Maker 2, Clear Pipes appear as course elements for the Super Mario 3D World style. Like in the original game, Mario can shoot fireballs into them, and enemies such as Goombas and Koopa Troopas can travel through them as well. However, entering vertical ones requires using Left Stick, unlike in the original game. If both ends of a Clear Pipe are blocked while the playable character is inside, the playable character will be trapped and lose a life.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[edit]

Clear Pipes reappear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports, acting the same as in Super Mario 3D World. Their cannon variety also reappears.

Mario Strikers: Battle League[edit]

In Mario Strikers: Battle League, Clear Pipes are a type of goal post as part of stadium customization.[2]

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

“Just pop in this pipe and we're on our way. It's the only way to fly, man.”
Toad, The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Clear Pipes appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as one of the methods of transportation on the grounds around Peach's Castle. As Mario attempts to take a closer look at a Clear Pipe, he gets violently sucked in and repeatedly hits the pipe's inner walls as he slides along.[3]

Profiles[edit]

Super Mario 3D World[edit]

  • North American website bio: Travel through these to find secret areas and move quickly through a course.

Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

  • North American website bio: These Clear Pipes can be placed in any shape you like. Be careful, though! Enemies will make use of them as well.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese とうめい土管
Tōmei Dokan
Transparent Pipe

Chinese 透明水管[4]
Tòumíng shuǐguǎn
Transparent Pipe

Dutch Glazen buis[5]
glass pipe
French Tuyau transparent
Transparent pipe
German Glasrohr / Glasröhre
Glass Pipe
Italian Tubo Trasparente
Transparent Tube
Korean 투명토관
Tumyeong Togwan
Transparent Pipe

Portuguese cano transparente
transparent pipe
Russian Стеклянная труба
Steklyannaya truba
Glass pipe

Spanish tubería transparente
transparent pipe

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nintendo of America (June 11, 2013). Wii U Developer Direct - Super Mario 3D World @E3 2013. YouTube. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  2. ^ https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1531198919568510976
  3. ^ Illumination (December 9, 2022). The Super Mario Bros. Movie | “Mushroom Kingdom” | Official Movie Clip. YouTube. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Nintendo HK官方頻道 (May 17, 2019). 《Super Mario Maker 2 (超級瑪利歐創作家 2)》Direct 2019.5.16. YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Nintendo Nederland (May 15, 2019). Super Mario Maker 2 Direct - 16 mei 2019. YouTube. Retrieved May 16, 2019.