Crouch

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Mario crouching artwork for New Super Mario Bros. 2.

The crouch or duck move has been used in almost every Mario platformer. To use it, the player must simply press in 2D games, or / in 3D games. If the player releases the button, Mario returns to his standing position. It is used to duck under projectiles and slide under walls while moving. In 3D games, the player can chain it to a Somersault or Long Jump while dashing; Super Mario Sunshine is an exception, as Mario can perform a Somersault, but he cannot crouch or Long Jump. If Mario or Luigi use it at the same time as a jump in side-scrollers, they can jump while still crouching. This can be utilized to get into one-block tall holes. It can also be used within these tunnels to move slightly with each jump, but if the player releases the down button, the character performing it will automatically go towards the opposite direction they are facing. Small Mario can only crouch in Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World, the New Super Mario Bros. games, Super Mario 3D Land, and Super Mario 3D World.

In Super Mario Bros. 2, if the player stays still in crouch position for a small period of time, the character will start to flash and can jump higher (once per charge). This ability is called the Power Squat Jump. The somersault move in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World operates similarly to this.

In some games, such as Super Mario 64 and games in the Super Smash Bros. series since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, attempting to move while in a crouch allows the character to crawl (Only a number of characters in Super Smash Bros. can do this, however). In Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World, the player can roll while in the crouching state.