Ladder

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This article is about the platforming objects found in many games. For the item in Mario's Time Machine, see Ladder (item).
Wario climbing a Ladder
Wario climbing a ladder in Wario Land 4

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[edit]

Donkey Kong[edit]

This is a picture of a ladder.
Mario next to a ladder in 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[edit]

Ladder tile from 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[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

Ladders first appeared in the Super Mario series in Super Mario Bros. 2, where they function similar to beanstalks.

Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

Mario and Luigi in Battle Mode, with coins hidden beneath kickable blue ? Blocks
Mario on a ladder in the bonus round

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[edit]

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 A Button. 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[edit]

Sprite of a ladder from New Super Mario Bros. Wii
A rope ladder sprite

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, ladders appear in every world and plus world.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[edit]

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![edit]

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[edit]

In Super Paper Mario, ladders are found in the Floro Caverns. Bowser is unable to climb up the ladder, most likely due to his size. If he tries, he struggles and mutters, "Can't climb this!"

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

SmashWiki article: Ladder (stage element)

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ハシゴ[2] / はしご[3]
Hashigo
普通ふつうのはしご[4]
Futsū no hashigo
Ladder

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[edit]

  1. ^ Nintendo Power Volume 61, pages 81 and 82.
  2. ^ Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet, page 5.
  3. ^ Game Boy Donkey Kong Japanese instruction booklet, pages 12 and 18.
  4. ^ Wrecking Crew '98 physical release manual, page 14.
  5. ^ Game Boy Donkey Kong Dutch Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console digital manual, tab 13: "Voorwerpen".