It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information (tagged on May 20th, 2018).
- “Roses are red,
violets are blue,
never forget,
what I say to you.”
- —Message Block, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Message Blocks,[1][2] also referred to as Information Blocks[3] or Hint Blocks,[4] are blocks with faces that appear in various platformers. They are most prevalent in the Yoshi franchise. They are usually smiling white blocks that provide tips and hints to the player.
History[edit]
Super Mario World / Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World[edit]
Message Blocks first appeared in Super Mario World, where they usually describe a new level in the beginning stages of the game or explain a new game mechanic, known as Tourist Tips. Unlike later appearances, these Message Blocks have no face in Super Mario World but instead look like speakers.
Yoshi franchise[edit]
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]
Message Blocks became more common in the Yoshi series starting with Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, where they teach the player controls and give tips rather than saying things outright. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island gives Message Blocks their now-common look of smiling white faces with yellow cheeks. They reappear in the remake Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.
Yoshi's Story[edit]
The Message Blocks return once more in Yoshi's Story. Here they fill the exact same role as they did in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Their appearance has changed since then, though, as they are now much bigger, and their mouths continually move.
Yoshi's Island DS[edit]
They return in Yoshi's Island DS and are much the same as before but return to their Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island form.
Yoshi's New Island[edit]
They return in Yoshi's New Island. They mostly help Yoshi out with how to use the Mega Eggdozer and Metal Eggdozer.
Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]
They only appear five times in the game, with three in the first level and two in the third. They retain the appearance from Yoshi's Island DS, however their mouths now continually move, like in Yoshi's Story. Their cheeks are pink this time.
Yoshi's Crafted World[edit]
Message Blocks return in Yoshi's Crafted World, behaving exactly the same as in past appearances.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Message Blocks have a cameo in Super Smash Bros.. They appear in the stage Yoshi's Island where one can be seen in the background along with the Super Happy Tree. The same stage also makes a reappearance as playable for the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, along with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Princess Peach[edit]
In Super Princess Peach, unnamed blocks that act similar to Message Blocks still give hints when hit, although here, they are yellow and blue, referring to Perry.
Official profiles[edit]
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]
- Nintendo 3DS Digital Manual description: "Hit them from underneath to get helpful hints."
Gallery[edit]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language
|
Name
|
Meaning
|
| Japanese |
メッセージブロック[5][6]
Messēji Burokku
Kassar Brock[7]
(internal) |
Message Block
Perry Block (Super Princess Peach)
|
| Spanish (NOA) |
Bloque de mensaje |
Message block
|
| Italian |
Blocco messaggio |
Message block
|
| Portuguese |
Bloco de Massagem (Super Mario World manual) |
Massage[sic] Block
|
| Russian |
Блок-справка
Blok-spravka |
Reference Block
|
| Chinese |
提示座
Tíshì zuò |
Board
|
References[edit]
- ^ Super Mario World English instruction booklet, page 22.
- ^ Yoshi's Island DS instruction booklet, page 17.
- ^ Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #30, page 15.
- ^ Williams, Drew. Yoshi's Island DS Player's Guide. Page 6.
- ^ Super Mario World Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)
- ^ Super Mario: Yossy Island Japanese instruction booklet, page 16.
- ^ Super Princess Peach internal filenames (data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_ncg.bin & data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_cl.bin)
