Editing Message Block

{{species infobox
|image=[[File:YCW Message Block.png|200px]]<br>Artwork from ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[The Super Mario Galaxy Movie]]'' (2026)
|relatives=[[Sign]]<br>[[Talking Flower]]
}}
{{quote|Roses are red, violets are blue, never forget, what I say to you. Timing is vital, aim must be true, measure the angle and win, do!|Message Block|Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island}}

'''Message Blocks''' are [[block]]s that provide tips and hints to the player when struck. Traditionally, the text and images of the advice is displayed as a pop-up, which further pauses the game until it is dismissed. Message Blocks appear in various platforming titles of the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise, but are most common in the ''[[Yoshi (series)|Yoshi]]'' series. They first appear in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' but their design in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'', a white block with eyes, prominent cheeks, and a smile, is the most recurring.

==History==
===''Super Mario World'' / ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''===
{{See also|Tourist Tips}}
[[File:SMW Messblock.png|frame]]
[[File:SMW Yoshi's House Message Block.png|thumb|left|A Message Block in [[Yoshi's House]] in ''[[Super Mario World]]'']]
Message Blocks<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario World'' instruction booklet|page=22|date=1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> appear in ''Super Mario World'' and return in [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]]. They are blue blocks with an orange speaker. Message Blocks usually appear at the start of certain levels, and their advice describes them. Message Blocks also explain certain game mechanics. Some of the text that appears is labeled as a Point of Advice. [[Yoshi's House (level)|Yoshi's House]] has a Message Block, which displays different text depending on if the player is riding [[Yoshi]] or not. If they are not riding Yoshi, a letter from [[Yoshi]] about how he is not at home is displayed. If they are riding Yoshi,  advice explaining that the yellow [[Dotted-Line Block|Dotted Line Blocks]] can be turned into [[! Block|Yellow Block]] is displayed. It further directs the player to the [[Yellow Switch Palace]] where this can be done. 

Message Blocks reappear in the reissue ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'', with additional blocks being added to [[Yoshi's Island 1]], [[Donut Ghost House]], [[Donut Secret House]], and [[Butter Bridge 1]]. Some existing hints are moved to other blocks. The game also renames Points of Advice, calling them Tourist Tips instead.

===''Mario's Time Machine''===
The [[Mario's Time Machine (Nintendo Entertainment System)|NES version of ''Mario's Time Machine'']] has similar hint-providing blocks known as '''information boxes'''<ref name=MTMNES>{{cite|title=''Mario's Time Machine'' NES instruction booklet|date=1994|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|page=9}}</ref> (or '''info boxes'''<ref name=MTMNES/>).

===''Yoshi'' series===
====''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' / ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''====
{{see also|List of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Message Block hints}}
[[File:YI Hintblock.gif|frame]]
In ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' and [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|its Game Boy Advance version]], Message Blocks (also named '''Messages'''<ref>{{cite|author=Upchurch, David, et al.|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (UK) issue 40|publisher=EMAP|language=en-gb|page=21|date=January 1996}}</ref> and '''Information Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (AU) Issue #30|date=September 1995|language=en-au|publisher=Catalyst Publishing|page=15}}</ref>) are redesigned to be white with a smiling face, a continually moving mouth (only pausing when hit from below and while providing a message), and yellow cheeks. The block's design is the basis for their further appearances in the franchise. Message Blocks teach the player controls and give tips, but generally do not provide information outright. Their text boxes are sometimes accompanied by chalk outlines of Yoshi and other entities in the game depicting the move the text is about.

====''Yoshi's Story''====
[[File:YS Hingblock.gif|frame|left]]
In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', Message Blocks (or '''Message Boxes'''<ref>{{cite|author=Prima Bath|title=''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|isbn=0-7615-2103-8|language=en-us|page=112|date=April 7, 1999}}</ref>) have the exact same role as in ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''. Much like other blocks in the game, they were made bigger.

====''Yoshi's Island DS''====
[[File:YIDS Hint Block.png|frame]]
In ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'', Message Blocks<ref>{{cite|title=''Yoshi's Island DS'' instruction booklet|page=17|language=en-us|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=2006}}</ref> (also named '''Hint Blocks'''<ref>{{cite|author=Williams, Drew|title=''Yoshi's Island DS'' Player's Guide|date=2006|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|isbn=1-59812-016-6|page=6 and 11}}</ref>) appear and behave as they do in ''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''.

====''Yoshi's New Island''====
{{see also|List of Yoshi's New Island Message Block hints}}
[[File:13.2.14 Screen 04 - Yoshi's New Island.png|thumb|A Message Block in ''Yoshi's New Island'']]
Message Blocks return in ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''. Their instructions change depending on the control type used, whether it is traditional button-style egg-throwing or gyro tilt to aim. Some Message Block hints appear when an event first occurs instead of always being based off hitting a block, such as one for dropping [[Baby Mario]]. Unlike the prior games, Message Blocks also explain new level features. One example is telling the player to ground-pound a [[Tatami Block]]. Also unlike the prior games, Message Blocks will still continue moving their mouths even when hit and providing a message.

====''Yoshi's Woolly World'' / ''Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World''====
[[File:YWW Message Block.jpg|thumb]]
In ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'' and its reissue ''[[Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', there are only five Message Blocks. The first course, [[Yarn Yoshi Takes Shape!]], has three Message Blocks. The third course, [[Sponge Cave Spelunking]], has two. Message Blocks retain their appearance from ''Yoshi's Island DS''; however, their cheeks are pink instead of yellow, and their mouths do not move as continually as in previous entries, pausing for a second after moving their mouth once and then quickly twice. The hints sometimes include full color art instead of the chalk outlines from prior games. There are no Message Blocks for specific level features in this game.

====''Yoshi's Crafted World''====
Message Blocks return in ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]'', appearing and behaving as they do in ''Yoshi's Woolly World''; although they move their mouths even less continually, moving them once before pausing, and then twice before pausing again.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', two Message Blocks float in the background of the stage [[Super Happy Tree (stage)|Yoshi's Island]]. They are also referred to as '''face blocks'''.<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Smash Bros.'' Official Strategy Guide|date=1999|publisher=BradyGames|isbn=1-56686-900-5|page=114}}</ref> Yoshi's Island returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', being renamed Super Happy Tree in the latter game, and the Message Blocks are retained.
{{br|left}}

===''Mario vs. Donkey Kong''===
{{multiple image
|align=left
|image1=HelpBlockMVDKO.gif
|width1=16
|image2=MvsDK HelpBoxInternational.png
|width2=16
}}
[[File:HelpBlockMVDK.png|thumb|A Help Box in the remake]]
In ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'', there are similar blocks named '''Help Boxes'''.<ref>''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' American English Nintendo 3DS [[Virtual Console]] digital manual, tab 13: "Items and Features".</ref> They are black boxes with the word "HELP" and a question mark written in white. They appear in several levels, and show how to perform [[Mario]]'s moves. They can be hit from any side to reveal the hint. In European releases of the game, if the language is set to anything other than English, Help Boxes appear as black boxes with only a white question mark.

In the game's [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)|remake]] for the [[Nintendo Switch]], the box has a lavender outline and a question mark in the [[List of fonts#Modern Super Mario typeface|modern ''Super Mario'' typeface]]. There are no regional variations for Help Boxes in this game. Help Boxes are removed from the level if it is played in [[Time Attack (Mario vs. Donkey Kong for Nintendo Switch)|Time Attack]] mode.

===''Super Princess Peach''===
[[File:PerryBlock.png|thumb|left|x50px]]
In ''[[Super Princess Peach]]'', there are yellow and blue blocks resembling [[Perry]] that act similar to Message Blocks in that they give hints when hit from any side. They are referred to as "kassarbrock" in their internal file names, which is Japanese for "Perry Block". In every boss level, before Peach enters the [[Warp Pipe|pipe]], they appear warning the player about the boss and providing tips on how to defeat it.
{{br|left}}

===''Minecraft''===
In ''[[Minecraft]]'', the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack reskins the Command Blocks to have the same appearance as Message Blocks from ''Super Mario World''.

===''The Super Mario Galaxy Movie''===
{{new subject|section=y|film}}
[[File:Super Mario Galaxy Message Block.png|thumb|100px|A Message Block in ''The Super Mario Galaxy Movie'']]
{{quote|Hello, [[Peach]] and [[Mario]]! Prepare to meet your maker!|[[Bowser Jr.]] through a Message Block|The Super Mario Galaxy Movie}}
A Message Block appears in ''[[The Super Mario Galaxy Movie]]'' during the scene where [[Mario]] and [[Princess Peach|Peach]] avoid obstacles in a pit on [[Planet Bowser]]. After falling into the pit, [[Bowser Jr.]] uses the Message Block to remotely communicate to them and threaten them before activating the traps.

===Unused appearances===
====''Super Mario Odyssey''====
The Message Block as seen in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' appears in concept art for the [[Jaxi]] in ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', where it is part of the bus stop.

====''Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker'' (Nintendo Switch)====
The files of the [[Nintendo Switch]] port of ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo Switch / Nintendo 3DS)|Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'' contain a model of a Message Block styled after its ''Super Mario World'' appearance, in both red and blue colors.<ref>https://models.spriters-resource.com/nintendo_switch/captaintoadtreasuretracker/asset/466177/</ref>
{{br}}

==Profiles==
===''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''===
{{multilang profile
|type=manual
|Eng=Receive helpful Tourist Tips from these conveniently located blocks.}}

===''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''===
{{multilang profile
|type=manual
|Eng=Hit them from below to get helpful hints.}}
{{multilang profile
|type=vc_3ds
|Eng=Hit them from underneath to get helpful hints.}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMW Message Block.jpg|''[[Super Mario World]]''
Message Block SMW1.jpg|''[[Super Mario Bros. 4: Super Mario World 1]]''
SMW2 Message Block art.png|''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''
SMW2 Message Block.png|''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''
Message Block YS artwork.jpg|''[[Yoshi's Story]]''
Story Message Block.png|''Yoshi's Story''
SMA2 Yoshi's House.png|''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]'' ([[Yoshi's House]])
YIDS Hintblock.png|''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]''
Hint Block Artwork - Yoshi's New Island.png|''[[Yoshi's New Island]]''
YWW W1-1.jpg|''Yoshi's Woolly World''
Message Block SMKun.png|''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
SNW YA Clip Set.png|Artwork used for a clip set for [[Super Nintendo World]]
Minecraft Mario Mash-Up Repeating Command Block Render.gif|A repeating command block in ''[[Minecraft]]''
</gallery>

==Naming==
===Internal names===
{{internal names
|game1=''[[Super Princess Peach]]''
|file1=<tt>data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_ncg.bin</tt><br><tt>data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_cl.bin</tt>
|name1=kassarbrock_D06_ncg<br>kassarbrock_D06_cl
|meaning1=[[Perry#Names in other languages|Perry]] Block
}}

===Names in other languages===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=メッセージブロック
|JpnR=Messēji Burokku
|JpnM=Message Block
|JpnC=<ref>''Super Mario World'' Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)</ref><ref>{{cite|language=Japanese|publisher=Nintendo|date=1995|title=''Super Mario: Yossy Island'' instruction booklet|page=16}}</ref><ref>{{cite|date=1998|title=「ヨッシー全百科」 (''Yoshi Hyakka'')|publisher=Shogakukan|language=ja|page=46|archive=https://archive.org/details/yoshiislandshogakukan|isbn=4-09-281158-6}}</ref>
|Chi=提示座
|ChiR=Tíshì zuò
|ChiM=Board
|Fre=Bloc de message
|FreM=Message block
|Fre2=Boite à message
|Fre2M=Message Box
|Fre2C=<ref>{{cite|url=fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_YoshisStory_FR.pdf|language=fr|format=PDF|title=Yoshi Story instruction booklet, French segment|page=59}}</ref>
|Ger=Quasselbox
|GerM=Chatterbox
|GerC=<ref>{{cite|date=Summer 1995|title=''[[Club Nintendo (German magazine)|Club Nintendo Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|language=German|page=10}}</ref>
|Ita=Blocco Messaggio
|ItaM=Message Block
|ItaN=''Super Mario World''
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario World]]'' Italian manual|page=22}}</ref>
|Ita2=Blocco
|Ita2M=Block
|Ita2N=''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island''
|Ita2C=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' GIG's Italian manual|page=8}}</ref>
|Ita3=Dado del Messaggio
|Ita3M=Message dice/cube
|Ita3N=''Yoshi's Story''
|Ita3C=<ref>{{cite|date=1998|language=it|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|title=''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' European manual|page=123}}</ref>
|Ita4=Mattone messaggio
|Ita4M=Message brick
|Ita4N=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''
|Ita4C=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]'' European manual|language=it|page=109|date=2002|publisher=Nintendo of Europe}}</ref>
|Ita5=Blocco messaggio
|Ita5M=Message block
|Ita5N=From ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3'' onward
|Por=Bloco de {{hover|Massagem|meant to be Mensagem}}
|PorM=Massage{{sic}} Block
|PorN=''Super Mario World'' manual
|Rus=Блок-справка
|RusR=Blok-spravka
|RusM=Reference Block
|SpaA=Bloque de mensaje
|SpaAM=Message block
|SpaA2=Bloque mensajero
|SpaA2M=^
|SpaA2C=<ref>''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' Spanish instruction booklet{{page needed}}</ref>
}}

;Help Box
{{foreign names
|Jpn=ヘルプボックス
|JpnR=Herupu Bokkusu
|JpnM=Help Box
|JpnC=<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/data/software/manual/man_PAGJ_00.pdf|title=マリオ{{ruby|vs.|ブイエス}}ドンキーコング (Mario buiesu Donkī Kongu) instruction booklet|format=PDF|date=2004|publisher=Nintendo|language=Japanese|page=13}}</ref>
|Ita=Blocco informativo
|ItaM=Informative block
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'' Italian e-manual|page=13}}</ref>
}}

==References==
<references/>

{{navboxes|
{{Blocks}}
{{SMW}}
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{{YCW}}
{{TSMGM}}
}}
[[Category:Blocks]]
[[Category:Animate objects]]
[[Category:Club Nintendo]]
[[Category:Mario vs. Donkey Kong objects]]
[[Category:Mario's Time Machine]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
[[Category:Super Mario World objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island objects]]
[[Category:Super Princess Peach objects]]
[[Category:The Super Mario Galaxy Movie objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Crafted World objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island DS objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3]]
[[Category:Yoshi's New Island objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Story objects]]
[[Category:Yoshi's Woolly World objects]]
[[de:Info-Block]]
[[it:Blocco messaggio]]