Pyramid
- This article is about pyramids in general. For the location in Mario Party Advance, see Pyramid (Mario Party Advance). For other specific pyramids, see Pyramid (disambiguation).
| Pyramid | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Screenshot from Super Mario 64 | |||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū (1988) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) | ||
| |||
Pyramids are recurring setpieces found typically in desert areas, appearing as large triangular brick structures. Generally, they are inspired by the real-life Great Pyramid and its neighbors found in Cairo, Egypt, though some are instead inspired by Mesoamerican pyramids or combinations of their designs. They appear both as background objects and as visitable locations, often both at once, though there are several examples of desert-themed temples and tombs that are not depicted as pyramids. Commonly, deserts are decorated with Egyptian-style pyramids mixed with American cactus plants, despite them being in vastly different deserts in real life.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong series[edit]
Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū[edit]
- Main article: By the Pyramid
In Donkey Kong 3: Dai Gyakushū, one of the levels is called By the Pyramid. As such, it prominently features a pyramid in the background.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[edit]
In Donkey Kong for Game Boy, several levels of the Desert world take place inside a large pyramid, which is visible in the background of the outdoor stages of that world.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
In Super Mario Bros. 2, pyramids appear both as background objects and as enterable buildings in the desert worlds, World 2 and World 6. Tryclyde's lairs in World 2-3 and World 6-3 are both inside pyramids.
Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
In Super Mario Bros. 3, many pyramids appear in Desert Land. They are visible on the map and in the backgrounds of stages, appearing much larger in the Super Mario All-Stars version than the original in the latter case. Additionally, World 2-3 features several pyramids made out of Semisolid Platforms and covered in Firesnakes, while World 2-Pyramid takes place inside of one.
Super Mario Land[edit]
In Super Mario Land, the first kingdom, the Birabuto Kingdom, is themed after pyramids and features several in the backgrounds. World 1-3 takes place inside of one, leading to a battle against its ruler, King Totomesu.
Super Mario 64[edit]
In Super Mario 64, a pyramid is the centerpiece of Shifting Sand Land, with the outside and the inside both being repeatedly visited for various missions. Outside, it is guarded by Fly Guys, while inside features Grindels, Spindels, and Amps. This pyramid is ruled by Eyerok, who can be found in the deepest chambers of it. The top of the pyramid can be removed by standing on each of the four pillars outside. Additionally, several pyramids can be seen in the distant background of this course in the original game, though these are removed in Super Mario 64 DS.
New Super Mario Bros. series[edit]
In New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and New Super Mario Bros. 2, pyramids appear in the backgrounds in stages and on the map of each game's respective desert world, which is World 2 in each. A pyramid is also used as an icon for each of these worlds. However, they are never directly visited.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy, pyramids appear in the Dusty Dune Galaxy, with some being embedded in the sand and some double-sided ones appearing free-floating as planets. The inside of one of these planets is visited in the mission Treasure of the Pyramid for a Green Star.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, an enormous pyramid is the centerpiece of the Slipsand Galaxy. It emits a river of sand that is slid down while avoiding a group of Rhomps.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
- Main article: Inverted Pyramid
Super Mario Odyssey features the Inverted Pyramid in the Sand Kingdom, which, true to its name, has the pointed part at the bottom and the flat part at the top. It is based on a Mesoamerican pyramid and is the original home of Jaxi. After Mario visits the inside of it, Hariet is fought on top of it. Afterwards, it begins floating, with the hole where its tip was buried leading to a cave where the second boss, Knucklotec, is fought.
Mario Kart series[edit]
In the Mario Kart series, pyramids are seen in the backgrounds of several desert courses, starting with Yoshi Desert in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, with Dry Dry Desert in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! even having some with eyes. Desert Hills in Mario Kart DS is the first one to have a pyramid as a direct obstacle, with one blocking a large amount of a potential shortcut.
Wario platforming series[edit]
Wario Land 4[edit]
- Main article: Golden Pyramid
In Wario Land 4, a pyramid called the Golden Pyramid appears as the primary location, with another Golden Pyramid within being the final segment of the game. It was once ruled by Princess Shokora but was taken over by the Golden Diva, who must be defeated to complete the game.
Wario: Master of Disguise[edit]
- Main article: Poobah the Pharaoh's Pyramid
In Wario: Master of Disguise, a pyramid belonging to Poobah the Pharaoh is the setting of the game's fifth episode, Picking the Pharaoh's Brains!
Wario Land: Shake It![edit]
In Wario Land: Shake It!, pyramids are entered in the desert areas of Ratl Ruins, in particular Whoopsy Desert and Disturbing Tomb. In the latter stage, they are inhabited by Mummers.
Mario Pinball Land[edit]
In Mario Pinball Land, a pyramid appears as the sub-area of the Shifting Sands Stage, where it is mostly buried until a pair of nearby sphinxes are hit a combined total four times in quick enough succession. It is ruled by King Tut.
Mario Party series[edit]
In Mario Party Advance, a Pyramid where Kamek is located can be found in the desert area after traveling from The Hammer. In Mario Party 7, Pyramid Park features many pyramids, including the Orb huts being all depicted as small pyramids.
Gallery[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3 (goal)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (credits)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (map)
Super Mario All-Stars (Super Mario Bros. 2)
Super Mario All-Stars (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Super Mario All-Stars (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Super Mario All-Stars (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
Mario Party Advance
New Super Mario Bros. (World 2 icon)
New Super Mario Bros.
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