Editing Unwinnable state
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An '''unwinnable state''' (also called a '''softlock''') is when a level or a whole game is still technically playable but is impossible to complete because a technique or an object needed to progress has become inaccessible to the player, the player character is trapped with no means of escape, or a script fails to trigger. Unwinnable situations | An '''unwinnable state''' (also called a '''softlock''') is when a level or a whole game is still technically playable but is impossible to complete because either a technique or an object needed to progress has become inaccessible to the player, the player character is trapped with no means of escape, or a script fails to trigger. Unwinnable situations can be the result of a [[glitch]], the result of players going out of their way to trap themselves, or intentional on the part of the game designers, although due to the ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' franchise's accessible, player-friendly design, instances of intentionally unwinnable scenarios are non-existent. | ||
This list does not include scripted boss battles | This list does not include scripted boss battles the player has to lose in ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' RPGs, such as the first battles with [[Bowser]] in ''[[Paper Mario]]'' and the [[Shroob]]s in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'' as the plot still advances despite the player losing. | ||
==Examples of unwinnable situations== | ==Examples of unwinnable situations== | ||
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====''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''==== | ====''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''==== | ||
The game has a softlock where, should an [[Enemy Course]] land on top of an [[N-Mark Spade Panel]], the two combine and move across the overworld map indefinitely, preventing the player from going any further after clearing a course when the panel appears. | The game has a softlock where, should an [[Enemy Course]] land on top of an [[N-Mark Spade Panel]], the two combine and move across the overworld map indefinitely, preventing the player from going any further after clearing a course when the panel appears. | ||
====''[[Super Mario 64]]''==== | ====''[[Super Mario 64]]''==== | ||
To defeat [[Bowser]] in [[Bowser in the Dark World]], [[Bowser in the Fire Sea]], and [[Bowser in the Sky]], Mario must throw him into the | To defeat [[Bowser]] in [[Bowser in the Dark World]], [[Bowser in the Fire Sea]], and [[Bowser in the Sky]], Mario must throw him into the bombs around the arena. If Mario [[Long Jump]]s into all the bombs to detonate them, he will be left with no way to defeat Bowser unless he leaves the level. To fix this in the [[Super Mario 64 DS|remake]], one bomb always reappears in the arena if the player tries to detonate all of them, making it still possible to beat Bowser nonetheless. Additionally, it is also possible to trick Bowser into lunging after Mario and jumping directly into the pit. Normally, Mario would need to throw Bowser in the pit for him to land there, but if Bowser does so as part of his own attack, the game will not respawn him to jump back onto the stage. | ||
If one of the [[Bully|Bullies]] in [[Lethal Lava Land]] is pushed into the lava at a specific angle, it | If one of the [[Bully|Bullies]] in [[Lethal Lava Land]] is pushed into the lava at a specific angle, it will be stuck there. Doing this will not count as defeating it, resulting in not spawning the [[Big Bully]] that must also be defeated to complete the mission.<ref>''Supper Mario Broth''. (November 2, 2020). [https://web.archive.org/web/20201105231849/https://www.suppermariobroth.com/post/633632317749985280/ddd-main-blog-twitter-patreon-small-findings "In Super Mario 64, if one of the Bullies ... is pushed into the lava at a specific angle ... the Bully will oscillate inside the lava ..."]. Retrieved May 25, 2022. Archived from [https://www.suppermariobroth.com/post/633632317749985280/ddd-main-blog-twitter-patreon-small-findings the original] on November 5, 2020.</ref> | ||
====''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''==== | ====''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''==== | ||
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===''[[Super Mario Bros. Special]]''=== | ===''[[Super Mario Bros. Special]]''=== | ||
Due to oversights or glitches, there are two examples of unwinnable situations, both in World 4. In World 4-2, a certain pipe lacks an assigned destination, meaning that if it is entered, Mario will never exit, and thus be trapped until the timer runs out. Similarly, in World 4-3, a [[Coin Heaven]] area's pipe cannot be entered, trapping Mario in that area until the timer runs out. | Due to oversights or glitches, there are two examples of unwinnable situations, both in World 4. In World 4-2, a certain pipe lacks an assigned destination, meaning that if it is entered, Mario will never exit, and thus be trapped until the timer runs out. Similarly, in World 4-3, a [[Coin Heaven]] area's pipe cannot be entered, trapping Mario in that area until the timer runs out. | ||
===''Yoshi'' franchise=== | ===''Yoshi'' franchise=== | ||
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In Treacherous Mansion, it is possible to open a door leading to the pirate ship on the side of the mansion by holding a nearby switch down with an object. If the player enters this area while a ghost knocks away the object, the door will become blocked again after they enter the room, leaving them stuck on a tiny platform and forced to restart the level. | In Treacherous Mansion, it is possible to open a door leading to the pirate ship on the side of the mansion by holding a nearby switch down with an object. If the player enters this area while a ghost knocks away the object, the door will become blocked again after they enter the room, leaving them stuck on a tiny platform and forced to restart the level. | ||
If the player quits in the [[King Boo]] battle after the first Tough Possessor is defeated, it is possible that the game will count the earlier mission as complete without opening up the final mission, and will not send the player to the final boss upon replaying the level, making the game incompletable.<ref>LeBic. (2013). [ | If the player quits in the [[King Boo]] battle after the first Tough Possessor is defeated, it is possible that the game will count the earlier mission as complete without opening up the final mission, and will not send the player to the final boss upon replaying the level, making the game incompletable.<ref>LeBic. (2013). [https://gamingreinvented.com/feature/should-nintendo-release-a-patch-for-luigis-mansion-dark-moon/#comment-17122 "I am unable to finish the game due to an incredible glitch on the final level! ..." (comment on Gaming Reinvented article "Should Nintendo release a patch for Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon?" by CM30 (April 7, 2013))]. Retrieved May 25, 2022.</ref> | ||
It is also possible to be unable to win a multiplayer ScareScraper round from a common glitch that stops a necessary key from appearing in the level. If this happens, the players are forced to lose the game. | It is also possible to be unable to win a multiplayer ScareScraper round from a common glitch that stops a necessary key from appearing in the level. If this happens, the players are forced to lose the game. | ||
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===''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' series=== | ===''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' series=== | ||
====''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]''==== | ====''[[WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!]]''==== | ||
At the level 3 difficulty of the [[microgame]] [[Right in the Eye]], the eye of the needle may sometimes be positioned outside the playing area, making the game | At the level 3 difficulty of the [[microgame]] [[Right in the Eye]], the eye of the needle may sometimes be positioned outside the playing area, making the game unbeatable. This issue was fixed in the microgame's ''[[WarioWare Gold]]'' remake. | ||
====''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]''==== | ====''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]''==== | ||
Three microgames in [[Kat & Ana]]'s set are impossible to complete on early Japanese copies. The lines in [[Bright Idea (WarioWare: Touched!)|Bright Idea]] and [[The Proud, the Fuse]] cannot be drawn while the flashlight in [[Midnight Weirdo]] blinks on and off. This glitch was fixed in later Japanese copies. | Three microgames in [[Kat & Ana]]'s set are impossible to complete on early Japanese copies. The lines in [[Bright Idea (WarioWare: Touched!)|Bright Idea]] and [[The Proud, the Fuse]] cannot be drawn while the flashlight in [[Midnight Weirdo]] blinks on and off. This glitch was fixed in later Japanese copies. | ||
In [[Spario]], if the player presses the pause button multiple times before the microgame begins, Wario may lack his arms and mustache, making it | In [[Spario]], if the player presses the pause button multiple times before the microgame begins, Wario may lack his arms and mustache, making it unbeatable.<ref>dkspivey71 (April 22, 2015). [https://web.archive.org/web/20171023121137/http://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADVHjuiKAT6g "''Uh, Wario? Where are your arms?!''"]. ''Miiverse''. Retrieved November 4, 2020.</ref> | ||
====''[[WarioWare: Get It Together!]]''==== | ====''[[WarioWare: Get It Together!]]''==== | ||
In [[Super Mario World (WarioWare: Get It Together!)|Super Mario World]], 18-Volt can get stuck in Level 2 since he cannot move, despite being a neutral fit, which makes it impossible for him | In [[Super Mario World (WarioWare: Get It Together!)|Super Mario World]], 18-Volt can get stuck in Level 2 since he cannot move, despite being a neutral fit, which makes it impossible for him to win. | ||
In [[ | In [[Pop Goes the Party]] and [[Balance the Scales]], it is possible to destroy all of the pins in Level 3 and too many cracked rocks, respectively, making the microgames impossible to win. | ||
===''Mario Kart'' series=== | ===''Mario Kart'' series=== | ||
====''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''==== | ====''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''==== | ||
In [[Ninja Hideaway]], if the player lands on top of the sign after the final moving spike platform, | In [[Ninja Hideaway]], if the player lands on top of the sign after the final moving spike platform, their kart will be unable to move. When this happens, they will be forced to either lose the current race or quit the game.<ref>Gaming Reinvented (April 6, 2022). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHgsA5jDt5M You Can Softlock Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in Ninja Hideaway (Glitch)!] ''YouTube''. Retrieved May 15, 2022.</ref> | ||
==Impossible 100% completion== | ==Impossible 100% completion== | ||
{{see also|Missable content}} | {{see also|Missable content}} | ||
A less severe variation is when a game can still be finished, but denies the player [[Completion|100% completion]] of their save file in some way. Unlike true unwinnable scenarios, examples of intentional impossible 100% completion are more common in the '' | A less severe variation is when a game can still be finished, but denies the player [[Completion|100% completion]] of their save file in some way. Unlike true unwinnable scenarios, examples of intentional impossible 100% completion are more common in the ''Mario'' franchise. | ||
===''[[Donkey Kong 64]]''=== | ===''[[Donkey Kong 64]]''=== | ||
The five [[Banana Medal]]s that appear in [[Hideout Helm]] do not respawn if the player leaves the area without collecting them, making 101% [[completion]] impossible. | The five [[Banana Medal]]s that appear in [[Hideout Helm]] do not respawn if the player leaves the area without collecting them, making 101% [[completion]] impossible. | ||
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Similar to ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'', if the player loses five lives when attempting a course from one of the first eight worlds, an [[Assist Block]] will appear on re-entry, permanently preventing the player from ever having shiny stars on their save file (even if they did not use the [[Invincibility Leaf]] nor the [[P-Wing]]). | Similar to ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'', if the player loses five lives when attempting a course from one of the first eight worlds, an [[Assist Block]] will appear on re-entry, permanently preventing the player from ever having shiny stars on their save file (even if they did not use the [[Invincibility Leaf]] nor the [[P-Wing]]). | ||
In all subsequent '' | In all subsequent ''Mario'' platformers, making the Super Guide Block or Assist Block appear will not void the player's chance to get shiny stars on their save file; any player who uses the Super Guide or Invincibility Leaf can get shiny stars by completing the same level without using it. | ||
===''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]''=== | ===''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]''=== | ||
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===''[[Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope]]''=== | ===''[[Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope]]''=== | ||
Prior to version 1.2.2076427, in [[Barrendale Mesa]], if the player | Prior to version 1.2.2076427, in [[Barrendale Mesa]], if the player leaves the | ||
Barren Key for the secret zone as the last item to buy with Planet Coins at the shop, it would no longer be possible to buy it as the secret zone contains a Spark, and all 30 Sparks were required to face the [[Giant Magnafowl]] which gives a Planet Coin after being defeated. This in turn made it impossible to obtain said Planet Coin and reach 100% for Barrendale Mesa. Following the version 1.2.2076427 update, the required Sparks was lowered to 29, which now makes it possible to leave the Barren Key for last and be able to fight the Giant Magnafowl. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Terms]] | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
[[Category:Lists|Unwinnable]] | [[Category:Lists|Unwinnable]] | ||