Message Block

"Roses are red, violets are blue, never forget, what I say to you."

- Message Block

Message Blocks are blocks that provide tips and hints to the playable character in various platforming titles of the Mario franchise. Message Blocks make their first appearance in Super Mario World, but are the most prevalent in the Yoshi franchise. Message Blocks are often depicted as smiling white blocks.

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Message Blocks first appear 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 feature no face in Super Mario World but instead look like blue blocks with an orange speaker. They reappear in the port Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.

Mario's Time Machine
In the NES version of Mario's Time Machine, similar blocks known as information boxes (or info boxes ) make an appearance to provide hints.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Message Blocks (also named Messages and Information Blocks ) teach the player controls and give tips rather than provide information outright. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island gives Message Blocks their now-common look of being a white block with a smiley facial expression and yellow cheeks. They reappear in the remake Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.

Yoshi's Story
In Yoshi's Story, Message Blocks (or Message Boxes ) have the exact same role as in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. They were made a lot bigger, and their mouths continually move.

Yoshi's Island DS
In Yoshi's Island DS, Message Blocks (also named Hint Blocks ) are much the same as before, but return to their Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island form.

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 additionally automatically appear when a Yoshi does an action for the first time, such as dropping Baby Mario. Message Blocks can also explain stage features in a level new to players such as instructing to ground pound a Tatami Block. A list of all Message Block hints can be found here.

Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World
Only five Message Blocks appear in Yoshi's Woolly World, 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
Message Blocks return in Yoshi's Crafted World, behaving exactly the same as in past appearances. There is one on the flip side of the course Poochy's Tape Trail where it explains about the Poochy Pups.

Super Smash Bros. series
Message Blocks have a cameo in Super Smash Bros. They appear in the stage Yoshi's Island where two can be seen in the background along with the Super Happy Tree and are referred to as face blocks in the Super Smash Bros. official strategy guide. The same stage also makes a reappearance as playable for the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, along with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, there are Help Boxes that act similar to Message Blocks and give hints when hit from any side. 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.

Super Princess Peach
In Super Princess Peach, there are blocks that act similar to Message Blocks and give hints when hit from any side. They are referred to as "kassarbrock" in their internal file names, which is Japanese for "Perry Block". They are yellow and blue, resembling Perry. In every boss level, before Peach enters the pipe, they appear warning the player about the boss and providing tips on how to defeat it.

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.

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3

 * Nintendo 3DS digital manual description: "Hit them from underneath to get helpful hints."

Names in other languages

 * Help Box