Mask Gate

Mask Gates, also known as masks, and Birdfaces, are eagle-head gates that appear at the end of every level in Super Mario Bros. 2 and its original version, Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic.

Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros. 2
Mask Gates first appear in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, where they resemble a tribal mask instead of a raptor head. They are reminiscent to Phanto or the smaller masks that were replaced by Mushroom Blocks. Its design was altered to that of a raptor's in its overseas localization, Super Mario Bros. 2.

In both games, Mask Gates are attached to the wall at the end of a level. A Mask Gate allows the player to move on to the next level, or to the world's boss if the current level is the last level of the world. To open a Mask Gate, the player must pick up a Crystal Ball, which is either placed out in the open or guarded by Birdo.

All Mask Gates are harmless to the player, except for one, which appears in Wart's Castle, more specifically World 7-2. By picking up the Crystal Ball, the Mask Gate detaches itself from the wall and then chases the player around in a similar manner to Phanto. It takes away a small heart from the player upon contact. The player must attack the Mask Gate by throwing Mushroom Blocks in the vicinity; after throwing three Mushroom Blocks at it, the Mask Gate is temporarily stunned, allowing entry into Wart's throne room. However, if the player does not enter into the Mask Gate while it is stunned, it eventually reanimates itself again.

Appearances in other media
A statue resembling a Mask Gate appeared in the episode "Too Hot to Handle" of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!. Although King Koopa leaped into the Mask Gate at the climax of the episode to make his getaway, it appeared to be inanimate and was made of metal.

Mask Gates made several appearances in the Nintendo Comics System 's Super Mario Bros. comics, functioning much like Warp Pipes.

A Mask Gate has appeared in volume 8 of Super Mario-Kun. This Mask Gate is similar to the one near Wart's Castle because it starts attacking when Mario tries to enter through it. As in the games, Mario throws a Mushroom Block to have it allow him, Luigi, and Yoshi to enter Wart's Castle.