Checkpoint

Checkpoints are objects within a level that mark the point where the player can continue from after losing a life.

In Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Land, and Super Mario Galaxy, checkpoints are unmarked, with the player simply resuming from a place in the level they had passed. In Super Mario Bros. 2, every Warp Door serves as a checkpoint, as do the rockets from World 4-1, World 4-2, and World 7-1. Super Mario Bros. 3 has no checkpoints due to having shorter levels, while Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine typically lack them due to most levels having a sandbox structure; however, after warping to a few exceptional areas in the former, the player returns directly to that point upon reentering the level, such as in the volcano of Lethal Lava Land, and similarly for "secret" areas in the latter, an unmarked checkpoint is used instead of returning the player to Delfino Plaza, as would normally happen upon life-loss.

The first Super Mario game to feature an object that acted solely as a checkpoint was Super Mario World with its Midway Gate. Subsequently, other variations were used, including the bell of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins and the Middle Ring of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Since the release of New Super Mario Bros., however, Super Mario games have largely standardized on the usage of Checkpoint Flags.