Binoculars

This article is about an object debuting in Super Mario 3D Land. For the item in Yoshi's New Island, see Binoculars (Yoshi's New Island).

Binoculars
Artwork from Super Mario Odyssey
First appearance	Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
Latest appearance	Mario Kart World (2025)

Binoculars, also named Telescopes, appear in the Super Mario franchise as telescopic devices in a few of the 3D installments in the Super Mario series.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario 3D Land

Mario looking through a pair of binoculars in Super Mario 3D Land

Binoculars in Super Mario 3D Land can be used by stepping on the green platform behind them, allowing Mario to take a look through the lens and get a view of the whole area. The binoculars are controlled by moving the Nintendo 3DS around using its gyro-sensor control, and the player can press or to zoom out and zoom in, respectively. The player can also look for hidden Toads, and if the Toads are sighted, they will throw out items such as Star Medals, 1-Up Mushrooms, or even Super Stars. The camera can also be moved about using the on the 3DS. The image within the binoculars appears as 2D even if 3D is turned on.

There is a possibility that a white UFO can be spotted in certain levels such as World 1-3, though it eventually disappears from sight via the binoculars.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

In Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, a Sprixie holding a pair of orange binoculars appears in certain points of the levels, indicated with a round white platform. Once the player(s) step(s) on that platform, the camera shifts towards the direction of the Goal Pole, as the Sprixie looks through the binoculars. While these spots are referred to as binoculars in the Prima Games guide, there are differences compared to binoculars in other games: The player(s) cannot zoom in or out, and can only move the camera angle along a fixed plane.

Super Mario Odyssey

Screenshot from Super Mario Odyssey

Binoculars return in Super Mario Odyssey. Here, Mario uses them by Capturing them with Cappy. Once done, the binoculars launch upward from their base then stop at a set altitude due to being tethered by a thin cord. Then Mario can view more of the area he is in. The location of the current objective is highlighted, with a rectangular box stating its name positioned just above the location or Power Moon.

Looking at certain points of interest elicits a reaction from Cappy. If the player looks into the Sun by using the binoculars, Cappy tells the player to stop. Looking at the Moon has Cappy admire the view. If the player looks at the roof of Peach's Castle, Cappy mentions the Yoshi's Egg on the roof. A number of other context-sensitive responses can occur, such as one for the Broodals' airship.

In certain kingdoms, after being the game, a peculiar flying object (such as the Sphynx or a taxi) can be spotted in the sky. Zooming into the object with the binoculars causes a Power Moon to appear, and the Binoculars start to automatically track the Power Moon as it travels towards the course. A total of six Power Moons can be obtained this way:

#	Image	Name	Kingdom	Location	Availability
13		Taxi Flying Through Bonneton	Cap Kingdom	In the Central Plaza, Mario must capture the pair of binoculars (in the north-western corner) and use them to look at a taxi flying in front of the moon. If the player stares at it for a few seconds, it will reward Mario with a Power Moon.	Available after defeating Bowser in the Moon Kingdom.
25		Sphynx Traveling to the Waterfall	Cascade Kingdom	At the start of the kingdom, Mario must capture the pair of binoculars and use them to look in the sky for the Sphynx. If Mario stares at the Sphynx long enough, he will reward the player with a Power Moon.	Available after defeating Bowser in the Moon Kingdom.
28		Taxi Flying Through Lake Lamode	Lake Kingdom	Near the Odyssey, the player can find a pair of Binoculars. Mario must use the Binoculars and look for a flying taxi in the air over the lake. If the player can stare at the taxi for a few seconds, they will receive a Power Moon.	Available after defeating Bowser in the Moon Kingdom.
22		Taxi Flying Through Forgotten Isle	Lost Kingdom	Mario must capture the Binoculars next to the Koopa Troopa racer and look north-northeast while zoomed in to find a taxi sailing through the sky. Spotting it will cause the Power Moon to land on a nearby palm tree.	Available after defeating Bowser in the Moon Kingdom.
59		Sphynx in the City	Metro Kingdom	The player can capture the binoculars in southern Cranky Avenue and look northwest to find the Sphynx sailing across the sky. Upon doing so, the Power Moon will land on east Squawks Park.	Available after defeating Bowser in the Moon Kingdom.
39		Sphynx Over Bowser's Castle	Bowser's Kingdom	The player must capture the Binoculars found in the Main Courtyard and zoom into the Sphynx flying over the kingdom, who will reward Mario with the Power Moon.	Available after defeating Bowser in the Moon Kingdom.

In this game, Binoculars resemble R.O.B.'s head. Although not normally visible in the game due to being covered by opaque glass, Binoculars have eyes when Captured.

Mario Party series

Goomba Spotting in Mario Party 9

Binoculars appear in the Mario Party series. While they do not appear in Mario Party 9, the Goomba Spotting minigame (also returning in Mario Party Superstars) appears to be viewed from the perspective of a pair of binoculars, except during the ending. Binoculars from Super Mario 3D Land are used in the minigame Point 'n' Shoot in Mario Party: Island Tour.

Super Nintendo World

Several sets of binoculars exist in the Super Nintendo World themed lands that use augmented reality to superimpose animated characters onto the landscape of the park. One of the keys of the Power-Up Band Key Challenges can be obtained by spotting an Airship with the binoculars. Moving the binoculars towards the sky results in them zooming out into space to reveal the Comet Observatory, with Rosalina flying out to greet the viewer, while looking towards a rainbow over a ledge reveals a group of Pikmin.

Mario Kart World

Binoculars return in Mario Kart World's Free Roam mode, being found around every Course. They retain their Super Mario Odyssey design, and function similarly to its appearance in that game. Binoculars can be activated by driving into them, which allows the player to have a bird's eye view of the course nearby. The player can then look around and zoom while using the binoculars in order to locate desirable objects in the surrounding area, such as Peach Medallions and ? Panels.

Profiles and descriptions

Super Mario 3D Land

• Website description:
  • English (United States):
    Take a peek into one of these to see far away platforms or possible secret areas.
  • English (United Kingdom):
    These are to be found dotted around the game's courses. Use them to get a glimpse of the world around you.

Gallery

• 

  Artwork from Super Mario 3D Land
• 

  Artwork from Super Mario 3D Land
• 

  Super Mario 3D Land
• 

  Screenshot from Super Mario Odyssey
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  Super Nintendo World
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  Super Nintendo World app stamp
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  Mario Kart World
• 

  Mario Kart World

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Note(s)	Ref.
Japanese	望遠鏡 Bōenkyō	Telescope
Chinese (Simplified)	望远镜 Wàngyuǎnjìng	Telescope
Chinese (Traditional)	望遠鏡 Wàngyuǎnjìng
Dutch	Verrekijker	Binoculars		[?]
French	Jumelles	Binoculars		[?]
German	Teleskop	Telescope		[?]
Italian	Binocolo	Binoculars		[?]
Portuguese (Europe)	Binóculos	Binoculars		[?]
Russian	Бинокль Binokl'	Binoculars		[?]
	Телескоп Teleskop	Telescope	Super Mario 3D Land	[?]
Spanish	Telescopio	Telescope		[?]