Unwinnable state: Difference between revisions

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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 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.
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 are usually the result of a [[glitch]] or of players going out of their way to trap themselves; they can also be intentional on the part of the game designers, although there are little to no instances of this in the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise.


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.
This list does not include scripted boss battles that the player cannot win in [[Genre#Role-playing games|RPG]]s, such as the first battle with [[Bowser]] in ''[[Paper Mario]]'' and the [[Hollijolli Village]] [[Shroob]]s in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time]]'', as the game 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 World]]''====
[[File:Bonus freeze.png|thumb|The bonus game softlock|right]]
By collecting a power-up, the game temporarily freezes during the power-up animation. If this occurs at the same time that [[Yoshi]] eats a berry, the game freezes. If the player has already beaten the level, they can escape the freeze by pressing {{Button|snes|select}} and {{Button|snes|start}}. However, if the player has not beaten the level, they must reset the console.
There exists a glitch that allows the player to obtain a [[Magic Ball]] in their [[Item storage|Item Stock]]. If the player performs this glitch and then collects the [[Magic Ball]] while in a [[Bonus game (Super Mario World)|bonus game]], the player is taken to a glitched bonus game that is impossible to complete. The only option at this point is to reset the console.


====''[[Super Mario 64]]''====
====''[[Super Mario 64]]''====
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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.
===''[[Mario is Missing!]]'' (DOS and CD-ROM Deluxe versions)===
If the player has only one [[taxi token]] in their possession and uses it to travel to [[Alcatraz]], Luigi will be stuck on Alcatraz since the only way to get to and from the area is by taxi.


===''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). [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!&nbsp;..." (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>
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://web.archive.org/web/20210120133200/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!&nbsp;..." (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 unbeatable. This issue was fixed in the microgame's ''[[WarioWare Gold]]'' remake.
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 impossible to win. 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 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>
In [[Spario]], if the player presses the pause button multiple times before the microgame begins, Wario may lack his arms and mustache, making it impossible to win.<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 to win.
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.<ref>Shadowcat (September 25, 2021). [https://youtu.be/RTpPlhaC9fA?t=373 WarioWare: Get it Together! - Nintendo Classics using only the VOLT GANG - Score 105]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved October 26, 2021.</ref>
 
In [[Pop Goes the Party]], it is possible to destroy too many of the pins in Level 3, making it impossible to win.
 
In [[Balance the Scales]], it is possible to destroy too many of the cracked blocks, making it impossible to win.


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.
In [[Archer Assist]], [[9-Volt]], who is a bad fit for the microgame, can overshoot the target in Levels 1 and 3, and he cannot move the archer in these levels, making it impossible to win with him.


===''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, 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>
In [[Ninja Hideaway]], if the player lands on top of the sign after the final moving spike platform, they 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 ''Mario'' franchise.
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 ''Super 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 ''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.
In all subsequent ''Super 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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[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Lists|Unwinnable]]
[[Category:Lists|Unwinnable]]
[[it:Situazione di stallo]]