Cannon: Difference between revisions

|image=[[File:Cannonball SMR.png]]<br>Artwork from ''Super Mario Run''

|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[List of games by date#1988|1988]])

|latest_appearance=''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])

|comparable=[[Bill Blaster]]<br>[[Kaboomba]]

'''Cannons''' are used to fire all kinds of projectiles in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]], including other characters. They have a more generic appearance and use than [[Bill Blaster]]s, which specifically shoot out [[Bullet Bill]]s. Cannons are usually part of the environment and cannot be destroyed.

Cannons make their first appearance in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', where they show up in the [[airship]], [[tank]], and [[battleship|boat]] levels. They are found on floors and ceilings and continue firing when touched, and come in several configurations. While some are turrets that fire straight ahead like [[Bill Blaster|Turtle Cannon]]s, common fixed cannons shoot their [[cannonball]]s diagonally. Some of these grounded cannons are mortars that eject [[Bob-omb]]s at short distances. There are four-barreled '''quartet-cannons'''<ref>Hodgson, David S J. ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 32. "'''''FIRE FLOWER FLOUNDER''' Carefully leap over the Bullet Bill mounting, then quickly hit the "?" block for the Fire Flower (jump for it, even though a quartet-cannon hangs above and right of you). Remember that you can land on any cannon balls and knock them away.''"</ref> (or '''cannon quartets'''),<ref>Hodgson, David S J. ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 73. "'''''CANNON AND BALL''' Run between the cannon shots, and when you reach the rotating cannon quartet, wait for it to fire, drop into the square hole below, and run before it fires again, leaping on top of a cannon to the right, and up and over the wooden pole.''"</ref> which fire in two directions at a time, then rotate at a 45° angle. There are also double-barreled '''diagonal cannons'''<ref>Hodgson, David S J. ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 53. "'''''BULLET BILL OF RIGHTS''' The next section is simply a matter of zigzagging to the bottom and running right, avoiding the cannon balls and a Bullet Bill. Note the diagonal cannon placements that fire out of either end. Don't get caught by a Bullet Bill on the right as you attempt to nab that Super Leaf!''"</ref> that are mounted on background elements such as [[Semisolid Platform|semisolid]] metal bays, and can fire out of either end. Lastly, there are horizontal '''giant cannons''',<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 13, page 75. "'''''Bring Out The Big Guns!''' This giant cannon shoots two huge bullets in rapid succession. Either jump on its barrel or duck quickly!''"</ref> which fire [[giant cannonball]]s.

[[File:NSMBWarp Cannon.PNG|thumb|left|A Warp Cannon from ''New Super Mario Bros.''.]]

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', upward and downward-pointed cannons and mortars from ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' that fire [[cannonball]]s and [[Bob-omb]]s reappear, in addition to the rotating quartet-cannons and horizontal giant cannons. The normal cannons in {{world-link|8|airship|World 8-Airship (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)}} also routinely rotate their barrel to the other direction before firing again. One quartet-cannon is a large '''rotating cannon pipe'''<ref>Dark Horse Books. ''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years''. Page 151.{{better source}}</ref> that fires [[giant cannonball]]s out of three cannons, with one cannon actually being a [[Warp Pipe|pipe]] that does not fire and which characters must enter. [[Warp Cannon]]s and [[Pipe Cannon]]s from ''New Super Mario Bros.'' also appear.

[[Pipe Cannon]]s also return from the previous games, acting much in the same way. These pipes first appear in World 1-A. Mortars that fire Bob-ombs also reappear, though they launch them as [[Parabomb]]s in this game.

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', '''boss cannons'''<ref>Stratton, Steve. ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' PRIMA Official Game Guide. Page 52. "''Enter the ominous boss cannon you discover at the top of these lengthy stairs, and you’ll be shot over to Lemmy’s airship. It’s time for a boss battle!''"</ref> take an important role in [[castle]]s. After [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Yellow Toad (New Super Mario Bros. series)|Yellow Toad]], and [[Blue Toad (character)|Blue Toad]] finish the castle, they run up a flight of stairs and jump inside the cannon and blast into one of the [[Koopalings]]' [[airship]]s and start the Koopaling battle. [[Pipe Cannon]]s also appear in levels and in the world map, the latter of which is used to travel to other worlds. The normal cannons and giant cannons from ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' also appear and act in the same way; they appear in [[The Mighty Cannonship]] from [[Soda Jungle]] as well as in some challenges of [[Challenge Mode (New Super Mario Bros. U)|Challenge Mode]].

Cannons reappear in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]]'' in all styles. They fire [[cannonball]]s once more, and can be set in one of eight directions. The game introduces a red variation that fires red cannonballs which travel faster. Adding a [[Super Mushroom]] makes it larger in size and shoot [[giant cannonball]]s. Unlike [[Bill Blaster]]s, items and enemies cannot be placed inside a cannon; therefore, it can only shoot cannonballs. They can be defeated by big [[Goomba's Shoe|Stiletto]]s.

In ''[[Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]'' and ''[[Donkey Kong Land 2]]'', cannons,<ref>''Donkey Kong Land 2'' [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console]] electronic manual, tab 9: "Progressing Through Stages"</ref> primarily spelled as '''kannons'''<ref>''Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest'' instruction booklet, [[Media:DKC2 Manual 16-17.jpg|page 17]].</ref> To activate a kannon, [[Diddy Kong|Diddy]] and [[Dixie Kong]] must throw a [[cannonball|kannonball]] into it, and then enter it; it launches the Kongs to a [[Bonus Area]]. They first appear in [[Mainbrace Mayhem (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)|Mainbrace Mayhem]], and only appear in levels with kannonballs (not being shot). There is also a [[Kremling]] enemy named [[Kannon]], whose name is based on the kannon it carries around.

A single cannon appears in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'' in the [[Gloomy Galleon]] stage. To use it, [[Chunky Kong]] must put a cannonball into it. He must use the cannon to fire cannonballs at moving targets on the wall. By firing at enough of them, Chunky is awarded with a [[Golden Banana]].

===''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''/''Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)'' ===

Although no regular, harmful cannons appear in the game, [[pot cannon]]s make an appearance as the first helpful cannons of the ''Super Mario'' franchise in ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' and its remake. They appear in [[Land's End]] and help Mario to reach higher places.

|Jap={{ruby|大砲|たいほう}}<ref>''Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy'' instruction booklet, page 20.</ref><ref>''Super Mario 64'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 18.</ref><br>''Taihō''<br>砲台<br>''Hōdai''<br>斜め砲台<ref name=SMB3>Shogakukan. 2015. ''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' section, page 41.</ref> <small>(''Super Mario Bros. 3'', diagonal type)</small><br>''Naname hōdai''<br>ボムへい{{ruby|砲台|ほうだい}} <small>(''Super Mario 64 DS'')</small><br>''Bomuhei Hōdai''

|JapM=Cannon<br><br>Artillery<br><br>Diagonal artillery<br><br>Bob-omb Artillery