Key: Difference between revisions

{{about|a general overview of keys|the specific keys in ''[[Mario's Time Machine]]''|[[Key (Mainz)]] and [[Key (Philadelphia)]]}}

'''Keys''' are items used for various purposes that appear in many games of the ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'', ''[[Yoshi (franchise)|Yoshi]]'', and [[Wario (franchise)|''Wario'']] franchises and their related media. Though their appearance and usage vary, they are typically used to open a [[Key Door|locked door]] or a secret path.

===''Donkey Kong'' franchise===

In ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'', keys are used to unlock [[Donkey Kong]]'s cage in the [[Chain Scene]].

 

====''Donkey Kong Jr.'' (Game & Watch)====

In ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (Game & Watch)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' for the [[Game & Watch]], obtaining four keys is a critical component to freeing Donkey Kong.

''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' is the first ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' game to feature keys and locked doors, both first appearing in [[World 1-2 (Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 1-2]]. All keys in this game are guarded by [[Phanto]]s, one of which will chase the player until the key is dropped or used to unlock a door. Unlike many other items in the game, keys are always visible without having to be rooted up like a [[vegetable]].

[[File:Key 64.png|thumb|100px|Mario gets a Big Key in ''Super Mario 64''.]]

In ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', there are only two '''Big Keys'''<ref>''[[Nintendo Power]]'' volume 91, page 63.</ref><ref>(February 24, 1998). [https://web.archive.org/web/19980224194049/http://www.nintendo.com/n64/super_mario64/items.html Items]. ''Nintendo: Super Mario 64 Strategy'' (Internet Archive: Wayback Machine). Retrieved February 23, 2018.</ref><ref>Prima Bath. ''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Pages 84 and 86.</ref><ref>Prima Bath. ''Ultimate Nintendo 64 Pocket Power Guide, 1999 Edition'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Pages 56, 57.</ref> in the game, and they can be found in two [[Bowser]] levels: [[Bowser in the Dark World]] and [[Bowser in the Fire Sea]]. Mario gets them when Bowser is defeated. The keys can open the doors of the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]]. The first key opens the door to the castle's basement, and the second key opens the door to the castle's upper floors. If a player attempts to open the door to the upper floors with the basement key, a message will appear to let the player know that that key does not fit the lock.

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the Big Keys retain their purpose from the previous game, but there are other kinds of keys. First, there are those that [[rabbit]]s steal. The first key [[Yoshi]] has to obtain unlocks the Mushroom Castle; only after he catches the first rabbit can he get inside the castle. There are many other rabbits that can be found in the game, but they unlock only [[minigame]]s. Three of the second kind of key the player must collect are held by three bosses ([[Goomboss]], [[King Boo]], and [[Chief Chilly]]) and are used to free [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], and [[Wario]]. The third kind of key is obtained by catching the eight [[glowing rabbit]]s that randomly appear in place of the regular ones after 50 [[Power Star]]s have been collected. The key opens the white-bordered door in the [[Princess Peach's room|princess's room]], which contains a secret Power Star.

|footer=The [[Mario Key]], [[Luigi Key]], and [[Wario Key]]

[[File:SMG Key.png|thumb|right|A key that appears in ''Super Mario Galaxy''.]]

Keys reappear now with cat ears in the ''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury#Bowser's Fury|Bowser's Fury]]'' campaign of ''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury]]'', appearing specifically when a Key is needed to open a cage containing a [[Cat Shine]]. Unlike in previous games, the key must be carried all the way back to the lock, rather than simply touching it. They also disappear if they are on the ground other than their initial spawn point for too long, or if they get thrown into water, the black [[goop]], or [[lava]]. In these cases, the key will respawn back at its original location.

[[File:This Key.jpg|thumb|King Koopa holding a key in "Mama Luigi."]]

Keys appear in the ''[[Super Mario World (TV series)|Super Mario World]]'' cartoon in the episodes "[[Ghosts 'R' Us]]" and "[[Mama Luigi]]". In "Ghosts 'R' Us", when [[Wizenheimer]] is defeated, Oogtar uses a [[? Block]], causing a key to appear, and uses it for the door. In this episode, it makes the same sound as a [[Cape Feather]]. In "Mama Luigi", [[Bowser|King Koopa]] shows a key off, gloating that the Mario Bros. will never be able to find [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] without it. However, [[Yoshi]] then eats it, and after Koopa retreats, he spits it out and it opens the cell the Princess was being held in.

In ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', the player can sometimes find a key inside a [[? Block#Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3|Face Block]]. These keys are hidden throughout many stages of the game and they are required to open the skull door<ref name=WL>''Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3'' English instruction booklet, page 15.</ref> (also called Skeleton Door<ref name=WL/><ref>Hamm & Rudolf GmbH, Frankfurt. ''Super Game Boy'' Player's Guide. Page 28.</ref> or Treasure Room Door<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 88, [https://imgur.com/a/5m2Mlbg page 77.]</ref>) to a Treasure Room.<ref name=WL/> The keyhole in which the key fits is always found in the same stage as the key and the key can not be taken out of the stage, so it has to be recollected after leaving the level. Inside the Treasure Rooms, [[Wario]] can find one of the collectible [[treasure (Wario franchise)|treasure]]s. However, he cannot be [[Tiny Wario|Small Wario]] as he needs to [[Dash Attack|Body Slam]] the [[treasure chest]] to open it (although breathing fireworks).

[[File:WL3 Key.PNG|thumb|132px|The keys as they appear in the levels of ''Wario Land 3'']]

While being absent in ''[[Wario Land II]]'', keys reappear in ''[[Wario Land 3]]''. Four differently colored keys are hidden throughout the level: a '''Gray Key'''<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 133, pages 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65.</ref> (or '''Silver Key'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010429172737/http://www.warioland3.com/strategy/body.asp?key_id=N5_SILVER&land_id=N5 Official American ''Wario Land 3'' website (Internet Archive)]</ref>), '''Red Key'''<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 133, pages 60, 62, 63, 64, 66.</ref>, '''Green Key'''<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 133, pages 61, 62, 64, 65, 66.</ref>, and '''Blue Key'''<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 133, page 65.</ref>. Wario can only clear a level if he finds one of the keys and manages to take them to their respective treasure chest. By doing so, he earns himself a new treasure that helps the player to proceed and find new levels. Usually, not all keys in a level are available from the start. The player has to obtain new abilities and meet certain requirements to find them all. After a key is taken to a treasure chest, the chest gets replaced by a [[Goal door (Wario Land series)|goal door]].

In ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' (and [[Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3|its reissue]]), ''[[Yoshi's Island DS]]'', ''[[Yoshi's New Island]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', ''[[Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', and ''[[Yoshi's Crafted World]]'', keys can be collected and carried like [[Yoshi's Egg|Yoshi Egg]]s, taking up one space of the player's maximum number of eggs. They can be used to unlock [[Mini Battle]] houses, locked doors in castles, and [[Cork]]s that block pipes. Additionally, during the cutscene following the defeat of a castle boss, a large key appears and unlocks a keyhole.

YIDS Key.jpg|A Key in ''Yoshi's Island DS''

YCW Key Behind Yoshi.png|A Key in ''Yoshi's Crafted World''

In ''[[Yoshi's Story]]'', keys are required to open [[Key Door|locked doors]] in the [[Lift Castle]], [[Ghost Castle]], and [[Magma Castle]]. They are obtained by defeating a certain [[ComBat]] in the Lift Castle, popping a certain [[? Bubble]] in the Ghost Castle, and defeating the two [[slug]]s in the Magma Castle. One key in the Ghost Castle is out in the open in an underground section.

In ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'', keys are used to unlock the different rooms of the [[Luigi's Mansion (location)|mansion]]. Luigi can usually obtain a key by completing a room, then opening a [[treasure chest]]. In some rooms, such as the [[Wardrobe Room]] or [[Bathroom (1F)|Bathroom]], the key spawns on a higher shelf. In the [[Fortune-teller's Room]], Luigi must utilize a specific method to acquire the [[Laundry Room (Luigi's Mansion)|Laundry Room]] key, by lighting all four candelabras using the [[elemental medal|Fire Element Medal]].

*The key to Area 2, the '''Main Hall Key'''<ref>''[[Luigi's Mansion]] [[Nintendo Power]]'' guide, page 29</ref> (obtained from [[Chauncey]]): This heart-shaped key unlocks the door with the heart imprint on the first floor of the [[Foyer (Luigi's Mansion)|Foyer]].

*The key to Area 3, the '''Courtyard Key'''<ref>''[[Luigi's Mansion]] [[Nintendo Power]]'' guide, page 46</ref> (obtained from [[Bogmire]]): This key with a club shape on it unlocks the door with the club imprint that is near the [[Bathroom (1F)|Bathroom on the first floor]] and the [[Conservatory (Luigi's Mansion)|Conservatory]].

*The key to Area 4, the '''West Wing Key'''<ref>''[[Luigi's Mansion]] [[Nintendo Power]]'' guide, page 62</ref> (obtained from [[Boolossus]]): This key with a diamond shape unlocks the second door found on the [[Balcony (3F)|Balcony on the third floor]].

*The key to the [[Secret Altar]], the '''Secret Altar Key'''<ref>''[[Luigi's Mansion]] [[Nintendo Power]]'' guide, page 75</ref> (obtained from [[Vincent Van Gore]]): This key with a spade shape on it opens the door that leads to King Boo's Secret Altar, located in the basement at the end of the halls. It's the only special key that's not dropped by a boss Portrait Ghost nor leads to a different area.

===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' trophy===

|[[File:BrawlTrophy145.png|100px]]

|align=center|'''Wii''' ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''

|In The Subspace Emissary, there are often locked doors. This key is the item you need to unlock these doors. You can touch a door while holding the key, or you can even throw the key at a door to unlock it. If you lose the key, it will return to the place you originally found it. This item is vital to your progress, so do your best not to lose it.

 

|meaning3=Lock Door

|Jap=カギ

|Fra=Clé

|FraM=Key

|Dut=Sleutel<ref>Nintendo Nederland. (March 9, 2016). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV4Hwg2Y_JA Super Mario Maker - Gesloten deuren! Spijkerzuilen! Roze munten! (Wii U)]. ''Youtube''. Retrieved May 19, 2019.</ref>

|Jap={{hover|宝|たから}}の{{hover|部屋|へや}}<ref name=SML3>''Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 14.</ref>