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{{redirect|Iron ball|the recurring spiked ball also referred to as an iron ball|[[Spike Ball]]|the projectile from [[King K. Rool|King K. Rool's]] Blunderbuss (referred to as an iron ball in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]])|[[Cannonball|Kannonball]]}}
{{redirect|Iron ball|the recurring spiked ball also referred to as an iron ball|[[Spike Ball]]|the projectile from [[King K. Rool|King K. Rool's]] Blunderbuss (referred to as an iron ball in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]])|[[Cannonball|Kannonball]]}}
{{item infobox
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:MK7 MetalBall.png|MK7 MetalBall.png]]<br>A pinball texture from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
|image=[[File:MK7 MetalBall.png|MK7 MetalBall.png]]<br>The pinball's texture from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' ([[Bowser Tour (2023)|Bowser Tour]]) (2023)
|latest_appearance=''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' ([[Bowser Tour (2023)|Bowser Tour]]) (2023)
|effect=A metal ball attempts to roll into the player, resulting in that player losing health.  
|effect=A metal ball attempts to roll into the player, resulting in that player losing health.  
}}
}}
'''Metal balls''', also referred to as '''iron balls''', '''bowling balls''', and '''pinballs''',<ref>"''If you attack a rolling pinball, you can divert it away from you.''" — '''''Mario Sports Mix''''', ''in-game description for the Waluigi Pinball court''</ref><ref>von Esmarch, Nick. ''Mario Kart 7'' PRIMA Official Game Guide. Page 130. '''ROAD HAZARDS''' section. "''PINBALLS: These giant pinballs will topple your kart if you let them. Keep your distance!''"</ref> are large obstacles that appear throughout the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]], commonly rolling around the area to hinder the player's progress, not unlike rolling [[boulder]]s. They debut in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' as '''Big Steelies''',<ref>M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 52.</ref> in which they are used in a final boss attack. They also return in ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' as an uphill hazard.
'''Metal balls''', also referred to as '''iron balls''', '''bowling balls''', '''pinballs''',<ref>{{cite|quote=If you attack a rolling pinball, you can divert it away from you.|author=In-game description for the Waluigi Pinball Court|title=''Mario Sports Mix''|publisher=Nintendo|date=2010|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=von Esmarch, Nick|title=''Mario Kart 7'' PRIMA Official Game Guide|page=130|date=December 4, 2011|language=en-us|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|isbn=978-0-307-89384-0|quote=PINBALLS: These giant pinballs will topple your kart if you let them. Keep your distance!}}</ref> and '''Big Steelies''',<ref>{{cite|title=Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=52|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> are obstacles introduced in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. They are large objects that roll around certain areas, not unlike rolling [[boulder]]s.


==History==
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario World'' / ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''====
====''Super Mario World'' / ''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2''====
Big Steelies, also referred to as '''Bowling Balls'''<ref>"''Take it and get ready for Bowser's Bowling Balls.''" &mdash; M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 148.</ref> (also uncapitalized as '''bowling balls'''),<ref>"''As he hovers overhead, Bowser throws gigantic bowling balls and handfuls of Mechakoopas.''" &mdash; M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 52.</ref> '''giant steel balls''',<ref>"''The giant steel balls that Bowser throws from the Clown Ship are impossible to beat.''" &mdash; M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 52.</ref> and '''big rollers''',<ref>"''He'll toss out two of these big rollers, then a pair of Mecha Koopas.''" &mdash; M. Arakawa. Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide. Page 148.</ref> first appear in the second phase of the final battle with [[Bowser]] in ''Super Mario World'' (and reappear in [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]]). Bowser drops Big Steelies from his [[Koopa Clown Car]], and [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] can [[jump]] over them to avoid getting hit. Mario or Luigi can also [[Spin Jump|spin-jump]] on them without getting hurt. A Big Steely can be destroyed if Mario or Luigi uses his sliding cape attack against it using a [[Cape Feather]]; however, a [[glitch]]ed sprite is displayed if this happens.
Big Steelies, also referred to as '''Bowling Balls'''<ref>{{cite|quote=Take it and get ready for Bowser's Bowling Balls.|title=Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=148|language=en-us|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref> (also uncapitalized as '''bowling balls'''),<ref>{{cite|quote=As he hovers overhead, Bowser throws gigantic bowling balls and handfuls of Mechakoopas.|title=Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=52|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=August 1991|language=en-us}}</ref> '''giant steel balls''',<ref>{{cite|quote=The giant steel balls that Bowser throws from the Clown Ship are impossible to beat.|title=Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=52|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=August 1991}}</ref> and '''big rollers''',<ref>{{cite|quote=He'll toss out two of these big rollers, then a pair of Mecha Koopas.|title=Nintendo ''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=148|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|date=August 1991}}</ref> are obstacles in ''Super Mario World''. They appear only in the second phase of the final battle with [[Bowser]] in ''Super Mario World'' and [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|its reissue]]. Bowser drops Big Steelies from his [[Koopa Clown Car]], and [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] can [[jump]] over them to avoid getting hit. Mario or Luigi can also [[Spin Jump|spin-jump]] on them without getting hurt. A Big Steely can be destroyed if Mario or Luigi uses his sliding cape attack against it using a [[Cape Feather]]; however, a [[glitch]]ed sprite is displayed if this happens. In the reissue, the game timer stops counting down when a Big Steely appears and resumes when it rolls off the screen.


====''Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS''====
====''Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS''====
In ''Super Mario 64'' and ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', iron balls<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide. Pages 106, 107, 109 and 110.</ref><ref>''Super Mario 64 DS'' internal object name (<tt>IRONBALL</tt>)</ref> are also referred to as '''rolling balls''',<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide. Page 101.</ref> '''cannonballs''',<ref>''Nintendo Magazine System'' (AU) Issue #52, pages 45 and 46.</ref> or simply '''balls'''.<ref>M. Arakawa. ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide. Page 19</ref> They appear on the [[Bob-omb Battlefield]]; [[Tall, Tall Mountain]]; and [[Tiny-Huge Island]] as an uphill hazard. Several more also appear in the DS version's [[Battle Fort]]. In the remake, [[Wario]] has the ability to destroy iron balls by [[punch]]ing or [[kick]]ing them, and players equipped with a [[Super Mushroom|mushroom]] can destroy them simply by walking into them.
Iron balls,<ref>{{cite|author=Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=106-107, 109-110|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>''Super Mario 64 DS'' internal object name (<tt>IRONBALL</tt>)</ref> also referred to as '''rolling balls''',<ref>{{cite|author=Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=101|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> '''cannonballs''',<ref>{{cite|title=''Nintendo Magazine System'' (AU) Issue #52|page=45-46|date=January 1997|publisher=Catalyst Publishing|language=en-au}}</ref> and '''balls''',<ref>{{cite|author=Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen|title=''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide|page=19|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> are obstacles in ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' and ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''. They are encountered on the [[Bob-omb Battlefield]]; [[Tall, Tall Mountain]]; and [[Tiny-Huge Island]] as an uphill hazard. In the remake, several more iron balls appear in [[Battle Fort]]; [[Wario]] is given the ability to destroy iron balls by [[punch]]ing or [[kick]]ing them; and players equipped with a [[Super Mushroom|mushroom]] can destroy iron balls on contact.


===''Super Mario World'' television series===
===''Super Mario World'' television series===
In the ''[[Super Mario World (television series)|Super Mario World]]'' episode "[[Send in the Clown]]," King Koopa attempts to defeat Mario in one scene by dropping a Big Steely on him, but Mario dodges it. King Koopa, with the same method, is shown dropping a Big Steely after [[Yoshi]] hits him with his [[Mechakoopa]]s. Mario, however, uses a golf club and knocks the Big Steely at him.
In the ''[[Super Mario World (television series)|Super Mario World]]'' episode "[[Send in the Clown]]," King Koopa attempts to defeat Mario in one scene by dropping a Big Steely on him, but Mario dodges it.


===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
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===''Mario & Luigi'' series===
===''Mario & Luigi'' series===
====''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''====
====''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''====
In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', a metal ball (erroneously called a "rock") appears during the [[Jellyfish Sisters]]' tutorial on [[Dash (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)|Dash]]ing, where it must be pushed with the ability. Later, some appear around [[Gwarhar Lagoon]]'s exterior in timed courses involving the Dash.
In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', an iron ball (erroneously called a "rock") appears during the [[Jellyfish Sisters]]' tutorial on [[Dash (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)|Dash]]ing, where it must be pushed with the ability. Later, some appear around [[Gwarhar Lagoon]]'s exterior in timed courses involving the Dash.


====''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''====
====''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey''====
In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]'', iron balls appear in multiple locations. In [[Cavi Cape]], Bowser must punch a falling one in order to knock it into a button; in the [[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|game's remake]], these are replaced with [[barrel]]s. Later, [[Midbus]] crushes Bowser with a massive iron ball (which Midbus dubs the "Super Ultra Wonder Ultimate Ruthless Great Iron Ball"), prompting Mario and Luigi to visit the [[Arm Center]] one last time. At [[Blubble Lake]], Bowser can punch some iron balls found on spinning mechanisms to push himself into the lake.
Iron balls are obstacles in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''. They appear in multiple locations. In [[Cavi Cape]], Bowser must punch a falling one in order to knock it into a button; in the [[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey|game's remake]], these are replaced with [[barrel]]s. Later, [[Midbus]] crushes Bowser with a massive iron ball (which Midbus dubs the "Super Ultra Wonder Ultimate Ruthless Great Iron Ball"), prompting Mario and Luigi to visit the [[Arm Center]] one last time. At [[Blubble Lake]], Bowser can punch some iron balls found on spinning mechanisms to push himself into the lake.


====''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam''====
====''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam''====
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===''Mario Kart'' series===
===''Mario Kart'' series===
Metal balls are obstacles in [[DS Waluigi Pinball|Waluigi Pinball]] in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. In ''Mario Kart Tour'', they also appear in [[GBA Bowser's Castle 4]]. They roll around all throughout the course, and they flip over any player that drives into them. On the pinball table section of the track, metal balls are bounced around by [[Bumper (Mario Kart series)|bumpers]] and [[Flipper (Mario Kart series)|flippers]]. In GBA Bowser's Castle 4, they are spawned by a propeller-like contraption, and bounce around in a straight path. In ''Mario Kart DS'', they are 2D sprites that always face the camera, while in ''Mario Kart 7'', ''Mario Kart Tour'', and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'', they are 3D models. In ''Mario Kart Tour'', metal balls show a reflection of the courses they appear in; in DS Waluigi Pinball, the reflection is of the pinball table section of the track, regardless of where the metal balls are, whereas in GBA Bowser's Castle 4, the reflection is more appropriately that of the one straight path they appear on. They are black in ''Mario Kart DS'' and ''Mario Kart 7''; however, they are gray in ''Mario Kart Tour'' and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.
Metal balls, referred to as pinballs in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', are obstacles in [[DS Waluigi Pinball|Waluigi Pinball]] in ''Mario Kart DS'', ''Mario Kart 7'', ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. They roll around all throughout the course, and they flip over any player that drives into them. On the pinball table section of the track, metal balls are bounced around by [[Bumper (Mario Kart series)|bumpers]] and [[Flipper (Mario Kart series)|flippers]]. In ''Mario Kart DS'', they are 2D sprites that always face the camera, while in ''Mario Kart 7'', ''Mario Kart Tour'', and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'', they are 3D models. In ''Mario Kart Tour'', the reflection is of the pinball table section of the track, regardless of where the metal balls are. They are black in ''Mario Kart DS'' and ''Mario Kart 7''; however, they are gray in ''Mario Kart Tour'' and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.
 
In ''Mario Kart Tour'', metal balls also appear in [[GBA Bowser's Castle 4]]. In this iteration of the course, they are spawned by flying dispensers from the top of a slope, bouncing down the slope in a straight path. Racers have to drive up the slope and avoid the metal balls to reach the midway point finish line and enter the final section of the course. The metal balls in GBA Bowser's Castle 4 are much larger than their counterparts in DS Waluigi Pinball, and their reflection more appropriately matches the one part of the environment on which they appear.


===''Mario Sports Mix''===
===''Mario Sports Mix''===
Pinballs also appear in ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]'' on the [[Waluigi Pinball (court)|Waluigi Pinball]] court, which is based on the ''Mario Kart'' course of the same name. Here, they are released onto the court by a giant robotic [[Waluigi]] and then continuously roll around the area, hitting bumpers and walls. When they collide with a player, they push them back and stun them for a few moments while also becoming faster. They keep their momentum if they hit a bumper, but they revert to their original speed if they hit a solid wall instead. If a pinball ends up in the hole at the top middle of the court, another one appears shortly afterwards.
Pinballs are obstacles in ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]''. They appear on the [[Waluigi Pinball (court)|Waluigi Pinball]] court, where they are released onto the court by a giant robotic [[Waluigi]] and then continuously roll around the area, hitting bumpers and walls. When they collide with a player, they push them back and stun them for a few moments while also becoming faster. They keep their momentum if they hit a bumper, but they revert to their original speed if they hit a solid wall instead. If a pinball ends up in the hole at the top middle of the court, another one appears shortly afterwards.


===Unused appearances===
===Unused appearances===
In ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', graphics for metal balls exist [[List of Super Mario Maker pre-release and unused content|unused]] in the ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' game style's object graphics. However, the iron ball's sprite is green instead of dark gray, making it resemble the [[Big Bubble]] from ''Super Mario World''.
In ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', graphics for iron balls exist [[List of Super Mario Maker pre-release and unused content|unused]] in the ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' game style's object graphics, designed using the white-yellow-green color palette used in the original ''Super Mario Bros.'' for [[1-Up Mushroom]]s and [[Koopa Troopa]]s among others.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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==Names in other languages==
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
{{foreign names
|Jap=鉄球<ref>「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオワールド」 (''Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario World''), page 124.</ref><ref>Shogakukan. 2015. ''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook'', ''Super Mario 64'' section, page 92.</ref>/てっきゅう
|Jap=鉄球<ref>{{cite|location=Tokyo|title=「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオワールド」 (''Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario World'')|page=124|publisher=Shogakukan|date=December 10, 1992|isbn=4-09-104117-5|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), et al.|language=ja|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|location=Tokyo|date=October 19, 2015|title=『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』 (''Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook''), スーパーマリオ{{ruby|64|六十四(ろくじゅうよん)}} (''Sūpā Mario Rokujūyon'') section|page=101|isbn=978-4-09-106569-8}}</ref>/てっきゅう
|JapR=Tekkyū
|JapR=Tekkyū
|JapM=Iron ball
|JapM=Iron ball
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|ChiTR=Tiě Qiú
|ChiTR=Tiě Qiú
|ChiTM=Iron Ball
|ChiTM=Iron Ball
|Fre=Boule de métal <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|Fre=Boule de métal
|FreN=''Mario Kart Tour''
|FreM=Metal ball
|FreM=Metal ball
|Ger=Eisenkugel<br>Metallkugel <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|Ger=Stahlkugel<ref>{{cite|author=Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors|title=''Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World"''|language=de|location=Großostheim|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe GmbH]]|date=1993|page=20}}</ref>
|GerM=Iron ball<br>Metal ball
|GerM=Steel Ball
|Ita=Palla di ferro<br>Sfera di ferro{{ref needed}}
|GerN=''Super Mario World''
|ItaM=Iron ball<br>Iron sphere
|Ger2=Eisenkugel
|Ger2M=Iron Ball
|Ger2N=''Mario Kart Tour''
|Ger3=Metallkugel
|Ger3M=Metal Ball
|Ger3N=''Mario Kart Tour''
|Ita=Palla di ferro<ref>{{cite|date=November 15, 2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=92}}</ref>
|ItaN=''Super Mario 64''
|Ita2=Biglia di ferro
|Ita2N=''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' and its remake
|Ita3=Ferrosfera
|Ita3N=''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' and its remake
|Ita4=palla{{sic}} di ferro
|Ita4N=''Mario Kart Tour''
|ItaM=Iron ball
|Ita2M=Iron marble
|Ita3M=Iron-sphere
|Ita4M=iron ball
|Kor=철퇴
|Kor=철퇴
|KorR=Cheol toe
|KorR=Cheol toe
|KorM=Iron mace
|KorM=Iron mace
|Por=Bola de metal <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|Por=Bola de metal
|PorN=''Mario Kart Tour''
|PorM=Metal ball
|PorM=Metal ball
|Rus=Стальной шар
|Rus=Стальной шар
|RusR=Stalnoi shar
|RusR=Stalnoi shar
|RusM=Steel Ball
|RusM=Steel Ball
|Spa=Bola de metal <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|Spa=Bola de metal
|SpaN=''Mario Kart Tour''
|SpaM=Metal ball
|SpaM=Metal ball
}}
}}
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
{{SMW}}
{{SMW}}
{{SMW TV}}
{{SMW TV}}
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{{MK8}}
{{MK8}}
[[Category:Hazardous objects]]
[[Category:Hazardous objects]]
[[Category:Koopa Troop weapons]]
[[Category:Super Mario World objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World (television series)]]
[[Category:Super Mario World (television series)]]

Latest revision as of 06:00, September 14, 2024

"Iron ball" redirects here. For the recurring spiked ball also referred to as an iron ball, see Spike Ball. For the projectile from King K. Rool's Blunderbuss (referred to as an iron ball in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate), see Kannonball.
Metal ball
A Metal ball as seen in Mario Kart 7
The pinball's texture from Mario Kart 7
First appearance Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance Mario Kart Tour (Bowser Tour) (2023)
Effect A metal ball attempts to roll into the player, resulting in that player losing health.

Metal balls, also referred to as iron balls, bowling balls, pinballs,[1][2] and Big Steelies,[3] are obstacles introduced in Super Mario World. They are large objects that roll around certain areas, not unlike rolling boulders.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

Big Steelies, also referred to as Bowling Balls[4] (also uncapitalized as bowling balls),[5] giant steel balls,[6] and big rollers,[7] are obstacles in Super Mario World. They appear only in the second phase of the final battle with Bowser in Super Mario World and its reissue. Bowser drops Big Steelies from his Koopa Clown Car, and Mario or Luigi can jump over them to avoid getting hit. Mario or Luigi can also spin-jump on them without getting hurt. A Big Steely can be destroyed if Mario or Luigi uses his sliding cape attack against it using a Cape Feather; however, a glitched sprite is displayed if this happens. In the reissue, the game timer stops counting down when a Big Steely appears and resumes when it rolls off the screen.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

Iron balls,[8][9] also referred to as rolling balls,[10] cannonballs,[11] and balls,[12] are obstacles in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. They are encountered on the Bob-omb Battlefield; Tall, Tall Mountain; and Tiny-Huge Island as an uphill hazard. In the remake, several more iron balls appear in Battle Fort; Wario is given the ability to destroy iron balls by punching or kicking them; and players equipped with a mushroom can destroy iron balls on contact.

Super Mario World television series[edit]

In the Super Mario World episode "Send in the Clown," King Koopa attempts to defeat Mario in one scene by dropping a Big Steely on him, but Mario dodges it.

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

Metal balls are mentioned in Super Smash Bros. Melee in the Koopa Clown Car trophy, where they are described as "bowling balls."

Mario & Luigi series[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[edit]

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, an iron ball (erroneously called a "rock") appears during the Jellyfish Sisters' tutorial on Dashing, where it must be pushed with the ability. Later, some appear around Gwarhar Lagoon's exterior in timed courses involving the Dash.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story / Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]

Iron balls are obstacles in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. They appear in multiple locations. In Cavi Cape, Bowser must punch a falling one in order to knock it into a button; in the game's remake, these are replaced with barrels. Later, Midbus crushes Bowser with a massive iron ball (which Midbus dubs the "Super Ultra Wonder Ultimate Ruthless Great Iron Ball"), prompting Mario and Luigi to visit the Arm Center one last time. At Blubble Lake, Bowser can punch some iron balls found on spinning mechanisms to push himself into the lake.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team / Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[edit]

There are Hammers called the Iron Ball Hammer and Iron Ball Hammer DX in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, which sometimes cause an iron ball to fall onto a random enemy after an "Excellent" rating is achieved. In the former game, they have a studded appearance, though they are smooth in the latter. The latter game also has them appear in the mission Hammer, Bros!, where they are referred to in localizations as cannonballs.

Mario Kart series[edit]

Metal balls, referred to as pinballs in Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7, are obstacles in Waluigi Pinball in Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart Tour, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. They roll around all throughout the course, and they flip over any player that drives into them. On the pinball table section of the track, metal balls are bounced around by bumpers and flippers. In Mario Kart DS, they are 2D sprites that always face the camera, while in Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart Tour, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, they are 3D models. In Mario Kart Tour, the reflection is of the pinball table section of the track, regardless of where the metal balls are. They are black in Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7; however, they are gray in Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

In Mario Kart Tour, metal balls also appear in GBA Bowser's Castle 4. In this iteration of the course, they are spawned by flying dispensers from the top of a slope, bouncing down the slope in a straight path. Racers have to drive up the slope and avoid the metal balls to reach the midway point finish line and enter the final section of the course. The metal balls in GBA Bowser's Castle 4 are much larger than their counterparts in DS Waluigi Pinball, and their reflection more appropriately matches the one part of the environment on which they appear.

Mario Sports Mix[edit]

Pinballs are obstacles in Mario Sports Mix. They appear on the Waluigi Pinball court, where they are released onto the court by a giant robotic Waluigi and then continuously roll around the area, hitting bumpers and walls. When they collide with a player, they push them back and stun them for a few moments while also becoming faster. They keep their momentum if they hit a bumper, but they revert to their original speed if they hit a solid wall instead. If a pinball ends up in the hole at the top middle of the court, another one appears shortly afterwards.

Unused appearances[edit]

In Super Mario Maker, graphics for iron balls exist unused in the Super Mario Bros. game style's object graphics, designed using the white-yellow-green color palette used in the original Super Mario Bros. for 1-Up Mushrooms and Koopa Troopas among others.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 鉄球[13][14]/てっきゅう
Tekkyū
Iron ball
Chinese (simplified) 铁球[?]
Tiě Qiú
Iron Ball
Chinese (traditional) 鐵球[?]
Tiě Qiú
Iron Ball
French Boule de métal[?] Metal ball Mario Kart Tour
German Stahlkugel[15] Steel Ball Super Mario World
Eisenkugel[?] Iron Ball Mario Kart Tour
Metallkugel[?] Metal Ball Mario Kart Tour
Italian Palla di ferro[16] Iron ball Super Mario 64
Biglia di ferro[?] Iron marble Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake
Ferrosfera[?] Iron-sphere Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its remake
palla[sic] di ferro[?] iron ball Mario Kart Tour
Korean 철퇴[?]
Cheol toe
Iron mace
Portuguese Bola de metal[?] Metal ball Mario Kart Tour
Russian Стальной шар[?]
Stalnoi shar
Steel Ball
Spanish Bola de metal[?] Metal ball Mario Kart Tour

References[edit]

  1. ^ "If you attack a rolling pinball, you can divert it away from you." – In-game description for the Waluigi Pinball Court (2010). Mario Sports Mix. Nintendo (English).
  2. ^ "PINBALLS: These giant pinballs will topple your kart if you let them. Keep your distance!" – von Esmarch, Nick (December 4, 2011). Mario Kart 7 PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-307-89384-0. Page 130.
  3. ^ August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 52.
  4. ^ "Take it and get ready for Bowser's Bowling Balls." – August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 148.
  5. ^ "As he hovers overhead, Bowser throws gigantic bowling balls and handfuls of Mechakoopas." – August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 52.
  6. ^ "The giant steel balls that Bowser throws from the Clown Ship are impossible to beat." – August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 52.
  7. ^ "He'll toss out two of these big rollers, then a pair of Mecha Koopas." – August 1991. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 148.
  8. ^ Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 106-107, 109-110.
  9. ^ Super Mario 64 DS internal object name (IRONBALL)
  10. ^ Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 101.
  11. ^ January 1997. Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #52. Catalyst Publishing (Australian English). Page 45-46.
  12. ^ Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 19.
  13. ^ December 10, 1992. 「任天堂公式ガイドブック スーパーマリオワールド」 (Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook – Super Mario World). Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 4-09-104117-5. Page 124.
  14. ^ Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), et al. (October 19, 2015). 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』 (Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), スーパーマリオ64六十四(ろくじゅうよん) (Sūpā Mario Rokujūyon) section. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. Page 101.
  15. ^ Menold, Marcus, Claude M. Moyse, and Andreas G. Kämmerer, editors (1993). Der offizielle Nintendo Spieleberater "Super Mario World". Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German). Page 20.
  16. ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 92.