Arrow Lift (Super Mario 64)

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Split-arrows.svg It has been suggested that this page be split into the following: Directional Lift, Arrow wheel, Work Elevator, Arrow Lift. (discuss)
Both spinning wheel types from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Both versions of the arrow wheels in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
File:7-6SMAS.png
Mario riding a Directional Lift in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 3.

Arrow Lifts[1][2] are objects found in the Mario franchise.

Arrow Lifts first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3 as Directional Lifts[3], only in the levels 4-Fortress 2 and 7-6. Directional Lifts are block-like platforms with an arrow emblazoned on them. If Mario stands on one, the platform releases a decolored form of itself and moves him to the direction the arrow wheel is pointing. There is another Directional Lift that has an exclamation mark on it. If Mario or Luigi steps on this one, he can control the direction of the platform up, left or right when he jumps. However, if he stands still while the platform is moving and stumble upon an obstacle, like a wall, the platform will keep moving or disappear, causing Mario to fall.

Yoshi's New Island

In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Yoshi's Island DS, Yoshi's New Island, and Yoshi's Woolly World, Arrow Lifts are known as spinning wheels[4] or arrow wheels[5], and appear as round objects with an arrow on them that are always spinning. If a Yoshi jumps on it, the arrow wheels will move in the direction the arrow is pointing. However, it can change its direction if the Yoshis jump on it again or if the object hits a surface. Arrow wheels can also be grabbed with the Yoshi's tongue and spat out. Arrow wheels come in two colors: tan, the most common, and blue. The difference between these two types of arrow wheels are that the blue arrow wheels disappear if a Yoshi jumps off one and doesn't ride it again for a while. The only way to prevent its disappearance is to grab it with the Yoshi's tongue and spit it out. Arrow wheels first appear in the level Salvo The Slime's Castle. Arrow wheels are mainly found within the various castles and fortresses across Yoshi's Island.

Screenshot of Wet-Dry World from Super Mario 64 DS, showing Arrow Lifts.
Arrow Lifts as they appear in Super Mario 64 DS.

In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, Arrow Lifts reappear in the course Wet-Dry World. They are gray blocks with blue arrows that move back and forth when Mario steps on them. In the Hazy Maze Cave level "Elevate For 8 Red Coins," there is a large, flat platform called the Work Elevator[6] with four arrow-emblazoned buttons. Mario can step on these arrows to move the platform, thus being similar to the Directional Lift.

In New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U, Switchbacks behave somewhat similar to Arrow Lifts, but they only move side to side or up and down. Similar objects called Switchboards also appear in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World.

Official profiles

Super Mario Bros. 3

  • 3DS Virtual Console Manual Bio: "You can ride the lift in the direction shown by jumping on it. There are also other lifts that can be controlled by jumping to set the direction."

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 不思議リフト[7] (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Fushigi Rifuto
矢印リフト[8] (Yoshi's Island series)
Yajirushi Rifuto
そうさリフト (Hazy Maze Cave in Super Mario 64)
Sōsa Rifuto
まめリフト (Wet-Dry World in Super Mario 64)
Mame Rifuto

Wonder Lift

Arrow Lift

Operable Lift

Bean Lift

Italian Freccia mobile (Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3)
Moving arrow

References

  1. ^ Shocking Arrow Lifts!
  2. ^ The Super Mario 64 Player's Guide, page 96.
  3. ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 English instruction booklet, page 19.
  4. ^ The Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Player's Guide, page 123: "SPINNING WHEEL Jump atop one of these and it will go in the direction in which the arrow is pointing. If you jump, the wheel will begin spinning again. Tap the B Button slightly to control your direction. Brown spinning wheels keep you aloft as long as you want, but blue ones disintegrate after a brief period of time. Yoshi can grab and hold a spinning wheel in his mouth, then spit it out elsewhere."
  5. ^ Message block in Yoshi's Island DS: 3-8 Castle of Priscilla the Peckish
  6. ^ "Once you have all the coins in the crates, climb the pole to reach the checkerboard lift. It’s more dependable than the Work Elevator, but you have no control over it." - The Super Mario 64 Player's Guide, page 58.
  7. ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 Japanese instruction booklet, page 17.
  8. ^ 「スーパーマリオアドバンス3任天堂公式ガイドブック」 (Super Mario Advance 3 Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook), page 9.