Block: Difference between revisions

'''Blocks''' are a staple of many platformers and RPGs in the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'']] franchise. In fact, they were so successful that blocks are now a great part of the platforming genre for other video game series. Blocks often release [[coin]]s and [[List of items|items]] (particularly power-ups) when [[jump|hit from below]], [[Ground Pound|ground-pounded]] from above, and hit from the side with a [[shell|Koopa Shell]] or by other means. Blocks are also commonly used as a platform to get to places, but some, such as the [[Drop Block]], may have negative side effects when stepped on, making it difficult to traverse them. Blocks have many other uses: They can [[expansion Block|grow]], [[Marshmallow Block|shrink]], [[Recovery Block|recover health]], [[Message Block|give the player tips]], or change the [[level]] to benefit or harm the player in some way. Some blocks break when hit, but most simply become inactive [[Empty Block]]s.

The first block that appeared was the [[POW Block]] in ''[[Mario Bros. (game)|Mario Bros.]]'' The POW Block damages all enemies on the screen, making it useful if the player gets swarmed with enemies. ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' introduces the two most common blocks in the ''Mario'' series: the [[Brick Block]] and [[? Block]]. Some Brick Blocks release coins or items when hit, and others are breakable only by [[Super Mario (form)|Super Mario]] or higher-tiered forms. ? Blocks usually release power-ups, such as [[Super Mushroom]]s or [[Fire Flower]]s. Brick Blocks and ? Blocks appear in almost every ''Mario'' platformer afterwards, and new blocks have usually been introduced in every new platformer, from the [[Note Block]] in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' to the [[! Block]] in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' to the [[Egg Block]] in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island|Yoshi's Island]]''.

In ''Mario'' RPGs, blocks release either items or coins when hit, similar to their platformer role. In most ''Mario'' RPGs, a [[Save Block]] must be hit so the player can save the game. Heart Blocks could also heal the player, sometimes for a fee. [[Super Block]]s and [[Shine Block]]s also play a role in upgrading the abilities of [[partner]]s. In the [[Paper Mario (series)|''Paper Mario'' series]], [[yellow block]]s and [[stone block]]s are obstacles that must be shattered by the [[Hammer]] and its upgrades. Yellow blocks can be destroyed by all hammers, but a [[Super Hammer]] is required to destroy a giant yellow block in ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''. In ''[[Paper Mario]]'', stone blocks are destroyed with the Super Hammer, but they are destroyed with the [[Ultra Hammer]] in ''The Thousand-Year Door''. [[Metal block]]s can be shattered by the Ultra Hammer only in ''Paper Mario''; in ''The Thousand-Year Door'', they usually serve as puzzle elements.

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'', the battle system features [[Command Block|commands in the forms of blocks]] that [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] can hit to confirm. Additionally, the blocks from ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario World'', ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', and ''Paper Mario'' appear together in a room in [[Woohoo Hooniversity]], being studied by the professors. The names of their respective games are mentioned in their descriptions when hit, but the blocks do not give any coins or items.

In the ''[[Mario & Luigi (series)|Mario & Luigi]]'' series, there are blocks with Mario's and Luigi's symbols on them, called [[M Block]]s and [[L Block]]s, respectively. There is also a [[P Block (Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam)|P Block]] for [[Paper Mario (character)|Paper Mario]] in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam]]''. These blocks function like normal ? Blocks, but they can be hit only by the plumber who matches the symbol on the block.

PM Metal Block.png|[[Metal block]]

SMW SnakeBlock.png|[[Snake Block]]

SM3DL-HardBlock.png|[[Hard Block|Wooden Block]]