Goal Pole: Difference between revisions

{{distinguish|Level Flag|Goal Flag|Pole}}

{{about|the normal Goal Pole with a black flag|the Goal Pole with a red flag used to indicate a secret exit|[[Goal Pole (secret)]]|the goal from [[Super Mario World]]|[[Giant Gate]]}}

{{item infobox

|image=[[File:NSMBW Flagpole Artwork.png|100px]]<br>Artwork of a pole from ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''

|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'' ([[List of games by date#2023|2023]])

A '''Goal Pole''' (also known as a '''flagpole''',<ref>''Super Mario Bros.'' English instruction booklet, pages 6 and 18.</ref> '''Flag Pole''',<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 52, page 18.</ref> '''Goal Post''',<ref>Tatsumi Yamashita, ''The Official Nintendo Player's Guide'', Tokuma Shoten, 1987, ISBN 999832369X. Page 33.</ref> or '''pole'''<ref>''New Super Mario Bros.'' instruction booklet, page 15.</ref><ref>''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' instruction booklet, page 10.</ref>) is an object that appears at the end of every normal [[level]] in most of the mainstream ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' games. [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], or any other playable character has to [[jump]] and grab the Goal Pole to finish the level. The number of [[point]]s the player earns from grabbing the Goal Pole depends on how high they landed on it.

Goal Poles first appeared in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', and the flags on them come in many colors, though [[Goal Pole (secret)|red Goal Pole]]s usually indicate alternate exits in the [[New Super Mario Bros. (disambiguation)|''New Super Mario Bros.'' games]]. Since then, if the player manages to grab the top of a Goal Pole, they will usually earn an [[extra life]]. Goal Poles were replaced by boxed roulette-like [[Goal (Super Mario Bros. 3)|goal]]s in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' and [[Giant Gate]]s in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. A Goal Pole symbolizes Mario and friends taking over or claiming that area&mdash;taking down [[Bowser]]'s flag and/or replacing it with their own.

|caption1=Flagpoles from the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' (left) and ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' (right)

In ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'', flagpoles feature a green pole (which can sometimes be orange or gray in certain levels due to palette limitations) and a white flag with a green skull on them, which is reversed in ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''. [[Mario]] can jump over the flagpole in certain levels (such as [[World 3-3 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 3-3]] of ''Super Mario Bros.''). However, this will only result in Mario/Luigi being trapped in an empty, endlessly looping void once the flagpole disappears offscreen until they run out of time. In ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'', Luigi can do so more easily due to his better jumping abilities. In order to still finish the level, the brother has to jump at it from the other side. It is unknown whether this is a glitch, as it does not cause any errors, and it was not fixed in ''Super Mario All-Stars'' (however, the player this time cannot venture beyond the fortress/castle and is simply just stopped by an invisible barrier on the right side of the screen), though ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'' makes it impossible; ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' actually hides a few [[Warp Zone]]s behind them. If the player gets a 1, 3, or 6 on the timer in ''Super Mario Bros.'', they can get one, three, or six [[fireworks]], each worth 500 points, depending on which number the last digit is. Grabbing the top of the flagpole in these games only rewards the player with 5000 [[point]]s, rather than with an extra life as is the case in later games of the series. However, in ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'', the player can receive an extra life from a flagpole, but only if both digits of the coin counter and the last digit of the timer match when the player's character touches the flagpole. Mario and Luigi slide down the flagpole the same side from which they grabbed it.

[[File:NSMB Fireworks.png|left|200px|thumb|[[Fireworks]] from grabbing the pole]]

Starting with ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', the pole now has a black flag with a clearer skull symbol; it also now sits on a [[fortress]]-styled base, rather than a [[Hard Block]]. There are also [[Goal Pole (secret)|red flags that have skulls]]. It works as it did in ''Super Mario Advance 4'', though it once again marks the levels' end. Also, if the last two digits of the time limit are the same (except 00) when the level is cleared, the "[[Course Clear]]" theme from ''Super Mario Bros.'' plays instead of the normal one, fireworks go off (1 for ending in 11, 2 for ending in 22, and so on, awarding 4,000 points per explosion, for a maximum of 36,000), and a one-time use bonus [[Toad House]] appears at the map's starting point. Time limits ending in 11, 22, or 33 yield a Power-Up Toad House; 44, 55, and 66 yield a [[Extra life|1-Up]] Toad House; and 77, 88, and 99 yield a [[Mega Mushroom]] Toad House. Additionally, [[Mega Mario]] can even destroy the pole, awarding 8000 points for doing so, and filling up one-fifth of the meter above them, ensuring at least one extra life is gained. They shrink into [[Super Mario (form)|Super form]] and head into the fortress afterwards. However, the time limit does not go into the player's score when this happens.

Poles reappear in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''. Starting with this game, the finial is yellow (or red for [[Goal Pole (secret)|hidden goal]]s), and Bowser's emblem replaces the skull on the flag. Like in ''New Super Mario Bros.'', the one-time bonus Toad Houses can appear at the starting points of worlds via the same method as before. In multi-player mode, [[Super Star|Star]] Toad Houses appear when the time limit's last two digits show 77, 88, or 99 (since the Mega Mushroom is absent), and the times for the Power-Up Toad House and 1-Up Mushroom Toad House are flipped. In single-player mode, if Mario or Luigi saves a helpless Toad in a level and takes him to the end, the last digit is counted towards the bonus (e.g. 1, 2, and 3 make a 1-Up Toad House appear instead of 11, 22, and 33). Unlike in previous games, the character slides down the right side of the pole instead of the left.

[[File:Flagpole-SM3DL.png|thumb|120px|Mario grabbing on to a Goal Pole in ''Super Mario 3D Land'']]

The poles, now called Goal Poles, appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''; this is their first appearance in a 3D ''Super Mario'' game. Unlike in 2D ''Super Mario'' games, Goal Poles appear in every level, even in castles and airships. After defeating the boss of an airship or castle, Mario has to keep walking to the Goal Pole instead of ending the level immediately after defeating the boss, as in previous games. '''Big Goal Poles'''<ref>von Esmarch, Nick. ''Super Mario 3D Land'' PRIMA Official Game Guide, page 219.</ref> appear in castles, airships, and {{world-link|s8|crown|Special 8-Crown}}, which use a larger, rectangular flag with a red Bowser emblem and yellow borders on the top and bottom, rather than the usual triangular flag. When Mario grabs any part of a Goal Pole, he earns [[coin]]s rather than points (as the game lacks a scoring system), and a red flag with Mario's emblem (or a green flag with Luigi's emblem if playing as Luigi) replaces the one with Bowser's emblem. However, if Mario grabs the top of a Goal Pole, he performs a trick, earns an extra life, and the flag turns golden instead. These golden flags are required for 100% completion for the entire game.<ref>http://3dsforums.com/super-mario-3d-land-41/i-bought-im-playing-listen-ask-questions-27190/</ref>

[[File:SM3DL Big Goal Pole.png|thumb|left|120px|A Big Goal Pole]]

In this game, ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', and ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', the Bowser flag vanishes instead of being pulled down, and a flag with the character's emblem appears at the base, which rises up to where they landed on the pole.

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', getting double digits the same as the world number (e.g. the timer has to be x11 when in World 1) at the end of the timer means that a [[Rainbow Course]] will appear on the map. The Goal Pole can still be destroyed by Mega Mario, but only in World 5-6 and the player only gains three extra lives for doing so. If Mario is in his [[Gold Mario|Gold form]], he gains coins upon grabbing the Goal Pole instead of points, like in ''Super Mario 3D Land''; in turn, this adds even more points to the score. Additionally, hitting the top of the Goal Pole in [[Coin Rush]] mode doubles the round's accumulated coin total. If the game is played in Co-op, either Mario or Luigi's flag will appear depending on whoever is higher on the Goal Pole.

[[File:NSMBU Yoshi Flagpole.jpg|thumb|Mario and Yoshi grabbing onto a Goal Pole in ''New Super Mario. Bros. U'']]

[[File:NSMBU Flagpole.png|thumb|left|A Goal Pole as seen in ''New Super Mario Bros. U'']]

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', completing a level with the last two digits being matching non-zero numbers will give a reserve [[List of power-ups|power-up]]; a Super Mushroom is given for a time ending in 11, 22, or 33; a Fire Flower is given for 44; an Ice Flower is granted for 55; the Mini Mushroom is given for 66; the Super Acorn is received for 77; and a Super Star is awarded for 88 or 99. In ''[[New Super Luigi U]]'', when the player grabs the Goal Pole as [[Nabbit]], they will receive [[1-Up Mushroom]]s based on the amount of power-ups they collected. In certain [[Challenge Mode (New Super Mario Bros. U)|Challenge Mode]] missions, the [[Goal ring (New Super Mario Bros. U)|goal ring]] appears as the endpoint instead. In this game and its variations, the Bowser flag is pulled down to the base before disappearing while the flag with the character's emblem is raised to where they landed.

Goal Poles return in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'' and the port, ''[[Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury]]''. They function the same as in ''Super Mario 3D Land''. However, they once again give points in this game, and hitting the top of a Goal Pole gives the player 10,000 points instead of an extra life. Again, hitting the pole will make a flag with a character's color and emblem appear (red for Mario with the letter M, green for Luigi with the letter L, pink for Peach with her crown, blue for Toad with his face, turquoise for Rosalina with a [[Grand Star]], or gold for hitting the top), depending on who reaches the highest on the pole first. If the timer ends in 1, 3, or 6, the corresponding amount of [[fireworks]] appear in addition to the "COURSE CLEAR!" message (except for [[The Great Tower of Bowser Land]]), acting like they did in ''Super Mario Bros.'', though the firework points have changed from 500 to 1000.

[[Fake Goal Pole]]s can be found in [[Ghost House]]s; touching these reveals that they are actually swarms of Boos, which promptly disappear. [[Goal Pole (flying)|Flying Goal Poles]] appear in [[The Great Goal Pole]] and [[Back to Hands-On Hall]].

In ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', Goal Poles appear in the first three levels of each world in World Tour. They also appear in most courses in Remix 10 mode (except for underground courses, tower levels, inside ghost houses and boss levels). They do not appear in Toad Rally. Upon touching the Goal Pole, the player earns up to ten coins (depending on their landing height), and Bowser's flag is lowered and replaced with a colored flag (red for Mario, green for Luigi, blue for Toad, pink for Peach and Toadette, and orange for the Yoshis and Daisy) with their respective emblem on it. Grabbing the Goal Pole also turns all enemies currently on-screen into coins; if the player defeats an enemy and touches the Goal Pole as the enemy is still seen falling off-screen, the enemy is still converted into coins. Character-themed Goal Poles are also usable as decorations in Kingdom Builder mode.

The Goal Pole reappears in ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'', serving the same function as in its predecessor. In the ''Super Mario 3D World'' style, Cat Mario can once again climb up the Goal Pole, though this time, an extra life is granted if he reaches the top. In castle levels in the ''Super Mario 3D World'' style, the regular Goal Pole is replaced by the Goal Pole seen at the end of castle levels in the [[Super Mario 3D World|original game]] and ''Super Mario 3D Land'', except with a yellow pole instead of a white one, and with a brown tower instead of a gray one. In levels with clear conditions, the Goal Pole appears as a dashed outline and is only fully revealed after the condition has been met; it will disappear if the clear condition is lost (e.g. a player required to clear a stage with a specific powerup loses that form).

====''Super Mario Bros. Wonder''====

 

 

 

===''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!''===

[[File:SMBSSGoalPoleOpening.png|thumb|Goal Poles seen in the opening of ''The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!'']]

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===

===''Mario & Luigi'' series===

|align=left

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' and its remake, ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', there is a flagpole in front of [[Little Fungitown]] that can be slid down on in the [[Beanbean Kingdom]]. A flagpole is also seen in the ''Super Mario Bros.'' picture behind the [[Border Bro]]s.

===''Paper Mario'' series===

===''WarioWare'' series===

Flagpoles from ''Super Mario Bros.'' appear at the end of each level of the [[Super Mario Bros. (WarioWare: Twisted!)|Super Mario Bros.]] [[microgame]] in ''[[WarioWare: Twisted!]]'', with levels 2 and 3 taking place in underground and castle levels, respectively, where flagpoles are not found in the original game.

 

In ''[[WarioWare: Get It Together!]]'', a Goal Pole with a yellow flag with a green letter "N" appears outside of [[9-Volt's House]].

===''Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix''===

 

===''Mario Party 8''===

===''Mario Kart'' series===

In the course [[Piranha Plant Slide]] in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', several black and red Goal Poles can be seen on each side of the road just before the finish line. These poles are removed in the course's reappearance in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', though they are re-added in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''.

===''Mario Tennis Open''===

===''Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge''===

===''Dr. Mario World''===

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===

In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', a Goal Pole is featured as part of the [[Training Course (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)|Training Course]]. It resembles its modern appearance but with a red flag with a [[Mushroom]] emblem on it. [[Baby Luigi]] also carries a small flag that resembles those of the flagpoles in ''Super Mario Bros.''

 

===Other appearances===

|caption2=The Goal Pole in ''{{Wp|Lego City Undercover}}'' before (right) and after (left) the player lands on it

In ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing|Animal Crossing]]'', ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing: Wild World|Animal Crossing: Wild World]]'', ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing: City Folk|Animal Crossing: City Folk]]'', and ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp|Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp]]'', the Flagpole as it appears in ''Super Mario Bros.'' appears as a furniture item. In ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing: New Leaf|Animal Crossing: New Leaf]]'' and ''[[nookipedia:Animal Crossing: New Horizons|Animal Crossing: New Horizons]]'', it uses its modern name and appearance, while in ''Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp'', it is named "8-bit Goal Pole." The [[nookipedia:Item:Goal Pole (New Horizons)|Goal Pole]] in ''New Horizons'' was added as part of the [[Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary|''Super Mario Bros.'' 35th Anniversary]].

 

In [[Nintendo Monopoly]], there is a [[Coin Block]]/[[Brick Block]] card that rewards the player with $20 for hitting the top of a Flagpole.

 

In the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of ''{{Wp|Lego City Undercover}}'', one of the flags on the castle is the Goal Pole. In all other releases of the game, the flagpole is changed to a generic one.

 

In the Japanese version of ''[[wikibound:EarthBound|EarthBound]]'', one of the default names for Ness' favorite thing is Goal. This coincides with several other default names in the game that make Ness' party members named after ''Super Mario'' characters.

*'''Instruction manual description:''' "''Grab on to the Goal Pole to clear the course. The remaining time will be converted into coins, and you will return to the course-selections screen.''"

**"''<font color="blue">Note:</font> Grab the very top of the Goal Pole to earn an extra life and have a Golden Flag displayed on the course-selection screen.''"

*'''European website bio:''' "''Goal Poles mark the end of every course. The aim of the game is to guide Mario through various obstacles so that he can get to that pole!''"

*'''Instruction manual description:''' "''Grab the Goal Pole to complete the course. The higher Mario grabs on the pole, the more points you'll earn.''"

*'''Instruction manual description:''' "''Grab on this to clear the course.''"

*'''Instruction manual description:''' "''Grab on the Goal Pole to clear a course and return to the world screen. You earn points according to the number of seconds left on the timer and the height at which you land on the Goal Pole.''"

*'''Mario Goal Pole:''' "''A pole with a red flag on it. This will rise up when Mario reaches the goal.''"

*'''Luigi Goal Pole:''' "''A pole with a green flag on it. This will rise up when Luigi reaches the goal.''"

*'''Peach Goal Pole:''' "''A pole with a pink flag on it. This will rise up when Peach reaches the goal.''"

*'''Yoshi Goal Pole:''' "''A pole with a orange flag on it. This will rise up when Yoshi reaches the goal.''"

*'''Toad Goal Pole:''' "''A pole with a blue flag on it. This will rise up when Toad reaches the goal.''"

*'''Toadette Goal Pole:''' "''A pole with a pink flag on it. This will rise up when Toadette reaches the goal.''"

CranktoRank 8.png|''[[Mario Party 8]]''

Top100CranktoRank.png|''[[Mario Party: The Top 100]]''

Flagpole SSBB.png|''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''

SSBU Mushroomy Kingdom Flagpole.png|''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''

 

Lego Mario Promo from Lego Website (1).png|LEGO ''Super Mario''

 

|Jap=ポール<ref>''Super Mario Bros.'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 6.</ref>

|JapR=Pōru

|Jap2=ゴールポール

|Jap2R=Gōru Pōru

|Jap2M=Goal Pole

|Fre=Drapeau

|FreM=Flag

{{TSMBSS animation}}