Message Block
It has been requested that this article be rewritten and expanded to include more information. Reason: May 20th, 2018
- “Roses are red,
violets are blue,
never forget,
what I say to you.” - —Message Block, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Message Blocks are blocks that provide tips and hints to the playable character in various platforming titles of the Mario franchise. Message Blocks make their first appearance in Super Mario World, but are the most prevalent in the Yoshi franchise. Message Blocks are often depicted as smiling white blocks.
History
Super Mario World / Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Message Blocks[1] first appeared in Super Mario World, where they usually describe a new level in the beginning stages of the game or explain a new game mechanic, known as Tourist Tips. Unlike later appearances, these Message Blocks feature no face in Super Mario World but instead look like speakers. They reappear in the remake Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.
Yoshi franchise
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Message Blocks (also named Messages[2] and Information Blocks[3]) teach the player controls and give tips rather than provide information outright. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island gives Message Blocks their now-common look of being a white block with a smiley facial expression and yellow cheeks. They reappear in the remake Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.
Yoshi's Story
In Yoshi's Story, Message Blocks (or Message Boxes[4]) have the exact same role as in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. They were made a lot bigger, and their mouths continually move.
Yoshi's Island DS
In Yoshi's Island DS, Message Blocks[5] (also named Hint Blocks,[6]) are much the same as before, but return to their Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island form.
Yoshi's New Island
Message Blocks return in Yoshi's New Island. Their instructions change depending on the control type used, whether it is traditional button-style egg-throwing or gyro tilt to aim. Some Message Block hints additionally automatically appear when a Yoshi does an action for the first time, such as dropping Baby Mario. Message Blocks can also explain stage features in a level new to players such as instructing to ground pound a Tatami Block. A list of all Message Block hints can be found here.
Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World
Only five Message Blocks appear in the game, with three in the first level and two in the third. They retain the appearance from Yoshi's Island DS; however, their mouths now continually move, like in Yoshi's Story. Their cheeks are pink this time.
Yoshi's Crafted World
Message Blocks return in Yoshi's Crafted World, behaving exactly the same as in past appearances.
Super Smash Bros. series
Message Blocks have a cameo in Super Smash Bros.. They appear in the stage Yoshi's Island where one can be seen in the background along with the Super Happy Tree. The same stage also makes a reappearance as playable for the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, along with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Princess Peach
It has been suggested that this section be split into the following: Message Block, Kassar Brock. (discuss) |
In Super Princess Peach, blocks called Kassar Brocks that act similar to Message Blocks still give hints when hit, although here, they are yellow and blue, referring to Perry.
Profiles
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
- Nintendo 3DS Digital Manual description: "Hit them from underneath to get helpful hints."
Gallery
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Japanese | メッセージブロック[7][8] Messēji Burokku Kassar Brock[9] (internal) |
Message Block Perry Block (Super Princess Peach) |
Chinese | 提示座 Tíshì zuò |
Board |
Italian | Blocco messaggio |
Message block |
Portuguese | Bloco de Massagem (Super Mario World manual) |
Massage[sic] Block |
Russian | Блок-справка Blok-spravka |
Reference Block |
Spanish (NOA) | Bloque de mensaje Bloque mensajero[10] |
Message block Messenger block |
References
- ^ Super Mario World English instruction booklet, page 22.
- ^ Nintendo Magazine System (UK) issue 40, page 21.
- ^ Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #30, page 15.
- ^ Prima Bath. Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Page 112.
- ^ Yoshi's Island DS instruction booklet, page 17.
- ^ Williams, Drew. Yoshi's Island DS Player's Guide. Page 6.
- ^ Super Mario World Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)
- ^ Super Mario: Yossy Island Japanese instruction booklet, page 16.
- ^ Super Princess Peach internal filenames (data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_ncg.bin & data/stageCommon/kassarbrock_D06_cl.bin)
- ^ Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Spanish instruction booklet.
- Blocks
- Animate objects
- Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
- Super Mario World objects
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island objects
- Super Princess Peach objects
- Yoshi's Crafted World objects
- Yoshi's Island DS objects
- Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
- Yoshi's New Island objects
- Yoshi's Story objects
- Yoshi's Woolly World objects