Metal ball: Difference between revisions

From the Super Mario Wiki, the Mario encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
mNo edit summary
Tag: Mobile edit
 
(48 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:MK7 MetalBall.png|A metal ball texture from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''|thumb]]
{{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]]}}
'''Metal balls''',<ref>{{media link|MKT metal ball name.png|''Mario Kart Tour'' in-game name}}</ref> also referred to as '''pinballs''',<ref>{{ref quote|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>''Mario Kart 7'' Prima guide page 130</ref> are obstacles from the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series.
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:MK7 MetalBall.png|MK7 MetalBall.png]]<br>A pinball texture from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])
|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.  
}}
'''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.


==History==
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''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.
====''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.
===''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.
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
Metal balls are mentioned in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' in the Koopa Clown Car [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]], where they are described as "bowling balls."
===''Mario & Luigi'' series===
====''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''====
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''====
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.
====''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam''====
There are [[Hammer]]s 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 [[cannonball]]s.
===''Mario Kart'' series===
===''Mario Kart'' series===
Metal balls are stage obstacles in [[DS Waluigi Pinball|Waluigi Pinball]] from ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''. They roll around all throughout the course, and they flip over any player that drives into them. As such, they act similarly to [[boulder]]s and [[Big Steely|Big Steelies]]. 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'' and ''Mario Kart Tour'', they are 3D models, and in the latter, they show a reflection of the pinball table section of the track, regardless of where the metal ball is.
Metal balls, referred to as pinballs in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', appear as 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 they appear on.


===''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 will 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 will appear shortly afterwards.
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.
 
===Unused appearances===
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 graphics among others.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
BigSteely SMW.png|''[[Super Mario World]]''
KingKoopaDroppingBall.jpg|A Big Steely being dropped from the Clown Car in the [[Super Mario World (television series)|''Super Mario World'' cartoon]]
BigSteely SuperMarioKun.jpg|''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
SM64 Iron Ball.png|''[[Super Mario 64]]''
SMA2 Big Steely.png|''[[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2]]''
SM64DS Spinning Heart.png|''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''
MKDSPinball.png|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
MK7 Pinball.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
MK7 Pinball.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
MKT MetalBall.png|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
SMM-SMB-Big-Steely.png|''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' (''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', unused)
MKT metal ball.png|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
MKT MetalBall.png|''Mario Kart Tour''
MKT MetalBall2.png|''Mario Kart Tour''
MKT MetalBall2.png|''Mario Kart Tour''
MKT GBABowserCastle4 Scene.jpg|''Mario Kart Tour''
MK8DX Pinball.png|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Names in other languages==
{{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
|JapR=Tekkyū
|JapM=Iron ball
|ChiS=铁球
|ChiSR=Tiě Qiú
|ChiSM=Iron Ball
|ChiT=鐵球
|ChiTR=Tiě Qiú
|ChiTM=Iron Ball
|Fre=Boule de métal <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|FreM=Metal ball
|Ger=Eisenkugel<br>Metallkugel <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|GerM=Iron ball<br>Metal ball
|Ita=Palla di ferro<ref>''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]'', pag. 92</ref> <small>(''Super Mario 64'')</small>
|Ita2=Biglia di ferro <small>(''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' and its remake)</small>
|Ita3=Ferrosfera <small>(''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story'' and its remake)</small>
|Ita4=palla{{sic}} di ferro <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|ItaM=Iron ball
|Ita2M=Iron marble
|Ita3M=Iron-sphere
|Ita4M=iron ball
|Kor=철퇴
|KorR=Cheol toe
|KorM=Iron mace
|Por=Bola de metal <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|PorM=Metal ball
|Rus=Стальной шар
|RusR=Stalnoi shar
|RusM=Steel Ball
|Spa=Bola de metal <small>(''Mario Kart Tour'')</small>
|SpaM=Metal ball
}}


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


{{SMW}}
{{SMW TV}}
{{SM64}}
{{MKDS}}
{{MKDS}}
{{MSM}}
{{MSM}}
{{MK7}}
{{MK7}}
{{MKT}}
{{MKT}}
{{MK8}}
[[Category:Hazardous objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World objects]]
[[Category:Super Mario World (television series)]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 7 objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8 Deluxe objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart DS objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart DS objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Tour objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart Tour objects]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 7 objects]]
[[Category:Mario Sports Mix]]
[[Category:Mario Sports Mix]]
[[it:Palla di ferro]]

Latest revision as of 09:49, April 12, 2024

"Iron ball" redirects here. For information about 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
A pinball 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, and pinballs,[1][2] are large obstacles that appear throughout the Super Mario franchise, commonly rolling around the area to hinder the player's progress, not unlike rolling boulders. They debut in Super Mario World as Big Steelies,[3] in which they are used in a final boss attack. They also return in Super Mario 64 as an uphill hazard.

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] first appear in the second phase of the final battle with Bowser in Super Mario World (and reappear in 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.

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, iron balls[8][9] are also referred to as rolling balls,[10] cannonballs,[11] or simply balls.[12] 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 punching or kicking them, and players equipped with a mushroom can destroy them simply by walking into them.

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]

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 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, appear as 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 they appear on.

Mario Sports Mix[edit]

Pinballs also appear in Mario Sports Mix on the 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.

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 graphics among others.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
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 (Mario Kart Tour)
Metal ball
German Eisenkugel
Metallkugel (Mario Kart Tour)
Iron ball
Metal ball
Italian Palla di ferro[15] (Super Mario 64)
Biglia di ferro (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake)
Ferrosfera (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and its remake)
palla[sic] di ferro (Mario Kart Tour)
Iron ball
Iron marble
Iron-sphere
iron ball
Korean 철퇴
Cheol toe
Iron mace

Portuguese Bola de metal (Mario Kart Tour)
Metal ball
Russian Стальной шар
Stalnoi shar
Steel Ball

Spanish Bola de metal (Mario Kart Tour)
Metal ball

References[edit]

  1. ^ "If you attack a rolling pinball, you can divert it away from you." — Mario Sports Mix, in-game description for the Waluigi Pinball court
  2. ^ 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!"
  3. ^ M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 52.
  4. ^ "Take it and get ready for Bowser's Bowling Balls." — M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 148.
  5. ^ "As he hovers overhead, Bowser throws gigantic bowling balls and handfuls of Mechakoopas." — M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 52.
  6. ^ "The giant steel balls that Bowser throws from the Clown Ship are impossible to beat." — M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 52.
  7. ^ "He'll toss out two of these big rollers, then a pair of Mecha Koopas." — M. Arakawa. Nintendo Mario Mania Player's Guide. Page 148.
  8. ^ M. Arakawa. Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Pages 106, 107, 109 and 110.
  9. ^ Super Mario 64 DS internal object name (IRONBALL)
  10. ^ M. Arakawa. Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Page 101.
  11. ^ Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #52, pages 45 and 46.
  12. ^ M. Arakawa. Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Page 19
  13. ^ 「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.
  14. ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario 64 section, page 92.
  15. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 92