Metal ball

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A Metal ball as seen in Mario Kart 7
A pinball texture from Mario Kart 7

Metal balls, also referred to as pinballs,[1][2] are obstacles from the Mario Kart series. They have a similar design to Big Steelies and also act like them.

History

Mario Kart series

Metal balls are obstacles in Waluigi Pinball in Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart Tour, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In Tour, they also appear in GBA Bowser's Castle 4. They roll around all throughout the course, and they flip over any player that drives into them. As such, they act similarly to boulders and Big Steelies. On the pinball table section of the track, metal balls are bounced around by bumpers and flippers. In GBA Bowser’s Castle 4, they are spawned by a propeller-like contraption, and bounce around in a straight path. 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, they show a reflection 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.

Mario Sports Mix

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.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 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
Metal ball
German Metallkugel
Metal ball
Italian Sfera di ferro[citation needed]
palla[sic] di ferro (Mario Kart Tour)
Iron sphere
Iron ball
Korean 철퇴
Cheol toe
 

Portuguese Bola de metal
Metal ball
Spanish Bola de metal
Metal ball

References

  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!"