Rock Block
This article's name is conjectural for a part of its content. If an official name is found for the currently unnamed portion of content, it may need to be split into a new article.
Rock Blocks are a variety of blocks found in various games. Their physical appearance and function changes radically based on the series they appear in.
History
Mario & Wario
Rock Blocks[1] are nearly identical to later appearances, being hit once to be cracked open.
Yoshi's Island series
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Rock Blocks are found in many levels of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. In the Yoshi franchise, Rock Blocks are large blue blocks made of a durable type of rock, and can only be destroyed with Yoshi Eggs.
Yoshi's Story
Rock Blocks next appear in Yoshi's Story. They are roughly the same as their previous appearance, as they can only be destroyed by Yoshi Eggs. Golden Rock Blocks also appear in the game; they cannot be destroyed by any means.
Yoshi's Island DS
The Rock Blocks from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island return in Yoshi's Island DS, and only Baby Donkey Kong can destroy them with eggs or a ground pound.
Wario World
A different variety of Rock Blocks[2] appeared as obstacles that Wario encountered during the events of Wario World. They can be small or very large, but each has a weak point indicated by a cracked side with a bandage on it. Wario can break these blocks by punching or Ground Pounding the weak side. The blocks can also be destroyed by using a Piledriver, Wild Swing-Ding, or Mega Toss. In some areas, Rock Blocks can move upward and slam down like a Thwomp to squash Wario.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
Rock Blocks appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!. They are made of small, loosely packed pale brown rocks that break and fall apart under a Mini's weight. They can also be destroyed by shooting a Mini from a Cannon or by having a Thwomp fall on them.
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
Stronger dark gray Rock Blocks appear in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge. They can be destroyed by sliding into them from a slope. Mini Bowser's special ability, Bowser Bomb, destroys columns of Rock Blocks on contact.
Super Mario series
Super Mario 3D World
Rock Blocks[3] reappear in Super Mario 3D World as a gray variation of Big Blocks. They cannot be destroyed by the player on their own (except when under the effects of a Mega Mushroom), therefore, the player must make use of other means to break them, such as Bob-ombs, cannonballs, having them be hit by a Conkdor, among others.
Super Mario Odyssey
Rock Blocks return in Super Mario Odyssey, retaining their appearance from Super Mario 3D World. However, they have different properties as Mario can now break them using his default abilities, such as a jump, ground pound, or Cappy toss. He can also destroy Rock Blocks whilst capturing an enemy such as an Uproot or Parabones. Rarely, Rock Blocks will contain items inside, such as coins or a Life-Up Heart.
Super Mario Maker 2
In Super Mario Maker 2, Hard Blocks take the form of Rock Blocks from Super Mario 3D World in the Super Mario 3D World level style.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Rock Blocks reappear in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, where they are identical to the Super Mario 3D World version.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Rock Blocks return in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, as obstacles that can be broken by the Trio Hammer move. They appear primarily in Doop Doop Dunes.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ひびブロック[4] Hibi Burokku 岩ブロック Iwa Burokku ロックブロック[5] Rokku Burokku |
Cracked Block Rock Block Rock Block |
References
- ^ Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #13, page 16.
- ^ Wario World instruction booklet, page 22 (British English) or page 24 (American English).
- ^ Musa, Alexander, and Geson Hatchett. 2013. Super Mario 3D World Prima Official Game Guide, page 19.
- ^ Mario & Wario instruction booklet, page 8.
- ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario 3D World section, page 234.
