Time Limit: Difference between revisions

A '''Time Limit''' (or simply '''Time''') is a staple of the ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' games, and its basic purpose is to notify the player of how much time is allotted to complete a [[level]] or task. If the timer reaches zero, the player loses one life regardless of power-up form, including [[Invincible Mario|invincibility]] from a [[Super Star]], even if the player has defeated a level's boss. If time runs out when the player has no more lives, they receive a [[Game Over]]. A timer's count is approximately 0.6 or 0.7 seconds in most games.

When the time limit decreases to 100 time units (10 time units in ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', except in Toad Rally) or below, the "[[:File:Hurry_up_SMB.oga|Hurry Up]]" jingle plays to alert the player is running low on time and the level's music speeds up (except in ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', where the music is just played faster without the jingle). In ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', and ''Super Mario Run'', the time limit glows red when it reaches 100 time units, and in those games and ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'', it also beeps for every time unit at the last 10 time units (five seconds in ''Super Mario Run'').

In ''[[Super Mario Land]]'', all levels start with a time limit of 400 time units. Each time unit lasts 40 frames, or ⅔ of a second, meaning that the entire time limit for a level is approximately 266.67 seconds (or 4 minutes, 26.67 seconds) in real time.

In ''[[Super Mario World]]'', one count of time is exactly 41 frames in the NTSC version and 35 frames in the PAL version. Most levels have a time limit of 300 seconds. Some levels such as most [[Ghost House]]s (except for the [[Choco-Ghost House]] and [[Valley Ghost House]]), [[Yoshi's Island 2]], [[Donut Plains 1]], [[Donut Plains 2]], and [[2 Morton's Castle|#2 Morton's Castle]] have 400 seconds. [[Switch Palace]]s, the [[Top Secret Area]] (in the [[Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2|GBA version]] only), and [[Funky (level)|Funky]] have only 200 seconds, though it is possible to increase Funky's time limit by having [[Yoshi]] eat a [[Fruit (Yoshi food)|Green Berry]]. Due to the timer's absence during the final battle, there is no time bonus for defeating Bowser.

In ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]'', each time unit now lasts 48 frames (or 0.8 seconds). Each level has a time limit of either 400, 500, 600, or 700 time units, meaning that the total time limit for a level is at least 320 seconds (or 5 minutes, 20 seconds) and at most 560 seconds (or 9 minutes, 20 seconds). The only exception to this is [[Secret Course 6]], which has a time limit of only 200 time units (160 seconds, or 2 minutes, 40 seconds).

When the timer reaches 100 units, a short jingle is played. The level's background music then restarts from the beginning, but its tempo is increased and its pitch is shifted up by two semitones. When the timer reaches just 10 units, a beep is played for every remaining time unit that counts down. No message is displayed upon losing a life if time runs out. Since this game does not feature a score, the amount of time remaining when Mario reaches the goal does not affect the game in any way.

Starting with ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', time limits vary depending on the level type. Short levels have time limits of 300 seconds, most normal stages and Ghost Houses have a time limit of 400 seconds, and longer levels, [[tower]]s, and castles have a time limit of 500 seconds, with the sole exception of {{world-link|2|towern|World 2-Tower (New Super Mario Bros.)}}, which has a time limit of 300 seconds.

The time limit reappears in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', where time limits once again depend on the level type. [[World 8-Bowser's Castle (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|Bowser's Castle]] has a time limit of 700 seconds, which carries on to most other versions of [[Bowser's Castle|the level]] in the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series.

Additionally, respawning at a [[Checkpoint Flag]] after losing a life causes the time limit to be reduced by 200 seconds (e.g., if a level has a starting time limit of 500 seconds, restarting the level from the Checkpoint Flag will have a time limit of 300 seconds). This behavior carries on to future games, excluding the ''Super Mario Maker'' series.

In the game's [[Coin Rush]] mode, most levels have a time limit of 100 seconds, though some courses, such as [[World 1-1 (New Super Mario Bros. 2)|World 1-1]] and the [[Third Course (Coin Challenge Pack A)|third course]] of [[Coin Challenge Pack A]], start with only 50 and 20 seconds, respectively. It can be increased by passing a [[Checkpoint Flag]] (which adds 50 seconds or 100 seconds) or by grabbing + Clocks, though green ones add only 50 seconds to the timer instead, unlike in ''Super Mario 3D Land''. Like in ''Super Mario 3D Land'', the remaining time is converted to coins, with a coin gained for every five seconds remaining.

The time limit reappears in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]]'', where each count lasts exactly one second. The time limit of a level can be set in the editor from 10 seconds to 500 seconds and can only be a multiple of 10. In the [[List of Super Mario Maker pre-release and unused content#E3 2014|E3 2014 demo]], the timer was set to 999, but it was changed to 500 in the final version of the game.

In ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'', all levels start with a time limit of 400 time units, and each time unit lasts 64 frames (or approximately 1.06 seconds). This means that the total time limit in a level lasts approximately 426.67 seconds (or 7 minutes, 6.67 seconds).

When the timer reaches 100 units, a series of three quick beeps plays, and the background music restarts with its tempo increased and its pitch shifted up by one semitone. A slower beep is played when the timer reaches 3 units, 2 units, and 1 unit respectively, and a final beep of a higher pitch is played when the timer reaches 0 units. If time runs out, [[Wario]] loses a life, and a short "TIME UP" cutscene is played where a hand picks up a startled Wario by his overalls. The amount of time remaining when Wario reaches the goal does not affect the game.

In the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]], various [[minigame]]s have time limits (usually 30 or 60 seconds). In most of these minigames, players must do the required tasks until time is up, while in others, players must do the required tasks before time is up. Some minigames, such as [[Odd Card Out]] and [[10 to Win]], have a time limit per round or turn (usually five or ten seconds). In minigames that can last as long as five, three, or two minutes, a timer does not appear until 30 or 60 seconds are left. Although the time limit to do the required task in [[Rock, Paper, Mario]] is 30 seconds, the timer does not appear until five seconds remain. Similarly, in [[Bob-omb Combo]], the time limit is ten seconds per turn, but the timer does not appear until five seconds remain. In a few minigames, such as [[Balloon of Doom]] and [[Head Waiter]], a player loses if they do nothing within the time limit, while in others, such as [[Scaldin' Cauldron]] and [[Cardiators]], a player automatically does a required task if time runs out.

In ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]'', most levels have a timer with 120 or 150 seconds. The [[Donkey Kong (level)|Donkey Kong]] and [[Donkey Kong Plus]] levels have the highest time limits of 300 seconds. For every second left on the timer when the level is beaten, the player is awarded 1000 points. If there are two areas in a level, the time remaining in the first area is added to the time limit of the second area. In the Japanese and European versions of the game, an animation of the first area's time limit entering the door with Mario and combining with the second area's time limit was added.

In ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis]]'', the time limit does not start counting down until the player activates a [[Mini]] or picks up [[Color Block (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis)|Color Blocks]]. The time limit begins at 300 seconds of a "Time Bonus". 10 points are given for every second left in the Time Bonus when the player beats the level. Once the Time Bonus reaches zero, the text turns blue and changes to read "Time Left", giving the player another 300 seconds to beat the level. Letting this time limit run out causes the player to lose the level.

All of the fights with Donkey Kong have a time limit of 180 seconds.