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. In general, 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 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 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 five minutes 20 seconds) and at most 560 seconds (or nine 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 two minutes 40 seconds).

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.

In this game, Bowser's Castle has a time limit of 800 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 ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]'', the [[Crate Burning]] minigame has a time limit of 20 seconds. The player can simply try again if they do not do the task within that time. Each of [[The Chimp]]'s challenges has a time limit. If the player fails a challenge he delivered by [[letter|mail]], the player loses a life. Prankster Comets with time limits return in this game, behaving the same as in ''Super Mario Galaxy''.

Due to ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'' lacking a score system, a [[coin]] is added to the coin count for every 10 seconds remaining instead (except in {{world-link|8|bowser3d|World 8-Bowser: Part 2}}: Part 2), truncating the remainder. Additionally, the player loses a life one second after the onscreen limit reaches zero.

The time limit can be increased by collecting a [[+ Clock]]. The amount added depends on whether it is a cyan clock (10 seconds) or green clock (100 seconds). In certain Special World courses, the time limit starts at 30 seconds, and it must be extended by collecting cyan clocks or beating certain enemies that hold cyan clocks (mostly [[Goomba]]s) to keep it from expiring.

In this game, the time limit's indicator (the icon of which is a + Clock) blinks briefly when it reaches 200 seconds or 50 seconds and starts to glow red when the timer falls below 100 seconds. When there are only 10 seconds remaining, the indicator beeps every second.

The time limit reappears in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. The time limit's indicator glows red under 100 seconds and beeps every second for the last 10 seconds, as it does in ''Super Mario 3D Land''. For unknown reasons, the words "Time's Up!" do not appear when the timer reaches zero.

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 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 ten, five, four, 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. When there are only five seconds left, the timer flashes red. When a whole minigame's time limit is up, the announcer calls out ''"Finish!"'' (or the word appears onscreen).