Color Block
- This article is about the recurring objects in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. For the placeable blocks inMario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, seeColor Block (Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis).
Color Blocks[1] are blocks that appear in several games in theMario vs. Donkey Kong series. They come in red (known asRed Color Blocks[2][3]), yellow, and blue varieties, and each one has an an intangible state and a tangible state. The blocks switch between these two states when aColor Switch is pressed. While the exact mechanics vary between games, Color Blocks of the same color always have the same state.
History[edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]
Color Blocks first appear inMario vs. Donkey Kong, being introduced in the first level in the game,Level 1-1. In this game, all Color Blocks of a certain color are either inactive or active at a given time. WhenMario presses a Color Switch, Color Blocks of the same color as the Color Switch become active and tangible, while Color Blocks of different colors become inactive and intangible. The appearance of Color Blocks can vary per world, as they share the same visual appearance with the current level's terrain (formed by many blocks). Small Color Blocks which are 1/4 of their regular size can be found inTwilight City levels, where they blocklaser beams when activated.
In theNintendo Switch version ofMario vs. Donkey Kong, their appearance remains mostly unchanged with a few exceptions - the "X" symbol on inactive Color Blocks was changed to resembleDotted-Line Blocks, and all Color Blocks in the game use their design fromMario Toy Company's levels. Three Color Blocks (red, yellow and blue) also appear as part of the loading screen animation in the bottom right, alternating between active and inactive.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![edit]
Color Blocks reappear inMario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, where they are parsed ascolor blocks[4] and are introduced inRoom 4-3 ofJungle Rumble. In this game, inactive color blocks areclear, while active color blocks aresolid.[4] When a Mini presses a Color Switch, color blocks of the same color as the Color Switch invert their current state. Solid color blocks are tangible blocks that can be walked on by Minis. Clear color blocks are intangible, slightly transparent, and spin when aMini passes through them. Color blocks have a red, yellow, or blue outline and a rivet in their center. Unlike inMario vs. Donkey Kong, both clear and solid color blocks of the same color can appear at the same time.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[edit]
Color Blocks reappear inMario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, being introduced inLevel 2-2 ofJumpy Jungle. They function identically to color blocks fromMario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!. Inactive Color Blocks are referred to as beingoff, while active color blocks are referred to as beingon.[5] In this game, Color Blocks do not have a rivet in their center, and they take the form of small, slightly transparent cubes when turned off.
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge[edit]
Color Blocks return inMini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, retaining their appearance and behavior fromMario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars. Blue Color Blocks first appear inLevel 5, with red and yellow Color Blocks being introduced inLevel 11, and blue and yellow Color Blocks reappearing inStar 8.
Gallery[edit]
A red Color Block inMario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A yellow Color Block inMario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
A blue Color Block inMario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
An inactive red Color Block inMario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
An inactive yellow Color Block inMario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
An inactive blue Color Block inMario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | カラーブロック[6] Karā Burokku | Color Block |
References[edit]
- ^Mario vs. Donkey Kong Virtual Console digital instruction manual, page 13 (Items and Features)
- ^"When this is stepped on, Red Color Blocks turn on or off." – 2016.Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge North American Wii U digital instruction manual.Nintendo (English). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^"Toggles Red Color Blocks on and off when stepped on." – 2015.Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars North American 3DS digital instruction manual.Nintendo (English). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^abMario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! Floor 4 Help 1 (Color Blocks)
- ^Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars editor object names
- ^2004.マリオ
vs. ドンキーコング (Mario buiesu Donkī Kongu) instruction booklet (PDF).Nintendo (Japanese). Page 13.
[Edit] Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong •Mario •Pauline •Toads | |
| Minis | Cursed Mini Mario •Gold Mini Mario •Mini Donkey Kong •Mini Luigi •Mini Mario •Mini Pauline •Mini Peach •Mini Toad | |
| Enemies | Donkey Kong's robots (Cannon Kong ·Capture Kong ·Circus Kong) •Fire Piranha Plant •Piranha Plant •Pokey •Shy Guy •Thwomp | |
| Worlds | Rolling Hills •Jumpy Jungle •Runaway Warehouse •Crumbling Cavern •Dashing Desert •Twilight Valley •Orbiting Observatory •Bonus Levels (Bonus 1 ·Bonus 2 ·Bonus 3) | |
| Objects | Items | Coin (large) •Hammers •M Coin •Pickup |
| Resource items | Blue Lift •Movable Pipe •Pink Block •Purple Conveyor •Red Girder •Spring | |
| Fixed objects | Cannon •Color Switch •Conveyor Belt •Girder •Goal Door •Ladder •Magnet Ground •Rock •Spikes •Warp Pipe | |
| Further info | Gallery •Multimedia •Nintendo eShop - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars Level Creation •Official online levels •Slide • Staff (Nintendo 3DS version ·Wii U version) •Stamps •Workshop Store | |
