Hard Block
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- Not to be confused withStone Block orRock Block.
| Hard Block | |
|---|---|
![]() Artwork fromSuper Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | |
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. (1985) |
| Latest appearance | Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024) |
- “AARGH! I can't hit the? Blocks because those annoying Hard Blocks are in the way.”
- —Purple Toad,Super Mario Maker 2
AHard Block (also lowercased)[1] is a type ofblock commonly used to make stair-like structures and other platforms. Unlike? Blocks andBrick Blocks, Hard Blocks cannot containitems orcoins (with the exception ofSuper Mario Bros. 3).Mario andLuigi are not normally able to destroy Hard Blocks, but certain methods, such as entering aMega state or using aBig Thwomp, can be used to destroy them.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. /Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels[edit]
The first Hard Blocks appeared inSuper Mario Bros. They are referred to asstairblocks in the companion bookHow to win at Super Mario Bros.,[2] and their most notable use is to create stairs at the end of many levels leading to the top of theflagpole, which itself has a Hard Block as its base. In some levels, they are used to create much more gently-sloped stairs as a minor obstacle. Stairblocks reappear inSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels with an identical appearance and purpose. They are also incorporated intoSuper Mario Bros. Special.
Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
A variant of Hard Blocks calledWood Blocks[3] appears inSuper Mario Bros. 3, and is usually functionally identical to the Hard Blocks found in previous games. Some Wood Blocks are bouncy; these blocks bounce Mario or Luigi away if he runs against their sides, and they are sometimes found nearpits as an obstacle. Some of these blocks also hold items, releasing them only if they are bumped into or hit with ashell or tail whip (fromRaccoon Mario orTanooki Mario).Chain Chomps are usually found attached to Wood Blocks. Larger inert Wood Blocks appear in the fourth world,Giant Land.
In theGBA version, the Hard Blocks' design from theSuper Mario All-Stars version ofSuper Mario Bros. returns inClassic World 1-1,Classic World 1-2, andClassic World 2-2.
Super Mario World[edit]
Hard Blocks, now calledGray Blocks[4] (alternativelygray Blocks[5] orGrey Blocks[6]), appear once again inSuper Mario World with a different redesign, this time resembling blocks of stone. They reprise their purpose from previous games.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
Hard Blocks (localized asorange blocks)[7] primarily appear in secret courses as platforms and barriers. Many are of atypical shapes (i.e., rectangular or triangular prisms) depending on their purpose. Some shift back and forth. Thin variants that function liketrampolines appear inThe Secret of the Dirty Lake andThe Beach Cannon's Secret.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Hard Blocks reappear inNew Super Mario Bros. at the end of most levels. Like inSuper Mario Bros., they are often used as a staircase to reach the flagpole. The flagpole itself has a newfortress-styled base instead of a Hard Block. If Mario gains aMega Mushroom and turns intoMega Mario, he can destroy Hard Blocks simply by running into them.Volcanic debris can also destroy Hard Blocks.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
Hard Blocks reappear inNew Super Mario Bros. Wii. InWorld 8-4, aStar Coin and severalBloopers are found caged within Hard Blocks, which can be destroyed by pressing a nearby? Switch. Hard Blocks also appear inWorld
Coin-2, a remake ofWorld 1-1 inSuper Mario Bros.
Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
Wood Blocks fromSuper Mario Bros. 3 return inSuper Mario 3D Land, where they are usually twice as large (like those in Giant Land) and have a more yellow color, though none contain any items. Stairblocks fromSuper Mario Bros. return at the ends ofWorld 2-3 andSpecial 1-3, once again as staircases near the courses' Goal Poles.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
While wooden and stone Hard Blocks return, golden and colored Hard Blocks make their debut inNew Super Mario Bros. 2. Pink, green, blue, orange, beige, brown, gold, black, light blue, red and yellow are the only known colors.
New Super Mario Bros. U /New Super Luigi U /New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]
Hard Blocks return inNew Super Mario Bros. U, referred to asstone blocks.[8] Colored stone blocks also appear inNew Super Luigi U, used mostly for decoration, or to make pixel art such as8-bit Luigis, a commonEaster egg in the game.
Super Mario Maker /Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
InSuper Mario Maker andits 3DS version, all four designs of the Hard Blocks based on the four level styles appear. They can be destroyed by strong enemies, includingBig Koopa Troopa shells,Big Thwomps,Bob-ombs,Magikoopas' magic attacks,Skewers, andBowser. A new method of breaking Hard Blocks is firing a fully charged shot from aFire Koopa Clown Car. They can also be destroyed byBig Mario.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
Hard Blocks also appear inSuper Mario Maker 2. They have the same functionality as they did inSuper Mario Maker, except that they cannot be broken byBig Mario from the side.Link's bombs can now also destroy Hard Blocks.Giant Spiked Balls, a bigBlasta Mechakoopa's missile explosion, a bigZappa Mechakoopa's laser beam, andGround Pounds from someKoopalings can destroy Hard Blocks. They can also be given wings, and when playing a course, they will fly a few blocks left, then fly twice as many blocks right, then fly that many blocks left, and repeat the last two actions. Hard Blocks can also stop the screen from scrolling, so it is possible to make a course that requires breaking Hard Blocks stopping the screen from scrolling to advance.
In theSuper Mario 3D World style, they take the form ofRock Blocks. If the player uses theSuper Hammer, they can break these blocks with a hammer swing. They can also be broken byBanzai Bills, aPorcupuffer's explosion from fireballs, andBig Bullies.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]
- “A Bulrush will smash right through hard blocks! You may need to help show it which way to go though.”
- —loading-screen tip
There is a variety of different hard blocks inSuper Mario Bros. Wonder themed to the levels they occur in. InPipe-Rock Plateau, the hard blocks are made of wood. In underwater levels, they are made ofcoral. Though normally indestructible, hard blocks can be broken by strong enemies, such asBulrushes andSmackerels. InGnawsher Lair, the hard blocks are colored like candy and are eaten byGnawshers.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Hard Blocks have appeared in theMario Kart series with theirSuper Mario Bros. appearance.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Mario Bros.-styled Hard Blocks appear throughout theSuper Smash Bros. series.
TheMushroom Kingdom stage inSuper Smash Bros. and theMushroom Kingdom stage inSuper Smash Bros. Melee feature the blocks' classic staircase arrangement in the background. The former also haspass-through platforms made of Hard Blocks (Empty Blocks inUltimate).
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl,Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, Hard Blocks appear as part of theMushroomy Kingdom stage. They are arranged just as inWorld 1-1 (and inBrawl only,World 1-2) ofSuper Mario Bros. However, they now appear worn, chipped, and cracked, matching the stage's ruined appearance. The block theflagpole stood on in World 1-1 is gone, but only inBrawl andfor 3DS; it is in the background inUltimate. Additionally, Hard Blocks also form the top two layers of the stage'sFinal Destination form inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and theBattlefield form's platforms inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Mario Clock[edit]
InMario Clock, Hard Blocks appear using theirSuper Mario Bros. design as the terrain of the bridge stage theme.
Nintendo Badge Arcade[edit]
Hard Blocks also appear as badges inNintendo Badge Arcade. TheSuper Mario Bros. Hard Blocks appear as part of theSuper Mario Bros. set, while Gray Blocks appear as part of theSuper Mario Maker set.
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, seeGallery:Hard Block.
Super Mario Bros. (underground)
Super Mario All-Stars (Super Mario Bros. 3)
Names in other languages[edit]
- Hard Block
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 硬いブロック[?] Katai Burokku | Hard Block | |
| 石ブロック[9][10] Ishi Burokku | Stone Block | Super Mario World,New Super Mario Bros. series | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 坚硬砖块[?] Jiānyìng Zhuānkuài | Hard block | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 堅硬磚塊[?] Jiānyìng Zhuānkuài | Hard block | |
| Dutch | Hard blok[?] | Hard Block | |
| French(European) | Bloc solide[?] | Solid block | |
| Bloc de pierre[11] | Stone block | New Super Mario Bros. U | |
| Italian | Blocco duro[?] | Hard block | |
| Blocco di pietra[12] | Stone block | New Super Mario Bros. U | |
| Korean | 딱딱블록[?] Ttakttak Beullok | Hard Block | |
| Portuguese | Bloco sólido[?] | Solid block | |
| Russian | Прочный блок[?] Prochnyy blok | Solid Block | |
| Spanish(Latin American) | Bloque duro[?] | Hard block | |
| Spanish(European) | Bloque de piedra[13] | Stone block | New Super Mario Bros. U |
- Wood Block
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 木目ブロック[14] Mokume Burokku | Wood Grain Block | |
| Finnish | Puulohkare[15] | Wood block | |
| Norwegian | Treblokk[16] | Wood block | |
| Swedish | Träblock[17] | Wood block |
References[edit]
- ^"A Bulrush will smash right through hard blocks! You may need to help show it which way to go though." – Tip (20 Oct. 2023).Super Mario Bros. Wonder byNintendo EPD (North American Localization).Nintendo of America. Retrieved 27 Nov. 2024.
- ^Sase, Shinji,Howard Phillips, and Lynn Griffes, editors (1987).How to win at Super Mario Bros. (U.S. Edition). Redmond:Tokuma Shoten,Nintendo of America. ISBN4-19-720003-XC. Page 7.
- ^Peterson, Erik (2003).Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). ISBN1930206-37-2. Page 31.
- ^August 1991. NintendoMario Mania Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 71, 89, 108, 153.
- ^August 1991. NintendoMario Mania Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 57.
- ^August 1991. NintendoMario Mania Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 73.
- ^Averill, Alan, and Jennifer Villarreal (2002).Super Mario Sunshine Player's Guide. Redmond:Nintendo of America (American English). ISBN1-930206-23-2. Page 73.
- ^"Find the pipe hidden in the ceiling next to the sign. Once inside, use the Screwtop Platform to guide the Grrrols into the stone blocks. When the way opens, grab that coin!" – New Super Mario Bros. U Channel (December 27, 2012).New Super Mario Bros. U -- Third Star Coin in Stoneslide Tower.YouTube. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^October 19, 2015.Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook.Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN978-4-09-106569-8. Page 118, 149, 199, 215.
- ^New Super Mario Bros. U Channel (December 28, 2012).マリオU 「デザートさばく-砦」 スターコイン3枚目.YouTube (Japanese). Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^Chaîne New Super Mario Bros. U (December 28, 2012).New Super Mario Bros. U - Dunes de miel-TOUR - Troisième pièce étoile (Wii U).YouTube (French). Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^Canale New Super Mario Bros. U (December 28, 2012).New Super Mario Bros. U - Deserto delle torte TORRE - Terza Moneta Stella (Wii U).YouTube (Italian). Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^Canal New Super Mario Bros. U (December 28, 2012).New Super Mario Bros. U - Dunas Pasteleras-TORRE - Tercera moneda estrella (Wii U).YouTube (European Spanish). Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^October 19, 2015.Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook,Super Mario Bros. 3 section.Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN978-4-09-106569-8. Page 41.
- ^Nintendo-lehti (1990-1994, Finnish)
- ^Summer 1991.Power Player Nummer 11-12. Oslo, Norway:Semic AS (Norwegian). Page 28.
- ^Nintendo Magasinet Nr 6-7 1991
- Blocks
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