Stopwatch
 | It has been suggested that this article be split intoStopwatch,Stop Watch (character). (discuss) |
- Not to be confused with+ Clock, also referred to as Stopwatch.
- This article is about the item that freezes enemies and/or the environment. For other types of timers, seeTimer.
| Stopwatch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First appearance | Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987, overall) Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988,Super Mario franchise) |
| Latest appearance | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) (2024) |
Stopwatches[1][2][3] (also formatted asStop Watches),[4] also known asTime Stops,[5] appear in theSuper Mario franchise as clock items that usually slow down or stop time when collected.
History[edit]
Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic /Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
If the player first pulls up four largevegetables inYume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic andSuper Mario Bros. 2, pulling up what would be a fifth one will instead reveal a Stop Watch. It will appear for a second and then freeze everything in the level for a few seconds. This gives a window of opportunity for Mario and his friends to avoid or defeat enemies and collectsmall hearts. However, touching the frozen enemies still hurts the player. Stop Watches have gray/green sprites in the original release. In theSuper Mario All-Stars version, however, they are depicted as gold when playing as Mario orLuigi, gold with a dark red outline asPrincess Toadstool, or blue with a brown outline asToad. This is due to the Stop Watch using the same palette as the player character, consequently subjecting them to any changes done when switching characters. InSuper Mario Advance, Stop Watches are orange.
Super Mario Bros. (Valiant Comics)[edit]
In theSuper Mario Bros. comic "Cloud Nine," a Stop Watch appears as an animate object who acts as theMushroom King's alarm clock, dodging the grumpy King's attempts to swat him and fearfully running to Princess Toadstool for safety.
Paper Mario series[edit]
| Stop Watch | |
|---|---|
   | |
| Paper Mario description | If it works, paralyzes all enemies for a short time. |
| The Thousand-Year Door description | Temporarily immobilizes all enemies. |
| Super Paper Mario description | A wacky watch that stops enemies in their tracks. |
Paper Mario[edit]
The Stop Watch later appears as an item inPaper Mario. When Mario or his partners use it, it willimmobilize enemies for a few turns (assuming it is successful). It can be bought at most stores and is a fairly common item. Stop Watches appear in the following locations:
- In ahidden block in the first scene of theUltra Boots area inToad Town Tunnels.
- On top of abrick block one screen south of the next-to-last part of the main road ofDry Dry Desert.
- Behind a bush in the back of the shore where thewhale resides.
- In a hidden block before the stairs where Mario fightsMonstar inShiver Snowfield.
- On sale atBoo's Shop (25coins) and theStar Haven Shop (15 coins).
- Dropped byLakitus.[6]
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
The Stop Watch reappears inPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, now formatted as the Stopwatch. Here, it is a somewhat rare item, for it can only be purchased inTwilight Town orFahr Outpost. The item will immobilize enemies, just as in the game's predecessor. However, enemies can also use the item against Mario or his partners. Several warped clocks appearing in various colors will appear on-screen after using the item. After about four seconds, the item takes effect and immobilizes its target.
Stopwatches appear in the following locations:
- In a rock on themoon surface near where Mario lands.
- Behind near the entrance in the first part of descending stairs in thePalace of Shadow.
- On sale atTwilight Shop (30 coins) andNorthwinds Mart (12 coins), andCharlieton (24 coins).
- Dropped by ordinaryMagikoopas,Moon Clefts,Bob-ombs,Bulky Bob-ombs,Bob-ulks,Wizzerds,Dark Wizzerds,Elite Wizzerds,X-Nauts,X-Naut PhDs,Elite X-Nauts, as well as theDull Bones,Bob-ombs, and all theFuzzies inGlitz Pit.[7]
Super Paper Mario[edit]
The Stop Watch also appears as an uncommon item inSuper Paper Mario, where itimmobilizes all enemies.
Stop Watches appear in the following locations:
- Chapter 2-2, in the chest on top of Merlee's Mansion.
- Chapter 8-1, over the west wall of the area where Peach was first controllable, right chest.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team[edit]
The Stop Watch appears again inMario & Luigi: Dream Team as abadge effect that occurs when mixing the Miracle Badge with the Gold Badge.
Unused appearances[edit]
Stop Watches areunused items inSuper Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, where they would have functioned like they did inSuper Mario Bros. 2.[8]
Profiles[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
- Wii Virtual Console manual: "If you've pulled up enough vegetables, this item will temporarily freeze your enemies."
Super Mario Advance[edit]
- European instruction booklet: "When you pick your fifth vegetable, time may momentarily stop and your enemies will become motionless. However watch out — if you run into them, they will still cause you damage."
Gallery[edit]
A Stop Watch fromSuper Mario Bros. 2
Princess Toadstool pulling up a Stop Watch to stop aPhanto inSuper Mario Bros. 2
Artwork fromSuper Mario All-Stars
A Stop Watch fromSuper Mario All-Stars (when playing asToad)
A Stop Watch fromSuper Mario All-Stars (when playing as thePrincess)
Location of the Stop Watch inToad Town Tunnels ofPaper Mario
A Time Stop fromSuper Mario Advance
An unused Stop Watch fromSuper Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ストップウォッチ[9] Sutoppu Wotchi | Stop Watch | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 静止钟[?] Jìngzhǐ Zhōng | Static Clock | Paper Mario |
| 暂停时钟[?] Zàntíng Shízhōng | Pause Clock | The Thousand-Year Door remake | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 暫停時鐘[?] Zàntíng Shízhōng | Pause Clock | |
| Dutch | Stopwatch[?] | - | |
| French | Chronomètre[?] | Timer | |
| Montre-Stop[?] | Stop-Watch | ||
| Montre au pouvoir immobilisant[?] | Immobilizing-power watch | Super Mario All-Stars | |
| Stop Temps[?] | Time Stop | Super Mario Advance | |
| German | Stoppuhr[?] | Stopwatch | |
| Italian | Segnale di fermata del tempo[10] | Time stop signal | |
| Paralogio[?] | Portmanteau ofparalizzare ("paralize") andorologio ("clock") | Paper Mario series | |
| Timer[11][12] | - | ||
| Orologio[13] | Clock | ||
| Korean | 스톱워치[?] Seutop Wochi | Stop Watch | |
| Spanish(European) | Reloj parado[?] | Stopped clock | Super Paper Mario onwards |
| Reloj Parado[?] | Stopped Clock |
Notes[edit]
- An official 1989Super Mario Bros. 2 character sheet that was given to third party companies getting theSuper Mario license for products included "Stop Watch" as a character. Despite the Stop Watch being merely an item in the original game, this character sheet gave the bottom of the watch part a base with eyes, mouth, legs and hands.[14] This Stop Watch character is the same one later used briefly in theSuper Mario Bros. comic "Cloud Nine." The character likely originated from a misinterpretation of the Stop Watch illustration in the game's manual, which shows Mario plucking the item from the ground.[15]
References[edit]
- ^Tilden, Gail, et al. (July/August 1988).Nintendo Power Volume 1.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 10.
- ^Super Mario All-Stars Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page88.
- ^Arnold, J. Douglas, James Yamada, and Mark Elies (June 4, 2001).Super Mario Advance Official Perfect Guide.Versus Books (American English). ISBN0970646844. Page 5.
- ^1993.Super Mario All-Stars instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 21.
- ^2001.Super Mario Advance instruction booklet.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 29.
- ^Floogal (December 23, 2006).Paper Mario Stat/Attack Guide.GameFAQs (English). Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^Jdaster64 (April 7, 2016).Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Enemy Item/Badge Drop FAQ.GameFAQs. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ^TCRF.Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3/Unused Objects § Stopwatch.The Cutting Room Floor (English). Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^1987.Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic instruction booklet.Nintendo (Japanese). Page 27.
- ^Super Mario Bros. 2 manual.Nintendo (Italian). Page 21.
- ^2010.Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition manual.Nintendo of Europe (Italian). Page 33.
- ^Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS -Virtual Console) Italian e-manual. Page 10.
- ^November 15, 2018.Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia.Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN889367436X. Page 70.
- ^August 13, 2020.Official 1989 Super Mario Bros. 2 character sheet given to companies obtaining a Mario license by Nintendo of America for reference. Besides characters and items directly from the game, it also contains the original “Stop Watch” character that exists only in select pieces of North American licensed material, such as greeting cards and one issue of the Valiant Super Mario Bros. comics. Its game equivalent is the Stop Watch item that looks like an ordinary watch..Supper Mario Broth (English). Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^MarioBrothBlog (December 5, 2022).Previously, I have posted about the enigmatic "Stop Watch" character, an animate version of the Stop Watch item from Super Mario Bros. 2 that appeared in a few licensed works. Reader @RealSplatJam discovered that it likely originated from a misinterpretation of the game's manual..X. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
