Trapeze
| Trapeze | |
|---|---|
 Screenshot fromSuper Mario 3D World | |
| First appearance | Super Mario Galaxy (2007) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) |
Trapezes, originally known asswings, are platforming objects in theSuper Mario franchise used to swing acrosspits, similarly toropes in otherSuper Mario games. The player characters grips a trapeze's bar on contact. Flicking the control stick left and right causes the character to swing the trapeze and build momentum. Letting go at the apex propels the character farther than they would have otherwise.
Trapezes are mechanically similar tobars and are comparable to thewooden swings inSuper Mario Sunshine.
History[edit]
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
Swings (recognized as "trapezes" in thePrima Games guidebook)[1][2] are introduced inSuper Mario Galaxy and reappear in itsNintendo Switchport. They resemble a green bar with flowers at opposite ends, and are suspended byvines. They only appear ingalaxies with naturalistic terrain, starting with theHoneyhive Galaxy. The first one is near the player's starting position, suspended a little above ground. Falling from this swing is not detrimental to the player's progress. In "Trouble on the Tower", another trapeze occurs well above the ground and is needed to traverse between platforms. Slipping from this one does not makeMario (orLuigi) lose a life, but it does necessitate climbing the tower again. Another swing appears in theBeach Bowl Galaxy, hanging from a palm tree. Letting go at the highest arc of a swing rewards Mario with a1-Up Mushroom before falling into thewater. In theGold Leaf Galaxy, a swing tosses Mario into aSling Star needed to reach distant terrain. Another one suspended well above ground during "Purple Coins in the Woods" is required to reach twoPurple Coins.
Swings function similarly to thevine in the Beach Bowl Galaxy, and even more so to thehorizontal bars found in theDeep Dark Galaxy.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
Swings return inSuper Mario Galaxy 2, retaining their floral design and function. They first appear in theHoneybloom Galaxy, which is on a 2D plane. Swings can be used to cross gaps, reach opposite walls toWall Jump on, and refillBee Mario's flight meter. One subsequently appears in theHoneyhop Galaxy, where it is needed to reach theQueen Bee.
In a departure from previous appearances, a swing appears in the lava-themedMelty Monster Galaxy, where letting go at the top of an arc brings Mario to aLaunch Star needed for progression. When aGreen Comet is in orbit, letting the Launch Star drop Mario awards him with aGreen Star.
Super Mario 3D World /Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]
InSuper Mario 3D World andits Nintendo Switch port, trapezes are introduced inTricky Trapeze Theater and later used inRainbow Run, usually found alongsideseesaws in the former orTurning Floors in the latter. Each trapeze consists of a long horizontal white bar hanging from a brass pole by five solid glowing beams. The colors of the beams constantly cycle between colors, creating a rainbow effect. Trapezes can be found in variable lengths. When they are not being used, they sway back and forth on their own at varying speeds.
If a character contacts one of the beams on a trapeze, they grab on to two of them and slide down to the bar, occupying one of the trapeze's four slots based on where they contacted it. They can also jump into the bar directly, which skips this animation. Trapezes' slots allow up to four players to simultaneously be on any one trapeze while being able to independently jump off it. When characters are on a trapeze, a short jingle will loop as the trapeze moves back and forth, and it can randomly change pitch after looping. Players can move in the direction that the trapeze is moving to make it move more in that direction, increasing its speed and momentum. Any player can jump to exit the trapeze, and their character's speed upon doing so corresponds to how fast the trapeze is moving.
Gallery[edit]
Model fromSuper Mario Galaxy
Screenshot fromSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Screenshot fromSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Naming[edit]
Internal names[edit]
| Game | File | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy 2 Super Mario 3D World | ObjectData/Trapeze.arc - content/ObjectData/Trapeze.szs | Trapeze | - |
| Super Mario Galaxy Super Mario Galaxy 2 | StageData/ObjNameTable.arc/ObjNameTable.tbl SystemData/ObjNameTable.arc/ObjNameTable.tbl | 空中ブランコ (Kūchū Buranko) | Trapeze |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ブランコ[3] Buranko | Swing | |
| Chinese | 鞦韆[4] Qiūqiān | Swing | |
| Dutch | Trapeze[4] | Trapeze | |
| French | Balançoire[?] | Swing | |
| Trapèze[4] | Trapeze | ||
| Italian | Trapezio[5][6][7]:233 | Trapeze | |
| Trapezio fiorito[8] | Floreal trapeze | Super Mario Galaxy: PRIMA Official Game Guide | |
| Dondolo[9]:137, 171[7]:137 | Swing | Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia | |
| Altalena[9]:233[7]:171 | |||
| Korean | 그네[4] Geune | Swing | |
| Portuguese | Trapézio[4] | Trapeze | |
| Spanish | Trapecio[4] | Trapeze |
References[edit]
- ^Black, Fletcher (2007).Super Mario Galaxy: PRIMA Official Game Guide (Collector's Edition). Roseville:Prima Games. ISBN978-0-7615-5713-5. Page 62.
- ^Browne, Catherine (2010).Super Mario Galaxy 2: PRIMA Official Game Guide. Roseville:Prima Games. ISBN978-0-30746-907-6. Page 101, 103, 170, 212, 213.
- ^Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』. Tokyo:Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 137, 171, 233.
- ^abcdefIn-game name forTricky Trapeze Theater.
- ^«Quando afferri un trapezio, usa
per farlo dondolare.» –Penguin during "Sunken Treasure" (2 Oct. 2025).Super Mario Galaxy byNintendo EAD Tokyo.Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian). - ^Browne, Catherine (2010).Super Mario Galaxy 2 Guida Strategica Ufficiale (Multiplayer.it Edizioni). Translated by Christian La Via Colli, Francesca Noto, and Virgina Petrarca. Terni:Multiplayer Edizioni,Prima Games (Italian). ISBN9788863551198. Page 101, 103, 170, 212-213.
- ^abcSakai, Kazuya (ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), and Marco Figini, editors (2025).Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia (2nd ed.). Translated by Alessandro Apreda. Milan:Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN979-1259575760.
- ^Black, Fletcher (2007).Super Mario Galaxy - la Guida Ufficiale (Premiere Edition). Roseville:Prima Games (Italian). ISBN978-1-906064-03-7. Page 62.
- ^abSakai, Kazuya (ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), and Marco Figini, editors (2018).Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Translated by Marco Amerighi. Milan:Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN889367436X.
