Volcano
- This article is about erupting mountains in lava-themed areas. For the world from Donkey Kong Country Returns, seeVolcano (world).
| Volcano | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screenshot fromMario Kart 8 Deluxe | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) | ||
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Volcanoes[1] appear as one of the characterizing features oflava-themed levels in theSuper Mario franchise. Their function varies between games. In 3D titles likeSuper Mario 64 andSuper Mario Odyssey, the inner chambers of volcanoes aresub-areas that can be physically traversed. In 2D titles likeNew Super Mario Bros. Wii, they appear in the distant background and periodically erupt, launching damagingvolcanic debris into the foreground. There are various locations and levels that occur on or within volcanoes.
History[edit]
This section is astub. Please considerexpanding it to include any missing information.Specifics: Where applicable, information fromSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, theDonkey Kong franchise, theYoshi franchise, theWario franchise,Mario Party,Mario Sports, andCaptain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 /Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
InSuper Mario 64 andSuper Mario 64 DS, a small volcano occurs in the center ofLethal Lava Land. It is surrounded by a ring-likespinning disc platform that slowly spins clockwise. When it stops, the volcano erupts, releasing smallflames onto the platform that burns the player character on contact. Traversing towards the northeastern section of Lethal Lava Land on foot necessitates passing by the volcano. However, it is the focus of themissions "Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano" and "Elevator Tour in the Volcano," both of which occur inside the volcano itself. It can be physically entered like aWarp Pipe, similar to the igloo inSnowman's Land. The interior is roomier inside than it appears on the surface, being nearly the same size as Lethal Lava Land itself. The volcano cannot be exited once entered and the player character starts inside the volcano if they lose alife or exit the course on the pause menu. The only way to leave the volcano without collecting aPower Star is to get aGame Over.
The volcano interior is filled withmagma. Ascendable platforms protrude from the surrounding walls andlifts travel up spiralingtracks in its center.Bullies,Podoboos, and ahidden smasher occur on some of these platforms, which become progressively smaller the higher up they are. Because there is so little solid ground, making a poorly timedjump between platforms can be dangerous for the player character.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
- Main article:Corona Mountain
Corona Mountain is the tallest peak inSuper Mario Sunshine and is the only structure that is viewable in the background of every course. It is the setting of the episode "Father and Son Shine!," during which Mario must navigate its lava caves on amudboat in order to battleBowser andBowser Jr. Defeating them freesPrincess Peach and ridsDelfino Plaza of the scolding floodwaters that enveloped the town. From a bird's-eye view, Corona Mountain is analogous to the eye of the dolphin-shapedIsle Delfino.Lava Cheep Cheeps swim through the caves of Corona Mountain, and it apparently is the source of heat for the hot springs at its base.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Volcanoes appear in several of the lattermost levels inWorld 8 inNew Super Mario Bros., which is lava-themed. In most of them, they are a ambient background detail, but they have a substantial role in two courses. The majority ofWorld 8-6 is within the chamber of a volcano, with Mario (orLuigi) having to ascend upward to avoidrising magma. Thepole for the course is right outside the top of the volcano.
InWorld 8-8, the volcanoes in the background periodically erupt, causingvolcanic debris to rain down on the terrain of the course. The debris destroysgray blocks andbricks on impact, making navigation difficult.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
An active volcano occurs on the starting planet ofMelty Molten Galaxy inSuper Mario Galaxy. A series of sinking platforms,Li'l Cinders, andlava bursts occur in the lava that pools near its base. ALaunch Star floats above the top of the volcano and it is necessary to reach other planets in multiple missions, and it sometimes erupts withStar Bits after the planet is left. However, if Mario (or Luigi) do notspin and let themselves fall out of the Launch Star, they will land on the floor at the base of the volcano, where there is aGround Pound Switch. Striking it causes many Star Bits to appear, but also causes the volcano to start erupting. He must use theSling Star at the bottom to escape the volcano, avoid the rising lava, and return to the Launch Star. In the mission "Red Hot Purple Coins," aPurple Coin occurs on the floor of the volcano instead.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
Paralleling the firstNew Super Mario Bros., volcanoes occur in the background of the overworld courses inWorld 8, a lava-themed world and supposedlyBowser's domain. In most courses, volcanoes are ambient background details, but the active volcano inWorld 8-1 releasesvolcanic debris andash onto the course. Contact with this ash causes the player character to immediately lose a life, while the volcanic debris simply causes damage like in the firstNew Super Mario Bros.World 8-6 occurs in the chamber of a volcano, where rising lava forces the player character to ascend or else risk losing a life.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
The starting planet of theShiverburn Galaxy surrounds a teardrop-shaped volcanic planetoid inSuper Mario Galaxy 2. When the galaxy is first visited, the volcano is active and the starting planet is covered in lava. The primary means of safe traversal are metal platforms that sink into the lava when stood on and a slow-moving lift. However, there is aGround-Pound Switch in this galaxy that causes the planet to freeze over and turns the lava intoice, volcano included. One of the galaxy'sGreen Stars occurs at the top of the volcano, and it can only be safely collected while the volcano is frozen over.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
Normal volcanoes that erupt volcanic debris occur in the background ofWorld 6-1 inNew Super Mario Bros. 2. Additionally, unique ones calledCoin Volcanoes occur in the desert-themedWorld 2-B. Breaking them causes them to release a flurry ofcoins.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
- Main article:Luncheon Kingdom
InSuper Mario Odyssey, a giant volcano makes up most of Mount Volbono in the lava-covered Luncheon Kingdom. A civilization of fork-shaped people calledVolbonans have a town established at its base, and they use the volcano's lava to cook their food. The most culturally significant one is theStupendous Stew, which Bowser and theBroodals steal during the events of the game. The stew is cooked in an enormous pot at the top of the volcano, above which Mario fightsCookatiel.
There are a series of narrow paths and platforms that lead up Mount Volbono, often overhanging pools of lava.Some platforms attached to the volcano are even covered in lava. Unless Mario is acapturedLava Bubble, traversal up the volcano is precarious. The inner chamber of Mount Volbono, called the Volcano Cave, is accessible through a cavity on the southwestern part of its base, in which Mario can capture a Lava Bubble to ascend a stream of magma and hop acrossLava Geysers.
Paper Mario series[edit]
Paper Mario[edit]
InPaper Mario,Mt. Lavalava is a volcano located onLavalava Island. Mario andKolorado explore it in search of arare treasure.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]
InPaper Mario: Sticker Star, the final level ofWorld 5 isRumble Volcano. It consists of multiple layers that must be traversed by using a platform floating on top of a lava geyser.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]
InPaper Mario: Color Splash,Redpepper Volcano andRedpepper Crater take place in a volcano. The former is inhabited byDraggadon, while the second is a deeper part of the volcano containing a set of hot springs.
Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]
InPaper Mario: The Origami King,King Olly forcibly relocatesPeach's Castle to the top of a volcano. The crater of the volcano,Hotfoot Crater, is accessed towards the end of the game. Mario,Bowser Jr., andKamek must run away from the rising lava to make it to Bowser'sairship's cannon.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Though lava-themed racecourses have appeared in every entry in theMario Kart series, volcanoes themselves are uncommon. This potentially is the case because most lava-themed courses are based onBowser's Castle, not naturally-occurring lava flows. The first volcano in the series appears in the background of the forest-themedLakeside Park inMario Kart: Super Circuit, where it causes volcanic debris to rain onto the track. InMario Kart: Double Dash!!, the summit ofDK Mountain is an unhappy-looking volcano with rollingboulders cascading down its slope. Smaller volcanoes with neutral eyes appear in the distance, with some puffing out smoke rings. DK Mountain is visible in the distant background ofBaby Park (from the front) andDino Dino Jungle (from the back) within the same game, with the latter course additionally having several more realistic volcanoes making plumes of smoke in the background. InGrumble Volcano ofMario Kart Wii, the track feeds inside the titular mountain. As racers progress along this course, the volcano physically makes the terrain and parts of the road fall apart as it causes volcanic debris to fall onto the course. Direct contact with the debris causes drivers to be knocked over briefly. Part of the course goes through the inner caves of Grumble Volcano.
DK Mountain returns as a classic course inMario Kart Wii, while Grumble Volcano makes a subsequent reappearance inMario Kart 8. Lakeside Park and DK Mountain appear inMario Kart Tour, with the latter also being distributed in Wave 6 of theMario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass in most territories on November 9, 2023.
Mario & Luigi series[edit]
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time[edit]
InMario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Mario, Luigi, and their baby selves climb the mountain ofThwomp Volcano. The volcano then erupts, necessitating theHydrogush 4000 to put it out. InsideThwomp Caverns, the volcano once again erupts, launchingBowser andBaby Bowser out of it.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team[edit]
InMario & Luigi: Dream Team,Mount Pajamaja is a large volcano that Mario and Luigi require the Massif Bros.'s assistance to climb. ItsDream World version,Dreamy Mount Pajamaja, can have its temperature controlled withLuiginary Ice. Thevolcano of Dreamy Mount Pajamaja is alive. While it normally sleeps, Mario,Dreamy Luigi, andPrince Dreambert annoy it in order to make it erupt. This also angers it, so the volcano gets up and attacks them in a boss battle.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope[edit]
- Main article:Mt. Spout
InMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, there is a water volcano onTerra Flora namedMt. Spout that waters the flora on the planet. When the heroes arrive on Terra Flora, they find that aDarkmess Tentacle made Mt. Spout dormant, causing a drought. Its interior contains large caverns leading higher up. After the heroes clear out the Darkmess Tentacle, Mt. Spout erupts and refreshes the flora.
Gallery[edit]
Screenshot fromSuper Mario 64
Screenshot fromMario Party
Course icon fromMario Kart: Super Circuit
Screenshot fromSuper Mario Sunshine
Screenshot fromSuper Mario 64 DS
Screencap fromMario Party 8
Screenshot fromSuper Mario Galaxy
Screenshot fromMario Party DS
Screenshot fromMario Kart Wii
Screenshot fromNew Super Mario Bros. Wii
Screenshot fromSuper Mario Galaxy 2
Screenshot fromMario Party 9
Screenshot fromNew Super Mario Bros. 2
Screenshot fromYoshi's New Island
Screenshot fromMario Kart 8
Screenshot fromMario Kart Tour
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 火山[2][3] Kazan | Volcano | |
| Spanish | Volcán[4] | Volcano |
References[edit]
| Wikipedia has an article onvolcanoes. |
- ^Sakai, Kazuya, kikai, Rachel Roberts, and Jenny Blenk, editors (2019).The Art of Super Mario Odyssey (First English Edition). Milwaukie:Dark Horse Books. ISBN978-1-50671-375-5. Page 246.
- ^Sakai, Kazuya (ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2015). "Super Mario 64" in 『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). ISBN978-4-09-106569-8. Page 91.
- ^Sakai, Kazuya, and kikai, editors (2018). 『スーバーマリオ オデッセイ 公式設定資料集』. Tokyo:ambit (Japanese). ISBN978-4-19-864696-7. Page 246.
- ^Guías Nintendo (2007).8-coin puzzle with 15 pieces (El puzle de las 8 monedas).Guía Super Mario 64 (European Spanish). (Archived April 18, 2024, 11:41:52 UTC via Wayback Machine.)

