Whirlpool
| Whirlpool | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Mario trying to escape from a whirlpool inNew Super Mario Bros. | |||
| First appearance | Mario is Missing! (1992) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) | ||
| Variant of | Water | ||
| |||
Whirlpools appear in theSuper Mario franchise as spinning columns ofwater that can suck the player down into them, dealing damage or even making the player lose a life.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. /Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels[edit]
- Main article:Current
InSuper Mario Bros. andSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, thebottomless pits in all water areas havecurrents that attempt to suckMario down while heswims over them, similar in function to whirlpools in later titles.
Super Mario 64 /Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
A whirlpool appears inSuper Mario 64 andSuper Mario 64 DS, withinDire, Dire Docks. It appears in the middle of the first area where the mission "Chests in the Current" takes place, and if Mario,Yoshi,Luigi, orWario goes near it, he can be sucked in and defeated upon getting too close. It has a similar model to thetornadoes inShifting Sand Land.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
Pollution onIsle Delfino is a major proponent of the story inSuper Mario Sunshine, which extends toNoki Bay. Here the pollution sources fromEely-Mouth in an underwater chamber, where Mario faces the eel and must clean off the gunk from its teeth. The agitated deep-sea dweller will occasionally suck in the surrounding water and potentially Mario. If Mario is sucked in by the resulting whirlpool, he will be promptly spat out and lose some air.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
InNew Super Mario Bros., whirlpools appear only inWorld 6-5. If Mario gets trapped in one, the player must repeatedly press
to avoid being sucked down, or else they lose a life. After a while, the whirlpool disappears, and Mario can pass by. However, one whirlpool allows Mario to access thelevel's thirdStar Coin.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
InSuper Mario Galaxy and itsNintendo Switchport, whirlpools appear in water caves. They are thin columns and have a dark blue color. These whirlpools only appear underwater; they create no disturbance on the surface. Rather than pulling in the player, they push Mario or Luigi away. They appear inBigmouth Galaxy, all missions ofSea Slide Galaxy, and two missions ofDeep Dark Galaxy: "Guppy and the Underground Lake" and "Boo in a Box"
The Cyclone Stone inBeach Bowl Galaxy also features a whirlpool column, though this one is formed by a swirling stream of water caught between twoblack holes, somewhat resembling awaterspout. Additionally,Warp Pipes found underwater such as inBuoy Base Galaxy will have whirlpool suction, which pull Mario or Luigi to their openings.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
Whirlpools reappear inNew Super Mario Bros. 2, acting the same as they did inNew Super Mario Bros. They appear only inWorld 3-2.
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
While whirlpools do not appear inSuper Mario Maker 2,Twisters can be placed underwater to create an upwards current which does not breach the surface. This current maintains a shape similar to whirlpools.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]
In the forty-second episode ofThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show! titled "Mario of the Apes," Mario and co. travel through Jungleland as a shortcut. During this expedition,King Koopa sends various enemies to attack the group, including anAlbatoss, spear-wieldingShyguys, and eventuallyTrouters, when the group jumps into a river to avoid the spears.Luigi,Princess Toadstool, andToad try to keep afloat in the river as a large group of Trouters swims in circles to form a raging whirlpool, which pulls the group towards another large Trouter's mouth. Mario, who lost his memory prior and goes by "Marzan" at the time, swings in on a vine to rescue the three and bring them to safety.
Mario's Time Machine[edit]
In theSNES version ofMario's Time Machine, Mario enters whirlpools to travel back to various time periods, specifically after collecting enoughMushrooms while surfing across time's waves.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars[edit]
InSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars andits remake, whirlpools can be found in most sections within thesea and theSunken Ship. WhenMario is sucked by one, he is taken beneath the surface where he can access underwater areas. These whirlpools serve as the only method to submerge into water and only works in one direction; Mario cannot enter a whirlpool to resurface.
Mario Party series[edit]
Mario Party[edit]
Whirlpools can be found inMario Party, where they prevent access to aPink Yoshi stuck on a small central island within theYoshi's Tropical Island board. These whirlpools can be removed by collectingStars, which forms a bridge at the end of the game allowing the Blue Yoshi on Watermelon Island to reunite with the stranded Yoshi. These whirlpools were replaced withCheep Cheeps when the board returned inMario Party Superstars.
Mario Party 6[edit]
Blooper Scooper is a minigame fromMario Party 6 where players are capsized by aGiant Blooper and must survive the whirlpool it forms. Any players unable to swim away from the Blooper are pulled beneath the water, made more difficult by the tentacles, crates, and other obstacles around the current. At the end of the minigame, the Blooper submerges, allowing the whirlpool to subside.
Mario Party 7[edit]
- “Oh dear! You unleashed thewhirlpool. Now theshells will be shuffled.”
- —Toadsworth,Mario Party 7
In the Pearl Hunt game mode, players compete in minigames for the chance to collect pearls from various seashells arranged on the seabed. These seashells can also hold other objects such as Mushrooms,Bob-ombs, and whirlpools. The whirlpools will expand in size to carry all remaining seashells up high before dissipating, where the shells will drift back down in new positions.
Mario Party DS[edit]
When playing theCheep Chump minigame inMario Party DS, players have thirty seconds to avoid threeCheep Cheeps lurking below the water. These Cheep Cheeps vary in size and will occasionally swim up to the surface to suck up players, forming whirlpools from their suction that correspond to their sizes. If a player fails to paddle away from a vortex they are eaten, spat out, and eliminated from the minigame. After thirty seconds or all players are eliminated, the minigame ends. Players can use the top screen to see the locations of Cheep Cheeps before they surface.
Mario Party 9[edit]
Mario Party 9 features sevenboards includingBlooper Beach. Halfway through this board, the party winds around a path near an angry Blooper statue. If a captain lands on anUnlucky Space, this statue will spin clockwise causing the whirlpool at the statue's base to rapidly grow. This drags the vehicle inwards towards aMini Ztar area and the captain will lose 3Mini Stars in the process. Until escaping, the party will be dragged back by two spaces by the whirlpool at the end of each turn.
Additionally, reaching the end of the board initiates a boss fight in theBlooper Barrageminigame. Here the party members mount cannons on a ship as a Big Blooper emerges from a whirlpool, shooting the boss down to deplete its health. The swirling current follows the Blooper as it moves around, albeit with no effect on the fight.
Super Mario Party[edit]
Players work together in a raft to navigate various obstacles in theRiver Survival game mode ofSuper Mario Party. Two of the winding paths, theBlooper Pools andMonster Attack! challenges, featureBloopers spinning to form whirlpools which pull in the raft and can cause it to bump against the Bloopers, impeding progress.
Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]
In the boss minigameDragoneel Slayers inSuper Mario Party Jamboree, the bossDragoneel creates a moving whirlpool that the players must avoid while riding jet skis. If a player is sucked in, they lose three points, which are gained by damaging Dragoneel withGreen Shells.
Mario Kart series[edit]
This section is astub. Please considerexpanding it to include any missing information.Specifics:Mario Kart World
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
InMario Kart: Double Dash!!,Mushroom Bridge rests on an island, with various whirlpools swirling both below the bridge and out at sea. These whirlpools have stars incorporated in the design and are much larger than the racer's karts and even the boats docked in the area. These features are also present on the course inMario Kart Tour, albeit without the star details. These whirlpools are absent from the course's appearance inMario Kart DS andMario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
Mario Kart 8[edit]
Mario Kart 8 and itsenhanced port include the trackDolphin Shoals featured in theStar Cup. At the end of the course is a section where the racers emerge from the water, driving across rocky terrain andgliding over a massive whirlpool. This whirlpool surrounds the final area, being too large to see on screen all at once.
Mario Kart World[edit]
InMario Kart World, a large whirlpool is located on the route betweenPeach Beach andWario Shipyard. Two smaller whirlpools are located on the routes between Wario Shipyard and eitherDK Pass andCheep Cheep Falls. Another one is found in a section of water near the savanna region exclusively in Free Roam.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga[edit]
InMario & Luigi: Superstar Saga andits remake, two whirlpools appear on the surface ofOho Ocean. Entering a whirlpool viasurfboard will take the player to optionalChuckle Bean-filled areas of theSeabed, as well as ayellow pipe leading to an island with amole.
Additionally,waterspouts, which appear as swirling vortexes of bubbles, are similar objects found in the Seabed. They can be entered using aSpin Jump, similar towhirlwinds, causing the bros to immediately be sent high up before slowly drifting back down.
Paper Mario series[edit]
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
InPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door andits remake, deep inthe Great Tree is a puzzle room featuring a large body of water with a hiddenblue switch that can be struck withKoops. This forms a whirlpool as the water pours through a hole into the room below.
ThePianta Parlor also features whirlpools in theBoat Mode minigame, which can be accessed after obtaining thePlatinum Card. These whirlpools have a deeper blue color and resemble curled streamers, drifting through the water similar to thebarrels to block Mario's path. The eight small whirlpools will cause Mario to spin away before regaining control, while four larger whirlpools drag Mario inward and beneath the water before he resurfaces nearby. A set of bubbly sound effects will play when being submerged.
Super Paper Mario[edit]
The Tile Pool is an underwater level withinThe Bitlands ofSuper Paper Mario. After entering a pipe here, Mario and co. find themselves in an underwater passage featuring two swirling currents comprised of bright squares. When touched, these whirlpools suck up the playable character, spinning the camera clockwise before ejecting them away and dealing 1 damage.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]
Within the Violet Isles ofPaper Mario: Color Splash, Mario encounters a massive whirlpool atVortex Island. This vortex is the namesake of the island and prevents access to the localMini Paint Star until being subdued. Mario must access a special warp pipe and navigate theparallel world to reach a laundry roomWashing Machine, the source of the vortex. Squeezing thisThing and completing the ensuing battle will cause the whirlpool to dissipate in both worlds, granting passage toLighthouse Island.
Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]
InPaper Mario: The Origami King, the bridge toPeach's Castle is destroyed so Mario must navigate theGraffiti Underground instead. At the end of the sewer system is a body of water blocking access to aWarp Pipe, and fighting a nearby group ofScaredy Rats reveals aMagic Circle. Mario can use the1,000-Fold Arms to open a valve, forming a whirlpool as the water flows down into the drain.
When confronting theWater Vellumental, it forms large waterspouts from a body of water for the ensuing boss battle. The Water Vellumental will siphon water from these waterspouts each turn to charge up for its Big, Mega, Giga, and Ultra Wave attacks, also summoning smaller waterspouts to wash away panels on each turn. When King Olly takes this form, his waterspouts will circle around the center as the ring puzzle is being solved, locking into position to wash away battle panels once Mario's path is set.
Defeating this boss allowsOlivia to fill theEddy River using a Magic Circle. This river bases its name on the eddies which form whirlpools throughout the stream. These whirlpools sometimes shift across the water and cause damage to theOarsman's boat, submerging it before launching it up. There is a massive whirlpool towards the end of the stream which, if entered, deals three hearts of damage to the boat.
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]
During the events ofDance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, Mario andToad attempt to sail out to sea aboard theSS Brass before getting caught in a whirlpool. They sail to a nearby island to find help, meeting apirate Lakitu merchant. He agrees to hand over the Boogie Booster, a powerful motor that would provide enough power to withstand the whirlpool, if Mario can defeat the Lakitu at afishing minigame. Mario and Toad then sail into the currentin the Whirlpool, reaching the bottom of the ocean and an underwater temple where the secondMusic Key is being guarded by aBig Blooper.
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)[edit]
Throughout theNorthern Kremisphere are variousSecret caves each hiding aBanana Bird. Exclusive to theGame Boy Advance remake ofDonkey Kong Country 3 isPacifica, found northwest of theBazaar's General Store. Clearing the fourth stage of this world,Cliffside Blast, unlocks a path down to a water section. The cliff face at the end reveals a cave entrance to Whirlpool Wreck when approached.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
InRockin' Relics, the first secret level ofSea Breeze Cove inDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, there are large, underwater pipes powered by bellows which blow out or suck in water in quick bursts. The resulting vortexes drag around anyBananas,Kongs, andSea Urchins in the vicinity.Current Capers also features swirling currents, this time formed by massive propellers and gears spinning in the background.
Additionally, electric eels known asFritz often teleport around the waters of Sea Breeze Cove levels. This teleporting is achieved through rapidly swirling around in the water, and reappearing elsewhere as they swirl back into view.
DK: Jungle Climber[edit]
WithinBoogity Bog, the third level ofGhost Island in the gameDK: Jungle Climber, there are various currents and whirlpools which pushDonkey Kong andDiddy Kong around to make underwater navigation more difficult. The whirlpools can swirl in either direction and influence a larger range than the visual, indicated by the flowing bubbles. Some whirlpools have circular handles orbiting around them, which allow the Kongs to swing through the currents.
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games features many Olympic andDream Events, includingDream Rafting. Players stand on a circular raft that drifts downCheep Cheep River, attempting to earn the most points while surviving various obstacles. At the end of the course,Gooper Blooper confronts the players and traps their raft by forming a whirlpool. Players must dodge its attacks and jump onto four of his tentacles, causing Gooper Blooper to leap up before landing back in the water dazed as the whirlpool subsides and the event ends.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
During the events ofThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, a water main break causes the streets ofBrooklyn to flood with water. When Mario lifts a manhole cover in an attempt to investigate, a whirlpool forms and water surges down into the sewers.
Gallery[edit]
Model fromSuper Mario 64
Concept art fromPaper Mario: The Origami King
Concept art fromPaper Mario: The Origami King
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese(Simplified) | 漩涡[1] Xuánwō | Whirlpool |
References[edit]
- ^Official Chinese website forNew Super Mario Bros..iQue (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- Hazardous objects
- Mario Kart World objects
- New Super Mario Bros. objects
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 objects
- Paper Mario: Color Splash objects
- Paper Mario: The Origami King objects
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door objects
- Super Mario 64 objects
- Super Mario 64 DS objects
- Super Mario Galaxy objects
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars objects
- Super Paper Mario objects
