- This article is about erupting mountains in lava-themed areas. For the world from Donkey Kong Country Returns, see Volcano (world).
Volcanoes[1] appear as one of the characterizing features of lava-themed levels in the Super Mario franchise. Their function varies between games. In 3D titles like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Odyssey, the inner chambers of volcanoes are sub-areas that can be physically traversed. In 2D titles like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, they appear in the distant background and periodically erupt, launching damaging volcanic bombs into the foreground. There are various locations and levels that occur on or within volcanoes.
History
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- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- the Donkey Kong franchise
- the Yoshi franchise
- the Wario franchise
- Mario Party
- Mario Sports
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
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Super Mario series
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
Mario on the outer wall of the volcano in Lethal Lava Land
In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, a small volcano occurs in the center of Lethal Lava Land. It is surrounded by a ring-like spinning disc platform that slowly spins clockwise. When it stops, the volcano erupts, releasing small flames 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 the missions "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 a Warp Pipe, similar to the igloo in Snowman'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 a life or exit the course on the pause menu. The only ways to leave the volcano without collecting a Power Star is to either lose a life or enter another course.
The volcano interior is filled with magma. Ascendable platforms protrude from the surrounding walls and lifts travel up spiraling tracks in its center. Bullies, Podoboos, and a hidden 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 timed jump between platforms can be dangerous for the player character.
Super Mario Sunshine
- Main article: Corona Mountain
Corona Mountain is the tallest peak in Super 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 a mudboat in order to battle Bowser and Bowser Jr. Defeating them frees Princess Peach and rids Delfino 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-shaped Isle 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.
An erupting volcano in World 8-8
Volcanoes appear in several of the lattermost levels in World 8 in New 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 of World 8-6 is within the chamber of a volcano, with Mario (or Luigi) having to ascend upward to avoid rising magma. The pole for the course is right outside the top of the volcano.
In World 8-8, the volcanoes in the background periodically erupt, causing volcanic debris to rain down on the terrain of the course. The debris destroys gray blocks and bricks on impact, making navigation difficult.
Super Mario Galaxy
An active volcano occurs on the starting planet of Melty Molten Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy. A series of sinking platforms, Li'l Cinders, and lava bursts occur in the lava that pools near its base. A Launch Star floats above the top of the volcano and it is necessary to reach other planets in multiple missions, and it sometimes erupts with Star Bits after the planet is left. However, if Mario (or Luigi) do not spin and let themselves fall out of the Launch Star, they will land on the floor at the base of the volcano, where there is a Ground Pound Switch. Striking it causes many Star Bits to appear, but also causes the volcano to start erupting. He must use the Sling 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," a Purple Coin occurs on the floor of the volcano instead.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
A volcano releasing lava rocks in World 8-1
Paralleling the first New Super Mario Bros., volcanoes occur in the background of the overworld courses in World 8, a lava-themed world and supposedly Bowser's domain in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In most courses, volcanoes are ambient background details, but the active volcano in World 8-1 releases lava rocks and ash onto the course. Contact with this ash causes the player character to immediately lose a life, while the lava rocks simply causes damage like in the first New 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
The starting planet of the Shiverburn Galaxy surrounds a teardrop-shaped volcanic planetoid in Super 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 a Ground-Pound Switch in this galaxy that causes the planet to freeze over and turns the lava into ice, volcano included. One of the galaxy's Green 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
Normal volcanoes that erupt volcanic debris occur in the background of World 6-1 in New Super Mario Bros. 2. Additionally, unique ones occur in the desert-themed World 2-B. Breaking them causes them to release a flurry of coins.
Super Mario Odyssey
- Main article: Luncheon Kingdom
The volcano of Mount Volbono in the Luncheon Kingdom
In Super Mario Odyssey, a giant volcano makes up most of Mount Volbono in the lava-covered Luncheon Kingdom. A civilization of fork-shaped people called Volbonans have a town established at its base, and they use the volcano's lava to cook their food. The most culturally significant one is the Stupendous Stew, which Bowser and the Broodals steal during the events of the game. The stew is cooked in an enormous pot at the top of the volcano, above which Mario fights Cookatiel.
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 a captured Lava 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 across Lava Geysers.
Paper Mario series
Paper Mario
In Paper Mario, Mt. Lavalava is a volcano located on Lavalava Island. Mario and Kolorado explore it in search of a rare treasure.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, the final level of World 5 is Rumble 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
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, Redpepper Volcano and Redpepper Crater take place in a volcano. The former is inhabited by Draggadon, while the second is a deeper part of the volcano containing a set of hot springs.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
In Paper Mario: The Origami King, King Olly forcibly relocates Peach'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., and Kamek must run away from the rising lava to make it to Bowser's airship's cannon.
Mario Kart series
Mario being launched towards a volcano in
Mario Kart WiiThough lava-themed racecourses have appeared in every entry in the Mario Kart series, volcanoes themselves are uncommon. This potentially is the case because most lava-themed courses are based on Bowser's Castle, not naturally-occurring lava flows. The first volcano in the series appears in the background of the forest-themed Lakeside Park in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, where it causes volcanic rocks to rain onto the track. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, the summit of DK Mountain is an unhappy-looking volcano with rolling boulders 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 of Baby Park (from the front) and Dino 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. In Grumble Volcano of Mario 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 lava fireballs to fall onto the course. Direct contact with the fireballs 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 in Mario Kart Wii, while Grumble Volcano makes a subsequent reappearance in Mario Kart 8. Lakeside Park and DK Mountain appear in Mario Kart Tour, with the latter also being distributed in Wave 6 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass in most territories on November 9, 2023.
Mario & Luigi series
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Mario, Luigi, and their baby selves climb the mountain of Thwomp Volcano. The volcano then erupts, necessitating the Hydrogush 4000 to put it out. Inside Thwomp Caverns, the volcano once again erupts, launching Bowser and Baby Bowser out of it.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
In Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Mount Pajamaja is a large volcano that Mario and Luigi require the Massif Bros.'s assistance to climb. Its Dream World version, Dreamy Mount Pajamaja, can have its temperature controlled with Luiginary Ice. The volcano of Dreamy Mount Pajamaja is alive. While it normally sleeps, Mario, Dreamy Luigi, and Prince 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
- Main article: Mt. Spout
In Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, there is a water volcano on Terra Flora named Mt. Spout that waters the flora on the planet. When the heroes arrive on Terra Flora, they find that a Darkmess 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
Screenshot from Super Mario Galaxy
Screenshot from Super Mario Galaxy 2
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|
| Japanese | 火山
Kazan | Volcano | | [2][3] |
| Spanish | Volcán | Volcano | | [4] |
References
- ^ Sakai, Kazuya, kikai, Rachel Roberts, and Jenny Blenk, editors (2019). The Art of Super Mario Odyssey (First English Edition). Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books. ISBN 978-1-50671-375-5. 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). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. 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). ISBN 978-4-19-864696-7. 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.)
