A Ball 'n' Chain is a recurring obstacle in the Mario franchise. It first appears in Super Mario World.
Description[]
A Ball 'n' Chain is a ball covered in spikes, and rotates in place from a block, which it is attached to from link of circular chians. While a Ball 'n' Chain is mostly invincible, it rotates or swings slowly, being generally easy to bypass. Although Ball 'n' Chains are used to prevent the player's character from succeeding, they can stand on the brick to avoid touching the ball and taking damage.
Ball 'n' Chains can be found in Bowser's Castles and fortresses as dangerous objects and weapons of Bowser's. In most games, Ball 'n' Chains possess a similar behavior to Fire Bars and Roto-discs.
In Mario franchise[]
Super Mario series[]
Super Mario World[]
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 screenshot of Mario near the Ball 'n' Chains in the Castle's Tunnel
Ball 'n' Chains are commonly found in fortress and castle levels, such as Ludwig's Castle. Ball 'n' Chains are seen attached to a gray stone block spinning around. They harm Mario or Luigi if he touches one. The Spiked Ball can harm Mario or Luigi, the chain it is attached to is harmless and can be moved through without taking damage. A Ball 'n' Chain cannot be destroyed unless Mario or Luigi are under the effects of a Starman. Mario or Luigi can also avoid damage by Spin Jumping on a Ball 'n' Chain.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
Mario grabbing a Star Coin on a Ball 'n' Chain's block.
The Ball 'n' Chain object also appears in New Super Mario Bros. in the World 7-Castle. In this game, The Ball 'n' Chains rotate around the block quickly in this level. A Star Coin even appears on one of the blocks a Ball 'n' Chain is attached to requiring for some quick maneuvers to obtain it. Just as before, the Spiked Ball is harmful to Mario/Luigi but the chain isn't, additionally their blocks can be stood on. A Ball 'n' Chain cannot be destroyed in this game.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
Mario and Luigi in a secret room where a Ball 'n' Chain is found.
The Ball 'n' Chain object then reappears in the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii, however in this game, they are rather rare obstacles with only two appearing in the whole game. in the secret areas of Lemmy's Fortress and Wendy's Castle. In the former, the Ball 'n' Chain is seen guarding one of the level's Star Coins within some large moving blocks and in the latter, it is seen in an underwater section attached to a spinning cross-shaped pendulum platform guarding a Red Ring. Unlike the previous game, the Ball 'n' Chain can be destroyed using a Starman and unlike previous games, the chains are now attached to nails in walls rather than blocks. Just as before, Ball 'n' Chains are seen rotating and only the ball is harmful.
Super Mario 3D Land[]
A 3D Ball 'n' Chain from Super Mario 3D Land.
Ball 'n' Chains make their 3D debut in Super Mario 3D Land. They are depicted purple with yellow spikes, and the chain is also yellow. Ball 'n' Chains do not have shackles attached to them, unlike Super Mario World. They sway back and forth like a pendulum and no longer spin. Ball 'n' Chains first appear in World 1-2 and often appear in cave and castle levels. Ball 'n' Chains can be destroyed with the effects of a Starman, Invincibility Leaf, or Statue Leaf.
New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Luigi U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
The Mario Crew evade the dangerous Ball 'n' Chains.
Ball 'n' Chains appear in all three games. They are more hazardous than before, possessing spikes all around, even their chains, making those a hazard as well. As a result, Ball 'n' Chains can only be passed under. Ball 'n' Chains only sway and do not spin unlike before. They appear in only two levels, Pendulum Castle and Impossible Pendulums. Ball 'n' Chains are also indestructible and cannot be destroyed, even from a Starman. If Nabbit touches a Ball 'n' Chain, he gets knocked back a bit within taking damage.
They also have a giant counterpart, Giant Ball 'n' Chains.
Mario Party 10[]
Ball 'n' Chains in Spiked Ball Scramble.
Ball 'n' Chains appear in the minigame Spiked Ball Scramble, where they swing along the path. Players are required to time their movements to avoid being hit while staying on track to avoid the lava. Players should generally choose paths with fewer Ball 'n' Chains to avoid them, with the paths ahead being revealed as the screen scrolls. If a player touches a Ball 'n' Chain, they get eliminated.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
Yoshi approaches a Ball 'n' Chain in the Castle.
A single Ball 'n' Chain appears in Bowser's Castle. It is seen after the sets of Podoboo Cogs amidst the jump leading to the Castle's balcony. Running into the Ball 'n' Chain will knock a racer over, causing them to lose some Coins. Players can phase through a Ball 'n' Chain without an issue whilst under the effects of a Starman or Bullet Bill.
In Yoshi franchise[]
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island / Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[]
Yoshi above a Ball 'n' Chain.
Ball 'n' Chains are rather uncommon, mainly appearing in Forts such as Burt the Bashful's Fort. Ball 'n' Chains are indestructible in this game and will knock Baby Mario off Yoshi's back upon contact. Mace Guy's tend to use a smaller Ball 'n' Chain as their primary weapon. Ball 'n' Chains are seen spinning around in this game and some appear to be spun around by some Boo Guys. Hacking the game shows that Ball 'n' Chains can be destroyed while Baby Mario is under the effects of the Super Star.[1] This is never shown in the game nor Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 because the Super Star isn't featured in any levels with the Ball 'n' Chain.
Yoshi's Story[]
Yoshi near a Ball 'n' Chain.
Ball 'n' Chains only appear in two levels Tall Tower and Magma Castle. Here, Ball 'n' Chains either sway like a pendulum or quickly drop down to the floor and then slowly rise again similar to a Thwomp.
Yoshi's Island DS[]
Yoshi near some Ball 'n' Chains.
Ball 'n' Chains mainly appear in castle levels such as Castle of the Big Burt Bros.. They are also seen in caverns as well and are more common than the previous game. Just as before, they are indestructible and they spin thanks to the Shy Guys. Ball 'n' Chains behave identically to Firebars.
Yoshi's New Island[]
A Ball 'n' Chain in Yoshi's New Island.
Ball 'n' Chains are now slightly larger than previous Yoshi's Island games. They are seen in Forts and Caves and just as before, are indestructible and spinning as they are controlled by the Boo Guys. Mace Guys once again use the Ball 'n' Chain as their primary weapon.
Yoshi's Woolly World / Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World[]
Two Ball 'n' Chains near Yoshi.
Ball 'n' Chains retain their behavior from earlier Yoshi games, but now appear to be more gray, closely resembling how they look in the Super Mario series platformers. They can be commonly found in various Fortresses and Castles throughout the game and cannot be destroyed.
In Super Princess Peach[]
Ball 'N' Chains appear in Bowser's Villa, where they swing back and forth between the background and foreground, acting as pendulums. The spiked balls end of a Ball 'n' Chain resemble Bowser's Shell.
In other media[]
Super Mario World television series[]
A Ball 'n' Chain as seen in the show.
The object was also found to have a small cameo in the episode "Send in the Clown." While Mario travels through Neon Castle, Mario gets very closed to being hit by a Ball 'n' Chain, which drops from the ceiling, as he tries to get through a lava area.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[]
A Ball 'n' Chain anchoring Bowser's Castle
Ball 'n' Chains appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where they are used to anchor Bowser's Castle.
Trivia[]
- New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the only New Super Mario Bros. game where the Ball 'n' Chain does not appear.
References[]
