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Super Mario

Mask Gate[1] is an object created in the likeness of a hawk's head in Super Mario Bros. 2. It replaces the giant African mask in the original Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic.

In Super Mario Bros. 2[]

Hawkmouth SMB2 sprite

Mask Gate is mainly an ally as it allows the player to continue onward to the next level if they pick up a Crystal Ball. In doing so, the Mask Gate opens its mouth so that the player can walk in, and in doing so, the current level ends. When the player enters or walks away from a Mask Gate's mouth, it closes.

All Mask Gates are harmless, except for one in World 7-2, specifically in a chamber right before Wart's room. Here, when the Crystal Ball is picked up, the Mask Gate detaches itself from the wall and chases the player. The Mask Gate moves similarly to Phanto, making sweeping left and right movements with some bobbing up and down. Unlike Phanto, the Mask Gate seems to be restricted to the lower third quarter of the screen. If the player's character is touched by the Mask Gate, they take damage. A Mask Gate can be attacked by throwing a Mushroom Block at it. After three hits, the Mask Gate stops moving, and the player can then enter it to Wart's room. As such, the Mask Gate of World 7-2 is the only one to not end the level upon being walked into.

In Super Mario Advance, when a playable character enters a Mask Gate, they say a quote such as "Bravo!" or "Oh, yeah!", which differs depending on the character.

Timeline[]

Game Role Year Console Notes
Super Mario Bros. 2 Non-playable character, boss 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System Replaces the African-style masks from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic; the one in World 7-2 is actually a boss
Super Mario All-Stars Non-playable character, boss 1993 Super Nintendo Entertainment System Exclusive to the Super Mario Bros. 2 remaster, having the same role as in the original game.
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Non-playable character, boss 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System Same as in Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario Advance Non-playable character, boss 2001 Game Boy Advance Same as in the original Super Mario Bros. 2

Nomenclature[]

Language Name Translation Notes
Japanese マスクゲート
Masuku Gēto
Mask Gate Directly translated from the English name
Japanese (alt.) ゲート
Gēto
Gate A shortening of the main Japanese translation

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. >Arakawa, Minoru (1991). NES Game Atlas. Nintendo of America, 27.
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