A Warp Pipe (also simply known as Pipes) is usually a green pipe that allows a character to warp from the pipe to another pipe, though the color has been known to vary. They first appeared inMario Bros., largely as a means by which Mario can reach secret areas of the game. Their use is similar in all other 2D Mario platformers, such as Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, and New Super Mario Bros., and in many of the RPGs that include them (Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Paper Mario).
Warp pipes also have the ability to restart the player in a loop back to the beginning of a level. Take 8-4 for example; in order to get to the real Bowser, the player has to go in the right corresponding pipes to avoid disorientation, this appears in other Mario games like in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels 5-3.
Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels
Similar to Super Mario Bros. pipes serve the same function with no difference.
Super Mario World
With the debut of Cannon Pipes, you can do more in Super Mario World, some pipes taking you to secret courses as well. In the game Super Mario World, cannon pipes usually are connected to normal pipes, and upon entering a normal pipe(near a cannon pipe usually) will fire you some feet away.
Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, the playable characters enter Princess Peach's Castle using Warp Pipes, yet their function later on in the game, in Tiny-Huge Island, is different. Here, they serve as a means of growing larger or smaller, switching between the two ways the level can be played.
Super Mario Sunshine
In Super Mario Sunshine, there are a few pipes that lead to secret areas, one of them, however leading to Sirena Beach, in which the help of Yoshi is required for access, and one leading to Pianta Village.
Piranha Plants use Warp Pipes for hiding places and will jump in and out of them attempting to damage a passer-by. They will often stay inside the Warp Pipe, however, when Mario or another person is standing on top or next to the pipe.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Shy Guys, among other enemies, would often spawn in Warp Pipes, providing Yoshi with a source of free eggs. If a Yoshi were to go down into the Warp Pipe, they would find a dark cave where Shy Guys would come out of the floor of the cavern.
Super Mario 3D World
In Super Mario 3D World, a glass version of pipes named Clear Pipes appear. They are often used as transportation across large gaps and are also used to traverse between worlds on the map.
Paper Mario Series
Warp Pipe Room in Paper Mario: The Origami King
Paper Mario: The Origami King
In Paper Mario: The Origami King, each world has a paper warp pipe leads to a room in Musée Champignon, a museum in Toad Town. The room is available at early of the game. However, Mario must untape to unlock the warp pipe. The pipes are used as fast travels between worlds, along with Fax Machines.
Warp Pipes are also used to transport from Sensor Lab to testing areas.
