Fourth wall: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|What's this {{button|wii|1}}, you say? You need not worry. The great being that watches us will know what it is.|Thoreau|Super Paper Mario}}

Sometimes, characters from the ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' franchise perform an action that implies that they are aware of being fictional characters in a video game; this is known as breaking the '''fourth wall'''. The reason it is called "fourth wall" is because the term originated from plays in theaters, when actors would look at the audience, talk to them, or do anything else that involved the audience or the camera. Because the stage would generally have a wall at the back and both sides, this concept involves the actors becoming involved with the audience who are at the front, which can be considered an invisible wall, making it the fourth one.

 

'''''Note:''' Video games frequently break the fourth wall in order to address the player with directions (i.e. "Press A to jump"). These instances are not to be recorded here, unless the characters are aware they are in a video game due to the remark.''

[[File:SMAS LL World 9-4 Thank You Screenshot.png|thumb|right|250px|アリガトウ！, the message.]]

In the final level of [[World 9 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 9]], [[World 9-4 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 9-4]], group of tile blocks can be found spelling out "アリガトウ！" (''Arigato!'', meaning "Thank You" in Japanese). Also, the opening of World 9-1 features a message saying "WE PRESENT FANTASY WORLD. LET'S TRY '9' WORLD WITH ONE GAME.", and the [[Game Over]] screen for World 9 has a message saying "YOU'RE A SUPER PLAYER! WE HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN. MARIO & STAFF."

When the player defeats the [[King Bob-omb|Big Bob-omb]] in [[Bob-omb Battlefield]], the Big Bob-omb says, "''Just select this Star from the menu. For now, farewell.''"

[[File:Pianta breaking fourth wall.png|thumb|A Pianta ponders whether this is the end of the game.]]

The enemies and power-ups do a small dance when there is a little "[[bah]]" vocal (or a windchime when underwater) in the music, such as Goombas jumping up in the air and Koopa Troopas turn to the screen for a split second and rock their fists.

In the credits, the players play a minigame where they break blocks to earn coins. These blocks have the credits written on them. If less than four players are playing, the characters not controlled dance to the music.

The enemies still do a dance to the "bah" vocals in the music, along with the items and flowers bouncing and blooming to the beat. Also, when underwater, the [[Cheep Cheep]]s do a spin whenever there is a windchime in the music and [[Dry Bones]] rotate their head when a xylophone sound plays in the [[Tower|fortresses]].

The enemies still do a dance at the "bah" vocals.

On the title screen, the characters ground pound to make the title and two [[Super Acorn]]s appear.

When the player starts up the game, [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Princess Peach]], and [[Toad]] yell out the game's name, followed by one of them saying, "Meow!".  

If the player gets a perfect score in every stage, a message comes up saying "''Congratulations! What an amazing job! You are the [''nth''] Yoshi to adventure on Yoshi's Island.''" The number to be shown here is the number of lives spent before the game's completion plus one (for example, if the player has lost 300 lives before completing the game, the message says that they are the 301st Yoshi).

[[File:YNI 4th Wall.png|thumb|right|130px|Yellow Yoshi breaking the fourth wall]]

In [[Kat & Ana]]'s stage, losing a microgame causes a turtle to be hit by a cannonball and fly into the screen.

In the minigame [[Ashley (minigame)|Ashley]], [[Ashley & Red|Ashley]] tells the player, "You with the GamePad! You're gonna have to guide me."

In [[5-Volt]]'s stage, if the player fails a [[microgame]], she may ask, "Did your hand slip?" If the same thing occurs in [[Ashley & Red]]'s stage, Ashley may say, "You must be cursed..." Additionally, there are several other voice clips whether the player wins or loses a microgame, like Wario saying, "Aw, what you do?!" after the player loses three times in a row and Mona occasionally saying, "Aren't you clever?" when the player avoids a trick.  

During the [[Wario Deluxe]] stage, Wario asks if the player is ready to collect their reward, and turns into Wario Deluxe. He then says, "Do your worst. Next to me, you're all number 2!" He eventually starts using his powers to hide the control hints, before saying "Getting too tough, kid? You can always give up!" After that, [[Lulu]] pops some balloons on his hot air balloon and jumps on him to grab the gold potty, after which she looks at the screen and says, "Hey! Hey you! I'll take care of Wario here. You go and win this thing!"

[[File:Waluigi camelot.png|thumb|Waluigi, holding up the Camelot sign in the opening to ''Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour'']]

[[Birdo]] breaks the fourth wall by kissing the screen if she gets an eagle or better, or shoots eggs at the screen if she gets worse than a bogey. [[Yoshi]] breaks the fourth wall by turning into an egg and rolling into the screen if he gets worse than a bogey. [[Bowser Jr.]] breaks the fourth wall by using his [[Magic Paintbrush]] to paint the screen if he gets an eagle, albatross, hole in one, or bogey.

On the character select screen, each character say "Good choice!" when chosen (except Yoshi and Donkey Kong). They say this again in ''[[Mario Party 4]]''.

On the [[Star Carnival Stage]], there are two screens which shows an 8-bit sprite of the words "MARIO PARTY 8."

When [[Toad]] or [[Wario]] are chosen on the character selection screen, Wario might say "Good choice!" and Toad might also say "Good choice!"

[[File:Bowser's Fence Fury.png|thumb|[[Donkey Kong]] hitting the screen in Bowser's Fence Fury.]]

During the minigame [[Rolls for Moles]], if the player scores a Perfect in the minigame, the last [[Monty Mole]] hit by the ball bumps into the top screen and slide down it.

After the end credits, [[Toad]], [[Toadette]], and [[Kamek]] wave to the player and eventually, all of the other characters from this game also wave to the player along with a text that reads "Thanks for playing!" similar to the scene after the staff credits in ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]''.

[[File:MK7 endscreen.png|thumb|right|The ending screen of ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', with all of the characters.]]

[[File:PM Jr Troopa Fourth Wall.png|thumb|right|Jr. Troopa noticing his depleted HP]]

A young Toad in [[Petalburg]] says, "There's this one game that just absolutely rules. It's called 'Fire Emblem'...". This reference was written shortly after the international release of [[fireemblem: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade|''Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade'']], the first game in the series to be released outside Japan and seventh installment overall. ''Paper Mario'' and ''Fire Emblem'' are both developed by [[Intelligent Systems]]. In the Japanese version of the game, the Toad kid mentions ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' for the [[NES|Famicom]] instead. Later on, he states that he is a fan of [[Luigi]] and says he wants a game called "Paper Luigi". Afterwards, he mentions that he is actually playing the game ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'' and ends up beating it before the player does.<ref>[http://legendsoflocalization.com/legit-translation-or-clever-fire-emblem-advertisement/ Legit Translation… or Clever Fire Emblem Advertisement?]</ref>

In [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door#Chapter 3: Of Glitz and Glory|Chapter 3]], [[Hamma Jamma]] says that [[World 7-1 (Super Mario Bros.)|7-1]] was his grandfather's 'hood'. In the Spanish version of the game, Rawk Hawk says "''The weaklings should stay home playing [[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]!''" after he beats [[the Koopinator]]. When [[Goombella]] tattles on [[Stewart]] in [[Glitzville]], she tells Mario that [[Cheep Cheep]]s have been a part of the ''Mario'' franchise for a while. In fact, Goombella even says, "''Oh, gosh. I just broke through the fourth wall there, didn't I? Sorry. Just forget it.''"  

[[File:PMTTYD Lord Crump fourth wall.png|thumb|right|[[Lord Crump]] (disguised) referring to the person "in front of the TV"]]

Just before Mario begins [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door#Chapter 5: The Key to Pirates|Chapter 5]], [[Professor Frankly]] is about to tell them very important and long information concerning [[the Thousand-Year Door]]. He asks if they are ready to hear it, and then says, "''And you there! In front of the TV! You listen up, too!''". Mario's current partner out questions Professor Frankly (for example, [[Mini-Yoshi|Yoshi]] says to him, "''Did someone pile-drive your head, or what? I don't see any TV here, nutjob!''". [[Vivian]] remarks, "''What to say... ARE YOU TALKING TO NO ONE?!?''" Goombella even says, "''Yeesh. First me, then you! Why do we always have to break through the fourth wall?''") Frankly yells at them, saying to disregard it as he continues. Later during the chapter, [[Lord Crump]] (under his alias, "Four Eyes") tells the player that they'd better not tell Mario who he really is, though it is impossible to even use Mario to attack him until the end of the chapter. Outside of the room which contains the [[black chest]], Goombella says in her tattle, "We're inside Pirate's Grotto. There's a sunken ship here.

Something good inside? 'Cause that's how it always is in video games... right?♡"

After [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door#Chapter 6: 3 Days of Excess|Chapter 6]], when Bowser makes it to [[Rawk Hawk]]'s secret training facility, Rawk Hawk appears. As soon as he appears, he points at the camera insultingly asking the player if they forgot him. If the player returns to the [[Excess Express]], a young [[Toad (species)|Toad]] appears in Cabin 007. Should the player talk to him, he asks Mario a quiz: "What did [[Bowser]] nab in the last ''[[Paper Mario]]''?" The options are "The Star Cookie", "The [[Star Rod (Paper Mario)|Star Rod]]", and "Someone's Lunch".

In the [[Palace of Shadow]], if Mario allows the [[Dry Bones]] to force him to the center of the room, Mario's partner warns him that the floor will swallow them up. If Mario does not move to prevent this, his partner screams that they are doomed. If [[Mini-Yoshi|Yoshi]] is Mario's partner at the time, he says, "''Awww, game over, man! WHOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAA!''"

[[File:SPM Swoon exe.png|thumb|right|Swoon.exe]]

Several characters, the first one being [[Bestovius]], refer to a certain button when explaining how to perform an action. When Mario asks what they mean by pressing that certain button, the [[List of characters|character]] assures them not to worry, and that the great being that watches them (the player) will know what it means. For example, when encountered, [[Thoreau]] says: "''What's this {{button|wii|1}}, you say? You need not worry. The great being that watches us will know what it is.''" However, during [[Garson]]'s story "Stylish Moves," he states that Mario can perform one by shaking the Wii Remote; when Mario asks what the remote is, Garson replies, "''What? What's a {{button|wii|Wiimote}}? ...Don't worry. As long as the player gets it, we're fine,''" outright stating the existence of the player instead of alluding to them.

[[File:FourthWallSuperstarSagaBowsersMinionsScreenBreak.jpg|thumb|Bowser hitting the screen in the remake.]]

In Mushroom Plaza, when [[Mario]] talks to the [[Toad (species)|Toad]] by the fountain he asks [[Mario]] if he wants to hear about Action Commands. If [[Mario]] says no every time, the [[Toad (species)|Toad]] says "''Action Commands are... Well go read the instruction booklet!''"

The last one of [[Bowser]]'s ranks is "Final Boss", referencing that Bowser is the final boss in most ''Mario'' games.

After [[Nabbit]] has stolen [[Bros. Attack]]s, [[Toad]] laments that, if Bros. Attacks were lost, it is over for not only for Toad himself, but also for Mario and Luigi, for [[Mushroom Kingdom]], and the game itself. He then says that it is going to be "[[Game Over]] for all of us".

[[File:Mario & Little Mac K.O.!.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mario]] and [[Little Mac]], having been screen KO'd.]]

Just like in his original games, one of [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]'s idle animations has him looking at the player tapping his foot impatiently. His other animation has him turning to the camera and waving his finger in a patronizing manner.

When using [[Solid Snake]]'s codec on [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] on [[Shadow Moses Island]], [[Otacon]] says that people are excited that he is in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. In the codec on Mario, [[List of Smash Taunt characters#Colonel Roy Campbell|Colonel Roy Campbell]] says that Mario made his first appearance in [[List of games by date#1981|1981]], and in [[Jigglypuff]]'s codec, he says that it takes all kinds of energy in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''; Colonel also mentions the ''[[WarioWare (series)|WarioWare]]'' games in Wario's codec. In [[Pit (character)|Pit]]'s codec, Otacon says that Pit has gone through "''countless trials over the years''", to which Snake replies, "''And by 'trials', you mean '[[Game Over]]s'?''" Finally, when Snake uses his codec on [[Mr. Game & Watch]], Otacon talks about his first appearance, 1980, and his console, [[Game & Watch]]. There are other Codec Conversations that break the fourth wall as well.

There is a scene in [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl#The Subspace Emissary|The Subspace Emissary]] mode where Snake reveals himself after being hidden in his cardboard box for a long time. While facing towards the screen, he says "''Kept you waiting, huh?''" There are no other characters in his vicinity during the scene, so he must have been talking to the player - in reference to the fact that a brief scene of him hidden in the cardboard box was shown much earlier in the Subspace Emissary storyline. This is the only time the characters say a full sentence, excluding [[Pokémon]].

In dark rooms and hallways, Luigi hums or whistles the [[Main Theme (Luigi's Mansion)|Main Theme]] while exploring, even if the music is not playing. [[Melody Pianissima]] plays songs from the earlier ''Mario'' games and asks Luigi what game it appeared in. (''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', ''[[Super Mario World]]'', etc.). She also plays the ''Luigi's Mansion'' theme while Luigi is in the hallway next to the vase with the picture above it.

While [[Dodo]] is pecking the statues at [[Nimbus Land|Nimbus Castle]], he runs outside of the room's boundaries to sneakily peck Mario disguising as [[A Plumber's Lament]].

During the ending sequence, there is a scene where Mario, Princess Toadstool, Yoshi, Toad, and the [[Toad Minister|Chancellor]] wave at the player, with the words "''THANK YOU''" displayed at the top of the screen. The scene ends as the camera irises out on Mario, who then winks at the player.

In all four worlds, there are certain instruments scattered around that emit no sounds themselves but their movement goes along to the background music: Blue trumpets in [[Ancient Gardens]], drums played by bouncing balls in [[Sherbet Desert]], harps played by vines in [[Spooky Trails]], and steam exhausts in [[Lava Pit]].

When [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] was talking to [[Bowser]] about the election to be [[Mushroom Kingdom]]'s ruler, [[Larry Koopa|Cheatsy Koopa]] looks at the watcher and says, "''Bad King Dad? (laughs) Are you kidding?''". After he says this, King Koopa says, "''What are you laughing at?''" because he does not understand that Cheatsy was laughing at the audience.

When Mario and the gang see the large fire pit they must cross, Luigi takes note of the [[Dark Land]] music in the background and nervously shouts, "''Stop the music!''", to which the music stops. Luigi tells Mario that they cannot cross that pit, but [[Toad]] sees some [[? Block]]s that can help them. Mario calls out for the music to start up, and new, more epic background music plays.

When [[Oogtar]] exclaims "Merry Cave Christmas, Mario-dude!", Mario tells the audience, "Wouldn't it be nice if every day were Christmas?" Mario might either be talking to the audience or Oogtar.