- For the item in the Super Smash Bros. series, see Barrel (Super Smash Bros. series).
A Barrel is a recurring object in both the Donkey Kong and Mario franchises. They first appear in the arcade game Donkey Kong.
Description[]
Barrels are most often used as projectiles which can be thrown at an enemy or opponent, although certain enemies can throw Barrels at the playable protagonists, such as Manky Kongs in Donkey Kong Country. Some barrels are used as item containers.
Barrels are essentially the same as real-world wooden barrels, with both types also bearing a cylindrical shape as well as being rimmed by a few metal hoops. Barrels tend to have minor aesthetic differences between their appearances, such as their color, size, and even hoops wrapped around them.
Because of their use in the Donkey Kong arcade game and the Donkey Kong Country series, Barrels are largely associated with Donkey Kong, and are a staple of his franchise.
In Donkey Kong franchise[]
Donkey Kong series[]
Donkey Kong[]
Donkey Kong screenshot of Mario using a hammer, protecting him from the incoming barrels from above
The first stage, 25m, involves Mario having to avoid Barrels as Donkey Kong rolls them down the construction girders or sometimes directly at Mario, in which case the Barrel drops through several girders. Some of the Barrels can roll down a ladder. Mario can dodge a barrel by either jumping over it, earning him 100 points, or by destroying it using a hammer, earning him 300 points instead. If Mario touches a Barrel, he spins out and loses a life.
In 25m, the first barrel thrown by Donkey Kong is a blue barrel, and it is the first obstacle faced by Mario. Whenever a blue barrel rolls into the Oil Drum, it spawns Fireballs. Only up to five Fireballs can appear onscreen, so when this number is reached, Donkey Kong stops throwing blue barrels. If a blue barrel enters an Oil Drum while five Fireballs are onscreen, no other Fireballs are produced. The first blue barrel is the only one that Donkey Kong throws down several floors. Destroying a blue barrel with a him randomly gives either 300, 500, or 800 points. If Mario comes in contact with a barrel, he loses a life.
Donkey Kong (Game & Watch)[]
Similar to Donkey Kong's 25m, the Game & Watch version involves Mario having to dodge Barrels while traveling up a construction site. Because hammers do not return, Mario cannot use them to destroy a barrel.
Barrels retain the same purpose in the game's reissues in Game & Watch Gallery 2, Game & Watch Gallery 4, and Game & Watch Collection.
Donkey Kong Circus[]
Throughout gameplay, Donkey Kong has to balance on a barrel while juggling various objects, in the same manner as a performer on a circus ball.
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[]
Barrels are first encountered in the 25m stage, reappearing from the original Donkey Kong. Just like before, whenever Mario jumps over a barrel, he earns 100 points, or 300 points from destroying it with a hammer. Blue barrels do not make a reappearance, possibly because of the Game Boy's monochromatic palette.
Barrels are occasionally used by Donkey Kong to attack Mario in certain stages beyond the first four. Here, whenever a rolling barrel stumbles upon an edge and falls below, Mario has to perform a handstand beneath the barrel to stop it with his feet. In doing so, the barrel lands upright, then Mario can pick up the barrel and throw it at Donkey Kong to damage him.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong[]
One of Donkey Kong's artworks for Mario vs. Donkey Kong shows him holding a barrel
Just like in Donkey Kong's Game Boy version, barrels appear in some of the boss fights featuring Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong uses barrels against Mario in three boss levels: Level 3-DK, Level 3-DK+, and Donkey Kong Plus. Mario can deflect barrels thrown by Donkey Kong by performing a handstand beneath it, allowing Mario to then pick up the barrel at throw it at as a projectile at Donkey Kong to attack him. In the Donkey Kong boss level, the three Toads bring a giant barrel that is used to knock Donkey Kong down a floor with each hit.
Several levels in Donkey Kong Jungle feature barrels lying on the ground. They can be used as platforms, sometimes allowing Mario to reach a higher area, or as a projectile against enemies. Mario sometimes has to place a barrel onto a bed of spikes in order to safely get across them.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[]
In the boss level of Mushroom Mayhem, barrels, along with other debris, fall from above when Donkey Kong shakes the screen. If a Mini gets hit by the barrel, they get destroyed.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![]
Barrels appear in Floor G Donkey Kong, where they serve the same role as in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![]
Barrels are frequently used Donkey Kong in his battles to attack the Minis, but in a different manner than in the previous two games. Donkey Kong often slams his fists on the ground, causing a barrel to drop from the pile. A barrel breaks upon hitting the ground or a platform. Shortly after Donkey Kong uses a barrel, another one spawns in its place. Just as before, if a Mini is hit by a barrel, that Mini is destroyed.
In Mario franchise[]
Super Mario series[]
Super Mario Bros. Special[]
Here, they are named Tarusar, a type of obstacle first found in World 3-4 and occasionally returning throughout the game. A Taurusar always falls from a certain height onto the ground before it begins rolling, retaining their physics from the Donkey Kong arcade game. The only way that Mario can destroy a Tarusar is by punching them from beneath a brick or by using a hammer, although the latter method is only usable in World 3-4.
Super Mario Sunshine[]
Regular barrels do not appear, but there are water-filled barrels, aptly named Water Barrels, which appear identically to the regular type.
New Super Mario Bros.[]
In World 3-A and World 8-2, there are large, horizontally positioned barrels buoying on water. While Mario or Luigi can use them as platforms, standing on a barrel causes it to sink under their weight, unless they are in their Mini form.
Super Mario Galaxy[]
Octopuses reside in large barrels, where they shoot projectiles at Mario or Luigi. An Octopus's barrel can be destroyed if Mario or Luigi spin onto an Octopus's projectile to send it back, also defeating the enemy.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[]
Barrels are objects that can be picked up and thrown. When a barrel hits the ground, it begins to roll either left or right continuously, depending on which direction the character threw it, until the barrel crashes into a wall or a Spiked Ball. A barrel can be used to attack enemies or even other characters. In World 7-
, Broozers can punch barrels to make them roll and therefore use them as obstacles.
The larger barrels that float on water return in World 4-2, retaining the same physics as previously.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[]
Barrels function identically as in Super Mario Galaxy, acting as cover for Roctos, and are encountered in Shiverburn Galaxy and Grandmaster Galaxy. There is also a boss named Prince Pikante who drives a small tank composed of an armored barrel.
Super Mario 3D Land[]
Bowser throws barrels in a similar manner to Donkey Kong
At one point during the final boss battle with Bowser in World 8-
2, Bowser uses an attack where he throws large barrels at Mario or Luigi, referencing Donkey Kong's signature attack in the original Donkey Kong's 25m. Mario or Luigi have to dodge these barrels, although if they touch a barrel while in their White Tanooki form, this destroys the barrel.
New Super Mario Bros. 2[]
Barrels only appear in World 3-1, where they act as sinkable platforms that float on the surface of the water, just as in New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[]
Barrels are objects found in some Ghost Houses with Broozers. In New Super Luigi U, barrels only appear in the level Broozers and Barrels.
Super Mario Odyssey[]
Mario encountering Barrels in Super Mario Odyssey
Barrels appear as obstacles in 8-bit segments of Metro Kingdom and the Darker Side, and they reuse their sprite design from the original Donkey Kong. These barrels mostly come out of girders and continue to roll until they fall into an Oil Drum. Mario must jump over barrels to dodge them, otherwise he loses one wedge of his health meter. Donkey Kong also throws barrels, just like in Donkey Kong's 25m stage.
Stationary barrels can be found in some areas of the Metro Kingdom and the Seaside Kingdom, outside of the 8-bit sections. Mario can stand on them to use as platforms. Although Mario cannot destroy these barrels, hitting one with either Cappy or from using a Ground Pound gives Mario one coin.
Mario & Wario[]
A barrel is used by Wario to cover the playable character's sight in the third world, Kumotori Yama.
Mario Party series[]
Mario Party 2[]
Roll Out the Barrels from Mario Party 2
Barrels appear in a Pirate Land minigame called Roll Out the Barrels. Like in a shell game, they contain items and are swapped around quickly, so the player's character has to guess which of the barrels contain an item.
Mario Party 3[]
In Coconut Conk, the solo character is trapped in a barrel, which they have to roll around to avoid getting hit by the other three characters' coconuts, as these break the the barrel, therefore causing the character to lose.
Mario Party 5[]
Barrels appear in the minigame Banana Punch, where the characters have to punch barrels to collect bananas.
Mario Party 6[]
Barrels appear in the minigame Blooper Scooper, where they are among the objects carried by a whirlpool toward a giant Blooper. These barrels break when they crash into either the Blooper or the characters. If a character is hit by a barrel, they are knocked toward the Blooper.
Mario Party Advance[]
The minigame Barrel Peril involves the player's character having to walk on a long alley while wearing a barrel. Throughout the minigame, the player's character has to hide inside their barrel to protect themselves from Chain Chomps that lunge at them.
Mario Party 7[]
Donkey Kong and Mario jumping over barrels in Mario Party 7's Jump, Man
In the minigame Jump, Man, which is reminiscent of Donkey Kong's 25m, barrels are obstacles, and if either the player's character or Donkey Kong is hit by one, they get stunned temporarily.
Mario Party 8[]
The minigame Blazing Lassos involves the player's character having lasso barrels, each marked by point values, while spinning on a wheel.
On the DK's Treetop Temple board, one Green Space involves three Ukikis chasing characters away by rolling toward them on barrels.
Mario Party: The Top 100[]
Barrels appear in the Mario Party 7 minigame Jump, Man, functioning identically as before.
Mario Party Superstars[]
Barrels reappear in Mario Party 2's Roll Out the Barrels and Mario Party 3's Coconut Conk, functioning identically as in their respective original appearances.
Mario Golf series[]
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour[]
Barrels appear as tee markers in Congo Canopy. Additionally, when Donkey Kong gets a Double Bogey or worse, his animation shows him throwing a barrel angrily, then pounding his arms up and down.
Mario Golf: World Tour[]
Barrels are tee markers in DK Jungle.
Mario Kart series[]
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![]
While barrels themselves do not appear, the Barrel Train is a kart featuring a barrel-based design.
Mario Kart Arcade GP series[]
In Mario Kart Arcade GP and its two sequels, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, a Barrel is one of Donkey Kong's special items, and he can send it rolling either forward or backward to attack opponents.
Mario Kart 7[]
Barrels appear as obstacles in Wario Shipyard. If a character crashes into a barrel, their movement is slowed temporarily, but this may cause either a Banana, a Mushroom, a Green Shell, or a Super Star to fly out. In Time Trial, barrels are shielded by metallic bars and cannot be destroyed. There are also barrels in DK Jungle, but these function identically to regular barrels.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
Barrels return as obstacles on various tracks. They appear on the airship section of Cloudtop Cruise, on the boardwalk part of Wild Woods, on the main route in N64 Yoshi Valley, and in Toad Harbor. Similarly to Mario Kart 7, if a character crashes into a barrel, it may release either a Banana, a Mushroom, or a Green Shell. In Toad Harbor, the barrels are decorated with flowers and also appear on the sidelines.
In Bone-Dry Dunes, some barrels are stacked up together and placed under the tents surrounding the finish line, but they are not a part of the course itself.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[]
Barrels are the titular feature of Barrel Temple, added in the version 1.1.0 update. Both regular and golden barrels are thrown in various areas of the coursem and while the regular ones block the player's kart, the golden variety gives rewards.
Mario & Luigi series[]
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[]
Barrels first appear inside the Koopa Cruiser, where there are many barrels in the deck. Mario and Luigi rolled the barrel and damaged it, one of Bowser's baddies was disappointed that they broke the "important stuff"; Mario/Luigi asked about the deck and told him where the deck was, he decided to teach the Bros. "how to fight as a pair" and they were allowed to break the barrel. They approach a green Bowser baddie who was capturing the Goomba but failed to do it. He asked Mario and Luigi to help him battle the two Goombas, he also demonstrated to them about stomping on the enemy to deal damage. After defeating the Goombas, Mario/Luigi captured the Goomba and passed it to the Bowser baddie who traps the Goomba into the barrel.
Mario and Luigi went to the Château de Chucklehuck where many barrels are found. Mario and Luigi rescued Cork and Cask from Popple and Rookie who "stoofed" them, they taught the Bros. the Mini-Mario and Luigi Dunk technique which Luigi can move inside the barrel, break the barrel and Mario can stand on top of it. Mario and Luigi encounter Bubbles who tells jokes to a barrel that fuses into Chuckolator in the Chucklehuck Woods. After Mario and Luigi defeat the Chuckolator, Bubbles outrages and damages the floor where Mario falls into the barrel that tips after he falls in. Luigi falls in a different area and walks to find Mario. He finds the barrel, rolled it to the river and he navigates the barrel to the Beanbean Kingdom. Luigi recovers Queen Bean by squirting out the Chuckola Reserve from Mario as Queen Bean spits the Belly Blech and returns to her normal self.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[]
Barrels appear in the fight with both Bowser Jr. and Paper Bowser Jr., where they throw barrels at the Mario Bros. and make them run while shooting fireballs at them. Additionally, Broozers and Paper Broozers can attack using barrels by dropping it in front of themselves and them ramming it into the Mario Bros.
Mario Baseball series[]
Mario Superstar Baseball[]
Barrels, as seen in the Mario Superstar Baseball minigame Barrel Batter
Large barrels appear as an obstacle in Donkey Kong Jungle, where they are shot out of Barrel Cannons on the sides of the stadium. When launched, a barrel rolls on the ground, and if a fielder is hit by a barrel, they become temporarily stunned. Depending on how close the fielder is to the ball, this can prevent them from catching it. The barrel only stops rolling when it hits a wall, in which case it crumbles and despawns.
Barrels are the main focus of the Barrel Batter minigame, which also takes place in Donkey Kong Jungle. The minigame involves the player's character having to hit the ball with their bat into rows of colored barrels; more points are earned from hitting barrels of the same color consequently.
Mario Super Sluggers[]
Mario Super Sluggers screenshot of Funky Kong successfully hitting a ball toward a barrel in the minigame Barrel Basher
Barrels are an obstacle in the stadium, DK Jungle, functioning as objects identically as in Mario Superstar Baseball's Donkey Kong Jungle.
Barrels return as the focus of another minigame, Barrel Basher. Here, the batter has a small wall in front of them that shields them from several rapid barrels launched from Barrel Cannons, as well as from Bob-ombs, although they can still damage the wall from crashing into it. The player's character has to destroy as many barrels as possible, increasing their score, while preventing their wall from falling apart. It takes three barrels, but one Bob-omb to break part of the wall, and if a wall is destroyed, the character is left vulnerable to being hit by barrels. There are also shiny barrels, worth more points than regular barrels. If a barrel hits the player's character, they lose the minigame, and they are also seen performing the same animation as if a ball had hit them. In the special level, there is a giant red barrel, which the player's character has to quickly destroy before it reaches their wall, otherwise the barrel destroys the wall entirely, also ending the minigame automatically.
Paper Mario series[]
Paper Mario: Sticker Star[]
Barrels appear as a type of Battle Sticker. They are only obtained from Broozers, usually after a battle. Barrels can be thrown at enemies, dealing moderate damage.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[]
Barrels are common level objects that Mario can break using his hammer to release paint, similarly to crates. There also larger barrels, but these cannot be broken. The Wringer has his shop set up inside of a horizontal barrel.
Paper Mario: The Origami King[]
Barrels most often contain coins or confetti, although they occasionally trap Toads who need to be rescued. Mario can use his hammer to destroy barrels, similarly as in Paper Mario: Color Splash.
In one part of Mario's journey, there is a Toad trapped inside a large barrel on Spade Island. Mario has to find the four other Toads on the island so that the Toads can wedge themselves into the barrel to break it open, freeing the imprisoned Toad.
Mario Tennis Aces[]
Stacks of barrels in Mario Tennis Aces
Barrels appear in the Shy Guy Train Tussle challenge, where they can be destroyed for three coins. In order to destroy a barrel, the player's character has to hit it twice using either a regular ball, giving it a chipped appearance when first hit, or once with the ball under the effect of a Super Mushroom or a Bob-omb.
In Wario franchise[]
Wario Land series[]
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3[]
Large barrels are present as platforms, mostly appearing in maritime areas such as the Rice Beach or the SS Tea Cup.
Wario Land II[]
Large barrel platforms return from Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3.
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Wario Land 3[]
Small, keg-like barrels are objects that Wario can carry or stand on as a platform. They are functionally similar to Glass Blocks from Wario Land II in that Wario can pick them up and throw them at either enemies or blocks to destroy them. When a barrel is either thrown on the ground or attacked with a Smash Attack or a Dash Attack, it is destroyed instantly. A barrel can respawn in its original position after Wario goes off-screen from where it was originally found and return there.
Barrels appear in seven levels: Desert Ruins, The Volcano's Base, The West Crater, The Grasslands, The Big Bridge, The Warped Void, and The East Crater.
Wario World[]
Barrels appear during the battle with Captain Skull, where Wario can destroy them by either throwing them or from any of his or Captain Skull's attacks. Barrels sometimes contain several coins or garlic. Wario can throw barrels to attack Captain Skull, and during the second half of the battle, throwing either a barrel or one of Captain Skull's bombs at him is required, when he becomes unaffected by Wario's punches.
WarioWare series[]
The series features a few microgames based on the original Donkey Kong where barrels appear as obstacles, specifically in 25m, like with the original game.
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$![]
Barrels appear in the Donkey Kong microgame, where the objective is for Mario to jump over any barrels that roll his way.
WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase[]
Barrels appear in a different Donkey Kong microgame, in which the player has to destroy any barrels headed in Mario's direction as he moves on the girders
WarioWare Gold[]
Barrels return in the same microgame from WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, serving an identical role as before.
Crossover appearances[]
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Barrels are an item in the Super Smash Bros. series, although trophy descriptions define their game debut as being in the Super Smash Bros. games, suggesting that they are based on generic barrels rather than those in Donkey Kong and Mario games. One of the Barrel designs in the Super Smash Bros. series shows the same wooden design with hoop rings around it, but it also has the distinction Super Smash Bros. series emblem on it.
NES Remix series[]
Both NES Remix and Ultimate NES Remix feature barrels as obstacles in several challenges taking place in 25m of Donkey Kong. These challenges often require Mario to jump over one or more rolling barrels at once, or to jump over a set number of barrels.
Gallery[]
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To view Barrel's image gallery, click here.
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