Spring

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Not to be confused with Jack or Yellow Spring.
Spring
Spring SSBB artwork.png
Super Smash Bros. Brawl artwork
First appearance Donkey Kong Jr. (1982)
Latest appearance Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
Used by Donkey Kong franchise:
Donkey Kong Jr., Mario
Super Smash Bros. series:
Any fighter
Effect Bounces a character up higher
Related items
Blue Spring
Box Spring
Jack
Long Spring
Yellow Spring

Springs are a type of object featured in some Donkey Kong franchise. They first appear in Donkey Kong Jr.. Springs resemble Jacks from the original Donkey Kong, but their main distinction is that Springs are used to reach higher areas whereas Jacks are obstacles which have to be avoided.

A different type of spring makes an appearance within the Mario franchise, in which they debuted in Super Mario Bros.. As such, the Game Boy title Donkey Kong marks the first appearance of Mario using the Springs within the Donkey Kong franchise.

In several of their appearances, Springs have a dark purple board on the top and bottom that are held up by a metal pole and yellow scissor arms, the latter allowing the Spring to bounce a character upward; this design was standardized within the Super Smash Bros. series, which also depicts three bolts on each scissor arm. Starting with Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the upper board has a symmetrical image with a black background and yellow design patterns.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong series[edit]

Donkey Kong Jr.[edit]

In Donkey Kong Jr., a Jump Board,[1] or spring board,[2] is prominently featured in the Jump Board Scene. Junior can use it to jump over a pit but can also use it as a shortcut to reach the hovering platform above it.

Donkey Kong (Game Boy)[edit]

DKGB Jump Stand SGB sprite.png

In Donkey Kong for the Game Boy, they are named Jump Stands,[3] which are found throughout levels, and occasionally use varying designs. If Mario jumps on one, he can jump higher than usual. In addition, some Jump Stands can be placed through the use of square icons. When Mario jumps at a Jump Stand item, the game freezes and the player has to place the Jump Stand to any free point in the level. The Jump Stand is timed and disappears after the time has passed. This timer indicated with a music that starts playing as soon as the road is placed and gets faster gradually. The timer can be reset to 0 if Mario places another Jump Stand within the first Jump Stand's time limit, or any other placeable objects such as Roads, Ladders, and blocks. After disappearing, the Jump Stand can then be reactivated.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[edit]

There are different types of Springs featured throughout the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, although the standard ones from the Donkey Kong series do not make an appearance.

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, there is a certain type of Spring, the Yellow Spring, which does not enough force to launch Mario in the air, so the player has to press A Button while Mario is on a spring to bounce him higher than a normal jump.

In subsequent Mario vs. Donkey Kong games, Springs can be used to bounce Minis to higher positions. In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, two types of springs appear: Yellow Springs and Blue Springs. The player must swipe up on a Mini using the Stylus to make the Mini jump onto a spring. Yellow Springs launch a Mini in an upward arc, while Blue Springs launch a Mini in a forward arc. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! features both of these springs, as well as Box Springs that can contain either type of spring.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! replaces these springs with Long Springs, which function like Blue Springs, and High Springs, which function like Yellow Springs. These springs are resource objects which can be picked up and placed in different locations. Both of these springs reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, while Long Springs also reappear in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

It has been requested that this section be rewritten and expanded to include more information.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the spring is featured as a regular item, and is featured as a trophy in each of the titles. If jumped on, a fighter is launched into the air much higher than with a normal jump. If the spring is knocked on its side, however, the player will be launched sideways. A different kind of springboard also appears as a stage element throughout the Super Smash Bros. series, including Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary and Smash Run.

Profiles[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy[edit]

Name Image Game Description
Spring SSBB Trophy Spring.png An item used to assist jumping. Jump on it, and it will send you bounding sky-high. You can also toss enemies onto it. It originally appeared in the second stage of Donkey Kong Jr., where it was used as a shortcut to leap to a distant platform. It resembles the bouncing projectiles that appeared in Donkey Kong, but those are said to be actually jacks, not springs.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy[edit]

Name 3DS trophy Wii U trophy Category Appears in Trophy Box Description
Spring SSB3DS Trophy Spring.png SSBWU Trophy Spring.png Item NES Donkey Kong Jr. (06/1986) - Flag of USA.png A strong spring that can send you flying higher than you ever have before. If you throw this down while you're in midair, you'll get a boost and sail even farther into the air! Try to be careful, though, since this spring may fall on its side and end up launching you sideways instead of up.
Flag of Europe.png Jump onto this to jump higher than ever before! Throw it in the air, then land on it to jump even higher! Then use special attacks, or even do another jump in midair! If it's lying on its side, though, just bumping into it might be enough to launch you off the stage. You don't want that, so be careful!

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Donkey Kong Junior instruction cardMedia:DKJ Instruction Card.jpg
  2. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. NES instruction booklet. Page 6.
  3. ^ Game Boy Donkey Kong English instruction booklet. Page 16.