Super Mario: 10 AMAZING Features That Only Appeared Once

9. Blue Shells - New Super Mario Bros.

super mario Fludd
Nintendo

Released back in May 2006, New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS was the first true 2D Mario adventure since Super Mario World in 1990. With addictive level designs and a variety of colourful world maps to navigate through, the game was the perfect homage to its retro roots whilst simultaneously throwing in some new features.

One of these new features was the Blue Shell power up, a unique item that pops out of Question Mark Blocks and Toad Houses and straps a big shell to the back of the Plumber. When powered up with the Blue Shell, Mario's top speed is slowed slightly, however he has the new ability of being able to climb into the shell and trundling along the ground.

When inside the shell, Mario is invulnerable to enemies and maintains a consistent speed whilst he's going in the same direction. New Super Mario Bros.' DS adventure is the only time the Blue Shell has been found in a Nintendo game, but the mechanics of being able to actually kill Dry Bones and slide around in an invincible shell are two features that could be great to bring back.

Contributor
Contributor

Horror fan, gamer, all round subpar content creator. Strongly believes that Toad is the real hero of the Mario universe, and that we've probably had enough Batman origin stories.