Mechanic · movement · platformer

Slope sliding

Sliding down a slope, with the slope adding speed each frame.

stubAlso: slope slide, butt slideUpdated 2026-10-21
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A slide moves a character down a slope, faster each frame the slope pushes. In Super Mario Bros. 3 Mario starts one by holding only Down on a slope, and the slope’s push builds the slide up to a cap1.

Builds on

See also

Mentioned in

Games

GameYearHowNote
Super Mario Bros. 31988On DownDown on a slope starts a slide the slope speeds up
Every claim about this mechanic, by game (1)
Super Mario Bros. 3 1988Holding only Down on a slope starts a slide, except in the Frog or Hammer suit (bit 1 of PowerUp_Ability) or Kuribo's Shoe. Each update the slope's push is added to the slide speed, which is capped at $40 and then loses 1 toward 0, so it tops out at $3F.Code

References

  1. ^ abHolding only Down on a slope starts a slide, except in the Frog or Hammer suit (bit 1 of PowerUp_Ability) or Kuribo's Shoe. Each update the slope's push is added to the slide speed, which is capped at $40 and then loses 1 toward 0, so it tops out at $3F.CodeSouthbird's SMB3 disassemblyrevised
    How we know
    5990PRG008_BBBF:
5991	LDA Player_Slide
5992	BNE PRG008_BBE0	 ; If Player is sliding, jump to PRG008_BBE0
⋮
5994	; Check ability to slide
⋮
5996	TXA		 ; Effect on velocity -> 'A'
5997	BEQ PRG008_BC0D	 ; If no effect (flat ground), jump to PRG008_BC0D
⋮
5999	LDY <Player_Suit
6000	LDA PowerUp_Ability,Y
6001	AND #$02	 
6002	BNE PRG008_BC0D	 ; If the Player's suit CANNOT slide on slopes, jump to PRG008_BC0D
⋮
6004	LDA Player_Kuribo
6005	BNE PRG008_BC0D	 ; If Player is wearing Kuribo's shoe, jump to PRG008_BC0D
⋮
    PRG/prg008.asm lines 5990–6017 at 09b1bd8 · upstream ↗
    6024	CMP #$40
6025	BLS PRG008_BBFD	 ; If magnitude of Player_Slide < $40, jump to PRG008_BBFD
⋮
6037	DEC Player_Slide ; Player_Slide--
6038	BPL PRG008_BC08	 ; If Player_Slide >= 0, jump to PRG008_BC08
⋮
6041	INC Player_Slide
6042	INC Player_Slide
    PRG/prg008.asm lines 6024–6042 at 09b1bd8 · upstream ↗
    1590	Player_Slide:		.ds 1	; Positive values sliding forward, negative values sliding backward; directly sets Player_XVel
    smb3.asm line 1590 at 09b1bd8 · upstream ↗

    Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-26.

    Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

    Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-26.

    In the claim ledger

Sources

Code