View source for Time limit

{{rewrite-expand|list the various time limits in each game}}
{{distinguish|Countdown Timer}}
[[File:Night Falls.jpg|thumb|A screenshot showing that time limit is nearly reached in the ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'' level [[Night Falls on Really Rolling Hills]]]]
A '''time limit''' (or simply '''Time''') is instituted in almost every platformer [[List of games|game]], and its basic purpose is to notify the player of how much time is allotted to complete a [[level]] or task. It is a prominent element in the ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' platformer games. When the time limit decreases to below 100 counts of the timer (in many ''Mario'' platformers, an in-game "second" is not actually 1 second, instead being about 0.6 or 0.7 seconds. In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', an in-game "second" lasts only 0.4 seconds), the "hurry up" jingle traditionally plays to warn that the player is low on time and the level's music plays at a rushed tempo. 

While the player is in a level, the time limit on the HUD decreases at a steady rate until it reaches zero. If the player does not finish the level when time is up, they automatically lose a [[Extra life|life]] and have to start the level over (or receive a [[Game Over]] if they are on their last life). Once the player finishes a level, the remaining time is multiplied by a number and then added to the player's [[Point|score]] (or [[coin]] total in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''). Most games do not allow for a level's time limit to be increased. In ''Super Mario 3D Land'', ''New Super Mario Bros. 2'', and ''Super Mario 3D World'', the time limit glows red when it goes below 100. In the former and latter game, some levels begin with under 100 seconds remaining, and collecting [[+ Clock]]s are essential to prevent the time limit from being reached.

==Spin-offs==
===''Mario Kart'' series===
{{multiple image
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|footer=The Time Limit in ''Mario Kart 8'' during Battle Mode and in ''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX'' when it expired.
|image1=MK8 Battle Mode.jpg
|width1=200
|image2=MKAGP Time Out.jpg
|width2=200
}}
In the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, the time limit is used for Battle mode games like [[Balloon Battle]] and Coin Runners. In addition, the time limit also appears when a race is about to begin. When [[Lakitu]] comes in with the traffic light, the timer will start once the first red light comes on and when it hits zero, the light will turn green and the race begins. Some missions in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' also have a time limit in [[Mission Mode]]. There is also a 10-minute time limit in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' during a [[Time Trial]] run. All courses have a time limit in ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'' and its two sequels, ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]''.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
In the ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' series, the time limit appears during a standard match. The time limit varies depending on which mode the player uses. The timer starts when the announcer signals when to start the match. When time runs out, the match will end and a winner is announced but if the score is tied when it hits zero, then the match will go to [[Sudden Death]].

===''Mario Party'' series===
The time limit also appeared in the ''[[Mario Party (series)|Mario Party]]'' series during a [[minigame]]. The amount varies on which type of minigame the player will participate in. When the time limit reaches five seconds, it will pulse when it counts down to zero and since ''[[Mario Party 4]]'', the timer will also turn red.

==List of game appearances==
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* ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Land]]''
* ''[[Super Mario World]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins]]''
* ''[[Mario & Wario]]''
* ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]''
* ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]''
* ''[[Mario Party]]''
* ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''
* ''[[Mario Party 2]]''
* ''[[Mario Party 3]]''
* ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''
* ''[[Mario Party 4]]''
* ''[[Wario Land 4]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' ([[Shine Thief]])
* ''[[Mario Party 5]]''
* ''[[Mario Party 6]]''
* ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong]]''
* ''[[Mario Party Advance]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'' (per Race)
* ''[[Mario Party 7]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Strikers]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' (In certain missions and Shine Runners)
* ''[[Mario Hoops 3-on-3]]''
* ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis]]''
* ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]'' (per Race)
* ''[[Mario Party 8]]''
* ''[[Mario Party DS]]''
* ''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]''
* ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'' (Battle Mode)
* ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!]]''
* ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]''
* ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!]]''
* ''[[Mario Sports Mix]]''
* ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]''
* ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' (Battle Mode)
* ''[[Mario Party 9]]''
* ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]''
* ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
* ''[[Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon]]''
* ''[[New Super Luigi U]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'' (4:10 per Race)
* ''[[Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move]]''
* ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''
* ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]''
* ''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''
* ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' (10 minutes in a race during a Time Trial, 1-5 minutes in Battle Mode)
* ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]''
* ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]''
* ''[[Mario Party 10]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Maker]]''

==Trivia==
*In newer ''Mario'' games, if Mario loses a life after hitting a [[Midway Point]], the time limit will be reduced when he restarts the level from that point.
*A [[List of glitches in Super Mario World#Green Berries and Music Speed|glitch]] in ''Super Mario World'' involves letting the timer drop below 100 to make the music speed up, then using Yoshi to eat a green berry to bring the time limit back above 100. When the timer reaches 100 again, the music will speed up a second time; this can be repeated several times to make the game music play very fast.
*In ''[[Mario & Wario]]'', a variation of the usual timer called the '''Time Gauge''' (タイムゲージ<ref>''Mario & Wario'' instruction booklet, pages 6 & 10.</ref>), which is represented by a bar rather than numbers.
*There was [[List of Luigi's Mansion beta elements|originally]] going to be a time limit on the [[Game Boy Horror]] in ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'', indicating how much time to save Mario is left, or the timer for the E3 demo.

==References==
<references/>

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