Double cerise : le power-up qui clone Mario

Double Cherry: The power-up that clones Mario

1319 mots | Temps de lecture : 6 minute(s)

Some objects in the Mario universe transform the hero into a fire-breathing fireball or a climbing cat. The Double Cherry, however, does something far stranger: it duplicates him. Pick it up, and a second Mario immediately appears, mirroring your every move. Collect several, and you'll find yourself leading a small squad of synchronized heroes.

First appearing in Super Mario 3D World on Wii U in 2013, this pink power-up quickly became one of the most memorable of the installment. Its story is all the more delicious because it wasn't supposed to exist: the Double Cherry was born from a simple development error, discovered by chance and then transformed into a stroke of genius. Here's everything you need to know about the item that clones Mario.

Summary

A Cherry That Doubles You Up

The Double Cherry appears as a pair of bright pink cherries connected by their stem, prominently placed in levels. Unlike the Super Mushroom or the Fire Flower, it doesn't change the character's size or abilities: it creates a double, a perfect clone that appears right beside you.

This isn't just for Mario. In Super Mario 3D World, every playable character can grab it, whether it's Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, or Rosalina. The resulting clone retains the exact state of the original hero and adopts their appearance. In other words, a Peach who touches a Double Cherry gets a second Peach, not a second Mario.

How Cloning Works

The principle is as simple as it is formidable to master. Once the Double Cherry is collected, the clone reproduces all your movements identically and simultaneously: it runs, jumps, and attacks at the same time as you, like a shifted reflection in space. You therefore control only one controller, but multiple characters at once.

  • Accumulation: Each new Double Cherry collected adds an additional clone. This can result in a small group of characters on screen, often up to six in the busiest situations.
  • Fragility: A clone disappears if it is hit by an enemy, falls into a void, or is left too far behind. Losing a double reduces the size of the group accordingly.
  • End of level: All clones vanish when the main character reaches the finish flag.

The subtlety lies in moving the troop without losing a member along the way, because each clone counts for solving puzzles.

A Power-Up Born From a Development Error

The most astonishing part of its story is its origin. The Double Cherry was not conceived on paper: it is the result of an accident. During the development of Super Mario 3D World, a team member made a mistake when using the element placement tool and, inadvertently, inserted two playable Marios into the same level.

The game's director, Kenta Motokura, recounted the scene: upon discovering this double Mario that appeared due to a mismanipulation, the team immediately found the effect brilliant. Rather than fixing the bug, the developers decided to turn it into a full-fledged mechanic. This involuntary duplication was thus refined, dressed up as a pink cherry, and officially integrated into the game. A beautiful illustration of how a simple coincidence can become one of the flagship ideas of an installment in the series.

Double Cherry Pass and Level Design

The item made such an impression on the team that it gave its name to an entire level: Double Cherry Pass, stage 2-5 located in World 2 of Super Mario 3D World. This is where the player discovers the power-up and learns to master it, in a landscape of pink grass plains.

Cloning is not just a visual gimmick: it structures many puzzles. Since the characters act simultaneously, you can:

  • press multiple switches simultaneously, which would be impossible with a single hero;
  • hold down teetering platforms or mechanisms that require multiple weights;
  • cover multiple paths at once to catch well-hidden green stars.

Managing your small army of clones then becomes the key to finding collectibles and getting past the trickiest sections.

A Noticed Return on Switch

The Double Cherry didn't disappear with the Wii U. It returned in 2021 in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, the enhanced version released on Nintendo Switch. The port includes the entirety of the original adventure, including the item and its famous Double Cherry Pass, while benefiting from an accelerated movement pace that makes clone management even more frantic.

The power-up also spread beyond its original game as an Easter egg. The cherry can be found as a decorative emblem in the world of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, proof that this now iconic fruit has left a lasting mark on the series. From a mistaken manipulation to a recognizable symbol, the Double Cherry perfectly illustrates Nintendo's inventiveness, capable of transforming a bug into one of its most original power-ups.

The Double Cherry in brief

French Name Double cerise
English Name Double Cherry
Japanese Name ダブルチェリー (Daburu Cherī)
Type Item / Duplication Power-up
First Appearance Super Mario 3D World (Wii U, 2013)
Associated Level Double Cherry Pass (World 2-5)
Effect Creates a clone that mirrors your movements
Return Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch, 2021)

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FAQ

  • What does the Double Cherry do in Super Mario 3D World?
    It creates a clone of the character that mirrors their movements identically and simultaneously. By accumulating several Double Cherries, you get a group of characters playable at the same time.
  • Was the Double Cherry really born from a bug?
    Yes. A team member made a mistake with the placement tool and inserted two Marios into a level. Director Kenta Motokura and the team found the effect successful and turned it into an official power-up.
  • How many clones can you have with the Double Cherry?
    Each Double Cherry collected adds a clone. Depending on the situation, you can end up with several characters on screen, often up to six in the busiest sections.
  • How do you lose a clone?
    A clone disappears if it is hit by an enemy, falls into a void, or is left too far behind. All clones also vanish when the main character reaches the finish flag.
  • In which games does the Double Cherry appear?
    It debuted in Super Mario 3D World (Wii U, 2013) and returned in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch, 2021). The cherry also appears as a decorative emblem in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
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