10 Hidden Secrets In Super Mario Games
Secret Luigis
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“New Super Luigi U” (2013) 2013 was the “year of Luigi” and in honor of the character’s 30th anniversary, Mario’s little bro was given an expansion of “New Super Mario Bros. U” devoted to him. Luigi is not only the main character for a change, but there are also pixelated Luigis hidden in every level. There are 83 in total, which is in reference to 1983, the year Luigi was created. Although there’s no prize for finding them all, the challenge of locating them can be fun, particularly for fans of the green garbed plumber.
“The Shining” Shoutouts
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“Super Mario Sunshine” (2002) “The Shining” seems about as far removed from “Super Mario Sunshine” as you can get. However, there are likely some surprising shoutouts to the book/movie in the game. The Hotel Delfino in Sirena Beach is a haunted hotel, just like the Overlook Hotel in “The Shining.” Its maze-like structure calls to mind the hedge maze from the movie. Meanwhile, the paper-thin, shadowy manta boss that glides over the grounds is reminiscent of a passage from the end of the book. Are these true references or just fans of both properties going mad from “all work and no play?” We don’t know, but it’s still a cool theory.
Poochy Cameos
“Super Mario Odyssey” (2017) Poochy is a dog that looks like a duck on four legs who’s often featured in “Yoshi” video games. Despite his connection to Mario’s dinosaur pal, Poochy hadn’t appeared in a main “Mario” title until “Super Mario Odyssey.” The odd dog primarily shows up in hint photos, which reveal the locations of Power Moons throughout the game. The suggestion being that Poochy is “sniffing out” the Moons in the pictures. However, Poochy is also found in-person on one occasion. The pup can be fished out of a poison pond in Bowser’s Kingdom by taking control of a Lakitu. Looks like he got a little too carried away in his hunt for Moons!
Warp Zone & Whistles
“Super Mario Bros. 3” (1988) Many “Mario” games feature shortcuts in the form of warps, and in “Super Mario Bros. 3” these are accessed by finding Warp Whistles. The first is found in World 1-3 by pressing down on a white block near the end of the level. This will send Mario into the background and if you complete the level, you’ll receive the whistle. The second is found in World 1-Fortress by locating a door hidden above the ceiling in the first room, which you can fly to. The last is a prize for defeating the two Fire Bros in World 2. Depending on which world you use the whistle in, it will take you to a Warp Zone which will let you skip up to 3 worlds ahead.
“Pikmin” Ship
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“Super Mario Galaxy” (2007) “Super Mario Galaxy” has several fun secrets we could discuss. While turning all coconuts into watermelons by collecting 9999 Star Bits is pretty neat, we’re talking about this crossover instead. In “Pikmin,” Captain Olimar travels aboard the rickety Hocotate Ship. In “Mario Galaxy,” Mario can travel aboard the same ship… sort of. In Space Junk Galaxy, the ship appears as one of the planetoids you encounter and can be walked on. The ship also appears in Ghostly Galaxy, though it can only be viewed from afar in this area… unless you cheat. We guess Olimar and Mario have more in common than we thought.
Rosalina
“Super Mario 3D World” (2013) “Super Mario 3D World” has a quartet of playable characters in Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. However, a fifth playable character can be unlocked – Rosalina. The star of “Super Mario Galaxy” can be unlocked by completing Super Galaxy, or World Star-2, which itself can only be accessed by completing World Bowser and beating World Star-1. Compared to the other characters, Rosalina has a high jump and can do a spin attack, like Mario in the “Mario Galaxy” games. Although not the first time Rosalina has been a playable character, this does mark her first time as one in a “Mario” platformer.
Nintendo Cameos
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“Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars” (1996) Mario’s first RPG had a ton of unique hidden secrets to discover, like turning into 8-bit Mario in Booster’s Tower. But this secret involves cameos by other Nintendo legends. Donkey Kong’s is arguably the most obvious, as several ape enemies throughout the game resemble him. There’s also a challenge sequence in Bowser’s Castle that evokes his classic arcade game. There are models of “F-Zero” racers and an Arwing from “Star Fox” in Hinopio’s shop in Barrel Volcano. Link of “The Legend of Zelda” franchise can be found sleeping at the Inn in Rose Town. Lastly, Samus Aran of “Metroid” is resting up for Mother Brain in the guest room of Princess Toadstool’s castle. Quite the cavalcade of cameos!
Star World
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“Super Mario World” (1990) Several Mario games feature a hidden world that can only be unlocked under certain conditions. However, the practice was done best in “Super Mario World” with Star World. By finding a secret exit in specific levels in the game, players get access to Star Roads, which teleport Mario or Luigi to Star World. By completing the secret exits in Star World, players open access to more Star Roads, which let you warp all over the overworld map. Completing every level in Star World will then open the Special Zone, another secret world full of tough challenges. Still, as “tubular” as Special Zone is, Star World is the more fondly remembered secret area.
Warps
“Super Mario 64” (1996) While warp zones are fairly famous, of lesser note are the warps in “Super Mario 64.” Within most levels in the game, standing still in certain spots will cause Mario to disappear and reappear in a different part of the map. Some of these aren’t very useful and only progress Mario a short distance, but others are actual shortcuts that can save you real time. Finding one or two of these is fairly common, but it’s rare that you can find them all without help since most are in such strangely specific places that you wouldn’t think to stand still in. How many have you found on your own?
1-2 Warp Pipes
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“Super Mario Bros.” (1985) This is the granddaddy of all “Mario” secrets. The second level of “Super Mario Bros.” sees the player sent underground. However, many players noticed you could walk on the bricks that acted like the level’s ceiling. This includes the pipe that leads to the level’s end. If you go past the pipe, you’ll find 3 warp pipes leading to worlds 2, 3, and 4. This simple, yet brilliant secret rewarded creative thinking in what is otherwise a straightforward game. Few video game secrets have succeeded so well at firing up the imaginations of players and encouraging them to explore every bit of a game.
