Mad scientist works, too!
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Continuing on with Super Mario Collection, I will begin with the first featured game on Cartridge Two, Super Mario 64.
Like every other featured remake, Super Mario 64 is given an HD-3D remake with redesigned and remastered worlds, a re-orchestrated soundtrack, and an expanded repertoire of bonus material, much like Super Mario World on Cartridge One. To start, the game is strictly one-player unlike the original's DS remake. Despite this, the game retains the 150 Star count from the DS remake, adding an additional seventh mission to each of the game's worlds. IN ADDITION, there are ten secret Stars not included in the 150 count, but more on that later. In the case that the seventh level required Luigi, Wario, or Yoshi to complete the mission, the level will be remade to enable strictly Mario to obtain the objective. For instance, in the DS remake, black bricks were only able to be destroyed by Wario. Now, Mario can destroy them, but only as Metal Mario. Other changes include:
- A drastic sound effect overhaul is given to the game, with new audio for Mario (by Charles Martinet), Yoshi (Yoshi makes a cameo on top of the castle), Peach, and several enemies and bosses. Despite the change, Bowser and Boo retain the same maniacal laughs as the 64 original, as all Nintendo fans know, the two laughs are one and the same.
- Courses are renamed "Worlds."
- Power-ups, obtained via special "caps," include: Metal Mario, Winged Mario, Invisible Mario, Balloon Mario, Fire Mario (aka fireball-shooting Mario), Giant Mario (obtained through a Mega Mushroom, not a cap), and from Super Mario 3D World: Cat Mario. Cat Mario is able to climb walls, swipe enemies, and perform a flying jump attack, but only for a temporary amount of time. Cat Mario is especially prevalent in early worlds where giant walls and obstacles are common.
- 64 Mario is a brand-new power-up that is not timed, but a permanent feature until the level has been exited or completed. 64 Mario, only featured in the Bowser worlds turns Mario (and all other power-ups he obtains thereafter) into his 64-bit appearance in Super Mario 64, complete with the original sound bytes. 64 Mario features a bonus health meter in addition to the one, making him much stronger and less likely to lose a life.
- The Rec Room from Super Mario 64 DS is removed. The painting of Sunshine Isles (a bonus world) is moved to the back wall of the Jolly Roger Bay room. The Goomboss Battle which also features a Red Coin hunt is now accessed in a new room where the Rec Room once stood. The room is accessed by obtaining at least seven Power Stars and features nothing more but a painting of Goomboss (the king of Goombas) and an actual pair of enemy Goombas, a first inside the castle.
- Like in the DS version, King Boo remains the "secret boss" of Big Boo's Haunt, more so resembling King Boo from Luigi's Mansion that his DS counterpart. The level itself is not featured as apart of the main objectives of the world, but feature two additional Stars, one by defeating King Boo and one by obtaining eight Red Coins. The bonus world is accessed through a painting of King Boo, rather than a painting of Luigi.
- Chief Chilly Challenge, also from the DS remake is no longer accessed through the mirror. Instead, it is accessed through a secret painting of Chief Chilly hidden in the igloo of Snowman's Land. Two bonus Stars are obtained by defeating Chief Chilly and by collecting Red Coins.
- A power-up box featuring the Invisible Cap allows Mario to walk through the mirror in the mirror room and enter a special door, leading to a bonus Star within a blank white room.
- After 50 Stars have been collected, eight glowing rabbits are randomly scattered through the castle, each holding a Star until caught by Mario. These rabbits are far harder to catch than the rabbit located in the basement.
- Unlike the DS remake, Mario does not have to catch a rabbit to enter the castle.
- All of the DS remake bosses (Goomboss, King Boo, Chief Chilly) are given different dialogue to exclude Luigi and Wario references.
- Several enemies not featured in the original are introduced throughout the game. Dry Bones appears in Bowser in the Fire Sea, Big Boo's Haunt, Bowser in the Sky, and Shifting Sand Land. Like regular Dry Bones, they are only temporarily defeated before quickly regrouping. The only way to defeat a Dry Bones permanently is by hitting it with a Koopa Shell or jumping on it as Metal Mario. Dry Bones make the same sounds as Boos, only at a higher pitch. Red Koopa Troopas are introduced, distinguished from the green Koopa the Quick by a spiked collar, red shell, and set of mean sunglasses, like Paper Mario. Red Koopas appear in Bob-omb Battlefield, Hazy Maze Cave, Tiny-Huge Mountain, and Rainbow Ride. Red Koopas attack by charging, but are easily defeated by a jump to the head. Magikoopas attack and sound like their appearance in Super Mario 3D World, making appearances in Bowser in the Dark World, Bowser in the Sky, Rainbow Ride, and Tick Tock Clock. Hammer Bros. do likewise, making appearances in Whomp's Fortress, Wet-Dry World, Tiny-Huge Island, and Tall, Tall Mountain only.
- Every boss is given brand-new sound effects and new details to their appearances. Bosses include King Bob-omb, Whomp King, Goomboss, Big Boo, Big Mr. I, King Boo, Big Bully, Eyerok, Chill Bully, Chief Chilly, Wiggler, and of course, Bowser.
- Bowser himself is given a drastic overhaul. Bowser in the Dark World's Bowser is the same size and fights the same way as the original. Bowser in the Fire Sea is covered in bandages, bruises, scratches, and even has an arm cast from the prior battle, in addition to wielding a spiked hammer. In addition to his original move set, Bowser wields the giant hammer as a weapon, attempting to smash and swipe Mario out of the arena and into the abyss. To top it off, Bowser eats a Super Mushroom prior to the start of the battle, growing slightly larger. Bowser in the Sky's Bowser is also a bit battered and beaten from the prior battle, continuing to wield a hammer. Like his second battle, he downs a Mushroom before battle, growing even larger than before. To top that off, he hits a "!" block and steals the Winged Cap from within, growing a set of wings on either side of his head. Suddenly, his cast falls off and he drops all the wounds, turning into a giant, flying, hammer-wielding Bowser. In addition to his original move set, flying Bowser attacks with the hammer and performs a series of sky-based attacks, such as a dive bomb, shooting fireballs from above, and a bird-like attack where he swoops down and scrapes the length of the arena with his feet. Upon defeat, Bowser loses his wings and falls into the abyss below, leaving behind a giant Power Star.
Upon the collection of 150 Stars (yes, all 150), the cannon in the courtyard will be unlocked, allowing Mario to blast to the top of Peach's Castle. Once on top, Mario will find Yoshi fast asleep who will reward Mario with a message from the developers as well as an improved Triple Jump, 100 Lives, and a Winged Cap box. Afterwards, Yoshi jumps off the castle rooftop, never to be seen again. This is not all that is atop the castle, a door rests behind Yoshi. Upon entering, Mario finds a painting of Dry Bowser...the battle is not over yet...
World 16: Castle Bowser
Essentially, World 16 is this game's ultimate Secret World, featuring ten additional Stars as well as a boss battle with Dry Bowser, the hardest boss battle in the entirety of the game. Each of the world's seven main missions take place in a massive castle infested with monsters of every sort, puzzles of every variety, and lava, lots and lots of lava. Three secret Stars are also featured: One for collecting 100 Coins, one for a cannon-based mini-game, and the last for finding a painting of a Star within a secret room of the castle.
1. Climbing Castle Bowser: The player must reach the top of the castle before a constantly-rising sea of lava consumes the entirety of the castle. Along the way, Dry Bones, Magikoopas, Whomps, Thwomps, and Bob-ombs serve as unhelpful obstacles.
2. King Boo's Royal Return: King Boo resides within a graveyard on the side of the castle, making his first attempt at revenge before Luigi's Mansion. King Boo is much larger and far more difficult to defeat, but will fork over a Power Star upon defeat.
3. Lurking in the Labyrinth: The player must navigate through a lava and monster-filled maze beneath the castle, activating puzzles and traps before obtaining the Star.
4. Dry Bones Brigade: Hitting a secret switch causes a massive amount of Dry Bones to be unleashed within the castle, as in tidal wave-sized proportions meant to consume Mario. Mario must evade the sea of skeletons before obtaining the Power Star.
5. Red Coins in the Castle: Simple enough.
6. Boss Battle Bash: All of the game's bosses (excluding King Boo, whom Big Boo stands in for) make a return appearance in a battle arena. The entirety of the battle (in which 64 Mario is an option) is timed to eight minutes, meaning the player must defeat all of the game's bosses two at a time in that amount of time or otherwise face a game over.
7. The Revenge of King Bowser: Unlike other missions, this mission starts out in an entirely different setting from the rest of Castle Bowser. Mario is immediately dumped atop Castle Bowser, where a thunderstorm ravages the red night-sky. Unlike other Bowser battles, bombs do not surround the arena, just an endless abyss. At the top of the mission, Bowser falls down from the sky, his eyes glowing an eerie red. Suddenly, without a word or a roar, Bowser's skin slowly disappears into thin-air, revealing a massive Dry Bowser underneath. Dry Bowser gives a bloodcurdling shriek and engages in battle. Dry Bowser is giant but extremely slow-moving. His tail cannot be grabbed and thrown as he will slap Mario with it when touched. Dry Bowser can breathe purple flamethrowers, do ground-pounds, summon various enemies, and detach his bones to use as flight-based enemies that hover around all over the proximity of the arena. Dry Bowser can only be defeated through use of Mario's special Triple Jump, allowing him to jump on top of Bowser's skull. After each jump (three are required), the skull will crack just slightly. After the third jump, the skull will detach itself and hop around the stage cartoonishly. The rest of the body will run around aimlessly, dealing quite a bit of damage when Mario is in the way. The skull must be picked up by Mario and thrown off the side of the arena. The skull will come flying back and land on top of the headless body. This must be repeated FIVE times before Dry Bowser turns to dust and floats away on the breeze. 64 Mario is not available for this battle, making it that much more difficult in regards to damage.
Dry Bowser's battle theme is taken from what else but Super Mario Galaxy 2.
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And that's about it for Super Mario 64! Thoughts?