Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary – Entry 13: Expanding the Operation

Submerged Entry 13: Expanding the Operation

Platform: Steam Deck
Game: Subnautica

Video: Base upgrades, Scanner Room expansion, wreck exploration, and Modification Station progress (no commentary)

Well, it has been some time since I last sat down to document anything properly, but that is not to say nothing has been happening. Quite the opposite, actually. I simply decided nobody needed to watch several uninterrupted hours of me digging through limestone chunks looking for copper and titanium while muttering at fish.

So before heading back out into the ocean properly, a quick tour of the base is probably in order.

Since the last entry, the place has expanded quite a bit. A few additional rooms have gone up, reinforcements have been installed, the Scanner Room is now fully operational, and perhaps most importantly of all, the base no longer feels like a temporary survival shelter waiting to collapse the moment the lights flicker.

I also finally got a Bioreactor up and running. At the moment I am using Bulbo Trees to keep it supplied, which means the plants are now serving three separate purposes at once: food, water, and power generation. I have accidentally built a surprisingly efficient underwater ecosystem entirely fuelled by leaves and poor decision making.

For the first time since arriving on this planet, the operation feels self-sufficient.

Scanner Room Operations

The Scanner Room has quickly become the centrepiece of the entire base. I still wanted one final upgrade for it though: another Scan Range Module. The idea of turning the thing into a giant underwater radar station was simply too tempting to ignore.

To put it to work, I set the scanner to search for limestone chunks. Technically I could have told it to search directly for Copper Ore, but during testing I realised the scanner mostly highlighted the larger deposits that require a Prawn Suit to drill into. That will be useful later. Right now though, I still needed copper the old-fashioned way.

The current objective was the Modification Station. I had already discovered a wreck during earlier exploration that supposedly contained the fragments I needed. Whether the Scanner Room would actually be able to find it once fully upgraded was another matter entirely, but I had a plan for that if things went wrong.

Return to the Jellyshroom Caves

Before heading for the wreck, I made a detour into the Jellyshroom Caves. I had already placed a beacon there earlier, which meant I could navigate directly back to the entrance without wandering around the ocean floor like a confused tourist.

The target this time was Magnetite. I already knew future upgrades would need it, even if I was not entirely sure how many. In Subnautica, the answer is usually “more than you currently have.”

The caves still feel wrong every time I enter them. The glowing mushrooms, the strange silence, the sense that the entire biome is quietly waiting for something unpleasant to happen. Still, the Magnetite was there, and after grabbing what I could carry, I headed back to base before the local wildlife decided I had overstayed my welcome.

Power Problems That Aren’t Actually Problems Yet

Interestingly, the Bioreactor has not really needed to do much heavy lifting so far. Most of the power demands are still being handled by the solar panels above the base. The reactor mostly sits there quietly, waiting for the day I inevitably expand this place into something far larger than originally intended.

Which, if I am being honest, is probably unavoidable at this point.

The 500 Metre Disappointment

Once the final Scan Range Module was installed, the Scanner Room finally hit its maximum range of 500 metres. Naturally, the first thing I did was set it to search for wrecks.

The wreck I needed was outside the range.

Of course it was.

Thankfully, I already knew roughly where to find it. Along the way, I stumbled across some kind of alien vent structure. I still have absolutely no idea what it actually does, but I scanned it anyway because that is apparently how I deal with ancient alien technology now.

The wreck itself sat just beyond the edge of the Mushroom Forest. Inside, amongst the twisted metal and scattered debris, were exactly the fragments I had been searching for.

The Modification Station was finally within reach.

Technology Recovery Operations

The wreck turned out to be far more useful than expected. Alongside the Modification Station fragments, I also recovered blueprints for a Reinforced Dive Suit and an upgrade module for the Cyclops. The deeper I push into this planet, the more obvious it becomes that the game expects me to start preparing for much harsher environments.

Most importantly though, recovering the Modification Station fragments meant one thing: the Seamoth MK2 Depth Module was now possible.

Well. Almost possible.

Back at base, I realised I was still missing a Computer Chip. Which meant I needed Copper Wire. Which meant another quick trip using the Scanner Room to locate limestone chunks because apparently every major technological breakthrough on this planet eventually comes down to me desperately searching for copper.

Still, after one final scavenging trip, the Modification Station was finally constructed and operational.

Future Plans

I am still debating whether this base eventually needs a second Scanner Room. My current theory is that if I expand the base far enough in the opposite direction, I could effectively create overlapping scan coverage and push the search range even further across the surrounding biomes.

At the moment, that is still just theory.

Next time though, the plan is clear.

I am returning to the Aurora.

The goal is simple: recover enough fragments to finally get a Prawn Suit operational. Because if this planet insists on hiding everything useful in increasingly hostile depths, I may as well start preparing properly for the descent.

Continue the Journey

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25th May 2026 1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 24: One Star From the End

Game: Super Mario 64 Randomizer
Platform: Steam Deck
Format: No Commentary

Video: Finishing Big Boo’s Haunt before clearing Wet-Dry World and reaching 119 stars (no commentary)

Hunting the Final Red Coin

I was determined to finally locate the missing red coin in Big Boo’s Haunt. My first stop was the roof of the mansion, and sure enough that’s exactly where it had been hiding the entire time. Once I knew where it was, the rest of the red coin hunt turned into a fairly quick sweep through the mansion grounds and rooms.

I did have a brief moment where I forgot where the last coin was, but the mistake corrected itself quickly when I walked into the wrong room and immediately realised where I actually needed to be. A quick correction later and the final star of Big Boo’s Haunt was mine.

The Final Course

With the haunted mansion finally cleared, only one course remained before the final challenge: Wet-Dry World.

If I’m honest, I expected it to give me more of a fight. Instead, the course practically collapsed in front of me. The first two stars came almost immediately as I opened a couple of random boxes and found them sitting inside. I’ll happily take that kind of luck at this stage of the run.

Cleaning Up the World

After the early luck, the rest of the stars became a matter of cleaning up the level methodically. The Secrets in the Shallows and Sky star didn’t take long, and while collecting those secrets I spotted the location of another star, which made the next objective very straightforward.

I also took the opportunity to speak to the pink Bob-Omb to open the cannon, just in case it became useful later on. By the time I finished exploring the upper areas, only three stars remained, and all of them required heading into the town section of the level.

The Final Stars

My first visit to the town went surprisingly smoothly. One of the stars was sitting there waiting for me, so that immediately reduced the list to just two: the 100-coin star and the red coin star.

By the time I began collecting the red coins, my coin total had already reached ninety-nine. That meant the very first red coin I collected pushed the total to one hundred and awarded the 100-coin star instantly.

After that it was simply a matter of collecting the remaining red coins. A brief swim later and the final star of Wet-Dry World was secured.

119 Stars

With Wet-Dry World complete, all fifteen courses have now been cleared. The total stands at 119 stars.

Only one star remains.

The Final Challenge

The next entry may very well be the last.

One final red coin challenge remains before the path opens to Bowser in the Sky. Once that star is collected, there will be nothing left but the final battle.

Continue the Journey

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24th May 2026 1

Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 7: The Cliffs Fight Back

Black Tides – Log 7: The Cliffs Fight Back

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: family crest recovered, giant eel encounters, ship repairs, explosives unlocked, and Gale Cliffs navigation attempts (no commentary)

The next job was simple on paper. Find the family crest the hermit marked on the map. Looking at the route, it was clear I’d need to make my way through the cliffs to reach it, but the path itself didn’t look too bad. I plotted a course and headed out.

As soon as I passed through the stone arch, something large came straight out of the water. I’m assuming it was an eel, but whatever it was, it was far bigger than anything I’ve seen so far. I tried to avoid it, clipped the cliff face, and the creature still managed to hit the boat anyway. With the ship damaged, I limped back to the travelling merchant for repairs and decided to try again the next day.

The second attempt went a little better. I chose a different route through the cliffs and managed to avoid the creature entirely, or at least I didn’t see it this time. I eventually reached the wreck where the family crest was supposed to be, recovered it, and returned to the hermit.

He told me to speak to his brother in Ingfell and ask him for forgiveness on his behalf. The brother — the whaler — agreed to help, but only if I helped him first. He wanted me to detonate some explosives to clear part of the cliffs. All I needed to do, according to him, was head through the stone arch and follow the yellow flags.

It didn’t occur to me at the time that he meant the same stone arch I had already been through. That realisation came later, after I’d already decided I didn’t like him very much.

I equipped the haste ability and headed back out, thinking the extra speed would help me avoid the eel. It didn’t. The creature appeared again, hit the boat again, and I still didn’t see any yellow flags. To make things worse, the damage meant I couldn’t even keep the conger eel I’d caught to let it rot for the other request. I had to throw it back and head straight to the merchant for repairs.

The next attempt went exactly the same way. Through the arch, eel appears, boat damaged, no flags. Back to the merchant. Repaired again. At this point I’m fairly sure she’s getting tired of seeing me dock every single night.

After checking the pursuit log and getting nowhere, I went back to the whaler and spoke to him again. This time he mentioned that the yellow flags would be on my right. That would have been useful to know the first time.

With that in mind, I tried again. This time I managed to avoid the eel long enough to spot the flags, though the creature still managed to hit the boat while I was reading what I needed to do. Another repair job, but at least the explosives were placed where they needed to be.

After reporting back, the whaler agreed to reconcile with the hermit. One awkward family reunion later, I now have access to explosives of my own. He even gave me one for free, and I bought a few more just in case.

All that should be left now is placing another charge to clear the way to the relic. Though I can’t help wondering if these explosives would work just as well on that giant eel instead.

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18th May 2026 0

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 23: Wings and Ghosts

Game: Super Mario 64 Randomizer
Platform: Steam Deck
Format: No Commentary

Video: Conquering the Wing Cap red coins before exploring Big Boo’s Haunt and collecting several more stars (no commentary)

The Wing Cap Challenge

It was finally time to tackle the Wing Cap red coins. Out of everything I’ve faced during this run, this one had been sitting in the back of my mind as the biggest hurdle. I had already struggled with the red coins in Bowser in the Fire Sea earlier in the run, so the idea of doing something similar in a stage built entirely around flying didn’t exactly fill me with confidence.

The level wastes no time throwing you into the air. As soon as I entered, Mario was already flying, which meant I had no choice but to try and take mental notes of where each coin was while keeping control of the flight. I could see seven of them fairly quickly, but I knew the eighth would probably reveal itself mid-flight.

Finding the Right Flight

My first attempt didn’t go particularly well. Somewhere during the chaos my brain decided it would be a good idea to create a savestate while I was flying. I’m still not entirely sure why that happened.

The second attempt was slightly better. I managed to line up a few coins, but my altitude was too low to collect some of the others. Rather than force it and lose the run completely, I accepted the attempt as a loss and reset.

The third attempt was the one that mattered. I managed to control Mario just enough to sweep through every coin in a single flight. Once the star appeared, I didn’t hesitate. Unsure of how much time remained on the Wing Cap, I made a direct line for it and secured the star.

The Wing Cap red coins were done. And with that, the final flight challenge of the run was behind me.

Two Courses Remain

After leaving the stage I headed back upstairs in the castle. At this point there were only two courses left before the final challenge: Big Boo’s Haunt and Wet-Dry World.

I had a fifty–fifty choice between the two entrances. I took the right-hand side.

Waiting behind it was Big Boo’s Haunt.

A Haunted Start

The course immediately rewarded me with a bit of luck. After defeating one of the bosses — the Big Eye — I found a star within reach and grabbed it straight away. There are several bosses scattered throughout this level, including the Big Eye and three different Big Boos.

The star from that boss didn’t spawn in a location I was entirely confident about reaching, so I opted to collect the easier one first. On my second visit I tracked down the original star again, and this time it appeared much closer to me.

Ghost Hunting

I knew one of the Big Boos would be waiting near the carousel. My instinct told me that particular encounter wouldn’t be moved somewhere strange given how the room works. Sure enough, after clearing out the smaller Boos, the Big Boo appeared exactly where I expected.

One of the ghosts also mentioned that ghosts never truly die, which at least confirmed the location of another Boo needed for the “Go on a Ghost Hunt” star. While exploring the area I also spotted one of the red coins, giving me another clue for the final collection in this level.

Making the Most of Momentum

With the course practically handing out stars at this point, I decided to attempt the 100-coin star while I was already exploring the mansion. My thinking was simple: collect the 100-coin star along with either the red coin star or the “Go on a Ghost Hunt” star, leaving the remaining objective for my final visit here.

I searched nearly every room in the mansion, deliberately leaving the roof area for later. In fact, I only abandoned that plan because I fell off the roof and ended up back near the carousel. While there I grabbed the nearby red coin and discovered the final Boo needed to trigger the third Big Boo encounter.

With the coin total finally reaching one hundred, I collected the 100-coin star and immediately attacked the first Big Boo I encountered outside the mansion grounds. As luck would have it, it turned out to be exactly the Boo I needed, which meant another star was secured.

The Final Stretch

That leaves the red coin star still waiting in Big Boo’s Haunt. Once that’s finished, only Wet-Dry World remains before the path to Bowser in the Sky opens.

The day ends with the total sitting at 111 stars.

Just eight more before the final course unlocks.

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17th May 2026 1

Super Mario Galaxy 63 Entry 4 – The Gravity Scramble

Gravity itself has apparently decided to become a problem now.

Back Into Shifting Sand Land Galaxy

One more shine sprite and one more Comet Coin left in Shifting Sand Land Galaxy, so I jump back into the painting and it is time for The Gravity Scramble.

Before I can properly start though, I need to collect five launch star pieces.

Two of them require the Fire Flower, as the only way to grab them is by lighting torches.

In my head, the plan was simple enough: grab both before the fire power ran out.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

So after wasting the first Fire Flower, I had to go back and grab another one before collecting the remaining launch star pieces.

After that little mess up, I get launched over towards a pipe, but before going in, there’s still one final Comet Coin sitting on top of a tree.

So I grab that first.

Shifting Sand Land Galaxy complete. At least I think it is. There could still be a hidden shine somewhere for all I know.

The Gravity Scramble

This is where the shine sprite name starts making sense.

Gravity changes depending on the direction of the arrows, which shift whenever Mario goes up or down slopes.

If I had really committed to the experience, I probably could have rotated the Steam Deck around to match the gravity direction.

I decided against that.

Mainly because things were already awkward enough.

During practice runs, Mario had developed a habit of landing directly on spikes.

Didn’t really matter where they were either.

He kept finding them.

You could argue that was user error.

I’m not entirely convinced.

Upside Down

The worst part comes once gravity flips upside down.

I have to jump between disappearing platforms while avoiding spikes below me.

The platforms follow a rhythm, but that didn’t stop Mario repeatedly finding ways to miss them and land directly on the spikes anyway.

Thankfully, this attempt goes a lot better than the practice runs and I eventually make it through to the next pipe.

The Final Stretch

The final area changes things again.

This time gravity is controlled by octagonal platforms. Depending on which way Mario is facing, gravity changes with him.

The final challenge involves long jumping between three octagons while spikes cover both the floor and ceiling.

I’m sure you can guess what happened here.

Mario and gravity had another disagreement.

The spikes won multiple times.

I do lose a life here, but my next attempt goes much smoother than all the practice runs, so I decide to take the win while I have it.

The shine sprite is mine.

Shifting Sand Land Galaxy complete.

What Comes Next?

Still no sign of any prankster comets.

I honestly don’t know if they exist in this hack or not.

But considering how much Mario has already been struggling with gravity, I’m hoping this shine sprite doesn’t end up getting one later.

I’ve had enough problems with spikes for now.

The Run

This is how it actually went.

Continue the Journey

← Entry 3: Into the Pyramid

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Entry 5 → Coming Soon

14th May 2026 1

Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 6: Gale Cliffs at Last

Black Tides – Log 6: Gale Cliffs at Last

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: shrine puzzle solved, boat upgraded, Gale Cliffs reached, strange waters discovered, and Hermit quest begins (no commentary)

After loading back in, it became clear I hadn’t learned anything from the last trip. I went straight back out into the dark, realised almost immediately that was a mistake, and turned around for Greater Marrow. I waited for dawn instead of pushing my luck again, then went back to what I should have been doing in the first place — fishing.

The shrine I found earlier kept coming to mind. It wanted curved fish, and the only thing I’d caught so far that fit that description was cod. They sit at a right angle in storage, so that seemed close enough. I went out looking specifically for them, and while I was at it I realised I had enough materials to upgrade the boat again. This time I added more space for fishing rods, which should make things easier once I start working deeper water.

Once I had enough cod, I headed back to the shrine. That meant going out at night again, which I wasn’t thrilled about, but I wanted to be ready to head for the Gale Cliffs at first light, so it made sense at the time. After dropping the fish into the shrine, I was given a new rod — a sinew spindle. From what I can tell, it slightly increases the chance of catching aberrations. If that’s true, I expect I’ll be seeing more of them whether I want to or not.

As soon as dawn came, I set a course for the Gale Cliffs. On the way, I came across a wreck that looked strangely familiar. The hull shape was the same as my own boat, just less equipped. I don’t know if that means anything, but it didn’t feel like a coincidence. I pulled what materials I could from the wreck and continued on.

I stopped at Ingfell once I reached the Cliffs and spoke to a few of the locals. One of them, a whaler, didn’t seem too happy about being there. Another asked me to catch an aged conger eel, which apparently means letting one rot first. Naturally, that means night fishing again.

I also met the travelling merchant, who might be the most cheerful person I’ve met since this started. They’re willing to buy fish, sell equipment, and even handle ship upgrades, which makes this place a lot more useful than I expected. They also mentioned the photographer again, which I’d completely forgotten about, and asked me to keep an eye out for certain fish while I was working the area.

While exploring the Cliffs, I saw something I still don’t have a proper explanation for. Water was shooting upward out of the sea, like a whirlpool going the wrong way. When I got closer, it vanished. I decided not to question it too much and kept moving.

Night fell while I was still out, and I spotted a red light near what looked like a small town further along the cliffs. I couldn’t reach it directly, but I did find a place to dock nearby. There I met a hermit who said he wanted to return to Ingfell to speak to his brother, but refused to leave without a family crest that had been lost somewhere in the cliffs. He marked the location on my map and warned me to watch out for some kind of creature in the area. Not exactly reassuring.

I tried to reach the town the red light was coming from, but the way forward was blocked. After speaking to the hermit again, he suggested I talk to the whaler back in Ingfell, which I decided could wait until morning. The last time I went chasing red lights in the dark, I ended up at the bottom of the sea. I’m not making that mistake twice in the same day.

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Black Tides – Log 5

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11th May 2026 1

Super Mario Galaxy 63 – Entry 3: Into the Pyramid

Apparently leaving Bob-Omb Battlefield means the game immediately throws me into the desert.

Shifting Sand Land Galaxy

I say goodbye to Bob-Omb Battlefield Galaxy and try to follow what I remember about the original castle layout.

I head towards the door where I think either the secret slide or Whomp’s Fortress would normally be.

Instead, I’m greeted by Shifting Sand Land Galaxy.

So apparently we’re doing this.

There are only two shine sprites and four Comet Coins here. At least I think there are. Knowing this hack, there could easily be a hidden shine somewhere.

For now though, the goal is simple enough:

Shining Atop the Pyramid.

Comet Coins

The first Comet Coin is basically a long jump away.

There’s a platform with a large coin on it which drops star bits when collected. I use that as my launch point and long jump over what I’m assuming is quicksand.

I spin into the crystal, grab the coin, then use the star to get myself back up safely.

The second coin is a sneaky one.

It’s hidden on top of a tree, completely out of camera view.

That one needs Fire Mario.

I grab the Fire Flower, head over to a twister and spin into it, which launches me much higher than normal. Not high enough though. I still need a backflip into a spin jump to actually reach the coin.

Two down already.

The next section is more about rhythm than difficulty.

There are enemies moving across platforms that can flatten Mario if I mistime things, but they follow a pattern, so once I stop rushing it, they’re manageable enough.

Comet Coin number three is here as well.

Unfortunately, it’s floating over absolutely nothing.

So naturally it requires another backflip and spin jump combo.

Inside the Pyramid

With a shine name like Shining Atop the Pyramid, I expected to be climbing it.

Instead, I’m going inside it.

The camera shifts to a side-on angle, which immediately makes things more awkward. There are disappearing platforms, moving platforms and spikes, all moving to their own rhythm.

Thankfully it’s a rhythm I manage to keep up with.

Mostly.

Right near the end I mistime a jump and hit the spikes. For a second I genuinely think the run is over, but I manage to regain control of Mario before he walks straight off the platform.

Probably closer than it needed to be.

Still, the first shine sprite is mine.

The Next Shine

I originally planned on grabbing the second shine sprite while I was here.

In practice, that didn’t really happen.

I kept messing up one particular section and spent more time than I would have liked trying to fix my own mistakes.

Once I can get through it consistently without spending five minutes trying to recover from one bad jump, I’ll get the next recording done.

The Run

This is how it actually went.

Continue the Journey

← Entry 2: Bob-Omb Battlefield Galaxy Complete

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Entry 4 →

7th May 2026 1

Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 5: Faster Engines, Worse Decisions

Black Tides – Log 5: Faster Engines, Worse Decisions

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: Engine damage, night fishing, strange shrine discovered, upgrades installed, and a failed night run (no commentary)

The plan was simple this time. Head for the Gale Cliffs and see what was waiting there. Naturally, it didn’t go to plan. I decided to make use of the haste ability the Collector gave me, and while it did exactly what it promised, it also destroyed one of my engines in the process. With the boat down to half speed, I didn’t have much choice but to limp back to Greater Marrow and get it repaired.

That made the decision for me. If I’m going anywhere new, I need better equipment first. Better equipment means upgrades, and upgrades mean money. So the next few days were spent doing what I seem to do best — fishing.

I split my time between day trips and short runs at night, staying close to the coastline around Greater Marrow. I caught a few abnormal fish along the way. If I’m honest, they don’t unsettle me as much now. At this point I almost expect to pull one up every time I head out. They sell well enough, which makes it easier to justify keeping them.

After a bit of grinding, I finally had enough money saved to upgrade my engines. The plan was to replace both of my current outboards with improved ones. I bought the first, sold my old engines, and went to buy the second — only to realise the shop only had one available. Apparently I need to wait until the next day for another to come in. That one’s on me for assuming I could do it all at once.

With the new engine installed, I started getting a little more confident and began heading out at night more often, though still keeping close to the coastline. During one of those trips I came across something glowing in the water. It looked like a stone covered in carvings of fish, almost like it was asking for something to be offered to it. I had no idea what it meant, so I left it alone for the time being.

Later that night, after catching another abnormal fish, I headed back to the dock to sell it. On the way in, I noticed something moving in the water behind the boat. I couldn’t get a clear look at it, but it stayed with me long enough to make the trip back feel longer than it should have. Whatever it was, it didn’t follow me into the harbour.

The next day I continued working the coastline and found what looked like the remains of a wrecked dock. There were materials scattered around it, along with a research part and a few trinkets I could sell. Worth the detour.

While I was out that way, I remembered the Builder I helped move to Steel Point and decided to stop by. It gave me a chance to properly test the new engine, and the difference was noticeable straight away. The boat feels quicker now, which should make longer trips a bit less painful.

The Builder thanked me again for the help and handed me a book, saying I could use her dock whenever I needed. Having another safe place to stop for the night isn’t something I’m going to complain about.

Once I had enough money saved again, I upgraded the light on the boat so I could see further into the dark. That seemed like a sensible improvement, so naturally I went out to test it straight away.

While heading along the water, I spotted a red glow in the distance and decided to take a closer look. I didn’t get the chance. Something came out of the dark and started chasing the boat. The only way I can describe it is like a giant angler fish. I tried to reverse away from it, but hit the rocks instead. That was enough for it to catch up, and the next thing I knew the boat was gone.

So that answers one question. I won’t be heading out at night any time soon if that’s the sort of thing waiting out there.

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Black Tides – Log 4

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4th May 2026 1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 21: The Hundredth Star

Game: Super Mario 64 Randomizer
Platform: Steam Deck
Format: No Commentary

Video: Star 100 collected in Mario Wings Over the Rainbow before exploring Hazy Maze Cave and securing the red coin star (no commentary)

Star Number One Hundred

There didn’t seem much point putting it off any longer. If I was going to collect my hundredth star, it may as well be a memorable one. That meant jumping straight into the painting hiding the Mario Wings Over the Rainbow stage.

My spawn point couldn’t have been much better. I landed on the platform with the pink Bob-Omb, the cannon, and the Wing Cap boxes all in one place. Before doing anything else I spoke to the Bob-Omb to unlock the cannon, then took a moment to scan the sky and figure out where the red coins were sitting.

I managed to count seven of them from the platform, though the eighth one remained hidden somewhere beyond my line of sight. I figured I would find it once I was in the air.

A Simple Flight Plan

The approach was straightforward. Grab a Wing Cap, fire myself out of the cannon, collect whatever coins lined up with my flight path, then return to the platform and repeat. The important thing was not risking the Wing Cap timer expiring while still in the air.

After a few passes I spotted the final coin sitting near one of the stable clouds, along with another Wing Cap box above it. Thankfully it was one of the clouds you can actually land on, which made the setup possible. The coin itself took a few attempts to grab cleanly. A triple jump would get me close enough, but I was slightly off each time.

Eventually the jump lined up properly. The coin was collected and the red coin star appeared in a position that was thankfully reachable. One final flight later and I had my hundredth star.

The Final Stretch

With star number one hundred secured, the run now sits nineteen stars away from the end. Eighteen of those are spread across three courses, while the final one waits in the Wing Cap switch area.

That makes the next destination fairly obvious. It’s time to return to Hazy Maze Cave. If I can clear that level along with the Wing Cap switch stage, it will remove what feels like the biggest remaining obstacle in this randomizer run — aside from Bowser in the Sky and the red coins waiting there.

Into Hazy Maze Cave

I didn’t plan it this way, but my first visit back to Hazy Maze Cave quickly turned into a red coin hunt. The coins are scattered throughout the level, which made it seem like the most efficient objective to tackle first.

It does mean sacrificing the chance to combine the red coin star with the 100-coin star, but mapping where the coins were located felt more valuable for the long term. While exploring the cave I also became a little fixated on the switch hidden behind the water that normally requires the Metal Cap to reach.

No matter what I tried, I couldn’t quite reach it. To make matters more interesting, I noticed several boxes sitting high up in the cavern. I have no idea how I’m meant to reach them yet, but they’ve been added to the list of things to investigate unless I can clear the level without needing them.

Finding the Star

Once the eighth red coin was collected, the star spawned somewhere in the cave. The only problem was I had no idea where it had appeared. Rather than panic, I decided the best approach was simply to search the cave methodically.

Room by room I checked each section of the level until eventually I spotted it waiting in the rolling boulder chamber. Thankfully grabbing it didn’t cause any further problems.

Confidence for the Endgame

Hazy Maze Cave still has work left to do. The 100-coin star remains, along with two other stars in the course and the Wing Cap switch stage red coin star. Once those are finished, though, the biggest hurdles in this randomizer run should be behind me.

For now, I’m feeling confident about my chances.

Continue the Journey

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🧢 Mario 64 Randomizer Hub

3rd May 2026 1

Survivor’s Log – Year One of Survivor Incognito

Year One

It’s been a year since I first started Survivor Incognito.

It began simply enough. Playing survival games on the Nintendo Switch, usually on easier difficulties, and adding my own permadeath rule on top.

The Long Dark was where it really started. One run at a time, seeing how long I could last, and writing down what happened along the way.

That was the foundation.

From there, it grew.

I started putting together map pages, partly for myself, partly to help anyone else trying to find their way around. Then came guides — working things out and writing them up properly. Getting things like ProMods running for Euro Truck Simulator 2 on the Steam Deck, documenting the steps so others didn’t have to figure it out from scratch.

Then the Steam Deck changed things.

It opened the door to recording. Instead of just writing about what happened, I could show it. No commentary, just the run as it played out.

Around that time, the rules started to shift.

Permadeath was still there, but it stopped being the default for everything. It made more sense to shape each run around a specific challenge instead.

Minecraft is probably the clearest example of that. The run doesn’t end because of a random death. It ends when one of two things happens — either I kill the Ender Dragon, or it kills me.

Same idea, different structure.

Then came something I didn’t expect to stick as much as it did.

Super Mario ROM hacks.

It started with the Super Mario 64 Randomizer. Then Super Mario 74. Then, after figuring out how to get Dolphin running on the Steam Deck, Super Mario Galaxy ROM hacks.

Different kind of challenge, but the same approach underneath it. Learn the system. Adapt. Keep going until it’s done or I’m stopped.

That’s where things are now.

I’ve naturally started leaning more into the Mario side of things, because that’s where I’ve had the most flow recently. That doesn’t mean everything else disappears — the survival diaries, the guides, the other runs are still there and still ongoing.

It just means I’m not forcing it.

If I’m not feeling a run, I’m not going to push through it just to get something posted. I’d rather wait and do it properly than put out something half-finished.

This project has always just been me, and it likely always will be. So it makes more sense to put the time and energy into what’s actually working, both for me and for the blog.

That’s the biggest change over the first year.

Not a shift away from anything. Just a better understanding of how I want to run things.

So to everyone who’s clicked, read, watched, or stuck around at any point — thank you.

Year one is done.

Let’s see what the next one looks like.

29th Apr 2026 0