Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Epilogue: Thirty Years Later

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

Why This One Needed an Epilogue

It has been a while since I last wrote an epilogue, but this run felt like it deserved one.

Nearly thirty years ago we were given the game that set the standard for 3D platformers, and in many ways for games in general. Very few titles can be called truly influential, but Super Mario 64 is one of them. Even decades later people are still playing it, still finding new tricks, and still discovering ways to push the game further than anyone expected.

I have watched world records being broken, seen people complete the game blindfolded, and watched runs that make it look effortless. That was never what this was about for me. I wanted something familiar, but different enough that I couldn’t rely on memory alone.

That is why I chose the randomizer.

Familiar, But Never Safe

I could have played through the original game again without any problems, but the randomizer forces you to slow down and think. Stars are not where you expect them to be, levels don’t behave the way your memory says they should, and suddenly a course you know inside out becomes something you have to learn all over again.

It didn’t take long for the run to remind me of that. Getting Rainbow Ride and Tick Tock Clock early in the run felt like the game was testing me right from the start. Those are not the levels you expect to deal with when you are still trying to figure out where everything is.

And then there was the hunt for the Wing Cap Switch Palace. For a while I genuinely thought it might end up being in the very last place I could possibly check. That search alone made the randomizer worth doing.

The Stars That Fought Back

If there was one type of star that caused the most trouble, it was the red coins. A lot of them turned into puzzles I wasn’t expecting to solve.

Bowser in the Fire Sea was one of the worst. The coins were placed in spots where grabbing them felt like a risk every time. It wasn’t enough to know the level, I had to work out how to reach them without burning Mario in the process.

Rainbow Ride was another one that stuck with me. Collecting the red coins there only to see the star appear at the opposite end of the course felt like the game reminding me that nothing in a randomizer run is ever simple.

Even near the end the run kept finding ways to surprise me. Wet-Dry World being the final course felt a little anticlimactic, but that is the nature of a randomizer. You don’t choose the order. The seed does.

Thirty Years Later, Still Worth Playing

What surprised me the most about this run is how well the game still holds up. Even after all this time, Super Mario 64 is still fun to play, still satisfying to finish, and still able to throw challenges at you when you least expect them.

That is probably why people are still playing it after all these years. Not because of nostalgia alone, but because the game itself is strong enough to keep people coming back.

The Journey Ends

I don’t know if I will do another randomizer run in the future, but I’m glad I did this one. It turned a game I already knew into something unpredictable again, and it made the final credits feel earned in a way they normally wouldn’t.

This journey took longer than I expected, gave me more trouble than I planned for, and reminded me why this game became a classic in the first place.

For now, I’m happy to say the run is finished.

And I had a blast doing it.

Not Quite the End

As much as this feels like the end of the run, it doesn’t feel like the end of the experience.

Super Mario 64 might be finished, but I’m not done with it yet.

So instead of stopping here, I’m taking it further. The same ideas, the same structure, but rebuilt on a much larger scale.

Next, I’m stepping into a version of this game that doesn’t stay contained in a castle.

A galaxy-sized version of it.

Continue the Journey

← Log 25

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7th Jun 2026 0

Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary – Entry 14: Return to the Aurora

Submerged Entry 14: Return to the Aurora

Platform: Steam Deck
Game: Subnautica

Video: Aurora return, Prawn Suit fragments, and Neptune Rocket plans (no commentary)

Before heading back to the Aurora, I once again spent some time off-camera scavenging for supplies. Mostly lithium this time, as I wanted to make proper use of the Modification Station. The result is a larger oxygen tank, upgraded fins, and a noticeable improvement in how long I can actually survive underwater without surfacing like a panicked fish every thirty seconds.

Three full minutes of oxygen changes a surprising amount.

I also crafted several fire extinguishers because, unfortunately, the Aurora is still very much on fire.

There were two reasons for returning. The first was the Prawn Suit fragments hidden somewhere inside the wreck. The second was Alterra’s supposed “backup plan” for getting me off the planet, which apparently waited behind a locked door inside the Captain’s Quarters.

Whether escaping is actually possible while infected and living under the watchful eye of a giant alien cannon is another matter entirely.

Approaching the Wreck

I climbed into Valentino and made my way toward the Aurora once again. The closer I got, the more the entire wreck seemed to dominate the horizon. Even after previous visits, the thing still feels less like a crashed ship and more like a warning.

At one point I seriously considered turning around altogether. A Leviathan was swimming nearby, somewhere beneath the waterline, and although I do not think it actually spotted me, I had no interest in testing that theory in open water.

Valentino survived the trip regardless, and eventually the familiar wreckage came into view.

Cave Crawlers and Corporate Fire Hazards

The first order of business inside the Aurora was dealing with Cave Crawlers, which mostly involved launching them into the distance using the Propulsion Cannon. I do not think that mechanic will ever stop being entertaining. There is something deeply satisfying about watching tiny hostile creatures suddenly achieve low orbit.

Beyond that came the usual combination of burning corridors, blocked pathways, and scattered debris. I moved crates out of the way, emptied fire extinguishers into active flames, and slowly pushed deeper into the wreck.

Along the way I found a code for a nearby door and, naturally, immediately abandoned all restraint and grabbed everything that was not physically attached to the walls.

Returning with upgraded oxygen capacity also made a noticeable difference. For once, I could actually stop to explore rooms properly instead of constantly checking my remaining air supply every few seconds.

I even found another flashlight, which is reassuring considering my current one has probably suffered enough abuse already.

The Prawn Suit Bay

Eventually I found what I had really come for: the Prawn Suits.

The bay itself was still partially on fire, which meant carefully weaving between flames while scanning fragments as quickly as possible. One by one the blueprints started coming together until, after four scans, the final piece clicked into place.

The Prawn Suit was now fully unlocked.

Which means at some point soon I am going to need to build one. More importantly, I am going to need to think of a name for it.

Somewhere during all this, I also noticed I had another radio transmission waiting back at base. Naturally, I completely forgot about it again until the recording had already finished.

Alterra’s Escape Plan

After securing the Prawn Suit fragments, I continued moving room to room through the Aurora, embracing my role as the ocean’s least qualified salvage expert. If something was not nailed down, it went into my inventory. If it was scannable, I scanned it.

Eventually I reached the Captain’s Quarters, although actually getting inside proved more difficult than expected because I somehow managed to forget where the code was stored despite knowing full well I already had it.

Eventually common sense prevailed, the code was entered correctly, and inside waited Alterra’s emergency solution to the entire situation:

Blueprints for a rocket.

I appreciate the optimism. Unfortunately, there are still several problems with this plan.

Firstly, I am infected with something unpleasant.

Secondly, there is still a giant alien cannon on the island that already demonstrated very clearly what happens to anything attempting to leave the planet.

So while the Neptune Rocket plans are useful, I would not exactly call them an immediate solution.

Return to Base

Eventually I fought my way back through the Aurora and returned to Valentino. The trip back to base was quieter, although the closer I got to home, the more obvious another problem became.

The current base is starting to feel small.

Between the Scanner Room, Moonpool, Bioreactor, storage space, and everything else I keep dragging back from expeditions, the operation is beginning to outgrow the original layout.

I am now seriously considering either heavily expanding the current base or establishing a second outpost somewhere further from the Mushroom Forest.

Before any of that though, I need to figure out exactly what components are required to craft the Prawn Suit.

And perhaps more importantly, I should probably listen to that radio message.

Continue the Journey

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1st Jun 2026 1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 25: Thank You For Playing

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

Video: Final red coins in Bowser in the Sky, 120 stars collected, and the last battle with Bowser (no commentary)

The Final Star

It was time. No sense putting it off any longer. I had 119 stars, and the final one was waiting for me in Bowser in the Sky. One last red coin hunt before the end.

When I jumped into the course I expected the randomizer to throw me somewhere near the end, but instead I spawned close to the beginning. That turned out to be perfect, because it meant I could search the entire level properly from start to finish instead of rushing through it.

I took my time, stopping every so often to move the camera around and make sure nothing was hiding just out of view. Hazy Maze Cave had already taught me that stars and coins could be sitting right in front of me without me noticing if I wasn’t careful.

I also had to fight the instinct to take the shortcuts I would normally use in this level. In the original game I know this course well enough to rush through it, but this wasn’t the original anymore, and I had a feeling if I skipped ahead too quickly I’d leave a coin behind.

120 Stars

The final three coins were waiting near the location where the red coin star appears, right beside the pipe that leads to the final battle. Once I collected them, the star appeared exactly where I hoped it would.

One jump later, and that was it.

All 120 stars of this randomizer seed collected.

Only one thing remained.

The Final Battle

The fight with Bowser didn’t go perfectly at first. I managed to throw him into one bomb, but nerves or bad luck got the better of me after that. I got caught by his fire, stunned, and even managed to fall off the platform. Round one went to him.

The second attempt felt different. I was calmer, more focused. The first throw landed, then the second, and suddenly I was holding him for the final spin.

As I turned Mario around with Bowser in his hands, I couldn’t help but think that this really was the final throw of the run.

It was.

Three clean throws later, Bowser was defeated and the randomizer seed was finished.

The Credits Roll

The familiar cutscene played out, and when the camera showed the castle roof, Yoshi was there waiting, proving that all 120 stars had been collected.

I let the credits roll without skipping. Watching the game show each of the locations again, one after another, reminded me just how much ground this run had covered. Every level, every detour, every moment where I thought I might have made the seed impossible.

And that music… the same credits music I’ve heard so many times over the years still feels exactly the same as it did the first time I heard it.

All that was left was the final line.

Thank you so much for-a playing my game.

And thank you for all the memories you have given me, Mario.

Continue the Journey

← Log 24
Epilogue →

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31st 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.

Continue the Journey

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Black Tides – Log 6

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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.

Continue the Journey

← Log 22
Log 24 →

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17th 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.

Continue the Journey

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Black Tides – Log 5

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11th May 2026 1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 22: Conquering the Maze

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

Video: Finishing Hazy Maze Cave with the remaining stars, battling the rolling boulders for the 100-coin star, and heading toward the Wing Cap switch stage (no commentary)

A Plan for the Maze

I went into Hazy Maze Cave this time with an actual plan. Three stars remained here, and I also needed to visit the Wing Cap area while I was in the level. With that in mind I planned three visits: the first two would be used to collect the remaining named stars, and the third would be for the 100-coin star before heading toward the Wing Cap stage.

The logic behind that was simple. The 100-coin star is the only one that doesn’t eject me from the course after collecting it, which meant it made sense to leave it until last.

A Lucky Start

My first spawn dropped me straight into the toxic maze. It wasn’t exactly the start I had hoped for, but it turned out to be a lucky one. One of the remaining stars was sitting right there waiting for me, which immediately cut the list down from three to two.

For the second visit I planned to return to the toxic maze area, as I knew another star was somewhere nearby that I had missed previously. Just as I was about to drop down into the maze again, though, something caught my eye. A shadow on the ground.

I looked up and there it was — the final named star in the level. I could have collected it at almost any point earlier, but I wasn’t going to complain. A quick grab later and the only star left in Hazy Maze Cave was the 100-coin star.

The 100-Coin Challenge

As expected, the 100-coin star proved to be the toughest task in the cave. The first challenge was gathering enough blue coins, which turned out to be more difficult than I expected.

My first attempt ended with me missing some of the blue coins, and because I wasn’t sure whether the total would reach one hundred, I decided to grab another star and leave the course to reset.

The second attempt went better. I managed to reach ninety coins before heading toward the cavern where Dorrie waits in the underground lake. Unfortunately the rolling boulders had other plans and knocked me out before I could finish the run.

Attempt number three ended in almost the same place. I even tested a theory that Metal Mario might be able to withstand the boulders. Apparently not.

The fourth attempt came dangerously close to the same fate, but this time I managed to slip past the boulders and finally collect the 100-coin star.

Thirteen Courses Cleared

With that star secured, Hazy Maze Cave was officially complete. That makes thirteen courses finished in this randomizer run.

My next destination was the Wing Cap Switch Palace. This will be my final use of the Wing Cap during this playthrough. Once that star is collected, only fourteen stars will remain across two courses before it’s time to take on Bowser in the Sky and the red coins waiting there.

One Last Flight

But before Bowser comes the final Wing Cap challenge.

The red coins in the Wing Cap stage are waiting.

Continue the Journey

← Log 21
Log 23 →

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10th May 2026 1

Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Entry 2: Silver Stars Under Pressure

One hit resets everything. Sometimes you don’t even need that.

Back to Galactic Garden

With Dino Piranha down and only one more star available, I head back to Galactic Garden Galaxy and select the next objective: Silver Stars in Wuthering Heights.

The opening looks familiar. Same starting platform as before, but this time there are clouds to work with, along with the cloud power-up.

Cloud Mario again. Shake the remote, place a cloud, and keep moving before it disappears.

The first section isn’t too bad. The clouds are large enough that missing one doesn’t feel likely, and even if I do, I’ve got a cloud ready to save it.

Wind and Timing

The next section looks worse than it actually is.

There’s wind pushing clouds upward, sometimes shifting direction slightly, but nothing too unpredictable. The real problem is when it stops.

That’s when it starts to matter how many clouds I’ve got left.

There are also those spiky flower things around the area, which don’t help. There’s room to work with, but not enough to switch off completely.

I spot a mushroom along the way. Not sure if it’s needed or not, so I leave it for now. If it matters later, I’ll come back.

Silver Stars, No Margin

Then it’s onto collecting the five silver stars.

This is where Daredevil Edition really starts to show.

Normally, this wouldn’t be much of a problem. Here, every jump feels like it matters more than it should. One misjudged platform and it’s straight back to the beginning.

It doesn’t help that I can’t see where everything is until I’m close enough to it.

There’s also the stamp for this galaxy to grab. I use my last cloud to reach it.

I regret that decision almost immediately.

The next section needs wall jumps, and there’s barely anything to land on beyond a platform sitting at a right angle to the walls.

Somehow, it works. I avoid what felt like certain failure and grab the final silver star.

No reset. No second attempt. Just barely holding it together.

Of course, it appears back at the start of the area.

I also realise at this point that I could have used camera controls to make some of those blind jumps easier.

That would have helped.

Second Star Secured

I make it back to the start without undoing everything and collect the shine.

Second star done. First attempt.

The Run

This is how it actually went.

Back on the Ship

Back on Starship Mario, I head into the collection room and take a quick look at the cloud power-up again.

I’m not entirely sure how many stars are needed before Galactic Garden Galaxy is considered complete, but another thought comes up.

If I switch to Luigi, does Starship Mario become Starship Luigi?

Not sure yet, but it feels like something worth testing.

Continue the Journey

← Entry 1: One Hit Is All It Takes

Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Archive

— All attempts in this challenge.

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— All Mario ROM hack content.

Dolphin Setup Guide

— How this is even running on Steam Deck.

Entry 3 →

5th 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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4th May 2026 1