Tag: Steam Deck Gameplay

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 21: The Hundredth Star

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

← Log 20
Log 22 →

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Super Mario 64 Randomizer logs are written after each recording session. Every star collected brings the end of the journey a little closer.

1

Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 4: Steel Point Before the Cliffs

Black Tides – Log 4: Steel Point Before the Cliffs

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: Steel Point delivery, Builder relocation, new aberrations caught, reel upgraded, and engine planning (no commentary)

I know where the Collector told me to go next, but if I’m heading anywhere new, I’d rather upgrade the vessel first. I also said I’d help the Builder relocate to Steel Point, and that still needed doing. Money doesn’t appear on its own either, which means fishing, which means accepting that I’m going to see more abnormal specimens sooner or later.

Steel Point was my first priority. I was slightly surprised not to see the Builder there already. I assumed once I delivered the lumber and scrap she would appear. Instead, I found myself doing some careful inventory management while dredging for the remaining materials. There’s only so much space on the boat, and every time I have to throw fish away it feels wasteful. Fresh fish sells better, though, and if I’m out longer than planned the profit drops. With the fog hanging thick over the water, I knew there was little chance of safely making it back to Greater Marrow at night. Thankfully, Steel Point allows docking. I rested there rather than forcing the crossing in poor visibility.

Even after completing the material delivery, the Builder still wasn’t present at Steel Point. That was unexpected. I eventually returned to Greater Marrow, fishing along the way to avoid wasting the trip, and only then did I realise she was still standing exactly where I had left her.

After selling my catch and reviewing potential upgrades, I set my sights on new engines and a reel capable of handling oceanic fish. If I’m going to the Gale Cliffs, I want the boat capable of dealing with deeper waters.

When I spoke to the Builder, it turned out she required transport to Steel Point as well. Fair enough. I ferried her across and received a couple of research parts in return. That was enough to unlock a new engine upgrade. The Gale Cliffs are still a distance away, but they’re beginning to feel more reachable. The Builder also said about visiting her so that is now on the to do list.

I’ve also noticed lightning in the sky since handing the key over to the Collector. I can’t say whether the two events are linked, but the timing stands out. I’ll keep an eye on it as things progress.

The following day or two were spent building funds and materials. Fishing, dredging, refining the boat. I encountered more abnormal specimens during that time — a Lumpy Mackerel and a Horned Grouper. Whatever they are, they sell well enough. Between them and the rest of the haul, I earned enough to upgrade one of my reels. Oceanic fishing is now possible.

I still want better engines before committing to the next region. The Gale Cliffs aren’t going anywhere. Progress has been steady, and the vessel is improving piece by piece. I’d rather arrive prepared than regret rushing it.

Continue the Journey

Previous Entry:
Black Tides – Log 3

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1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 20: Ninety-Nine Stars and the Finish Line Ahead

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 20: Ninety-Nine Stars and the Finish Line Ahead

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

Video: Returning to Tiny-Huge Island to secure the 100-coin star, red coin star, and the final Piranha Plant star before reaching 99 total stars (no commentary)

Returning to Tiny-Huge Island

With three stars still remaining in Tiny-Huge Island, it made sense to return there and finish the job. My goal right now is to complete the stars tied to the ground floor and basement areas of the castle before heading back upstairs. That way I know everything in those sections is cleared before moving into the final stretch of the run.

I also made sure to keep one lesson from the previous visit in mind. Last time I managed to lose track of a star entirely after switching between island sizes. This time the plan was simple: collect the star first, then think about moving between islands.

An Unexpected Coin Hunt

My original intention was to deal with the Piranha Plant star first, but the level had other ideas. As I moved around the island collecting coins, it gradually turned into a full attempt at the 100-coin star. Instead of changing direction halfway through, I decided to stick with it and incorporate the red coin star at the same time.

That meant switching from the huge island to the tiny island eventually, since the red coins can only be collected there. Once I had gathered enough coins to feel comfortable with the total, I made my way to the pipe closest to where I wanted to go.

Aiming for the Red Coins

The plan was straightforward enough: reach the cannon, aim for the tree that sits near the red coin area, and land close enough to continue the collection from there. I’m aware that speedrunners probably have quicker ways of reaching the area, but I prefer approaches that I know I can execute consistently.

Thankfully the red coins themselves weren’t placed in anything too unreasonable. To be fair, Tiny-Huge Island only has so many places where they can realistically appear. The biggest relief was realising I had judged the coin total correctly before switching islands.

I collected the hundredth coin, secured the 100-coin star, and then finished gathering the red coins for another star immediately afterwards.

Clearing the Piranha Plants

That left only one objective in the level: the Piranha Plants. All the time I had spent exploring the island during previous visits paid off here. I already knew roughly where each one was located, so moving between them was straightforward.

One by one they were dealt with, and when the final one fell the star appeared nearby in a reachable location. No disappearing act this time. I grabbed it without hesitation and said goodbye to Tiny-Huge Island for good.

Checking the Remaining Courses

After leaving the level, I took a moment to review what courses still needed attention. Hazy Maze Cave had already been explored earlier in the run, so that wasn’t a concern anymore. That left just two courses I hadn’t properly tackled yet: Big Boo’s Haunt and Wet-Dry World.

As I made my way back into the basement in preparation for attempting the Mario Wings Over the Rainbow star, something else occurred to me.

Ninety-Nine Stars

I checked the star total and realised I had reached ninety-nine stars. That means I’m now only twenty stars away from unlocking the final course. Once Bowser falls and the last star is collected, that will be it. This randomised version of a game I’ve known for most of my life will finally be complete.

There are countless players who grew up with Mario in one form or another, but Super Mario 64 holds a particularly important place in gaming history. For many people it became the blueprint for how 3D platformers — and even many other genres — would work in the years that followed. Few games have had that kind of influence.

And if I’m being honest, I’m not entirely sure I’m ready for the moment when the credits music begins to play.

The Next Star

The next entry will be a special one. It’s time to collect star number one hundred.

Continue the Journey

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Log 21 →

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Super Mario 64 Randomizer logs are written after each recording session. Some journeys end slowly, one star at a time.

1

Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 3: Haste, Cliffs, and Loose Ends

Black Tides – Log 3: Haste, Cliffs, and Loose Ends

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: Grotesque Mackerel caught, Little Marrow revisited, shipwreck explored, key delivered, haste unlocked, and Gale Cliffs introduced (no commentary)

I had intended to head straight to Blackstone Isle, but those plans shifted quickly. My first catch of the day was a Grotesque Mackerel. I’m not entirely convinced it counts as an aberration. It may simply be an unfortunate-looking fish. Either way, I brought it to the fishmonger. It was exactly what he wanted. He handed over a couple of research parts, told me to leave, and promptly locked the door behind me.

With the fishmonger closed for the time being, I decided to head back to Little Marrow. I had meant to speak to the trader on my last visit and forgot. He offered to buy any trinkets I dredge up, which seems practical enough. I had one item I could sell him, so the introduction was productive.

At the docks, I spoke to a grieving father. He told me of a shipwreck where his son had been lost and asked me to retrieve a belt buckle. When I asked about anything unusual happening around here, he mentioned an old mayor who used to throw items into the sea. That was as much as he was willing to share.

I made for the shipwreck location. I recovered the belt buckle along with a few materials useful for upgrading the boat. I returned the buckle to the father, then spoke to the painter about customising the vessel. I haven’t decided whether that’s necessary.

From there I returned to Greater Marrow, selected some upgrades to research, and visited the shipwright to install a new fishing line. She mentioned that the red light I had been watching for had disappeared. That answers that, for now.

I rested until dawn and then made for Blackstone Isle. I handed the key over to the Collector. In return, he read from his book and granted me the ability to cast haste. It provides a useful boost to the engines, though it increases panic while active. He then suggested I travel to the Gale Cliffs to retrieve the next artifact. I have other matters to attend to first.

Instead, I spent some time dredging for additional materials before returning toward Greater Marrow. I tested haste along the way. It works as described. Faster travel, though not without consequence.

The lighthouse keeper greeted me when I docked, though she seemed momentarily confused. She said my engine sounded like that of an old friend’s vessel. I didn’t have much to add to that.

The fishmonger had reopened, so I returned to fishing. The haul was decent, including a Snag Squid. I sold what I caught and docked for the night.

If I’m heading toward the Gale Cliffs, I want the boat properly prepared first. I still need to complete the delivery to Steel Point and secure further upgrades. There’s no reason to rush into rougher waters unprepared. That can wait until next time.

Continue the Journey

Previous Entry:
Black Tides – Log 2

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1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 19: Secrets, Wigglers, and a Vanishing Star

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 19: Secrets, Wigglers, and a Vanishing Star

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

Video: Returning to Tiny-Huge Island to defeat Wiggler, clear the Five Itty Bitty Secrets, race Koopa the Quick, and attempt the Piranha Plant star (no commentary)

Back to the Island

It was time to head back to Tiny-Huge Island. By this point I was starting to get used to the slightly unpredictable nature of the entrance. Sometimes I would spawn on the tiny island, sometimes on the huge one. It seemed random enough that I stopped worrying about it and simply used the opportunity to learn the layout properly, especially the pipes that allow you to switch between the two versions of the island.

I have to admit I appreciate how those pipes are contained entirely within this level. Given that reaching the Wing Cap stage in this seed requires a detour through Hazy Maze Cave, having something straightforward for a change felt like a welcome break.

Taking the Easy Win

My original plan was to start by collecting the Five Itty Bitty Secrets, but once I was inside the level I realised I had a chance to deal with Wiggler first. It’s one of those stars that rarely causes trouble once you reach it, so it felt like a quick and easy one to tick off the list.

Sure enough, the fight went exactly as expected. A few well-timed jumps later and the star was mine without any real drama.

Secrets Found

After that I turned my attention back to the Five Itty Bitty Secrets. With the locations already mapped out from the previous visit, this one didn’t give me any trouble either. It was one of those moments where preparation pays off and the star falls into place quickly.

Naturally, that’s when things started to become a little more complicated.

An Unexpected Race

While trying to plan my route for the next objective, I found myself thinking about the Piranha Plants scattered around the island. There are five of them in total, and I was trying to visualise the best order for dealing with them.

Before I could fully commit to that plan, though, I ran into Koopa the Quick and ended up accepting his rematch. The race itself was closer than I expected. In fact, I’m fairly certain that if he hadn’t nudged me toward the flag near the end, I might have lost that one.

The Piranha Plant Problem

With the race finished, I went back to dealing with the Piranha Plants. It took a few attempts to get all five of them cleared, but eventually the star appeared. As tends to happen in this level, it launched itself to another part of the island rather than landing conveniently nearby.

My solution seemed simple enough. I switched to the tiny island to move closer to where the star had landed, intending to switch back to the huge island once I was in the right position.

That’s where things went wrong.

The Star That Disappeared

When I returned to the huge island, the star was nowhere to be seen. I couldn’t tell whether I had completely forgotten where it landed, somehow managed to miss it while staring right at it, or whether switching between island sizes had caused it to despawn entirely.

I searched the island repeatedly, circling the area far more times than I’d like to admit. Eventually I had to accept that something had gone wrong. Whether it was my memory or the mechanics of the level, the result was the same: the star wasn’t there anymore.

Accepting the Loss

In the end I decided the sensible option was to cut my losses. I exited the course and left Tiny-Huge Island for another visit later. If nothing else, the lesson was clear enough.

Next time I’ll collect the star first before switching between islands.

Continue the Journey

← Log 18
Log 20 →

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Super Mario 64 Randomizer logs are written after each recording session. Sometimes the biggest challenge is remembering where the star actually landed.

1

Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary – Log 12: Growing Up

Submerged – Log 12: Growing Up

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Survival
Format: No Commentary

Video: Floating Island farming run, lifepod sweep, wreck exploration, and base expansion (no commentary)

I had a lightbulb moment today. I’m fed up of chasing fish.

Every time my hunger dips, I stop what I’m doing, grab the knife, and head outside like I’ve never planned further than the next five minutes. It works. It keeps me alive. It also feels temporary.

The island has fruit. The fruit grows on trees. Trees can be replanted.
The solution has been sitting there the entire time.

If I’m here for the long haul, I need to act like it.

I headed back to the island with one job: harvest what I need and leave. No sightseeing. No heroic dives. Just infrastructure.

As soon as I arrived, I noticed a distress signal directly below the island. Of course there was. I added it to the list and focused on the plants first. Priorities.

I moved through the vegetation carefully. Some of it looks useful and isn’t. Then I found the Bulbo Trees.

Knife out. Controlled hits. Samples collected.

Once cut, they’re on a timer. That’s all I could think about as I made a quick detour down to the lifepod beneath the island. Inside, I picked up a PDA that helpfully informed me the Aurora meeting point was… the island I was just standing on.

Great. Glad we cleared that up.

I didn’t hang around. Back to base.

Titanium gathered. Indoor growbed fabricated. Crops planted immediately. No hesitation.

I stood there longer than I expected, watching them settle into place. It felt different. Less scrambling. More planning.

If this works, food stops being a daily chore. Water still needs attention, but solving one problem at a time is how this becomes manageable.

With farming underway, I checked my signals properly. Two lifepods stood out. One near the Aurora. Another roughly four hundred metres away and one hundred metres down.

I followed the first coordinate carefully. Adjusted for the compass. Reached it.

It was already looted.

I’ve clearly been there before. I don’t remember recording it. At some point in the past, I must have visited, taken what I could, saved, and moved on. Not ideal. From now on, cleared pods get marked properly.

On the way to the second lifepod, I found a wreck and went inside. I can’t help myself. Inside, I found a Battery Charger fragment and another Bioreactor fragment.

The charger is the real win. I’ve been rationing batteries like they’re rare artefacts. One more fragment and that changes completely.

The second lifepod was intact but empty. I had a small laugh at how it had all ended. The ocean has a sense of humour. I took what I could and left.

Back at base, I decided to expand. A tunnel. Another room. The fabricator and I had a brief disagreement about placement, but eventually it cooperated.

The base feels less like a crash shelter now and more like something intentional. At the same time, hull integrity keeps dropping with every addition. The bigger it gets, the weaker it becomes. Reinforcement is climbing the list quickly.

The crops are growing.

That alone changes the tone of everything.

I still need to head back to the Aurora and see what’s waiting in the Captain’s Quarters. That will be deliberate. Planned.

For now, though, survival feels… easier.

I don’t trust that feeling entirely.

But tonight, I’m not chasing fish.

I’m growing them out of the equation.

Continue the Journey

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1

Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 2: Blackstone Isle and Better Judgement

Black Tides – Log 2: Blackstone and Better Judgement

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: Crab pots deployed, abnormal specimen caught, Blackstone Isle visited, dredging unlocked, and a key recovered at dusk (no commentary)

With the debt settled, I needed something practical to focus on. The fishmonger still wanted two different crabs, so that seemed straightforward enough. After learning how to use the crab pot properly, I dropped it in and left it to work. While moving between fishing spots, I realised I had a telescope mounted to the boat. Using it made identifying fishing locations much easier, which meant my inventory filled quickly. I made a short return trip to Greater Marrow to sell the haul. The fishmonger reminded me about the red light I’d mentioned wanting to investigate. I still didn’t know where it was exactly. I just knew I intended to find it.

A little more fishing later, I completed the sustainable fishing book. Convenient timing, as I had three more fish ready to sell. The fishmonger mentioned abnormal specimens and how sometimes you can spot them by the way the surface of the water looks. He didn’t say it like it was unusual. Just part of the job.

As daylight started to thin, I aimed the boat toward where I believed the red beam might be. I didn’t have a precise direction, only a rough idea. The fog rolled in quickly and reduced visibility to almost nothing. I couldn’t see far enough ahead to feel comfortable continuing, so I turned back toward Greater Marrow. On the way, I collected a crab from the pot, sold what I could, installed a new engine for a bit more speed, and ended the day there. No reason to get stranded trying to prove a point.

The next morning, I moved the crab pot into deeper water. I wasn’t certain it would improve the catch, but it seemed worth testing. While scanning for fishing spots, I found one emitting a strange glow beneath the surface. I didn’t have the appropriate equipment for it yet, so I left it alone, though I did retrieve a message in a bottle nearby. Not long after, I located a usable fishing spot and pulled up a Cyclopean Flounder. It matched the description of the abnormal specimens I’d been told about. It didn’t look right, but it didn’t look impossible either.

I brought it back to the fishmonger. He inspected it calmly and found a handkerchief tucked inside. He handed it to me without much comment. I sold the rest of my catch and returned to the boat.

That was when I noticed someone watching through the cabin window. He said he knew about the handkerchief and asked me to meet him at Blackstone Isle. It was close enough to reach before dark, so I agreed.

Blackstone Isle houses a mansion. The man introduced himself as a collector. I gave him the handkerchief, and he confirmed it came from a ship he was searching for. In return, he offered to upgrade my vessel with dredging equipment if I agreed to retrieve five items for him: a ring, a necklace, a watch, a music box, and a key. He didn’t provide locations, only suggested I look around shipwrecks. I accepted. The dredging equipment was fitted immediately.

Before leaving the area, I checked the crab pot again and found the second crab required for the fishmonger’s order.

Back in Greater Marrow, the mayor asked if I had encountered a photographer heading south. He suggested I introduce myself if I found her. I handed over the final crab, and the fishmonger immediately gave me another request: bring him an abnormal fish. He didn’t care which one.

I spoke to a builder who wanted to leave town. She needed two units of lumber and two units of scrap delivered to Steel Point. After that, the lighthouse keeper told me about a nearby shipwreck. By the time I reached it, dusk had almost fully settled in, but I located one of the collector’s requested items: a key.

I considered continuing on in search of the source of the red light, but the fog was already thickening and visibility was poor. I knew I would struggle to navigate safely. Instead, I turned back toward Greater Marrow and docked for the night. Blackstone Isle was within reach, but I saw no reason to risk myself for a man I had only just met.

Continue the Journey

Previous Entry:
Black Tides – Log 1

Black Tides Survival Diary:

View the full Black Tides series

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1

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 18: Clearing the Battlefield and Finding the Missing Course

Super Mario 64 Randomizer – Log 18: Clearing the Battlefield and Finding the Missing Course

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

Video: Finishing Bob-Omb Battlefield with the 100-coin and red coin stars before discovering Tiny-Huge Island hidden in an unexpected place (no commentary)

One Last Trip to the Battlefield

Much like with Shifting Sand Land before it, the time had come to finish up Bob-Omb Battlefield. I didn’t go in with any particular plan other than knowing there were three stars left to collect here. My thinking was simple enough: whichever of the two main stars I managed to grab first would decide what the next objective would be.

During the process I finally discovered where the Bob-Omb who opens the cannons had been hiding. After all that searching in the previous visit, I now had access to the cannons in the level. A little late perhaps, but still useful to have available.

Flying Through the Battlefield

I decided to aim for the fifth star first. In a normal run this is the one where you fly through the rings of coins, but here the areas were scattered around the map. Fortunately they weren’t too difficult to locate. I made a brief stop on the floating island to collect the final ring and, while I was there, took note of where a few red coins were sitting.

My earlier instinct turned out to be correct. The Wing Cap was going to be necessary to reach them.

Collecting that star brought my total up to ninety stars, which meant I had officially reached three quarters of the total needed for the run. With that milestone in place, I headed back in to deal with the remaining stars.

Coins Before Red Coins

The next task was the red coin star, but before chasing those I decided to tackle the 100-coin star. The reason was simple: wherever the hundredth coin is collected, that’s where the star appears. I didn’t want to risk it spawning high in the air where I would be forced to grab it using the Wing Cap.

I was already planning to use the Wing Cap for the red coins anyway, but this approach meant I could control where the star appeared and keep things simple. It also gave me some extra flight practice. Between the Wing Cap switch course and another red coin stage still ahead, I figured any extra time getting used to the controls would help.

Thankfully the plan worked out cleanly. I gathered the coins I needed, secured the 100-coin star, and then collected the red coins without too much trouble. With those done, Bob-Omb Battlefield was finally complete.

Looking for What I Missed

With the battlefield cleared, the next step was to start checking areas I either hadn’t visited yet or wasn’t entirely sure I had explored properly. I knew there were two entrances upstairs that still needed investigating, but before heading there I decided to check somewhere else first.

The area where Bowser in the Dark World normally sits.

When I jumped in, the answer to the missing course mystery finally revealed itself. The stage waiting there was Tiny-Huge Island.

A Rough Welcome

My first attempt didn’t last very long. The level gave me a fairly direct welcome by ejecting me from the stage almost immediately. The second attempt went better, though, and I managed to grab one of the stars before things got out of hand.

Something else I noticed fairly quickly was that spawning into the stage isn’t consistent. Sometimes I appeared on the tiny island, other times on the huge version. My assumption is that it’s a fifty-fifty chance, although I seemed to land on the huge island more often than the small one during this session.

Mapping the Island

Progress in the level was limited this time around, but it wasn’t completely unproductive. I managed to locate where the five itty-bitty secrets are positioned and also identified the areas where the Piranha Plants can spawn. Even if I didn’t collect many stars here yet, having that information will make the next visit far more efficient.

The Goal Gets Closer

With Bob-Omb Battlefield finished and one more star collected from Tiny-Huge Island, the run now sits at ninety-three stars. Each entry brings the end goal closer, and the castle is slowly running out of places to hide the remaining ones.

Continue the Journey

← Log 17
Log 19 →

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Super Mario 64 Randomizer logs are written after each recording session. Plans rarely survive contact with the castle.

1

Submerged: A Subnautica Survival Diary – Log 11: Copper, Caves, and Structural Regret

Submerged Log 11: Copper, Caves, and Structural Regret

Platform: Steam Deck

Video: Base upgrades, lifepod dive to 250m, cave panic, and Seamoth improvements (no commentary)

I was going to chase the black box. Then I remembered the giant alien laser. Priorities shifted.

The plan had been simple: head back to the Aurora, find the black box data, and pretend I wasn’t about to get shot out of the sky by an alien cannon.

Reality check: I’m not leaving this planet anytime soon.

If I’m here for the long haul, the base needs to stop feeling like a damp hallway with ambition.

Bulkheads, Flooding, and The Game Laughing Directly at Me

I started by looking at a bulkhead, because in my head that means “less flooding” and “more responsible adult survival.”
In practice, the game basically laughed and told me to enjoy living in a fish tank.

So I pivoted to the upgrades that actually move the needle:
more power and medical supplies.

Solar Power and the Medkit Fabricator: A Short Story About Suffering

Goal one: another solar panel.
Goal two: a medkit fabricator, because I’m tired of treating “hope” as a healing item.

Then I checked what I needed and immediately had a new enemy: creepvine samples.
Not because they were hard to get.
Because I already had them.
And then I ate them.

So off I went to replace the snacks I shouldn’t have treated as snacks.

Radio Interruptions: Lifepod 4 Joins the To-Do List

Mid-upgrade, I got a distress signal from Lifepod 4, with the helpful advice to wear a radiation suit.
Which is fair.
But I’ve already handled that situation.

So Lifepod 4 gets added to the list of places I will absolutely go to…
once I’m done putting out the current fires I set myself.

Copper: The Myth, The Legend, The Personal Insult

Copper remains elusive.
I’m finding diamonds more often than copper, which feels like the planet is doing comedy at my expense.

All of this because I need copper wire for a computer chip.
Which means the moment I want to build something “basic,” the universe decides I need to earn it.

At this point I’m seriously considering a scanner room, purely so I can stop living my life like a metal detector with legs.

Medkit Fabricator Online (Finally)

Once the medkit fabricator was up and running, I moved on to a quality-of-life upgrade I should have made ages ago:
a beacon.

I named it “base”, because:

1) it is a base

2) I would like to find it again

3) I don’t need to overthink this

Valentino Goes Deep: The 250m Lifepod Run

With “base” now marked like a sensible person would do, I took Valentino for a drive to a lifepod sitting around 250m down.

Naturally: no survivors.
The ocean doesn’t do happy endings.

But I did come away with something useful: a blueprint for a Repulsion Cannon.
I still need a Modification Station before I can get too excited, but I’ll take a win when it shows up.

The Beautiful Cave That Immediately Became A Problem

Next up: a cave near another lifepod location.
The cave itself is gorgeous.
It’s also the kind of place where you realise, mid-swim, that you have no idea where the exit is.

And that’s when I moved “make a beacon” from “good idea” to “non-negotiable survival requirement.”

I eventually found my way back out, and I didn’t drown in a glowing underwater postcard, so that counts as success.

Valentino’s New Problem: He Can’t Go Anywhere Without Taking Damage

Back at base, I had a new priority: hull reinforcement for Valentino.
He couldn’t so much as breathe underwater without scraping something and taking damage.

So I did what any reasonable person would do:
I went hunting for diamonds.
For armour.
On a submarine scooter.
Completely normal.

Eventually I got lucky and upgraded Valentino with:

  • Hull Reinforcement
  • Storage Module

Now he’s tougher, roomier, and slightly less likely to come home looking like he lost a fight with a rock.

Next Time (If Copper Stops Playing Hard To Get)

  • Hit Lifepod 4 (radiation warning acknowledged, thanks)
  • Seriously consider a Scanner Room to end the copper scavenger hunt
  • Start working toward the Modification Station so that Repulsion Cannon isn’t just a tease
  • Revisit the Aurora plan… after accepting I’m probably getting shot down anyway
Continue the journey:

Log 10 | Log 11 (You are here) | Log 12

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Black Tides – A Dredge Survival Diary Log 1: Fog, Favors, and Fishing on Borrowed Time

Black Tides – Log 1: Fog, Favors, and Fishing on Borrowed Time

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Normal
Format: No Commentary

Video: Shipwreck, first days in Greater Marrow, loan boat upgrades, special orders, fog panic, and the red light sighting (no commentary)

We begin on a boat with no context and a single instruction: Angler Wanted. Before I can decide whether that was a good idea, the sea answers for me. Fog rolls in thick and immediate. Rocks appear too late. The hull gives way without ceremony. The next thing I know, I’m waking beside a lighthouse that apparently exists more for decoration than navigation.

The town is called Greater Marrow. The mayor meets me at the dock as if shipwrecked strangers are part of the morning routine. He’s calm, helpful, almost like he rehearsed it. He replaces my ruined vessel with another and suggests I fish to get my bearings. One instruction matters more than the rest: return before dark. I don’t question it. I head out, fill the hold with whatever bites, and turn back while the sky still holds light.

Back at port, the mayor informs me my original boat is beyond repair. The replacement is mine on loan. I sell my catch to the fishmonger, and part of the earnings go toward the debt. Fifty dollars. Manageable. Survival often is, at first.

The mayor hands me a research part and points me toward the shipwright. They deal in upgrades and repairs. I install an extra engine and use the research to unlock an improved outboard. Day one ends with a slightly faster boat and a slightly smaller debt.

Day two begins smoother. The new engine makes a difference immediately. I fish efficiently and find a note sealed inside a bottle. It feels deliberate. I suspect there will be more of them. I stay out later than intended. Darkness creeps in faster than expected. Behind Greater Marrow, a red pillar of light cuts into the sky. It stands there, patient. I ignore it for now.

The fishmonger has a special order: a gulf flounder and a grey eel. That means new equipment. I dent the loan again, visit the shipwright, and purchase the required rod. Preparation ends the day.

On the third morning, the lighthouse keeper questions my presence. I tell her I’m here to fish. She listens, but I don’t think she believes that’s the whole story. The mayor asks for a simple delivery to Little Marrow. It’s a short crossing. The dockworker pays me with a book on sustainable fishing. Useful. It reads itself as I travel.

I catch two stingray. They occupy more space than they’re worth, but they clear my remaining debt when sold. The mayor opens access to the dry dock, though upgrades require materials I don’t yet have. Expansion will have to wait.

I return to finish the fishmonger’s order. Arrow squid and black grouper follow. The squid shift locations as if aware they’re being hunted, or perhaps the fog distorts more than visibility. Panic rises when I linger in it too long. I learn quickly that staying out after dark carries consequences that aren’t always visible.

The eel is delivered. Another special order replaces it. Then another. This time: crabs. I’m handed a crab pot and instructed to wait. Patience becomes part of the trade.

Before ending the third day, I strengthen the boat further. A more powerful light. An upgraded engine. Small advantages against a coastline that doesn’t feel entirely natural.

Three days in, the debt is cleared. The boat is faster. The sea is watchful. And the red light remains.

Continue the Journey

Next Entry:
Black Tides – Log 2

Black Tides Survival Diary:

View the full Black Tides series

Dredge Survival Hub:

Visit the Dredge Survival Hub

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