Tag: Steam Deck Gaming

Super Mario 74: A Survivor’s Journey Log 9 – Ice-Crystal Tower

Super Mario 74 – Log 9: Ice-Crystal Tower

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Original Edition
Rules: No savestates (except between entries)
Format: No Commentary

Video: Ice-Crystal Tower exploration, King Whomp rematch, red coins, and Wing Cap climbs (no commentary)

With Stalagmite Cave done, I stayed in the same room and moved into the next course: Ice-Crystal Tower. Every time I enter, there’s a Goomba waiting to start something. I’ve made a point of ignoring it unless it becomes a problem. So far, that’s worked well enough.

The first task was a rematch with King Whomp. I spent enough time practicing the route up to him that it’s become familiar, even if I wouldn’t trust myself to do it without thinking. The fight itself is different this time. Smaller platform, less room to recover, and if you fall, you’re climbing all the way back up to try again. There is a metal box that can help, but positioning matters more here than anything else.

I’ve seen the trick where you phase through him with a ground pound, but I’ve never managed to make it work consistently, so I stuck with what I know. Wait for him to turn away from the box, move in, ground pound, and reset. It’s slower, but it works. Three clean hits later, the fight was done and the star was mine.

Waters of Pain was next, a section I’d already passed through on the way up. The ice behaves more like lava here, which changes how you approach everything. The star itself sits in a box above a small platform, just out of reach unless you commit to the jumps properly. I didn’t quite get it right, clipped the ice, and ended up bouncing onto the platform anyway. Not clean, but effective enough.

Almost the Top lives up to its name. The climb back up is familiar by this point, but the risk doesn’t really go away. One mistake and you’re either back on the snow or falling out of the level entirely. The Spindrifts are the main problem here, each one placed just well enough to knock you off if you’re not careful. This time they stayed out of the way, and the star was taken without issue.

The red coins came next. Some of the jumps here felt worse than the earlier climb, mainly because there’s less room to recover if anything goes wrong. I started the 100-coin collection at the same time, but it became clear fairly quickly that I wasn’t going to reach the total on that pass. Rather than force it, I settled for the red coin star and moved on, knowing I’d come back to the full collection properly.

How High Can You Get? turned into the real 100-coin attempt. The plan was simple enough — climb as high as possible, then use the Wing Cap to cover the remaining platforms. In practice, it didn’t go cleanly. Two separate mistakes, both costing time and momentum, both forcing me to adjust mid-run. Eventually everything lined up, and I was able to collect the remaining coins before reaching the top. Not perfect, but enough to secure the star.

The final star, Very Well Hidden Star, needed the Wing Cap again. The name isn’t exaggerating. The star sits below the starting platform, easy to miss even if you know it’s there. My first attempt went straight past it, which wasn’t surprising given the angle. The second attempt was better. Adjusted the approach, lined it up properly, and this time the landing worked.

With that, Ice-Crystal Tower was done. Another course cleared, and one less area left hanging over the run.

Continue the Journey

Previous Entry:
Super Mario 74 – Log 8

Next Entry:
Super Mario 74 – Log 10 (coming soon)

Super Mario 74 Hub:

Super Mario 74 – A Survivor’s Journey

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Super Mario Galaxy 63 Entry 4 – The Gravity Scramble

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


Super Mario Galaxy 63 Hub

— All entries in this run.


Super Mario ROM Hacks Archive

— All Mario ROM hack content.


Dolphin Setup Guide

— How this run is even possible.


Entry 5 → Coming Soon

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Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Entry 3: A Birthday Problem

Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Entry 3: A Birthday Problem

One hit resets everything. Sometimes the problem isn’t surviving. It’s working out what to do.

Sweet Treat Galaxy

With both stars from Galactic Garden Galaxy done, there’s only one option left: move on.

The next stop is Sweet Treat Galaxy, starting with a star called Happy Birthday… Mario?

I doubt it would change if I switched to Luigi, but it goes on the list of things to check. Same with whether Starship Mario changes as well.

Getting There

The objective isn’t immediately clear. It shows a cake with lit candles, but no sign of the star itself.

So for now, it’s a case of getting there and seeing what happens.

The early section is straightforward enough. Ice enemies return, and they’re already starting to feel like a recurring problem in this galaxy.

Then the platforms start getting cut apart by moving saws.

That slows things down a bit.

Between that and the ice enemies, it’s not difficult, but it’s enough to keep me paying attention.

Another wall jump section follows, and as expected, things get a little more awkward near the top. Nothing major, just enough to remind me not to rush it.

From there, it’s onto a launch star and finally onto the cake itself.

Figuring It Out

The cake introduces more ice enemies, along with ice bats.

I figure out quickly that star bits deal with the ice enemies completely, and at least stun the bats. Not perfect, but good enough.

The path forward involves jumping between cakes, dealing with a few Mecha Koopas along the way. They don’t cause too many problems. A quick ground pound deals with them before they become one.

Then come rotating platforms and beams that need to be timed properly. The Comet Medal is here as well, which means doing a full loop on one platform while avoiding the beams before jumping across to the next one.

From there, another launch star sends me to what looks like the final cake.

No star.

The Clue

This is where it finally clicks.

The name of the star isn’t just a name.

Happy Birthday.

What do people do on their birthday?

Blow out candles.

I try star bits first. Nothing happens.

Then I try spinning.

The first candle goes out, and I hear a chime.

That’s the answer.

Once all the candles are out, the star appears.

Problem solved.

The Run

This is how it actually went.

Star Three

I collect the star and unlock a new path on the galaxy selection screen.

There’s still another star left in this galaxy, which works out well.

This one already feels different.

Normally, I’d run through something like this without thinking too much about it. With Daredevil Edition, every small decision feels like it matters more than it should.

Three stars in, and it’s already starting to show.

Missed Something

I realised after finishing the star that I missed the stamp.

It was there, I just forgot about it while focusing on the star.

So I went back in and didn’t miss it this time.

Continue the Journey

← Entry 2: Silver Stars Under Pressure


Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Archive

— All attempts in this challenge.


Super Mario ROM Hacks Archive

— All Mario ROM hack content.


Dolphin Setup Guide

— How this is even running on Steam Deck.


Entry 4 →

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Super Mario 74: A Survivor’s Journey Log 8 – Stalagmite Cave

Super Mario 74 – Log 8: Stalagmite Cave

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Original Edition
Rules: No savestates (except between entries)
Format: No Commentary

Video: Stalagmite Cave exploration, descent route, red coins, obstacle courses, and Cap-Combination attempts (no commentary)

With Dice-Fortress finally behind me, the obvious next step would have been to head back to the Tower of the East and continue there. The problem is that the next course in that area needs the Vanish Cap, and I’d rather avoid unnecessary backtracking if I can help it. So instead, I stayed where I was, unlocked another star door, and made use of what was already available. Inside was the pink Bob-Omb, who opened a cannon I’ll be coming back to later, but for now there were two courses to choose from. The first of those was Stalagmite Cave.

The first star, Downwards, doesn’t leave much room for interpretation. A sign at the top makes two things clear before you even start: once you go down, there’s no going back, and there are no coins waiting at the bottom. With that in mind, I took the drop. The plan was to land cleanly in the water. The reality was the same as it had been during practice — not quite. Close enough to recover, though, and once I was in the water the star was straightforward to collect.

Sweating Tunnel came next, and getting there meant heading back up through the level. Wall kicks, careful movement, and just enough awareness to avoid losing progress to something minor. The bat up there isn’t dangerous, but it’s the kind of thing that can break your rhythm at the worst possible moment. I passed the Thwomps and the Chuckya platforms on the way, both of which I knew I’d be dealing with later, and kept moving toward the lava path. A series of descending platforms over lava isn’t the place to hesitate, so I stuck with long jumps and kept the momentum going. It worked this time, though I know from practice that it doesn’t always.

The red coins and 100-coin star followed, and this part of the course felt more controlled. There’s space to move, room to plan, and not much pressure unless you create it yourself. I made a point of leaving the final coins close to where the red coin star would appear, just to avoid any unnecessary movement at the end. It paid off. No mistakes, no wasted time, just two more stars added cleanly.

Hot Obstacle Course was next, though the name doesn’t quite match what it asks of you. This is where the Thwomps come into play properly. Three of them, spaced just far enough apart to force you to commit to each jump. It’s more about timing than anything else. Get that right, and the star is waiting at the end.

Chuckya’s Challenge lived up to its name a bit more. Platform to platform, each one guarded, each one needing just enough precision to avoid being grabbed and thrown back. I decided to push back a little on one of them, which didn’t go to plan the first time, but the second attempt was cleaner. A few long jumps later, and that was another star secured.

That left the reason I came here in the first place: Cap-Combination. This one needs both the Metal Cap and the Wing Cap active at the same time, which meant heading back down the slide and setting things up properly. I grabbed the Metal Cap first, then the Wing Cap, partly out of habit and partly because I trust the Wing Cap timer slightly more, even if I don’t know exactly how much difference it makes.

From there, it was a matter of flying over to the underwater switch, activating it, and dealing with the timed path that follows. It’s longer than it looks, and the slope works against you just enough to make every second count. Walking is possible, but I found jumping kept the pace up better. Even then, it took a few attempts to get everything lined up properly. Timing, positioning, momentum — all of it had to come together. Eventually it did, and once it did, the rest of the path felt manageable.

One final flight to the star, and Cap-Combination was done.

There’s still another course in this area to deal with, but that can wait for the next entry. For now, Stalagmite Cave is cleared, and more importantly, one of the more awkward stars in this section is out of the way.

Continue the Journey

Previous Entry:
Super Mario 74 – Log 7

Next Entry:
Super Mario 74 – Log 9

Super Mario 74 Hub:

Super Mario 74 – A Survivor’s Journey

1

Super Mario Galaxy 63 – Entry 3: Into the Pyramid

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


Super Mario Galaxy 63 Hub

— All entries in this run.


Super Mario ROM Hacks Archive

— All Mario ROM hack content.


Dolphin Setup Guide

— How this run is even possible.


Entry 4 →

1

Super Mario 74: A Survivor’s Journey Log 7 – Reaching the Top

Super Mario 74 – Log 7: Reaching the Top

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Original Edition
Rules: No savestates (except between entries)
Format: No Commentary

Video: Tower climb, Lava-Switch of Eruption stars, wing cap flights, and Dice-Fortress completion (no commentary)

Options were starting to narrow. I still needed to unlock the remaining caps, and the next one was waiting at the very top of the tower in this area. Getting there was the problem. The only way up was a chain of triple jumps, one after another, and missing even one meant dropping all the way back to the start. It took more attempts than I care to count before I was confident enough to even start recording, so when it finally came together in one clean run, it felt earned.

At the top sat the pipe leading to Lava-Switch of Eruption, the Wing Cap switch course for this area. First priority was the switch itself. I’d rather have the cap unlocked before worrying about anything else, so I went straight for it. With that done, there were still three stars left in the course, and the first attempt didn’t go well enough to keep. A quick reset and a change of approach made more sense.

I went for the red coins next. They’re spread across towers and platforms, and in theory it’s straightforward, just a matter of planning the route. In practice, I managed to ignore my own plan and leave the highest coin until last. The course forces you to use the cannons to reach everything, and timing matters more than it first appears. On the first proper attempt, the Wing Cap ran out just as I was closing in on the final coin. Close enough to see it, not close enough to reach it.

The second attempt went better. I got the last coin, the star appeared, and then the same thing almost happened again. The Wing Cap ran out just as I was going for the star itself. This time though, I was low enough that the fall didn’t matter. No panic, no recovery needed, just a clean landing and the star collected.

Under the Tower was next, and this was the one that caused problems earlier. This time it didn’t. One clean attempt and it was done, which made a nice change. The Tallest Tower followed, and although I’d already been there, the star itself wasn’t where you’d expect it. You can go for it with the Wing Cap, but dropping down to it felt more reliable, so that’s what I stuck with.

With the Wing Cap course cleared, it was time to go back to Dice-Fortress and finish what I’d left behind. The Observation Tower was first. At the top, along with the star box, was a sign pointing out what I already suspected. To reach the platforms ahead, I’d need to start my flight from the highest point in the map. Which naturally leads into the final star: Secrets in the Sky.

Finding that highest point wasn’t as straightforward as I remembered. The video makes that fairly obvious. I ended up going in the wrong direction more than once, even managing to grab the Observation Tower star again by mistake. At one point I even tried to kill Mario just to reset my position, and somehow failed at that as well. Not exactly the cleanest part of the run.

Once I finally found the right spot, the plan was simple. Launch from the highest point, hold the jump button to glide, and keep as much height as possible on the way over. Simple on paper, less so in execution. It took several attempts before the flight lined up properly, but eventually everything clicked, the box was broken, and the final star was free.

One more flight to reach it, repeating the same route, and this time it worked without issue. With that, Dice-Fortress was complete.

That brings the total to forty stars. Still a long way to go, but progress is steady. One hundred and eleven left.

Continue the Journey

Previous Entry:
Super Mario 74 – Log 6

Next Entry:
Super Mario 74 – Log 8 (coming soon)

Super Mario 74 Hub:

Super Mario 74 – A Survivor’s Journey

1

Super Mario Galaxy 63 – Entry 2: Bob-Omb Battlefield Galaxy Complete

Super Mario Galaxy 63 – Entry 2: Bob-Omb Battlefield Complete

Entry 1 got things started. Entry 2 is where things start to take shape, whether I’m ready for it or not.

Watch the Run

Back to the Battlefield

There were still three shine sprites and five star coins left in Bob-Omb Battlefield Galaxy, so it was time to go back in and actually finish the job.

First up was Silver Stars on the Island.

Getting there meant taking a different route. Instead of heading left like before, I went right and picked up the cloud power-up, the first time using it in this run. Three clouds per pickup, which is enough as long as you don’t waste them.

On the way, I climbed a tree and worked through a few cloud jumps to grab another coin, bringing the total up to four. Halfway there, which felt like progress at least.

Once on the island, it’s a straightforward job. Five silver stars, spread around the area. I left the one at the top of the tree until last, mainly because that’s where the shine appears.

No real surprises here. Just a case of getting it done properly this time.

Secret of the Battlefield

Next was Secret of the Battlefield.

The entrance is blocked by bars, so the only way in is to use a Bob-Omb. Nothing complicated there.

The secret area felt familiar in a different way. It reminded me of those moments in Super Mario Sunshine where FLUDD gets taken away and you’re left to deal with the basics again.

The spin is still available, which helps, but it mostly comes down to getting the platforming right.

There are two more star coins here. One is a simple backflip. The other needs three backflips onto rotating blocks. It sounds worse than it is once you get the timing down.

A bit of platforming later, and the shine is mine.

Run, Yoshi, Run

The final shine for this galaxy: Run, Yoshi, Run!

Before getting to Yoshi, there’s a Hungry Luma asking for 100 coins. Once that’s sorted, Yoshi finally shows up.

This turned into a good test for my control setup, especially where I’ve put the Wii Remote “B” button. Using the hot chillies to get Yoshi moving gave me a few chances to get used to it properly.

I picked up the final two coins along the way, bringing the total to eight.

The final section didn’t go quite as planned.

I had one attempt where everything went perfectly. No deaths, clean movement, straight through to the end. Then, just before grabbing the shine, I hit the wrong button and loaded a save state.

All of that progress, gone instantly.

That one was entirely on me.

At least it confirmed the button works.

The next attempt wasn’t as clean. A couple of deaths to the purple goo, which is instant if you touch it, but progress was saved so it wasn’t a complete reset.

This time, I actually got the shine without undoing it myself.

Galaxy Complete

With that, Bob-Omb Battlefield Galaxy is done.

Finishing it has opened up more areas in the castle. I’m not entirely sure where I’m heading next, but this first galaxy has done what it needed to do.

It’s tested the controls, introduced how this hack works, and made it clear that even familiar levels aren’t going to stay that way for long.

So far, this feels like a solid starting point.

Continue the Journey

← Entry 1: Run Begins


Super Mario Galaxy 63 Hub

— All entries in this run.


Super Mario ROM Hacks Archive

— All Mario ROM hack content.


Dolphin Setup Guide

— How this run is even possible.


Entry 3 →

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.

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Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Entry 1: One Hit Is All It Takes

Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Entry 1: One Hit Is All It Takes

One hit resets everything. No checkpoints. No second chances.

Back to Neo Mario Galaxy

Ever since I managed to get Super Mario Galaxy ROM hacks running on my Steam Deck, I kept thinking back to Neo Mario Galaxy. It was the first one I tested as a proof of concept.

This time, I wanted to try something different: Daredevil Edition.

At the start, you’re given the choice between Mario or Luigi, along with the option to enable Daredevil Mode. Once it’s on, that’s it. There’s no turning it off later.

I accepted it.

What Daredevil Edition Changes

Daredevil Edition effectively puts every star under Daredevil Comet rules.

One hit, and the star resets. No checkpoints. No recovery.

Every section has to be done cleanly from start to finish. Mistakes don’t slow you down, they send you straight back to the beginning.

No safety net.

First Attempt

The first star takes place in Galactic Garden Galaxy, with the goal of defeating Dino Piranha.

It didn’t take long for the first attempt to go wrong.

I needed to grab a flower and float across to another platform. Simple enough in theory.

In practice, I misjudged the distance and walked straight off the edge.

Didn’t even get hit.

Just fell.

Second Attempt

The second attempt went better.

I made the jump properly this time and reached the next platform without too much trouble. From there, it was on to collecting five launch star bits spread across three giant apples.

There are enemies on each of them, which doesn’t help. After failing once already, the idea of going all the way back again was sitting in the back of my mind the whole time.

Once the launch star was active, the next section introduced a giant Piranha Plant. Not difficult, but enough to keep things tense.

Behind it was a Comet Medal, along with a brief moment as Rainbow Mario. For once, there was no risk. Just a short break from worrying about getting hit.

That didn’t last long.

Successful Attempt

This is the run where it actually goes right.

Dino Piranha, No Mistakes Allowed

Then it was time to face Dino Piranha.

This is probably the first time in a long while I’ve actually had to think about this fight. Under normal conditions, it’s straightforward. With one-hit rules, it feels very different.

I don’t think I’ve ever done a full no-hit run in any game before, so this was new territory.

Thankfully, it went cleanly.

Dino Piranha went down, and the first star of the run was secured.

First Impressions

The hack only has 42 stars in total, but it’s already clear this isn’t going to be straightforward.

Even simple sections feel different when there’s no room for mistakes.

One star down. Plenty left to go.

Continue the Journey


Neo Mario Galaxy – Daredevil Edition Archive

— All attempts in this challenge.


Super Mario ROM Hacks Archive

— All Mario ROM hack content.


Dolphin Setup Guide

— How this is even running on Steam Deck.


Entry 2 →

1

Super Mario 74: A Survivor’s Journey Log 6 – System of a Town

Super Mario 74 – Log 6: System of a Town

Platform: Steam Deck
Mode: Original Edition
Rules: No savestates (except between entries)
Format: No Commentary

Video: Tower of the East exploration, System of a Town stars, rooftop routes, sewer navigation, and red coin collection (no commentary)

With the other star door still out of reach, there wasn’t much reason to stay where I was. The next step was to move into the next hub area, the Tower of the East. There are multiple courses here, along with a few other stars scattered around, but I had already decided where I was going first. System of a Town felt like the right place to start.

The first star, Rooftop Climbing, suggests taking the obvious route. Climb the buildings, follow the path, work your way up. That is the intended approach, but not necessarily the one I went with. There is another way to get there, and I ended up taking that instead. The star itself sits inside the building that also has another star resting on its roof, something I kept in mind for later.

From there, I moved into the sewer system. This is one of those stars that is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Once you drop into the water, there’s a path off to the left that doesn’t stand out at first glance. Follow that, and you’re into a series of jumps that range from straightforward to just awkward enough to slow you down. Nothing too difficult, but enough to keep you from rushing through it.

The Secondary House Entrance turned out to be much simpler than I expected. The name gives it away if you think about it for a moment. Find the house with the chimney, drop in, and the star is waiting. No tricks, no pressure, just a quick entry and a clean star.

Find The Secret Room was less straightforward. I already knew where the star was from earlier practice, but getting there was another matter. Two platforms, slightly different heights, and a triple jump that needs to be just right to reach the house. While I was practicing, the Chuckya on the second platform made sure I didn’t get it right the first time, or the second. This time it stayed out of the way, though it still took a couple of attempts to get the jump lined up properly. Once inside, a ground pound revealed the room, and the star followed.

The red coin star was next, along with the 100-coin star alongside it. This one was more about movement than difficulty. Working through the course, checking corners, moving between rooftops and streets, making sure nothing was missed. As expected, the red coin star itself sends you back to the start once it’s done, which at this point is more routine than surprise.

That left the star I had noticed right at the beginning, sitting on top of the building. The Mansion’s Secret Star. This was where all the wall jumping came back into play. Climbing up wasn’t difficult at first, but near the top I nearly lost it. A slight mistake, a bit of panic, and for a moment it looked like I was going to drop back down and start again. Instead, a quick recovery with a jump kick chain got me back into position, and the star was secured.

With that, System of a Town was complete. One course cleared cleanly, and a good amount of progress made in this new area. I’m still not quite at the point where I can open the next star door, but I’m close. More importantly, I know the remaining caps are in this area, which means more options will open up soon enough.

Continue the Journey

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