Super Mario 128 is a ROM hack created by RJWaters2, and released in 2008. It is one of the oldest SM64 ROM hacks which uses modified levels from the original game, and was highly known for its extreme puzzle-platforming difficulty level.
The gameplay is as similar as Super Mario 64, but has heavily altered levels since skill and precision are required due to its difficulty. As such, this hack was not designed to be completed without savestates in mind, but was presented to be one of the major pivots of the Kaizo genre (although Kaizo Mario 64, which was released the following year, started the trend).
Unfortunately, Super Mario 128 was discontinued and ended up permanently as a 16-Star demo upon its release date. However, behind-the-scenes levels were also modified and can be completed with thorough experience, increasing the final star count to 52.
It was later dethroned by Kaizo Mario 64 maintaining the legacy of it being the hardest vanilla hack, thus expanding the genre of its era before the custom levels were developed.
Plot[]
Princess Peach has been captured by Bowser, again. And Mario (or, Mister Mario) is on a mission to rescue her with the help of the Lakitu Bros., a rogue associate who recruited him to issue all objectives as they attempt to regain the castle.
Courses[]
Note that the course names and acts are highlighted in bold, as they are what the creator has intended them to be from the demo version. Names in italics are part of the behind-the-scenes cut version.
Each course plays a mission-specific star in turn and cannot be completed out of order (similar to the mission acts in Super Mario Galaxy). Events and objects will change depending of any star chosen in the selection screen.
| Name | Stars | Requirement | Acts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chomp Monster Mesa | 7 | 1 Star | Death to the King, Baby / The Coward Koopa in the Cage / Catching Clouds in the Sky / Chomping the 8 Red Coins / The 5 Secret Centers / Hidden Star of the Mesa | Located in the former Cool, Cool Mountain painting room. Entering this course require collecting the Castle Grounds's red coin Star. |
| Whomp's Obelisks | 2 Stars | King of the Castle / Topping Towers / Dizzy Mister Daredevil / Whomping 8 Red Coins / Pole Performance / Hidden Star of the Obelisks | Located in the former Jolly Roger Bay painting room. | |
| Shivery Sandbox | 7 | 4 Stars | The Sandman's Challenge / Conquering the Sandstorm Winds / Traversing Toxicity / Deserting 8 Red Coins / Looting the Sandman / Hidden Star of the Sand | Located in the former Whomp's Fortress painting room. |
| Steep Jungle | 6 Stars | In the Treetops / The True Primate Cage Mystery / Super Mystery Slope / Junglin' 8 Red Coins / Shredding the Jungle / Hidden Star of the Jungle | Located in the former Bob-omb Battlefield painting room. | |
| Igloo Tomb | 7 | 8 Stars | N/A | This course is accessible via the former Snowman's Land painting room and is currently unmodified in the demo version. |
| High-Tide Town | 2 | 20 Stars | Both courses are unfinished and have random object leftovers spread around the areas. | |
| Bubble Beach | 4 | Moat Pillar | ||
| Hell | N/A | N/A | N/A | This course is accessible via inflicting self-damage in the castle basement. However, Mario will immediately be kicked out of the level for being out of bounds. |
| The Game Engine | This course is inaccessible and currently unmodified in the demo version. | |||
| Gaping Grotto | N/A | N/A | N/A | As currently unmodified in the demo version, these courses are partly accessible around 50-60 Stars. |
| Manifest Mansion | ||||
| Blitzing Bluffs | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Immense Intestines | ||||
| Size-Shift Sanctuary | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| The Dark Side of the Rainbow |
Secret Courses[]
| Name | Stars | Requirement | Acts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowser in the Shadows | 1 | 9 Stars | Shadow Salary | This course marks the end of the demo. Reaching the key fight against Bowser requires unlocking the Gravity Cap. |
| Gravity Cap in the Sky | 2 | 10 Stars | Gravity Switch! / Gravity Gold | |
| Mirror Cap in the Walls | Man in the Mirror / Ghostly Gold | This course is located in the mirror room (as per Mario spawns in the reflection side of the room). | ||
| Chuckya's Breeding Slope | 3 | Key 1 | Chuckya's Time Trial / A Shell of a Problem / Outwardly Hidden | This course is located in one of the upstairs' chute on the left side. |
| Mine of the Golden Cap | 50 Stars | Heart of Gold / Dig for the Gold / Red Golden Currency | This course is located in the former Hazy Maze Cave portal room. | |
| Bowser in the Lava Basin | 1 | 60 Stars | Extreme Heat | This course is the most hardest secret course of the hack. |
| The Heaven of Hell | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Sleeping with the Fishes | ||||
| Bowser in the Void |
Music[]
| Used in | Track |
|---|---|
| Neo Castle Grounds Bowser in the Shadows Bowser in the Lava Basin |
Super Mario 64 - Bowser's Road |
| Chomp Monster Mesa Whomp's Obelisks |
Super Mario 64 - Main Theme |
| Shivery Sandbox | Super Mario 64 - Lethal Lava Land |
| Steep Jungle | Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll |
| Igloo Tomb | Super Mario 64 - Snow Mountain |
| High-Tide Town Bubble Beach |
Super Mario 64 - Dire, Dire Docks |
| Gravity Cap in the Sky Mirror Cap in the Walls Chuckya's Breeding Slope |
Super Mario 64 - Slider |
| Mine of the Golden Cap | Super Mario 64 - Ultimate Koopa Clear |
Trivia[]
- Specific missions can be skipped out of order and stars are completed as unintended, as showcased in a 10 Star speedrun performed by LinCrash. Video can be found here.
- Doors marked with a skull are found in the entirety of the castle area. Taking any of these doors will send Mario out of bounds (as an arbitrary kaizo trap form) or other times, permanently crash the game.
- The Luigi's Mansion 64 hacks are mildly inspired by Super Mario 128, that a fewer ideas and areas such as Flowerside Patch, were based off of its slide mission. The creator, RJWaters2, was also credited in the ending cutscene.
Gallery[]
