The Search For Mystery is a ROM hack created by anonymous_moose for the Mystery Hack Competition, in which it placed 1st.
Explore long-lost ruins in search of the fabled mystery within an ancient temple. The 1st place entry into Simpleflips' 11th ROM hacking competition: Mystery.
Areas[]
| Area ID | Name | Stars | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OW | Campsite | 3 | |
| C1 | Vinefilled Ruins | 3 | |
| C3 | Cloudy Peaks | 3 | The third course, and location of this hack's only red coin Star. |
| C4 | Puzzlecube Caverns | 6 | Treated as the 2nd course, despite using the C4 area ID. |
Campsite[]
This is the overworld for this hack. To get going, follow the treacherous path on the left, where the two trees have fallen. At the end of the path, longjump down to the path below on the other cliff face*, then hop over to the island nearby with the pond. Then simply platform your way up to the vault entrance.
After approaching the altar, the text boxes will begin to roll. Head back to Mario's tent (by simply jumping off the stage) and enter the tent via the new warp point that's appeared at its entrance. Once inside, stand still on the sleeping bag until Mario falls asleep.
Once he wakes up, his tent will have magically teleported to the next stage, Vinefilled Ruins, so be sure to collect the Stars first. You will also return to the campsite after completing the three levels ahead, so don't panic if you've left some Stars behind. Just be sure to grab them before activating the final cutscene, which kicks in when Mario approaches the altar again.
Star 1[]
*Keep following the path around to the left. Take care as the stone platform will collapse under Mario after only a second. Use the rope up ahead to climb up and jump onto the wooden platform, then jump up onto the lower cliff. Follow the clifftop along, and Star is dead ahead, on a narrow cliff edge.
Star 2[]
On a brick path branching out to the right of the vault.
Star 3[]
From the tent, run along the fallen tree dead ahead to the adjacent cliff; the Star is under the tree.
Vinefilled Ruins[]
Star 1[]
To the left of the structure that has Mario wallkick up between its pillars, there's a series of cubic grey stone platforms. Follow them around by jumping onto them from a nearby giant shattered pillar, and you'll find a Star tucked away at the end.
Star 2[]
Jump up the stone pillars next to Mario's tent, then use the moving platform to reach the Star on the tall pillar.
Star 3[]
This Star is inside the same area as the treasure chest. At the entrance to this area, right after wallkicking up between the columns, turn to the right and grab the Star on the raised platform.
Puzzlecube Caverns[]
First Area[]
Star 3[]
This Star is inside an alcove on the 2D mural on the far side of the course. To reach it, Mario needs to spawn the giant cube by solving the smaller puzzles, then climb the giant cube. Take care not to move the cube up flush against the wall; when it first drops, it leaves enough space between the cube and the wall for Mario to get behind, thus allowing him to kick it away from the wall. If it's kicked towards the wall, Mario will no longer be able to move the cube away from the wall. If you have already moved the cube the first step away from the wall, climb onto it, then use a triple-jump-dive to reach the alcove.
Second Area[]
The second area begins after Mario enters the 2D pipe in the mural, and reappears in another 3D area.
Star 1[]
The first Star is located near the entry point for this area, round a corner on the right.
Star 2[]
The second Star is located in the second 3D area. After jumping out of the blue warp pipe, peak around the left corner to find the narrow path leading to the Star.
Star 3[]
The third and final Star for C4 is located in the final 3D area, next to the treasure chest. It initially appears to be a part of the 2D mural, but Mario needs to exit back to the 3D world to grab it.
Cloudy Peaks[]
Star 1[]
At the dark tunnel opposite the course from Mario's starting point (very close to the previous red coin), follow the path along to the right, then jump down to the grassy platforms below. Wallkick up between the crack in the wall, then follow the path to the right. The Star is on top of a grey pillar of rock.
Star 2[]
The second Star is on a low platform sort-of-under the beginning of the green vine slide, to the left of Mario's starting point.
Star 3[]
The red coin locations are as follows:
- On the upper platform at the end of the green vine slide.
- From the end of the green vine slide, follow the platforms on the left and perform a triple-jump-dive up to the higher path. There is a red coin on the right side of the path, where it begins to dip down to the edge of the cliff.
- Following on from the last red coin, jump down to the path below, and jump over to the small platform on the left, where the red coin is.
- From the last coin, jump to the next path and follow it round; the red coin is at the end of this path.
- The next red coin is floating above the void. You can either jump for it and drop down to the void (Mario will keep his coins but be warped back to the starting point), or you can travel over to the rocky ledge behind the coin, and longjump down towards it and land on the lower path.
- From the end of the green vine slide, jump up to the rocky ledges on the right. The red coin is on a path branching off to the right.
- From the end of the green vine slide,jump down to the platform on the right; the red coin is ahead.
- From the end of the green vine slide, jump down to the platform on the right. The red coin is on the green slide ahead.
The Star will appear on the hill to the right of third red coin. It is easily missed as the two trees on either side of the Star obscure it from view.