games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 



After seeing world "negative 1" in Super Mario Bros. some years ago, I wondered how much more Miyamoto and the gang have tucked away in the Super Mario Bros. titles that we'll never see. Even though it has been almost 18 years since the NES game was originally released, it seems that something new has popped up.

I can't be sure of its validity (I didn't make the video), but I came across this video of a hidden goal in world 4-5 of Super Mario Bros. 3. It seems that a correctly timed hop into a Tanooki Suit propels the player into the wall, ala "negative 1" from SMB1. Mario simply travels through the wall to a normal SMB 3 goal. There's no looping water world here, though.

Why is this here? What purpouse does it serve? Did you know about this? Is Miyamoto-san laughing at us right now?


Continue: More retro stories





prev next

41 comments | showing # 1 to 41

CaffeinePowered's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:07
CaffeinePowered
Hmm, thats really odd, maybe it just popped him out at the normal goal, nothing else seemed to have happened. Could be just pure coincidence
moot button's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:08
moot button
my world has officially been flip-turned upside down
DR Mexico's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:08
DR Mexico
I want to believe
Vegas's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:09
Vegas
But caffeine the colors were inverted, it's different I swears.
Brilliam's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:24
Brilliam
maybe a tester found a bug that stuck him in that wall forever or crashed the game, so instead of fixing it, someone put a way to not crash the game there (that being an endpoint)?
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:24
Phoenix Gamma
I need to play the level again, but my theory is that you're supposed to proceed normally, then pop out of that pipe, then reach the goal. What actually happens is that secret pipe would take you to a room on the same "room" if you will, as the exit, but they were separated by a wall, so you'd never know that they were right next to one another. Then, using the glitch, the player slid through the wall and came out near that tube, which is where they should have come out.

Thus, there's only ONE exit, but with an alternative path that was never meant to be there.
glenno's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:31
glenno
How the hell can something like this not be found for 18 years???
Totally agreed with Phoenix's explanation.
timmet's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:40
timmet
It's just a glitch. The developer used the same room for 2 purposes as to save memory probably. Instead of defining a certain tileset twice they just did it once.
Brandon Undead's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:40
Brandon Undead
Yeah, seems like a mapping glitch to me. Look up some Link to the Past glitches to see stuff like this happening all the time.
Andrex's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:42
Andrex
I was gonna point it out but phoenix is right... the hidden block area and goal was stuck together in the same background
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:48
MrSadistic
It's an alternate universe!!!
Husky Hog's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 12:52
Husky Hog
You'd think they would have revealed all eggs already, I bet it's just a glitch
Klytus's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 13:00
Klytus
WOW! a glitch in a 18 yr old game. Thats just sooooo fascinating
vp360's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 13:37
vp360
woot!
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 13:49
Cheeburga
Nice find.
Huangism's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 14:07
Huangism
it's a hidden secret that no one found until now!
twentythoughts's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 14:11
twentythoughts
Much like the secret Houlihan room in Zelda 3, I think this is basically a way to prevent crashes. If they're clever, they've programmed that thing there in whenever the player travels beyond the "border" of the level.

Or maybe that happened to a tester, and they decided that they might as well put a goal there.
SWE3tMadness's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 14:24
SWE3tMadness
Buh?

Well, I have no experience with game codes, so I'll just accept whatever you guys say. It's still kind of cool this hasn't been documented until now.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 14:52
Dexter345
It would be amazing if it actually opened up a new pathway, but since it doesn't, I'm with the rest of the crowd, it's just a glitch. But yet, still cool that it hasn't been found until now.
Quisling's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 14:56
Quisling
Many eons ago, a games were created.

Now, experience that games glitches for the first time, as only you can save the world.

Congradurations. A winner is you.
Clockwork's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 15:42
Clockwork
Eh. Not much to see, cool find after all these years though.
ruiner9's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 16:17
ruiner9
I remember a million years ago, playing SMB3 with Game Genie codes and modifying them so as to glitch the game out. This isn't the only room that's like that in the game... most pipe rooms border something else. Not a secret.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 16:18
king3vbo
Its a sweet little bug
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 16:35
TheBrain
Maybe they meant to put in an alternative goal and did, but then changed their minds and never made a path to it?
DJTyrant's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 16:40
DJTyrant
I don't know if I have the patience to try that.
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 16:48
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask
I love seeing new things uncovered in old games. Makes you wonder about how many secrets are hidden away in your game library.
DryvBy's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 16:55
DryvBy
The music alone kept me watching.
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 17:10
NihonTiger90
I have to give this a shot. I love Super Mario Bros. 3, and hidden things intrigue me.
Rider Chop's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 17:27
Rider Chop
pirate ghost mario?!

pause it.
pirate ghost mario
moominsean's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 17:31
moominsean
the blue pill or the red pill?
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 18:35
Fading Star
Show me your secrets, Super Mario Bros. 3!
Gyrael's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 20:03
Gyrael
Glitch.
Gamechamp's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 21:49
Gamechamp
... what the crap was that statue?
NsOmNiA91130's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 22:34
NsOmNiA91130
I believe that was the original Japanese ending or something like that, but it was glitchy and got dropped. Unless, of course, I'm thinking of a different level.

Also, Gamechamp, you can turn into that statue when you're wearing a Tanooki suit by pressing B+Down.
AirborneToxicEvent's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 22:40
AirborneToxicEvent
That's not new.
LarkOhiya's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/15/2008 23:52
LarkOhiya
Gamechamp is a champ of games.
Roryzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2008 01:03
Roryzilla
ppfpffbbbtt.

hacks.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2008 10:56
Necros
My question is, if this is real, why did it take so long to find it? I'm sure people have been trying to break this game since it came out to find stuff like this.
Sonicandtails's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2008 19:40
Sonicandtails
Actually, to save space they put exits and small rooms in the same map in SMB3 (Can be found by loading up in a level editor). Jumping through walls is old for SMB3 though, and this guy just showed it used in a room where the exit to the level was on the other side of that room.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/16/2008 20:40
Wedge
I used to screw around with random game genie codes on SMB3. I actually made my OWN minus world doing that ;O.
catsithx's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/17/2008 03:24
catsithx
There is a glitch in the mushroom kingdom
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos

    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Echoes review
    Assassin's Creed 2 review
    Crossfire Remote Pistol review
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    more reviews
    Driver
    Avatar
    GT Racing Motor Academy
    Bad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 51183 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Joseph Leray: Revisited: Gears of War 2, Pinocchio, and masculinity





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more
    Assassins CreedReview: Assassin's Creed 2
    591 comments + 41542 views
    Destructoid OriginalWhy No More Heroes HD could mean a Wii total victory
    152 comments + 30508 views
    FAILGirl smashes boyfriend's Xbox 360, films it
    160 comments + 16924 views
    BattlefieldBad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    43 comments + 16114 views
    Black FridayBlack Friday: Walmart going nuts with game sales
    31 comments + 16048 views
    Amazon.comBlack Friday: Amazon dropping deals all week long
    16 comments + 15004 views
    Amazon.comAmazon teases its Black Friday sales line-up
    18 comments + 14836 views
    Destructoid OriginalThe tragic history of the videogame turkey
    51 comments + 13276 views
    CapcomHot new SSFIV trailer shows Guy, Cody and Adon in action
    54 comments + 13222 views
    Call of DutyModern Warfare 2 DLC still planned for spring 2010
    27 comments + 12568 views


    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman    		 Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
         		Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong
    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006