“They didn’t seem right” or “They were magnificent”?

To obtain this quest for Varré in the first place, players must defeat one of the demigods and meet the Two Fingers at Roundtable Hold. When first meeting Varré at the start of the game, he’ll recommend that the player defeats Godrick the Grafted first, which can prove to be a quick and easy way to achieve this task.

The next time you meet Varré will be at Rose Church in Liurna of the Lakes, where he’ll ask you what you think of – as he describes – the supposed “masters of the grace”. To continue his questline, players must choose “They didn’t seem right” to gain new dialogue from Varré.

However, this choice doesn’t matter very much. Saying “They were magnificent” simply has Varré feign agreement with you, and you can speak with him again to receive the prompt a second time. Following each of Varré’s prompts will simply let you continue with his quest; there is nothing major that you’ll miss if you join his side, despite how consequential his words are made out to be.

This is a trait that, surprisingly, is shared with numerous other important NPCs. This includes Ranni the Witch and the loathsome Dung Eater. There are still certain questlines that the player can miss out on in certain contexts, but there’s no need to worry about this choice Varré gives you.

Varré’s Quest Progression and Rewards

To advance Varré’s questline, players must meet him again at Rose Church in Liurna of the Lakes. Here, Varré will ask about the Two Fingers. Regardless of the choice made, players can continue the quest by re-engaging with Varré. The quest involves invading other players’ worlds using the Festering Bloody Finger and soaking the Lord of Blood’s Favor at the Church of Inhibition.

Completing these tasks rewards players with the Pureblood Knight’s Medal, which grants access to Mohgwyn Palace. This area is significant for progression and farming valuable resources.

Who is White-Faced Varré in Elden Ring?

White-Faced Varré is a mysterious and influential NPC players encounter early in their journey. He serves as a guide, introducing the concept of the Two Fingers and the importance of defeating demigods. His questline, while initially seeming complex, provides valuable rewards and deeper lore about the game’s world.

Elden Ring is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

As a game with the simple goal of reaching the top, Only Up! provides harsh 3D platforming challenges. Those looking for a difficult journey relying solely on execution can easily find it in this title. But can such challenge-seekers find this chance on a platform of their choice, or are their options even more restrictive than it seems?

Will Players See an Only Up Port on Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch?

So far, no news of an Only Up! port has been shared, making it unclear if the game will ever make it off PCs. In fact, the game is currently not available anywhere officially, as it was removed from Steam in September 2023. Those who own the game can still install and play it on Steam, but new players will have immense difficulty doing this themselves. Only Up! is unlikely to reach the hands of console players or newcomers on PC anytime soon.

Notably, while there is an “Only Up!” on Steam with similar gameplay, this title is not the same game. Rather than a pure, punishing single-player experience, it offers online multiplayer with respawns, allowing friends to join in the journey. There are other similarly-named games, with a few even being available on consoles, but their length, physics, and difficulty are pretty much nothing like the original. Anyone curious about the game should keep this in mind before diving into these kindred titles.

Related: Fortnite Only Up Map Code: How to Play Only Up for Free in Fortnite

The original developer of Only Up! has stated a desire to work on a new project set in a completely different genre. As such, it’s unknown if this game will ever be reinstated on PC, let alone gain an official port to consoles. If you want Only Up! for yourself, your best bet is to either wait and hope it comes back someday or rely on another game altogether.

Many titles in this franchise have put heavy focus into multiplayer systems, to the point where most games are balanced around groups rather than solo hunters. Monster Hunter Rise abandons this line of balancing entirely, but it still supports the chance for four players to team up and hunt hordes of monsters together. But will they be able to do that if their friends are on separate platforms?

Does Monster Hunter Rise Support Cross-Platform Play?

Unfortunately, Monster Hunter Rise has no cross-play support. As of now, all updates — including the Sunbreak-exclusive ones — are available on all platforms. Despite this, separate platforms are unable to play together outside of cross-generation capabilities.

In other words, PS4 hunters can play with those on PS5, but they can’t reach out to Xbox, PC, or Switch players.

Capcom has clarified its awareness of cross-play being a highly requested feature. But in this statement, they also mentioned how they were “unable” to add the feature in any updates.

No previous Monster Hunter game has managed to boast cross-play before, so it might simply be a case of Rise’s internal systems not being able to support it. The best thing fans can hope for is the possibility of cross-play being featured in the next Monster Hunter game.

Related: How to Get Risen Shagaru Magala Armor in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak — Skills and Materials

Due to Monster Hunter Rise’s lack of cross-play, the platform you choose can be especially important if you want to play with other people. PC, PlayStation, and Xbox have improved graphical quality and framerates, but the Switch version’s player base had almost a year to grow beyond the Windows release.

Rise on Switch is probably your best bet if you want to play with a great variety of random players, but if you already have a group of friends ready to join the hunt, you might get more enjoyment out of the other platforms.

In a substory that basically amounts to a massive Dragon Ball reference, Kiryu is tasked with finding 7 balls throughout Sotenbori. Some of these are simple to find while others are quite well-hidden, requiring some careful searching. The rewards for finding these balls in Like a Dragon Gaiden are well worth the effort…as long as you know which rewards to pick in the first place.

Gold Ball Locations in Like a Dragon Gaiden — All 7 Locations

It’s recommended that you complete this quest later into your journey. Going as far as the finale chapter or even the Premium Adventure will grant you full access to the open world and the Castle, with no restrictions on whether you can actually access certain balls.

The first Gold Ball you’re most likely to come across is in the Akame Shop, sold for 777 Akame Points. You can get this even before the “Gotta Catch ’em Balls!” request is available, so there isn’t much of a reason to not get your hands on it as soon as you’re able to.

You can find another Gold Ball available for purchase in Sotenbori’s Ebisu Pawnshop, available for ¥77,777. It’s a bit pricey early on, but if you’re going for these balls later in your journey, the cost shouldn’t make so much of a dent in your wallet.

One more Gold Ball can be purchased from Kiss Shot Billiards & Bar, though it costs billiard points rather than money. Simply play a few rounds of billiards, with the One-Shot Challenge offering some lucrative point rewards, and it won’t be long before you have this ball in hand as well.

The other four balls are found in the open-world areas of Gaiden. In Sotenbori’s river, a boat will occasionally pass under the bridges. If you stand on the pier, you can see a buff man flexing while a spot glows on his crotch. Aim at him and you’ll be able to use your Spider gadget to grab a humorously-placed Gold Ball.

The other Gold Ball found in Sotenbori is tied to a Stroll ‘n Patrol request. Once you reach Chapter 4, search for a civilian situated by the northern part of the river. He’ll tell you of a mysterious note that directs you to four turtles. These turtles can be found on Shofukucho as decorations for a building, and the ball will be just across from them on a shop awning.

The last two balls are found in the Castle area. One is found on your left when entering the castle, in a building where a group of provocatively dressed dancers can be found. One of the dancers will have the ball placed in a humorous location similar to the one from Sotenbori’s boat. The dancer is on a conveyor belt, so wait for it to get into position before attempting to grab it.

The final ball in the Castle is in another suggestive location, being found underneath the statue by the Fighter’s Lounge. Simply look up its “clothing” and you’ll find one more Gold Ball.

After getting all Gold Balls, you’ll be presented with a choice of reward. The only one you should focus on is eternal life, which will give you 100 of a healing item that outclasses Staminans. Sexy Panties is the second-best reward, granting a golden pair of underwear that sells for 1.5 million yen. But the healing items are worth far more in the long run, even if they won’t sell for nearly as much.

Even with requests for remakes as early as the GBA era — and requests for the game-original character Geno to appear in Super Smash Brothers — this collaboration between Nintendo and Square Enix only received a substantial update in 2023. And what an update it was, because the remake of Super Mario RPG is one of the greatest remakes long-time fans could’ve hoped for.

Revitalized Role-Playing Game

In making the jump from SNES to Nintendo Switch, Super Mario RPG features updated 3D graphics and animations. Even so, it manages to retain the original’s style and characteristics in a way most modern remakes don’t. This extends not just to the chibi-like designs of Mario and his allies, but also to the unique appearances of non-playable characters. Just having a couple of different Toads with hair does quite a lot to make the Mario world seem bigger than it is.

Super Mario RPG is not a long game, especially when compared to other RPGs. The remake retains this somewhat short length, though it still has plenty of secrets to encourage replayability and in-depth exploration. As for the main story, it’s serviceable despite lacking death, being one of the first Mario games in general to feature a major villain that wasn’t just Bowser. This just makes for plenty of unique characters and designs, with all of them looking better than ever on the Switch.

Thankfully, this title hits a mostly consistent 60 FPS, and its stylized graphics make any scene a joy to look at. It’s hard to argue against it looking better than the original, even when considering little things like lighting changes and the translation of semi-2D sprites to 3D models.

Depth perception can still be a bit of a problem with the game’s isometric view, but it’s far less of one than it might’ve been before. “As you remember it” is a term that truly applies to this remake, even with some more notable differences that can completely change the experience.

New Mechanics, Old Styles

Battles are mostly the same as they were before, featuring Action Commands to give a sense of skill during each turn-based encounter. Unlike before, this game has indicators to let you know when exactly to press the button, allowing newcomers to not go the entire game without knowing if they’re performing well or not. This applies to both player moves and enemy attacks, allowing for certain late-game encounters to become particularly interesting. This is the case even with the remake’s quality-of-life changes, with some arguably making the game a cakewalk.

Perfect hits will cause AOE damage to a group of enemies and team members can be switched out mid-battle, making for an arguably easier game. While switching members does simplify certain encounters, it’s an overall positive change that makes encounters far more engaging. The other gameplay changes simply quicken random encounters, and the overall difficulty can reach its peak thanks to random Special Enemies and new post-game battles. Granted, it’s still questionable as to why the developers added an even easier mode of play, but it doesn’t prevent players from creating their own challenge by avoiding equipment or finding difficult-to-reach secrets.

Many cryptic aspects of the original title are retained in this one. Hidden minigames and secret weapons are just about as out-of-the-way as they were before, though the ones you can miss aren’t too big of a deal in the end. While some might wonder whether these aspects should have been changed, their existence allows for especially unique playthroughs of this single-player adventure. It might not be the best thing to retain in possible future Mario RPGs, but it makes the journey rewarding even outside of combat.

The most disappointing changes from the remake are, at most, not incredibly impactful. One can only wonder why Mario’s victory animation was changed, why certain attacks like the Geno Beam lost their unique sound effects, or why the original game’s card suits were removed from special moves. Despite this, the additional changes covering music, gameplay, and other visuals are worth the trade-off. But beyond comparisons to its earlier release, how well does the game hold up today?

Saviors of the Stars

Ironically, despite its status as a remake, Super Mario RPG is one of the most creative Mario games available on the Switch. While it can be easy for players to treat it like a normal RPG, avoiding most encounters and refusing top-tier equipment will certainly lead to intense encounters. Players customize the game’s difficulty just as much as they customize their equipment and inventory. This uniqueness extends to the story and characters, with many traits simply being impossible to find in more recent Mario releases.

As stated previously, the game’s unique characters add to its depth. A fan-favorite character like Geno might not get much more dialogue than what he used to have, but his presence is easily felt and remembered by anyone enjoying the game for themselves. Mario’s mannerisms in this game have him act in a completely different fashion to any title before or after it, which is a welcome change for the familiar face. And the rapid pace of the story still allows players to get attached to unique locales and enemies, showcasing what makes Mario’s jump into this genre truly special.

Super Mario RPG stands above the other Mario spinoffs on Switch thanks to these unique traits. Players can build their party however they please and dispatch foes in myriads of different ways, while one-of-a-kind characters fill the world with unmatched charm. The new music is nothing short of amazing, the difficulty is more balanced than it seems, and the fact that so much was kept from this game’s original release is almost miraculous. The Super Mario RPG remake is a relic of its time brought into the modern era — a fact that’s applied in perhaps the best way possible.

Final Thoughts

The Super Mario RPG remake is an impossible wish come true. The collaboration between Square and Nintendo reaches new heights in more ways than one while retaining what made the game special in the first place. Cases of decreased difficulty are countered with new challenges, and quality-of-life features simply give the game a modern touch of accessibility. Top that off with incredibly redone visuals and extended recomposed music, and you have quite possibly the best possible way a game could be remade.

It’s hard to say if this is a one-time endeavor or a sign of things for the future. But as the original game inspired both Paper Mario and the Mario & Luigi games, hopefully, its remake can inspire a new wave of creative titles starring the mustachioed plumber. But even without possible sequels in mind, Super Mario RPG is a worthwhile purchase for any Switch owner. Whether it’s fans of the original or first-time Mario players trying it out, this improved experience deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.

The Hidden Treasures in this game are similar to invisible blocks in Mario’s usual platforming adventures. This time around, though, players are tracked on how many blocks they find, technically requiring them to search for every one if they want to do every bit of side content possible. Finding the locations of all Hidden Treasures is a daunting task in Super Mario RPG, even with the remake’s earlier access to the Signal Ring.

How to Get All Hidden Treasures in Super Mario RPG

This task is significantly easier in the remake than it is in the original. This is thanks to very early access to the Signal Ring, an item that alerts players when they’re in a room with a Hidden Treasure.

Its original location — the top-right house in Nimbus Land — now grants access to the Echo Signal Ring, a similar item that makes beeping noises as players get closer to the chest. Equipping either item on any party member will allow it to work even if they’re inactive, so try to keep these accessories on for as long as possible!

Mushroom Kingdom Region Hidden Treasures

There are four Hidden Treasures in the Mushroom Kingdom Region.

You’ll find your first two Hidden Treasures in the basement of the Mushroom Kingdom shop. The first acts as a tutorial for this mechanic. The second can be found by letting the Toad walk to the rightmost corner of the room and jumping up from his head. Each treasure contains an instant-use Flower.

This particularly infamous treasure is found in the first room of Peach’s Castle, on top of the archway surrounding the top-right doors. You can reach this by jumping on Toad’s head as he passes through this place at the start of the game.

Later, you can find another toad standing in the corner, granting an alternative method of reaching the ledge. This treasure contains one Frog Coin.

In Bandit’s Way, a Hidden Treasure can be found in the first room with spinning flowers. Just before reaching the eastern exit, use the final flower to jump to the right, towards the purple stationary flower. If you time it right, you’ll hit the Hidden Treasure with your jump, allowing you to get a Croaka Cola.

Tadpole Pond Region & Yo’ster Isle Region

There are ten Hidden Treasures in the Tadpole Pond Region. Yo’ster Isle has a single Hidden Treasure, as well.

You can find one of the Hidden Treasures in Rose Town’s shop. Jump onto the cabinets in the back and jump against the upper corner of the store. You’ll find one Frog Coin for your troubles.

The other Hidden Treasure is located in the stairless house at Rose Town. Jump on the Toad’s head to reach the house, then head upstairs and jump on top of the bed. Like the other Hidden Treasure in the town, this one contains a Frog Coin.

The Forest Maze has 6 Hidden Treasures — the most of any single area in the game. At the very start of the area, you’ll find its first treasure in the western corner of a small open patch of dirt, just across from a collectible mushroom. This treasure contains a Croaka Cola.

The next Hidden Treasure can be found just after the first cave in the maze. It’s located between the stump and the second background tree from the left. This treasure will give you a Frog Coin.

Later in the maze, players will come across seven stumps in a group, and three of them will lead to Hidden Treasures. The rightmost stump will have its treasure located a few steps down from the exact middle of the cave. If you manage to find this one, you’ll get an instant-use Flower.

In the middle-left stump, you’ll find a Hidden Treasure that acts more as a joke than a real reward. It can be found in the northmost corner of the cave, but hitting it will only lead to a statement of “Bad luck!” without any item. This is the only Hidden Treasure to not have a reward in any form, so it’s only worth collecting for comedy or completion’s sake.

The next Hidden Treasure is found just behind the sleeping Wiggler in the top-left stump. With some careful jumping, you can choose to get this before or after waking the Wiggler. This treasure contains a Croaka Cola.

The final Hidden Treasure in the Forest Maze — and arguably the most useful — is found in the final room. Before heading past the Save Block, head to the south corner of the area and jump around to eventually reveal the treasure. Inside is a Red Essence, one of the rarest and most powerful items in the game.

Notably, this is the only Hidden Treasure to be relocated in the remake. It was originally found just before the maze-like portion where you follow Geno, in the right corner of the room next to the maze’s entrance.

The contents of the chest haven’t changed, and no other Hidden Treasures were altered outside of the increased ease of access for the one in Peach’s Castle.

Two Hidden Treasures can be found in the Pipe Vault, found in a room accessed from the line of pipes filled with Piranha Plants. Defeat the very first one you see and enter the pipe to gain access to this unique location.

Both treasures can be found on the upper walkway, but you’ll need to jump near its western ledge to find a hidden platform that allows you to reach up there. Both chests can be found by simply jumping along the walkway, and each one contains one Frog Coin.

While it’s technically designated as its ownregion, Yo’ster Isle has only one Hidden Treasure. It’s found just next to the Save Block in the pipe room’s northern corner. Like the treasures in the Pipe Vault, this one contains a single Frog Coin.

Moleville Region Hidden Treasures

There are seven Hidden Treasures in the Moleville Region. Despite being in this region, none of them are found in the mole-related areas.

The first room of Booster Pass contains two Hidden Treasures. The first is found on a ledge in the northern portion of the room. Jump on the artichoke-like bush nearby to reach the ledge, then jump on the one on the ledge itself to find the treasure. This one contains an instant-use Flower.

The next Hidden Treasure is found near the top-right exit of the room, in the northern corner of the mountain’s peak. This treasure contains a Rock Candy.

When climbing Booster Tower, you’ll come across a stairway that’s quickly filled with blue Snifits. The Hidden Treasure is located just by the northern corner of this room. Despite its close proximity to the Snifits, no battles are required to hit it. You’ll get one Frog Coin out of this treasure.

The next Hidden Treasure is found just after being launched higher up the tower by a Thwomp. Once you enter the room it’s in, head as far left as you can to find it. One Frog Coin is found in this treasure.

The last two Hidden Treasures in Booster Tower are in the room with the final Save Block, just before Booster’s room leading to the balcony. The first treasure can be found by jumping on the already visible ?block with careful platforming. It contains the unique Goodie Bag item, allowing players to gain more coins during battles.

The final Hidden Treasure in Booster Tower is found in the southern corner of the same room, containing only an instant-use Mushroom. It can be helpful when preparing for the upcoming boss battle — or battles, depending on your reflexes — but if you’ve already cleared the tower, the only point of getting it is for the sake of completion.

The final Hidden Treasure of the region is located in Marrymore’s hotel. The non-luxury room will contain the treasure, floating above the western cabinets. Jump on the cabinets and then jump into the block to get another Frog Coin.

Star Hill Region & Land’s End Region

The Star Hill Region only has one Hidden Treasure. On the other hand, the Land’s End Region has ten.

The only Hidden Treasure in the Star Hill Region is on the Sunken Ship. While travelling through the ship, you’ll end up in a small room where a mirrored Mario will halt your progress. By jumping around the middle of the room, you’ll find a hidden J block that reveals the Hidden Treasure. Shuffle against the false Mario and use his head as a stepping stool to reach the treasure, allowing you to get a Croaka Cola.

The first treasure in Land’s End is located by the floating platform in the first room. Carefully time a north-facing jump as the platform reaches its peak and you’ll get your hands on a Red Essence.

The next Hidden Treasure is found after launching yourself into a hole filled with Chows. Like with the Pipe Vault treasures, you’ll need to jump and reveal a hidden platform that grants access to the ledge it’s on. After revealing the platform, use the cannon to launch yourself to it and hit the block on the leftmost corner of the ledge. Inside is another Croaka Cola.

The next Hidden Treasure is found in the grassy area with purple flowers. Along the southeastern corner of the room, jump across from the two flowers next to each other. With careful positioning, you’ll hit the invisible block on your way and get a single Frog Coin as your reward.

Another Hidden Treasure containing a Frog Coin can be found in a secret cavern. In the bridge minigame room, you can enter a large hole in the northern cliff to reach a large cave. As you head through the area, you’ll find a Chow patrolling a portion of the cave with an odd floor shape. Jump in this portion’s northmost corner and you’ll find the treasure.

Belome Temple has two Hidden Treasures of its own, both found in the same room. Just before the elevator leading to Belome, you’ll come across a couple of ? blocks. The first Hidden Treasure is found on top of the first visible block, accessed by jumping on the nearby ledges and then jumping onto the block itself. You’ll get one Frog Coin out of this treasure.

The second treasure is simply located by jumping against the northern corner of the room after going down the stairs. It also contains one Frog Coin.

Monstro Town has a Hidden Treasure of its own, located in the rightmost door of the area. Another door inside will let you return to the map, but you shouldn’t enter it just yet. Instead, jump between the nearby flowery bush and the left wall to reveal the Hidden Treasure, containing yet another Frog Coin inside.

Bean Valley has three more Hidden Treasures to find in the region. The first can be found after entering the first eastern pipe and then jumping around the left portion of the area, just next to the hills. One more Frog Coin can be found within.

The next two treasures are found in pipes covered by Chewies. You’ll need to wait for the nearby Beezo to water each Chewy before you can fight them, clearing the path down each pipe. The bottom-right pipe will have its Hidden Treasure located just down and left from the visible ? block. Your reward for getting it is the last Croaka Cola available from Hidden Treasures.

The last Hidden Treasure of this region is found in the rightmost pipe. Jump along the eastern corner of the room and you’ll find the treasure. This will contain the final Red Essence available from Hidden Treasures.

Nimbus Land Region & Bowser’s Keep Region

The Nimbus Land region has five Hidden Treasures. All Hidden Treasures in this region contain one Frog Coin each. The final Hidden Treasure is in the Bowser’s Keep region, though it isn’t actually in Bowser’s Keep itself.

You can find the first Hidden Treasure by jumping on the boxes in Nimbus Land’s shop. Simply jump on the boxes in the back and you’ll gain access to the treasure without issue.

Two Hidden Treasures can be found in the same room in Nimbus Castle. When reaching the choice of three doors, enter the leftmost door and you’ll eventually come across a corridor with stairs. One Hidden Treasure can be found at the eastern exit of the room while the other can be reached by walking off of a broken piece of the floor.

The next Hidden Treasure is found after defeating Birdo. When reaching a familiar room, this time with you on the upper ledge, you’ll need to jump on the visible ? block to get the treasure.

The last Hidden Treasure in Nimbus Castle is only found after defeating Valentina. It’s in the room with the three doors, located in the uppermost corner of the area. This is the last of all Hidden Treasures to have a lasting reward in Super Mario RPG, meaning it’s the last one worth getting if you’re not going for 100% completion.

The very last Hidden Treasure you’ll have access to is in the Weapon World. It’s located next to the second Save Block of the location, in the left corner of the room. An instant-use Mushroom is inside, allowing you to heal before an upcoming boss fight.

Related: How to Meet Big Yoshi in the Super Mario RPG Remake

Is There a Reward for Finding All Hidden Treasures in Super Mario RPG?

Unfortunately, even after finding all the Hidden Treasures in the game, Mario will not receive any substantial reward. At most, you can visit a Comeon in Monstro Town and it will express surprise at how you found every Hidden Treasure. Unlike getting 100 Super Jumps, the only reward is simple satisfaction at your own persistence.

Despite the lack of a final reward, nearly all Hidden Treasures in Super Mario RPG are useful in some way. In total, you’ll find 21 Frog Coins, 6 Croaka Colas, 4 instant-use Flowers, 3 Red Essences, 2 instant-use Mushrooms, a Rock Candy, and the unique Goodie Bag. Even if there isn’t a great reward for getting all Hidden Treasures in Super Mario RPG, it’s worthwhile to find them all simply for what’s inside of them.

Long ago, the original secret boss of Super Mario RPG — Culex — was considered to be the toughest challenge players could encounter. Thanks to the addition of post-game rematches in the game’s remake, that original fight’s difficulty pales in comparison to new offerings. There is now one more extra-secret fight for players to find, and it will prove to be their greatest challenge yet. Spoilers ahead!

Where is the New Secret Boss in the Super Mario RPG Remake?

The new boss is only available after beating all other post-game rematches. By the time you’ve completed all of these fights, Culex’s door in Monstro Town should appear, accepting the Extra-Shiny Stone obtained from Johnny as its key. Once you’ve met the requirements, simply enter the door and you’ll meet Culex once more. After notifying you on the many wishes you’ve granted, he’ll challenge you to one more duel, beginning the toughest fight in the game!

Like in the original battle, Culex will have a special Thought Peek quote alongside his four crystals. He’ll also dish out some incredible damage from the very start, opening with an attack that reduces your party’s HP to 1 before unleashing strong blow after strong blow. You’ll need to use the strongest equipment and greatest tactics at your disposal, so don’t skimp out on preparations!

Related: Best Level Up Bonuses for All Characters in Super Mario RPG

Defeating this new version of Culex won’t give you much more than a special item symbolizing your victory. However, you can rematch this fight whenever you like, allowing you to continuously improve your skill with the encounter. He’ll also track the number of turns you took to defeat him. Beating him in 10 turns or less will have him be truly impressed, so try to finish the fight as quickly as possible!

In spite of the character becoming a meme, “Big Yoshi” is someone that should be sought out by everyone playing Super Mario RPG or its remake. Meeting this character will let players get extremely powerful items without needing to spend a single coin. However, reaching the Big Yoshi isn’t something that can be done with much ease.

Where is Big Yoshi in the Super Mario RPG Remake?

The “Big Yoshi” can be found in Yo’ster Isle, an optional area accessed through the Pipe Vault. The Pipe Vault is available after gaining access to Moleville, but you’ll need to beat a boss fight in Marrymore before you can meet the Big Yoshi. It will first appear as a baby next to a nest of eggs on the island, and speaking to it while riding Yoshi will let you feed it Yoshi Cookies. After eating 21 cookies, this baby will grow into the Big Yoshi.

While giving this Yoshi your cookies might seem like an arduous task, you can continuously replenish your supply by talking to the nearby Red Yoshi while you have no cookies remaining. He’ll give you three extra cookies, letting you feed the baby as much as you like. Once you’ve given the baby 21 cookies, leave the area and return to finally see Big Yoshi in all of its glory!

Related: Will Culex Return in the Super Mario RPG Remake?

When the Yoshi has fully grown, it’ll give you extra items if you feed it anywhere from 10 to 20 cookies at once. You can get more cookies by racing, though the amount you get will vary randomly. Trading them in will give you very helpful rewards such as Frog Coins, Yoshi-Ade, Energizers, Bracers, and Red Essences. You might want to take advantage of the island’s save point just to make sure you don’t miss out on the best items.

In the remake, these items will be helpful for post-game boss rematches. You should reset your save if you get a Frog Coin, though, since additional quality-of-life features will make those very simple to collect. Either way, the Big Yoshi will be of great use if you’re willing to put in a bit of extra time and effort.

The Carbo Cookie is a special item that a certain mole girl asks for in Moleville. At first, this item is seemingly absent from the entirety of Super Mario RPG, with absolutely no stores offering it for sale. But it’s possible to get the item just before leaving Moleville for good, making it quite easy to obtain — as long as players know where to look.

Carbo Cookie Location in Super Mario RPG

The Carbo Cookie can be obtained by speaking to a mole girl at the back of the Moleville shop. You can do this after getting the Star Piece from the nearby mines. Talk to a mole in the house above the shop to buy the Fireworks, trade the Fireworks for a Shiny Stone from the mole girl hidden behind some nearby boxes, and finally, give the Shiny Stone to the girl in the shop to get the Carbo Cookie. You might want to make sure you’ve used the Shiny Stone for its alternative purpose first, since getting it a second time will be quite a hassle.

After getting the Carbo Cookie, you can give it to a mole girl sitting in a bucket next to the shop. She’ll end up leaving her bucket, teleporting you directly to the Midas River course. At the end of the course, you’ll be able to keep any coins you’ve collected rather than having a Toad hold them for you. Upon returning to Moleville, you’ll be able to do the trading sequence again in exchange for a Frog Coin.

Related: Super Mario RPG Remake New Features and Postgame Details

The reward isn’t quite worth going out of your way for, especially in the remake. A few quality-of-life changes make it easy to get Frog Coins in droves, and the coins you get in Midas River don’t come close to the price of Fireworks. But it’s a fun extra you can perform if you’ve already used the Shiny Stone for its other purpose, so you might as well get your hands on the cookie afterwards.

The Super Jump is an incredible move that lets Mario jump repeatedly on enemies. This jumping can be kept up as long as the player’s timing is on point. There are even rewards given by NPCs for jumping on enemies a certain number of times. However, getting the maximum reward — requiring 100 Super Jumps — isn’t so easy in Super Mario RPG.

Tips to Get 100 Super Jumps in Super Mario RPG

You’ll unlock the Super Jump special move when Mario reaches level 6. You need to hit its action command as soon as Mario lands on an enemy, around the time he’s crouching on top of them.

The timing only gets more strict as you land further hits, so you’ll need to get into a good rhythm. To get the reward for 100 jumps, you must do the 100 jumps in one use of the command, so you can’t just use Super Jump in 100 different battles and expect to get anything special.

Early in the game, there’s a perfect enemy to practice the timing on. Without the Jump Shoes, Spikeys will not take damage from any jump move. This will freeze them in place while Mario jumps on them, making it easier to time the hits without being distracted by animations. Practice on these guys early on if you want to get the highest number as soon as possible!

Related: All Post-Game Boss Rematches in the Super Mario RPG Remake

You can get your rewards for consecutive Super Jumps in Monstro Town. A Chow in one of the houses will give you the Attack Scarf when getting a record of 30 and a Super Suit when getting a record of 100.

These pieces of equipment are especially helpful in late-game battles, especially when considering a certain secret encounter that’s also located in Monstro Town. If you want to get an accessory and an armor piece that are both arguably the best in their class, aim for 100 Super Jumps as soon as you can!

This mysterious object grants access to an even more mysterious boss fight. It’s one of the toughest challenges a player will face before beating the game, and the reward for defeating it is well worth the effort. But to even have a chance at entering the fight, players must first obtain the Shiny Stone. This item is found at an early town in both Super Mario RPG and its remake, but it might require a bit of extra effort.

Shiny Stone & Culex Location in Super Mario RPG

The Shiny Stone is available as soon as the player rescues the Moleville moles from the nearby mines. After doing this, you can talk to a mole in the house above the item shop. He’ll sell you the Fireworks for 500 coins, so make sure you have plenty of cash first. After getting the Fireworks, you can talk to a mole girl hidden behind some boxes just next to the house. Trade the Fireworks for the Shiny Stone and you’ll have what you need to challenge Culex!

Culex can be found later in the game, over in Monstro Town. His door will be locked without the Shiny Stone in your possession, and the next-door neighbors will talk about weird noises coming from his area. The Shiny Stone can do more than just open his door, but it won’t be consumed when unlocking his battle. Keep this in mind before you end up getting rid of it!

Related: Best Level Up Bonuses for All Characters in Super Mario RPG

Outside of providing you with a way to get the Shiny Stone, Fireworks can be used as part of the game’s ending sequence, adding a little bit of extra flair. If you want to get your hands on more of them, or if you just want to get the Shiny Stone without worrying about money, you should wait until later in the game. There will be abundant sources of coins in many different areas, allowing you to get the Shiny Stone without making a dent in your wallet.

One of the many new features in this remake is the ability to battle certain bosses again after beating the game. These bosses are powerful enough to give the strongest characters a run for their money, even with smart use of Level Up stat boosts. There are seven bosses in the Super Mario RPG remake that offer a post-game battle, though you’ll need to jump through some hoops before you can get to them.

How to Access All Post-Game Rematches in the Super Mario RPG Remake

The post-game rematches will become available to you after replaying your Clear Data save file. Upon entering the file, you’ll start a quest that directs you to Marrymore’s hotel and then to Star Hill. Eventually, you’ll be directed to the Frog Sage, and he’ll tell you about a boss you need to challenge once more. You can find these bosses in the area you last fought them in.

These are all of the bosses that can be challenged to a rematch:

• Scratchy-Throat Belome: Found in Belome Temple. Beating him will grant you the Sage Stick weapon for Mallow.
• Leveled-Up Punchinello: Found in Mole Mines. Beating him will grant you the Wonder Chomp weapon for Bowser.
• Engine 023 Booster: Found in Booster Tower. Beating him will grant you the Stella 023 weapon for Geno.
• Extra-Fancy Bundt: Found in Marrymore. Beating it will grant you the Enduring Brooch accessory.
• Duel-Ready Johnny: Found in the Sunken Ship. Beating him will grant you the Extra-Shiny Stone.
• Mario-Style Jinx: Found in Monstro Town. Beating him will grant you the Teamwork Band accessory.
• ???: Found in Monstro Town behind Culex’s door. Beating this boss will grant you the Crystal Shard, which basically just acts as a trophy.

Related: Is the Hidden Chest in Mushroom Castle Still Missable in the Super Mario RPG Remake?

The bosses leading up to the final secret foe will test you in unique ways. You’ll need speed-boosting items, extra-careful timing, and even great use of status effects to survive. It will all culminate in the game’s absolute toughest battle, and your final reward — outside of an item that acts as a trophy — will be an altered ending sequence following the final boss. Steel yourself for the challenges ahead and master the mechanics of Super Mario RPG!

In the original SNES title, players would find their party members to gain different bonuses during each level. The game followed a pattern that’s meant to have them select all stats one after the other, though the exact boosts aren’t made completely obvious. These bonuses were clarified in the Super Mario RPG remake, but some fans might still want to know when exactly they should pick each increase.

When to Pick the Best Level Up Bonuses in Super Mario RPG

Starting with the first Level Up, bonuses are granted to each stat in an order going from left to right. As an example, Mario’s bonuses start with +3 Magic Attack at level 2, +2 Physical Attack at level 3, and +4 HP at level 4. From there, it loops back to Magic, Physical, and HP up until he hits the level cap. The best stat to boost is the same at every level no matter who the character is, so at level 10, every character will choose HP as their bonus stat.

Since each character joins the party at different levels, they might not sync with Mario until later in the game. This is the order you should increase their stats in:

• Mallow: Physical Attack (+3), HP (+6), Magic Attack (+2)
• Geno: HP (+6), Magic Attack (+3), Physical Attack (+3)
• Bowser: Physical Attack (+2), HP (+3), Magic Attack (+3)
• Peach: HP (+9), Magic Attack (+3), Physical Attack (+3)

Related: Is the Hidden Chest in Mushroom Castle Still Missable in the Super Mario RPG Remake?

Depending on your preferences, you might wish to ignore these bonuses entirely in favor of increased specialization. Boosting Geno’s or Mallow’s Magic Attack every time will give them some of the best damage in the game when using their special moves. Keep this in mind if you’re planning on taking down post-game bosses or searching for extra-tough secret foes. But even if you miss the best stat boosts, you shouldn’t have much trouble clearing the game’s main story anyway.

Similarly to other games in the franchise, Like a Dragon Gaiden offers some options for difficulty. Players can use these options to customize their experience, letting them opt for a simple story-focused experience or an intense challenge. But for long-time fans of the Yakuza games, they might find one difficulty option to be strangely absent.

Difficulty Levels Available in Like a Dragon Gaiden

When starting the game, you have access to three difficulties: Beginner, Standard, and Professional. These act like the Easy, Normal, and Hard difficulties of previous games, adjusting the damage and health of various enemies. Professional is the toughest difficulty of the three, allowing foes to take Kiryu out in just a handful of hits. Players neglecting to use more of their abilities during battle will find themselves in more than a few rough situations on this difficulty.

Notably, even after completing the main story, a “Legend” difficulty seems to be completely absent. This difficulty in previous games would introduce some further changes such as preventing retries during battles. Players simply won’t find anything like that in this game. While they can mimic the familiar difficulty by just ending the game whenever they fall in combat, there are no further in-game settings outside of the three offered at the start.

Related: How to Enter Coliseum Fights in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Though the difficulty selections are a bit more restrictive this time around, their influence on the game is a bit more customizable. Players can change the difficulty level whenever they want, letting them adjust the strength of foes before important battles. If you’d prefer to keep things on Beginner until you’ve upgraded your abilities — or if you want to coast through the game before turning things up to Professional before the final boss — you have the freedom to do just that.

In the Coliseum, players will be able to participate in tournaments and team matches. As time goes on, they’ll even be able to play as entirely new characters, allowing them to rise the ranks in many different ways. To unlock the full capabilities of the Coliseum, however, they’ll need to complete some important story events in Like a Dragon Gaiden first.

Unlocking the Coliseum in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Players will first visit the Coliseum early in the second chapter. After fighting through the gauntlet of foes, however, they won’t find much to do until returning to the Coliseum after the battle to rescue Kiryu’s ally. They’ll be automatically brought back to the Coliseum and introduced to Hell Team Rumbles, where they can build a “clan” to battle against a horde of foes. This is when the Coliseum’s full capabilities are unlocked.

After reaching this point, players will be able to recruit new team members and increase their Coliseum rank. This will grant them access to new substories alongside new shops and features. Eventually, ranking up in the Coliseum will be necessary to fight some of the toughest foes in the game. You’ll be alerted to these foes during other major story events, so keep an eye out while you progress in your adventure.

Related: How to Unlock Pocket Circuit in Like a Dragon Gaiden

While it’s not necessary to dive too deep into the Coliseum, the rewards you get from participation are substantial. It can be a great way to farm money or simply to test your skills. Just be aware that losing fights can be particularly punishing, and certain battles will force you into a game over if you fail. Train yourself and your allies to survive every match possible!

Pocket Circuit returns from Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, giving players the chance to customize a toy car and race it against their foes. This minigame is one of the more unique additions to the franchise, and long-time fans might wish to see how it has changed over time. To unlock Pocket Circuit in Like a Dragon Gaiden, fans will need to get decently far into the main story first.

When Can Players Unlock Pocket Circuit in Like a Dragon Gaiden?

In this game, Pocket Circuit is unlocked during the second chapter. It becomes available just after completing a long battle to rescue an ally. With how long the first two chapters are, this means that you’ll spend a lot of time simply trying to get to Pocket Circuit. Luckily, the main story will eventually put you on a direct path to its location, pretty much making it impossible to miss.

Even before you get access to Pocket Circuit, you can still prepare for it. Certain shops will sell parts for the minigame, including the Akame Shop you’ll gain access to earlier on. Once the building for Pocket Circuit becomes available, it will also sell parts that you can buy without too much trouble, thanks to the game being very generous with money. If you’ve been completing substories during your adventure, you should have no trouble getting everything you need for full Pocket Circuit customization.

Related: How to Sing Karaoke in Like a Dragon Gaiden

While Pocket Circuit doesn’t have as much overall content as in previous entries, there’s still quite a lot to do with the minigame in Gaiden. It offers plenty of circuits and some in-depth customization options. You’ll even be able to race with Akame after bonding with her enough times, so there’s plenty to look forward to outside of just winning a couple of races.

Previous games in the franchise have allowed players to track their progress through an activity log. This let them have more unique goals outside of completing the story, such as eating all the food in certain restaurants or getting top scores on minigames. The activity log returns in Like a Dragon Gaiden, but players won’t be able to check it out right away.

When Will Players Unlock the Activity Log in Like a Dragon Gaiden?

The activity log is made available near the start of chapter 2. Players will gain access to it at around the same time as substories, making it a relatively early unlock — if still a bit later than other games in the series. Because of this, some players might feel compelled to avoid doing anything until the log becomes available. Luckily, activity log progress is tracked recursively, meaning it’ll keep a record of everything you do even before you’ve unlocked the log in full.

The activity log covers just about everything a player can do in the game outside of substories and main story content. This ranges from playing certain minigames and collecting different outfits to using abilities and certain Agent Gadgets in battle as often as possible. Completing these tasks will net you a number of Akame Points, letting you purchase more items from Akame alongside making ability upgrades easier.

Related: How to Sing Karaoke in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Even the most die-hard fans can find the activity log to be somewhat daunting. There aren’t any achievements tied to it, though you’ll likely complete more than a few of its tasks if you’re completing everything else anyway. It might not be a bad idea to keep an eye on the log regardless. If you can finish off a few goals while you’re continuing your journey, the extra point rewards can help out more than you might think.

Due to the difference in gameplay and accessibility, mobile games such as Monster Hunter Explore and spinoffs such as Monster Hunter Stories will not be included.

Every Monster Hunter Game Ranked

12. Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter G, and Monster Hunter Freedom

The Monster Hunter series started with Monster Hunter on the PlayStation 2. The game introduced many concepts players would know today, such as capturing and carving defeated wyverns for their parts. While it’s not a bad game, especially for its time, looking back on it really shows how many improvements were made to the franchise over the years. Clunky controls and vague menus plagued much of Monster Hunter’s early days, and it can be tough for modern gamers to get used to the lack of quality-of-life features present in the current generation.

Monster Hunter G and Monster Hunter Freedom act as alternate versions of the original game’s expansion, adding a few new monsters and new difficulties. Pretty much all the content in these games can be found in future titles. It’s a fantastic landmark in the franchise’s history, but Monster Hunter has been made somewhat redundant over time.

11. Monster Hunter 2 (Dos)

Monster Hunter 2, also known as Monster Hunter Dos, is one of the few Monster Hunter games without an expansion. It added more content to the franchise, including new weapon classes, day/night cycles, and Elder Dragons that would practically become series staples. It was also extremely difficult, with monsters such as Kushala Daora and Rajang being feared by series veterans even today. It has much more to offer when compared to the original Monster Hunter, but it retains many of the outdated features such as attacking with the control stick. It’s worth checking out to see both the unique and lasting changes it made, but it would be difficult for Dos to end up ranked above every other Monster Hunter game.

10. Monster Hunter 3 (Tri)

Monster Hunter 3 (or Monster Hunter Tri) is the first game in the series to release on a Nintendo console. The game features many new monsters as well as the introduction of underwater combat, which would not be featured in future generation games. It’s noteworthy for trying so many new things, but many of these additions came at a cost. There were only 18 monsters total – the lowest amount since the original Monster Hunter – and the game even suffered from the removal of entire weapon classes. While it makes sense for base Monster Hunter games to be ranked alongside their expansions, there’s so much left out of Tri that it can barely stand up on its own.

9. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is a refinement of all games before it, and its expansion – Monster Hunter Freedom Unite – can be considered as the definitive classic Monster Hunter experience. Every monster from previous entries (barring Frontier) makes a return alongside new areas, weapons, and a massive number of quests to take on. While Freedom 2 lacks much of Freedom Unite’s content, it was also the first second-generation game ported to the west. Many players were able to experience new features such as decorations and unique weapon classes starting with these titles. Between these additions and fan-favorite monsters such as Tigrex and Nargacuga, it’s no wonder Freedom 2 and Freedom Unite are held in such high regard today.

It should be noted that these games offer a much slower style of hunting, even when compared to later Monster Hunter games that still retained loading screens and potion-flex animations. Many players still prefer this style over the modern high-mobility combat of games like World and Rise. Even so, the age between these two Freedom games and present-day titles is heavily felt with odd control schemes and poor conveyance of enemy hitboxes. Many monsters also share attacks between each other, even when they aren’t considered subspecies or variants. These games are still fun despite these issues, but it’s something for new players to keep in mind if they want to see the culmination of classic Monster Hunter gameplay up to that point.

8. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is not an expansion to Monster Hunter Tri; instead, it acts as an alternate game for the third generation with new and unique content. While it removed underwater combat, it also brought back many of the weapons and monsters cut from Tri and introduced some of its own. Portable 3rd redesigned numerous locales and weapon movesets to account for these changes, and it even had unique systems in its village such as a hot spring. Players coming from newer games might find get more enjoyment out of Portable 3rd than previous titles on this list, though it should be noted that much of Portable 3rd’s content – including the village and final boss – eventually made it into localized entries such as 3 Ultimate and Generations.

7. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is one of the largest expansions a Monster Hunter game has ever received. It nearly tripled Tri’s monster roster on top of adding new mechanics and quality-of-life features. The Wii U version also boasts online multiplayer with continued activity nearly a whole decade later. To this day, monsters introduced in this title such as Dire Miralis have yet to appear in any other mainline game. Monster Hunter Tri provided a more unique experience than any game before it, but 3 Ultimate offers that same experience with more content and creativity than anything offered by its predecessor.

6. Monster Hunter Frontier and its expansions

Due to its status as an MMO spinoff, it’s tough to put Monster Hunter Frontier on any ranked list involving every major Monster Hunter game. But considering it’s been recently acknowledged as part of Monster Hunter Rise’s expansion, not to mention its general popularity, Frontier barely manages to scrape its way onto the list. Through years of improvements and additions, this title added more new monsters than any other game in the franchise, as well as unique weapons and weapon styles that completely changed how hunters fought. Some consider its content to be a little too over-the-top, with monsters having extremely powerful moves that can cover an entire area and one-shot many hunters. But the sheer amount of content players get out of Frontier is astonishing in its own right.

Frontier’s servers are currently offline, so the ability to play it is extremely limited at best. But thanks to Espinas being added to Sunbreak, future players might be able to experience more unique monsters — and maybe even weapons — from this title.

5. Monster Hunter 4 and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 4 is the first Monster Hunter game to get the player so deeply involved in its story. Through travels with a caravan, players face off against the dangerous Frenzy virus being given off by the unknown monster Gore Magala. Old and new mechanics are presented to players through this story, making this title one of the most accessible Monster Hunter games. Additionally, new weapon classes are introduced for the last time in the mainline franchise so far, and missing foes like Yian Kut-Ku and Rajang make their return after being absent for a whole generation.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is a simple expansion of 4, adding even more new monsters and features such as the Apex state. In short, the game was given more challenge and variance for players to overcome. It’s also the only version of the game that was localized for western releases. If players wish to forego World or Rise as their first Monster Hunter game while still having many weapons and features prevalent in the series today, 4 Ultimate is certainly the best choice for them.

4. Monster Hunter Generations and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

As the name implies, Monster Hunter Generations is a celebration of the Monster Hunter franchise. Its expansion, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, features the largest monster roster of any mainline title. Many of these monsters return from previous entries, but the games also introduce brand new styles and arts to drastically alter the way a hunter plays. The absolute massive amount of content can make it a pain to clear every quest even for long-time fans of the series. But there truly is something for everyone in this title, especially with the addition of Deviants and the return of classic foes such as Lao-Shan Lung.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite are arguably the best “classic” games for players to start out with. But Generations Ultimate is a culmination of everything up to that point, making it perfect for those wanting to see just about everything offered by older generations. Of every Monster Hunter game ranked on this list, the sheer content from this one allows it to stand above all those before it.

3. Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World is arguably the defining title for the franchise up to this point. When making the leap to 4K-capable platforms, this game abandoned loading zones and created more immersive environments than ever before. It also sought to improve monster AI and player skills immensely, making for incredibly dynamic and intense hunts. The titles before and after it have not matched its atmosphere or accessibility, making it clear why World is among Capcom’s best-selling games of all time.

In spite of all it accomplished, though, there are still a few glaring issues with this entry. On top of arguments regarding the series being “casualized” and losing out on more of the intricate systems outside of hunting monsters, World also just has a very poor monster roster. Outside of a few stellar performers, forgettable additions like Great Girros leave much to be desired, and crossover monsters like Ancient Leshen and Behemoth rely on game mechanics to be difficult rather than varied & engaging attacks. At times, the locales can even be too immersive for some, making it an absolute pain to just traverse large-scale areas like the Ancient Forest.

Monster Hunter World isn’t a perfect game, but its improvements above its predecessors make it perhaps the best game first-timers could ever start out with. Once they stop struggling with World’s toughest challenges, some players might find the rest of the series too easy in certain aspects. Whether this is true depends on what those fans would define as true “difficulty” during battles. Rather, it stands as a testament as to how well World trains hunters for their journeys into old and new games in the franchise.

2. Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise has been the subject of controversy as a follow-up to World. Due to being designed for lower-power hardware, it lacks the graphical fidelity and immersive detail found in its predecessor. Its fast-paced combat has also left some players feeling alienated, with first-timers from World even claiming that it’s too easy. This is partially thanks to some changes that make Rise’s systems closer to older generations, including a split between Key Quests and Hub Quests, but the truth of the matter is that Rise is simply a different game.

New to Rise is the addition of Wirebugs. These allow for aerial movements at any time, with the game’s environments being designed around them. They also expand the move sets of various weapons, usually giving many of them the ability to counter attacks and escape danger quickly. The removal of further tracking features further accentuates Rise’s “portable” style, making it a game meant to be picked up and put down at a player’s leisure. Rise is built off of World’s improvements on top of the systems from older games, making it simply another choice for someone’s favorite modern Monster Hunter game.

In some ways, Rise directly improves on the changes World made. The monster roster is far more impressive and engaging, with almost no gimmicky fights outside of a few early-game foes. The increased movement options also make simple traversal far more fun, keeping players from getting bored on the way to their target. These few improvements allow Rise to rival and even surpass World when it comes to actually facing the monsters…which is what the whole point of Monster Hunter is to begin with. For anyone that considers themselves a fan of the series and not just a single game, there’s no reason not to give Rise a closer look.

1. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

When having every Monster Hunter game ranked, it’s easy to see expansions as separate games entirely. In a way, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is what World should have been. Beyond the new locales and expanded difficulty, Iceborne also takes World’s disappointing roster and improves it immensely. Returning monsters are arguably at their best in Iceborne, with more varied attacks and better AI than ever before. New subspecies manage to provide vastly different fights from their counterparts, “variant” monsters are some of the most challenging-but-fun fights in the franchise. Even its story manages to throw in a few exciting twists, which already puts it leagues above the base game’s.

Of all the things to complain about with Iceborne, the most common one is the Clutch Claw. Every now and then during hunts, players are encouraged to tenderize monsters and slam them into walls using the new tool, changing the pace of hunts quite heavily. Those who own Iceborne will also have the Clutch Claw forced upon them in the base game, which can turn some away from a more traditional Monster Hunter experience. But the claw isn’t actually necessary for most of the game or its expansion, if it’s even necessary at all. It’s simply another way to speed up hunts by a few minutes, similarly to Rise’s Wirebug attacks or Spiribirds.

There are a few more cases of gimmicky fights in Iceborne, with many monsters added in updates requiring multiplayer or having strict time limits. But these encounters are vastly outweighed by the countless fantastic additions this expansion offers. There are few greater feats than finally taking down the strongest monsters in Iceborne, and every Monster Hunter fan should experience those feats at least once.

Related: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Review

While the changes made by Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak aren’t as vast when compared to Iceborne, it offers almost nothing but improvements across the board. In-quest skill swapping just makes for more options during combat, and the new monsters still manage to keep players on their toes throughout every fight. Anomaly quests also provide the devastating challenges missing from the base game, offering quests even more difficult than the toughest battles from World and Iceborne.

If there’s one complaint to be made about Sunbreak, it would be its grind. There are more options than ever for players to experiment with in terms of armor and weapons. Unfortunately, these options are also subject to RNG, with talismans and augments not allowing for the best optimization choices. Anomaly quests also happen to be grind-focused, with the more unique encounters being locked behind hundreds of fights. But anyone who so much as liked Rise will still love what Sunbreak can provide, to the point where that grind could even be a net positive — if still a bit less interesting than Iceborne’s Guiding Lands.

Iceborne and Sunbreak are two sides of the same coin. One offers immersive realism and grounded-yet-intense combat, while the other provides high-speed action and extremely varied encounters. Indeed, Sunbreak has a larger number of monsters available to fight in comparison to Iceborne, with no requirements on solo play or multiplayer. It even has the option for AI-controlled party members to join in hunts, allowing lone hunters to enjoy a different form of cooperative play. Sunbreak lives up to the standards set by Iceborne and absolutely deserves to stand alongside it at the peak of Monster Hunter greatness.

Related: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Switch Review

Even when having every Monster Hunter game ranked, some players might simply prefer older games to the newer entries — and vice versa. Perhaps long-time fans might miss the in-depth preparation and mechanics from Freedom Unite. World players might find the older games too slow to enjoy, while Rise players might even find World itself to not be as fast as it could be. The opinions of the fans will always be subjective, and there are valid reasons to like each and every game above the rest.

Plenty of changes have been made throughout each entry in the franchise, and that will likely be true for the next entry, too. Whether fans get something more similar to a World 2, a Rise 2, or even a Generations 2, it’s not unwise to expect something that pushes the franchise’s boundaries even more than the last few games did. Every Monster Hunter builds on the last, and the next game has just as much potential to be ranked at the top. In spite of their preferences, fans will still have plenty to look forward to as the series enters its 20th anniversary.

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series is infamous for its numerous substories, with each story offering unique challenges and comedic encounters. Though the main story of Like a Dragon Gaiden isn’t as long as other games, it offers plenty of side content to help players get fully immersed into the game. Getting access to these substories is a bit different from previous entries in the franchise, though.

Location to Start Substories in Like a Dragon Gaiden

In this game, substories are included in the form of Akame Requests. These can be accessed early in Chapter 2 when meeting with Akame for the first time. On top of introducing you to random events occurring throughout Sotenbori, she’ll grant you access to a menu where you can accept substories, making them appear on the map. Substories won’t show up in normal exploration unless you activate them with Akame first.

You can see requirements for substories by hovering over the ones you haven’t unlocked yet. Additionally, you can accept as many substories as you like, allowing you to encounter them commonly when exploring Sotenbori. Even if you meet the requirements for a certain story, you can’t access it until heading to Akame’s hideout and speaking with her about the request. Because of this, you won’t have much luck if you’re looking for substories located outside of Sotenbori.

Related: Do you Need to Play Other Yakuza Games Before Like a Dragon Gaiden?

You’ll always have time to complete substories after beating the game, just like with previous entries. It might be worthwhile to check them out if you’re a long-time fan of the series and its many spinoffs. The game is filled to the brim with callbacks and cameos, with some especially surprising faces showing up here and there. They also provide some fantastic monetary rewards, making them great to complete if you simply need some extra upgrades for your abilities.

Often in the Yakuza franchise, players don’t immediately get the chance to explore the main areas in each game. This fact hasn’t changed in Like a Dragon Gaiden, forcing players to complete some major story events before they get the chance to explore in full. The structure of Gaiden’s open world is a bit different from other games, though, which might leave fans confused even by the time they beat the main story.

When Players Can Fully Explore the Open World in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Though players get a taste of exploration as soon as chapter 1, the game only really opens up at the start of Chapter 2. This isn’t very far into the game, but it’ll take quite a bit of time for players to reach this point regardless. Once they do, they’ll get access to many activities immediately — including karaoke — but other pieces of side content won’t come until later. Access to other open areas, such as the Castle, will only be available later in Chapter 2, with a couple of main story beats being required first.

During chapter 1, players will also get the chance to roam around in a portioned-off section of Yokohama from Yakuza: Like a Dragon. This location is inaccessible after chapter 1, but players can return to it by using a taxi after completing the main story, which will unlock Premium Adventure. This will let them return to the area to discover anything they might’ve missed, but the area will still only cover a minimal portion of its original size.

Related: How to Get All Agent Gadgets in Like a Dragon Gaiden

There are a few other story events in the game that will block access to already-unlocked areas. You’ll usually get a warning when this happens, so pay attention whenever the story might take a particularly nasty turn. If you just want to focus on Kiryu’s story, you can always wait until Premium Adventure for unrestricted access to the entirety of Like a Dragon Gaiden’s setting!

The new Agent Gadgets in this title allow Kiryu to use a fighting style unlike any other. Each gadget gives him a varying level of control during horde battles, letting him take out hundreds of enemies with hardly any effort. Getting all gadgets in Like a Dragon Gaiden is a simple task, but it will take some time before you can make full use of each one.

Locations of All Gadgets in Like a Dragon Gaiden

While Kiryu starts with the Spider gadget already unlocked at the very start of the game, there are three more that must be obtained later on. The Hornet gadget and the Firefly gadget are both unlocked early on in chapter 2 as part of the main story. Akame will eventually direct you towards a black market dealer that provides the Hornet gadget, and he’ll direct you to a lady providing the Firefly gadget. The Serpent gadget is unlocked much later in chapter 2, not long after making your attempt to rescue Hanawa.

Each gadget has room for upgrades found in the “Upgrade Abilities” section of the pause menu. You’ll be able to improve the gadgets upon obtaining them and during certain events involving the aforementioned black market dealer. These events will eventually require a Platinum Rank in the Coliseum on top of some devastating arena matches. To make the most out of the Agent style, you’ll have to complete these matches, so don’t skimp out on improving your teammates and preparing for item-less combat.

Related: How to Sing Karaoke in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Despite appearances, changing your outfit will not make you lose access to any of these gadgets. As long as you’re in Agent style, each of them will be available at any point during battle. You only need to concern yourself with further upgrades for them, as you’ll be able to unlock more through the Coliseum and Akame’s side content.

Karaoke returns in full force with this title, featuring some of the most beloved songs from the series up to this point. It doesn’t take long for a player to see the full song list for themselves, but they might not know where they can enjoy this beloved feature. Karaoke becomes available relatively early on in Like a Dragon Gaiden, but not everything about it is unlocked immediately.

Where Players can Sing Karaoke in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Karaoke is available in Bar New Momoko in Sotenbori, found at the southwestern portion of the map. You can access it as early as the start of Chapter 2, making it available relatively early in the game. All songs are sung by Kiryu except for one, and two of the songs don’t receive their special cinematic scenes when singing alone. In total, there are six songs for players to enjoy.

These are the songs available in Like a Dragon Gaiden:

• Baka Mitai — Returns from previous entries. Specifically, this version is the same one from Yakuza 0 and Kiwami. It features a new picture during its cinematic that also calls back to these previous entries.
• Hands — Returns from Yakuza 6. Like in that game, it is not shortened, making it the longest karaoke song available.
• TONIGHT — Returns from Kiwami, Kiwami 2, and Yakuza 6. The cinematics are newly rendered for this game, but they do not appear unless you sing with Akame after bonding with her once.
• Sayonara, Silent Night — A new song appearing only in this game. You are required to sing this song at least once as part of the main story.
• Shin Ichizu Samurai — A new rendition of the unique song added in the Ishin! remake.
• Like a Butterfly — Returns from Yakuza 6, Kiwami, and Like a Dragon. This is the only song that allows for backup. This track is sung by Akame when you invite her for karaoke, which also happens to be the only way you can see this song’s special cinematic scene.

Related: How to Change Kiryu’s Appearance in Like a Dragon Gaiden

In addition to these songs, you’ll get access to three more when playing the special trial version of Infinite Wealth:

• Hell Stew — Sung by Ichiban, returning from Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Features the cast from that game during this song’s special cinematic scene, making it functionally unchanged.
• Judgement -Shinpan- — Sung by Kiryu, returning from Yakuza 0. In the special cinematic scene, Ichiban takes Nishiki’s place while the Revolve bartender takes Kashiwagi’s place.
• Honolulu City Lights — Sung by Fujinomiya. This is a new song unique to Infinite Wealth. Players can’t access this song during the Story Demo of Infinite Wealth, instead only gaining access to it during the Hawaii Demo.

There will likely be more songs to see in Infinite Wealth. For now, enjoy the returning and new tracks found in Gaiden and aim for a perfect score in all of them!

Since the game’s announcement, The Man Who Erased His Name was stated to be shorter than most mainline Yakuza/Like a Dragon games. Despite its length not being able to measure up even when compared to other spinoffs, there still happens to be quite a lot of content. Both long-time fans and first-time players will benefit from knowing just how much there is to see in Like a Dragon Gaiden.

List of All Chapters in Like a Dragon Gaiden

The game consists of five chapters. The fifth chapter acts as the finale, with four numbered chapters in between. This is indeed shorter than Yakuza games up until now, but in terms of story, it still manages to be larger than the Kaito Files DLC that came with Lost Judgment. This also doesn’t account for substories and other side activities.

These are the chapters in Like a Dragon Gaiden:

• Chapter 1: Hidden Dragon
• Chapter 2: Castle on the Water
  • This chapter is where most of the game’s content becomes accessible, from Sotenbori to the Coliseum.
• Chapter 3: The Man Who Knew Too Much
• Chapter 4: The Laughing Man
• Finale: The Man Who Erased His Name

Related: How to Change Kiryu’s Appearance in Like a Dragon Gaiden

The first two chapters are notably longer than the others. Chapter 1 sets up the story while Chapter 2 introduces pretty much every major mechanic in the game. When taking cutscenes into account, the main game can take around 8-10 hours to complete. Side content can be variable, but with how much there is to do, the game’s playtime can be bumped up by another 10 or 20 hours if you want to get 100% completion.

Notably, Chapter 1 features a locale that isn’t visited again during the other chapters. You’ll be able to visit that same locale after beating the main story and unlocking the Premium Adventure, but it’s simply a chance for you to roam the area at your leisure. The final chapter will mainly consist of story-important battles, giving you very little time to enjoy any sort of free roaming during then. There’s also an event at the end of Chapter 3 that will restrict your access to the Coliseum, so plan ahead before you’re taken off guard!

While exploring Sotenbori, “Joryu” can find numerous different pieces of clothing. He’s able to make use of alternate outfits at various points in his adventure, but he can’t do so immediately. Players will need to spend some time in Like a Dragon Gaiden before they unlock the ability to change clothes, but the opportunity will still come sooner instead of later.

Where to Change Appearance in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Though there are some points where Kiryu will need to change his look, he can only start freely changing his appearance after unlocking the Boutique. This location will become available upon returning to the Coliseum in Chapter 2, finally letting you change your look. You’ll get the chance to purchase certain clothing items beforehand, such as masks and sunglasses, thanks to the Akame Shop being available early on. But full customization only becomes available later on.

Upon unlocking full outfit customization, you’ll be able to prepare a wide selection of costumes for Kiryu to wear. You can choose whether to have him wear different clothes on his normal adventures or during his Coliseum fights, with the latter requiring a mask to be worn. The Boutique has its own selection of purchasable clothes, letting you obtain and equip new outfits immediately. Any wearable items purchased outside of the Boutique can also be used and worn in the shop at no extra cost.

Related: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Release Date, Platforms, and Trailer

As you complete more substories and reach higher Coliseum ranks, you’ll gain access to more outfits and appearances. This applies to both the Akame Shop as well as the Boutique, so if you want to make Kiryu look truly unique, keep playing the game and aim for the highest rank possible!

Return of the Nameless Dragon

After life-changing events from Yakuza 6, a familiar face under the codename “Joryu” finds himself at the center of a conspiracy focused around the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance. While doing what he can to prevent his true identity from leaking, Kiryu must navigate the intricacies of this plot with the help of Sotenbori civilians and his own two fists. Along the way, he can meet familiar characters from previous games, with a few returning faces being particularly unexpected. Between both the main story and side content, there’s a lot for long-time fans to enjoy.

Newcomers might find themselves a bit more alienated from this entry, though it’s certainly not designed to be a “starting point” for Like a Dragon. It’s honestly refreshing to see so many ties to previous games when most titles have been relatively self-contained outside of their intros. But it does feel like they could have gone further, especially with pretty much all story content being revealed in trailers beforehand. The game misses its chance to include a certain iconic moment outside of a mere reference, and the lead-in for Infinite Wealth is practically nonexistent. It’s confusing and somewhat concerning to see how much SEGA is willing to reveal in the games’ trailers while not actually having all that much left to reveal in the games themselves.

Despite the lack of coverage, Gaiden’s full story content is still engaging and impressive. Those wishing for Kiryu to break out of his self-imposed “prison” will be disappointed, but anyone looking for an emotional and intense set of events will certainly be pleased. Quality of characterizations might be left to viewer interpretations, but there will still be plenty of exciting moments throughout Gaiden that rival some of the most climactic moments in the franchise.

Heart-Pounding, Face-Pounding Combat

Between Kiryu’s new bombastic Agent Style and his familiar Yakuza Style, the combat in Gaiden manages to be unlike any game before it — and that’s a statement meant in the best way possible. It retains similar mechanics to Judgment and Lost Judgment, though it focuses less on juggling foes and more on rapid-fire grounded combos and dodges. Combined with the various armies of enemies players will encounter at once, it makes for some especially engaging and challenging gameplay — especially on the highest difficulty.

While the Agent Style isn’t too impressive at first, upgrading its gadgets to more easily manage enemy groups turns it into effective crowd control. Meanwhile, the Yakuza Style is perfect for one-on-one combat, with an increased speed that lets Kiryu keep up with the most powerful and bulky opponents. Upgrades for these styles are done with money rather than EXP, retaining a similar upgrade style to Yakuza 0 and allowing players to stock up on plenty of healing items. This allows players to feel rewarded far more often for completing fights and substories, while the difficulty of enemies ends up being focused more around their damage and attack styles. It manages to be a good way to force players to improve if they want the most challenge they can get out of the game.

This challenge extends to boss encounters. Many of them retain Lost Judgment’s “super attack” system, but many of their normal moves can be surprisingly tough to handle when playing recklessly. Many of these encounters also lack QTEs, and while that might seem to be more of a positive for some players, it also means a lot of the intertwined cutscenes and choreography lack any sort of input. It’s all still top-notch, but it would’ve been nice to have a few more prompts here and there, especially during the final boss battle.

On that note, the final fights might be some of the best in the entire franchise. Top-notch music, an intense last encounter, and characters with weighty story presence make the finale of Gaiden stand tall when compared to its predecessors. The final boss alone shows how far the series has come in terms of beat-em-up gameplay, along with how much of a shame it would be for the developers to abandon this style entirely.

Content Beyond Story

In terms of its main story, Gaiden doesn’t go much further than The Kaito Files when it comes to content. Side content, on the other hand, is easily able to rival that of other games. Players can expect minigames such as golf, karaoke, billiards, shogi, and even poker. This is only the surface of fun side content available, with SEGA arcade classics providing unique experiences that couldn’t be enjoyed at home until today. It really is a treat to see these games-within-a-game, making Gaiden feel more like a classic Yakuza game even without having similar story length.

The highlight of Gaiden is the Coliseum, which is quite possibly the best major side mode available in the franchise up to this point. The variety of each battle is decent enough, but the best part is getting the chance to actually play as characters other than Kiryu. This gives players the chance to try out moves from basic enemies and well-known bosses, something they could only ever do before with the help of mods. It’s disheartening to see three of the most beloved characters locked behind DLC for this mode, but at least the content within that extra payment is far more worthwhile than a simple cosmetic.

Of course, substories make a return as well, with plenty of cameos and references that some fans might have never expected. Unfortunately, a few returning faces are only teased rather than brought back in full, which is a shame when there’s already so many connections to be made. Despite this, the substories present within the game still manage to be fun and even exciting at times, with some unexpected twists and turns scattered throughout. It would be hard to recommend Gaiden without all this side content, but with it, the game is easily worthwhile at its reduced price point.

One more piece of side content is an included demo for Infinite Wealth. It’s not a particularly massive demo, but it’s nice to get a feel for the upcoming title alongside its improvements upon systems introduced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. If nothing else, it certainly continues to justify Gaiden’s existence as yet another piece of fun, extra content…though it still feels like an extra meeting between Kiryu and Ichiban is missing between the two games.

Final Thoughts

It’s not often that a game with so much missed potential manages to make up that potential so well in almost every other area. Gaiden might not be everything it could be, but what’s there is absolutely incredible from start to finish. The combat is on point, the content is great, and the story beats covered by Gaiden manage to be emotional and impactful in so many ways. Hopefully RGG Studio retains the beat-em-up style for future entries, and if they end up making another Gaiden title to continue that style, hopefully it ends up being far more ambitious with its story.

Back when it was known as the Yakuza series, most mainline games in this franchise were relatively self-contained. Gaiden changes these conventions pretty heavily, making major references to a number of different titles. While this isn’t too much trouble for a long-time fan, newcomers should be aware that Like a Dragon Gaiden might not be the best starting point if they want to follow Kiryu’s story from beginning to end.

What Other Games Should be Played Before Like a Dragon Gaiden?

As players should expect, Gaiden is heavily influenced by all numbered games leading up to its release. It occurs just after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life while also having heavy references to characters from Yakuza 3 and events from other numbered titles all throughout the franchise. The only games that aren’t truly necessary to keep in mind are spinoffs, with Ishin! being the primary example.

As revealed in a trailer for the game, Gaiden also covers major events from Yakuza: Like a Dragon. While players could easily check the latter title out without looking too deeply into the rest of the series, they should not do the same with the former. Players should expect Gaiden to spoil major events from that entry. The games both play in very different ways, but it would still be unwise to check Gaiden out before Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

Related: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Release Date, Platforms, and Trailer

Outside of these distinctions, there are also plenty of substories that players can expect from Gaiden. Though the mainline titles are the most vital for the main story, players will get quite a bit out of the side content if they’ve played some of the spinoffs. This includes Ishin! and even Judgment & Lost Judgment to an extent. First and foremost, Gaiden is made for fans of the franchise, so don’t miss out on the other games if you want to get the full picture.

Throughout the title, players can find a number of hidden chests similar to invisible blocks from mainline Mario games. One of these chests is found in the Mushroom Castle, and unfortunately, players only had a select few moments where they could collect the item within. Today, fans might be wondering if that chest can still be so easily missed in the Super Mario RPG remake.

Is the Mushroom Castle Hidden Chest Still Missable in the Remake of Super Mario RPG?

In the original game, players could only access this chest very early on. It’s found in the first room of the Mushroom Castle on a ledge above the northeastern door. This ledge can only be reached by jumping on the head of a Toad or an enemy, and in both cases, it was easy to miss even if the player knew its location. Failing to reach the chest would lock players out of an extra Frog Coin, and any use of the Signal Ring in that area would do little more than tease them over a chest they could never get to again.

Luckily, according to a recent Famitsu article, this will no longer be the case. On top of giving players the Signal Ring much earlier in the game, allowing them to detect the chest’s presence beforehand, a new path to the hidden chest will be available. Players can expect an extra Toad nearby that will give them the boost they need to reach the aforementioned ledge. In other words, the hidden chest is no longer permanently missable in the remake.

Related: Super Mario RPG Remake Release Date: When Does The Remake Come to Switch?

It’s unknown if the chest will still contain a Frog Coin, but farming more of those coins shouldn’t be too troublesome considering other quality-of-life changes found throughout the game. Even so, the ease of access now makes this chest’s minor reward much more suitable. There are far more interesting and rewarding secrets in Super Mario RPG, including a powerful secret boss. Don’t fret too much about getting this hidden chest, especially since there’s no more trouble in reaching it whenever you want.

Culex is the toughest challenge of the original game, providing players with a battle calling back to the 2D style of Final Fantasy games up to that point. The original Japanese release even emphasized this point, with the boss being amazed at Mario’s three-dimensional strength. With the various references and unique backstory hidden in this battle, fans could only wonder whether it would return in the new remake — or if it would be replaced with something new altogether.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the secret battle in the Super Mario RPG Remake!

Does Culex Return in the Remake of Super Mario RPG?

Though Culex doesn’t directly originate from Final Fantasy, his sprite, battle, and music all make various references to the franchise. In the Japanese version of Super Mario RPG, his name was Crystaller, and his appearance referenced the 3D models that the game used for its graphics. Between the crossover content and the metatextual backstory, it was still unknown if Culex would return as he was in the now-fully-3D remake. But now, there’s been full confirmation on whether he’s truly coming back.

As revealed in a Japanese trailer for the game, not only does Culex return, but he even retains his old 2D sprite. This retention extends to his crystals and his music, as well, making the fight about as faithful to the original as it can get. The exact steps to get to him are still unknown, but if it’s anything like the original, players will want to get their hands on Fireworks in Moleville before too long. Another question still remaining is whether he’ll also retain his English-translated name, since new translations are among some of the remake’s changes.

Related: Super Mario RPG Remake Release Date: When Does The Remake Come to Switch?

Notably, just after making mention of Culex/Crystaller, the game’s Japanese website also teases an even greater secret unique to the remake. This seems to imply that an even tougher boss battle is lying in wait, which would line up with the game’s post-boss rematches. It’s possible that this 2D foe could get a three-dimensional upgrade of his own…or that an entirely different crossover encounter could appear.

Hot-Hot Hot! is a course filled with many dangerous obstacles. Between popcorn-like enemies and self-heating rocks, players will have a lot on their plate if they want to discover everything they can in this level. As it turns out, there are plenty of mysteries to find within, including an entire secret exit. Anyone going for all medals in the game will want to find this secret exit in Super Mario Bros Wonder.

Hot Hot Hot Secret Exit Location in Super Mario Bros Wonder

The path to the secret exit is found just before the course’s Wonder Flower section. This will show up some time beyond the course’s checkpoint flag, so it should be obvious when you reach the location. You might also want to use the Wonder Flower itself, as it will create a large number of water bubbles. These will cool the rocks around you, allowing you to stand on them for as long as you like.

From the Wonder Flower section, you’ll want to jump from the top-left platforms. The wall you’ve passed earlier isn’t as tall as it might seem at first, and a talking flower will likely alert your presence to the area on top of it. If you aren’t using a height-granting badge, or if you decided to skip out on the Wonder Flower, you might want to keep an Elephant power-up from earlier in the level. This will let you cool the rocks here and in upcoming sections, making it easier to platform your way to the secret exit.

After reaching this top area, you’ll find a set of three floating blocks even further out to the left. These will lead to a special flower that reveals secrets when moving over it. By following its trail, you’ll eventually find the flower replacing one of the heated rocks with a door. This door leads to a dark area with enemies, more rocks, and the secret exit you’ve been searching for.

Related: All Secret Exits in World 3 of Super Mario Bros Wonder

Completing the level normally will lead you to one of World 6’s Wonder Seed houses. Obtaining the secret exit will also grant access to a Break Time level, letting you get your hands on yet another Wonder Seed. This can be helpful if you’re trying to complete the world as fast as possible or if you just want to complete everything possible. Many other courses in World 6 have secret exits of their own, so keep your eyes peeled even outside of this level!

Wonder-Filled Worlds and Characters

The content found in Wonder is fairly sizable, especially when compared to previous 2D Mario titles. There are around 80 main courses to explore when not counting the side courses. Though some levels could be argued to be more gimmicky than others, many of them still have plenty of secrets to find, with a couple of hidden exits and unseen coins rewarding vigilant players. It’s a joy to simply explore the game, and this fact is apparent no matter which character players choose.

There are 12 characters players can choose from in Wonder, with five of them being damage-less options for beginner players. The game isn’t particularly hard without these “easy” characters, but there are still some interesting challenges that they can face alongside the main cast. The fact that they can’t use power-ups makes it impossible to complete certain levels with them, but players are given this warning beforehand, allowing them to plan ahead and see if the trade-off is worth it.

On the subject of the main cast, Daisy makes her first appearance in a mainline title since Super Mario Land, providing some extra variety that wasn’t present in previous games. It would’ve been nice to see even more spinoff-only characters like the Wario duo, but Daisy alone is still a welcome addition after so long with just the core Mario cast. There’s not much variation in the gameplay of the plumbers, princesses, or Toads, leading players to get a more standardized experience no matter who they choose.

The new voices for these characters are also quite competent. Mario and Luigi are still best played by Charles Martinet, but their new actors manage to get a good handle on the brothers’ classic exclamations. This applies to pretty much every character outside of Nabbit, with his “noises” completely changing from previous entries to this one. For such a minor character, though, this isn’t as much of a surprise; what’s there is perfectly acceptable for long-time fans and newcomers alike.

While not playable, the talking flowers in Wonder are the only other major sources of voicework. Thankfully, they also never get worse than mildly annoying with their quippy dialogue. Some players will still want to disable their voices in the options, but most might simply be too enamored with the stages to mind.

Wondrous Areas and Encounters

The level design in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is phenomenal. As previously stated, it manages to reward exploration in a fantastic way, but it also encourages players to explore in the first place. This is thanks to a plethora of new enemies like platform-providing Blewbirds and Missile Megs, as well as new features such as water-like goop and spring-y trees. There are also badges that replace a player’s abilities or allow for increased movement, and while some of them are redundant or questionably helpful, they make for attractive ways to change how a player moves through each course.

The most influential new addition is the Wonder Flower, which changes each stage a player is on in numerous different ways. Sometimes the effects are as simple as enlarging an enemy or two. Other times, the entire level can shift and change, or players will take on entirely new forms. This is where the heart of the game lies, with many of these effects being just as surprising as they are fun. They also make up for Wonder’s disappointingly low number of power-ups and boss battles, arguably the only two areas where the game falls short.

Boss fights in Super Mario Bros. Wonder manage to provide a decent level of fun and challenge. However, in the context of this game, these battles have only a fraction of the creativity. Across eight bosses in total, there are only three unique designs, with one of them hardly even counting as a boss. The other two will only feel far too familiar to long-time Nintendo fans, lessening the impact of these climactic moments immensely. This problem is only made worse by the fact that two worlds don’t even have boss fights in the first place, simply ending with little fanfare. Mario games aren’t exactly known for their boss battles, but there’s so much more that could’ve been done with this one, especially when it feels like the Koopalings of previous titles were far more interesting.

As for power-ups, though the game lacks the wide variety found in previous entries, Super Mario Bros. Wonder makes the most of what it has. The new Elephant, Bubble, and Drill forms allow for more than a few interesting and unique puzzles. With the help of Wonder Flowers, players can still achieve even more transformations, albeit just for sections of certain levels. The variations in gameplay are numerous and enjoyable, with every form offering something new and fun. And yet, there’s even more to enjoy outside of the base game itself.

Wonderful Connections

The multiplayer in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is nothing short of fantastic. By letting go of the competitive aspects from previous titles, Wonder makes for an exceptionally casual experience with friends. This hardly sours the game experience at all, though, instead only offering for more enjoyment when helping each other becomes so simple. This extends to one of the most unique implementations of online multiplayer out there — one that’s almost perfect in execution.

The online features allow players to match up with others randomly on top of being able to invite friends. Getting the chance to explore levels with completely random people in the form of live ghosts is an incredibly charming experience, especially with the additional assist features still being present. Sharing items and sending emotes to others makes for fantastic interactions, and the drop-in/drop-out nature of this game’s online play makes it feel so much more lively overall.

One criticism to be had of the game’s online mode is the connection itself. Unfortunately, a bad connection can lead to stuttering despite players having minimal interactions with each other. This can even break some levels entirely if, for example, a Wonder Seed’s appearance is timed with the level’s music. Nintendo still hasn’t quite cracked the code for issue-free online play, which is quite unfortunate, since it’s easily one of the most fun aspects of the game. Even so, Wonder manages to retain that fun in solo play incredibly well, providing fantastic levels and incredible areas that set a new standard of quality for 2D Mario games.

Final Thoughts

Super Mario Bros. Wonder manages to stand above its predecessors while also being a fun, unique experience for any platforming fan. The game manages to have plenty of challenges even with most of it being fairly easy, and the Wonder Flowers help make up for what few shortcomings the game has. If Nintendo continues to improve on the formulas introduced in this game, it won’t be long before we get a 2D Mario that fully surpasses even the most beloved NES and SNES titles.

Players can find numerous different areas to explore on their journey, with some having quite a bit more content than others. Planning ahead can help with beating the game more quickly, as smaller courses will provide important Wonder Seeds just as larger courses will. By knowing what each stage type has to offer, players can traverse the levels of Super Mario Bros Wonder with the same confidence as one who’s already beaten the game.

All Stage Types in Super Mario Bros Wonder

In nearly every world, there are numerous main courses and side courses. These will all have at least one Wonder Seed and three 10-flower coins. There are also Poplin Houses that will provide players with free badges or Wonder Seeds. Finally, there are shops scattered throughout each world, though players won’t end up in a separate “level” when interacting with them.

Main Course Types

Main courses appear larger on the map and will almost always have one or two additional seeds. If they have a total of three seeds available, they’ll include a secret exit that unlocks another course. These are usually designed as normal Mario levels, but there are some variations. Here are all types of main courses to look out for:

• Basic Course — The most “normal” levels of the game, acting like standard Mario courses. A Wonder Flower usually appears near the end of each basic course, just before the ending flagpole.
• Wonder Course — A course designed almost entirely around usage of a Wonder Flower, with the item appearing near the start and only losing its effects near the end. Numerous Special World levels are part of this course type.
• Palaces and Battleships — Similar to the castles and airships of previous Mario games. These levels only have one Wonder Seed and end in a boss fight. The palaces always feature Bowser Jr. as a boss. The battleships always feature a production line as the “boss” while their Wonder Flower sections always have Castle Bowser attacking the player.
• Final Battle — The last course of the game’s main story. It features no Wonder Seeds and has the player fight the final boss at the end.
• Special World Final Tests — Unique courses putting players through a marathon of the game’s various features. The Final Test has them utilize numerous Wonder Flower forms but only has two Wonder Seeds. The Final-Final Test has players utilize various badges while only having one Wonder Seed, similar to Badge Challenge stages.

Related: Easy Way to Get All Standees in Super Mario Bros Wonder

Side Course Types

Side Courses usually appear as smaller icons on the overworld. Their variations are much more obvious, often having some unique label directly in their name. These are all of the different side course types in the game:

• Badge Challenge — Short gauntlets where players test their mastery of the game’s many Action Badges. There are also Expert Badge Challenges that provide the same tests, but with Expert Badges instead. If the player doesn’t already have the badge provided in each challenge, it will be given to them for free upon completion of the course.
• Break Time — Small areas that usually feature a puzzle or challenge. These levels feature few obstacles and no 10-flower coins. Some Break Time levels offer Tunes from previous Mario games, requiring players collect Wonder Tokens or defeat enemies to the sounds of classic titles.
• Search Party — Small-scale areas tasking players with finding five Wonder Tokens. Some areas require revealing hidden blocks, playing as specific characters, or using certain power-ups before these tokens are revealed. These courses also do not feature 10-flower coins.
• KO Arena — Sectioned-off courses where players must defeat enemies as fast as they can. Depending on how quickly the course is beaten, three 10-flower coins can be obtained at the end.
• Royal Seed Location — An area where the only purpose is to collect a Royal Seed. This “course” type appears in Worlds 3 and 5 in lieu of a palace or boss fight. Re-entering these areas after obtaining the Royal Seed within will reveal a hidden path to the Special World.

These are all of the recurring course types you’ll find on your journey through Super Mario Bros Wonder. If you find yourself having more luck with side courses instead of the main ones, feel free to complete them instead. The Wonder Seeds you obtain will allow you to move further ahead in the game anyway, letting you see the Wonder-filled finale in record time!

Standees are used as part of the game’s online multiplayer, allowing players to rescue each other before losing a life. These playful items include the playable characters in various poses and forms, allowing for some customization in how players show themselves off to others. It’s not easy to get every single standee in Super Mario Bros Wonder, but there are some ways to make the journey just a bit easier.

List of All Standees in Super Mario Bros Wonder

The game has 144 standees, with 12 unique appearances for each playable character. Players will most likely come across the borderless ones more often than not. The silver- and gold-bordered standees reflect the game’s power-ups and Wonder Flower forms, respectively. There aren’t any secret standees to be found, so don’t expect to find unique poses or special characters hidden in the list.

The standee types are:

• No Border (Basic Poses)
  • Jumping
  • Crouching
  • Swimming
  • Posing
• Silver Border (Power-ups)
  • Elephant
  • Fire
  • Bubble
  • Drill
• Gold Border (Wonder Flower forms)
  • Hoppycat
  • Balloon
  • Goomba
  • Spike-Ball

Easy Way to Get All Standees

While most standees can be found from the Standee Surprise section in shops, these are random and have the chance to completely waste your flower coins. Instead, you should head over to the Special World. There, a shop specializing solely in standees is available, offering one for each character at a price of 30 flower coins. Their results are still somewhat random, but they’re guaranteed to give you one standee that you haven’t obtained before.

Related: How to Find the Fast Dash Badge in Super Mario Bros Wonder

You should head to the Special World as soon as possible to gain access to this Standee Shop, especially if you find yourself nearing the limit of flower coins. An easy way to get there is through secret exits, with World 1 having an early path to the shop and World 3 providing the shortest path that doesn’t require optional courses. Be sure to get the standees as soon as you’re able to, as they’re required if you want to obtain all completion medals in the game.

Plenty of courses in the game have a number of secret exits that allow players to unlock new levels and alternate paths. Each world usually has at least one hidden path, and World 3 — Shining Falls — is not exempt from this rule. But the secret exit in Shining Falls is one of the tougher ones to find in Super Mario Bros Wonder, especially for players only looking in the main courses.

Does World 3 Shining Falls Have Secret Exits in Super Mario Bros Wonder?

Interestingly, World 3 doesn’t actually boast any wholly unique secret exits from a major course. In other words, throughout all 6 main courses, you won’t have much luck looking for alternate exits or hidden flagpoles. It does still have a “secret exit” hidden within, but it’s found at the Royal Seed Mansion instead of within a course. In other words, players can only reach this hidden path after clearing the world for the first time.

After using the Royal Seed to take out one of Bowser’s Cloud Piranhas, return to World 3 and re-enter the Royal Seed Mansion. Master Poplin will make another appearance and offer to open up more challenges for you. In doing so, a new path from the Royal Seed Mansion will appear. This path leads to the Special World, allowing you to take on an especially-tough course.

Related: Super Mario Bros Wonder: All Wonder Tokens in Search Party Item Park

The course unlocked through this secret exit is especially tough if you aren’t playing as one of the easier characters. Completing it will grant you access to the Special World’s mainland, which contains a shop that sells standees without the random chance of getting duplicates. You’ll have to visit this area eventually if you want to get 100% completion, so don’t miss out on revisiting the Royal Seed Mansion!

Each Search Party forces players to utilize their imagination and ingenuity to their fullest, and Item Park is no different. The only way to clear it is by mastering the three new power-ups introduced in Super Mario Bros Wonder, and even then, players may find themselves stumped. Thankfully, the path to victory isn’t as obtuse as one might think at first.

Where are All Wonder Tokens in Search Party Item Park?

Each Wonder Token requires the Elephant, Bubble, or Drill power-ups. A pipe at the start of the level will provide an infinite supply of all three of these. The level is structured similarly to the Puzzling Park Search Party, so it might be wise to bring along some friends in local multiplayer.

Drill Wonder Tokens

A Wonder Token requiring the Drill form can be found at the very top of the level. You’ll need to hit a hidden block that you can only see naturally as Daisy, but once that’s revealed, hopping on it will give you enough height to dig into the ceiling and make your way over to the token.

The other Wonder Token needing the Drill form is at the rightmost portion of the course. The only way to reach it is by digging into a moving platform and then burrowing into the eastern wall. Get your hands on this token and you’ll no longer need the help of the Drill power-up.

Elephant & Bubble Wonder Tokens

Though a Wonder Token can be found at the very start of the level, walls block all sides of it at first. To access the token, you’ll need to get the Elephant form and hit the nearby spike ball over to the left. The ball will tear away the barriers preventing you from reaching the token, allowing you to grab it with no further problems.

The other token requiring the Elephant form mostly just needs it due to a lack of other options in the level. A hidden Toadette block with a vine in it can be found on top of a stack of ? blocks, and the only way to get the vine where it needs to go is by smacking the block with your trunk. The vine will lead to your next Wonder Token, allowing you to let go of the Elephant form if you’ve obtained its other token already.

The Bubble form can only obtain one token, and its use will be fairly obvious when you see it. Three Cheep Cheeps can be found swimming behind a wall, and the only way to beat them is by blowing bubbles to eliminate each fish. Taking them out will reveal the Wonder Token.

Related: Super Mario Bros Wonder: All Wonder Tokens in Search Party An Empty Park

If you’ve been completing every course in order, this should be the last Search Party level available. There’s no need to return to them ever again…though this one in particular can be a great place to grab some free power-ups.

While most Search Party levels usually have at least one Wonder Token out in the open, the same cannot be said for the one found in World 3. This area is filled with hidden blocks that can’t be found by simply switching the player’s character. Vigilance — or an extra helping hand — will be necessary to find every secret in this part of Super Mario Bros Wonder.

Where are All Wonder Tokens in Search Party An Empty Park?

Every token in this level is only found by hitting hidden blocks. At one point, players will need to hit blocks that make massive waterfalls appear. These will hide their own Wonder Tokens, so they shouldn’t be thought of as nothing more than modes of transportation.

Pre-Waterfall Wonder Tokens

The first few tokens are easy to find by simply jumping around on the ground. A hidden block near the left wall will reveal the first token.

More hidden blocks can be found near the first, as well as around the first token itself. By hitting these blocks, you should eventually find one that spawns the second token. Other hidden blocks will appear to create walkways, with some of them even spawning moving platforms.

These platforms will provide a path to even more hidden blocks, with the third token being found by riding the rightmost platform and jumping as high as you can. If you have trouble finding these blocks, consider a badge that increases your jump height. Around this platform, you’ll also find a block that spawns the first waterfall, letting you access the token and the rest of the area.

Waterfall Wonder Tokens

At the top of this first waterfall, a pair of hidden blocks can be found. These blocks will spawn another waterfall alongside the fourth Wonder Token. If you try to use this method on the second waterfall, however, you’ll never find the final token.

To progress, you’ll have to hit a hidden block underneath the second stream of water. You’ll likely have the most luck if you wait for the cloud to move as far left as it can before jumping as high as possible. This will spawn yet another waterfall where the same method must be repeated to find the final Wonder Token.

Related: How to Find the Fast Dash Badge in Super Mario Bros Wonder

At the top of the area, the final Wonder Token is revealed through one last hidden block just under the last cloud. This will spawn the Wonder Seed in a shining circle at the area’s peak, finally letting you clear this confusion-inducing course!

Fast Dash Badge Location in Super Mario Bros Wonder

The Fast Dash Badge is found in a Poplin Shop at World 4. However, this Poplin Shop is hidden from the overworld, making it particularly easy to miss even when heeding Prince Florian‘s tips. To reach it, players will need to enter the alcove to the west of the palace. They should find the Poplin Shop just behind a wall, allowing them to purchase the badge as soon as they reach it.

Though the shop is tricky to get to, actually buying the badge is incredibly simple. It only costs 10 flower coins, which is a number easily achievable by going through courses normally. The badge should be purchased as soon as possible since one of its effects also lets players run quickly on sandy terrain. Considering the fact sand is pretty much everywhere in World 4, the Fast Dash Badge is nothing short of a vital find.

Related: Sensor Badge Location — How to Find Hidden Objects in Super Mario Bros Wonder

Of course, the Fast Dash Badge applies to more than just sand. Its speed-increasing properties will let players speed through pretty much any course with a fair amount of control. It doesn’t replace any abilities, either, unlike badges such as Parachute Cap and Grappling Vine. In any level where time is of the essence, few will stand on par with Fast Dash.

The Search Party courses are simple areas with few obstacles, if any. The challenge in these areas comes from trying to find Wonder Tokens, as many of them are either hidden or hard to get to. Super Mario Bros Wonder has three of these levels, but even the first one can make for a tough challenge.

Where are All Wonder Tokens in Search Party Puzzling Park?

There are five Wonder Tokens to find in this area. Three of them are found in the upper section of the course while two are found in the lower area.

Upper Section Wonder Tokens

The first one is on top of some invisible blocks near the start of the level. You can see these blocks naturally if you’re playing as Peach, Nabbit, or Yellow Yoshi.

The second Wonder Token is found in a background area. This area can be accessed simply by using the pipe in the middle of the level, which will let you in even though it’s also dropping Super Mushrooms.

The third Wonder Token is found in the top-right portion of the level. It’s possible to use a badge to float towards the token, but using Luigi will let you discover a hidden block with a vine in it. Climb the vine and you’ll have the token in your grasp without needing to struggle.

Lower Section Wonder Tokens

The fourth Wonder Token is found in the bottom-right portion of the level. It can be reached by falling down the pit in that portion. It’s practically impossible to lose a life in this level, so that should be your first clue to check that pit out for yourself.

The final token is found in a hidden block at the bottom-left portion of the level. You can reach this block by pushing a nearby pipe to the right, giving you enough height to jump into it without a running start. You can see this block yourself if you’re playing as Yellow Toad.

Related: Does Super Mario Bros Wonder have Secret Hidden Characters?

Tips & Tricks for Search Party Puzzling Park (and Other Search Party Levels) in Super Mario Bros Wonder

Later in the game, you’ll get a badge that lets you detect hidden objects, allowing for an easier time exploring these mystery-filled areas. You can also take advantage of the game’s unique multiplayer features, since other players will usually place standees wherever hidden objects are. Regardless, there’s no time limit in these levels, so feel free to scour every inch of them for as long as you like!

This unique entry in the Mario franchise has 12 playable characters. There are even some unique picks in the roster such as Daisy from Super Mario Land. Previous games such as 3D World had some secret characters hidden away for players who were bold enough to beat the main worlds. But can the same be said for Super Mario Bros Wonder?

Are there Secret or Hidden Characters in Super Mario Bros Wonder?

Unfortunately, there are no secret characters to find in the game. Players will all start with the same 12 characters from beginning to end, with none of them being unlockable in any form. While there’s a couple of badge rewards for beating the game, those are pretty much the only game-changing rewards you’ll get.

Players can be sure about this fact by checking the game’s medals. As they achieve certain points of completion, a new medal will be added to their profile when selecting a file. Upon getting every medal, players will have seen pretty much all there is in the game, only to find the lack of any hidden characters whatsoever. In other words, don’t expect some final surprise that’s more than a simple item.

Related: All Worlds & Courses in Super Mario Bros Wonder

Despite the lack of secret additions to the roster, Super Mario Bros Wonder has plenty of bonuses for the already-playable characters. This includes a number of different standees alongside unique Wonder Flower forms, each one having a special design. It’s also not necessary to complete every course with every character just to get 100% completion. You can pick and choose whatever character you want throughout your journey, so don’t be afraid to try everyone at least once!

Like with previous entries, Super Mario Bros Wonder features a wide selection of characters to play as. However, not all of these characters have unique abilities. Some of them have far fewer risks during gameplay than others, making them the clear choice for anyone choosing Wonder as their first Mario game.

Best Beginners’ Character in Super Mario Bros Wonder

While there are five characters to choose from with the ability to avoid damage, first-timers will find the best results with one of the four Yoshis. The Yoshis grab enemies with their tongue and spit them out, allowing them to deal damage to foes in more situations. They can also flutter jump to reach higher areas and ride on each other to assist in local multiplayer, allowing them to perform fantastic feats even without the game’s numerous badges.

Though the game’s store page states that Nabbit can change power-ups he grabs into flower coins, the same is true for Yoshis. In fact, every character can do just that if they’ve filled their reserve slots with the same power-up. There’s no situation in which Nabbit is better than the Yoshis, making him a more “balanced” pick despite still being unable to take damage.

Related: Sensor Badge Location — How to Find Hidden Objects in Super Mario Bros Wonder

Despite Yoshis and Nabbit being the “easiest” picks, even beginners might want to forget about them in some stages. After all, these characters can not use power-ups while Mario and the others can. Some puzzles in this game will be quite a bit more challenging without the right tools, making the easiest characters ill-suited for every task.

Where is the Sensor Badge Location in Super Mario Bros Wonder?

A path to the sensor badge can be accessed as soon as you clear World 3. You’ll have to go through a few courses before reaching it, but all that’s necessary is opening the way to World 5 from Petal Isles. The badge is obtained from World 5 after getting a nearby Poplin to repair the bridge. You’ll receive it for a very low cost, allowing you to start searching for more well-hidden secrets.

Though this badge is practically unmissable, it’s important to note that Worlds 4, 5, and 6 all become available at the same time. Players following normal progression will go through all of World 4 without the Sensor Badge, which is especially troublesome considering how many secrets can be missed there. It’s a wise idea to do things out of order in this context, as you could spend far more time looking for valuable collectibles otherwise.

Related: All Power-ups and Wonder Flower Forms in Super Mario Bros Wonder

The Sensor Badge is able to locate valuable items like 10-flower coins and Wonder Seeds. This detection is fairly limited, though, not always showing the specific path towards a Wonder Seed. Still, the badge can certainly help during the mind-bending Search Party levels and when trying to find secret exits. Grab it early on and find the most hidden secrets before anyone else!