Zikedown: New Super Mario Bros. - World 4

[@zacharylandrum4789]

Once you stop to really analyze the levels, you realize how cleverly designed the whole game is! And that's-a-so nice! :D

[@LightCats658]

clever joke 👏

[@skeetermania3202]

Cleverly designed? I find this hard to believe.

[@Fenyx_Birb]

Honestly the handheld entries in the nsmb series are the better ones, they have much better level design since they're made for only one person, the console entries feel so empty even with 4 players because they have to make the game so open just so 4 players have breathing room, 3d world is better because due to the 3D space, the players have better breathing room and a solo player doesn't feel empty when they play said levels since too much space isn't wasted for breathing room.

[@dmclsl03]

@@skeetermania3202 ?

[@sonicthehedge]

I always felt this game was so special, something that the later new super mario bros really lacked. These video not only has shown how amazing the level design is but also how alot of effort has went on to making these levels fun and unique.

[@DaNintendude]

I believe this was the Mario game to start the "poison swamp" in forests trend. It's really interesting to see how it's handled and looks in different games. In this game it's transparent, like Water. In the most other games it's opaque. In Odyssey it's SUPER thick. Almost like it's pure concentrated poison. In Dream Team it's electrified. In Sticker Star, it's unnatural, and caused by a poison Gooper Blooper. And it gives poison damage instead of instantly killing you. It's quite fascinating to see how far the trope has come since NSMB, and I love seeing what they continue to do with it. _Also Mario should totally moonwalk around those swamps more often_

[@DaNintendude]

Additional comments: -I really hope the Mawrays (eels) return to 2D in the future. Maybe just the small ones though. A stationary water enemy that lunges out to get you when you get near is a fun concept. -Cool to hear the Amps now called "Zappy Ampies". Fun mix of Zaps and Amps. -When I was younger I always thought it was cool that Bowser Jr wore his mask on his face when his behavior was different. It's a subtle, yet useful way to let us know to watch out. - I absolutely adored the Balloon Boo when I was young and would constantly replay that ghost house just to see it. Probably one of my favorite levels to replay in the game. -I remember playing 4's castle a lot too. Maybe because of the Goomba boss, which I guess I just loved when I was a kid. Speaking of the Goomba: the image of Toadsworth just letting a Goomba take a mega mushroom without questioning him about it is priceless. And the revenge plot is even funnier if you consider the fact that Mario didn't have to go to the Forest. If he went to World 3 instead, that Goomba would've never got his 2nd chance. He would've just sat there until the end of the game, wondering if Mario was ever gonna show up.

[@Gulliblepikmin]

So in this game someone just poured grape juice into the water, creating wine. A wine river everybody!

[@jordynisboredyn]

I remember when I was a kid and finally beat the boss battles as mini Mario and unlocking this world, it basically blew my mind that there was a whole another major part of the game that I played to death

[@julianx2rl]

For the record, every block in the game that contains a single coin, will turn into a star if you hit it with a Starman.

[@BirdThatEatsPrometheussLiver]

good to know

[@djroscurro9859]

Ohh so that’s how those sections worked I remember a long time ago getting the star and trying to see how long I could keep it in those sections

[@DefinitivNichtSascha]

That's not exactly true, and you can easily test it in 1-1. There are blocks specifically designated to hold a star when you already have one active but a coin when you do not. Not every coin block has this property.

[@sptflcrw8583]

@@DefinitivNichtSascha thats... what he said

[@DefinitivNichtSascha]

@@sptflcrw8583 No, he said that every block that holds a single coin will yield another star when hit while invincible, which is not true. Some blocks still spit out a coin even if you are under the effects of a star.

[@Nic_2751]

The fact the poison forest was introduced in this game yet feels like it’s always been here.....

[@maccamachine]

yeah it does that’s weird i guess just because by now it’s been around for years

[@austria-hungary7680]

no,no, hes right, its been here for years now (about 15 years 10 months 16 days or 5799 days as of this comment)

[@Nic_2751]

@@austria-hungary7680 ahh yes

[@calebsawyer0719]

Ever since I was but a lass, World 4 has always been my favorite world among many other NSMB titles.

[@MelodyMix]

I love these positive outlooks of the first NSMB game. I consider this game a proper Super Mario Bros 5, it truly was revolutionary for its time! :)

[@fiammaorsmth9840]

This game is up there with Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World.

[@MelodyMix]

@@fiammaorsmth9840 totally agree with that :)

[@fortunateharmony]

I think it's funny that the Goomba's the boss of this world, but something even more funny is to beat him while mini. When mini, you basically do flinching damage to him as well as avoid a rule of three scenario. A funny way to insult the goomba, telling him that mega isn't everything.

[@Some-guy-on-the-internet]

I've been playing this game for 14 years and had no idea the sub-area in 4-4 existed. It's amazing how there's always something new to learn about a game you know inside-out.

[@ElderPrinceShroob]

Me either.

[@dabluepittoo-aqua4213]

A few things to note about World 4 - Triggered my arachnophobia once again (thanks Scuttlejerks) - Did NOT know that one pipe-destroying sub-area existed - Ghost Houses in this game are always epic with it's exclusive goodies - Love how every time there's a star, ZoomZike gets excited. Feels immersive - Kaiju Goomba (Canon Goomzilla?) - THAT'S A SO NICE - We got Weegee boys

[@callisid]

Ah, condensed childhood mixed with Zike's voice and complete over analysis. Just what I needed. Keep it up, Zike!

[@pedronerd8116]

The giant Goomba is definitively one of the greatest battles of the whole séries Not only because it's a overall good Boss battle but for what it represents, it's time to Mario be smashed!

[@austria-hungary7680]

Yes, point on exactly

[@jawadark55]

Fighting it with mini mushroom always felt weird

[@psychic-paranoia8020]

>"A bunch of Scuttlebugs having a good old jamboree." WOOOO! Yeah Baby! That's what I've been waiting for, that's what it's all about!

[@hirulight8927]

To be honest I really like how someone's doing level/ game reviews from a positive perspective. Keep up the great videos!

[@garfeldi7860]

21:44 as someone who hasn’t played the game in, like, 10 years, I’m gonna guess it’s a giant goomba, because I *definitely* remember that being a boss.

[@garfeldi7860]

YOOOO, I GOT IT RIGHT

[@NameExplain]

Loving these videos, keep them up!

[@smflash]

Never noticed the moon walking from the path that's opened by the first secret exit. It may have been a mistake the devs forgot to fix, but it's a funny one.

[@KingYoshi93]

All those well-thought clever details by the developers/level designers that I wasn't consciously aware of. I wonder if that may be what's missing in some of the later NSMB entries and therefore the reason why I like NSMB DS most. The other games sure have great levels as well but sometimes they feel less creative and more as if they were automatically put together by a bot if that makes sense. Anyway, love these videos by you, ZoomZike! I cannot wait for World 5!

[@PinkGoldPeach23105]

I like the progression of this world, the first few levels are more open as if you're entering the jungle since you can see the clouds in the background, while the later levels have you deep in the forest with a much darker background full of trees

[@playaskirbyandwin267]

“Scuttlebugs having a good ol’ jamboree” Thanks zike

[@TheRoguay]

Thought he was sneaky with that one... 👀

[@aguywhoexists4351]

i remember the boss of this world being my favorite mario boss when i was a kid, i completely fell for the bait and switch. not to mention the actual fight, which is super fun, especially if you bring a mega mushroom. i used to play that level over and over just to have another battle with the strongest mario enemy of all time.

[@luckyhydra7597]

You can't believe how much I've wanted this video! This was actually the very first game I ever had and hearing someone gush about the leveldesign is heartwarming

[@Corndog52]

yesss let’s go would love to see level-by-level analysis on other games like maybe mario world; got into some of your 3D mario videos (such as rosalina’s observatory, tick tock clock, and bob-omb battlefield) and really love your takes on gameplay flow and design, keep this shit up G

[@Sly88Frye]

You have to get the mini mushroom to get to the secret exit towards the cannons world 7. That means they remain consistent on how to get to world 7 because normally to get there you have to complete the world 5 Castle as mini Mario

[@starscotten]

Using the warp cannon is the easier, safer, and more effective way to World 7. Why? because Petey Piranha is so chaotic, and one hit as mini Mario is instant death.

[@withnosensetv]

"Up ahead you'll find a couple of scuttlebugs having a good old jamboree" I see what you did there

[@waffle5422]

16:32 "If you make it up to the top of these blocks you can eat up a 1-up Mushroom for your bravery!" *falls off the mushroom and dies*

[@gooseflinger8114]

18:09 Clearly Dorrie is a sponge in disguise, he absorbed so much of the poison river from 4-1 that he grew in size.

[@jamaalwairegi8546]

Hi ZoomZike! I'm really liking this series! It's nice to listen to someone geek out about clever level design, while also learning some tips myself. I'd like it alot if you gave your own ideas on how enemies or platforms could be used or point out where you disagree with the developers' level design more often. Good job!

[@carsonmartin9195]

ZoomZike is definitely my comfort creator. I always find myself either putting his videos on while I study for class, or if I’m trying to fall asleep I’ll just put one of his videos and just watch til I fall asleep. Truly Thank you Mr. ZoomZike for making such amazing content!

[@zkitty11]

lmao 16:34 "you can eat up a 1up mushroom for your bravery" (falls into the bottomless pit trying to get the 1up, doesn't even get it)

[@bakubread9308]

To answer the little Boss Quiz Question of sorts, it took some thinking back on my childhood-- back on when I repeatedly killed every boss mini in hopes of finding a secret-- I initially thought Petey Piranha but I remember him having an ice floor, and then I thought maybe a giant wiggler? But was that even a boss? Yet no, if I recall correctly, it is a Giant Goomba. For some reason.

[@dairhat]

I really thought it would just be Bowser Jr. then I saw the boss room, and I screamed "OH THE GIANT GOOMBA!"

[@bobbob1876]

I think the boss is gonna be the weird four-dinosaur-on-a-ferris-wheel-thing guy.

[@NineQuestionMarks]

SPOILERS FOR 4-CASTLE (Yes, really.) It does make perfect sense for the boss to be a comically large goomba. The proto-Mario world structure was introduced in Mario 3, where the toxic swamp was instead replaced by Giant Land, a world of giant enemies. Other toxic swamps have kept up this theme, such as the giant wigglers in NSMBWii or all the larger enemies in this world (Big Dorrie, Big Eels, Big-ish Boo, etc.) Plus Goombas do have some theming as a forest enemy. They're based on chestnuts and mushrooms, both things you find in a forest, and their relatives, the Galoombas, were introduced in Super Mario World's Forest of Illusion.

[@nomadprime5669]

I remember that when I was a kid, one of my friends said that the poisonous swamp water was alcohol, and that Mario was dying from alcohol poisoning.

[@hugoflores1093]

I remember playing this game for the first time in 2018 when it was a common trend that this series became so stale But i was honestly shocked on how well it was designed for casuals and Hardcore players and that each level did something unique, it was a blast and you are giving it the justice it deserves my dude

[@crazyscout0827]

Ok but like this series has been amazing so far. Seriously keep up the good work man!

[@Following1000]

0:30 Why must you hurt us like this Zike? At least Dorrie's friend Plessie was able to find a spotlight to shine under whilst they were absent. You gotta love the beeg goomb.

[@GlawiPawi]

I used to play this game a lot when I was younger and I didn't know about the mini sub-area in 4-4 and also never noticed that moonwalk glitch. Great vid as always Zike!

[@soronexle2681]

I've been waiting for another episode in this series, but oh man... that breakdown of the Mega Goomba is fantastic. Incredible writing making something so pitiful like a Goomba sound terrifying or epic.

[@Winasaurus]

I swear, that one level in world 5 where you go down the pipe and there's a billion blocks that's perfect for the mega mushroom better be mentioned. That was my favorite life-farming spot as a kid. Also there's coins on top of there, off the screen. Such a minor reward for backtracking to the top of a platform that goes nowhere.

[@NotXcalibur]

Another great addition to this series! Childhood story: I always thought the poison was actually soda since I never drank soda as a kid and I imagined that's what it looked like. The thing is, I kept this thought all the way up until 3D World where I actually recognized it as poison. I still think the idea of Mario being hurt by soda is a bit funny.

[@werecatqueennic864]

Well...he can be killed by chocolate in Super Mario world

[@AltairYoshi]

Funnily enough, the forest world in NSMBU is called Soda Jungle! Perhaps you were onto something lol

[@tanookimariorocks]

Been almost a month since last upload

[@EeveeTheEevee]

Just wondering, will you be addressing challenge mode in any of your breakdown videos? Potentially after world 8 seeing as thats a prerequisite to using it? Additionally will you mention some of the smaller details such as being able to use Star Coins to buy wallpapers after defeating Bowser? Thanks for this series, it's really interesting to see a more in-depth discussion as to how nsmb's levels were created, and I honestly never noticed a lot of the pretty smart decisions the devs made when it came to level creation such as introducing mechanics.

[@hellishangst]

Oh :O the ghost house alternative route via the blocks is so cool!! I would expect nothing less from ghost houses, they always tend to have like cool little things like that

[@Naito9874]

Having played this game a lot from the age of 4 to 8, I remember doing all sorts of challenges, with the one I remember the most being "Boss Rush - Mini" and "Mini-journey" (basically finish levels while being mini until you finish the last castle), and I was especially curious about W4 boss while being mini because of how being mini works. I was not disappointed. I'm also amazed at how much details I remember about this game, and about the wiggler around the donut blocks ? I used to think it was to make you focus on yourself more because if you tunnel vision on the wiggler's movement without moving you'd fall (which did happen to 4 years old me).

[@Danominator]

I absolutely love how you render these in 4:3

[@why3994]

Zike thank you so much for coming out as an extinction rebellion member with your new channel banner and profile pic

[@zoomzike]

Not sure if joke or not, but I've been using this icon since early 2018, before that extinction rebellion stuff

[@ninjagoon817]

World 4 the Jungle world was that one world I always wondered how to get to. Once I did I found it was such a great feeling to actually explore, definitely tougher then the previous worlds but still fair. The cool unique levels, the purple lava of poison, great secret star coins locations, the bomb bomb sections, and nessie somehow eating a mega mushroom in between levels, just some really cool stuff. 13:24 Is that how you were supposed to get there, I could never really figure that and 15:32 out haha, also I like how the secret canon of this world brings you to the other unlockable world meaning there are two ways to unlock it. I always used the mega mushroom when it came to the mega Goomba, it just felt right and I like how the developers knew I would try that because all it takes is a simple jump on the Goomba once to damage. Another great analysis Zoom 👌 24:14 Is that a certain background ending code for a secret character I see 👀

[@naryosh_]

I remember figuring out that you needed the mini mushroom in the world 3 boss fight to even access world 4 and I felt like a mastermind. I had been trying to get into world 4 forever and I wasn't able to use the internet back then.

[@Stbaa77]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention Jr taking his mask off when hit by a shell while hiding in his own.

[@lrgogo1517]

Correction: The staircase in 4-5 is made of _breakable_ blocks. Though, I'm not sure what's so cool about that either way, since there's no Bob-omb in the vicinity...

[@Chris-mc2dt]

I never knew about the mini mushroom bonus area in 4-4! Love these zikedowns so much

[@maccamachine]

hell yeah new video i love this series

[@deepfriedmilk9890]

While balloon boo doesn’t appear much in this game, he actually has a plush, my brother had it as a kid.

[@BryanPlush]

The goomba backstory was so good lol

[@bellhop_phantom]

21:04 you can just hear how much fun he's having with this lmao

[@noysam3570]

It's pretty cool how you need to know how to damage enemies with mini mario before reaching this world. As a result you also know how to defeat enemies way bigger than you, like the goomba boss

[@YourContractHasExpired]

I guess I should really play this game, you make it sound really fun to explore. I guess I can't even count these review videos as spoilers since I have a really bad short term memory.

[@itz_bluemicaplaying3214]

This game already looks amazing from my perspectives and this is when nintendo took a big step in the smb series. I don’t have the game yet, but I could buy it to play in my 3DS soon.

[@dogscratch]

You know, with the whole 'stronger variations of enemies' boss theme, I can't help but wonder if perhaps this world's castle was originally supposed to be world 1's final level, since a Goomba is about as basic as an enemy gets, perfect for the very first world, and it essentially getting the mega mushroom treatment is a nice parallel to the first level of the game in which you, the player, do the same. Maybe the devs needed to establish the "death" of Bowser early on, so ended up pushing this castle down the line? I dunno, just a thought, I could be wrong lmao, great video by the way, I love watching through these and seeing all the clever work that was put into this game

[@p0gamerhdgames6]

I love these videos. The nostalgia makes me feel so relaxed and happy.

[@somekinnn]

This is really small, but the stairs at the end of 4-5 are the blocks that were only breakable by bob-ombs, not the bob-omb unbreakable blocks.

[@nari4481]

I never knew World 4-4 had a bonus Mega Mushroom area. I believed the game only had 3 Mega Mushroom items in ? blocks

[@dinosibonjic2915]

The first level of world 4, you can make it to Dorry without touching the grond qnd without the mini mushrooms, basically jumping on enemies till you get to dorry, fun little challange

[@Moss_Dude]

I'm incredibly disappointed you didn't mention the glitch in the ghost house that lets you stop time.

[@aliceelayrin]

God damn these videos and this game is so simply great man love the bitesize level mechanics and simple fleshed out ideas

[@loganv5251]

I know tons of people have been commenting this, but I love this series so much!! It brings back great nostalgia and is super fun to watch all of the levels in a more analytical way!

[@firemario8126]

Sorry to say this but, you can kill the Balloon Boo by being Mario Koopa. Also, for the Mega Goomba fight, you can avoid him just by being on one of the corners of the arena, his head is so big than he just cannot hurt if you stand on the corner.

[@Dante...]

Glad I'm not the only only one who brought a mega shroom to the goomba fight.

22:30 This is the humor I subscribed to! I love it! HE IS MEGA

[@cosmic6084]

I just got caught up with this series yesterday and I’m loving it! ❤️ thanks for your hard work

[@callmeobsequious]

That theory about the last boss tho... Game Theory could never. 😶 Another great Zikedown, man! :)

[@callmeobsequious]

"Last" boss LMAO that's not what I meant.

[@drakath5727]

22:00 A gigantic goomba? I know at least one of these is one because i remember fighting one in this game.

[@yoshimallow]

I always found it interesting just how many enemies and other characters appear from Super Mario 64. Unagi Eels, Amps, Wigglers, Whomps, Skeeters, Scuttlebugs, Sushi, even Dorrie. (also i legit own a plushie of a baloon boo)

[@cloudycloud7666]

Wait... THERE'S A BALLOON BOO PLUSHIE!? WTH I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE!

[@rowan4327]

It's because they reused a bunch of assets from Super Mario 64 DS to save development time

[@Sly88Frye]

Yeah I know I'm commenting twice, but I'm just confused by the fact that I'm seeing Paratroopas behave the opposite. It's always been that the red ones fly vertically and well of course green ones normally jump but the ones that do fly do in fact fly horizontally, but all the sudden I see at 4-A that the red ones are flying horizontally and the green ones are flying vertically. Why did they change the rules? 😂

[@jordy_de-zee]

5:57 i like how you controlled Mario like he was surprised of the lava rising 12:44 "after a spectacle like that" *ground pounds many paratroopas above a pit to his game over*

[@Mizuukuu]

I really like how the mini mushroom was handled in this game. World 4 feels quite a bit more challenging than 3, and considering the fact that the way to access it is to beat a boss with the riskiest item in the game, it makes a lot of sense I know it sounds obvious that 4 would be harder than 3 but they were split paths both accessible from world 2 so- But yeah the mini mushrooms effectively become a skill check which I love

[@menemy4700]

14:17 A boo buddy made his mind to end his own life and successed.

[@SoujiaSoldierKitty]

"Skuttlebugs having a good ol' jamboree..." Aye. I see dat reference, sneaky bastard. >=)

[@WiiFan-1300]

1:52 LOL I never knew that! Thanks so much (and for everything else honestly)!

[@millertime97jm]

Here's something interesting: When I played through 4-A for the first time, I didn't realize you were supposed to stand on the platforms to get them to move, so I did a lot of daring running jumps and bouncing on enemies to cross the gaps. I actually managed to beat the level this way, and still occasionally do it as a little challenge.

[@ColinJoesseppiVEVO]

That’s why The Mega Goomba is my favorite boss in the game. So many children must’ve been terrified when they first saw him in 2006.

[@Dashiell777]

Fun fact if you use the mini mushroom on the big goomba boss and grown pound him it will take 9 hits to beat him instead of 3

[@zzzheyko]

Really enjoying this series thus far. You have an excellent voice for explaining the immaculate details about each element of these levels. Really hope you do one of these for other games in this series or maybe even ROMhacks like Newer SMBDS

[@Adriethyl]

I will forever think about poison water as soda thanks to that NSMBU level.

[@blazzbdank26]

I love your commentary bro❤️❤️

[@presidentrevelle3391]

I really like these videos, now that I think about it. I can actually sit and watch the whole thing because I’m so interested in the level analysis. I’m looking forward to the next one.

[@TheGlaiveDominatrus]

Me when I saw masked Bowser Jr: WHAT IS THAT???? Bowser Jr: Don't worry I'm just social distancing *proceeds to yeet koopa shell

[@memedemerde6955]

In 4-1 you can get around 8 lives by jumping on every enemy until the dorie section

[@Arial55555]

When I was a kid, I beat the W2 boss as mini on my first playthrough, thinking it was the intended method. I mean, not only is it easier to avoid the bullets if you're tiny, but the MASSIVE jump boost makes it SO much easier to get on that thing's head! However, after several days of running out of lives before being able to save my progress at the W4 tower, I went back to the W2 castle to try and unlock W3. I had such a hard time of beating the boss as regular Mario (since I was a much bigger target and had much jumps to reach the boss' head with) that I had to pocket a Fire Flower, save it for the end of the stage, and then spam fireballs whilst praying I didn't get hit at all before the pokey went down. But I did it- and the W3 levels were a paradise by comparison. I refused to finish W4 for some time (I think I waited for post-game, when saving became part of the menu). Also: Bowser Jr and Peach DO hop out of the W4 castle and run to W5 if you send them there the first time you beat W2. It applies that way to W7 too, I think. Basically, if at any time you beat a castle, and the animation for entering a world for the first time (Jr and Peach running to the first tower) has already played in that next world, they won't hop out of the castle, and Mario will go alone. This applies to cannons too, I think- if you shoot from W2 to W5 and trigger the W5 cutscene, and then go back to chase Jr out of W2 and then beat the next world's castle of your choice, they won't hop out when you beat it, since they were already spotted in W5- even though you clearly just chased them through the world you were just in.

[@bowserdude5998]

Fun fact: you can also kill Balloon Boos if you have a Blue Shell powerup ;)

[@TheCD123]

Hi there, not sure you’ll see a comment after this vid has been posted for so long, but I really like your style. Your excitement, passion, and thorough look at things Makes for a really enjoyable watch. Thanks for being you!

[@zoomzike]

Thank you :)

[@vinnywhyte4264]

Love these videos

[@PaxtheDreamer]

Okay, taking the challenge. It's been YEARS, but I remember right the final boss of World 4 was... Some kind of giant acorn Goomba? EDIT: Well, 2/3 ain't bad.

[@BirdThatEatsPrometheussLiver]

Loving these vids :) Makes me want to play NSMB again

[@Nauriek]

A bit of a shame you didn't acnowledge the fact that you can get rid of the dry bones in the castle by being brave and sliding on the swinging platforms

[@noysam3570]

17:55Isn't those block the same that you could break with bobombs earlier in the level?

[@thereptiliani27]

Thanks for the pannenkoek reference =)

[@Maciiuwu]

It's just been great video after great video lately! Keep it up!

[@EmperorSarco]

Finding and playing this world for the first time was magical as a kid.