Super Exoteric/Esoteric Mario Trivia Quiz

Answer: Koopa Troopa

Goombas were the first enemy Mario quarreled with in "Super Mario Bros.", and they were the only enemy he came across in World 1-1. In the underground level 1-2, it was not Buzzy Beetles (their usual hangout) that first conflicted with him there, but green-shelled Koopas early on. Goombas and Koopas were the only enemies at all in World 1 (there were non-sentient Firebars in World 1-4, however).

When World 2-1 came about, Piranha Plants became the third foes encountered followed by Bloopers and Cheep-Cheeps in the next level (the first one under the sea).

Answer: Piranha Plants, Goombas, Buzzy Beetles, Koopa Paratroopas, Cheep-Cheeps, Bloopers with Firebar assistance, Hammer Bro., Podoboo, Bowser

This tough question could have been made simple if the one being quizzed remembered the final regular enemies to get past in the game were a Hammer Brother, and then a lone flaming Podoboo. They were the real Bowser's last line of defense. Of these two, the much greater threat was, of course, the Hammer Brother.

However, the final Podoboo could have been a much huger threat if the player did not defeat the final Hammer Brother, and instead chose to run underneath him during his jump. In such a case, the player would have to act fast, and the only chance to jump to the final platform in the game with Bowser might have been right during the time that Podoboo jumps up. If the player did manage after all that to make it to Bowser with any power-up, then he had just won the game, for even running straight into Bowser would grant post-damage invincibility, and more than enough time to get to the axe and win the game. Of course if the player was good enough to have made it as even more than just Super Mario, but Fire Mario, it would be best to sear Bowser to his doom.

The aforementioned Fake Bowser appeared in 8-4 of the Lost Levels, and without a Fire Flower, he was undefeatable.

Answer: Wario

Wario has by far the longest mustache, but none of the four main Italian characters have the same mustache. Mario's mustache has three grooves on either side of his face. Luigi's has one long groove on either side. Waluigi's 'stache is a long "V" shape on either side, and Wario's is: "WWWW(__)WWWW".

Answer: Chet Rippo

The usurious appropriately named Rip Cheato, who dwealt in the Toad Town Tunnels in "Paper Mario", had a big, bushy beard. The bold, brash, dim Booster from "Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars" most certainly had a big black one. The inscrutable, enigmatic Oaklie of "Paper Mario"'s Forever Forest most certainly had one that Goombario couldn't help but stare at. Mario and this mysterious dweller of the haunted forest were but ships that passed in the night.

The dishonest dastard Chet Rippo appeared in both "Paper Mario" and "Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door".

A magical being, he would upgrade the player's stats for the nominal fee of 39 Coins (usually, claimed he, it was worth 390 coins). However, he failed to notify Mario of the catch: A random other stat would have dropped a level, and due to the stat changes, all badges Mario happened to be wearing would be automatically taken off (even if whatever transpired had no effect on his BP).

His appearance changed dramatically in these two installments.

In "Paper Mario", he was a shady duck-like being donning a purple robe. However, in "Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door", he appeared as a creature with higher scrupulosity with concealed eyes, a barrel for a hat, and a big, white, bushy mustache... but no beard. Therefore, he had no beard in either entries, but he was far more honest in "TTYD", telling Mario that one stat would drop for his services and even allowing him to choose which one did.

Answer: The Cheese Bridge and the Butter Bridge

The Hightail Falls Galaxy immediately called to mind "Super Mario World"'s Cheese Bridge Area and the Butter Bridge. The level even contained music from the game! The only level that may have been more nostalgic from the game would be "The Throwback Galaxy".

The editor of "Nintendo Power" said he "squealed" when he saw Whomp's Fortress in "Super Mario Galaxy 2". That guy gave both "Galaxy" and "Galaxy 2" a 9.5/10 (the former he stated he very much regretted not giving a ten), when we all know both of these great games (and I mean the word "great" in the strongest way possible) deserved a perfect ten.

The Cheese Bridge Area and the Butter Bridge are the parallel bridges of Dinosaur land connecting the Cookie Mountain to the Vanilla Dome above the body of water (or soda?) known as Soda Lake. Mario can't get to the Butter Bridge if he overlooks a secret exit in Vanilla Dome. Mario must face dangerous chainsaws in both of these bridges, and a secret exit in the Cheese Bridge Area leads to a warp in Soda Lake the leads straight to Star Road.

Answer: World 5 of "Super Mario Bros. 3"

Supermassive Galaxy and Tiny-Huge Island are easy eliminations, but the casual gamer may had to have done a little head-scratching before he could remember what World Giant Land was. It was World 4. "Super Mario Galaxy 2"'s Supermassive Galaxy featured by far the most colossal versions of any "biggified" Mario enemy ever.

The Giant Piranha Plants in Giant Land were as easily beaten (a single fireball) as their tinier counterparts, but the ones in Supermassive Galaxy could merely be stunned. The big-as-a-house Thowmps featured in the level were above and beyond the size of any in any previous Mario title.

Answer: Daisy

Tatanga kidnapped Daisy, Princess of Sarasaland, in "Super Mario Land". Tatanga and his warring robot Pagosu later appeared as a guardian of one of the Space Zone Golden Coins in "Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins", a much better but easier game. Daisy did not appear again until "Mario Tennis", and rather than fall for Mario for having been the only one ever to rescue her, she fell for Luigi. Tatanga also appeared in the "Super Mario" comic, "Tatanga Invades Earth", published by "Valiant Illustrated Action Books", with the Official Nintendo Seal of Quality. I am fortunate enough to own a copy of this 1991 comic.

The first thing ol' Tatanga said in the comic was, "Behold, my beloved Daisy-- Another world for me to conquer!" This demonstrates that Tatanga posessess a Napoleonic or Alexander the Great complex.

Answer: Chibibos

How abstruse Chibibos are. They look like Goombas. They act like Goombas. They are easy to triturate, like the kindred Goomba. But they are not Goombas, at least not proven members of the Goomba family. Chibibo is not Japanese for Goomba. That distinction goes to, as the hardcore fans certainly know, the name "Kuribo". Goomba, as you most certainly know, is a nickname for Italian people. Is it because their shape resembles Mario's big Italian nose? They appear to be more timid than Goombas.

In a like matter, Pakuun Flowers look and act like Piranha Plants, and have a penchent for living in pipes and biting Mario. Thankfully, unlike their similar plant acquaintances, Pakkuns can't spit fire. Suus are truly unique, first appearing in the Kingdom of Birabuto.

They are, in essence, hopping tarantulas. One doesn't see that in too many Mario games. And finally, what do you get when a Koopa and a Bob-omb get stuck on each other and begin to woo? A Nokobon, that's who. The rare instruction booklet for "Super Mario Land" I now hold in my hand, describes Nokobons as, "A turtle with a bomb on its back.

It explodes after you jump on it, so be sure to avoid contact." To me, when I originally played "Super Mario Land" so, so many years ago, I couldn't tell what it was. They looked like ants.

Answer: Starship Mario

"Nintendo Power" editor Chris Slate, blasted Starship Mario for being less vast and "less interesting" than the Comet Observatory in his nefarious review, but it is highly interesting, for the way it travels from plant to planet brings back adds that classic "Super Mario Bros. 3" and "Super Mario World" feel to the mix.

Instead of the hub launching you to another world, Mario takes the hub to the worlds. Depending on where the ship is, the background will be differnt. In Worlds 1-2, gulls can be seen flying over the ship, for example.

The corpulent, loveable Lubba is always there to greet Mario, as well there are lots of 1-Ups to be had on Starship Mario. Did anyone play "Super Mario Galaxy" for the Comet Observatory? Nope. The enticing worlds Starship Mario flies Mario too is a testament to the greatness of the ship.

Answer: Mario Zone

The Mario Zone is exclusive to Wario's first game, and lamentably, the only game where he is the main adversary to Mario. That game, of course, is "Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins". The Mario Zone features four levels. One in the statue's shoe, one in his gut, one in his tongue, and the final, in his hat. Rest assured, in no other Mario world will you face Teddy Bears, pigs shooting cannonballs, Toy Soldiers, the works. Gamer or not, the whole world knows Mario and will keep on knowing long after any of us reading this have returned to dust. I weep for that certain day, for I will have no more Mario trivia to absorb. Who will help us on that day, when even saints shall comfort need?