Where Did Those Pixels Go? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Give a 1-Up

Mushrooms feature prominently in the "Mario" series of games across all Nintendo consoles and handhelds. In most "Mario" platformers dating all the way back to the NES game "Super Mario Bros." the green mushroom has indicated a 1-Up for the famous plumber on his journeys.

A moon has also been known to indicate a 3-Up. Red mushrooms are the most common allowing Mario to grow into Super Mario, a point at which he can usually take a hit without dying completely. Later games like "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" included a blue mushroom to shrink Mario in size while yellow has been used in some "Mario" RPGs to denote electricity. Poisonous mushrooms in the "Mario" series are purple.

Answer: Fly

In the original "Banjo-Kazooie" game for the Nintendo 64, Kazooie never left Banjo the Bear's blue backpack. Most of the collectible items in the game were for the red breegull waiting in the wings. This included the flight-inducing red feathers, the invincibility-allowing gold feathers, and the blue eggs. Red feathers could be found for the first time in Treasure Trove Cove, the second stage of the game, where Bottles would also teach the titular bird character how to use the flight pads scattered throughout Grunty's Lair.

In the second game, "Banjo-Tooie", Kazooie could take off on her own, without Banjo, and without using flight pads.

Answer: Treasure chests will appear on the map

Compasses are either a player's best friend or are left by the wayside. Link can find Compasses in the treasure chests of dungeons much like he can find Dungeon Maps. While Dungeon Maps will give a clear outline of a dungeon, the Compass will populate the rooms with treasure chests yet to be opened, large or small.

In addition, in some games, when Link has the Compass and he enters a room containing an unopened treasure chest, a notification sound will alert Link to the possibility of spoils to loot.

This alert will not sound if an item is to be dropped by an enemy or found in something other than a chest.

Answer: Portal

A unique little puzzle game from the creators of "Half-Life", "Portal" became critically-acclaimed after its release due to its unique portal-themed puzzles and dark humour. Throughout the game, the protagonist is pushed through the Aperture Science Laboratories with the promise that there will be delicious cake waiting at the end of the trials.

By the time the player gets more than halfway through the game, numerous references to the cake being a lie are already running amok and it becomes quite obvious that perhaps something more sinister is at play. No cake is actually seen until the end credits have rolled.

Many persist that "the cake is a lie" nonetheless.

Answer: Ness

Ness first appeared in the SNES cult classic RPG "Earthbound" as the main character. Although the baseball bat isn't his only weapon in the game, it is perhaps the most popular in his arsenal of children's toys (including the yo-yo) and psychic powers (for instance, the ability to use supersonic abilities). Along with several other kids, he sets out on a journey across the land to defeat the evil Gigyas. Ness later appeared in "Super Smash Bros." and brought the bat along for the ride.

In the later games, the bat was used for Ness' smash attack and it packs a powerful punch.

Answer: Diddy Kong Racing

In the Nintendo 64 game "Diddy Kong Racing", players could drive into bananas on the race course and collect them throughout each track's three laps in order to boost speed. Although one banana wouldn't garner much of a difference, collecting ten or more would show a slightly significant speed boost over faster players (especially if you're playing as Pipsy or Tiptup, some of the game's slowest). Bananas also play a role in the secret track of the Dragon Forest, Smokey Castle.

In "Mario Kart 64", Bananas are much more negative items. Plays can lay banana peels in front and behind their kart to trip other players up on the track.

In "Diddy Kong Racing", the same thing could be accomplished with oil slicks, mines, and bubbles.

Answer: Raichu

Lightning is best served by electric-type Pokemon from the "Pokemon" video game series. Of the listed choices, only Raichu (who evolves from Pikachu) is an electric type while Jigglypuff is normal-type, Squrtle uses water-based attacks, and Vileplume is a grass Pokemon. Amongst electric-type attacks are Thunder, Thundershock, Thunderbolt, and Volt Tackle. Pikachu evolves into Raichu with a Thunderstone.

Other electric-type Pokemon include Voltorb, Magnemite, and Zapdos. Electric-type Pokemon are typically strong against water and flying-types.

Answer: Three

If you exclude the right arrow, the up, left, and down arrows are the only ones remaining; your typical "Dance Dance Revolution" or "Dancing Stage" platform has only four arrows which can be stepped on in ten different combinations. To play the game, you need to step on the arrows in the on-screen sequence when they reach the top arrow bar. Harder difficulties bring more difficult combinations, faster movements, and more complex dances. Nevertheless, most songs are ceaselessly catchy and for more active gamers, the game is a must-play in arcades. Home versions of the game with thick and thin mats are also available on most newer systems.

Answer: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

"Silent Hill: Shattered Memories" brought the classic survival horror series to a Nintendo system for the first time (though it was also on the Playstation 2) and it created a chilling, new version of Silent Hill players had not yet seen. Although criticized for its combat system (or lack thereof) the game was well-received for the approaches taken by the developers.

For example, using the Wii Remote, the player could point at the screen to illuminate areas with an in-game flashlight. Other games like "Elebits", "Tomb Raider Anniversary", and the WiiWare title "LIT" used the same concept. First person shooters like "Halo", "Gears of War", and others used the same sort of idea in some stages of their respective games, but without the Wii Remote (of course).

Answer: Kirby

In late 2010, Nintendo released a unique Kirby adventure for the Wii entitled "Kirby's Epic Yarn" in which the titular puffball and everything in his fantastical world was made of yarn, buttons, and similar craft materials. Certainly the charming title, the game won many awards and received almost universal acclaim for its intriguing approach and graphics. The first "Kirby" console title since "Kirby's Air Ride" on the Gamecube, it was also a return to form in terms of "Kirby" platforming.
While Mario hasn't been yarn, he has been shown in paper form on several occasions.