The 'Shroom:Issue 127/Palette Swap
Director's Notes
Hi, everybody! I hope you're as ready for the release of Super Mario Odyssey as I am! If it's half as good as Breath of the Wild was, we are in for a real treat.
As always, we have room for new writers! If you'd like to join Palette Swap, we'd love to hear your ideas. Send your completed application to Tucayo on the forums, and if you have a question about a section, you can ask me on the forums. Palette Swap is also open to fan art as well, so if you have a piece of fan art that you'd like us to feature, send it in!
Please enjoy the wide variety of sections we have for you this month! ~FunkyK38
Section of the Month
This time around, Yoshi876 (talk) wins the vote for his What's on the Box? section about Yoshi's Cookie! Thank you everyone for voting, and please do keep it up for this issue as well!
| Palette Swap SECTION OF THE MONTH | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Section | Votes | % | Writer |
| 1st | What's on the Box? | 11 | 44% | Yoshi876 |
| 2nd | Ongoing Fan Projects | 6 | 24% | The Pyro Guy |
| 3rd | Featured Character Artwork | 5 | 20% | Chester Alan Arthur |
| 4th | Take Cover! | 3 | 12% | Henry Tucayo Clay |
What's on the Box?
Hello readers, and welcome back to What's on the Box.
It's Halloween(ish), and so this month I have decided to take a look at one of the scarier games out there. And why's Super Mario Odyssey scary, you ask? Because of all the collectables that you will spend the rest of eternity attempting to collect, especially the ones on high ledges that you have the faintest idea how to get it, but each time you try, you fail... Ahem, where was I?
Ah yes, the boxart for Super Mario Odyssey, and I have a lot to discuss. The boxart is divided up into five separate parts, each showcasing a screenshot from one of the various kingdoms. And if you didn't notice, the way they're framed is like photographs. It's almost as if Mario is showing us his holiday snaps. Speaking of Mario, as him and Cappy are the main characters of the game, they take centre stage.
The kingdoms featured are Metro Kingdom (centre), Cascade Kingdom (top left), Luncheon Kingdom (top right), Lake Kingdom (bottom left), and Forgotten Isle (bottom right). And each of them feature Mario doing something different. Also, judging by the skeleton dude on the left side, it looks like Sand Kingdom is also there
In Metro Kingdom, Mario is throwing Cappy, as they both have left the Odyssey. A T-Rex can also be seen, and judging by the fact that Mario hasn't possessed it, it can be assumed that Mario hasn't seen it, because who wouldn't be a T-Rex is they ever got the chance? In Cascade kingdom, Mario is all decked out in explorer gear, while some parrots fly nearby. In Luncheon Kingdom, Mario is doing battle with a Chef Hammer Bro.. In Lake Kingdom, Mario is swimming underwater near a Cheep Cheep, though with that rubber ring, I have no idea how he's staying underwater. And in the Lost Isle, Mario has possessed a Goomba Tower.
This is a really good boxart, it shows off the game's wide variety, from its worlds, to its clothing to even its enemies. I'm struggling for ways to improve, so maybe Mario's nipples? I mean, doesn't everyone show off their beach bod when on holiday?
Mario's Boombox
Written by: Hooded Pitohui (talk)
Greetings to all of our ‘Shroom readers. I hope all of our readers are enjoying their October. I decided that this month, the section should feature a song which fit the theme of Halloween, so ghosts, demons, death, and fears of all sorts were fair game. As I looked over my options for this month, I realized I had a huge number of songs which would work. This in mind, I decided that, rather than give you a full analysis of one song, I would provide you with shorter notes about four different songs. That being said, we ought to jump into looking at these four songs.
After August’s Pokémon song, we’ll start off this month with … another Pokémon song, specifically, “Destiny Bond” by TrickiWi. Named after the Ghost-type Pokémon move, this song shows off the tricky and malicious nature of Ghost Pokémon very well. Looking at the lyrics, its rather clear that "Destiny Bond’’ is ultimately a story of power and trickery. The narrator (presumably an unidentified Ghost-type Pokémon) uses Destiny Bond to flip the hierarchy of power when confronted with a more powerful foe. The chorus is really just a drawn out and poetic description of the effects of the move Destiny Bond. It feels fitting though, as it’s exactly the kind of thing that a Ghost-type would do. Ghost-type Pokémon have generally been portrayed as pranksters who revel in trickery and enjoy taunting their foes. The song highlights how Destiny Bond can radically shift the power dynamic between two Pokémon. Fitting the nature of Ghost type Pokémon, the narrator taunts their foe and reminds them of who’s really on top in the situation with lines like, “I‘ve never really thought of what I could do / with a little touch I could crush you if I wanted to.” While the narrator makes it clear to their foe that they’re in command of the battle’s dynamic, they do make a hollow gesture and state that “I’ll be polite and wait just for you.” Ultimately, the narrator ends their little psychological game with a blunt warning, telling their foe that “You’ll learn to fear me.” At the conclusion of the song, the narrator once again taunts their foe with the fact that their own actions will bring about their downfall, inquiring “Is it your destiny to cause your own misery?” The last line of the song has the narrator confidently requesting that their foe “take your move because you’re coming with me.” Just like the move it’s named for, “Destiny Bond’’ revolves around turning the tables on your opponent using a nasty trick. All in all, it’s right in line with Ghost-type Pokémon, who use moves like Destiny Bond, Trick Room, and Will-O-Wisp to trip up their foes and ruin their strategies. The accompanying artwork and subdued but high-pitched instrumental contribute to the mood of the song, but if you would prefer a different take on the song, I would recommend checking out the “Glitchop Mix”. It’s a remix which is a bit faster paced and incorporates elements of Lavender Town’s original theme. In any case, that about covers “Destiny Bond,” so let’s move on.
The next song is a bit simpler than the other songs which have been featured in this section, but I’ve included it because it’s still a fun song which fits this month theme. That being said, take a look at Brentalfloss’ “Game Over Tinies.” This is a simple song which, well, I think the first chorus summarizes the aim of the song well enough. As the lyrics go, “Game Over, Game Over / Everyone’s game ends eventually. / Game Over, Game Over / Let’s count the ways, from A to Z.” If it’s not clear enough from that, this song looks at the various ends which famous videogame characters have met over the years, arranged to show one form of “Game Over” for each letter of the English alphabet. The song has a catchy rhythm which easily gets stuck in the listener’s head, cute accompanying comics which illustrate the many deaths depicted, and references to well-known videogames from the arcade to modern PC games. For fun, I recommend you test your knowledge of video games and see just how many of the references you understand. In a sense, I see this song as the gamer’s memento mori, a reminder that, no matter how skilled you may be or how hard you might try, at some point you’re bound to see that Game Over screen. There isn’t much more to say on this song, so I’d recommend just giving it a listen and seeing what you think.
This next song really fits this month’s theme well. “Twisted” by Nathan Sharp is an intense and unsettling song about fear, spirits, and despair. Normally, this is where I would provide a full analysis of the song, but I would like to try and keep this month’s section at a somewhat reasonable length, so I’m just going to point out a few interesting bits from the song Now, the context of the song is truly important for understanding its lyrics, so I highly recommend that listeners find out some detailed information about Ocarina of Time’s Forest Temple and give the song a close listening afterwards. The song itself is about Link’s experience in the Forest Temple of Ocarina of Time. Rather than, as one might expect, the song being told from Link’s point of view, the song is actually narrated by the Mini-boss of the dungeon, one of the four Poe Sisters, who seems to be tormenting Link with the song. These undead sisters impede Link’s progress in an already eerie and complex dungeon filled with skeletons, ghosts, and other such creepy creatures. The lyrics of the song refer to the dungeon as the “home where ghosts dwell” and makes note of the “shadows crawling on the ceiling.” Further, the Forest Temple is filled with puzzles and has an unusual and confusing architectural style which includes twisted corridors, rooms which can be rearranged, and rooms which can have their orientation altered. Add on to this the fact that the Forest Temple is the first dungeon which Link traverses after a seven-year time skip in which the evil king Ganondorf had conquered Hyrule and spread suffering throughout the realm, and it’s not hard to see why the Poe Sisters would assert that “You can’t light this world of darkness.” and that “This world, it isn’t worth the saving.” The song is a great interpretation of the Poe Sisters’ character, and the lyrics of the song communicate the sense of despair and fear which they try to instill in Link. The lyrics and rhythm of the song captures the feeling of going through the Forest Temple extremely well. While I haven’t provided you with a full analysis of the song here, I highly encourage you to listen closely and perform your own analysis of the song.
The final song which I want to share with you this month (there’s actually a lot of others, but let’s save the rest for the next October), is “Go Back” by Andrew Stein. This song connects to this month’s theme in a direct manner, being inspired by the popular horror game series Five Nights at Freddy’s, but it also connects to theme in a meta sense which I’ll explore a bit more near the end of the article. This song is a reflection on the Five Nights at Freddy’s series, and captures the enjoyment which its fans experienced. The song’s narrator expresses a desire to “go back and … relive the time we thought we'd die” and longs for the thrill of the fear which the games provided. As the narrator notes, “my blood is pumping but I've never felt less alive. / I wish that I could go back to night number five.” Having finished the game, the narrator recognizes the feeling of being alive which fear and stress provide in a unique way which other emotions just can’t. The song is wonderful and I encourage you to give it a listen and analyze it for yourself, but I would like to examine it in light of this month’s theme. Ultimately, the song communicates the idea that we all appreciate a good scare, and that the tenseness and stress which our fears produce enliven us and reminds us of our dynamic, living nature. Fear reminds us of our ignorance and our vulnerability, and, while that might not sound like the most pleasant part of the human experience, there’s an undeniably enjoyable vigor we associate with being scared. I would say that “Go Back” captures this idea very well, and it should serve as a musical reminder of why we embrace and celebrate our fears at this time of year.
With that reflective note out of the way, that brings this month’s edition of Mario’s Boombox to a close. I thank you for reading all the way to the end and I hope that, even if you got tired of my rambling, you enjoyed the songs featured here this month. I know this was a different approach than usual, so please don’t be afraid to let me know what you think of this section. On a final note, I have something quite special prepared for December. It’s again, going to be a little different, but, at the heart of it, I’ll still be providing you with some great songs about the Wii U. Until then, all I can do is express my hope that you all enjoy the rest of October.
Take Cover!
Written by: Henry Tucayo Clay (talk)
HI, everyone! I'm your passionate Statistics Manager, Tucayo, here with your monthly dose of Take Cover! Last time I centered a section around a specific artist I had a blast, so I figured, why not do it again? The band I have chosen to dedicate this section to has been active and has had the same lineup since 1976, a feat few other bands can match. They have released 13 LP's and have won more Grammys than any other band in history, they have sold over 150 million records, and they have the most attended and the highest grossing tour ever. If by now you don't know who I'm talking about, I may as well already tell you: it's U2. Loved by many, hated by some, there's no denying U2 is one of the most influential artists of all time, and they are still going strong 41 years after their debut. I want to thank the good people at U2gigs.com for being a great resource for this section.
And sadly, I must mention another tragedy before closing my section, the terrible earthquake that hit Mexico on September 19th, claiming the lives of 370 people and injuring more than 6,000. This natural disaster occurred on the anniversary of the 1985 earthquake, which took over 10,000 lives. During the aftermath of the earthquake, the best of our people came forward. People sending help from all across the country, strangers risking their lives to save strangers, and people who have nothing donating whatever few things they had. This is my Mexico. Stay strong.
| The 'Shroom: Issue 127 | |
|---|---|
| Staff sections | Staff Notes • The 'Shroom Spotlight |
| Features | Fake News • Fun Stuff • Palette Swap • Pipe Plaza • Critic Corner • Strategy Wing |
| Specials | The 'Shroom Killing Game: Goodbye Poochy |
