Shifting Sand Land
| Shifting Sand Land | |
|---|---|
 Super Mario 64  Super Mario 64 DS | |
| How to unlock | Clear Bowser in the Dark World. |
| Boss(es) | Eyerok |
| Mission(s) | Super Mario 64 In the Talons of the Big Bird Shining Atop the Pyramid Inside the Ancient Pyramid Stand Tall on the Four Pillars Free Flying for 8 Red Coins Pyramid Puzzle Super Mario 64 DS In the Talons of the Big Bird Shining Atop the Pyramid Inside the Ancient Pyramid Stand Tall on the Four Pillars Tox Box Switch Star Pyramid Puzzle Free Flying for 8 Red Coins |
| Stars | Super Mario 64: Super Mario 64 DS: 
|
Shifting Sand Land is an ancient Egyptian-based course and the eighth course appearing in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. Its name may be a reference to the "Shifting Sands," one of the magical, impassable deserts that surround the Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books. The entrance to the level is in the Mushroom Castle's basement, disguised as a wall at the end of the hall to the left of the painting into Lethal Lava Land. The course has several sand dunes, quicksand, and an ancient pyramid in the center. Klepto the Condor circles the course and attempts to steal the player's cap if he gets near. In addition, this course shares the same music as Lethal Lava Land.
Layout
Main course
The player starts on a stone slab in the sand next to some sand dunes and a Crazed Crate. Up ahead are some Bob-ombs, a Fly Guy, a Pokey, and some Goombas, all around a stone structure containing a few blocks underneath and a red block and yellow block on top. Near this stone structure are a number of circular quicksand pits: one with a 1-UP Mushroom hovering over the top, and one that spawns a tornado if the player approaches. Beyond the stone structure is a maze-like path constructed out of stone blocks over a pool of quicksand with three Tox Boxes flipping around the paths. To the right are a cannon and a red block, and to the left is an oasis with a Bob-omb Buddy next to it. A Warp Point is placed under the palm tree and leads to the aforementioned cannon and red block. South of the oasis are two of the four stone pillars situated around the pyramid, with the other two on the other corners of the pyramid. Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario can run up the sides of the pillars despite them being smooth and near-vertical surfaces. After the quicksand with a tornado is a ramp to the pyramid's entrance, with the exterior of the pyramid having a yellow block and red block, along with a ring of steps that lead to the top of the pyramid. If all four of the pillars have been stood upon, the top of the pyramid explodes and opens a new entrance.
Inside the pyramid
If the player enters the pyramid, they cannot return to the main course. Additionally, if the player loses a life and reenters the level, they are brought back into the pyramid without having to go through the main course again, provided the life lost does not result in a Game Over.
Upon entering the pyramid, the player is dropped into a short hall that leads to either a left or a right path. The left path leads to a 1-UP Mushroom and a Grindel that hops across the platform and can help the player reach another 1-UP Mushroom. The right path leads to the top of the pyramid, where the player has to go through several obstacles to reach the top. These obstacles include Grindels, large gaps, Amps, moving platforms, a Spindel, and a hanging grate the player can grab and swing across. Halfway up the pyramid is a Spinning Heart, which the player can use to recover any lost health. At the center of the pyramid's base is a large sand pit that restricts the player's jumping ability and acts as quicksand.
If the player enters through the secret entrance on the top of the pyramid, they are brought to a fenced lift that moves down through the center of the pyramid. At the bottom of its rail is a hole that leads to a secret room where the boss of the level, Eyerok, sleeps.
Missions
| Mission | Appears in | Summary |
|---|---|---|
 In the Talons of the Big Bird |
Super Mario 64 Super Mario 64 DS |
This mission's objective is to collect the Power Star held by Klepto. |
 Shining Atop the Pyramid |
Super Mario 64 Super Mario 64 DS |
The mission's objective is to collect the Power Star on top of the pyramid's exterior. |
 Inside the Ancient Pyramid |
Super Mario 64 Super Mario 64 DS |
This mission's goal is to collect the Power Star at the top of the pyramid's interior. |
 Stand Tall on the Four Pillars |
Super Mario 64 Super Mario 64 DS |
This mission's objective is to defeat Eyerok. |
 Free Flying for 8 Red Coins |
Super Mario 64 (5th Star) Super Mario 64 DS (7th Star) |
This mission's objective is to collect the eight Red Coins around the course. |
 Tox Box Switch Star |
Super Mario 64 DS | This mission involves collecting the course's Switch Star. |
 Pyramid Puzzle |
Super Mario 64 (Secrets) Super Mario 64 DS (Silver Stars) |
This mission's objective is to find the secrets/Silver Stars hidden in the pyramid. |
Enemies
Eyerok (boss)
Statistics from Super Mario 64
- Total Number of Coins: 136
- Caps Found: Wing Cap (3)
- Spinning Heart: Inside the pyramid, on the fourth level, after the rolling stone, and before the rising and falling platforms.
- Cannons: 1
- 1UP Mushrooms (9):
- Homing Mushroom : #1 In the tree near the lake.
- Static Mushroom : #2 Floating in the air above quicksand right after the starting point. #3 Over the hill left of the starting point, next to the big chain fence. #4 Inside the pyramid, above the Grindel on the left path. #5 Inside the pyramid, above the hanging metal grille near the Amp.
- Triggered Mushroom : #6 Inside the pyramid, appears after the player steps on all five platforms on the quicksand at the back of the pyramid.
- Box Mushroom : #7 On the pyramid near the entrance. #8 Inside the pyramid at the end of the left path. #9 Inside the pyramid, on the back. Can be seen from #8.
- Warps:
- Standing under the palm tree next to the small oasis warps Mario near the cannon on the metal platform above the quicksand.
- Standing just to the right of the hole on the pyramid's second floor (at the top of the pole) warps Mario to the top of the hanging metal grille. This is meant to be one-way, but it can be reversed by standing on the slightly higher edge.[1] It was removed in the DS version.
Gallery
Map artwork
The wall leading to Shifting Sand Land in the N64 version
The wall leading to Shifting Sand Land in the DS version
The starting area in the N64 version
Mario jumping toward a Pokey
Wing Mario standing on one of the four pillars
Mario punching away a Pokey's segments
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Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | あっちっち さばく[?] Atchitchi Sabaku |
Hot Hot Desert | |
| Chinese | 酷热沙漠[2] Kùrè Shāmò |
Extremely Hot Desert | |
| French | Sables Trop Mouvants[?] | Too-Quick Sands (pun on "too quick" and "quicksand"). | |
| German | Wobiwaba Wüste[?] | Wobiwaba Desert | |
| Italian | Deserto Ingoiatutto[?] | All-swallowing Desert | |
| Korean | 앗뜨거!사막[?] At-tteugeo! Samak |
Ahh-Hot! Desert | |
| Spanish | Arenas Ardientes[?] | Burning Sands |
Trivia
- This area appears in the Mario Party 6 minigame Pokey Punch-out, complete with Klepto in the background.
- In the N64 version, the Blue Coin Block inside the pyramid produces three Blue Coins. This is the only Blue Coin Block in the game that produces exactly three instead of four. However, in the DS version, the number was changed to four.
- The name of the 100-Coin Star is Once More in the Pyramid.[3]
References
- ^ pannenkoek2012 (August 11, 2013). SM64 - Reversing a One Way Teleport Glitch. YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ From the score sheet and the star menu of Super Mario 64 DS as localized by iQue.
- ^ Pelland, Scott and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 84.
