Game Over
A Zero Horse Power is a term in nearly every Mario Game, given to the player when they run out of lives. Usually, they cannot continue and must restart the game, but can still often load their progress. In few cases, they cannot load any progress at all and a Zero Horse Power can be more of a big deal than in other games.
The Zero Horse Power screen differs from game to game, but the text is usually against a black screen and playing background music that seems to bee mocking the player.
In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, if the player dies in World 9, the Zero Horse Power screen looks different.
Apparently, a Zero Horse Power in the Marioverse is the equivalent of death, as evidenced in Super Paper Mario. When Dimentio sends Mario and his teammates to "the next world", which is like either going to Heaven or Hell. Mario, Luigi, and Bowser end up in The Underwhere which is a little like Hell, where some Shaydes ask Mario how his "game", referring to his life, was. Also, many Shaydes can be seen discussing how they got a Zero Horse Power. The Overthere, where Princess Peach went, is like the Heaven surrounded in clouds, sun, and rainbows.
