Midas River
The Midas River is a location in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and its remake. It is a large river, and the "Midas" of its name is derived from a figure in Greek mythology, Midas, a king who turned everything he touched into gold.
History
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, when Mario and Mallow are flushed out of the Kero Sewers, they end up being flung down the falls, also known as Midas Waterfall.[1][2]
Midas River's falls are segmented and have the first nonstandard gameplay section. After Toad appears and the player accepts or rejects his explanation, Mario is carried by the downward current. It is possible to swim slightly upstream for a moment so as to slow down Mario's fall. Mario can try to grab coins and Frog Coins appearing all around the surface of the water. Holes are visible behind the waterfall as Mario descends; entering one results in a brief scene playing that can result in the player recovering FP or gaining or losing coins, among other effects. Up to 36 coins can be collected. At the bottom of the falls, Mario lands on a barrel floating in the river. This begins the second nonstandard gameplay section introduced by Toad, which is the barrel-jumping event. It is a barrel-ride to the end, collecting more coins along the way. There are two "lanes," which can be switched between by bumping into barrels. Certain lanes have more coins than others. Bumping into one of the river's irritable jumping fish results in Mario losing coins. In the original version of the game, fish can come only from the front; in the remake, they can also come from behind. Up to 64 coins can be collected. A Mushroom person waits at the course's end, and will hold on to any coins earned on the course. Collecting 50 coins earns the player one Frog Coin. When clearing the Midas River for the first time, he will also give Mario a Koopa Shell. The exit in this small area leads to Tadpole Pond. The bucket in Moleville serves as a warp to the Midas River. If it is accessed this way, the Mushroom person at the bottom of the river will be absent, leaving a note saying that the course is closed for the day; reading the note will give the player any coins they earned on the course to keep.
The background music is unusual in that it uses microtonality; it is written in A-flat major internally but pitch-shifted upward by 50 cents, so that the song as heard uses a nonexistent key between A-flat major and A major. The updated compotion in the remake is played in A-flat major throughout, with no microtonality; this can be observed by switching from the music version from Modern to Classic through the System menu.
Mario and the Incredible Rescue
Midas River is a location in Mario and the Incredible Rescue. Mario, Luigi, and Toad pass through here to reach Tadpole Pond. They get there after falling off the waterfall, an event that later inspires Mario to compose a song on the flute called "Falling Down a Waterfall," which he plays for Toadofski.
Gallery
Screenshot from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Screenshot from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ワイン Wain-gawa Kudari ワイン Wain-gawa ワイン Wain-gawa no Hotori |
Wine River Descent (waterfall) Wine River (course) Wine River Bank (map) |
| Chinese (simplified) | 红酒河漂流 Hóngjiǔ hé piāoliú 红酒河 Hóngjiǔ hé 红酒河边 Hóngjiǔ Hé Biān |
Wine River Drift (waterfall) Wine River (course) Red Wine Riverside (map) |
| Chinese (traditional) | 紅酒河順流 Hóngjiǔ hé shùnliú 紅酒河 Hóngjiǔ hé 紅酒河邊 Hóngjiǔ Hé Biān |
Wine River Descent (waterfall) Wine River (course) Red Wine Riverside (map) |
| Dutch | Midas-Kanaal |
Midas Canal |
| French | rivière Midas |
Midas river |
| German | Fluss Krösus |
Croesus River |
| Italian | Fiume Mida[3] |
Midas River |
| Korean | 와인강 내려오기 Wain Gang Naeryeo-ogi 와인강 Wain Gang 와인강 둔치 Wain Gang Dunchi |
Wine River Descent (waterfall) Wine River (course) Wine River Bank (map) |
| Spanish | Río Midas |
Midas River |
References
- ^ Pelland, Scott, and Kent Miller (1996). Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 28.
- ^ July 1996. Nintendo Power Volume 86. Nintend of America (American English). Page 54 (Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars "Can You Top This?" foldout.
- ^ NintendoItalia (November 13, 2023). Uno sguardo approfondito a Super Mario RPG. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
