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Super Mario World Beta - Hack Overhaul Preview

Super Mario WorldScreenshots



For a long time I've been wanting to give the original SMW Beta ROM hack I released in 2009 a major upgrade. Several new beta elements have been unearthed, a lot of beta content didn't make it in the original release, my level design skills have improved, and SMW Hacking has improved a lot since then. This thread will show the progress that has been made on it over the last year. My current goal is to release it before the end of 2020. We'll see how that goes.

If you are unfamiliar with the beta of Super Mario World, or need a refresher, you can get a good idea for it at these links:
Unseen64 - Super Mario World
The Cutting Room Floor - Super Mario World
Nintendo.com - Beta Yoshi Graphics

Here are some screenshots of the hack:









Many of the graphics I made originally have been recreated to be more accurate to the pre-release screenshots of the beta. Some more clear versions of known screenshots have been discovered since 2009. One was clear enough to help me recreate the beta Koopa Troopas. I've also been more experimental with palettes on the Title Screen and Overworld to try and more closely match the pre-release screenshots.

Mario's graphics have been improved as well. The Mario Raccoon Graphics are now fully based on graphics found in the SNES Test Program. Small Beta Mario has improved graphics and some new graphics I didn't include before such as looking up and falling. Big Mario also now utilizes the Beta Sprites found in the SNES Test Program. This is something I didn't even realize was different from the final for the original SMW Beta release. The Luigi graphics also include these changes.

All levels have been either heavily modified or completely replaced from the original release of SMW Beta. Levels are now more varied and interesting. The Bonus Game now utilizes the mysterious beta "Cage" Sprite (with graphics made by BMF98567 on Acmlm's Board in 2005). There are now new beta enemies added that were seen in the Beta Yoshi graphics image Nintendo released. Beta Yoshi himself is now also included.

Alongside of the final release, I intend to include a SMW Beta Manual that includes some detailed information on SMW's beta. When I released the original hack in 2009, many players knew things in the hack were different, but not always exactly what changed compared to the final SMW. This will help all players get a small sense of SMW's development history before they go in. Hopefully this will help many players enjoy the hack to the fullest. Here is an example of what the Manual will look like:




"How can I help?"
If you want to help out on this project, there are some things I'd like to solve that I don't have the skills to do. Here's a list of just a few things I'd like to include in this release:

- The "Beta Cage" Bonus Game utilizes Auto Scroll. When the Cage Scrolls, Mario does not scroll along with it when he's standing inside. A fix for this would make the mini game play much more smoothly.
- The end of level Score Card was different in the beta compared to the final. In the beta, it looked like this. Turns out, it's currently very difficult to remap the layer 3 end of level score card in SMW. A solution for this would be awesome.
- In this unused level, it looks like Nintendo was using a version of the Mushroom Scales sprite that defaulted at uneven heights. A sprite that recreates this effect would allow us to play the level as originally intended.
- Dino Rhino has some unused frames where he is assumed to spit a fireball seen in the same tileset. I currently use this sprite to show the frames. This sprite shoots the Dino-Torch fire instead of the fireball though. A version of the sprite that shoots a fireball instead would be perfect.
- The Morton and Roy bosses have unused frames of them shooting fireballs like Ludwig does during his battle. In my original hack, I added a patch which allowed Morton and Roy to shoot fireballs! I have since lost this patch. A new patch for this would be excellent. Thanks Adam!
Projects:
- Game Night - Mario Party 3 Game Board
- 3+World (Cancelled - Download Available)
- Super Mario World Beta (2009)
I still have the morton/roy fileball asm patch in my filebin.

This should be it.

It's nice to see that you're still working on this even after all this time.
Originally posted by Adam
I still have the morton/roy fileball asm patch in my filebin.

This should be it.

It's nice to see that you're still working on this even after all this time.

That was extremely quick. Thank you, Adam! I'll try patching it in next chance I get.

And thanks! Glad to see that you're still around after all this time as well.
Projects:
- Game Night - Mario Party 3 Game Board
- 3+World (Cancelled - Download Available)
- Super Mario World Beta (2009)
Revamping SMW beta, huh? Neat! Can't wait to try it out soon!
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“Even if you personally are so dissatisfied with life that you want the world to end, surely the cruel reality is that it will continue on, unchanging. All the better for someone perfectly content, like me.”
Aya Shameimaru, Touhou Suzunaan ~ Forbidden Scrollery
It's always great to see you posting Yoshi Master. #smrpg{mlem}
SMW Beta is one of my favourite hacks and often go to play it if I am wanting a more Vanilla experience.

It's really great to see you come back to this with the small drips of new beta content we have been shown in the past year.
I'll be looking forward to whatever progress you have to show. #smrpg{y}

you going to implement that weird black enemy with white eyes in some way?
Originally posted by Gregor
I was wondering recently whether or not this was still alive. Good to see it is!

You could use this for the Mushroom Scales I'm guessing.

Thank you, Gregor. And I appreciate the spotlight nomination from you!

I really want this to showcase as much content as possible! I am actually currently using those single Mushroom Scales, which work alright, but offset Mushroom Scales that work in tandem would play more accurately to Nintendo's design. Maybe I'm being picky. #tb{:DD}

Originally posted by kamekku14
Revamping SMW beta, huh? Neat! Can't wait to try it out soon!

Thank you! Hopefully it won't be long. I've been making quick progress in recent months!

Originally posted by 1UPdudes
It's always great to see you posting Yoshi Master. #smrpg{mlem}
SMW Beta is one of my favourite hacks and often go to play it if I am wanting a more Vanilla experience.

It's really great to see you come back to this with the small drips of new beta content we have been shown in the past year.
I'll be looking forward to whatever progress you have to show. #smrpg{y}

you going to implement that weird black enemy with white eyes in some way?

I appreciate that 1UPdudes, thanks. I definitely want to retain that vanilla experience and difficulty so as many people as possible can experience the beta content first hand. I'll definitely try to keep the forums up to date as I make meaningful progress.

I absolutely do want to include those weird black enemies as some kind of secret.
Projects:
- Game Night - Mario Party 3 Game Board
- 3+World (Cancelled - Download Available)
- Super Mario World Beta (2009)
So far it all looks very much faithful to the old magazine scans as well as what we'd expect the rest to be. Just wondering, did you have any plans to reimplement the old unused coin bonuses?
Don't eat the sandwich
Originally posted by RollingRigatonis
So far it all looks very much faithful to the old magazine scans as well as what we'd expect the rest to be. Just wondering, did you have any plans to reimplement the old unused coin bonuses?

Thanks! I'm glad you think so.

By the "old unused coin bonuses", I am assuming you mean the coin bonus code Nintendo left on Wiggler?


Unfortunately, I don't have this implemented. This image is just a test of the graphics from the SNES Test Program. I should probably add it to the list of things I'd need someone else to do. If this coin bonus was on all enemies and coded properly, that would be a really nice addition.
Projects:
- Game Night - Mario Party 3 Game Board
- 3+World (Cancelled - Download Available)
- Super Mario World Beta (2009)
Originally posted by Yoshi Master
Originally posted by RollingRigatonis
So far it all looks very much faithful to the old magazine scans as well as what we'd expect the rest to be. Just wondering, did you have any plans to reimplement the old unused coin bonuses?

Thanks! I'm glad you think so.

By the "old unused coin bonuses", I am assuming you mean the coin bonus code Nintendo left on Wiggler?


Unfortunately, I don't have this implemented. This image is just a test of the graphics from the SNES Test Program. I should probably add it to the list of things I'd need someone else to do. If this coin bonus was on all enemies and coded properly, that would be a really nice addition.


Yeah, I was referring to that. And I think I might be able to help with this one as me and a few friends of mine currently have it fully functional on ours through changing a few hex values and applying the 5UP fix patch.
Don't eat the sandwich
Originally posted by RollingRigatonis
Yeah, I was referring to that. And I think I might be able to help with this one as me and a few friends of mine currently have it fully functional on ours through changing a few hex values and applying the 5UP fix patch.

Oh, yeah! If you've got this working, I'd be very much interested in it! I'd be grateful for the help and I'd be sure to credit you and your friends.
Projects:
- Game Night - Mario Party 3 Game Board
- 3+World (Cancelled - Download Available)
- Super Mario World Beta (2009)
Originally posted by Yoshi Master
Oh, yeah! If you've got this working, I'd be very much interested in it! I'd be grateful for the help and I'd be sure to credit you and your friends.


Okay, so what we did was applied the 5-Up and Goal Fix patch to fix the score display, then changed 13002 ($02:AE02) from 0F to 10 and that seemed to fix the issue with it corrupting the score, thus having it function as once intended. Depending on what sprites you're using that use SP1 or SP2, I'd advise also applying Mario's 8x8 Tiles DMA-er in order to fit the coin bonus graphics. Hope this helps!
Don't eat the sandwich
Oh wow, I remember being super hyped waiting for this to be released like 10 years ago! I'm excited to see this hack revamped again. Can't believe I'm gunna have to wait for this to release a second time. I'm prepared to relive some nostalgia playing through this again.
Very glad too, to see the revamp of this hack. I'm sure this will be a unique and entertaining journey again. #smw{:TUP:}








Originally posted by UltiMario
Oh wow, I remember being super hyped waiting for this to be released like 10 years ago! I'm excited to see this hack revamped again. Can't believe I'm gunna have to wait for this to release a second time. I'm prepared to relive some nostalgia playing through this again.

Glad you're excited! Hopefully you won't have to wait nearly as long as before.

Originally posted by Sariel
Very glad too, to see the revamp of this hack. I'm sure this will be a unique and entertaining journey again. #smw{:TUP:}

I'll do my best to make it fun to play again! I'm addressing a lot of feedback I had from the original, such as lack of different level themes, levels being too linear, and the hack not having a clear ending.
Projects:
- Game Night - Mario Party 3 Game Board
- 3+World (Cancelled - Download Available)
- Super Mario World Beta (2009)
Very cool to still see this being updated with the new beta content that was released after the first hack! Always fun to imagine those alternate realities.
Feel free to visit my website/blog - it's updated rarely, but it looks pretty cool!

Super Mario WorldScreenshots