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Luminescent

Super Mario World Hacks → Luminescent

Submission Details

Name: Luminescent
Author: TheBourgyman
Added:
Version History: View
Demo: No
Hall of Fame: No
Length: 16 exit(s)
Type: Kaizo: Intermediate
Description: A moderately hard hack.

"Mario retreats to the Chroma Isles, in hope of spending some time off. But strange, deadly blocks start falling from the sky and littering the landscape. He embarks on a quest throughout the archipelago to find out what is the cause of all this."

Luminescent is meant to be a fun challenge for the kaizo enthusiast who seeks to delve into tougher territory, while still being firmly intermediate in nature. It is ASM heavy, and features a plethora of custom stuff while keeping the familiar aesthetics and playability of the original game.


This hack features:

- Fast travel and retry
- A linear path with no secret exits
- A save system that keeps checkpoints and collectibles
- Light trolling, but no cheap tricks such as hidden blocks
- Two endings (Any% and 100%)
- Lots of ASM trickery.

Thanks to Chondontore, Ezel, FerpyMcFrosting, Halscion, Mithrillionaire and Om_nomnom_nomnom for their assistance in making sure this hack is the best it can be.

-----

Updates (See the text file in the archive for more details):

v1.02 (2021-12-07)

- Bonus stars can now be saved
- Removed some sprite jankery and streamlined a few obstacles
- Made some setups slightly more speedrun-friendly

v1.01 (2021-11-10)

- Speedrun mode added
- Minor fixes such as loosening some sections, making some colours more contrasting, or improving setups
- Fixed a potentially game-crashing bug in the last level
Tags: asm bosses chocolate gimmick hdma intermediate less efgfx lore multiple endings music secrets story
Comments: 35 (jump to comments)
Rating:
5.0 (18 ratings)
No rating
Download 1.61 MiB | 4,920 downloads

Screenshots

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Comments (35)

red_trochee Link
Wow. From the title screen, to the overworld, to the music, to the level design, to the freakin credits... In an alternate universe, this is an official release in Nintendo's Kaizo line. Thank you for making an absolute delight of a game.
obermedo Link
I'm playing this hack even though I'm new to kaizo. I'm really enjoying the experience! The hack forces me to learn moves that I didn't even know before. The graphics are excellent, the levels very creative!

And finally the OST of this game is amazing!

If possible, I would like to ask the creator to check some runs posted to speed run website, which are from some experienced colleagues that also play this hack. There are runs that haven't been verified yet.
Smackalot Link
Definitely one of the most beautifully crafted games in recent years. The 2022 Hack of the Year winner. The high praise that this game receives is well deserved. If Nintendo were to make a Mario game with Kaizo difficulty, this would be it!

I write the following in the hopes that what I have to say is constructive. It would be beyond reason not to acknowledge the amount of time, dedication, and care that went into making this.

For me personally, I respectfully submit that I found some of the levels to be slogs. No need to pile on but for the sake of feedback some have already mentioned the coinsnake and the stuck to walls level. Oftentimes I was left with the feeling of finally making it to the end of a section with the worry that I wouldn't be able to progress due to some trivial thing I forgot earlier on. This is not a run and go hack. In fact, (for me) it was really hard to make proper reads on what to do on many levels. Which is ok! This is not Momento Mori; it is not that style of hack.

Towards the end I found myself dreading the task of finishing this one but I got it done, and
Pride Land, the secret level at the end
, was extremely fun and rewarding. Ultimately there was indeed a LOT to like about this game. The opening scene that you get to play through was a novelty you don't see very often and was a fun way to start the game. The Yoshi section of Samba de Kaizo was awesome, as was the Yoshi section in Glutton's Grove. Stacked Raceway was also another level I really enjoyed. The final tower was great. The switch palaces also were great, although one was (again just in the opinion of one man) a bit gimmicky and kind of sums up my personal experience with this game: two-thirds offered a lot to like, and parts of the rest just felt frustrating.

Intermediate difficulty but be prepared to spend some time figuring things out on certain levels. I hope anyone reading this really hears my heart on this. I recognize I am in the vast minority here and I promise I am not trying to be negative for no reason and I am not here to knock this game. With so many styles of gameplay to choose from now, this particular one just wasn't for me - and I recognize that that probably says more about me than it does about this hack.

I also recognize that I am a newer member of this community so I won't be submitting a rating on this as I don't feel it would be appropriate. Instead I want to acknowledge that TheBourgyman has put together an incredible work of art here that is loved by many and I for one want to see more of that, and I look forward to future projects.
saucebrune Link
I've been wanting to play this hack for a long time and I'm very glad I did. Definitely a chocolatey hack! Many "custom" gimmicks, but in the end it always feels like Super Mario World (except perhaps for Everwall Corridor (for this one we are completely elsewhere). Bourgyman takes us on quite the journey and even if I winced a little on Wiggly Beach, it was merely a small bump in the road in this very colorful and above all extremely creative hack!

Shout outs to Glutton's Grove - a delicious Yoshi level with fancy P ballons tech - and Ray of Flight a cape level just challenging enough to give me the sting of the cape!

The extras are a perfect frosting on an already very layered cake! CMYK palaces may look super cute, but make no mistake, they really aren't a walk in the park! And finally, the super mega special Pride Land level is a long ride full of custom gimmicks that'll mess with your brains, but manage to still be super fun.

All in all, this is probably the most "fun driven" hack I've played. Some levels just play themselves. The level design, the flow, the colors, in short, EVERYTHING makes this hack a really cool game that I would highly recommend for anyone who wants a more serious challenge. It's not HYPER TOUGH nor impossible that you'll spend 4 hours in each section, but it's not for beginners either.

Bonus points: Bourgy is so cool and way too kind!
TheKazooBloccGosh Link
I just beaten this hack 100% (including moons and
Pride Land
):

It's indeed a kaizo classic, it was challenging yet fair and fun to the player (for example the circular signs). The aesthetics are great! Very near flawless overall!



Rating: 5/5

Skills required (imo):
-Disco shell surfing
-Patched cape turn-around

Adriel_Isaque Link
Nice hack. Can you or have you already made available the OST of the hack?
TheBourgyman Author Link
Yes, it's right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNxUS7jpLx4
Lane Link
i too #wario{<3} coin snakes
Yoshioshi59_ Link
can you put the block that resets the checkpoints on smw central
UghRochester Link
prideLove
kemo Link
Amazing hack, enjoyed every min :)
marthius Link
Challenging hack but for the most part feels very fair. Good step up from more beginner kaizo.
Neuromancer Link
Amazing hack!
SJandCharlieTheCat From older version: Luminescent Link
This is a wonderful hack. Not only it is one of the best of the year, but I think it's one of the highlights of the past 2 or 3 years.

Like other hacks that fit the bill (i.e. Waterworld), it has a very distinctive aesthetic and theme binding its levels together, really making for a coherent game. Very little about the design itself is ever routine, either: there are a number of very interesting levels and gimmicks, including a ton of creative and wild setups — all with a general highly polished and confident feel. The "bonus" material is also a nice touch, making the hack feel even more complete.

If I absolutely had to find something negative to say about it, it'd only be that the visual neatness is sometimes hampered by block overkill at times, or a bit of over-indication. But this a super minor complaint, and something that can be hard to avoid in general.

The most impressive 2021 release by a new creator, alongside MmBeefStew's El Dorado.
jvg From older version: Luminescent Link
Simply brilliant
3dsalmon From older version: Luminescent Link
While there were a few levels that frustrated me (Snake block level, "everything is stuck in a wall" level,) by the time I finished this there was no question that this is one of the best romhacks I've ever played. Thank you for taking what I can only imagine was an ungodly number of hours creating this beautiful and unique hack. Incredible job!
Mithrillionaire From older version: Luminescent Link
Getting to playtest a hack this good was a great honor and a very fun time. It's truly one of the most creative, polished, and gorgeous hacks out there. Thanks for all your hard work on such a wonderful work of art!
Kimota From older version: Luminescent Link
Phenomenal hack. A lot has already been said, but one thing I haven't seen pointed out is how the creator makes tricks that appear to be really hard actually quite consistent, and does this without making the section feel automatic. The Yoshi berry eating level would be frustrating if designed by a lesser creator, because the player would constantly miss tonguing the blue shell or eating the berries. But Bourgyman sets it up perfectly so that it's consistent once you figure it out. Awesome job!
GenMaruo From older version: Luminescent Link
There are few hacks that are instant classics when you play them.
This is one of them, the hard work put into creating this hack is very noticeable, this was absolutely fun to play. Great work

PS: My only regret was not asking you about playtesting it on the smw support discord, I would have played it earlier :(
Final Theory From older version: Luminescent Link
I like the Yoshi coins being turned into SNES controllers. That is brilliant!
Steinthor From older version: Luminescent Link
Originally posted by TheBourgyman
Originally posted by Steinthor
This is such an incredible hack. I need to know though; Is the music for the level "Everwall Corridor" from the NES game FireHawk? I'd love to see a tracklist for this game because these are all amazing.

It's from Rise of the Robots. The whole soundtrack can be found here!



Ah I see! Had I only watched the finale of GPB's series! You're awesome for all of this, thank you!!!!
B2De From older version: Luminescent Link
TheBourgyman...Thank you for making this. It was by far one of the coolest kaizo hacks I have ever played. To see all the love and care that was put into this, deserves it's own level of praise. Amazing work! #smw{:TUP:}
NaxciS From older version: Luminescent Link
Without a doubt, one of the best hacks I've ever played, it has great music, great gameplay, the levels are beautiful, everything is perfect. Congratulations to the creators, it was incredible.
TheBourgyman Author From older version: Luminescent Link
Originally posted by Steinthor
This is such an incredible hack. I need to know though; Is the music for the level "Everwall Corridor" from the NES game FireHawk? I'd love to see a tracklist for this game because these are all amazing.

It's from Rise of the Robots. The whole soundtrack can be found here!

Steinthor From older version: Luminescent Link
This is such an incredible hack. I need to know though; Is the music for the level "Everwall Corridor" from the NES game FireHawk?

I'd love to see a tracklist for this game because these are all amazing.
SJandCharlieTheCat From older version: Luminescent Link
There's so much creativity on display here, in terms of ideas and setups — a real breath of fresh air in an age of extreme kaizo oversaturation.

Easily one of the top hacks of 2021; and really, one of the standout hacks of the last 3 or 4 years.
HammerBrother From older version: Luminescent Link
Hint:
During the castle destruction cutscene, the speech bubble's symbols look like tetris blocks
BadDKSounds From older version: Luminescent Link
WOW what an awesome hack this was. Every single idea is extremely creative and its own unique challenge. While there may have been a couple of parts here and there that weren't my favorite, I still enjoyed the ride regardless. It's definitely clear that a lot of hard work went into this and this inspires me to make a hack myself someday. Thanks for such a fun hack!
ZX497 From older version: Luminescent Link
Amazing hack, has a very unique feel to it when it comes to level design and the visuals. A few sections were a bit annoying, I guess most notably a Chuck-climb section with yoshi that I thought was needlessly tight, getting hit there felt very unsatisfying (EDIT: there's a way to make it consistent by neutraling the d-pad, I did not realise that. Dunno if level could've somehow taught it to me).

The gimmicks the hack utilises are very well realised and tons of mileage are squeezed out of each of them. Unlike a lot of others, I actually really liked the coin snake section too, lol.

Just superb. Essential kaizo for Intermediate+ players.
LuhLSG From older version: Luminescent Link
One Word = AMAZING !!!! GOD JOB!
SteamyPanini From older version: Luminescent Link
This hack is a masterpiece. YOU rule! #smw{:peace:}
om_nomnom From older version: Luminescent Link
This hack was incredibly fun to test, it quickly made it in as one of my favorite all-time kaizo hacks, even playing a pre-release version. It is definitely challenging, definitely on the higher end of intermediate, and has chocolate throughout.
It is clear that Bourgy is an artist, the hack is stunningly gorgeous from beginning to end. If you got a few intermediate hacks under your belt, or are looking for a good challenge to boost your skills, I think you will have fun with this hack.
Jonah_ From older version: Luminescent Link
This hack has a fair amount of chocolate, but I found that it was most memorable during sections with fresh takes on vanilla gimmicks. Unique and original level design throughout, not to mention some outstanding visual and theming choices. Would definitely recommend to players with a few intermediate hacks under their belt. Great work Bourgy. I guess you could consider this a... glowing review #wario{;)}
OnlySpaghettiCode From older version: Luminescent Link
Extremely creative and well made. Definitely a must play for those who enjoy a refreshing challenge.
Ezel From older version: Luminescent Link
This hack was one of the most fun playtests I've done in a while. Lots of unique twists on already existing concepts, and it even had tricks I haven't seen used in other kaizo hacks before. High recommendation.

Some of the levels are not too bad, some can be quite challenging. When I played it, the difficulty sat somewhere in the mid-upper intermediate range. If you don't mind a challenge, but you don't necessarily want to be stuck on a level for hours, I think this hack is worth a shot.