Deadly quicksand
| Deadly quicksand | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Screenshot from Super Mario Galaxy | |||
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) | ||
| Variant of | Quicksand | ||
| |||
Deadly quicksand[1] is a variant of quicksand created by antlions. Unlike with normal quicksand, if the player character touches it, he will not be able to escape, and he will eventually sink, losing a life.
History[edit]
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Deadly quicksand makes its debut in Super Mario 64 (and returns in Super Mario 64 DS), where it appears in Shifting Sand Land, specifically around the pyramid's outside base and in the Tox Box area, acting as an obstacle. Deadly quicksand is darker than normal sand.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy, deadly quicksand appears in the Dusty Dune Galaxy, the Sand Spiral Galaxy, and Bowser's Galaxy Reactor. Deadly quicksand is darker than normal quicksand and is marked with a skull sign, similarly to poison. In the Dusty Dune Galaxy, deadly quicksand functions as the main obstacle throughout several missions, where the player must avoid falling into the deadly quicksand. In some sections, it is necessary to use tornados, Bone Twisters, or platforms to cross the deadly quicksand. In the Sand Spiral Galaxy, deadly quicksand is found only on the Sinking Sand Planet, where the player must choose between a Boo Mushroom or a Bee Mushroom. Depending on the chosen power, the player must dodge certain obstacles. If the chosen power is lost, the player falls into the deadly quicksand, resulting in an instant life-loss. Finally, in Bowser's Galaxy Reactor, deadly quicksand is found on the sand-covered planet, where it serves as the planet's primary obstacle. The player must navigate various platforms while dodging Fire Bars and avoiding falling into the deadly quicksand until the player reaches the next planet.
Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, deadly quicksand appears only in the Slipsand Galaxy, in the mission "Sailing the Sandy Seas." In the mission, deadly quicksand appears only on the Sandy Sea Planet, where it is the main obstacle. Throughout the level, the player navigates the deadly quicksand with the help of a Sand Bird. However, several obstacles and enemies destroy segments of the Sand Bird, limiting the area on which the player can step without falling into the deadly quicksand.
Gallery[edit]
Deadly quicksand in Shifting Sand Land's pyramid in Super Mario 64 DS
Screenshot from Super Mario Galaxy (Sand Spiral Galaxy)
Deadly quicksand from Super Mario Galaxy 2
Screenshot from Super Mario Galaxy 2
Naming[edit]
The English edition of the Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia refers to deadly quicksand as "quicksand."[2]
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 砂地獄[3] Sunajigoku |
Literally "Sand Hell," but likely derives from 蟻地獄 (arijigoku, "ant hell"), the term for an antlion's sand pit | |
| Italian | Inferno di sabbia[4] | Sand Hell | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Infierno de Arena[5] | Sand Hell |
References[edit]
- ^ Black, Fletcher (2007). Super Mario Galaxy: PRIMA Official Game Guide (Collector's Edition). Roseville: Prima Games. ISBN 978-0-7615-5713-5. Page 199.
- ^ Roberts, Rachel, and Cardner Clark, editors (2018). "Super Mario Galaxy" in Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years (First English Edition). Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books. ISBN 978-1-50670-897-3. Page 137.
- ^ Kazuya Sakai (Ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan) (ed.) (October 19, 2015). Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.. Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. Page 136.
- ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 136.
- ^ Sakai, Kazuya (ambit), kikai, Akinori Sao, Junko Fukuda, Kunio Takayama, and Ko Nakahara (Shogakukan), editors (2017). "Super Mario Galaxy" in Enciclopedia Super Mario Bros. 30ª Aniversario. Translated by Gemma Tarrés. Barcelona: Editorial Planeta, S.A. (European Spanish). ISBN 978-84-9146-223-1. Page 136.
