The 'Shroom:Issue 225/Fun Stuff
Director's Notes
Greetings, beautiful 'Shroom readers! Welcome into the winter Fun Stuff office! As you might expect, we've been keeping things nice and cozy around these parts. When your team leader is weak to Ice-types, the winter chill is no joke!
I've taken to a very vested interest in cosmic imagery in the last year. Between the motherly moon and the brilliant shimmers of all those stars... there's something magic about that grand expanse, isn't there? I've always been a bit of an astrology girlie, but nowadays I've found poetic inspiration in the idea of hermeticism - the mystic belief that as celestial bodies move above us, so do we move below them. I'm no spiritual guru, but we've thought for generations that those stars have something to tell us. We might as well listen every once in a while, huh?
All that is to say, between the magic of space and the magic of the winter holiday season, there's lots to celebrate this month. Our team is here with our standard suite of sections and a mountain of end-of-year cheer. Please read on, enjoy this space-themed issue, and treat yourself well. We'll see you again in the new year. All the love until then.
Section of the Month
Congratulations to Meta Knight (talk) for placing first with his special anniversary It's aMAZEing! A well-deserved first place, my friend, and it's lovely to commemorate such an occasion. Of course, my further congrats extend to Waluigi Time (talk) and Sparks (talk) for their joint second place! Be sure to vote for your favorites - it's your last chance to do so in 2025!
| FUN STUFF SECTION OF THE MONTH | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Section | Votes | % | Writer |
| 1st | It's aMAZEing! | 8 | 26.67% | Meta Knight (talk) |
| 2nd | Hiding Koopa | 5 | 16.67% | Waluigi Time (talk) |
| 2nd | 'Shroom Quiz | 5 | 16.67% | Sparks (talk) |
Anagrams
Written by: BBQ Turtle (talk)
Hello all, welcome to the last issue of the 'Shroom for the year- our space themed one! I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season, and here's some anagrams to add a bit more puzzling fun! Hopefully this theme isn't too nebulous- it's all sorts of Super Mario Galaxy themed anagrams, hopefully you can Pisces together what the answers are! If you'd like to suggest some themes or anagrams themselves for an upcoming issue, please leave a comet on my talk page or in a PM to me on the forums, and I'll see what I can do to include them! Well, it's time for you to telescope out these answers- hopefully you'll have meteoric success!
How it works...
Basically, this puzzle consists of solving the anagrams. Each month has a specific theme, which will give you a clue about what sort of words or phrases the anagrams will be. I've also included the boxes that the anagrams will fit into, so you'll be able to tell how many words it will solve to be and how many letters will be in each word, which should give you a hand too. You'll also notice that within each set of boxes, one of the squares are yellow. As you solve each anagram, note down the letter which appears in the yellow squares, and if you can solve all of the anagrams, you'll also get a bonus anagram to solve from completing all of the others. I've included the letter configuration for this one at the bottom too, just to give you an extra helping hand. Best of luck!
1. GO GODLY GAG AXE
2. SO UMBER HOME
3. HARMS TORSO
4. HEAVY OXYGEN HAIL
5. NASTY BURN
6. VASTEST FLAIR
7. YOU BAG BAY AXLES
8. ABRIDGED OAT
9. OVERCOME TOY BRATS
10. TAXABLE GLORY TACK
11. RANT DRAGS
12. TAKING IN LEEK
13. WHY COAX BAGEL LAB
Bonus anagram:
- Good Egg Galaxy
- Bee Mushroom
- Starshroom
- Honeyhive Galaxy
- Star Bunny
- Star Festival
- Buoy Base Galaxy
- Toad Brigade
- Comet Observatory
- Battlerock Galaxy
- Grand Star
- King Kaliente
- Beach Bowl Galaxy
Bonus anagram: Ghostly Galaxy
Word Search
Hello and welcome to another thrilling *(citation needed) Word Search! You know what the most important part of Mario is? That's right, power-ups! Hammer, Frog, Fire, Superball. The different flowers and leaves Mario eats to gain powers are the most important part of any Mario game. That's why this month's Word Search is all about Mario power-ups. Words can be found vertically, horizontally, diagonally, backwards, and inside other words. As always have fun and stay safe!
Crossword
Written by: MarioMorty (talk)
This is Crosswords: The Final Frontier. I'm your captain, MarioMorty, and today we'll be cruising across the galaxy, stopping from every place in space to present places throughout the galaxy. I hope your enjoy our cosmic tour and everything else The 'Shroom has to present today. With that, enjoy, and I'm MarioMorty, blasting off again!
Hiding Koopa
Written by: Waluigi Time (talk)
Hello there, 'Shroom readers! We're in space! Well, not really, we didn't have the budget to go to space, but it's the space-themed issue. The Koopas, on the other hand, apparently had no budgetary constraints and are exploring the cosmos. Since Super Mario Galaxy 2 is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, it seemed appropriate to give it the spotlight! Five Koopas are hiding in this artwork from the game, which is four more than the amount that actually show up in the game itself. Koopas haven't exactly had it that good in the 3D games...
Thanks for playing! Did you find them all?
Pixel Personas
Season's Greetings and welcome to the very first winter edition of Pixel Personas! Christmas is approaching, so I've decided to make all three of these subjects be associated with ice! Can you break the ice (or in this case pixels) and reveal their true identities?
New to Pixel Personas? Here's what it's about: Pixel Personas is a game played in three rounds. In each round, I'll show an image of a Super Mario character (this includes enemies), but they're all pixelated! You (the readers) must analyze and identify who these characters are. Each round is tougher than the last, with more lesser-known characters and larger pixels, making it more difficult to tell who it is. After you make your guess, click/tap onhover over the card the image is on to flip it over and reveal the character!
To have a better experiencing playing this game, I recommend grabbing yourself a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows! It's not required though, so don't worry. Now, picture the following text to be said by Santa Claus - go go GO!
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Way to go! Did you experience joy while playing? I hope so! 2025 may be over, but it doesn't mark the end of Pixel Personas! 2026 will have plenty more fun to be had! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Connections
Greetings, beautiful 'Shroom readers! Welcome back to another edition of Connections! I guess this special issue theme is making me completely space out, because I misplaced all of my terms! There's only one thing to do now: sort them back together again! You'll be a serious star if you help me out.
How it works:
Below is a table of sixteen different words, all of them with some sort of connection to the Mario series. These words correlate in sets of four, and it's up to you to figure out which words belong to a set! Work through the grid and decide which words are connected. Once you think you have the answer, check against the provided answers. If you get stuck along the way, feel free to utilize the clues. There's only one correct answer, so be on the lookout for words that feel like they might fit in more than one category. Good luck!
| Metal | Egg | Turtle | Mario |
| Luigi | Dull | Space | Octopus |
| Fish | Boxing | Stone | Macro |
| Fire | Dry | Red | Crazy |
Start with "Octopus"
If you can solve this one, hats off to you!
Gotta get in the zone...
- Octopus, Egg, Boxing, Fire: Game & Watch games with a Mario theme
- Metal, Luigi, Stone, Crazy: ___ Cap
- Turtle, Mario, Space, Macro: ___ Zone (Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins)
- Dull, Fish, Dry, Red: ___ Bones
How did you do? Did you figure out the connections? Thanks for playing!
Where in the Marioverse is Carmen Sandiego?
Each issue, you will be given a case to solve and clues to use to help you find the solution! Use your Mario knowledge to crack the case!
You will begin each case at the scene of the crime, and you will be given three clues from passerby as to where the next hot spot is and what game it’s from. Using your knowledge of Mario games and the Super Mario Wiki, figure out where the crook is and go track them down! There are four locations each round: the crime scene (1) at the start, two locations (2 and 3) with clues, and the hideout for the crook of the month (4). Answers for locations will be given with the corresponding round, for example, the clues from the crime scene will lead you to location 2, and once you open the spoiler bubbles for location 2, you will be given the correct answer. You can open the clues for each location in any order you’d like, but be careful! You may encounter an incorrect clue that could throw you off the case!
Clues offered will give you a hint either about the next location or the game it’s in. Unlike a regular Carmen Sandiego game, you do not have to collect information about the crook you are tracking down.
Challenge round (optional):
-Find all locations and games correctly in two minutes or less
-Find all locations and games correctly without using the rest of the Wiki for help
"We've got a diabolical act of Grinchiness for you to investigate today, gumshoe! We've received a call from Rosalina. Every year, she puts up a small Christmas tree with lights and ornaments for the Lumas, and presents are soon to follow. Just a little tradition from Earth that she's held on to. Well, this year, the tree was set up, the lights hung with care, but before the little Lumas could open their presents, some deplorable crook stole the entire tree and all the presents! We're not sure if it's Carmen or not, but either way, we need to get to the bottom of this and get that tree back before the Lumas have a blue Christmas. It's time to get to work, gumshoe, on the double!"
|
Crime Scene |
The Crime
|
CLUE 1
|
CLUE 2
|
CLUE 3
|
|
Location 2 |
CORRECT ANSWER
|
CLUE 1
|
CLUE 2
|
CLUE 3
|
|
Location 3 |
CORRECT ANSWER
|
CLUE 1
|
CLUE 2
|
CLUE 3
|
CASE CLOSED
HIDEOUT ANSWER:
Tropical Cloud Tower Planet from Super Mario Galaxy 2 
"Excellent work, gumshoe! Your quick thinking helped us track down our culprit. As we suspected, the crook has no connection to Carmen at all- he was an exceptionally nasty Nabbit who thought he could get away with stealing the tree and all the presents. Those magical Nabbit bags are no joke, but we had help giving him the shakedown- Mario heard about what happened and personally came to empty out that bag. Rosalina and the Lumas have their tree and gifts back, and we're setting you up with a nice Christmas bonus for all your hard work. Now, it's time to type up your reports before the Christmas party starts... make sure you arrive full of cheer!"
Musical Quiz
Written by: Ninja Squid (talk)
Hello, everyone! It is your resident ninja with a new Musical Quiz.
First off, I hope you are enjoying the Holiday Special Issue and the journey through space! I also wish you a wonderful holiday, and hope you are looking forward to a new year inkoming and planning some fun stuff too. (look at that, team name mentioned!) No matter what, Musical Quiz will continue to be your reliable source of entertainment, just as always.
Speaking of the Holiday Issue, this month all of the music tracks selected below are themed around space. I hope you will enjoy listening to them, while also trying to figure out from which game each of these music tracks come from! Have a good one!
 Song No.1 | File info |
| Song No.2 | File info |
| Song No.3 | File info |
| Song No.4 | File info |
| Song No.5 | File info |
| Song No.6 | File info |
| Song No.7 | File info |
| Song No.8 | File info |
- Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (The Galaxy Awaits (Main Menu))
- Mario Party 5 (Space Match)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Wii Rainbow Road)
- Super Mario Odyssey (Honeylune Ridge)
- Super Mario Maker 2 (Space)
- Mario Kart Wii (Galaxy Colosseum)
- New Super Mario Bros. U (World: Superstar Road)
- Super Paper Mario (Outer Space)
How did you do? Did you guess them all correctly? Regardless, thank you so much for playing Musical Quiz, and come again next month which is also... next year!
Trivia
Oh I'm so late! I hope Rose sees this before they go to bed! Did you know?
- That despite hit Donkey Kong Country cartoon character Baby Kong originally being a de-aged Donkey Kong in the episode "Ape Foo Young", Baby Kong would make an unexplained appearance in the episode "Baby Kong Blues", now as a separate character?
- That in Donkey Kong 64, the only reason Snide helps the Kongs against King K. Rool is because King K. Rool fired him?
- That it's never really explained how exactly giving Snide blueprints allows him to delay the firing of the Blast-O-Matic?
- That the team that made the original Star Fox and Croc attempted to pitch a Yoshi game for the Nintendo 64, but were rejected?
- That William Plumer was the only elector to vote against James Monroe during the 1820 presidential election? He did it not because he thought George Washington should be the only unanimously-elected president, as is commonly thought, but instead because he quite frankly didn't think James Monroe was a great president.
- That Blarggs were originally supposed to appear in Super Mario 64, with a design similar to that of Super Mario World?
- That Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman! is a reskinned version of the Japanese only released Bomberman GB?
'Shroom Quiz
Written by: Hooded Pitohui (talk)
Hello, all you readers of The 'Shroom! I'm here to give Quizmaster Sparks a holiday break and to give you a test of your memories of November's edition. What's that? You don't think a test is much of a gift? I suppose that's true normally, but this one is just for fun!
As a reminder, I'll provide two hints with every question to help jog your memory. The first hint will be unrelated to the content of issue 224, to give you an avenue through which you can work out the answer without having to pull up the paper. The second hint will tell you which section you should read again to find the answer, just in case you find yourself stuck. Are you ready? Let's begin!
QUESTION #1: DLC for the game Kingdom Rush Alliance was released on September 25th, 2025. What classic 16th century Chinese novel primarily featuring the disciples of Tang Sanzang was this DLC based on?
You may be more familiar with the main character Sun Wukong, otherwise known as the Monkey King, who has partially inspired many popular characters such as Son Goku.
Answer: Journey to the West
QUESTION #2: The Nintendo Independent Wiki Alliance welcomed Wiki Mario as its 41st member. This site covers the Super Mario series in what language?
A selection of 40 individuals known as les immortels make up the organization which governs the standards of this language in its country of origin.
Need to know what language is represented by exactly three NIWA members covering Splatoon, Zelda, and Mario? Check in on Trig Jegman's (talk) NIWA News in Pipe Plaza.
Answer: French
QUESTION #3: Ten years prior to issue 224, Meta Knight debuted as a 'Shroom writer with a maze based on the Super Leaf. To celebrate, he made a maze based on what variant of a Super Leaf that has, to date, only appeared in Super Mario 3D Land?
This variant grants Mario and Luigi a power that was exclusive to the Tanooki Suit in Super Mario Bros. 3, and is named after that power!
Need a roadmap to the section? Well, you know it was made by Meta Knight (talk), and you know it includes a maze, so take a right turn at Fun Stuff to reach It's aMAZEing!.
Answer: Statue Leaf
QUESTION #4: After Mega Man defeats Dr. Cossack, his daughter Kalinka reveals she had been taken hostage by what character?
This recurring Mega Man villain makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Assist Trophy!
Answer: Dr. Wily
QUESTION #5: This power-up, worn by a certain type of enemy in its debut appearance, might be sold with the tagline "When Mario stomps, stomp back!".
This power-up appeared in only one level of Super Mario Bros. 3.
Hop on over to Hint Toad's (talk) Mushroom Kingdom Comics in Palette Swap to get your answer. It's not stated outright, but you can puzzle it out!
Answer: Goomba's Shoe, AKA Kuribo's Shoe
QUESTION #6: The Shifting Sand Land boss Eyerok resides in what structure?
Famously, these structures are found at Giza in Egypt!
Headrest and Inquis (talk) recount their tale of meeting Eyerok in Fake News' Investigative Research!
Answer: Pyramid
QUESTION #7: Music from the course ____ Treeway was included in Mario Kart World. What goes in the blank?
A leaf from this type of tree is depicted on the flag of Canada.
Time for a quiz within a quiz! Listen to question four of Ninja Squid's (talk) Musical Quiz in Fun Stuff to get a clue!
Answer: Maple
QUESTION #8: The Pokémon Appletun can have one of three abilities. These are Gluttony, Thick Fat, and ____?
When your bananas are green and you're waiting on them to turn yellow, you're waiting for them to do this!
Don't let this question go so long that your ingredients begin to spoil! Check Pitohui's Pokémon Academy (talk) in Strategy Wing to find the answer!
Answer: Ripen
QUESTION #9: What aquatic mammal, grouped into taxonomic families like Delphinidae, can be found at Koopa's Seaside Soiree?
While Delphinidae covers ocean-dwelling species, other species of this animal can live in rivers or brackish waters, including a pink variety that lives in the Amazon River!
You don't need to take the trip out to the seaside yourself! TheBlueCatMenace has you covered with The Sunshine Travel Guide in Fake News!
Answer: Dolphins
QUESTION #10: The files of The Thousand-Year Door contain an unused Spinia design themed after a food item. What food item is it themed on?
This fast-food staple is etymologically related to a town in Germany.
This one might take some close reading, but there's an answer to be found in Palette Swap's Die WAH with a Vengeance by ClawgripFan9001. The character Cheesare takes inspiration from this unused design.
Answer: A hamburger
QUESTION #11: Shinji Hosoe, Carlos Eine, and Ayako Saso all contributed to the soundtrack of what 2025 game release?
While narratively advancing only five years, this game actually released twelve years and four days after its prequels!
Get an answer and some thoughts on the title in question from Super Ninelevendo (talk) Entertainment Reviews in Critic Corner!
Answer: Pokémon Legends Z-A.
QUESTION #12: This Mario character disappointed as a boss in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, taking third place in 2025's "Worst Boss Battle" award in the community's ceremonies.
He debuted in Super Mario Sunshine, and is slated to appear prominently in the upcoming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
You don't need a magic paintbrush to conjure up the answer. Find it with the aid of Waluigi Time (talk) in Awards Analysis in Pipe Plaza!
Answer: Bowser Jr.
Well, now, how did you do? Did you vault yourself to a place among the shining stars? Here's a rating scale so you can assess your performance!
- 10-12 points - Shimmering 'Shroom Superstar
- 7-9 points - Planetary Professional
- 4-6 points - Average Asteroid-Dweller
- 1-3 points - Dispirited Drifting Dust
Did you manage to get all twelve questions correct without opening any hints? Well, then go ahead and upgrade yourself to the rank of Superb 'Shroom Supernova! Regardless of how you did, I hope you enjoyed this look back! Now it's time to gaze forward, so enjoy the rest of this issue and have a good end of the year!
