The Endless Stairs

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This article is about the musical theme from Super Mario 64. For the actual obstacle itself, see Endless stairs.
"The Endless Stairs"
"The Endless Stairs" in Super Mario 64
The image for "The Endless Stairs" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)

"The Endless Stairs",[1] also known as "Looping Steps",[2] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario 64, where it plays when the player climbs the endless stairs while having less than 70 Power Stars. It is based on the Shepard tone audio illusion and L'escalier du diable (The Devil's Staircase) by György Ligeti.

History[edit]

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "The Endless Stairs", and it returns for the same purpose in the Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It is also included in the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

Super Mario Orchestra Concert[edit]

The "Super Mario Orchestra Concert" series featured a live orchestral medley arrangement of several musical themes from Super Mario 64, including "The Endless Stairs".

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Nintendo 64 1996 Original "The Endless Stairs"[1] Koji Kondo
Super Mario 64 DS Nintendo DS 2004 Original "The Endless Stairs"[1] Koji Kondo
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Nintendo Switch 2020 Original "The Endless Stairs"[1] Koji Kondo

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack 1996 Original "Looping Steps" Koji Kondo

Live performances[edit]

Event Year Location Type Title Credits
Super Mario Orchestra Concert 2018 ROHM Theater Kyoto Arrangement

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Nintendo Music 2024[a] Original "The Endless Stairs" Koji Kondo
  1. ^ Added on December 23, 2024

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 無限階段[1]
Mugen Kaidan 		Endless Stairs
German Schicksals Serenade[2] Serenade of Fate

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Nintendo Music
  2. ^ a b Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack
[Edit]
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a Exclusive to Super Mario 64
b Present in both games, but has different roles in each
c Exclusive to Super Mario 64 DS
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