Mario level that plays itself

Break has a video of "The Only Mario Level That Plays Itself" -- a Mario level where the platforms, monsters, and special blocks impel Mario forward like a ball in a rube goldberg machine, knocking him back and forth and eventually delivering him safe and sound to the end of the level. It's hypnotic and often surprisingly witty viewing. Link (Thanks, Joe)

[#1 posted by madnesscult , September 11, 2007 5:14 PM]

This isn't actually a real level -- it's a moded ROM.

[#2 posted by Draconum , September 11, 2007 5:24 PM]

But holy crap, it's definately genius. I can't imagine how long it took to put that together. Crazy insane.

[#3 posted by Derek Quenneville , September 11, 2007 5:29 PM]

It's also not the only one - Joystiq has about a dozen different videos embedded on this page: http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/22/dont-move-hacked-mario-world-levels-play-themselves/

[#4 posted by SlyBevel , September 11, 2007 6:01 PM]

Yeah, definitely a hacked ROM with a custom level, probably edited with the level editor that got Digged here:

http://digg.com/gaming_news/_Super_Mario_World_level-editor

But is no longer at the link that the Digg points to.

Too bad.

[#5 posted by Anonymous , September 11, 2007 6:28 PM]

They have 3 different ones at CollegeHumor:

http://www.collegehumor.com/tag:perpetual-mario-machine

The one linked in this blog is no. 2.

[#6 posted by palinode , September 11, 2007 6:51 PM]

My brain wants to stop watching the video, but my hand keeps clicking on the replay button. Then my eyes get all involved with staring at Mario as he gets knocked back and forth.

[#7 posted by strider_mt2k , September 11, 2007 7:06 PM]

Great stuff.

Very cool to watch.

[#8 posted by cyberscythe , September 11, 2007 7:34 PM]

It is awesomesauce. I want this ROM, only to load it up and see it for myself.

[#9 posted by Anonymous , September 11, 2007 8:09 PM]

Break also has a much funnier Mario video, aka the level that NO ONE can play:

http://www.break.com/index/super-mario-brothers-is-frustrating-part1.html

[#10 posted by Vorteks , September 11, 2007 8:43 PM]

There's a playlist of 8 here on Youtube, by the same person. The video featured here is one of them.

[#11 posted by Anonymous , September 12, 2007 12:03 AM]

It's certainly a fun and hypnotic video, but the level doesn't fully play itself. There are several jumps that would only work with the controller adding velocity... and at about 2:20, you can see Mario on Yoshi walking to the left on the falling platform just before being bounced away. Sorry if that spoils the fun...

[#12 posted by Stacyj , September 12, 2007 11:08 AM]

Agh, that was marvelous! Delightful and irresistible in the same way that a skillfully contrived domino course is. I especially loved that they got Yoshi involved in that second stage ...

[#13 posted by Funny man , September 13, 2007 4:20 AM]

That's a funny one :D

Great to see!