Skip to main content

This Super Mario Maker level is the work of a monster

Super Mario Maker The Armageddan Playthrough 2015 12 17
Super Mario Maker has seen an eclectic mix of user-created stages over the past several months, ranging from wall-jumping challenges to re-imaginings of Pokémon games, but there has been one type of level that, naturally has become especially famous: the level so hard that it will make you throw your GamePad across the room. Giant Bomb’s Dan Ryckert has been specializing in these levels lately, and his “Armageddan” creation is the work of a true monster.

As of this writing, the Armaggeddan has 25 completions out of more than 34,000 attempts for a completion rate of .07%. The level was created with the goal of defeating Kotaku reporter Patrick Klepek, who had managed to complete Ryckert’s first two creations, “The Ryckoning” and “The Klepocalypse.” The final installment in the trilogy is as much of a psychological test as it is a Mario stage, forcing you to return to the same area several times, collect multiple “P” switches, and rescue a Yoshi from his spiky prison after collecting a helmet. The completed run shown above took eight minutes to complete, while the world record run was finished in just over five minutes. How anyone has the ability to not only beat this level, but do a speed run, is completely beyond my comprehension.

Super Mario Maker is separating the good from the evil. It shows humanity that there are demons walking among us, and the demons gladly reveal themselves, ready to destroy every ounce of hope we have left until the world is nothing more than 7 billion people in the fetal position. The levels I’ve made (and enjoyed) have been pretty easy, and I can only hope that the darkness never lays its hands on me.

And in case you’re wondering, Klepek could not beat the Armageddan, and Dan Ryckert released a video to celebrate his victory.

A Message For Patrick

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
All hidden chest locations in Super Mario RPG
Toad explaining Hidden Treasures to Mario.

The remake of the SNES game Super Mario RPG is about as faithful as any fan could hope for. The classic characters, locations, combat mechanics, and music are all back in a new and charming graphical style. While there are a few new tweaks and additions here and there, for the most part, the world is just as you remember from your childhood. That includes those tricky Hidden Chests. Just like in the original, a special set of hidden chests are waiting to be found all across the game world, but for those who haven't played the original, you may go most (if not the entire) game without finding them. Hidden chests, in this case, are actually invisible until Mario jumps up and activates them. Mario is a superstar jumper, but even he would get tired of jumping everywhere possible in search of these secret chests. We'll point out where to find all 39 Hidden Chests in Super Mario RPG so you can reap the rewards without pulling your hair out while trying to find them.

We will list every Hidden Chest in the order you should naturally come across them as you're playing the game so you can follow along. However, if you've already missed some, none of them are missable, so you can always backtrack to get any you might have accidentally passed by. You should also equip the Signal Ring to alert you when a Hidden Chest is in your area.
Hidden Chest 1

Read more
Super Mario RPG Wedding Hall guide: Where to find Peach’s crown and other accessories
Princess Peach with a parasol in Super Mario RPG.

Mario and friends have chased down Peach to Marrymore late into Super Mario RPG. It isn't Bowser who has her in his clutches this time, but Booster, who intends to marry the princess against her will. After busting into the church to call things off, Peach's crown and other accessories will be scattered across the chapel. You will need to find every last missing item before the ceremony begins, but they aren't all in plain sight. Here is where to find Peach's crown and all her other accessories in Super Mario RPG.
Where to find all of Peach's accessories

Aside from her crown, you will need to find her shoes, ring, and brooch as well.
Peach's crown location
The crown is the easiest to find since it will be in sight right away. After the collision, the crown ends up resting atop Booster's head standing at the altar. All you need to do is jump on top of him to get it back.
Shoes, ring, and brooch locations
The other three items weren't dropped on the floor, but havebeen collected by Booster's Sniffits. These quick little dudes will be running in patterns around the church and pews, so you need to intercept and speak to each of them. Just talking to them will do the trick -- you don't have to engage in a fight -- so just mash the talk button as you approach.

Read more
5 Square Enix RPGs that need to make a Super Mario RPG-style comeback
Mario. Peach, Mallow, Bowser, and Geno find one of the Seven Stars in Super Mario RPG.

This month has been an exciting one for fans of old-school Square Enix role-playing games, as two of its classic RPGs got impressive remakes. On November 2, Gemdrops and Square Enix's Star Ocean: The Second Story R gave the PS1 cult classic the HD-2D treatment, while ArtePiazza and Nintendo's remake of Square's SNES classic Super Mario RPG dropped on November 17. As both games have rarely been rereleased, it's great to see each getting the drastic modern visual overhauls they deserved.

These are far from the only retro Square Enix RPGs that deserve this treatment, though. Over the past couple of years, Square Enix has shown some love to more obscure classics like Live A Live, The World Ends With You, and Valkyrie Profile. Yet plenty of other games and series are still locked to old platforms. At the very least, they deserve to be rereleased via something like the PS Plus Game Catalog's classic library. If this remake trend is going to continue, these five games should be next in line for the Super Mario RPG and Star Ocean: The Second Story treatment.
Chrono Trigger

Read more