[SMBX2] Captain Toad: Prism Star Quest

[Mr Existent]

Oh no way there is a captain toad episode? Definitely checking this one out.

[FutureNyanCat]

NEW LEVEL! - Malware-Me Mass Attack
When Captain Toad is transported into the Cyber World through the networking systems of Automaton Elysium, he finds himself on the run from a computer virus named Malware-Me, who so happened to copy his looks and movements! This is my episode's counterpart to Treasure Tracker's Mummy-Me, which is a similar entity.

I started full work on this level for a week after the release of the reveal trailer for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie. I can say the movie is one of the main reasons why I'm slowly motivating myself to continue working on Prism Star Quest with the help of my fellow team members.

Spoiler: show

[FutureNyanCat]

Hey everyone, I'm really busy with exams, but I'm excited to let you know that a new team member has hopped on Team Starshroom as a level designer for Prism Star Quest. SuperAlex has finished two new levels for the project, and will be working on more as I speak. More power, more teamwork, more fun!

Additional update:
So another big thing besides the new team member additions, the episode is becoming more than just a minisode as I speak. I'd like to confirm some things to the public:

World Map System
- Like with most episodes, a world map system will be featured, using SMWmap.lua by MrDoubleA. One notable thing about it is that it's going to train me to finally work on proper world maps in the SMW format, and second, it will organize the levels a bit better than what Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker usually does. (having arbitrary-themed levels set in random orders)
- A majority of the levels are complete, and a few more are to come. There are 8 worlds to organize them, and each world has 3-4 levels, making it a pretty easy task! I'd like to confirm that Spotcap City has become its own world, as well as Pyropuff Peak, which will be expanded further than its original appearance in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
- A Warp Zone has been confirmed, this time it's going to span a single level, with all warps leading to other worlds. Each warp is unlocked as Captain Toad progresses further in the episode.

Bosses
- Like in CTGTOS, the episode's going to have boss splash transition screens, each with their own unique artwork (based on Paper Mario-styled artwork) in addition to a unique boss subtitle. It's gonna be formatted in a similar fashion to the boss splash screens in Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, combined with the WARNING text and sounds from Mega Man X/Zero. The splash screens are to help the player anticipate the upcoming boss battle, especially if they're not familiar with how Captain Toad moves.
- Bosses are split off into their own levels, similar to how they were handled in Kirby's Adventure and modern Kirby games, as well as 2k1x Subzero Heroes. No need to go all the way through an entire level just to find and beat the boss.
- Bosses are relatively simple, having about 3-5 hits per boss. They'd also get tougher attacks as the player progresses during the fight.
- There are 8 bosses per world. Fun fact btw - Bowser and Kamek are NOT bosses. But I'd like to confirm King Boo is one of them.

[FutureNyanCat]

NEW LEVEL! Infernal Fringes Frolic
Captain Toad has set (hot) foot into the volcanic outskirts of Pyropuff Peak! While on his blazing return, he has to contend with Fling Blocks, Magmaarghs, Podoboos, Draglets, and other fiery enemies awaiting his path!

Spoiler: show

[FutureNyanCat]

New video is out - the full gameplay video of Operation Iron Mouse - the Ironmouse crossover level, is finally out. Depending on how you see it, it may be spoilers or not, so make sure you're ready!

Spoiler: show

Also we have a bunch of levels created! If you want to contribute, the floor's still open.

[FutureNyanCat]

Massive Catch-up Update:
It's been a while, but here's a summary of all new updates that were posted from late 2022 to early 2023! Here's some of the new levels created by members of Team Starshroom:

FNC2002:
- Fire Flower Tundra focuses on Captain Toad's ability to use the Fire Flower, and will be the first and only source of Fire Flowers in the entire episode. Fire Flowers can be used as an assist item to help Captain Toad navigate through the level without being hit by enemies, but this level purely focuses on its mechanics, including melting ice and dealing with pesky Cooligans.
- Sky High Snaking is a sky level that focuses on Snake Blocks, and uses SiIvaGunner's Kirby's Dream Land 3 soundfont cover of the SMB3 athletic theme. And there's four types of Snake Block to find, each at different speeds!
- Wood Cutter Clamber sends Captain Toad climbing upwards through a giant tree, while performing some tricky egg tricks like it's Dude Perfect! It also sees the return of the Stumper enemy from Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

Spoiler: show

SuperAlex:
- Can Canyon is a bonus level where Captain Toad dives into a landfill full of... you guessed it... cans? Some odd creatures have decided to inhabit the Can Canyon, from can-throwing Spikes to even giant living cans that spray pellets of soda or even soda clouds to obscure your vision.
- Burnin' Bops in the Sneaky Sky sees Captain Toad on a mission through a sky fortress filled with fiery enemies. You might find some familiar Cuphead enemies in this level, especially Firemarchers, so be careful and don't forget to bring your Ice Balls!

Spoiler: show

MegaDood:
I wonder what that crystal level is for...

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Prism Emerald:
In cooperation with FutureNyanCat himself, Prism Emerald has designed the Pipe-Vine Greenhouse, a Super Mario Odyssey-inspired greenhouse level featuring hazardous Piranha Plants, Volcano Lotuses, and Trapdragons. This level is one of the few to feature music from Shovel Knight Dig, that being the theme song of the Secret Fountain ("Thermal Vent").

Spoiler: show

[FutureNyanCat]

All aboard the SQUISHY REXPRESS! The first new level of 2023 (barring the late release of Fire Flower Tundra), Captain Toad boards the Squishy Rexpress, the main attraction of an amusement park he's in. However, things go off the rails really fast when it is discovered that Kuroku the Raccoon Thief is trying to sabotage the train to slow down Captain Toad! Can you stop the runaway train?

This level features voice acting by FNC2002 for... Kuroku himself! You might've heard these new voices in the Starshroom Discord server.

Also starting with these screenshots, retroResolution.lua by PlumberGraduate has been implemented, so now almost the entirety of the game is now rendered with 2x pixels properly, even darkness, particles, and weather effects!

Spoiler: show

[FutureNyanCat]

NEW LEVEL - Achromatic Darklands
Captain Toad has arrived on a mysterious island, rumored to the final place where the Prism Star is stored. However, he is soon greeted by a mysterious monochromatic storm that has washed out the colors of the surrounding areas and caused everything to become near lifeless. Determined that he's so close, Captain Toad must trek through the Achromatic Darklands.

This is part of the final world in Prism Star Quest, which remixes past gimmicks from other levels! So far, the level's confirmed to feature the return of Thwomps & Thwimps (Mash Mountain), Mutant Vines (Pipe-Vine Greenhouse), Firebars (Spinturn Sizzle), and more.

Spoiler: show

NEW TEAM MEMBER!
Suckerman7 GM, the creative mind behind Super Mario & the Star Prisms, has joined Prism Star Quest's level designing team! We're almost done doing all the levels, and he's also here to help!

[FutureNyanCat]

NEW LEVEL - Bustling Bramble Gambol
This level was originally developed by Prism Emerald around the start of the episode's development last August 2022 (and Team CTGTOS getting together to making levels). Themed around brambles, I helped him with the aesthetic and enemy additions, and even turned it into a tribute to the bramble levels seen in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest! Zingers, Hammer Bros, Munchers (of the Double A Batteries variety) and Piranha Sprouts take center stage as well.

Honestly, you could already guess what the music is going to be.

Spoiler: show

[bradpitt]

Wow this project looks so impressive.