Minus World: Difference between revisions

The '''Minus World''' is a [[glitch]] level found in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' It is an underwater [[level]] exactly like [[World 7-2 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 7-2]] in geography and enemy locations that cannot be finished due to the pipe at the end being glitched and taking the player back to the start, meaning that once there, it is [[Unwinnable state|impossible to leave]] without getting a [[Game Over]] or resetting. The glitch got its name from fans because the world-level screen displays as '''World -1'''. This is because of a glitch in the panels displaying the numbers. The Minus World is actually '''World 36-1''', but the game displays a blank graphic for the number 36, so all the player can see is the -1.<ref name=world36>[http://www.transmissionzero.co.uk/computing/mario-minus-world/ Minus World] Accessed 2009-01-04 "The 'Minus World' isn't a secret bonus level, and in fact isn't really numbered "−1" at all. The level is actually numbered "36–1", but the number "36" happens to be represented by a blank tile in the game. This gives the impression that the screen reads 'World −1'."</ref>

Another method of reaching the Minus World involves Mario breaking two blocks on the ceiling, leaving the one on the far right. He should move to the far left end of the pipe and jump to the right. He does not have to duck as he can try to hit the bottom left portion of the block (without actually destroying the block). This should glitch the game, allowing Mario to get through the pipe and wall, but doing it this way is potentially more difficult and time-intensive.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgohnDkyTZM A video of the glitch performed (without ducking), on YouTube]</ref>{{dead link}}

===Family Computer Disk System original===

In the [[Family Computer Disk System]] version of ''Super Mario Bros.'', the Minus World is accessed the same way, but it is very different in design.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2i-QOsBpw A YouTube video of the Japanese version of the Minus World]</ref> World -1 is just like [[World 1-3 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 1-3]] but with underwater gameplay (despite lacking actual visual water) and featuring bizarre elements such as multiple floating [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstools]] that have no hitboxes, a floating headless [[Bowser]], a misplaced [[Hammer Bro]], as well as all objects using the "underwater" palettes (that is, green is replaced by gray), causing odd visuals.

This marks the only instance of an underwater [[Goal Pole]] (without the flag), which can easily stop the game from progressing if touched too high; if reached halfway down or lower, this flagpole will actually take Mario to '''World -2''', a level identical to [[World 7-3 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 7-3]]. However, if Mario is to die on this level after passing the [[checkpoint]], he will spawn beneath the bridge there, causing him to instantly die again, the process repeating until the player receives a [[Game Over]]. There is finally a '''World -3''' after this level; World -3 is a version of [[World 4-4 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 4-4]] that lacks its [[fake Bowser]] and maze elements, is colored underground, and is filled with flying [[Blooper|Bloober]]s that can be stomped for 1,000 [[point]]s. This weakness is otherwise unused due to Mario having different physics underwater, though it does appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. In addition, upon the player completing the level, although Toad's message of ''"Thank you, Mario! But our princess is in another castle!"'' still plays, Toad himself is missing.

Beating World -3 takes the player to the title screen. If the player starts the game again after going through the Minus World, it will replace all [[Goomba]]s with [[Buzzy Beetle]]s and will be like [[Hard Mode]], as if the player cleared the game.

The Minus World can be entered in ''Super Luigi Bros.'' found in ''[[NES Remix 2]]''. Like the rest of this mode, it is mirrored so Luigi has to swim from right to left.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSngR733xdE Minus World in ''Super Luigi Bros.'']</ref>

*The game actually has 256 worlds in total; however, worlds past 8 and 0 (World 0-1 is an underwater version of World 4-4) are glitched and reuse pointers from other levels in the level data. The Minus World (36) is the only one that can be accessed legitimately in the Western versions. These levels caused a rumor in Japan where a lightning strike on a [[Family Computer]] is said to create a ''Mario'' level never seen before, thought to be part of a secret World 9 (9-1 is an underwater version of World 6-2 that requires waiting a little to complete). However, the other glitch levels can be accessed in the Japanese version due to differences in the Family Computer hardware.<ref>[http://legendsoflocalization.com/super-mario-bros/misc/ Legends of Localization Super Mario Bros.: Miscellaneous]</ref> Most versions also feature differences in those glitched worlds, be it different enemy placement, differently placed levels, as well as completely new ones not available on other ports. [[World 9 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 9]] in ''The Lost Levels'' was inspired by this glitch.