If you’re anything like me, you spent tens, if not hundreds of hours during the 1990s in front of a TV set playing Super Nintendo games like Super Mario World.
The game is often heralded as the greatest 2-D Mario game ever made, and is still played even 22 years (feel old yet!?) after its original launch.
You’d be wrong, though, if you thought that people were still playing just the levels that Nintendo crafted for its consumers decades ago; throughout the world there are entire groups of people with ROM files and hacked versions of the original game code who are regularly creating new levels, sometimes entire worlds, of their very own.
But why create nice, gentle levels filled with dancing flowers and 1-up mushrooms when you could create the most sadistic, mind-bending stages ever conceived of and force your friends to play through them?
Foreign driver’s license conversion test passes plummet from over 90% to 33% in Japan
Nintendo releases Metroid-shaped ice cube/cooking tray and Samus arm cannon pillow【Pics】
This Osaka laundromat wants to clean more than your clothes; it also wants to clean you
This Nara workshop has been making deer crackers for more than 100 years and offers tours【Photos】
The 10 best Japanese hot spring resorts locals want to go back to again and again
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Kamishibai — the precursor to manga and anime?
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Japanese company will tell your boss you’re quitting for you, sees high demand for its services
Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Kamishibai — the precursor to manga and anime?
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Japanese company will tell your boss you’re quitting for you, sees high demand for its services
Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
Japanese prefecture that named a Pokémon as its governor to install 16 new Pokémon manholes
Ruru Cafe Shibuya wows customers by serving coffee and sweets on unique water tables
11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app