the cutting room mirror

Revisional Differences

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This is a sub-page of Mario Forever.

To do:
There's still far more to do.

Mario Forever went through many updated versions since the release of v1.16.1 in 2004 up until v7.02 in 2017, with many content additions, bug fixes and regressions. While the latest versions of games are typically the best ones, many people argue that the latest updates of this game from the original author have made questionable changes to the game, with v5.08 being the approximate point where the game started jumping the shark. This was one of the factors that sparked Mario Forever fans to make their own recreated versions, but that's for another time.

All preserved versions alongside unofficial portable versions can be found on the Original Mario Forever & MF Remakes Downloads fan page. Note that the original installers for v3.5 (not to be confused with v3.51) and v7.02-30 have not been found, and any versions before v1.16.1 have been lost completely if any of those were public.

General#

Version 1.16.1 (2004-01-06)#

This is the earliest preserved version of the game.

Version 2.16 (2004-06-12)#

  • v2.16 overhauled much of the English translation from the poor-quality one of v1.16.1 (more changes were done in v5.0).
  • This is the first version to feature the Human Labolatory World (sic). In v2.16 and v3.0, it's referred to in-game as "World www.gry.o2.pl", having been made in collaboration with said website, but this collaboration seems to have ended by v3.51.
  • v2.16 introduced the pause key (hard-coded to P). v1.16.1 has no way to pause the game.
    • The default forevermopt.INI configuration file in this version incorrectly has the P key bound to the Move Up action for some reason, necessitating a rebind.
  • v1.16.1 is hardcoded to read the music files from C:\Windows (yes, that really is where the installer for this version puts the music). The game was updated in v2.16 to use relative paths for music files, which are now located next to the executable.
    • The music for the end level gate was changed for some reason, with it sounding more faithful in v1.16.1.
    • The installer itself is now in English as opposed to Polish.

Version 3.0 (2005-11-12)#

This was not a significant update, contrary to what the version number could indicate.

  • The installer engine was replaced, now using NSIS as opposed to Clickteam Install Creator.
  • v3.0 fixed a bug from the previous versions, in which pressing multiple action keys at the same time would not register any of them.
  • The forevermopt.INI file is fixed again.

Version 3.51 (2006-01-15)#

This version was originally released as v3.5 and featured a game-breaking bug in 4-2, in which parts of the ground partway through the level were missing for some bizarre reason. It was quickly replaced with v3.51, with the only known available installer for v3.5 now being a Chinese repack.

  • v3.0 and older include a Polish language option. v3.51 removed Polish likely due to maintenance concerns (though a glitch allows you to switch to Polish still, which was fixed in v4.4).
  • Hardcore Worlds 1 and 2, Mario Minix and Goomba Party were introduced in this version. Hardcore World 1 is accessible from a hidden pipe in World 1-2, while Goomba Party is accessible from a hard-to-reach pipe in World 1-3.
  • v3.51 overhauled all the world map graphics in the game to use a tiled background graphic with sprites as opposed to a large single-layer graphic for each map. While this makes maps look less unique (especially with the removal of unique "world completed" graphics), it also reduces the file size of the game by a significant amount.

Versions 4.0 (2006-08-10) and 4.1 (2008-10-23)#

  • v4.0 and v4.1 were the only versions bundled with Mario Worker (Game Maker version), Buziol's attempt at making a Mario Forever level editor (in Game Maker, presumably after the earlier attempt at Mario Worker in Multimedia Fusion wasn't satisfactory enough, and also meaning that the Game Maker Mario Worker physics are nothing like that of Mario Forever). Since there's hardly any actual relation between these two games, and this bundling only lasted for two versions, Mario Worker is out of scope for this page.
    • The only differences between v4.0 and v4.1 are the version of the bundled Mario Worker, as well as some changes in the installer. The game itself is the same.
  • The Lost Map, Koppa the Devastator (sic) and Funny Tanks were introduced in v4.0. There is now an achievements screen in the save game room.
  • The mafosav.INI file format (game save file) was changed in v4.0, presumably to thwart save editing.

Version 4.15 (2009-04-23)#

Like v3.0, this was a fairly insubstantial update.

  • The installer uses Clickteam Install Creator again as opposed to NSIS.
  • Funny Tanks was removed due to "technical issues" of some sort.

Version 4.4 (2009-06-04)#

  • Starman Running and Koopa Troopa Liberation were introduced in this version, and Funny Tanks was added back (while breaking the achievement for beating the latter).
  • Most main-game levels now have checkpoint signs, which are complemented by ill-fitting voice clips.

Version 5.0 (2010-08-03)#

  • v5.0 updated the game's engine from Multimedia Fusion 1.5 to Multimedia Fusion 2. For some reason, Buziol made the decision to increase the game's framerate from Fusion 1.5's fixed (stuttery) 50 fps to a set 60 fps, which led to a speed increase and necessitated various timing adjustments.
  • The music player from the previous versions (DMC2) was replaced with ModFusion.

Differences in Frames#

"Frames" refers to screens/rooms in a game project made with Multimedia Fusion (now known as Clickteam Fusion), the engine used by this game. Each one has a name in the editor assigned by the developer, which will (sometimes) be used on this page.

Executabling#

The "launcher" frame.

  • In v1.16.1, this frame consisted of the then-current Buziol Games logo, followed up by the language select screen. The language select screen is not only the only area in the game that supports the mouse, but at this point it requires using the mouse.
  • v2.16 changed the screen transition into the Buziol Games logo to a generic fade-in from a "rubber-band" transition, changed the Buziol Games logo itself to de-emphasize the "B", and finally, made the languages selectable using the arrow keys.
  • v3.51 remade this frame completely: it starts with a screen viewing the Buziol Games webpage (http://www.marionews.buziol.pl which now redirects to https://www.softendo.com/) with a prompt on the right that appears in a few seconds telling the player to press Enter. Upon pressing Enter, it shows a selection between windowed mode and full-screen mode (a feature not normally available before this version) and then the Buziol Games logo with a unique animation, featuring the "rubber-band" transition.
  • v4.0 adds the "scrolling mushrooms" background to the Enter prompt of the browser window and replaces the Buziol Games logo with a new static one, featuring Mario and characters from the newly released at the time Urbagility 2.
  • v4.15 replaces the image on the Buziol Games logo with a new one for the Softendo logo.
  • v4.4 adds music to this frame, introduces the "dissclaimer" (sic) and replaces the Softendo logo again.
  • v5.0 no longer changes into the windowed mode (from the windowed mode) when selecting this option, removing the weird "maximizing" effect. Upon launching the game, it is indeed in windowed mode, which would seemingly remove the necessity for this mode change, but pressing F2 makes the game jump to this frame from any point in the game without changing the screen mode, meaning that the windowed mode toggle no longer works like it should. This version also replaces the Softendo logo for the final time.
  • v5.01 removes the Softendo logo on this frame, since it's now a separate frame titled Frame 1 that takes place after Executabling. The "dissclaimer" was also removed.

Frame 1#

This frame was introduced in v5.01. It shows an animation of the Softendo logo appearing from the bottom of the screen. This is the only frame in the early v5.xx versions that requires the "Flash" extension that is no longer on sale from Clickteam.

Title Screen#

v4.4 (?) introduced this frame in order to do the fade to the actual title screen, which was therefore renamed Title Screen 2.

Title Screen 2#

Known as Title Screen before v4.4 (?).

  • v1.16.1 is the only version to include the "mode7ex" rotating Buziol Games logo in the credits roll. Its removal may have been related to it being the only usage of said extension in the game. The logo can be moved around with the directional keys.
  • v2.16 removed this effect from the menu credits and added the option to turn the music on or off.
  • v3.51 added a text prompt to the controls option saying "Press Enter to redefine keys".
  • v4.0 replaced all of the text graphics with new ones rendered using a different font. A typo was introduced: "Yojpad".
  • v4.15 overhauled the title screen itself, also introducing the rather nonsensical Super Mario Bros. 3 subtitle to the game.
  • v4.4 and v5.0 made further changes to the graphics of the frame. A bug was introduced in v5.0: the "Press Enter to redefine keys" graphic is now displayed on all entries of the settings menu.

Animation Starting 1#

Version 1.16.1

Version 2.16

 
LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
THAT'S WILL BE A FEW
OF TIME.
IN WONDERFUL AND GREAT
LAND OF MUSHROOM PEOPLE.
NAMED TOADSTOOL LAND.
NOW EVIL DRACO KUPPA
MAKES THEY HIM SLAVEVES
BY DESTROYING THEY
LAND.
SOMEBODY MUST HELP.
THIS HELP IS A MARIO HERO.

NOW ADVENTURE'S BEGIN!
 
A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AGO,
IN THE VAST, BEAUTIFUL LAND OF TOADSTOOL,
WHERE THE TOADSTOOL-PEOPLE MADE THEIR TOADSTOOL HOMES,
THEY LIVED PROSPEROUS, PEACEFUL LIVES...
...UNTIL SOMETHING DISASTEROUS HAPPENED!

AN EVIL REPTILE BY THE NAME OF KOOPA,
WHOSE DARK DESIRE WAS TO HAVE THIS LAND FOR HIMSELF,
DECIDED IT WAS RIPE FOR THE TAKING AND INVADED,
LEAVING DESTRUCTION IN HIS WAKE AND ENSLAVING ITS PEACEFUL INHABITANTS!

BUT... OUR HERO, THE INTREPID AND DETERMINED PLUMBER MARIO,
WITNESSED THE CALAMITY, HE COULDN'T JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH,
HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING...

...TO STOP IT!

The English translation of the story text seen in the opening after entering a new save pipe was a grammatical mess in v1.16.1, and was rewritten in v2.16. Transcripts of the text graphics can be seen above.

Info Mario Forever#

Mario Forever had an instruction manual EXE in versions 1.16.1 to 3.51. In later versions, this manual was completely removed.

v1.16.1

v2.16 and v3.0

v3.51

The manual in version 1.16.1 had terrible English translations, which were drastically improved in v2.16. The v3.51 version of the manual changed the release year to 2006 in the window header, and some of the text graphics have also been edited (in somewhat sloppy ways) to update the website URLs and the release year.

Music Changes#

To do:
This is just scratching the surface.

Across the versions, various tracks have been switched places or replaced altogether.

Level Clear Fanfare#

Version 1.16.1

Version 2.16

The music that plays when completing a level had different samples in version 1.16.1, and was changed in v2.16 for some unknown reason. The newer track is still used in later versions of the game as well as its level-editing counterpart, Mario Worker.

Hardcore World Death Theme#

Version 3.5

Version 4.4

The version that introduced Hardcore Worlds (v3.5) had a unique theme for dying in said worlds, however in the next version (v4.0) it was removed, causing the game to softlock after dying there. It was replaced with a generic death theme used in other levels in version 4.4.

Hardcore World 1-4 Music#

Version 3.5

Version 5.0

The versions from v3.5 to v4.4 had an... interesting "Fart Castle" music theme used for the Hardcore World 1-4 level, which was replaced with a generic castle theme from normal World 1-4 in version 5.0.