Shifting Sand Land

Shifting Sand Land is the eighth level in Super Mario 64. It is desert-themed and features a large pyramid surrounded by a pool of quicksand. The pyramid can be entered as a sub-area, and features the level's boss, Eyerok.

Missions

 * 1) IN THE TALONS OF THE BIG BIRD
 * 2) SHINING ATOP THE PYRAMID
 * 3) INSIDE THE ANCIENT PYRAMID
 * 4) STAND TALL ON THE FOUR PILLARS
 * 5) FREE FLYING FOR 8 RED COINS
 * 6) PYRAMID PUZZLE

Unused Camera
In the camera cutscene table, there is an entry that is never called and not associated with a level. Forcing this unfinished cutscene code to play seems to most appropriately fit with Shifting Sand Land as it focuses correctly on the Pyramid Top object given its focal point coordinates.

U.F.O
Inside the pyramid in Shifting Sand Land are various hieroglyphs on the pillars. If one were to look closely at the texture, they can see the letters 'E T' on it. What these letters mean is unknown, though it was theorized that it could refer to aliens and extra terrestrials. It wasn't until long after that players of supposed personalized copies of Super Mario 64 that allegedly confirmed the fact that aliens were related to Shifting Sand Land.

On rare occasions, if the player were to look out in the skies of Shifting Sand Land, one could see a UFO in the distance before it flies away. Interestingly, if the player were to ignore the UFO, it will slowly fly towards the pyramid before floating above it. If the player were to slowly sneak towards the UFO, they can jump on it, allowing them to find a small window with a few aliens in it. After a few minutes of floating above the pyramid, the UFO will fly away, and if the player were to stay on top of the pyramid, they can see just how far the UFO goes before it despawns, causing the player to fall down. Interestingly, while on top of the UFO, if the player were to jump-kick the window, it will shatter, causing the UFO to go crashing down on top of the pyramid, destroying the top of it and allowing access to the area with Eyerok.

It is unknown what the purpose of the UFO was, though people have speculated. A common theory is that the UFO was a scrapped easter egg or star, which was removed due to it's cryptic nature. It could also be possible that is was an early version of the star 'Stand Tall on the Four Pillars,' supported by the fact that the players that claim to have found the UFO were on said mission.

Unused Cactus texture
In the files of the retail version, a graphic of a cactus can be found in the files of the game, specifically grouped with the textures for Shifting Sand Land. It is unknown what this texture would have been used for, or how it would look ingame.

Scorching Sand Land
In some copies, a harder version of Shifting Sand Land, named Scorching Sand Land, can be found on the Third Floor. The level features numerous additions that were made to make the level more difficult, such as more sinkholes, the Dry Bones enemy, and a version of Eyerok with three hands. This level is likely a result of Dynamic Level Rearrangement.