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The Aquarium Limbo is a recently discovered area first found in a personalized test copy of Super Mario 64, sent to Electronic Gaming Monthly, though it has been reported in other personalized copies since. It is generally described as an alternate version of the Secret Aquarium stage, located within the Internal Plexus of the castle. It has no air bubbles, nor coins, although the bubbles Mario produces are still there. It also uses Big Boo's Haunt's background and darker lighting to simulate night time. Its music is usually said to be a slower version of Dire, Dire Docks. The level reportedly can be found in place of the Secret Aquarium after triggering it's appearance, or in the hole opposite of the Secret Aquarium entrance, similarly to the Super Secret Aquarium.
Song reportedly used in the Aquarium Limbo stage, leaked by an anonymous, retired EGM writer.
Geography[]
The Aquarium Limbo is most commonly described as a replica of the Secret Aquarium. It retains its defining features, such as the box-like shape, windows, and aquatic decoration. Differences typically include the removal of all coins, including the red coins, as well as the addition of the Big Boo's Haunt skybox, darker lighting, and different textures, usually utilizing assets from Big Boo's Haunt or grayscale versions of the textures used in the normal level. The exit level feature also reportedly does not work. Its music is typically a slower version of the underwater theme that loops right before the drum track starts. Fish are usually present, though they sometimes appear pitch-black. Regular enemies, absent in the original level, can sometimes appear, with the most common enemy being the Unagi, though Bubs, Bubba and Bloobers have been reported as well.
Due to the reported lack of red coins in the level, several have said that this level has no mission, meaning that there is nothing to do in the level, meaning that it may have been scrapped before the developers finished it, or the Personalization A.I. failed to create a mission for the level. Due to this, most players have died to an enemy or drowned in this level numerous times trying to find any sort of goal, only to turn up empty-handed.
Phenomena[]
Textureless Mario Anomaly?[]
Several have said that a form of the Textureless Mario Anomaly has occurred upon entering the Aquarium Limbo. However, it appears to be a distinct variation on the anomaly, as the level is usually still visible. The 2 most commonly reported aspects of this anomaly are that the fish & enemies in the level appear to be pitch black, and dying in this level crashes the game.
Negative Emotional Aura[]
According to those who have experienced the level, it evokes the same uneasy feeling as Wet-Dry World, and similar anomalous areas. This is especially triggered after dying, leaving the player in an uncomfortable mood from anywhere to a few minutes to an entire week after meeting their end in this level. The only other time symptoms of this nature have been reported has been from those who have died to the Wario Apparition. This appears to imply something greater and more sinister is at play than what is encountered in Wet-Dry World.
Theorizing[]
This level has been regarded as an enigma by much of the community ever since it's discovery due to it's nature and contents. The leading theory is that it was an early, unfinished version of the Secret Aquarium that was scrapped due to being too disturbing and replaced with the level seen in the final game, explaining it's lack of a mission and disconcerting aura. The effect felt by those who have perished to this level remains unexplained.
Reports[]
Aquarium Limbo
The video in question.
Jefftastic's Documentation[]
The Aquarium Limbo was prominently featured in a video made by Youtuber Jefftastic. The video begins with Mario idle in the Jolly Roger Bay room of Princess Peach's Castle, before entering the Secret Aquarium, finding himself in the Aquarium Limbo, which is completely empty, save for a single coin sitting on the pedestal at the bottom of the level. After collecting it, Jefftastic swims around, and pauses the game, showing that the level is identified simply as "AQUARIUM", with all menu options absent. Mario eventually drowns, and after the game over animation with a distorted version of the Bowser laugh, the game crashes. Jefftastic reloads the game and attempts to enter the level, only to find the warp absent. After some confusion and more attempts to enter the level, the video ends.