Big, Big Clockworks is a level that can sometimes appear in Super Mario 64. It is exactly as what the name proposes that it is; a big clockworks. The painting was allegedly a clock with its hands on the time "7:45". Why this was is unknown albeit its like just a random time that they chose. This randomization however is also infamous for supposedly being coincidental with an event that happens within one of the stars.
Description[]
Big, Big Clockworks appears to be a clock factory that, according to a sign in front of the clock works, "creates time". What this means is up to interpretation at first albeit as revealed later on it is actually a time machine that, during the 3rd star, takes Mario back to a level that appears to be similar to that of the 'Super Mario Bros.' engine. Mario begins at the very doors of the clockworks. He is met with a sign that reads as the following:
"TIME AND MORE CLOCKWORKS
...
CREATING TIME SINCE ???"
This sign is met with controversy as those who have seen it claim different messages to have appeared.
After entering the clockworks, the first thing that the player will see before Star 6 is a large factory-like area with tons of clocks being dragged across conveyor belts. For the first star there is not too much to do apart from try to find a creature that goes by the name of "Time-Is-Ticking Steven". The name choice is of controversy as well due to there supposedly being several versions of this creature all with different names. Other names can include albeit not limited to: Time, Clockwatcher, Big Clock, SweetClock, and PlayerClock.
Stars[]
There are only 3 out of 6 stars that have any documentations with only 1 being supposedly fully documented.
The first star is where Mario is introduced to the factory. He is allowed to roam-freely but with the main goals being to find some sort of clock-related character. This is hinted at via the many and multiple wanted posters that ask for a "time-looking creature" and even sometimes to "return to office immediately unless the leak has occurred". The meanings behind these messages is severely unknown and has even been the target of dubitation with most people who have experienced this level claiming that they never saw the 2nd sentence. After exploring around for a while, Mario may be able to find a cage-looking object, with a clock inside of it. Pushing a button nearby that can only be accessed via defeating a Whomp will release the clock. The clock will then proceed to go up to Mario and say the following for most copies:
"Mario! Mario! Thank you so much!
If you need me in the future I shall be of assistance I hope!
But here, this is the least that I can do, take it!"
The clock will then proceed to give Mario a star.
The second to third stars are relatively unknown. The fourth star supposedly includes something about Mario having to find the clock again and go in a journey to defeat a "Clock Boss" in a SMB-based level that is accessed by entering a secret time machine within the clockworks. Documentations are very little due to suspected copyright infringements.