Calamitous Caldera is an anomalous level that can be found in certain personalized copies of Super Mario 64. This level takes place in a crater-like map with a large lava lake in the center, and uses the music from Shifting Sand Land/Lethal Lava Land. It mostly uses the textures for Shifting Sand Land, however it also draws from Lethal Lava Land. This level dynamically changes its layout over time - as the Caldera begins to erupt. This means you can only play the level for around 6 minutes, before the Caldera erupts.
Most of the information about this level comes from a user named "ghost_gamer34", although there are a few other sources of information about this level by other users (albeit very vague).
Level Geometry[]
The Zones[]
This level contains 3 distinct "zones", which ghost_gamer34 labels as "Safe Zone", "Risky Zone", and "Danger Zone".
A "risk map" created by ghost_gamer34 that reveals the level's main gimmick
Safe Zone[]
The Safe Zone is a mainly sandy area which contains many coins and Goombas, and also contains the platform in which the level is started from. A vague description by an anonymous 4chan user says:
"safe zone of the volcano doesn't have any stars as far as i'm aware of. it's the best place to get the 100 coin star because most of the coins in the level are in the safe zone, and you have plenty of time to scoop them all up"
The Safe Zone is relatively uneventful, although it does contain a star (see missions). It simply serves its purpose as being an introduction to the level.
Risky Zone[]
ghost_gamer34 describes the Risky Zone as being "a bit like the safe zone but it's lower in altitude and has many cracks of lava breaking up the flat ground".
There are less enemies in the Risky Zone, however there are tougher platforming challenges that require you to navigate through platforms floating on top of lava. There is a secret area in the Risky Zone, however, which is accessed by standing on a platform that slowly moves across the lava (which starts moving about 1 and a half minutes into the level) that leads to a star (see missions).
The Risky Zone also contains geysers which act like cannons, which usually launch you into the Danger Zone.
Danger Zone[]
A map of the inside of the Caldera created by ghost_gamer34
The Danger Zone cannot be accessed normally. You can only enter the Danger Zone by using the geysers in the Risky Zone, as the only entrance is blocked off by a crater wall. The Danger Zone must be accessed very quickly, as it will sink into the lava 3 minutes after the level begins, according to ghost_gamer34.
ghost_gamer34 was able to draw the layout of the Danger Zone, and describes it as being "the smallest part of the level which has few places where you can stand on". The Danger Zone contains a star (see missions) which is likely the first star a player would be able to get.
This zone is also home to an anomalous section of the level which ghost_gamer34 was not able to encounter, however an anonymous user of 4chan was (see magma chamber).
Magma Chamber[]
The Danger Zone supposedly has a Magma Chamber which only one person has encountered, and the documentation remains incredibly vague and it's impossible to say for sure if any details about the Magma Chamber are accurate.
The anonymous 4chan user who documented the Magma Chamber explains to "wait until the platform with the star in the danger zone sinks into the lava. it won't kill mario, it will take him down into a spherical-ish room which contains a star."
The 4chan user says that this will give the player a Secret Star, and does not count toward any missions.
Missions[]
This level has 6 missions.
- THE DAREDEVIL STAR
- RIDING THE LAVA
- THE SAND'S TREASURE
- RESCUING THE TOAD
- RED HOT RED COINS
- 100 COIN STAR
The Daredevil Star[]
This star is found in the direct center of the Danger Zone.
Riding the Lava[]
This star is found in the Risky Zone, after riding on a platform.
The Sand's Treasure[]
You can find this star in the Safe Zone, however the way to find it varies across personalized copies.
Rescuing the Toad[]
This star is found after rescuing a toad in the Caldera, however its location is unknown as documentation on this mission remains vague.
Red Hot Red Coins[]
This star is received after collecting the 8 red coins in the Caldera.
100 Coin Star[]
This star is received after collection 100 coins in the Caldera.
Eruption of the Caldera[]
ghost_gamer34 was able to provide a detailed report of what happens if you stall for too long in the Caldera.
"at this point the risky zone and the danger zone have both sank into the lava
there's a big red sphere coming from where the danger zone originally was, the same texture as the spheres on the bob-ombs but colored red. it's rising out of the lava
the screen is now tinted red and i'm taking damage slowly
sphere has been shot into the sky and is still really big
bursted into 10 or so smaller spheres
they turn larger when going toward the ground
i die before anything can really happen
crashed"
Any other documentation on the eruption remains vague.