Subcon Panic! is the 1st secret level in The Mushroom Kingdom. It is based on the 1987 Japan-only game Doki Doki Panic, which was modified outside of Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2 a year later although Japan would get the international version of SMB2 as Super Mario USA in 1992.
Layout[]
Subcon is the land of dreams that Mario, Luigi, Toad and Princess Peach travel to in order to stop the evil, frog-like monster Wart and his gang, known as the 8-Bits, from conquering the land.
The player starts off in a cave as they climb all the way to the top to reach a warp door, referencing the instruction manual plot of SMB2 and the very beginning of the game.
The first main area starts as the player falls from the sky and lands on a tower, battling common enemies like Shy Guys and Snifits. At the end of the area, the player enters the red door to go to the grassy land. A concept unique to this level is the addition of hearts appearing after a certain number of enemies are defeated in a row with throws. These act as Super Mushrooms as there are no ? blocks to help out in this level. The player can also collect cherries, and if they collect 10 of them, a Starman appears in the bottle of the screen, but the player has to touch it before it reaches the top.
The second main area takes place in a grassy area with tall hills and waterfalls as more enemies are encountered, such as Ninjis, Tweeters, and Trouters that jump out of the water, which is not safe to swim in as it is mainly a bottomless pit. The area introduces the grass-pulling gimmick, where the player crouches and pulls out vegetables that can be used to throw at enemies. Some grass also has coins hidden underneath, but others also contain bombs to watch out for. The player will have to carry a red key on the left and then go to the right to open the Mask Gate to the next area.
The third main area takes place in the cave, as the player will have to pull out bombs from the ground to blow up the rocky stones that are blocking the path. The player must also think about using the bombs properly, as some areas have rocking stones in some pitfalls. Bob-ombs that come out of small vases can also be used to blast through the rock-like blocks. There is also a bed of spikes scattered around, and the player can ride on the Shy Guy to get through the spikes safely. At the end of this area, the player climbs on the vines while avoiding the fireballs spit from Pansers to get to the ladder to the next area.
The fourth area takes the player back to the glass land, as they will have to carry another red key to the mask gate. More Shy Guys are populated here, and some of them are seen riding either on large, bird-like Ostros or Autobombs, machines that shoot small fireballs at the player. Also, this section also features spiky Porcupos and Hoopsters, ladybugs that like to climb on trees and vines, meaning that the player must watch out for them while on the vines.
The last area has Autobomb-like machines that shoot eggs that the player can ride on to cross the waterfall. Near the end, the player will have to battle Birdo, who attacks by shooting her eggs at the player. The player can counter by picking up the eggs and throwing them back at her. After Birdo is defeated, she drops a key, which opens up the pathway and takes the player back to the Mushroom Kingdom to clear the level.
Enemies[]
- Shy Guy
- Snifit
- Tweeter
- Ninji
- Hoopster
- Trouter
- Panser
- Ostro
- Bob-omb (SMB2 version)
- Autobomb
- Giant Shy Guy
- Koopa Troopa (SMB3 version)
- Goomba
Fusion Portal enemies:
Boss[]
- Birdo (mini-boss)
Trivia[]
- Prior to the v0.8 update of MKF, the level boss was originally General Guy but he was removed after the level was revamped. He was relocated to the level Etherial Subcon, serving as that level's boss. The original castle section of this level was also relocated to Etherial Subcon.
- The Mask Blocks from Doki Doki Panic (which were replaced with Mushroom Blocks when it was reskinned as SMB2 outside Japan) reappear in this level but with 16-bit shading.
- In older versions of MKF, the last area of the level (after defeating General Guy) only featured Birdo and lacked Autobomb-like machines that shoot Birdo Eggs. Also, the player could opt not to fight Birdo and could simply jump over or pass through her to further advance into the level.
- According to the old defunct MKF Wiki, there were plans for sequel levels, including "Subcon Panic Act 5" with Wart (the main antagonist in SMB2) serving as the boss, but all of the Subcon Panic act levels would scrapped although Act 5 was likely replaced with Wart's Nightmare. Act 3 would have taken place in World 5 and Act 4 would have taken place in World 8. However, the old wiki did not mention where Act 2 would have been located.
- The Message Block at the very beginning of the level hints at a dream, referring to how the events of SMB2 were all Mario's dream.
- This level takes inspiration from Worlds 3-2 and 5-2 of SMB2.
- Goombas and Koopa Troopas are only seen at the very end of the level.
- In the v.9 update, Beezos and Porcupos were removed from the level while Giant Shy Guys were previously absent.
Gallery[]
Revamped Version[]
Original Version[]
Video[]
Fun Sized Robin Plays MKF v0.9 - Subcon Panic!
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion v0.8 - Subcon Panic!
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion - Tails' Subcon Panic
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion Part 29 Subcon Panic!
Lancer Plays MKF Part 314 - Subcon Panic! (Revamped)