Cameos
8-bit Mario
Screenshot required
In the haunted mansion, find a room with a vase in the center. Jump inside the vase, and Mario jumps out again as an 8-bit sprite, as he appeared in the arcade Donkey Kong. When you jump back into the vase or exit the room Mario returns to normal.
Luigi's Diary
Once you get the Super Boots, return to Mario's house and do the Smashing Stomp on a secret panel in Mario & Luigi's bedroom. You will fall through to a secret room that contains Luigi's diary. Several of the entries make reference to other Mario games:
Screenshot required
Mario Spinoffs
Page 1 of the diary makes reference to Mario Golf, Mario Tennis and Mario Party:
"I remember the carefree days when we played Golf and Tennis and had Parties."
Screenshot required
Nintendo 64
Page 3 of the diary makes reference to the Nintendo 64.
"I heard that a lot of Shy Guys also appeared in Toad Town. Supposedly, they came from Shy Guy's Toy Box. It must be somewhere in town. A Toy Box... I wouldn't mind seeing that. Maybe they have a Nintendo 64!"
Screenshot required
Luigi's Mansion
Together, Page 2 and Page 7 seem to be indirectly referencing the then-future title Luigi's Mansion.
"Because you're my secret diary, I'll tell you the truth: Yaaaah! I hate ghosts!! What will I do if it appears at night! Come back, Mario! I'm scared! Yikes! I can feel something behind me. Ahhh! I'm sure it's there, but I can't look back! No! No! Get away! I think I'll be safe if I don't freeze with fear. I'll just shut my eyes and take five steps back, and then I'll jump and dash into bed. Here I go!"
"I heard a rumor that I actually have lots of fans. Wow! What great news! To live up to their expectations, I want to play the lead in an adventure! Of course, my name would have to be in the title. That'd be sweet... But I know it'll never happen..."
Super Mario Bros. Theme
Screenshot required
On any of the new chapter screens (where the chapter number is shown) don't touch anything on the screen for a while. Eventually the original Super Mario Bros. theme will begin to play.
Minh T.
Screenshot required
Minh T., the flower loving Toad in Toad Town Garden, is named Lip in the Japanese version. Lip was also the name of the flower fairy protagonist of Intelligent Systems' Panel de Pon. Both characters share a love of flowers and even share the same yellow, green and pink colour scheme.
Tayce T.'s Cookie
Screenshot required
The Big Cookie made by Tayce T. includes two cookies that first appeared in the puzzle game Yoshi's Cookie.
Star Rod
Screenshot required
The Star Rod, the legendary item that gives Bowser his extra strength, appears to be a copy of the Star Rod that appeared in Kirby's Adventure (NES)
Dry Dry Desert Train
Screenshot required
The train that takes you to Dry Dry Desert is the same train that appeared on the Kalimari Desert track in Mario Kart 64.
