Mario is Missing! (SNES)

Mario is Missing!
Developer: The Software Toolworks Publishers: The Software Toolworks (US), Mindscape (EU) Platform: SNES Released in US: June 1993 Released in EU: 1993 This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused graphics. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a hidden level select.

To do: An alternate ROM was included in the July 2020 Nintendo leaks, doesn't match final. Found in (and encrypted) NEWS\テープリストア\NEWS_02\usr01\uji\Mail\inbox

Mario is Missing! is a poor attempt at teaching kids geography. Even putting Mario characters into this game doesn't make it any better.

Still, it's notable for being one of the first starring roles for Luigi, and for being one of the few multiplatform Nintendo-related games to include a PC version (in this case DOS).

Unused Graphics

Loaded with the closed museum sign is a plaque that reads IVERSON, referring to software designer Andrew Iverson.

A mini-sprite of a balding man with glasses (edited from Small Mario's sprite in Super Mario Bros. 3). Like other citizen mini-sprites, he was meant to display on the city map.

A screenshot of him in action is on page 8 of the instruction manual.

Debug Menu

When the title screen has completed loading (Search for Mario and Continue Search is displayed), press L + R + Select + Start on Controller 2. A menu will appear that comes with a sound test, a starting castle modifier, and an option that says "Show Loot". This only works on the English version of the game.

Setting "Show Loot" to Y allows the player to see if a Koopa has an artifact. By pressing R or Select to view the map, blinking Koopas will appear to show that they do have an artifact.

Setting "Castle" to 2 or 3 will make Luigi start on the second or third floor, respectively.

(Source: KungFuFurby, JLukas)