Super Mario 64 Iceberg

The Super Mario 64 Iceberg is a photo of several anomalies, obscure secrets and theories about Super Mario 64. It is one of the original images that began the discovery of the personalization A.I.

L Is Real 2401
Main Article: L Is Real 2401

The name given to a theory that Luigi is unlockable in Super Mario 64. The name is taken from an interpretation of what a plaque on a statue says in the Castle Courtyard.

Whomp's Fortress Tower 1-Up
Main Article: Whomp's Fortress Tower 1-Up

A hidden 1-up found by punching a wall on the tower of Whomp's Fortress. Some people have claimed to see a crack texture on the wall that does not exist. It is considered one of the smaller contributors to the discovery of the personalization A.I.

Spaceworld '95 Beta
Main Article: Spaceworld '95 Build

A beta of the game dating from 1995 with footage shown in an event known as Spaceworld.

Bob-omb Battlefield Bridge Hanging
Main Article: Bob-omb Battlefield Bridge Hanging

In Bob-omb Battlefield, you can climb on the bottom of the bridge near the start of the level, despite never needing to do so.

Parallel Universes
Main Article: Parallel Universe

The name given to invisible clones of maps with broken collision and objects found far outside of the maps the player will usually end up in. These are similar to the original Super Mario Bros. "Minus Worlds"

Impossible Coin/Goomba
Main Articles: Impossible Coin, Impossible Goomba

In Tiny-Huge Island, there is a line of coins that, due to a glitch in how the coins function, have one coin in the line end up underground, unobtainable. Similarly, in Bowser in the Sky, there is a Goomba triplet object that, due to it's placement, has one Goomba end up on a death barrier.

Half-A Press
Main Article: Half-A Press

A trick discovered by youtuber Pannenkoek2012, an A press that can somehow leech off of another A press.

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An image of the L is real 2401 statue in the Castle Courtyard.

Big Boo Unused Text
Main Article: Big Boo Unused Text

There is an unused string of text found in the files of Super Mario 64 that says "Eh he he... You're mine, now, hee hee! I'll pass right through this wall. Can you do that? Heh, heh, heh!" It is believed this was supposed to be said by the Big Boo that enters the Castle Courtyard.

"Don't Become His Lunch"
Main Article: Don't Become His Lunch

This refers to a quote from a sign in Hazy Maze Cave, referring to Dorrie. Dorrie does not attack the player, so this has confused many people. It is believed this refers to Mother Dorrie, or that Dorrie was originally going to attack the player.

Blargg
Main Article: Blargg

There are remnants found in the files of Super Mario 64 of a Blargg enemy. The Blargg was first seen in Super Mario World. In the files, it is referenced to appear in Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Fire Sea, and oddly, Wing Mario Over the Rainbow.

The Mirror Room
Main Article: Mirror Room

The Mirror Room in the Second Floor of Princess Peach's Castle has several theories based around it. Some claim there is an alternate world behind it, some claim that the mirror sometimes reflects things differently, similarly to the Snowman's Land entrance, and some even claim it can be broken. It is also tied to the Forbidden Door theory.

The Big Dud
Main Article: The Big Dud

In the first mission of Bob-omb Battlefield, there are 2 Big Steelies rolling around an area at the base of the mountain. In the missions after, when Big Bob-omb is defeated, there are 3 Big Steelies. When talking to a Bob-omb Buddy, they say that Big Bob-omb is nothing but "a big dud" now.

Yoshi's Saddle
Main Article: Yoshi's Saddle

In the model for Yoshi, there are parts that are intended to be for Yoshi's saddle, though they are incorrectly colored red.

JRB Vanishing Fog
Main Article: JRB Vanishing Fog

In the first mission of Jolly Roger Bay, there is a fog slightly above the water. However, once the star is collected, the fog will disappear, even when you go back to the first mission. The only way to see it again is to start a new save file.

"Please Walk Quietly In The Hallway!"
Main Article: Please Walk Quietly In The Hallway

This refers to a sign in the Second Floor of Princess Peach's Castle. Seeing as it is the main room, which isn't in the hallway, it is believed this is a remnant of an earlier build of the game the developers forgot to replace. There are also theories there would have been a boss encounter if this sign's directions weren't followed.

Unagi's Tunnel
Main Article: Unagi's Tunnel

In Jolly Roger Bay, Unagi the Eel resides in a small tunnel after the first mission. Despite the player not being able to enter it, it is fully modeled. There are also rumors it leads to a new level.

Yellow Cap Switch
Main Article: Yellow Cap Switch

In the files of Super Mario 64, there is an unused yellow Cap Switch associated with yellow blocks that would of unlocked koopa shells. Whenever spawned, it will appear pressed. It is also referenced to appear in the Princess' Secret Slide. It is possible this is a reference to Super Mario World, as the first Switch Palace has a yellow switch.

MIPS Throwing
Main Article: MIPS Throwing

Originally, the player could have been able to throw MIPS by the ears. However, if the player uses a glitch known as a MIPS Clip to enter the moat draining room, they can throw MIPS while underwater.

Ghoul Medal
Main Article: Ghoul Medal

In Big Boo's Haunt, a sign says that if anyone can escape the cage the course takes place in, they can win a Ghoul Medal. Despite many believing this is simply a play on words of the term "gold medal", some have searched for it, and the personalization A.I. has added it to certain copies.

Broken Paintings
Main Article: Broken Paintings

In the Second Floor of Princess Peach's Castle, there are replica paintings of those found earlier in the game. However, these do not lead anywhere.

Whomp King Turns Into The Castle
Main Article: Whomp King Turns Into The Castle

When encountering King Whomp, they claim that Whomps are used to build things such as roads, towers and castles. When defeated, a tower appears in his place, leading some to believe he was built into the tower.

Secret Aquarium
Main Article: Secret Aquarium

There is an odd secret area found in the Jolly Roger Bay room known as the Secret Aquarium. It is found in a hole in the wall, and it is a large water-filled brick box with 4 windows. Each window looks out onto a differently colored skybox. It also contains a red coin star.

Dancing Flowers
Main Article: Dancing Flowers Near the Lethal Lava Land particle effects in the files of Super Mario 64, there is an unused particle effect of flowers dancing that are said to appear around where the player walked.

Volcano Blocks
Main Article: Volcano Blocks

In Lethal Lava Land's volcano sub-area, there are strange blocks near the top of the volcano and next to the star also at the top of the volcano. These are never explained.

ET In Pyramid
Main Article: ET In Pyramid

On a texture of ancient writings in Shifting Sand Land's pyramid, the letters "ET" are written on the pyramid. This has lead to people believing the alien from the movie "ET" and his species are related to this pyramid. Other reports claim that it is tied to an anomaly known as the Shifting Sand Land UFO.

Bugged Fire Texture
Main Article: Bugged Fire Texture

When Mario is hit by fire, he emits a smoke texture. However, it is displayed in the wrong format, and thus looks incorrect.

HMC Alcove
Main Article: HMC Alcove

An area found in the Hazy Maze of Hazy Maze Cave and next to the Watch For Rolling Rocks star, it is a small platform of rock that is raised above the main ground.

JRB Box
Main Article: JRB Box

When the sunken ship of Jolly Roger Bay rises to the top of the water, a strange box with a pirate logo on it appears and slides around as the ship moves. It can deal damage and even instantly kill the player.

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An image of the "Please walk quietly in the hallway!" sign.

WDW Skybox
Main Article: WDW Skybox

The skybox of the course Wet-Dry World is actually an edited photo of a place known as Casares, Spain.

True Locations Of Painting Worlds
Main Article: True Locations Of Painting Worlds

Certain levels' locations in relation to the castle can be pinpointed. For example, Wing Mario Over the Rainbow is above the castle, and Dire, Dire Docks' hatch leads into the lake of the Castle Grounds.

Haunted Dirt Texture
Main Article: Haunted Dirt Texture

In certain textures of dirt in Super Mario 64, people have claimed to see faces. These are likely coincidences.

Removed Courses
Main Article: Removed Courses

There are several files related to unused courses in Super Mario 64. Some examples of unused levels are 2TEST, 32NIGHT, 35POISION & 3KINOP. Super Mario 64 was also intended to be a much larger game, with several more courses, but was downsized so that the courses we have currently can have more detail put into them. There is also a removed course that only has an object bank known as Motos Factory.

Skyboxes Are Photographs
Main Article: Skyboxes Are Photographs

There is a theory that states the paintings seen in the game are actual pictures of places in real life. This is unconfirmed and highly unlikely.

Secret Slide Dimensional Rift
Main Article: Secret Slide Dimensional Rift

The secret slides in the castle, Cool, Cool Mountain and Tall, Tall Mountain take place in black voids, instead of wherever the areas they were entered into would usually lead to.

THE END Screen
Main Article: THE END Screen

Behind the screen seen at the end of the game, there is a strange image believed to be of a front-facing Yoshi. There are also some strange shadows seen in the corners of the photos.

How Bowser Got Into The Castle With His Sub
Main Article: How Bowser Got Into The Castle With His Sub

In Dire, Dire Docks, there is a hatch that leads to the lake in the Castle Grounds. People believe he used this hatch to get into Princess Peach's Castle.

Cold, Cold Crevasse
Main Article: Cold, Cold Crevasse

Near a sign at the beginning of Cold, Cold Mountain, there is a sign that says: "Warning! Cold, Cold Crevasse below!" However, there is only a slope downwards into the void. Crevasses are cracks, not a singular slope. This has made people believe there is an unused sub-area that would of been found at this slope.

Original Resolution Textures
Main Article: Original Resolution Textures

Several textures for Super Mario 64 are quite small in comparison to textures used now. People have speculated there are uncondensed versions of Super Mario 64 textures somewhere.

Rainbow Ride's Village
Main Article: Rainbow Village

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Rainbow Ride stage has a mountain with a village on it. This has lead to people believing there is an unused sub-area of Rainbow Ride containing this village.

Bob-omb Village
Main Article: Bob-omb Village

It is currently unknown where this theory originated, though people have claimed there is a hidden course related to Bob-omb Battlefield called Bob-omb Village. It is also often tied to a very early beta picture of a brown hill, a man with a sombrero on, 3 beta Bob-ombs scattered around, and a few trees.

Debug Menu Names
Main Article: Debug Menu

In the debug menu of Super Mario 64, shorthands are used for courses, and some names are quite interesting. These names are:


 * 1) Empty Slot
 * 2) Empty Slot
 * 3) Empty Slot
 * 4) TERESA OBAKE, translates to Boo Apparition, leads to Big Boo's Haunt
 * 5) YYAMA1 % YSLD1, translates to Snow Mountain 1 & Snow Slide 1, leads to Cool, Cool Mountain
 * 6) SELECT ROOM, translates to Select Room, leads to Inside Peach's Castle
 * 7) HORROR DUNGEON, translates to Horror Dungeon, leads to Hazy Maze Cave
 * 8) SABAKU % PYRMD, translates to Desert & Pyramid, leads to Shifting Sand Land
 * 9) BATTLE FIELD, translates to Battle Field, leads to Bob-omb Battlefield
 * 10) YUKIYAMA2, translates to Snow Mountain 2, leads to Snowman's Land
 * 11) POOL KAI, translates to Pool Stage, leads to Wet-Dry World
 * 12) WTDG % TINBOUTU, translates to Water Dungeon & Submission, leads to Jolly Roger Bay
 * 13) BIG WORLD, translates to Big World, leads to Tiny-Huge Island
 * 14) CLOCK TOWER, translates to Clock Tower, leads to Tick Tock Clock
 * 15) RAINBOW CRUISE, translates to Rainbow Cruise, leads to Rainbow Ride
 * 16) MAIN MAP, translates to Main Map, leads to Outside The Castle
 * 17) EXT1 YOKO SCRL, translates to Extra 1 - Side-Scroller, leads to Bowser In The Dark World
 * 18) EXT7 HORI MINI, translates to Extra 7 - Moat (Mini), leads to Vanish Cap Under The Moat
 * 19) EXT2 TIKA LAVA, translates to Extra 2 - Basement Lava, leads to Bowser In The Fire Sea
 * 20) EXT9 SUISOU, translates to Extra 9 - Fish Tank, leads to The Secret Aquarium
 * 21) EXT3 HEAVEN, translates to Extra 3 - Heaven, leads to Bowser In The Sky
 * 22) FIREB1 % INVLC, translates to Fire Bubble & In The Volcano, leads to Lethal Lava Land
 * 23) WATER LAND, translates to Water Land, leads to Dire, Dire Docks
 * 24) MOUNTAIN, translares to Mountain, leads to Whomp's Fortress
 * 25) ENDING, translates to Ending, leads to "The End" Image
 * 26) URANIWA, translates to Back Garden, leads to Castle Courtyard
 * 27) EXT4 MINI SLID, translates to Extra 4 - Mini Slider, leads to The Princess' Secret Slide
 * 28) IN THE FALL, translates to In The Fall, leads to Cavern Of The Metal Cap
 * 29) EXT6 MARIO FLY, translates to Extra 6 - Mario Fly, leads to Tower Of The Wing Cap
 * 30) KUPPA1, translates to Bowser 1, leads to Bowser In The Dark World (Boss)
 * 31) EXT8 BLUE SKY, translates to Extra 8 - Blue Sky, leads to Wing Mario Over The Rainbow
 * 32) Empty Slot
 * 33) KUPPA2, translates to Bowser 2, leads to Bowser In The Fire Sea (Boss)
 * 34) KUPPA3, translates to Bowser 3, leads to Bowser In The Sky (Boss)
 * 35) Empty Slot
 * 36) DONKY % SLID2, translates to Monkey & Slide 2, leads to Tall, Tall Mountain
 * 37) Empty Slot
 * 38) Empty Slot

Zelda 64 Beta Assets In WDW
Main Article: Zelda 64 Beta Assets In WDW

Zelda 64, known now as Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time, shares beta assets with used assets in Wet-Dry World. Most noticably, the doors of the houses, and the Metal Mario texture that was used on a Metal Link.

Mario Enters WDW Early In Got Milk Commercial
Main Article: Mario Enters WDW Early In Got Milk Commercial

In a commercial with Mario 64 and Got Milk, Mario enters Wet-Dry World with 37 stars. This is more than enough stars needed to enter Wet-Dry World, as the minimum needed is 31. It is currently unclear why this is on the iceberg.

Big Boo's Haunt Forest
Main Article: Big Boo's Forest

Big Boo's Haunt is entered through a cage on top of some grass in the Castle Courtyard. However, the skybox is of a night-time forest. Some theories state that due to Mario shrinking to enter the cage, the grass looks like a forest, though the night time is unexplained. However, some people have exited the cage and found a hidden course known as Big Boo's Forest.

Mario 64 Is Freemason Initiation
Main Article: Mario 64 Is Freemason Initiation

There is a twitter thread that explains how Super Mario 64 is tied to freemasonry. The Twitter link can be found here, and was made by @owenbroadcast.

Whomp's Fortress Interior
Main Article: Whomp's Fortress Interior

Despite Whomp's Fortress being a fortress, there is no way to enter it and see what is inside. However, in some personalized copies, it is possible to access the interior.

Yoshi Commits Suicide
Main Article: Yoshi Commits Suicide

Upon collecting 120 stars and talking to Yoshi on the castle roof, they will jump away. Some believe Yoshi jumps away to their death. However, the animation Yoshi uses is known as "Yoshi_GoHome", so it is likely that Yoshi is instead jumping away to his home, likely Yoshi's Island.

Big Boo's Secret Laugh
Main Article: Big Boo's Secret Laugh

In Big Boo's Haunt, there is a rare chance that a deep Boo laugh can be heard as an easter egg.

120 Has Spiritual Significance
Main article: 120 Has Spiritual Significance

There is a total of 120 stars in Super Mario 64. 120 is considered an "Angel Number".

Tower Of The Wing Cap True Location
Main Article: Tower Of The Wing Cap True Location

Tower of the Wing Cap is an area in the sky that takes place on 5 towers sticking up into the sky. It is currently unknown where the beginning of these towers are. However, the supposed Eternal Fortress level is described to have 4 towers sticking up into the sky, similarly to Tower of the Wing Cap.

Island In The Distance
Main Article: Island In The Distance

In the skybox of Bob-omb Battlefield and Tiny-Huge Island, there are several islands seen in the distance. Some have claimed that these are actually the setting of a hidden course.

LLL Painting Fireball
Main Article: LLL Painting Fireball

Lethal Lava Land's painting is of a fire with a face with a black background. Most paintings depict some part of the course they lead to, however a fire with a face is seen nowhere in the game.

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An image of Princess Peach's Castle with a wall moved to make the room seem unnerving.

"Ally With Info"
Main Article: Ally With Info

In Super Mario 64 DS, a Toad claims that there is an "ally with info" in the Mirror Room. It is believed this could be Wario, though the dialogue does not change when using Wario. It is possible this refers to an unused NPC, or the Power Flowers found inside.

The Wario Apparition
Main Article: Wario Apparition

In the hall of the Castle Basement that leads into Dire, Dire Docks, some have claimed to see a disembodied Wario head that chased them down the hallway, which morphed to be endless. It is seen in an E3 nintendo panel called "Focused On Fun", and attempting to describe the Wario Apparition after encountering it can result in stroke-like symptoms.

Brain Diagram
Main Article: Brain Diagram

Supposedly, there is a hidden brain diagram in the files of Wet-Dry World. There is also a theory that WDW is the brain of the personalization A.I., and the brain diagram was used as a reference point when making it.

The Forbidden Door
Main Article: The Forbidden Door

It is believed this refers to the door on the other end of the Mirror Room. In Super Mario 64 DS, this leads to a white void with a star.

Toad Projection
Main Article: Toad Projection

It is believed this refers to how Toad's turn transparent when the player is not near them. This ties into the "Toads literally trapped inside the walls" theory.

1995/07/29 Build (DO NOT RESEARCH)
Main Article: 1995/07/29 Build

Due to the warnings of what can happen when researching this build, not much is known about this build. It is supposedly a build made by an entirely different company than Nintendo with a primitive form of the A.I. with a glitch that made textures randomly flash. It is also said to contain the wario Apparition.

The Course In The Bowser Painting
Main Article: The Course In The Bowser Painting

There are 2 main paintings of Bowser you cannot enter: the painting at the entrance of Bowser in the Dark World and the painting at the entrance of Bowser in the Sky, leading some to speculate what is inside these paintings. Some say Bowser's Domain, some say 15 CRSE, some say the Eternal Fort. In Super Mario 64 DS, the background of the painting appears the most similar to Bowser in the Dark World.

Wet-Dry World Negative Emotional Aura
Main article: Wet-Dry World Negative Emotional Aura

People playing Wet-Dry World claim that the course feels off. This is tied into the theory that Wet-Dry World is the personalization A.I.'s brain.

Metal Mario Texture
Main Article: Metal Mario Texture

A Twitter user named @ecumber05 once dug through an old SGI Indy workstation and found an image of flowers. These appear to be the unaltered texture for Metal Mario. The tweet can be found here.

The Bowser Room
Main Article: The Bowser Room

A youtuber named OneyPlays once photoshopped an image of an area known as "the Bowser room" which is a gray brick room with a panel in the wall that shows Bowser standing behind. Some people have claimed this is a real area in Super Mario 64.

HMC Entrance Room Is A Sewer
Main Article: HMC Entrance Room Is A Sewer

TThe room you enter HMC inside has several pipes along the walls, and the portal to the course is on the floor. This has lead people to believe that this room is the castle's sewers. This is tied to the Hazy Maze Cave Is The Castle's Septic System theory.

Silicon Graphics' Curse
Main Article: Silicon Graphics' Curse

SGI, Silicon Graphics Inc., helped create a chip called MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) that helped make the Nintendo 64, and the name was used for MIPS the Rabbit. However, soon after, SGI went bankrupt. It is believed there is a "curse" tied to them and MIPS.

Peach Is Behind The Stained Glass Window
Main Article: Peach Is Behind The Stained Glass Window The stained glass outside the castle and inside the castle has a different background color, leading some to believe there is a space inside there. Princess Peach appears in front of the stained glass window in the ending, leaving some to believe they were locked inside the stained glass window's room.

Bowser Broke The Door
Main Article: Bowser Broke The Door

In the Castle Courtyard, the entrance door is surrounded by brown brick when the rest of the castle walls is white. It is also conveniently Bowser-sized for theorists to say Bowser broke through here to reach the castle.

The Decompilation Is Censored
Main Article: The Decompilation Is Censored

There is a theory that the several leaks of the files of Super Mario 64 have had certain things censored and removed. Why and what is currently unknown.

Full Oman Archives
Main Article: Full Oman Archives

A former Nintendo employee going by the nickname Oman once leaked important files related to the Nintendo 64 called the Oman Archives. These archives allowed early Super Mario 64 rom hacks to be made. However, there is a theory that there is a much larger "Full Oman Archive" with information on the Personalization A.I. and more.

Wiggler's Body Parts Are Used In Bowser Fights
Main Article: Wiggler's Body Parts Are Used In Bowser Fights

The yellow balls that the mines in the Bowser arenas are located on top of look similar to the body parts of Wiggler. However, they do not use the same texure.

Toads Literally Trapped Inside The Walls
Main Article: Toads Literally Trapped Inside The Walls

Several Toads have said they are trapped inside the castle walls. Even Bowser in the final boss fight says Mario's friends are all stuck inside the castle walls. Some believe this is metaphorical, however some believe the Toads were transformed into bricks and used to make the castle walls, similarly to the original Super Mario Bros. This is also tied to the Toad Projection theory.

HMC Is The Castle's Septic System
Main Article: HMC Is The Castle's Septic System

Tied to the HMC Is The Castle Sewers theory, there is a theory that is joked about often that Hazy Maze Cave is the castle's septic system. This theory claims that the boulders are balls of poop, and that the gas are farts. The entrance room being the castle sewers theory also explains why those would be there.

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An image of the Wario Apparition from the "Focused on Fun" E3 panel.

Enchanted SC88 Samples Used In Soundtracks
Main Article: Enchanted SC88 Samples Used In Soundtracks

It is believed that there are samples of sounds used in the soundtrack of Super Mario 64 that are enchanted with a strange aura.

Sequel Was Cancelled Due To Temporal Leakage
Main Article: Sequel Was Cancelled Due To Temporal Leakage

Temporal is related to time. It is believed that at Super Mario 64 2 was temporarily leaked. Or that somehow, time began leaking due to something relating to Super Mario 64 2.

Miyamoto Stole Mario 64 From Argonaut
Main Article: Miyamoto Stole Mario 64 From Argonaut

An Argonaut employee once gave Shigeru Miyamoto an idea for a 3D Mario game with Yoshi. However, Nintendo instead made Super Mario 64, which supposedly had the look and feel of the Yoshi game. Miyamoto once even apologized to the employee for not making the Yoshi game, and thanking them for the idea of a 3D Mario platformer.

Delicious Cake
Main article: Delicious Cake

In the files of Super Mario 64, there is an unused string of text simply called Delicious Cake. It is also believed there is an unused Delicious Cake level.

Lavender Town & Polybius Were Coverups For Mario 64
Main Article: Lavender Town & Polybius Were Coverups For Mario 64

This theory states that the Lavender Town Syndrome and Polybius myths were created by Nintendo to coverup something that happened related to Mario 64.

The Internal Plexus Of The Castle
Main Article: The Internal Plexus Of The Castle

In the Castle Grounds, in the sky, the unloaded rooms of Princess Peach's Castle can be found, which some people believe is what this point relates to. However, there is a theory that the castle is the veins of the personalization A.I. and is also tied to a story that the basement was once an endless labyrinth of hallways.

Shared Nightmares
Main Article: Shared Nightmares

Several people have had similar nightmares related to Super Mario 64. These can include the Mad Piano and the beta Penguins, particularly those seen from the Kellogs and Super Mario 64 promotions.

NFR Cartridge Differences
Main Article: NFR Cartridge Differences

NFR stands for "Not For Resale". Some theories state that the NFR cartridges of Super Mario 64 have some differences to the retail release. What these differences are is unknown.

Every Copy Of Super Mario 64 Is Personalized
Main Article: Personalization A.I.

This is the theory that states there is a Personalization A.I. in Super Mario 64 that changes the game subtly for each player to cater the game towards them, though it can malfunction and create things such as the Wario Apparition. This is considered the ultimate theory of Super Mario 64, and the explanation for every anomaly found in the game.

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Similarly to the third layer's image, it is an edited version of the castle.