In his storied career as a plumber / warrior of justice, Mario has gone to a lot of strange places. The only key thing most of those have in common is this – you usually have to get there by pipe! Much like Santa, Mario’s remarkable ability to travel the length and breadth of various pipes has let him travel all over the Mushroom Kingdom. One of the more classic places pipes take him are underground. Thus, this week of Making It Rainfall, we’re covering the theme of Underground Labyrinth. These tricky, crystalline caverns are mysterious, dangerous and often full of traps. Join us as we share a handful of great levels made by our talented oprainfall writers!


Andrew’s Levels

Level 1 – Kooky Cave
Upload Code: 9844-0000-00D6-C257

Making It Rainfall | Kooky Cave

My cave labyrinth level is called Kooky Cave. It’s actually a level I was working on before the recent update, so I decided to finish it and test out checkpoints and progressive power ups. The level has a few paths, some of which prevent you from going backwards. I wanted to provide different risks and rewards for each path. The level is “Kooky” because I went a little overboard on the different enemies you can encounter. It’s kind of short overall, but I enjoyed crafting small zones woven into one level.


Josh’s Levels

Level 2 – Cavern of Greed
Upload Code: 0F2C-0000-00D6-EAE1

Making It Rainfall | Cavern of Greed

Truth be told, I came up with this level a while ago. I just wanted to save it for the right occasion, so felt now was the perfect time. I made this level with a sort of risk / reward theme in mind. Though you can certainly get through it with little difficulty if you choose, it’s much harder if you decide to collect all the coins. Thus, your greed can easily get you in trouble. It’s a delicate balance, but overall this level isn’t too tricky, and hopefully you all enjoy it as I enjoyed making it!

Level 3 – Chop Suey Cavern
Upload Code: 5FB4-0000-00D8-7087

Making It Rainfall | Chop Suey Cavern

This level was also made by me a while back, but I decided to update and extend it using checkpoint flags. The whole level is strewn with tons of sharp and pointy traps, hence “Chop Suey”. You’ll need good timing and skillful jumps to get through this without getting Mario pulverized. Also, keep an eye out for a hidden route at the beginning of the level that makes things much easier. Good luck and don’t let Mario go the route of Super Meat Boy!

Level 4 – Flitter Flap Cave
Upload Code: 4D58-0000-00D6-F1FC

Making It Rainfall | Flitter Flap Cave

I admit, this is probably my least favorite of my levels this week, but I still enjoy it overall. The premise was to have a cave level that was constantly moving, so there are lots of floating platforms, Wigglers, Bullet Bills and more. You’ll need to be on your toes and pay attention here, and quick reflexes are important. Luckily, this is a pretty short stage, so it shouldn’t be too grueling. My one word of advice for the Wiggler section is to jump on one then wait for a second to push it along the path, using the clouds as safety measures.


Michael’s Levels

Level 5 – Crystalline Caves
Upload Code: 4401-0000-00DA-D2FF

Making It Rainfall | Crystalline Caves

First you have to find your way into the Crystalline Caves below. Once you get in, there are plenty more of Bowser’s henchmen standing in your way. However, this level is not super hard and is medium difficulty. There are some tricky jumps in the cave, but not too bad. Older Mario fans may recognize an area towards the end of this level, and there is a secret segment near the goal that can only be accessed with a hidden propeller mushroom. There are also a handful of 1Ups hiding in this level, and maybe Mario’s trusty steed, too!

Level 6 – Yoshi’s Secret Tunnel
Upload Code: FE69-0000-00DB-8927

Making It Rainfall | Yoshi's Secret Tunnel

Bowser has sent an army of his henchmen to block Mario’s advance toward his castle. Mario watched from a high ledge as the massive army of goombas, koopa troopas, paratroopas, lakitus, and hammer bros. advanced towards him. But just when the last ray of hope seemed almost gone, Yoshi revealed to Mario a secret tunnel known only to the Yoshis. It would allow them to bypass Bowser’s army, but there’s a catch. This tunnel is very treacherous. The Yoshis of course have no trouble traversing it, but Mario is a different story. As Mario and Yoshi head into the secret tunnel, Bowser Jr’s spies are watching…


That’s it for this week of Making It Rainfall! We hope you enjoyed this batch, and make sure to join us in two weeks for the next segment!

Josh Speer
Josh is a passionate gamer, finding time to clock in around 30-40 hours of gaming a week. He discovered Operation Rainfall while avidly following the localization of the Big 3 Wii RPGs. He enjoys SHMUPS, Platformers, RPGs, Roguelikes and the occasional Fighter. He’s also an unashamedly giant Mega Man fan, having played the series since he was eight. As Head Editor and Review Manager, he spends far too much time editing reviews and random articles. In his limited spare time he devours indies whole and anticipates the release of quirky, unpredictable and innovative games.