Emily Johnson
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion is an unfinished, non-profit, fan-made platforming video game based on Super Mario Bros. It features a crossover of elements, characters, and settings from a multitude of other video games, including non-Mario and non-Nintendo characters such as Link, Sonic, and Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins. The game has had a troubled history, with development beginning in 2007 and facing multiple cancellations and revivals due to burnout, lack of free time, and copyright issues. Despite challenges, the game has persisted due to the dedication of its fanbase and developers, who have continued to work on and release new versions over the years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for cancellation | Burnout, lack of free time, and the mess that the source is in |
| Nature of the game | Non-profit fan-made platforming video game |
| Basis | Super Mario Bros |
| Type of content | Crossover with elements, characters, and settings from a multitude of other video games |
| Mechanics | SNES and Game Boy Advance renditions of Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World |
| Enemy characters | Standard Mario-universe enemies, demonic beings, alien creatures, and human soldiers |
| Music | Usual Mario series music, along with tracks from the Halo series and other games |
| Items | Items from the Mario series and weaponry from the Covenant races in Halo |
| Suits | Suit items that bestow upon the main playable characters the guise and abilities of certain characters from the Mega Man universe |
| Number of playable characters | 21 |
| Characters | Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, Samus Aran, Simon Belmont, Kirby and more |
| Number of levels | Over 200 |
| Number of worlds | 9 |
| Power-up suits | Halo's Spartan Armor for Mario, Duke Nukem for Wario, and Eri Kasamoto for Roll |
| Guns | Metal Slug, Doom, Halo, Contra, and Quake |
| Number of bosses | Over 80, including 9 World bosses |
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What You'll Learn
- Development hell: The game was too ambitious, leading to its cancellation
- Lack of interest: Developers lost interest, causing delays and cancellations
- Copyright strikes: Nintendo's copyright strikes impacted the project
- Team changes: Shifts in the development team affected progress and decision-making
- Character roster: The addition of new characters caused issues and delays
Development hell: The game was too ambitious, leading to its cancellation
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion, a non-profit fan-made platforming video game, was a highly ambitious project that aimed to fuse the Mario universe with elements, characters, and settings from over 30 different video game universes. The game had a large roster of characters, including non-Mario and non-Nintendo figures such as Link, Sonic, and Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins. It also featured levels and mechanics from various Mario games, such as Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World.
However, the game's ambitious nature led it into development hell. The addition of new characters and stages caused significant delays, and the project began to falter. The development team, Fusion Gameworks, experienced burnout and a lack of free time, further hindering progress. Communication breakdowns within the team also contributed to the challenges, with some developers becoming inactive due to personal obligations.
The game underwent multiple cancellations and revivals, with different fans taking up the project at various stages. Despite these efforts, the scope and complexity of the game proved too much, and it was ultimately unable to escape development hell. The final cancellation was announced by Eddy, a key contributor, on October 20, 2013.
While the game has not been officially released, it has developed a cult following, with fans continuing to work on and modify the game. The latest version, v0.91, was released on May 9, 2025, via Itch.io, showcasing the dedication of the fan community to keep the project alive despite its troubled development history.
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Lack of interest: Developers lost interest, causing delays and cancellations
The fan-made video game Mushroom Kingdom Fusion has had a long and troubled history, with its development being described as "hell". The game was ambitious, incorporating characters, levels, and elements from over 30 different video game universes, including Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, and Halo. It featured a large roster of playable characters, unique power-ups, and a variety of weapons and bosses.
However, the game's development was plagued by delays and cancellations due to various reasons, including burnout, lack of free time, and communication issues among the developers. The game was first announced to be cancelled in October 2013 by Eddy, one of the developers, due to a lack of interest and progress. It was later revived but struggled with schedule slips and changes in the development team.
The Fusion Team, led by The Dookster, included developers who were inactive for long periods due to personal obligations. This lack of consistent interest and dedication from the developers caused further delays and issues in the game's progress. The game has since been cancelled and revived multiple times, with different fans taking up the project at various stages.
While the game has a dedicated fanbase, the development process has been challenging, and the final product has yet to be released with all its planned content. The current version available for download is still a work in progress, indicating that the game has not fully recovered from the setbacks caused by the lack of interest and dedication from its developers.
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Copyright strikes: Nintendo's copyright strikes impacted the project
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion (MKF) is a non-profit, fan-made platforming video game based on Super Mario Bros. It incorporates characters, levels, and elements from more than 30 different video game universes, including non-Mario and non-Nintendo characters such as Link, Sonic, and Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins. The game has had a troubled history, facing multiple cancellations and revivals due to various challenges, including burnout, lack of free time, and source code issues.
One significant factor that impacted the project was Nintendo's copyright strikes. In March 2017, Fusion Gameworks announced that the development of Super Mario Fusion: Revival, also known as Mario Fusion, had been ceased due in part to Nintendo's copyright strikes. While the game's source code was released to the public, allowing others to potentially continue its development, the issue of copyright strikes highlighted the legal challenges faced by fan-made projects that build upon copyrighted characters and universes.
The ambitious nature of MKF, with its extensive character roster and crossovers from multiple franchises, likely contributed to the complexity of managing copyright and intellectual property rights. Nintendo, as a major video game company, has consistently protected its intellectual property, including the Super Mario franchise, which is one of its most valuable assets. As a result, fan-made projects that utilize Nintendo's copyrighted material without authorization may face legal obstacles and challenges.
The impact of Nintendo's copyright strikes on MKF underscores the delicate balance between fan enthusiasm and creativity and the legal rights of intellectual property owners. While fan-made projects can be a labor of love and a tribute to beloved franchises, they must navigate the complex landscape of copyright law to avoid potential legal repercussions. In the case of MKF, the project's progress was influenced not only by development challenges but also by the legal considerations surrounding the use of copyrighted material.
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Team changes: Shifts in the development team affected progress and decision-making
The development of Mushroom Kingdom Fusion has been turbulent, with the game being cancelled, revived, and cancelled again due to various challenges. One significant factor contributing to its struggles has been shifts in the development team, which have impacted progress and decision-making.
Initially, the game progressed smoothly with the support of the Fusion Team and a dedicated fanbase. The core cast was decided, foundations were laid, and ideas were freely exchanged. The game underwent a name change to Mushroom Kingdom Fusion to reflect the expanding roster of characters beyond the Mario universe, including Link, Sonic, and Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins.
However, over time, the development team experienced changes that affected the project's trajectory. There were individuals who became inactive or made minimal contributions, leading to a restructuring of the team. Several controversial team members who caused unnecessary drama were also removed. As a result, the team size decreased significantly, and the project faced challenges due to creative differences and inconsistent contributions.
Despite these setbacks, the remaining dedicated developers persevered, and the game continued to evolve. Versions of the game were released, featuring new levels, characters, and gameplay enhancements. However, the team dynamics and leadership transitions undoubtedly influenced the pace of development and the overall direction of Mushroom Kingdom Fusion.
The development team's changes aimed to streamline decision-making and improve efficiency by removing inactive or unproductive members. While this reduced the team's size, it also helped mitigate creative differences and refocus efforts on completing the project. Ultimately, the shifts in the development team had both positive and negative impacts on the game's progress and decision-making process.
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Character roster: The addition of new characters caused issues and delays
The development of Mushroom Kingdom Fusion, a fan-made platforming video game, has been troubled, with the game being cancelled and revived multiple times. One of the reasons for these delays was the addition of new characters to the roster.
The game was originally going to feature only Mario as the playable character, but with the inclusion of elements, characters, and settings from other video game franchises, the name was changed to Mushroom Kingdom Fusion. The roster of playable characters grew to include non-Mario and non-Nintendo characters such as Link, Sonic, and Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins. While it was initially decided that there would be ten characters plus a hidden character, R.O.B., this plan expanded, and more characters were added.
This caused issues as the newer characters had to be programmed, stages were revised and reworked, and the game became increasingly ambitious and complex. The development team also underwent shifts, with some members becoming inactive due to personal obligations and others leaving the team entirely. This led to a lack of communication and organisation among the developers, causing further delays.
Several characters that were planned for the game were ultimately cut, including R.O.B., Amy Rose, Alucard, and an original character named Agent M. The expansion of the character roster and the subsequent development issues contributed to the game's troubled history and lengthy development process.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom Kingdom Fusion (MKF) is a non-profit, fan-made platforming video game based on Super Mario Bros. It is a crossover with elements, characters, and settings from more than 30 different video game universes.
The game's ambitiousness, among other problems, proved to be too much. It was announced to be cancelled by Eddy on October 20, 2013, due to burnout, lack of free time, and the mess that the source code was in.
Yes, the development team underwent many shifts, and some members became inactive due to personal obligations. There were also issues with Nintendo's copyright strikes.
No, the game has been in development since its early days and has had a troubled history, with multiple cancellations and revivals. It is currently unfinished, with the latest version being 0.91 released on May 9, 2025.
Yes, a fan started a remake in Game Maker: Studio, but this project was also cancelled. However, a fan named D-TurboKiller continued development, releasing version 0.6 "Vanilla Shroom". The latest version can always be downloaded from its itch.io page.
