In Super Mario RPG, the original and the remake, holds a lot of surprises, references to other game franchises, and plenty more secrets to uncover for devoted fans of the game. One of the most intriguing secrets to be found in the original game was Culex, a character who doesn’t hail from the Final Fantasy realm, yet embodies the look and feel of a character from that franchise, complete with its music and sound effects.

Just like in the original, Culex makes an appearance in the Super Mario RPG remake, retaining his pixelated, 2D form along with the original throwback soundtrack and sound effects. To encounter him, you must follow the same process of buying fireworks and trading them with a little girl in Moletown for a shiny stone, which is then used to unlock his door in Monstro Town.

Upon defeating Culex, he hints at the possibility of another encounter in the future, signaling what lies ahead in the remake of the game.

To initiate the next phase of the journey, the first step is to complete the Super Mario RPG remake. Once that’s accomplished, head to Merrymore and spend the night in the fancy suite. During the night, Geno will notice activity on Star Hill, leading you to discover new pink stars in the third area that appear to originate from bosses you’ve previously bested, seeking rematches.

Full transparency: I am not sure in what order you need to defeat these bosses or if it matters. Mallow’s frog father will provide additional hints beyond the stars to help you figure out where to go. These bosses can be tough, and though I will provide some hints that helped me, much if it comes down to everyone being max level 30 and equipping the right items.

• In Monstro Town, learn the Triple Moves in the school
• In Marrymore, strategize how to fight the cake again
• In Belome Temple, face off against Belome for the third time
• In the Sunken Ship, journey back to the Pirate Base to confront Johnny the shark one-on-one
• At Booster’s Tower, be ready for a devastating train attack
• In Moleville, prepare for a challenging fight against Punchinello

Continued good luck and share any tips you may have while taking on these battles!