Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is my favorite SNES game! I have found ALMOST eveything. I know where all the hidden chests are, but a few things, no matter how many times I beat the game, I still can't do (sigh). First off, since I cannot Super Jump more than 14 times, I cannot get the jump scarf, nor whatever wonderful item you get for a hundred jumps.
Ah yes, this is actually one of the toughest things to pull off. The main thing is that the timing slightly changes at about the 15th jump. This is why SO many people fail right there and deem the challenge IMPOSSIBLE. Truth is that it's not, it's just difficult. At the 15th jump, you have to push the Y button sooner. The timing changes again at the 25th jump, making you have to push it even sooner. Many guides on the net can't help you much. They will give you more of a vague idea where it is, but the real thing that makes it happen is practice. Keep practicing. You'll eventually get it.
Secondly, I have beaten Culex ten times and gotten that accessory he gives you, but what in the world is so great about it? If I recall, it doesn't change your stats all that much considering how tough the battle is. Does it like, do something else? Nobody I have ever talked to has any idea why it's so special.
It's main function is to protect you from attacks that knock you out automatically. Few bosses hold this, but one in particular it comes in handy for is Countdown. (He's the giant clock if you can't figure it out.) He tends to abuse his OHKO attack because he has few attacks that can do the job properly. In truth, the guy is more of an annoying pushover than anything else.
Thirdly, that mushroom shop in Seaside Town. What kind of mushrooms does that guy want, and when and where do I find them? He doesn't even care about the powerful max mushroom, so what am I looking for?
You're looking for the item labeled Mushroom. Yeah, the first kind you get at the start and use for about a third of the game. The main ones to track down are in the Forest Maze. They keep reappearing after you've gotten them all, so don't worry about not finding more of them. Other than that, just keep buying them at the Mushroom Kingdom.
It is completely random of what kind of Mushroom out of regular, Berry, Rippin' and one other I can't remember right now that you get. However, if you pull off Berry, he'll give you a Maple Syrup. If you get a Rippin', he'll give you a Flower Tab. Finally, if you give him the last kind, he'll give you a Rock Candy. Very handy if I do say so myself.
And finally, since Mario has certain battles that he must do, and these battles give a fair of experience points, the only way to beat the game with him on level 3, as far as I can figure, would be to use a code to keep him from leveling up, right? The game wouldn't be THAT hard like that, I don't think. A level 3 Mario with a level 30 Bowser and Peach would still get the job done nicely, I think. Sounds fun. What's the code, or whatever you need to do, and I might just try it myself. From the way this sounds, I'm nowhere near as good as you are, but I can hold my own. I can beat the entire game without gatting a gameover and without using a pick me up at all. Took a lot of practice and experience, but I can do it easily now. So I'm not one of the "best" but I will say, I am good. Tell me this level 3 challenge and I'll see when I can try it. I accept this mission at the cost of my life. But so be it. Tis the cost of being an italian plumber that travels through pipes and touches magic flowers to gain fire power. (Gotta love it.) I'll await your response. Later!
If you have a Super Game Genie, there is a code to make sure their levels never go up. However, there is a legit way to pulling it off.
Like I said earlier, it takes more luck than skill. The first thing you must comprise is who you must battle and who you can avoid. The only ones you must face up until star 3 are: Hammer Bros., Croco, Mack, Belome, Bowyer, Punchinello. In just those few matches, Mario is already at level 3 and only 1 Exp. Point away from level 4. Now you think it's impossible, right? Wrong!
After beating Punchinello, you go to the Item shop in Moleville. There is a new guy behind the counter that wears a blue spotted mushroom hat. Talk to him and he'll let you buy the Lucky Jewel for 100 coins. Buy it!
After that, you have access to a special item that can be used ten times and the complete secret to the WHOLE challenge. When this item is used, you activate the Lucky Bonus game. Here, you get the chance to double it or lose it all. You have to get it Wrong and so that you can lose ALL of those Exp. Points. You may've run into this before. What activated it was a flower popping out of an enemy and words appearing saying "LUCKY". Well, that's how it works. When the battle is over, you get the chance to lose it all. This keeps Mario at Level 3, Mallow at Level 4, Geno at Level 6, Bowser at Level 8 and Toadstool at Level 10. Good luck with that, and remember, if you get it Right or Tie, you can ALWAYS reset.
However, since you can only use it 10 times, this makes the Lucky Jewel run out after beating Yardiovich, who is considered to be one of the toughest bosses during this challenge. After beating him and freeing everyone in Seaside Town, you can get TWO items that are VERY useful in pulling off this challenge. Go to the item shop in Seaside Town and purchase the Hammer at the VERY bottom. Note that the description shows it's "a lucky hammer". That's right, you're abusing "Lucky" again.
The other item makes sure you get ZERO Exp. points on the non-bosses and so that you don't have to worry too much. This one requires some work. What you want is the B'Tub Ring (Which you can buy at Marrymore.) and the Mystery Egg you get from the blue spotted mushroom guy at Moleville, which will cost you 200 coins. After that, Equip the B'Tub Ring to Toadstool and go back to an easy battle. (Like against a Goomba.) During the match have Mario and Bowser Defend while Toadstool uses the Mystery Egg. Keep it up until the Egg turns into a Sheep. This will indicate you have done it. You now have the one item that makes non-boss targets give you ZERO Exp. Points when you defeat them.
The item is known as Lamb's Lure. What this does is that it turns non-boss enemies into a sheep and makes you get ZERO Exp. points. Quite handy for this challenge. Oh, and if you use Lamb's Lure 48 times, it turns into the Sheep Attack, which effects ALL non-boss enemies on the screen instead of just one. Best of all, the Sheep Attack can be used ENDLESSLY. So knock yourself out.
From Yardiovich, keep up the Mushroom Boy's side quest until you have plenty of Rock Candies. These are necessary for the WHOLE game, so make sure you always come back to getting them after you beat a boss. (Yeah, this gets tiring.) Use Lamb's Lure/Sheep Attack on the Non-bosses while using the Rock Candies and the Lucky Hammer on the Bosses. Keep this up until you reach Land's End. Now, before going there, head back to Booster's Tower. Climb it until you get to a guy juggling balls.
Turns out to be Knife Guy and he wants to make amends. He let's you play a game. Keep playing until you win enough times to get the Bright Card. (You'll know you're getting close when he starts going SO fast that it takes either keen eyes or pure luck to keep up.) KEEP THIS! After getting that, head to Land's End. Keep going until you get to 6 pipes with Piranha Plants sticking out. Engage in battle with them and use the Lamb's Lure/Sheep Attack to win. Inside one of the pipes you'll find a Gold Chomp. Stand at the upper closest corner to it and jump 3 times. Doing so will get you to the Grate Guy Casino.
In this area, head inside and go to the guy standing on the ball. This is Grate Guy. Keep talking to him until he let's you play a game. Keep playing until he gives you the Star Egg. This item hits ALL enemies with 100 points of damage and can be used ENDLESSLY. So it's REALLY a keeper. After this, you can get rid of the Bright Card if you want.
Think you have all you need to win? Not quite.
Keep going until you beat Megasimlax. (The Piranha Plant Boss with one BIG Piranha Plant head.) After beating him, the Shyaway. drops a note. Read it and you'll get the Seed. KEEP THIS. From there, keep going until you rescue King and Queen Nimbus. There, head back to outside of the castle and go off to the right. You'll soon find a hidden path. Take it and you can access a secret invisible path that leads you to a Shyaway. He'll give you the Fertilizer. KEEP THIS.
Head back to Rose Town and go to the back. Head into the house and talk to the old guy. Give him the Seed and Fertilizer and a vine will appear. Climb it and you can get the Lazy Shell Weapon and Armor. Give the armor to Bowser, but keep the weapon, but DON'T Equip it yet.
Have it all yet? NOPE!
You need the Quartz Charm from Culex. Beat him, equip the Quartz Charm to Bowser, and it's all you need to win.
From there, keep stocking up on Rock Candies as much as possible, using the Star Egg when you finally run out. When you finally reach Smithy, before facing him, head back to Toad and stock up on items that recover your health. You can go ahead and Equip the Lazy Shell weapon to Mario now. Keep using Rock Candies and Star Egg on Smithy, making sure to recover when necessary, until you win.
Congrats to you when you beat this! You'll be one of the greats when you pull this off.
Good luck! (You'll SERIOUSLY need it!
:)