Dinosaur Land: The World of Super Mario World

LocationDinosaur LandSuper Mario World

A holiday spot that turns into an adventure playground in no time. Dinosaur Land, Pays des Dinosaures in French, is the archipelago of Super Mario World, split into seven regions plus the hidden Star World. This guide covers the legend of the shooting stars, the occupation by Bowser's troops and the rescue of the captive Yoshis.

The world of Dinosaur Land (Pays des Dinosaures in French) is the immense archipelago that serves as the setting for Super Mario World. Introduced as a peaceful holiday spot, it quickly turns into an adventure playground where Mario sets out to free the princess and the Yoshis.

From Yoshi's Island to the Valley of Bowser, this world brings together seven distinct regions, one very well-hidden secret and a curious legend about how its dinosaurs came to be.

Contents

• The playground of Super Mario World
• Seven regions to cross
• Star World, a hidden eighth territory
• The legend of the shooting stars
• A land at the mercy of Bowser's troops
• Yoshi's birthplace
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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The playground of Super Mario World

The Dinosaur Land archipelago is the entire setting of Super Mario World, the platformer released alongside the Super Nintendo. The game first came out on 21 November 1990 in Japan (on Super Famicom at the time), then in August 1991 in North America and finally on 11 April 1992 in Europe. So the 1990 date applies to the Japanese market only: in France, the game did not land until 1992.

In the story, this archipelago is not a battlefield to begin with, but a holiday destination. Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach come here to rest after their previous adventures. The break quickly turns sour: the princess vanishes and it soon becomes clear that Bowser and his gang have seized the region. That opening scene sets the player's whole journey in motion.

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Seven regions to cross

Dinosaur Land is divided into seven main regions, which Mario explores in a set order. Each one ends with a castle guarded by one of the Koopalings, Bowser's seven lieutenants. The main regions are the following:

• First,Yoshi's Island, a lush green meadow that serves as the starting point of the adventure.
• The Donut Plains, a vast rolling expanse in the west of the map.
• The Vanilla Dome, a network of underground caves.
• The Twin Bridges, an area of mountains and suspended walkways.
• The Forest of Illusion (known in French as Forêt Illusoire or Forêt de l'Illusion), a wooded maze riddled with secret paths.
• Then,Chocolate Island, with its characteristic desert and brown tones.
• The Valley of Bowser, the final region, underground and especially hostile.

Every zone has its own visual identity — meadow, cave, mountain, forest, desert, valley — which gives it a remarkable variety of landscapes for a game from 1990.

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Star World, a hidden eighth territory

Beyond the seven regions hides Star World, an entirely secret area connected to the rest of the map by concealed passages. Getting in means tracking down the alternate exits tucked into certain levels, a treasure hunt that rewards the most curious players.

Beware of one common mix-up, though: Dinosaur Land is not limited to Star World. The latter is only a hidden portion. The name Dinosaur Land refers to the entire map, visible regions included, and not that one secret corner alone. Star World is its hidden gem, not the whole thing.

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The legend of the shooting stars

The official Japanese guide published by Shogakukan offers a colorful origin story for these dinosaurs. As the tale goes, five shooting stars born from the light of Star World once streaked across the sky above the archipelago.

One of them is said to have struck a fossilized egg, snapping its two petrified halves shut in one go. From that egg was born Yoshi, and the event is said to have brought the dinosaurs back to life across the region. That piece of lore explains why the archipelago is teeming with prehistoric creatures of the friendly kind, starting with the Yoshi tribe.

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A land at the mercy of Bowser's troops

Dinosaur Land is a land almost devoid of civilization. You will not come across a single town or organized village there: the landscape is dotted instead with haunted houses, fortresses and castles built or taken over by Bowser and the Koopalings.

This is also where the tyrant goes after the Yoshis directly. Yoshi's dinosaur companions end up trapped inside eggs by Bowser's troops. Freeing them, finding the princess again and clearing the seven regions make up the backbone of the whole Super Mario World adventure.

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Yoshi's birthplace

Dinosaur Land also carries real historic weight for the series: this is where Yoshi appears for the very first time. Super Mario World, back in 1990, marked the debut of the green dinosaur, who has since become one of the flagship characters of the Mario universe.

In the game, Yoshi doubles as a mount: Mario climbs onto his back to gulp down enemies with a flick of the tongue and clear passages that would otherwise be impossible. The bond between the plumber and his mount was born in this archipelago, which makes Dinosaur Land far more than a simple backdrop.

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Dinosaur Land: the quick facts

French name	Pays des Dinosaures (also Dino-Land)
English name	Dinosaur Land
Game of origin	Super Mario World (Super Nintendo)
Releases	1990 (Japan), 1991 (North America), 1992 (Europe)
Type of place	Archipelago populated by dinosaurs
Regions	7 main regions + the secret Star World
Iconic inhabitants	The Yoshis
Antagonists	Bowser and the Koopalings

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FAQ

• Which game does Dinosaur Land appear in?
  It is the setting of Super Mario World, released on Super Nintendo in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America and 1992 in Europe.
• How many regions does Dinosaur Land have?
  Seven main regions: Yoshi's Island, Donut Plains, Vanilla Dome, Twin Bridges, Forest of Illusion, Chocolate Island and Valley of Bowser, plus the secret Star World.
• Who lives in Dinosaur Land?
  Mostly the Yoshis, a tribe of friendly dinosaurs. The region is almost devoid of civilization and has very few other inhabitants.
• Where do the dinosaurs come from, according to the legend?
  According to a Shogakukan guide, five shooting stars from Star World struck a fossilized egg, giving birth to Yoshi and bringing the dinosaurs back to life.
• Is Dinosaur Land limited to Star World?
  No. Star World is only a secret area of the map. Dinosaur Land refers to the entire archipelago, visible regions included.

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