Smoked Fish and Cabbage Review – A Beginner Friendly Kaizo Journey

The Super Mario World hacking community has produced everything from sprawling cinematic adventures to bite sized experimental projects. Smoked Fish and Cabbage, created by LetsTalkGames and the coder known as xMANGRAVYx, stands out as a compact yet polished introduction to the Kaizo style. Released in July 2023, the hack is short by design with seven carefully crafted levels, but within that small footprint it manages to deliver challenge, variety, and accessibility in equal measure.

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I first learned about LetsTalkGames through their later project Castlemania II, which I reviewed earlier and praised for its bold gothic atmosphere and boss driven design. That experience made me curious about their earlier work, and Smoked Fish and Cabbage shows where many of those creative instincts were first refined. It does not aim to overwhelm with cinematic scope, but instead delivers a lean and tightly constructed hack that reveals the care and humor behind its design.

At first glance, the unusual name might throw players off, but it captures the quirky personality behind the project. Unlike many hacks that aim to overwhelm with difficulty spikes or endless length, Smoked Fish and Cabbage was intentionally scoped small. As xMANGRAVYx himself explained, the goal was to create something “hard enough for beginners to grind, but easy enough a more skilled player could breeze through.” That balance has become one of its defining traits.

By keeping the scope tight, the hack avoids bloat and ensures that each stage feels distinct. Every level has a theme, both visually and mechanically, and each contributes to a learning curve that escalates naturally as players progress. The result is a hack that is not only fun but also educational, teaching new players about Mario’s physics, mechanics, and tricks without demanding perfection from the start.

The Seven Levels

One of the strongest aspects of Smoked Fish and Cabbage is its variety of levels. Each of the seven stages has its own identity, supported by custom palettes and mechanics.

Level 1: Retro Gravy pays homage to Game Boy aesthetics, using carefully selected shades of green to avoid blending issues between foreground and background. It is a clever opener that signals this hack will be playful with visual presentation, not just mechanics.

Level 2: Checkpoint City leans on a tongue in cheek Mario Maker reference. The stage is literally decorated with checkpoint markers, but not a single one functions as an actual checkpoint. It is both a visual gag and a test of perseverance, setting the stage for the grind to win philosophy the hack embraces.

Level 3: The Danger Zone reimagines a Mario Maker 2 speedrun stage within Lunar Magic, compressing precision gameplay into short, high energy bursts. This stage stands out as the first to really push players into tighter execution, yet it remains approachable enough that repeated attempts teach rhythm quickly.

The middle stages shift into more creative territory. Level 4: Cheddar Believe It uses warm yellow and orange palettes to create a “cheesy” tone while asking for slightly sharper platforming skills. Level 5: The Clot Thickens dives into biological horror, with reds and whites suggesting movement inside a body. This creative theme adds atmosphere to the challenge, making it memorable without leaning on difficulty alone.

Level 6: Belly of the Beast takes inspiration from the infamous dam stage in the NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Tight underwater corridors and dangerous pink weeds make this one of the more punishing levels, though its nostalgic reference will resonate with retro fans. Finally, Level 7: None Shell Pass closes the hack with a vertical fortress climb, its stark black and red design punctuating the journey with a suitably menacing finale.

The diversity of settings and challenges is impressive for such a compact hack. None of the levels overstay their welcome, and together they create a complete package that feels satisfying to finish in a single sitting or over multiple sessions.

Accessibility and Design Philosophy

Accessibility is the guiding philosophy behind Smoked Fish and Cabbage. Rather than crafting a punishing Kaizo hack that only experts can complete, LetsTalkGames deliberately struck a balance that allows new players to practice Kaizo style setups without being overwhelmed.

The hack teaches through repetition and theme. Tricks are introduced gently, then reinforced later with slight variations. While deaths are frequent as they are in any Kaizo inspired design, checkpoints are unnecessary because levels are short enough that players can quickly reattempt and internalize the lessons. This makes failure less frustrating and more like part of the learning process.

Community feedback has praised this approach. One reviewer on SMW Central called it a “solid beginner hack” and “a must play for anyone just starting out on their Kaizo journey.” Another player remarked that they “learned a ton about SMW physics and mechanics by playing this,” highlighting its value as both entertainment and training ground. These testimonials underscore the hack’s dual role as game and teaching tool.

Visuals, Atmosphere, and Community Response

The visual presentation of Smoked Fish and Cabbage is another highlight. Each stage uses a distinct color palette to support its theme, from eerie biological reds to the playful Game Boy greens of the opening level. Jezjitsu, credited for palette work, deserves recognition here because the colors enhance readability while giving the hack a unique visual personality.

Atmosphere is further reinforced through design gags and references. The use of Checkpoint City as a purely decorative space is both playful and memorable. Belly of the Beast’s nod to TMNT adds a retro layer for older players. These touches elevate the hack beyond a simple beginner’s course and into something with character.

The community has responded enthusiastically. On SMW Central, comments praise it as “short but solid,” “a great hack for newcomers,” and “a remastered version of the original trilogy with fantastic updates.” Players consistently note how the colors and setups make the hack feel alive, and even seasoned veterans recommend it as a fun snack sized challenge.

Lasting Impact and Future Potential

Smoked Fish and Cabbage may not be the longest or hardest hack, but its importance lies in accessibility. In an era where Kaizo hacks can sometimes intimidate newcomers, this project lowers the barrier to entry without sacrificing creativity. It proves that beginner friendly design does not need to be boring, and that small projects can still leave a big impression.

For LetsTalkGames, it also serves as a foundation. Later projects like Castlemania II push into darker, more cinematic territory, but Smoked Fish and Cabbage remains a reminder of where the team began. It shows that passion and focus can turn a modest project into something memorable and beloved.

With more projects on the horizon, it will be fascinating to see how LetsTalkGames balances accessibility with ambition in future releases. If Smoked Fish and Cabbage is any indication, the team has the vision and dedication to keep producing hacks that resonate with both newcomers and veterans alike.

You can download the official patch for Smoked Fish and Cabbage at Romhacking.net, Spinjump, or SMW Central. As always, remember to dump your own legal copy of Super Mario World before applying the patch.

Rating: 8.5 / 10 – A creative, accessible, and thematically rich beginner friendly hack that balances challenge with charm.