>FOREST_IN_MY_HEAD.txt

                                    
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The forest in my head has grown and become deeper than the one in the game. Ever since I first wrote fanfiction on this topic in 2017, the Forest Maze has been an important force in the stories that surround it. It has become like a place of folklore that will claim you if you stray from the path.

Things that may have caused me to feel this way?:

>The entrancing music
"Beware the forest mushrooms" is a wonderful song that is unique to any other song in the game. It has been described as "whimsical" and "eerie" and it leans more into the JRPG aspect of the game than the Mario aspect. It. also reminds me of folk and fiddle music.

>The nature of the level and its reputation
When playing through this area in the game, you will be met with wasps and living mushrooms constantly underfoot. Arrows will randomly rain from the sky but hardly ever actually hit you. There are tree stumps that you can enter, and either find treasure or enemies inside. It's kind of horrible and arduous. Not to mention how easy it is to get lost while trying to find secrets. Though it’s really easy to get through it you just follow Geno (How does HE know where to go?? Who knows!). Nautrally, it follows that the maze gained a reputation among fans. Internet guides were a lot less accessible back when the game was released.

>Borrowed nostalgia?
When I first stumbled upon the game, a generation had already played it growing up and were re-visitng it as adults. They recounted the game's story like a fond memory so to me, it felt like a story that had been told for a long time. A "Legend of the seven stars" if you will ;)

I’ve been drawn to the idea of Bowyer being changed by the forest in some way- “The forest will twist me before I go". I don’t know what exactly inspired this besides what is listed above, and the desire to give Bowyer more depth. But really, I look for any excuse to lean into more animal-like traits of any character. If the power of nature can get me to picture Bowyer running on all fours, climbing trees and learning about death, then helll yeah.