A mostly brisk environment not too terribly far from the raging cold of the Sherberto Sea. It consists of an expansive, lively swamp featuring several giant mushrooms of varying colors. Some grow in the ground, whereas others have tall stalks that allow them to loom over the marshy landscape like trees.

The waters of the swamp spill directly into the ocean by the Fungo Delta. In recent years, it was discovered that the delta and subsequent ocean waters are rich in oil deposits, enticing the construction of many oil wells, pipelines, and, most notably, the Rockwell Rig. Manned mostly by rocky wrench workers, this rig was the heart of oil production along Fungo’s delta region.

Unfortunately, still irrationally upset by his second defeat, Jr carried on even further while you were back fighting his remaining soldiers in Sherberto. Using another one of his animatronic creations, the Mechabloopa, he throws a tantrum by Rockwell Rig. While manning the Mechabloopa, he intentionally slashes the mech’s long arms at the legs of the rig, causing a colossal oil spill.

Jr’s childish behavior quickly spilled and seeped into both the swamp and delta. As a result of the spills from the rig, Fungo’s environment is now in shambles.

The toxicity of the oil has killed off a lot of the wildlife, especially some smaller inhabitants. It has also greatly polluted the delta and ocean waters, making it completely unwise to swim in either of them.

5-1 Touch Mushroom, Get Dead

The oil spill’s influence has reached out far enough to harm even the outskirts of Fungo Swamp. Here, while a lot of the sparse mushrooms and vegetation have remained, almost all of the fauna have been killed off completely.

However, not all of the fungi have been left unharmed. In fact, quite a number of the smaller mushrooms have become greatly toxic due to the oil spills. They’ve become fully rotten, and are ready to chase you down until you ingest them by accident. You’ll have to abstain from eating most random mushrooms for a while. And, be careful of those that still lurk in ? blocks.

Not all of these rotten mushrooms are grounded, either. Some have resorted to taking on an aerial approach to their mischief, and, as such, will come parachuting down on you instead.

5-2 Fungo’s Big Shell Bayous

Unfortunately, a lot of Fungo’s smaller fauna have died from the oil spills already, leaving behind nothing other than the bigger fauna that are more resilient to the oil’s sheer toxicity.

But, even then, these bayous show a (mostly) ideal picture of what fungo should look like: thick, giant mushrooms both in and off the ground, heavy grasses covering the muddy, warm-toned soil. They’re quite reminiscent of the Big Island that you explored in the past, complete with large bricks, ? blocks, and even cloud platforms.

As its name suggests, Fungo’s Big Shell Bayous contain several big koopas. Some are a bit bigger than average, but others are absolutely massive. But, it’s nighttime, so their large shells have been scattered about while they’re resting. Unless, the oil has already caused them to take a permanent nap. Nonetheless, I wonder what’s hiding in these shells.

Large spinies and goombas are other creatures dominant around the bayous. Many large spiny shells are also scattered around, too. Just don’t touch the top of them. They’re not safe to walk on.

Sadly, your old nautical nemesis, the boss bass is also back and ready to swim in its new freshwater habitat… or what was once fresh before the oil poisoned it all. The swampwater is not only a lot more toxic, but its toxic composition has caused rising tides that make navigation around the swamp difficult, especially when all of the boss basses think it’s your fault that their new home is in shambles. They sadly have no other choice but to take this frustration and fear of imminent doom out on you.

5-R Seeshroom Piranha Pantheon

A pantheon dedicated to showcasing the many species of piranha plants, with piranha plant murals on the walls, as well as the rather unique seeshroom, a mushroom species whose cap teeters like a seesaw when stepped on. But, due to its age, the pantheon has become slightly ruined with the overgrowth of vines, mushrooms, and even more piranha plants than expected. Nonetheless, its mystical walls provide the last sanctuary for health in the ravaged remains of Fungo, even in its crumbling state.

The river piranha plants that reside in the ruins’ pools thankfully still have access to clean water, and can persist in blowing their spike balls up and down as usual.

While ascending the ruins, you should also notice stalking piranha plants, another subspecies of ptooies that are spike ball free, but like to stretch out their neck to attack. Some of them are aided by lifts that were built into the pantheon.

But, the madlad Boom Boom is too mad to recognize a nature-dedicated relic as significant as this pantheon for what it is, so he has ordered Kamek to give him wings, and flood certain corners of the pantheon with lava. If the oil outside can’t reach this vegetative sanctuary, then the lava inside will unfortunately scorch it instead.

5-3 Wiggler’s Oil Outrage

Upon leaving the pantheon, you are then greeted to Fungo Delta, which has already become a hot mess of skinny oil pipelines due to coastal drilling activity.

But, the oil spills are starting to become really problematic now. Most of the mushrooms, grasses, and vines that were here have died off completely due to the wrath of this petroleum crisis.

The wigglers are somewhat resilient enough to handle the massive amounts of oil, but not without rightfully losing their temper, whether big or small in size. They’ve all lost their flowers in a fit of rage. The mood-swung caterpillars are very upset at seeing the further devastation of their home, and, like boss bass, are ready to put their blame and anger on whoever they see first.

The crisis along the delta has become so bad that hardened balls of oil have begun to spew out of the nearby pipes, being powerful enough to break blocks and kill the upset wigglers with their wicked rolling. Tall geysers of oil have also begun to spew out of the oily, coastal waters. Contrary to the geysers in Palma and Rosa, these oil geysers are completely unsafe to walk on or touch in any way. Unless, maybe if you had on some better shoes?

5-OR Mechabloopa’s Delta Reckus

The chaos caused by Jr’s Mechabloopa has now truly taken shape across the Fungo Delta. Now that their water is completely contaminated in oil, the local bloopers have no other choice but to flock to land to escape death. They have seemed to retain the lost art of swimming above water from long ago. Many bloopers have snuck into pipes for safety, but the ones with children have no other option but to air swim out in the open, as the pipes just can’t fit them.

In a vain attempt to combat the catastrophe from Rockwell Rig, the rig’s rocky wrench workers have set up several cleanup ships on the oily water in an attempt to reverse the damage of Jr’s devastation. But, not without several bloopers taking up housing on their ships, as well as hardened oil balls leaking all over the place. They’re just as effective as killing rocky wrenches as they are wigglers.

And, anyways, at that point, it seems to be too late. Ever since your encounter with the angry wigglers, the delta and surrounding ocean’s water have had an odd simmer to them. But, that was only a mere omen for the much, much worse things to come.

By the time you make it to the base of the Rockwell Rig, however, the polluted tides want to do nothing but rise and rise. A full blown crisis has engulfed the delta region. The only way to make it to safety is by ascending the precariously placed drills and girders that make up the rig. The treacherous tides won’t stop rising until around where the rig’s helipads are, so you better run.

Of course, there still is the Mechabloopa, the whole source of this unprecedented chaos, that needs to be taken care of. Jr has built quite the cephalopodic monster for this mech, so it may take more hits than usual to defeat than your average foe. It attacks (mainly by Jr in a control panel inside its head) by shooting out large blobs of ink. Maybe these ink balls can be used to defeat it.