Joe Lieberman and Jerry Falwell were convinced that all videogames are about death and destruction. Here's our chance to prove them wrong! We'll start with the most celebrated 3D open-world platforming game of all time, Super Mario 64. Of course, the same rules can be applied to really any game, with varying degrees of success.
The object of the challenge is to beat the game without killing anything. We have to make an exception for Bowser, because you can't progress without beating him. After all, is it really possible to kill Bowser? After all, he's been in every game except Super Mario Bros. 2, had his ass handed to him by the Mario Bros., and then come back in the next game to start it all over again.
Rules.
If Mario kills an enemy, the player has 2 options.
If the player does not choose one of these options within 10 seconds, the challenge is considered forfeit and must be restarted from 0 stars.
Complicity.
Mario can avoid killing an enemy and still be complicit in its death. For example, Bob-ombs will explode after chasing Mario. Where the Bob-omb would not have exploded had it not seen Mario, that makes him complicit in its death. Also, enemies that get in the way of sliding cork boxes will die as a result of the impact. Even if Mario was not aiming at the enemy, instead aiming for the wall or another sturdy object to break the box open on, Mario is nonetheless complicit in the enemy's death. If anything that is the direct result of Mario being there occurs that results in the death of an enemy, Mario is necessarily complicit in its death.
Losing Mario's Cap in Snowman's Land.
Losing Mario's cap in Snowman's Land and leaving the course without getting it back will result in a snowman picking it up. If this occurs, Mario is not allowed to get it back, as doing so requires that he kill the snowman.
Nintendo DS Remake.
The basics of this challenge may work on the Nintendo DS version, but this document does not take any of the new levels or characters into account.
The following stars have been observed collectible under this challenge. Course names with a star next to it can be totally completed on Pacifist. Click on the course name to expand the star list.
1.3-"Shoot to the Island in the Sky". The Wing Cap can be used to reach the island instead of the cannon.
1.4-"Find the 8 Red Coins". Mario can pass the Bob-Omb below the bridge without it seeing him and can use the Wing Cap to access the floating island.
1.6-"Behind Chain Chomp's Gate". This star doesn't require interacting with any defeatible enemies.
100 Coins. There are enough coins in the first 2 floating coin rings and on the ground to amount to 100 coins without needing to kill any enemies.
Caveats. Since we can't defeat the Big Bob-Omb, we can't collect his star. We also can't race Koopa the Quick, since he only shows up once the Big Bob-Omb is defeated. Since cannons can only be unlocked after the Big Bob-Omb is defeated, we can't fly high enough to reach the 5th coin ring to complete 1.5-"Mario Wings to the Sky".
2.3-"Shoot into the Wild Blue". The star can be reached by wall-kicking onto the platform from below or long-jumping onto it from above.
2.4-"Red Coins on the Floating Isle". Since Whomp is still present, Mario will need to long-jump onto the rotating coin platforms in order to collect the last 2 red coins.
2.5-"Fall Onto the Caged Island". It is possible to triple-jump from the rotating coin platform or long-jump from the top of Whomp into the cage.
2.6-"Blast Away the Wall". With an incredibly unlikely ledge-grab into the star's hitbox, it is possible to collect this star without breaking the wall.
100 Coins. There are enough coins on the ground to reach 100+ without defeating any enemies.
Caveats. Since we can't defeat Whomp, we can't rebuild the fortress to reach 1.2 - To the Top of the Fortress. It goes without saying that we can't complete 1.1 - Chip Off Whomp's Block, either. We can't open the cannon or fly with Hoot because neither Hoot nor the Bob-Omb Buddy will appear until 2.3 AFTER Whomp has been defeated.
Every star in this map is collectible. The only defeatible enemies are three Goombas in the pirates' cave, which are all easily avoided.
Every star in this map is collectible without killing anything. Though it may be easier to collect 4.6-"Wall Kicks Will Work" by jumping off the side at the bottom of the mountain, rather than using the cannon, since that will bring Mario too close to a pair of hard-to-avoid Spindrifts.
Since we cannot even enter this map without killing a Boo, no star is collectible.
The only defeatible enemies in the main map are Goombas, and they're all easy to avoid. While throwing Bowser into a bomb covered in spikes may be of questionable pacificity, it doesn't kill him, so we can do it.
Neither the Princess's Secret Slide nor the Secret Aquarium contain any enemies.
There are no defeatible enemies in this map.
6.1-"Swimming Beast in the Cavern". We do have to ground-pound Dorrie's back to get him to lower his head, but it doesn't kill him.
6.2-"Elevate for Red Coins". As the pre-pathed elevator circumnavigates the room, it may be difficult to avoid knocking out a Swooper. Long jump from the elevator platform to the F-shaped platform to avoid having to deal with them.
6.3-"Metal-Head Mario can Move". If you're quick enough, you can begin your jumps before the Scuttlebug's collision activates.
6.4-"Navigating the Toxic Maze". Be careful in the maze to avoid knocking a Snufit out of the air. Down the final corridor, a programming oversight causes the Swoopers not to activate, so you can pass them without worrying about it.
6.5-"A-Maze-ing Emergency Exit". More Swoopers. You know what to do.
6.6-"Watch for Rolling Rocks". Cross the pit by jumping to the platform on the left, with the spinning heart, in order to avoid the Swooper and Scuttlebug.
Caveats. There are not enough coins on the ground to collect the 100-coin star.
7.3-"8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces". Fairly straightforward, just collect the coins. The path to the puzzle takes Mario past a Bully and a Mr. I, but they're easily avoided.
7.4-"Red Hot Log Rolling". Mario can fly to the star platform with the Wing Cap, avoiding the Bullies.
7.5-"Hot-Foot-It Into the Volcano". Mario must take care to avoid pushing the bullies off the platforms, as it is likely they will fall into the copious lava around here. Even if they land on a platform instead of the lava, they may bounce off or wander off on their own. (See Complicity.)
7.6-"Elevator Tour in the Volcano". The pre-pathed elevator does not involve enemies.
100 Coins. The shell box will not appear, making a difficulty out of an otherwise trivial star. Since we are unable to defeat the 2 Mr. I's—thereby neglecting 10 coins—all coins on the ground must be collected.
Caveats. 7.1 and 7.2 both involve killing Bullies.
8.1-"In the Talons of the Big Bird". It may be of questionable pacificity to rob a guy by hitting him, but at least we didn't kill him.
8.2-"Shining Atop the Pyramid". Avoid the Goombas and the Flyguy while riding the shell, but otherwise fairly straightforward.
8.3-"Inside the Ancient Pyramid". Another straightforward one; just avoid the Goombas inside the pyramid.
8.5-"Free-Flying for Red Coins". Avoid the Flyguys, but another straightforward one.
8.6-"Pyramid Puzzle". After avoiding the Goombas on the way up the pyramid, Mario's route back down doesn't take him anywhere near defeatible enemies.
Caveats. There are not enough coins without killing enemies to collect the 100-coin star. Also, 8.4 involves killing Eyerock.
Every star is collectible, as there are no defeatible enemies in this map.
Avoid the Goombas and the Bob-Omb while collecting red coins.
Again, we have to sort of shake Mips down in order to get his stars, but we don't have to kill him.
You may want to let the Metal Cap wear off before leaving the starting area in order to avoid robocopping the Snufits down the corridor.
There are no defeatible enemies in this map.
10.1-"Snowman's Big Head". Avoid stomping any Spindrifts en route to the snowman's path.
10.3-"Into the Deep Freeze". There are no enemies between Mario's starting position and the ice sculpture.
10.4-"Whirl from the Freezing Pond". Entering the igloo and talking to the Bob-Omb Buddy will allow Mario access to the cannon, permitting him to shoot over to the star box without involving any Spindrifts. Alternatively, Mario can long-jump off the top of the snowman; it'll hurt quite a lot, of course.
10.5-"Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins". Use the cannon or long-jump off the snowman to reach the shell box without involving the Spindrifts. Be careful not to cream the Flyguys or Spindrifts as you ride the shell.
10.6-"Into the Igloo". The cannon and Vanish Cap make this star trivial.
Caveats. There are not enough coins without killing enemies or manipulating the game engine to collect the 100-coin star. Also, 10.2 involves killing the Chill Bully.
Every star in this level is collectible without killing enemies, though care must be taken to avoid accidentally stomping a skeeter (or lowering the water level while a skeeter is in a compromising position).
Every star in this level is collectible without killing enemies, though the sheer preponderance of Goombas and Bob-Ombs will make it difficult in places.
13.2-"Tip Top of the Huge Island". Take care to avoid stomping Goombas en route to the star.
13.4-"Five Itty Bitty Secrets". It's easy to get hit by a tiny Goomba at several points during this star (see Complicity).
13.5-"Wiggler's Red Coins". The Flyguy has a tendency to fly past the cannon while Mario is in it, so watch your shooting.
13.6-"Make Wiggler Squirm". Again, we have to shake down Wiggler to get a star from him, but we didn't kill him, so it counts.
Caveats. Without completing 13.1-"Pluck the Piranha Flower", it is not possible to reach 13.3-"Rematch with Koopa the Quick". Koopa the Quick only appears in this level when that star is selected, and, as we have no way of selecting that star without collecting both of the preceding stars, we cannot race Koopa the Quick. Also, there are not enough coins on the ground without killing enemies to collect the 100-coin star.
Every star in this level can be collected without killing enemies. There are only 2 defeatible enemies in this level; a pair of Bob-ombs near the starting point. In order to prevent their seeing Mario in 14.6-"Stop Time for Red Coins", it is advisable to stop the clock, then collect the red coins in reverse order from the the top down.
Every star in this level can be collected without killing enemies. However, the preponderance of Bob-ombs may prove problematic when attempting to reach 15.1-"Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow", and collect the blue coins for the 100-coin star. In the latter case, it is advisable to simply stand back and wait for them to walk off the side. Mario would have to live with the sight of Bob-ombs committing suicide, but he would not necessarily be complicit in their deaths.
Wing Mario Over the Rainbow has no enemies.
Avoid the Goombas and the Bob-Omb while collecting red coins.
49 stars from 7 totally-complete courses.
34 stars from 8 partially-complete courses.
3 stars given by Toads.
2 stars given by Mips.
7 Castle Secret stars.
3 Bowser courses.
for a total of 96 stars.