Permanently Squished Challenge
The Permanently Squished Challenge is a challenge in which you try to collect as many stars as possible while permanently squished. This challenge is more restrictive than the A, B, and Z Button Challenges, since Mario's actions are extremely limited while permanently squished. 42 Stars have been collected while permanently squished (individual stars), most of which require very complicated thinking and strats.
Gameshark code for the Permanently Squished Challenge:
8033B224 1111
Disadvantages of being squished
Mario's walking speed and jump height is significantly reduced.
You cannot use the B, or Z Buttons while squished.
You cannot do double or triple jumps.
Platforming is nearly impossible due to the lack of abilities.
Traversing even the smallest gaps is extremely hard.
Grabbing objects can only be done in specific circumstances.
Mario's left or right velocity while sliding is significantly reduced, making slides really annoying to complete.
While you do move faster on a shell, the normal shell speed is slower due to being squished.
Stars that can be completed
There are a total of 42 possible stars. Most of those are difficult to collect and/or require hard tricks to get.
BoB:
Footrace with Koopa the Quick:
A combination of messy object collisions, framewalking, and slopes can be used to complete the race fast enough to get the star.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLCwiTOG0XU
Shoot to the Island in the Sky:
Taking the flower warp takes Mario near a Wing Cap Block that is near a slope. By using the slope to do a rollout and shooting from the cannon near the warp, Mario can open the star block. Another cannon shot has to be used to start flying again and grab the star.
Find the 8 Red Coins:
Same strat to get to the island as Shoot to the Island in the sky. Every red coin is easily obtainable.
Mario Wings to the Sky:
Same strat to shoot out of the cannon with the Wing Cap as Shoot to the Island as the sky, but with the secrets.
100 Coins:
The star is easily obtainable with all the coins the sky and extra coins on the ground.
WF:
To the Top of the Fortress:
The cannon can be used to reach the tower blocks, from there, the rest is easy.
Shoot into the Wild Blue:
The star can be collected using the intended method.
Red Coins on the Floating Isle:
Cannon shots are used to get to the floating islands.
Fall Onto the Caged Island:
A cannon shot allows Mario to land onto the caged island and get the star, or you can jump from the nearby tree from the start to use the owl to grab the star.
Blast Away the Wall:
The star can be collected using the intended method.
JRB:
Can the Eel Come Out to Play?:
The star can be collected like normal.
Red Coins on the Ship Afloat:
Cannon shots can be used to get to the ship. The underwater red coins and star can be collected like normal.
Blast to the Stone Pillar:
Two precise cannon shots let Mario get to the star platform and do a rollout to get the star. (Since the nearest pole can’t be used to get to the platform)
Through the Jet Stream:
The star can be collected by swimming through the jet stream.
CCM:
Slip Slidin' Away:
Framewalking must be used to get into the cabin. From there, the slide can be completed (although much harder), then the star can be collected with a precise cannon shot to let Mario do a rollout to collect the star.
Li'l Penguin Lost:
Luring the baby penguin over to the cannon allows you to grab her without pressing B (because the B button doesn't work while squished), then bring the baby penguin to her mother like normal then use a cannon shot to get the star.
Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins:
The star and the 8 red coins can be easily collected like normal. The star can be collected by falling down to it from above.
100 Coins:
There are enough easily collectible coins for 100.
LLL:
Bully the Bullies:
The star can be easily collected like normal with a specific route and coin conservation strats. A lava boost is needed to get the star.
8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces:
The star can be collected like normal with a specific route.
SSL:
In the Talons of the Big Bird:
Using a cannon shot to get the wing cap and another cannon shot allows you to fly into Klepto to get his star pretty easily.
Shining Atop the Pyramid:
The star can be collected easily by walking through the tox box path all the way to the pyramid.
100 Coins:
Using the Breaking/Disappearing Cork Box Glitch to get extra coins to reach 100 coins.
DDD:
Chests in the Current:
The star can be collected normally since Mario's swimming physics aren't affected at all while squished.
Through the Jet Stream:
The star can be collected by swimming through the jet stream.
The Manta Ray's Reward:
The star can be collected like normal.
SL:
Snowman's Big Head:
The star can be collected by using a cannon shot to get on top of the snowman.
Chill with the Bully:
The star can be collected like normal using a freezing water boost to grab the star.
In the Deep Freeze:
Using a cannon shot to grab the star.
Whirl from the Freezing Pond:
The box can be opened using a rollout from the slope, then using a shell to grab the star with its speed.
Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins:
The star can be collected like normal using a rollout to open the box.
100 Coins:
Moneybag cloning can be used to get extra coins to reach 100 coins.
WDW:
Shocking Arrow Lifts!:
The star can be collected using the warp and a fire bounce to open the star box, then falling into the star.
Top O' The Town:
The star can be collected using two cannon shots, one to get to the box and open it, and a second to grab the star.
Secrets in the Shallows & Sky:
Using multiple cannon shots to reach most of the secrets, and raising the water level to collect the star.
TTM:
Blast to the Lonely Mushroom:
The star can be collected using the intended method.
THI:
Pluck the Piranha Flower:
Using the shell to reach the piranha plants, then the star can be collected normally.
Five Itty Bitty Secrets:
Using the shell to reach the tiny island, then the star and secrets can be collected normally. Fire must be used to get higher up on the tiny island.
Make Wiggler Squirm:
By escaping from Chuckya at just the right time and position, Mario can glitch through the mountain and swim into Wiggler's cave then defeat him normally.
100 Coins:
There are enough coins for 100 throughout the tiny and huge islands to collect them while squished.
Secret Stars:
TotWC Red Coin Star:
Since Mario starts the course flying, it is easy to collect the red coins and star.
TSA Red Coin Star:
Since swimming isn't changed from being squished, it is easy to collect the red coins and star.