diff --git a/src/game/mario.c b/src/game/mario.c
index 89f5562..d9bdb16 100644
--- a/src/game/mario.c
+++ b/src/game/mario.c
@@ -1457,6 +1457,7 @@ void set_submerged_cam_preset_and_spawn_bubbles(struct MarioState *m) {
  * Both increments and decrements Mario's HP.
  */
 void update_mario_health(struct MarioState *m) {
+    return;
     s32 terrainIsSnow;
 
     if (m->health >= 0x100) {
@@ -1865,7 +1866,7 @@ void init_mario_from_save_file(void) {
         save_file_get_total_star_count(gCurrSaveFileNum - 1, COURSE_MIN - 1, COURSE_MAX - 1);
     gMarioState->numKeys = 0;
 
-    gMarioState->numLives = 4;
+    gMarioState->numLives = 99;
     gMarioState->health = 0x880;
 
     gMarioState->unkB8 = gMarioState->numStars;
diff --git a/src/game/mario_actions_cutscene.c b/src/game/mario_actions_cutscene.c
index 6f12575..8aa7b3e 100644
--- a/src/game/mario_actions_cutscene.c
+++ b/src/game/mario_actions_cutscene.c
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ s32 act_death_exit(struct MarioState *m) {
 #else
         play_sound(SOUND_MARIO_OOOF2, m->marioObj->header.gfx.cameraToObject);
 #endif
-        m->numLives--;
+        //m->numLives--;
         // restore 7.75 units of health
         m->healCounter = 31;
     }
@@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ s32 act_unused_death_exit(struct MarioState *m) {
 #else
         play_sound(SOUND_MARIO_OOOF2, m->marioObj->header.gfx.cameraToObject);
 #endif
-        m->numLives--;
+        //m->numLives--;
         // restore 7.75 units of health
         m->healCounter = 31;
     }
@@ -1215,7 +1215,7 @@ s32 act_falling_death_exit(struct MarioState *m) {
 #else
         play_sound(SOUND_MARIO_OOOF2, m->marioObj->header.gfx.cameraToObject);
 #endif
-        m->numLives--;
+        //m->numLives--;
         // restore 7.75 units of health
         m->healCounter = 31;
     }
@@ -1259,7 +1259,7 @@ s32 act_special_death_exit(struct MarioState *m) {
     }
 
     if (launch_mario_until_land(m, ACT_HARD_BACKWARD_GROUND_KB, MARIO_ANIM_BACKWARD_AIR_KB, -24.0f)) {
-        m->numLives--;
+      //m->numLives--;
         m->healCounter = 31;
     }
     // show mario