Thursday, April 28, 2011

Shifting Sand Land - In the Talons of the Big Bird

Shifting Sand Land is the 8th Course.
N64
To the left of Lethal Lava Land, in a rippling stone wall is Shifting Sand Land. This course is a desert, complete with Egyptian themed music and a pyramid. There are several patches of quicksand to be aware of: the small circular patches we can escape from and the instant death patches in the maze and surrounding the pyramid. What we have to do here is snatch the Star from Klepto the Condor (mentioned in one of the messages we got). He flies around the course, circling the pillars around the pyramid a few times. I tried to take short cuts to the pillar near the oasis at the end of the maze, but fell in quicksand and died three times. On Take 4, I walked carefully through the maze of Tox Boxes. They will flatten you, taking three bars of health if they land on you on the flat sides. There is an alcove within them that is safe to hide in while you wait for them to pass. Watch them carefully and memorize which squares they land on when the alcove is on the bottom side. (The squares never change.) After I got out of the maze (you can wait for Klepto near any of the pillars, preferably not the one in the instant death quicksand) I waited for Klepto to appear near the pillar by the oasis. I waited until his shadow was over Mario, then jumped to knock the Star out of his talons. The Star landed between the two pillars.
Star Get #60, 1 Coin, 20 Lives

Nintendo DS
I decided to use Yoshi this time, to use his tongue to reach the Star more easily. We can see the location of the Star and Klepto on the Touch Screen map. We released the Star over the pillar near the circular quicksand that occasionally creates a tornado. The Star flies between the pillars on the other side of the pyramid. I took a hit from a Snifit. We went through the Tox Box Maze to the oasis and got the Star between the two pillars.
Star Get #67, 1 Coin, 4 Lives

Big Boo's Haunt - Eye to Eye in the Secret Room

N64
Now that we have the Vanish Cap, we can tackle the last mission in Big Boo's Haunt. We go up to the second floor and get the Vanish Cap on the balcony near the entrance to the mansion. We wall-jump up to the third floor and go through the door, and the Boo painting around the corner while we're still powered up. Inside is a large Mr. I. We run around the Mr. I once we're visible and it spins down into a Star.
Star Get #59, 0 Coins, 23 Lives

Nintendo DS
We don't need to go under the moat to get this Star. (We can't unlock it for a while, anyway). All we need is the man in green, Luigi! We go up to the second floor, through the second door on the right. We get the Power Flower and backflip to the third floor. Just around the corner is the Boo painting, which we go through to find a large Mr. I and a Boo. After the power runs out, we run around Mr. I once and it spins down into a Star.
Star Get #66, 5 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is In the Talons of the Big Bird.

Vanish Cap Under the Moat - 8 Red Coins

This mission is unique to the N64.
If we go through the wood door to the right of the door to the Hazy Maze Cave in the basement, we will find a flooded tunnel. After swimming to the other side, we find a sign saying "It is decreed that one shall pound the pillars." There are two pillars nearby sticking out from the water. We pound them both once, hear a chime, and the water drains. We can now go through the door to the outside. Once we go through the door, we find the moat mostly drained. We walk towards the waterfall and find a hole in the ground. We go into the hole and into another area.
We get a message when we land: "Welcome to the Vanish Cap Switch Course! All of the blue blocks you find will become solid once you step on the Cap Switch. You'll disappear when you put on the Vanish Cap, so you'll be able to elude enemies and walk through many things. Try it out!" We will! When we land, Mario is grainy and fuzzy, which means, we can pass through enemies like they weren't there. The first 4 Red Coins are down the slide in front of us. The Red Coins are on ledges, so we want to slide slowly to get them and jump to other ledges. We must start on the left side of the slide (when facing it) and slide for the first Red Coin. We move about 1/3 to the right for the second. The third and fourth are in the center and on the right side of the slide. There are also 3 1-ups on the slide. Once we reach the bottom of the slide, we dodge flaming orbs and run around the corner. Coins 5-7 are over elevators that flip at the top. The last one was difficult to negotiate as it is going in the opposite direction of the others. I fell off here several times. If you do fall off, you will exit from the waterfall without losing a life. Around this time, the Vanish Cap may be running out. After the last elevator, the Vanish Cap Switch is nearby. The last Red Coin is on a platform nearby and the Star is in a cage with only an opening at the bottom. We can't get to it normally, so we step on the Vanish Cap Switch. We get a message: "You've just stepped on the Vanish Cap Switch. The Vanish Cap makes Mario disappear. Now Vanish Caps will pop from all of the blue blocks you find! Would you like top Save? Yes/No"
We hit the blue block nearby for a translucent cap. We turn grainy before Mario actually puts the cap on his head. we walk through the cage for the Star.
Star Get #58, 23 Coins, 23 Lives

Lethal Lava Land - Flaming Silver Stars

This mission is unique to the Nintendo DS.
The Silver Stars here are spread all over the map, on islands best accessed using the Shiny Shell. Next to the large black brick box is an item block with a Shiny Shell. I went around Lethal Lava Land in a clockwise fashion. Three Silver Stars are on semi-circular rocks, one is on a large rock with coins and a 1-up near the little Bullies, and the last one is on the rock with a Mr. I. I took a couple of hits from Mr. I. The Star appeared in a Star Sphere on the circular rock behind where we started. I lost the Shiny Shell, so I long-jumped to the square, bobbing platforms and made my way back to where we started, falling in the lava twice. The box with the Shiny Shell will regenerate if you need it again. I long-jumped from where we started and got the Star near the item block with the Wing Cap feather.
Star Get #65, 25 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Eye to Eye in the Secret Room.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Super Mario 64 Complete!

I finished Super Mario 64 today! It feels great to complete another game! I'm not finished with Super Mario 64 DS yet. My most recent post on Super Mario 64 DS is where I am because I only play Super Mario 64 on the N64 in advance. I had to go to the Archive to play it, but I have my own copy of Super Mario 64 DS, so I can play that whenever. I hope to finish it soon and finish blogging about both games before the next Mario game comes out. Thanks to Brandon who helped me get a Star.

Some Game Stats:
Play Period: January 10, 2011 to April 21, 2011
# of game sessions: 22
# of Stars: 120
Total # of attempts made for a Star: 380
Average # of attempts per Star: 3.16
Lowest # of attempts for a Star: 1
Highest # of attempts for a Star: 28
Total # of deaths: 213
Average # of deaths per Star: 1.7
# of Game Overs: 0

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Lethal Lava Land - Inside the Volcano

This mission title is unique to the Nintendo DS. The N64 version's title is Elevator Tour in the Volcano.
We initially fell in the lava after attempting to use the shell to get some coins.
Take 2- We got some coins, but crashed into a Mr. I. We died when Bullies pushed us into the lava, but we got a couple of 1-ups while surfing.
Take 3- I decided to get the coins accessible without the shell first. We fell in the lava and took a hit from a Mr. I. The Bullies knocked me into the lava, but we made it out alive. We got all 8 Red Coins and another Blue Coin from a Mr. I. We have 95 coins when we enter the volcano. We go forward first to get the last few coins we need.
Star Get #63, 100 Coins, 5 Lives

With our health refilled, we go past where we landed. We fell into the lava and died.
Take 4- When we jump into the painting, we land back in the volcano. We go in the other direction and we find a checked platform with an updated sprite. We transfer when we reach the next one and grab the pole as soon as possible. After jumpin from the first pole, we land on a floating stone with another pole and a 1-up. At the top of the second, very long pole are stepping stones to the Star.
The next Star is Flaming Silver Stars.
Star Get #64, 3 Coins, 5 Lives

Lethal Lava Land - Elevator Tour in the Volcano

This mission title is unique to the N64. In the Nintendo DS version, it is called Inside the Volcano.
It took me four tries to get this Star only because I tried to get 100 Coins and failed. We went into the volcano and took the path behind where we landed. I fell into the lava and made it to a checked platform. It spirals around the center of the volcano. After a while, we come a cross another checked platform and must transfer if we don't want to fall to the lava below. As soon as that platform comes within reach of a pole, immediately jump to the pole. The track will end soon for the platform and it, too, will fall. We jump to the next pole and avoid the fire. There are stepping stones floating in the air to the Star.
Star Get #56, 7 Coins, 7 Lives

I came back to this level to get the 100 Coin Star because this level has a shell in a yellow item block that we can use to surf over the lava. This way be can get several 1-ups and coins on otherwise inaccessible rock platforms. We can surf on top of them easily, but must beware that the camera may not change in the way we want it to. We also got the 8 Red Coins, and a Blue Coin from a Mr. I. This gave us 84 coins, so we went into the volcano for the rest. There are also lots of coins on the platforms with the Bullies.
Star Get #57, 100 Coins, 5 Lives

Lethal Lava Land - Hot-Foot-It Into the Volcano

N64
We finally climb into the volcano! After jumping across the lava from the start, near the first Bully we encounter, we walk to the right across tilting platforms and over to the stone circling the volcano. The platform will stop spinning periodically and the volcano will erupt. We can climb onto the volcano and dive in safely when the platform is circling.
Inside the volcano, the same music plays. We find ourselves in a large, circular, lava-filled cavern with lava falling like a waterfall. We have to jump rock to rock to reach the wall. The rest of the way spirals around the edge of the volcano. We must be careful not to fall, because there is no guarantee that we will land somewhere where we can recover. About part of the way up, there is a part of the wall that will fall down on us if we are not quick and careful. It has a slight line to it. Towards the top, we have to jump up stairs of rock. They are floating individually, so we have to be precise in our jumps. There will be flames spewing from the walls. Towards the end, we have to negotiate some poles. I missed the third pole and fortunately fell to the start. Once we get past the poles, we will find the Star on what looks like an altar.
Star Get #55, 21 Coins, 4 Lives

Nintendo DS
We approached the volcano, but fell into the lava trying to reach the spinning platform. We also were hit by a flame from the eruption, but made it into the volcano. We don't have to do as much rock-hopping as in the N64 version. We make it past the falling wall. We narrowly negotiated the rock stairs. We reach the poles and get a 1-up from the first one. There are only two poles this time, which is one of the ways that the Nintendo DS version is easier than the N64 version. We get the Star after the second pole, still on what looks to be an altar.
Star Get #62, 22 Coins, 5 Lives
The next Star is Inside the Volcano.

Lethal Lava Land - Red Hot Log Rolling

N64
There is an easy way to do this and a hard way. After falling in the lava looking for the way to the log in the first three takes, I found a simpler way to reach the Star. I long-jumped back from where we land and found a Wing Cap block. We use the Wing Cap to fly forward, past the start, to a large grate wall. We fly around it and see the log. We ran out of power and fell into the lava.
Take 5- We used the Wing Cap to fly to the log. Instead of log-rolling, we landed on the platform before the log, triple-jumped, and flew to the Star. You can log roll and risk falling in the lava if you want, but this is easier.
Star Get #54, 0 Coins, 4 Lives

Nintendo DS
As the method in the N64 version works on the DS, you may want to do this mission as Mario. We can get the ability to fly on the rock behind the start. We flew around the grate and landed on the stone ramp to the log, took off again and aimed directly for the Star, straight ahead. Easy.
Star Get #61, 0 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Hot-Foot-It Into the Volcano.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Lethal Lava Land - 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces

N64
This time, the Red Coins are nicely and neatly contained in one area. They are all floating above the pieces of the Bowser puzzle. However, the Bowser puzzle pieces frequently shift, which could send Mario into the lava. You'll know which piece is about to move because it will be near the open lava square and will briefly jiggle before moving. You'll only notice the jiggle if you stand still and watch carefully. The puzzle is just past the Mr. I. Just run around the puzzle and collect the coins. I did this in one take and the Star appears in the upper right corner of the puzzle, which is made of stone and does not move.
Star Get #53, 26 Coins, 1 Life

Nintendo DS
The location of the puzzle is the same in the N64 version. If the puzzle solves itself (forms a picture of Bowser), the pieces will briefly stop moving and coins will appear on each tile. We fell in the lava once, collected all 8 Red Coins, and the Star appeared over the upper right corner piece made of stone.
Star Get #60, 32 Coins, 1 Life
The next Star is Red Hot Log Rolling.

Lethal Lava Land - Bully the Bullies

N64
We land back in Lethal Lava Land and go past the Big Bully. He knocked us into the lava, but we got on the grate that moves between his platform and the platform of the three small Bullies. I unfortunately died in the lava.
Take 2- When you reach the platform with the three Bullies, you have to push all three of them into the lava. After you push one in, a coin pops out of the lava. I fell into the lava a few times, but there are coins so you can recover some health. After all three fall in, we hear a chime and the Big Bully appears. We have to knock him in the lava, as well. Unfortunately, we die from the lava.
Take 3- We defeated the bullies, but fell in the lava too many times.
Take 4- We finally defeat all three Bullies and the Big Bully, and the Star appears over the platform.
Star Get #52, 19 Coins, 1 Life

Nintendo DS
The Star is in the same place as the N64 version. I made it to the spinning fire bar, before i was knocked into the lava by a Bully, ran into the fire bar, and fell the lava twice more.
Take 2- I ran into a fire bar and fell into the lava. We got on the grate after falling in the lava again and reached the three Bullies. The Bullies will gang up on you, making your life difficult. It can be easier to separate one from the pack and take them out individually. I took out one before dying in the lava.
Take 3- I made it to the platform after taking lots of damage and healing with coins. One Bully was near the edge, so I easily pushed him off. I took out the second one similarly. I took out the last Bully and the chime sounds. The Big Bully appears. I died in the lava.
Take 4- I fell in the lava and took out all of the Bullies. They can run into each other and appear as one. You also have to punch or kick them before they are too close for it to work. The Big Bully appeared and I fell in just as I pushed him into the lava. The Star appeared and I landed back on the platform and got the Star.
Star Get #59, 27 Coins, 1 Life
The next Star is 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Bunnies of the Castle Part 2

N64
After we collect 50 Power Stars, MIPS will reappear in the basement where we last found him. Once we catch him, he'll say "No, no, no! Not you again! I'm in a great hurry, can't you see? I've not time to squabble over Stars. Here, have it. I never meant to hide it from you... It's just that I'm in such a rush. That's it, that's all. Now, I must be off. Owww! Let me go!" The Star appears.
Star Get #51, 1 Life
This is the last we'll see of MIPS for the rest of the game.

Nintendo DS
After we collect 50 Power Stars, shiny white bunnies will appear. They will appear where one of the colorful bunnies should be. They will appear at random. To find them quickly, check out the three bunnies outside the castle as Yoshi. If one doesn't appear, just go into the castle and exit again until you see one. There are 8 bunnies like this. They will appear in place of a bunny you've already caught.
After a while, one finally appears. They are sparkly, just like a Star and have red eyes. When we catch him, he says "Aaargh! Don't eat me! I taste real bad! I bet my older brother tastes good! Eat him!" Once we spit him out, he says "Uuuugh... I thought I was a goner for sure! And I ain't even got nothin' to give ya! I can't believe you caught me! I'm the second fastest of my eight brothers, I tell ya! But don't even get any ideas about catching all of us, OK, bub? It's impossible!"
We get a message: "You caught a glowing rabbit! But you still have 7 more to catch! Would you like to save your progress? Yes / No" If we talk to him again, he'll say the same thing as if we caught a regular bunny.
If we catch a bunny as Mario, he says "Owowowowowow! Not so rough, OK? I don't have anything! It's true! Awww... I just can't believe I got caught... I mean, I'm the second fastest of my eight brothers! And we're ALL fast! Don't even think you're going to be able to catch all of us, you hear?" So they think they're both the second fastest. This should be interesting.
As Luigi, the rabbit says the same thing as he says to Mario.
We'll check back later when we get Wario.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Lethal Lava Land - Boil the Big Bully

Lethal Lava Land is the seventh course.
N64
As the course name suggests, there is lots of lethal lava. The lava will take three bars of health, so you can fall in the lava only twice without dying at full health. We get a message when we land: "Don't be a pushover! If anyone tries to shove you around, push back! It's one-on-one with a fiery finish for the loser!
The Shifting Sand Land music plays. I was knocked into the lava by a little bully, a black sphere with eyes and two horns about the size of a Bob-omb. I fell into the lava and died.
Take 2- We make it a lot farther this time. We jump across the lava to next platform and walk over the draw bridge. I fell in the lava and glitched through the grate. We go to a tilting platform and over a shifting panel Bowser puzzle with the 8 Red Coins. We'll get those later. After that is a spinning stone platform with two fire bars. We walk across some bobbing planks and another tilting platform to reach the platform with the Big Bully. He'll try to run into us and knock us into the lava. We can punch and kick him into the lava. Jump kicks work well, even if they don't really connect. Once you knock the Big Bully into the lava, the Star appears on the nearby platform and fallaway stairs appear. We run across them quickly and get the Star.
Star Get #50, 12 Coins, 1 Life
We get a message: "You've recovered 50 Power Stars! now you can open the Star Door on the third floor. Bowser's there, you know. Oh! You've found all of the Cap Switches, haven't you? Red, green, and blue? The Caps you get from the colored blocks are really helpful. Hurry along, now. The third floor is just ahead."
No, I haven't found all of the Cap Switches. Bowser can't been on the third floor yet; we haven't dealt with him in the basement. We'll take care of him later.

Nintendo DS
When we land, we get the same message as in the N64. I take a hit from a fire bar and make it to the Big Bully with ease. I was pushed to the edge and knocked off, but the Big Bully fell off, too, causing the Star to appear. The fallaway stairs appeared, and I dropped into the lava with them, springing up to the platform with the Star. Falling into the lava will cause the character to jump up, so you can steer them to safety. We got the Star.
Star Get #58, 20 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Bully the Bullies.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Hazy Maze Cave - Underground Switch Star

This mission is unique to the Nintendo DS.
We get Wario's Cap and go to the left. We got a 1-up and went into the underground cavern. We took a hit from a Goomba and exited the cave without finding anything. We went to the room with the Red Coins and found a Star Sphere. We took a hit from Mr. I and found a large black brick block. The sign in front of it says "The very hard-looking block in front of you really IS hard. Hitting it is not advised. But if you're shaped like a rock--and have rocks for brains--you'll probably do it anyway." As we are Wario, we have a lot of power, enough to send Goombas flying. We punch the block for a chime and the Star Switch is revealed. We missed the Star on the first try, so we lose the cap to a spider so we can move faster. We climb up the stair formation and long-jump from the arrow platform to the Star Sphere.
Star Get #56, 22 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Boil the Big Bully.

Hazy Maze Cave - Watch for Rolling Rocks

N64
We went to the left for the rolling rocks. I tried punching the rocks, but took damage twice. I went near the door to the elevator to the underground pool and wall-jumped up to the ledges near the door. The one closest to the hole has the Star.
Star Get #48, 5 Coins, 3 Lives

Nintendo DS
Before going to the area with the rolling rocks, we get Wario's Cap. This is much different from the N64 version, because the Star appears in one of the rolling rocks. We have to watch the Touch Screen to see when it appears. It's okay if you miss it; it will come back soon, about every 5th rock. We lost the cap when we tried to punch the rock and had to back track to get it. We took a hit from a spider and got the cap back from the Goomba. We lost it to another spider and were knocked into the void.
Take 2- We took a hit from a spider. We got Wario's Cap and used the Power Flower at the start to get Metal Wario. Unfortunately, the power didn't last long enough, so we have to get the Star without it. We took one hit from a rock and punched the rock with the Star from the side. We waited in the alcove with the Heart until it appeared. The Star flies over the small ramp where the rocks land, near the door. Rocks will keep rolling, even after you get the Star.
Star Get #55, 8 Coins, 3 Lives
The next Star is Underground Switch Star.

Hazy Maze Cave - Navigating the Toxic Maze

N64
If you go into the cave with the haze, there is an alcove near the one used for A-Maze-ing Emergency Exit. When we go through it, we have to deal with flames and bats. The elevator takes us to the Star on the other side of the grate to the entrance to the underground pool with Dorrie. I used the Metal Cap to get through the maze.
Star Get #47, 16 Coins, 3 Lives
Later, I got 100 Coins in this mission. Lots of them came from the Blue Coin switch in the cave with the haze. I also got all the Red Coins, some coins from the cavern, and coins from the spiders.
Star Get #49, 100 Coins, 2 Lives

Nintendo DS
Once again, we go into the cave with the haze. After taking damage from the haze, we get the Power Flower to float to the alcove past the first one. We go through the door, pass some bats, and the elevator comes down to meet us. We take it up to the other side of the grate with the Star.
Star Get #54, 10 Coins, 4 Lives
I returned to get 100 Coins. I got coins from spiders, 6 Red Coins, in the area with the rolling rocks, and near the 1-up box. I got a 1-up and Wario's cap, so I could get the Blue Coins in the cave with the haze. I died in the cave.
Take 2- I picked up coins in the underground cavern to add to my total. I got Wario's Cap and got all 8 Red Coins. I got most of the Blue Coins, but fell into the hole after taking the "emergency exit".
Take 3- I was knocked into the void by a Goomba.
Take 4- I did everything in Take 2, but got only 5 Red Coins. The Star appeared over the grate. I went to the "emergency exit" Star, backflipped onto the grate and got the Star.
Star Get #57, 101 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Watch for Rolling Rocks.

Hazy Maze Cave - A-Maze-ing Emergency Exit

N64
I went out of order with this one, because there are two Stars accessible in the Hazy Maze Cave, and I wasn't sure which was which. This one is a little more difficult to get. We took a hit from a spider and went through the door on the right. We slide down the pole where the Red Coins are and go through a door on the right. There is a hole in the floor, so we drop down. There is a greenish-yellow haze that causes us to slowly lose health. We go forward then turn right at the wall. There is a Blue Coin Switch out of the haze. Pounding it produces a trail of Blue Coins in the haze that leads to an alcove with a door. We go through the door and make our way to an elevator. The elevator takes us to a door which leads us into the area with the rolling rocks. We are higher up and can reach the grating. We can take the rightmost path to the Star on a floating island. A nearby sign says "If you jump and hold the A button, you can hang onto some objects overhead. It's the same as grabbing a flying bird!"
If we let go, or go off the grate, we'll fall into the hole to the abyss. I did this nine times.
In Take 2, I checked the signs near the hole to the cave. "Hidden inside the green block is the amazing Metal Cap. Wearing it, you won't catch fire or be hurt by enemy attacks. You don't even have to breathe while wearing it. The only problem: You can't swim in it." Sounds like a nifty item. The other one says "Danger Ahead! Beware of the strange cloud! Don't inhale! If you feel faint, run for higher ground and fresh air!" It then gives you the key to following the map nearby.
Starting in Take 2, I got the Metal Cap in the cave. It makes the maze much easier to navigate, but will run out about when you reach the alcoves, if you get the Blue Coins.
After slowly navigating the grating, we landed on the floating island with the Star.
Star Get #46, 50 Coins, 3 Lives

Nintendo DS
We go the entrance to the cave with the haze. The route hasn't changed. The signs say "The Power Flower gives strength according to the personality of the person who plucked it. Iron man Wario will turn into a metal man! He won't be burned or hurt by enemy attacks. He doesn't even have to breathe while wearing it. The only problem: he can't swim in it." and "Danger Ahead! Beware of the strange toxic cloud! Don't breathe it! If you feel faint, run for higher ground and fresh air!"
We can just as easily complete this mission as Mario. We go down the hole. We land in the purple haze and take damage. We get the Power Flower and float to the nearest alcove. We go through the door, reach the elevator, and go through another door into the rolling rock area. The sign says "In Standard Mode, jump and hold (B) to hang on to some objects overhead. Use this move to hitch a ride with a flying bird."
We take the path to the right and slowly make it to the floating island with the Star. The grating is narrow, like in the N64, so take it slow and don't leave it.
Star Get #53, 10 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Navigating the Toxic Maze.

Hazy Maze Cave - Metal-Head Wario Can Move

This mission is unique to the Nintendo DS.
We went through the door on the left, tried to kill a spider, but were knocked into the void by a bat, then hit by a rock before dying.
Take 2- We take a hit from a spider, get a 1-up, and go down into the cavern with Dorrie. We backtrack out of the cavern, because Dorrie isn't wearing a yellow cap. We take two hits from the rocks and go back through the door we came through earlier. We take another hit from a spider and end up back at the start. There is a Goomba to the right with a yellow cap, so we take it after another hit from a spider. Things will be a little more difficult getting back because Wario has a horrible jump. We'll have to be extra precise when executing long-jumps with him. We go back into the cavern without incident.
We get the Power Flower near the elevator and run underwater, staying to the left. We trip the switch and the gates open. We go through the door. We walk up to the edge to make a spider appear and let it hit us to get rid of Wario's cap. We took two hits from spiders that appeared from the gap. I overshot the first long-jump and fell into the abyss.
Take 3- We got Wario's cap, get a 1-up, and enter the cavern without incident. We trip the switch and go through the door. We accidentally lose the cap to a spider and make the both long-jumps to the Star.
Star Get #52, 12 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is A-Maze-ing Emergency Exit.

Hazy Maze Cave - Metal-Head Mario Can Move!

This mission is unique to the N64.
After landing we went through the door on the left. We were hit twice by rocks, got a 1-up, and went into the cavern where Dorrie is. Near the elevator is a Metal Cap block. We get the Metal Cap and run underwater, keeping to the left. We ran out of power before hitting the switch that is underwater. We got the Metal Cap again and stepped on the switch. The gates blocking a door in front of us opened. We went through the door and saw the Star at the end of the hallway. We long-jumped twice over the gaps to get it. Beware that spiders will jump out of the gaps, so go up to the edge to make them appear before you jump.
Star Get #45, 19 Coins, 5 Lives

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Hazy Maze Cave - Elevate for 8 Red Coin

N64
After landing in the cave, we go to the right instead of the left. We see a short gap in front of a door, with flames periodically shooting out of it. We jump across when it's safe and go through the door. We slide down the pole and head to the right to the stair-like platforms. From there, we find a platform with arrows. By stepping on the arrows, we can get the platform to move horizontally in one direction at a time, but not at diagonals. Three of the Red Coins here are hidden in blocks, so we punch them when the platform approaches them. One is on a grassy ledge to the back. After taking a hit from Mr. I, we go back to the stairs and jump to the next platform. We climb the pole and stand on the checked platform that has a path made out of spheres. It starts moving and will take us to the remaining Red Coins. The fifth coin is between dangling poles. The sixth is above a platform over the path that looks like a small bridge. The last two are on a floating platform near where we started. The Star appears nearby, over the floor.
Star Get #44, 33 Coins, 4 Lives

Nintendo DS
When we landed, we went to the right, but fell through one of the holes in the floor.
Take 2- We took a hit from the spider, went to the right, and went through the door. The arrow platform has a different coloration than in the N64. The first three Red Coins are hidden in orange brick blocks and on a grassy ledge towards the back. We then climb the pole to the checkered platform. The fourth coin is in an orange brick block on the path. Coins 5-8 are in the same spots as the N64. We dropped down after the Star appeared in the center of the area and took damage.
Star Get #51, 21 Coins, 3 Lives
The next Star is Metal-Head Wario Can Move.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Jolly Roger Bay - Through the Jet Stream

N64
Now that we've stepped on the Metal Cap Switch, we can now get the Star at the bottom of Jolly Roger Bay. We get the Metal Cap from the nearby green block, and Mario turns to metal before he puts the cap on his head. We run under the water, which kind of looks like walking on the moon. I took a hit from a clam and ran out of power before I could reach the Star. I surfaced and found a closer green block near the switch that forms a bridge to the ship. We get the Metal Cap and sink to the bottom. We stood on the grate and got the Star as the power ran out.
Star Get #43, 2 Coins, 8 Lives

Nintendo DS
Now that we have Wario, we can finally get this Star. We don't have to enter the painting as Wario, but we need to be Wario to access the Power Flower's Metal Cap property. We swim to the rock near the ship, and get the Power Flower near the switch that forms the bridge to the ship. We run into the water and let Wario sink to the floor. Over the bubbling grate, we get the Star before the power runs out.
Star Get #82, 0 Coins, 4 Lives
The next Star is Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Behind the Waterfall

This mission is unique to the Nintendo DS, but was based off a mission in the N64.
We enter Hazy Maze Cave and go to the underground lake. We get a 1-up on the way. We climb onto Dorrie's back and steer toward the double doors that we can't reach. We get the yellow cap off of Dorrie's head and go through the double doors. We go into the inky pool and see some Snifits. The Hazy Maze Cave music still plays. Around the corner to the left is a Power Flower. We get it and transform into Metal Wario! We get a message: "The Power Flower turned Wario into a metal machine! When he's metal, he can walk underwater! Try it!"
While powered up, we get the four Red Coins that are underwater near the island near the waterfall. In the alcove near the second bridge, we find two more Red Coins and a Bob-omb Buddy who'll tell use where to find the rest. We have difficulty jumping to the island with the last two Red Coins, so we get the Power Flower so we won't be swept away by the current. Just before we can get the Power Flower, we lose the yellow cap from a Snifit and get the Power Flower as Mario. This works, as there is another Star here that only Mario can get. We make it to the island and get the last two Red Coins. The Star appears underwater.
Star Get #49, 35 Coins, 5 Lives
Getting the Red Coin Star takes us out of Hazy Maze Cave, so we go back in. We jump to avoid a spider and fall into the abyss.
Take 2- We take a hit from a bat and a rock and get a 1-up. We need to be Mario to get this Star, but there are caps in the area. We steer Dorrie back to the double doors. We take a hit from a Snifit and the current takes us away and dumps us outside the castle near the waterfall.
Take 3- We take a hit from a spider and get a 1-up. We jump off the elevator and take damage. We go back into the inky pool and take three hits from Snifits, losing the green cap we accidently picked up. We reach the island near the waterfall and get the Power Flower. As we float straight up, we see coins in an arrow formation pointing up. Above it is a Star.
Star Get #50, 22 Coins, 6 Lives
We get a message: "You've recovered 50 Power Stars! That's enough to open the Star Door on the third floor. Bowser's closer... Eek! But before you move on, make sure you found the ? Switch and hit the ? Blocks. Hurry along, now. The third floor is just ahead."
Wow, I actually did one of the things the message told me to do before it mentioned that I should have. I've already taken care of the ? Switch. I would have to open up much more of the castle to get 50 Power Stars without it. It already assumes I've beaten Bowser a second time. We're not quite there yet, but we'll keep going.
The next Star is Elevate for 8 Red Coin.