New Super Mario Bros. Wii 9-8 -- Bouncy Clouds

This is an automatic sidescroller made difficult by the fact that the ground is made out of bouncy clouds. You get the Propeller Suit here, which makes things a little easier. I used it to get the 1st Star Coin in the higher of two rings of Fuzzies. There are flying item blocks nearby. At least one of them contains a 1-up. In the center of a nearby ring are brick blocks. It is best to activate the P-switch in front of them and turn them into coins, so it will be easier to dodge the incoming Fuzzies. The 2nd Star Coin is easy to find and miss. It's traveling along the ring with some Fuzzies, so I timed my jump to get it. You make take some damage here. Nearby are giant Fuzzies to dodge while getting to the other side of a wall. Soon after are high up blocks. Stand on them, because you will soon see coins in the formation of a Banzai Bill. One will come through heading in the same direction that the coins are pointing. They will destroy the gray blocks surrounding the coins, but not the Goombas. The 3rd Star Coin is in the last coin formation surrounded by gray blocks. Stand on the bricks to avoid the two Banzai Bills that will be coming through at the same time. After that is the goal. This took me 10 tries.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 8- Bowser's Castle QSC

It's time to finally get the last 3 Star Coins of the main game! I got the 1st Star Coin near the red pipe at the end of the 1st part of the level. Just stand on the platform and wait until it descends on the Star Coin and you get it. Then, immediately jump to safety. The 2nd Star Coin is next to the right wall in the second part of the level, where you descend on platforms while avoiding the draining lava. There is a firebar nearby, so I took damage from it. As long as you don't die and make it to the midgate, it is okay to take damage from it. The 3rd Star Coin is near the ceiling when Bowser starts chasing you for the 2nd part of the battle. It's near the 2nd item block and there are two moving yellow platforms to catch you when you try to get it. It's dangerous to get with Bowser breathing fireballs at you, but it can be done. After that, it's time to platform and fly to the end of the level. Finally done with getting Star Coins. But there's still more to the game.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 5-Castle QSC

The 1st Star Coin is past the first set of circular grates. I got it using the Propeller Suit, but you can also get it by wall-jumping. The 2nd Star Coin is in a room hidden up in the ceiling by the circular grate to the right of the 1st Star Coin. Climb up the left side to find a hidden door. There are several Podoboos jumping out of the lava and the Star Coin is just under the door. Grates appear out of the lava periodically, so you can give yourself a boost when trying to jump for it. The 3rd Star Coin is after the 4 vertically moving grates on the main level. I waited until the 4th one was at its peak, then jumped and clung to the 5th one rising out of the lava. This can be difficult to get.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 2-4 QSC

It's best to have the Propeller Suit in this level. After the midgate is a green pipe tucked under a ledge. The pipe takes you to the 2nd Star Coin. Go to the pipe when the wind isn't blowing. Use the Propeller Suit to get the Star Coin and go to the next pipe. Jump first, then use the suit so you'll have enough power to make it back up. The Star Coin is under a rock platform in a formation of coins that looks like a Fire or Ice Flower. After you exit the pipe, wait until the wind blows and jump out over the abyss and use the Propeller Suit to get the 3rd Star Coin and reach the ledge above. Then continue your way to the goal.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 8- Bowser's Castle -- Makenai yo!

The first part of Bowser's Castle is pretty simple. There are lots of fire beams and lava and Podoboos. The music is the same Castle music for all the other Worlds, but there is a thunderstorm going on in the background. I used a Super Shroom and got an Ice Flower, but fell into the lava.

Take 2- I got a Super Shroom, and lost it to a Podoboo and died from a Podoboo.

Take 3- I got a Super Shroom and lost it to a Podoboo. I reached a red pipe. The lava slowly drains while Mario descends slowly on a platform. However, the platform moves faster than the lava drains, so Mario must keep changing platforms. I fell in the lava.

I needed lives, so I did 6-Toad Rescue, and got 9 1-ups.

Take 5- I got and lost an Ice Flower twice to Podoboos and fell in the lava.

Take 6- I used a Super Shroom, got an Ice Flower twice and lost it once, and got a 100-coin 1-up. I fell in the lava.

Takes 7-8- See Take 6.

Take 9- I used a Super Shroom and Super Guide appeared. I got and lost an Ice Flower, but got a 100-coin 1-up. After the red pipe, I finally reached the red pipe at the bottom. There you find the midgate and the final boss door. The door is more elaborate than the other doors and has somewhat of a temple motif. Past the door is a long rock corridor. Four or five huge flames will appear, and there is a rock area to hide behind, as well as two holes to hide in to dodge the flames. The flames may appear in patterns, like M or W, and sometimes, it will be safe to pass because they will be over your head. There are three sets of flames to dodge. After the 3rd, Mario enters the battle room where Bowser awaits. There is a large metal (probably bronze) statue of Bowser in the background, surrounded by metal Koopas and Goombas. At the end of the battle room, Peach is crying in a cage, with her back to us. She is also looking a tad short -her hair comes down nearly to her feet. As in classic sidescrolling Mario fashion, there is a pink switch at the end. The awesome final battle music starts, and with a powerful roar, Bowser starts the battle. I lost my Super Shroom to Bowser, because I was unsuccessful in jumping over him. I died from the fire.

Take 10- I used a Super Shroom. I tried and failed to run under Bowser when he was jumping, and died.

Take 11- I used Super Shroom and lost it to the fire. With good timing, I ran under Bowser and hit the pink switch. Bowser fell into the void. A nice little victory tune plays, then Peach's theme, as she turns around, and reveals that it was Kamek in disguise. The music stops like a bad music box. We've been duped!
Kamek uses his magic to make Bowser bigger, but gets knocked away. He isn't as tall as in Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, but his roar is powerful enough to push us to the edge of the battle room. He shoots flames that can break through the wall, to reveal that there is more to this level than we initially thought. I got a Super Shroom from an item block, but die from the fire.

Take 12- I used a Super Shroom and defeat Bowser. The victory tune plays, but the cage is gone and Kamek comes out of nowhere like usual and makes Bowser big. I got a Fire Flower and the 3rd Star Coin, but lost the Fire Flower to fire. I made it to the edge and rode a platform down where I got a Helishroom. After beating Bowser the first time, you can only move as quickly as his flames allow you to progress. After getting past the wall, you can move at whatever speed you want, but Bowser will jump after you. After riding down the platform, you notice that there isn't a void, but rather you were too high up to notice the lava below you. When Bowser lands, the lava will form waves like in 8-3. I died from a lava wave.

Take 13- 28. These takes all went very similarly. Sometimes I got the 3rd Star Coin. At Take 24, I used my last Super Shroom in my supply. I used up all of my items that could've helped me and I did not want to start this level over again. All I had left were a Mini Shroom and a Starman, neither of which would do me any good. I started to get low in lives around Takes 16-20 -around 4 lives, so I started cpllecting the coins for 1-ups. Also in Take 20, I took off my headphones so the music wouldn't distract me. (It worked well when I tried to complete Galaxy with Luigi.) In Take 26, I got 2 100-coin 1-ups. Even though it took so many tries, I didn't think I needed to re-evaluate my strategy, because in most instances, I wasn't living long enough to implement it. In the takes that I did get the Helishroom, I initially tried flying everywhere, only landing on the moving platforms to recharge the propeller. (I also tried to go above the level when I saw an opening, but that wasn't possible.) That strategy didn't work, so I tried to just take on the rest of the level by platforming, and only using the Helishroom to save myself from falling into the lava.

Take 29- After defeating Bowser, I got and lost a Super Shroom to the fire. I got another, as well as the Helishroom. After only using it to save myself, I reached the end switch. Peach was standing around in a cage. After the hitting the switch, the lava drains and Bowser falls through the floor. Peach gently floats down with her music playing. I finally beat the game!

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 8-6 -- Hot Foot It Into the Volcano

This is a level that takes place inside a volcano preparing to erupt. There is a similar level in New Super Mario Bros. I got a Helishroom and fly to get the 1st Star Coin. As the magma keeps rising, I lost my Helishroom to a Koopa and reach the midgate. I got another Helishroom as well as a 1-up Mushroom. I failed to fly after jumping off the chain I was holding onto and fell into the magma and died.

Take 2- I got a Super Shroom, which I lost to a Koopa. I died from a Podoboo.

I went back to World 6 for items and lives. I got 8 net lives and lots of Super Shrooms. I also got a Fire Flower, a Mini Shroom, and a Helishroom.

Take3- I had to start the level over. I got the 2nd Star Coin and a Helishroom. I also got a 1-up Shroom, 100-coin 1-up, the 3rd Star Coin, and a 1-up at the goal.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 7-3 -- Attack of the Fuzzies!

There are giant Fuzzies on line paths with blocks. I got the 1st Star Coin, but lose my powerups to Fuzzies. I powered up at the midgate. I got a Helishroom, but lose it to a Fuzzy. I got the 3rd Star Coin, lost, got, and lost a Super Shroom to Fuzzies, and reached the goal.

After reaching the goal, I won a Helishroom and a Mini Shroom at a Toad House.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 7-1 -- To the Underwhere!

This level starts off with a rock platform that Mario cannot climb. If Mario runs into the platform, he'll find ledges to climb, as well as a few coins. After going through the pipe, there are tilting and rotating platforms that move at different speeds. I got a 100-coin 1-up (thankfully, because I only had one life left). I got a Super Shroom and lost it to a Piranha Plant, but power up at the midgate. I skip the 1st Star Coin and went down a yellow pipe. I got a Helishroom and the 2nd Star Coin, but fell into the void.

Take 2- I died from a Piranha Plant and get another Game Over, for 14 continues, 3 of which are not from multiplayer.

Take 3- I got a Super Shroom and lost it to a Piranha Plant. I reached the midgate and powered up. I skip the first 2 Star Coins, and get a Helishroom. I can spin to get rid of some of the fog in the level. I get the 3rd Star Coin and a 1-up at the goal.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 5-Castle -- Walking the Dog

I got an Ice Flower and climbed up the rotating grate wheels. I once again have to dodge fire, this time green. I lost the Ice Flower to a Podoboo and fell in the lava.

Take 2- I used a Super Shroom and lost it to a Podoboo, but got another one. This was good because I found a Helishroom. I use it to get the 1st Star Coin. I lose my Helishroom to a Podoboo and die from a bad wall jump.

Take 3- I use a Super Shroom, get an Ice Flower, and fall in the lava.

Take 4- I get a Super Shroom and a Helishroom, which I lose to the green fire. I die from another bad wall jump.

Take 5- I get a Super Shroom and a Helishroom. I lose it to the green fire and fall in the lava.

Take 6- I get the Shrooms, reach the midgate and find some springy green checkered blocks. I reach the boss door. Iggy is sitting in a saucer-like object chained to a Chain Chomp. Kamek's magic makes the Chomp grow bigger. The Chomp will move along, dragging the saucer around a rectangular path. After hitting Iggy, he does not go in to a shell cycle, but the Chomp becomes enraged, turns red, and starts lunging around the room, while Iggy sits upside down. I get in the last 2 hits, but I lose my Shrooms. After Iggy is defeated, Mario chases the airship saying "Stop!"

This is the second level where I have had to re-evaluate my strategy for defeating the Koopalings. Normally, my strategy is to get in a hit, and then hit them after they stop spinning in their shells, preferably before they can use their magic wands again. I had to re-evaluate the strategy in 4-Castle, because it was impossible to stomp Wendy O. while she was under water. My strategy also needed re-evaluation in 5-Castle, because Iggy does not spin in his shell at all and you have to dodge the Chomp instead. My strategy seems to always work in the Forts. Let's see if I need to make any changes for 6-Castle and 7-Castle.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-6 Replay -- Easy as Bread Sandwiches!

I get the first Star Coin this time and find a pipe above the swinging blocks. I get the 2nd Star Coin and see a Propeller Block. I reach the midgate and kill all of the Fire Chomps. I get the 3rd Star Coin and a 1-up from 8 red coins. I get a 1-up at the goal. Mushrooms appear in the gorge to allow passage to the castle. I skip the explosions, so I don't have to rescue Toad. Later, while doing the QSC, I found the red goal by bouncing off of a Fire Chomp near the end of the level and flying with the Propeller Suit into a red pipe overhead. It leads to the red flag goal which opens up a path to the cannon which blasts you to World 5.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-4 Replay -- It's a Breeze!

I get a Helishroom and find a vine that takes me to the first Star Coin. This area is hard to get out of due to the invisible blocks. Everything goes smoothly and I reach the midgate and get a 1-up at the goal.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-4 -- Summer Breeze

This is a windy level. The wind will blow Mario towards the right, along with some coins, unless he against a wall. Thankfully, the wind stops periodically. I lost my Super Shroom to a Koopa, but soon got another one from a block. There are rope ladders throughout the level, that get blown around, and you have to wait until the wind stops before you can use them. They are attached to platforms that cover large gaps to the void. After climbing up the ladder, I saw an area designed for a Koopa shell. I didn't use one here, but they are designed so that if you send a Koopa shell into them, they will either produce coins or items like 1-up Shrooms. After climbing up the next ladder, I get a Helishroom, which I use to save myself from the void. After the midpoint, there is a Star Coin under a ledge over the void. It is best to use a Helishroom here after the wind subsides. I decided not to get this one. I then use the Helishroom to get a 1-up at the gate.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 1-1 Toad Rescue -Part 3- Third Time's the Charm

Toad shows up in World 1-1 this time. After finding him and picking him up, I finally learned to hold the 1 button the whole way through. I did not drop him once. Later in the level, I got the Propeller Suit. I thought this would be an easy victory, flying up over everything, but when I shoke the Wiimote nothing happened. After trying to get Mario to fly for a while, I realized what the problem was. I was carrying Toad over my head, where the propeller was. Toad was standing on the propeller then entire time so I couldn't fly! Drat! These levels are to see how you'll do without power-ups, becuase holding Toad prevents you from using them! I'm not even sure it's safe to use a Starman around a non-playing Toad. Things just got really challenging, but so far, it's okay, because I got to carry Toad through the easiest level! After I carried him to the goal, several fireworks appeared (more positive reinforcement!) and a Toad house opened up. These have lots of goodies (power-ups) to make play playing the game easier. These items can be used at the start of a level to gain an advantage if chosen wisely.