New Super Mario Bros. 2: Star-Castle

It's time for the final level! We've defeated Bowser and the Koopalings, so who could be in this castle? It's not Bowser Jr. We start the level and the Koopalings appear in the Clown Copter. We know what to do here: hide when the eyes start flashing to avoid being turned into stone. We have to climb tightropes and avoid the saws. Climb on the grates quickly from cover to cover. The first Moon Coin is on a low grate over the lava. The second Moon Coin is over donut lifts over the lava. Your cover is above the Moon Coin, on the tightrope over the spikes. Drop down carefully when the coast is clear, then quickly move to cover. Eventually, you'll reach the door to the midpoint. Dodge the saws appearing from below. The door at the end leads to a snake platform. The Koopalings reappear, so now you have to seek cover while the floor's moving. Sometimes, you'll have to jump for cover. The third Moon Coin is over a saw and grate and appears while you're moving past it. Move quickly to reach the tightrope to get it and return to the snake platform. The snake will dive into the lava, so stay towards the middle so you see it coming. It will reappear a short distance away. The snake platform will eventually loop under the boss door, so get off. The door will lead to the midpoint, which looks similar to the one in Bowser's Castle. Get the items you need; I recommend two Super Leaves. Go up the stairs and dodge blue flames this time. Once you reach the end, you come face to face with the boss: Dry Bowser. Peach isn't here. The battle is almost the same as Bowser's, but with differently-colored flames and he throws bones instead of hammers. Run when he jumps so you can hit the switch and make him disappear. The platforms from Bowser's battle reappear. The Koopalings revive Dry Bowser and get knocked away. From this point forward, almost everything is the same as in the Bowser battle: his eyes will glow and he'll knock away the platforms in the area you're in. Once you reach the top, hit the ? Switch and he'll fall. A victory fanfare plays. We're done!

Coin Total: 68,771
We get a couple of messages: "There is a new world available in the Star Pack in Coin Rush" and "You've collected every Moon Coin in the game!" We now have three sparkling stars on our file. It's over, right? There's just one thing I never found in my first run through.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-Castle

This level can be a little tricky if you want to get all of the Star Coins. The red blocks will make platforms on paths appear and disappear. They will allow to cross the lava. At first, you'll see the first Star Coin over a pathway without a platform. The red block where you are will not make the platform you need appear, so go to the next area, with an item block and another red block. This red block will make the platform to the first Star Coin appear. Going forward, make the high platform and drop with it to the second Star Coin. Afterwards, you'll reach the midpoint. At this point, it will be difficult to get the third Star Coin if you die. Make sure you're on the lower platform when you reach the rope. Swing from the rope to the red rotating shapes in the lava. There are two paths from here to the boss door. Because of the way you set it up before the midpoint, you will have access to the lower platform, which will go under the boss door so you can reach the third Star Coin. If you have to restart the level from the midpoint, this platform will not be there. Take the rope to the boss door. Here, Dry Bowser assembles. He throws bones and breathes fire. The best way to beat him is to hit the switch behind him. He falls and you are victorious. This opens a bridge to the next area of World 8. Bowser Jr. takes Peach to the next Fort. Let's keep going!

Super Mario 3D Land: S8- Bowser's Castle

We need 290 Star Coins to unlock this level. We have 30 seconds to start. We'll get clocks from Hammer Bros. We hit the P-Switch for a bridge. At the end of the path is a Mystery Box in between two lava pillars. Jump carefully. Next is a green arrow platform we take while avoiding Blaargs. Over the long item block is the first Star Coin. We hit a P-Switch to make a platform rise up to the level of three Hammer Bros. We find the second Star Coin here. At the end of the purple path are appearing platforms to a Mystery Box that takes you to stones rolling in the lava. Dry Bowser appears. We reach Dry Bowser, who makes shockwaves when he lands. These shockwaves will also take out the Hammer Bros it reaches. The third Star Coin is in a corner before the switch. We reach the switch and Dry Bowser falls in. Past the gate, we warp to the flagpole, where we get a 1-up.

We see a picture floating down from the sky. The Tanooki Toads look at it and freak out. Bowser's got Peach in a cage again. Let's remedy the situation!

For some reason, we find ourselves at regular World 8's Bowser Castle. We still have all of the Star Coins, but the level is incomplete.

Super Mario 3D Land: S5- Castle

We need 180 Star Coins to unlock this level, but have 235. We have 30 seconds to start and get a 10 second clock from a Goomba. I died from a Goomba.
Take 2- We make it farther in and fall in the lava.
Take 3- We get the first Star Coin over the grates floating the lava. We find the second Star Coin over the sinking blue-gray platform over the lava. We land on more platforms flowing with the lava and Dry Bowser appears. We die from flames.
Take 4- I died from a Goomba.
Take 5- I fell in the lava after getting the first Star Coin.
Take 6- I got the first two Star Coins and fell in the lava.
Take 7- See Take 5.
Take 8- See Take 6.
Take 9- We get all three Star Coins. The last Star Coin is over some brick blocks in the path of Dry Bowser's flames. I died from Dry Bowser.
Take 10- I got all three Star Coins and died from a Goomba.
Take 11- First Star Coin, died Goomba.
Take 12- See Take 6.
Take 13- See Take 1.
Take 14- See Take 1.
Take 15- We get all three Star Coins and died from flames.
Take 16- See Take 6.
Take 17- See Take 9.
Take 18- See Take 6.
Take 19- I fell in the lava.
Take 20- See Take 10.
Take 21- See Take 9.
Take 22- See Take 11.
Take 23- I got all three Star Coins and reached the switch with a 100 second clock. The bridge falls away and Dry Bowser falls in the lava, surfacing three times before sinking, leaving a small skull cloud. We warp up to the flagpole using an orange Mystery Box and get a 1-up.

Super Mario 3D Land: S1-Castle

We need 110 Star Coins to unlock this level, not a problem when you have 162. We see Luigi locked in the tower. We also have 30 seconds to save him. Fortunately, there are clocks to add time, but they only add 10 seconds. We find the first Star Coin past two spinning gears in the lava, over a long item block. The second Star Coin is past two Hammer Bros, over a clock in a corner. We wall jump behind the second Thwomp for the third Star Coin. I died from a walking spike block.
Take 2- We get the first two Star Coins and a Starman in an invisible block under the second Star Coin. We get the third Star Coin and see that we're not battling Bowser, we're battling his skeleton, Dry Bowser. Great. He spews blue flames. I ran into the lava.
Take 3- We got all three Star Coins and a Statue Leaf, but ran into Dry Bowser.
Take 4- We got all three Star Coins and reached the switch at the end of the bridge. It falls away and Dry Bowser falls in the lava, surfacing twice, and leaving a gray skull puff of smoke. The gate opens and we see Luigi, who jumps for joy. We warp to the flagpole with the orange Mystery Box and get a 1-up at the flagpole.

We hear Luigi say, "Thanks, Bro!" as he and Mario run out of the castle. We saved Luigi! We get a message: "You can now play as Luigi! Tap (L) on the Touch Screen." Cool! Luigi's on the team!