New Super Mario Bros.: 8-Bowser's Castle

It the final battle! It will take a while to get there. First, we have to platform over the lava and Podoboos to the door. There's an item in one of the blocks, and a ? Switch in another. The ? Switch rotates the room 180 degrees, so you can access the other door in the room. There are several jet engines in this room, as well as doors that you can't reach. Go to the right to the only right-side-up you can reach. It will take you to a room with a giant Thwomp. In one of the item blocks is another ? Switch that rotates the room. The ceiling and floor change to a tan color where the Thwomp will land. Go through the door on the left back into the room with the jet engines. There will be an accessible door up and to the left. Run and duck under the jet engine to reach it. You'll be in a maze with more Thwomps and Dry Bones. The first Star Coin will be up and over to the left. Make your way down the maze. There will be brick blocks over some spikes. One of them has an item. The ? Switch is in a brick block over the stairs. With the room rotated, go up, and go quickly under a Thwomp to reach the door. It will take you back to the room with the engines. Go as far left as you can and hit a brick block for a ? Switch. This one makes a platform appear so you can reach a door to the left. The door takes you to a split room. The low path has the second Star Coin. The top path has the door to the final area before the boss door. This room also has lava. The midpoint is here. In this area, the first part has a chime maze. You'll come across paths that will either buzz or chime when you make it to the end. If you hear a buzz, you'll have to do that area again. The correct paths are the low path, the upper path, then the middle path. Afterwards, you'll find the third Star Coin blocked by brick blocks. Break the brick blocks as Super Mario. Get on the next platform, then run to the left and duck to get it. The boss door is nearby. We see Bowser Jr. next to Bowser's bones and a giant cauldron. Peach is high above on a platform. Bowser Jr. throws the bones into the cauldron and it explodes, revealing a flesh-and-blood Bowser. We have to battle them both.Jr. is wearing his mask for this battle. I recommend having two Fire Flowers or reaching the switch as soon as possible. Once you defeat them, Peach floats down, says "Thank you!" and kisses Mario's ear.
The credits roll, showing us pictures of levels we've completed. After that, we see Bowser Jr dragging  his father. He squawks at us. We save our game and see a new background, which says "Select a File: [L] + [R] + (A)= Luigi's silhouette. While on the file select screen, if you hold [L], [R] and select the file with (A), you'll hear Luigi and be able to play as him.
That's all for this game! I had a great time playing it and we'll dive into Mario's latest adventure next!

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-Fort 2

This Fort has snake platforms. It will take us past fire bars and spikes. At one point, there will be spikes on the ceiling and floor. Once you leave that area, quickly move to the very front of the platform, as it is going to rise up. You'll go through another area with spiked ceiling and floor. The first Star Coin will be in an alcove here. The midpoint is at the stone ledge on the left side. A small spike ball will appear and start rolling on the platform until it doubles back. There are Red Coins to get in this area. The platform will rise up to an area with fire bars. The second Star Coin will be nearby. When the platform comes out on the right side, hop back on, but be aware that another small spike ball is heading your way. Jump over it and get the third Star Coin. The platform will soon go straight up, so stay at the very front. It will take you to boss door. Bowser Jr. is wearing his mask and this battle takes place on a small platform in the lava. Defeat him and a bridge to Bowser's Castle appears. He takes Peach there.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-8

In this level, we're outside the volcano and it's erupting. There are chunks of volcanic rock raining down, destroying all types of blocks, and setting off little blue and green enemies, who'll run after you and explode. The first Star Coin is near the start, so quickly go right to hop on the stones leading to it, before the volcanic rock makes it inaccessible. As Mini Mario, let the volcanic rock break through the stones over the mini pipe and take it to the second Star Coin. As Super Mario, breack the brick blocks surrounding the third Star Coin. After that, it's a long run on a stone path. Be quick and careful, as your path is quickly disappearing. The path leads directly to the flag.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-7

There are lots of Parakoopas in this level. When you reach a really tall wall you can't get over, hit the invisible block just to the left of it so you can scale the wall. Use a shell to take out the Sumo Bro,  the run under the platform for the first Star Coin, without running off the edge. Jump back up so you don't have to worry about falling. You'll come across some rock with thin ledges before the midpoint. Soon after are two Fire Bros. Be careful about approaching them from below. In one of the blocks in their area is a Starman, so that may help if you can reach it. Use it to take out Koopas in your path. The second Star Coin over a Boomerang Bro on rising platforms. Past the platforms is another Sumo Bro. He's standing on some brick blocks over the third Star Coin, so let him pound them. Take him out after he pounds the first row and get the Star Coin safely. There's another Boomerang Bro, as well as some Red Coins before the cannon to the flagpole.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-6

This time, we're in the volcano, and the magma's rising. This level wraps around like 7-2, which you'll need to take advantage of to progress. Go around to the left to reach a pipe cannon to a set of stairs. Quickly go up, over, and down for the first Star Coin. Take the spin spring up, then pound the bricks to the left as Super Mario to reach the 2nd Star Coin. Keep going up and you'll find Spinies walking on platforms from the original Mario Bros. game. You can bump the Spinies from below, but you can't jump through the platforms. Go to the right side for the third Star Coin, then wrap back around. Take the pipe cannon into the center out of the volcano. You won't fall back in, so don't worry. Just go to the flag. The magma's not following you.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-5

The scenery changes from a dark world to a volcano. We're inside the volcano at the base. There's magma below. We have to platform from dangling metal platforms and rocks that will fall into the magma soon after we step on them. Jump down and quickly go up the tilting rocks for the first Star Coin. The second Star Coin is floating over the magma near two dangling metal platforms with Koopas on them. Use a shell to get the Star Coin while the metal platform is tilted. At the end, there are several tilting rocks. Move quickly and jump high to reach the third Star Coin. The pipe to the flag is just to the right.

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!

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-4

Spiders are all over this level. A few of them will drop in every few seconds. The first Star Coin is on a high ledge. Either bounce off of a spider or run and jump to get it. There are rising stone platforms past the midpoint. The second Star Coin is over one of them. There's a Starman in one of the blocks so you can plow through the spiders. Low in the level are several stone platforms moving left and right. If you're Mini Mario, take the mini pipe below for the third Star Coin. The flag is nearby.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-3

A pipe takes us underwater where large yellow bubbles bounce us around. Swim up to find Unagi swimming around or hanging out in rocks. There are some Red Coins partway up and at the top, you'll reach the midpoint. Here, you'll be chased by a giant Unagi. Do not stop swimming. If you do, the Unagi will drop down on you or rise up to damage you. It is completely invincible. All the Starman can do is prevent you from taking damage. The pipes have currents to push you along to the right. At the end of a long chain of blocks is a Starman. The P-Switch makes Silver Coins. Stay low to reach the first Star Coin. Be Super Mario to take out the bricks guarding the second Star Coin at the top. There are more Red Coins. Stay low over a green pipe with a current to reach the third Star Coin. At the end are two pipes: red and green. Take either to the flagpole.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-Fort

This Fort has more platforming using sliding stone slabs while avoiding spikes. The first Star Coin is on the left side. Duck and let the stone slab push you under a gap. Go up and avoid the Spike Tops. The second Star Coin is on the left side. Keep climbing and you'll reach the midpoint and, eventually, the boss door. Before you go through the boss door, hit the flying item block, preferably in the middle of the room. Jump on it and hit the invisible block above, then jump off that block to reach the third Star Coin. Through the boss door, we find Bowser Jr. with his mask on, on moving stone platforms over jet engines. Use fireballs or the shell he throws for victory. He takes off with Peach to the castle.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-2

It's an underwater level. There are water striders that will drop bombs on you, as well as make reaching the surface difficult. The ? Switches will raise the water level temporarily. There's a pipe at the top. It will take you to another room filled with water with striders and barrels. The ? Switch is on the left side. You'll be able to reach a mini pipe or a pipe overhead. The mini pipe leads to the first Star Coin. The regular pipe takes you to a room filled with brick blocks. Get the item in the item block if you need it, then pound the bricks. Stay towards the middle right to get the second Star Coin. There's a pipe in the water below. This area has a couple of striders and stack blocks. Use the ? Switch on the low ceiling to raise the water level and the stack blocks to block the striders off in one area. The right side at the top has the third Star Coin. The left side has a pipe to the flagpole.

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-1

It's the last world! This part of the world is dark and spooky. The enemies in this level are mainly Bullet Bills, pumpkins, and crows. One of the item blocks will give you a spring. Place the spring on the stones to the right and bounce off the screen to go off screen, where the first Star Coin is. You have to line up the spring because there is nothing else out there. Farther into the level, you'll encounter a few Boos. The second Star Coin is high and two the left of two Bill Blasters, on different levels. Bounce off of a Bullet Bill to reach. The third Star Coin is low in a gap, so drop down to get it and wall jump quickly to safety. Bounce off the Banzai Bill and you'll soon reach the flagpole.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-Castle

This level involves riding around on snake platforms. The platform will snake around the level and double back on itself, so pay attention. At first, you'll have to dodge the Amps in the area. The first Star Coin is past two of them. After a while, the platform will take you past some Thwomps. Trigger them to fall early so they won't fall on you. The platform stops at a lone stone platform, which is the midpoint. Get off the snaking platform before it falls. There's another snake platform waiting for you. This one will initially take you through an area with spike balls on chains. The second Star Coin is above the anchor point for a ball and chain. Take the platform past it, then drop down onto the Star Coin and the anchor point, then get back on before the platform goes over you. It will then take you to an area with periodically firing jet engines. It will stall in front of the boss door, so let it start to drop, then run and jump to get the third Star Coin before you fall with it. The door will take you outside, where you'll have to climb platforms up to the roof. The boss here is Lakithunder, a Lakitu with bat wings on a gray storm cloud. He throws Spinies, sends down bolts of lightning, and swoops down periodically. When he swoops down, stomp him. Stomp him three times for the key. Bowser Jr. will take Peach to World 8 if you haven't defeated the boss of World 6.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-A

Oddly enough, this is a pipeworks world. The pipe takes you into an area where almost all of the platforms are pipes. Some of the pipes make small white "Wigglers" appear. They can crawl over all surfaces. There are invisible blocks to the right of the magenta platform, which allow you to go through the pipe leading to the first Star Coin. Go into the pipe cannon on the right side, then wall jump up to the pipe to reach the second Star Coin. Once you come back through that pipe, go up a pipe a white Wiggler came out of, then up the middle pipe over the teal platform. There are invisible blocks that will prevent you from going up a gap, so go to the right, then wall jump up the pipe to stand on top of it. There is a Piranha in this pipe, so be careful. Hop up the pipes going left, and go up the pipe in the corner. Go right and get a Mini Mushroom from an item block on the right, then go back left and wall jump up to reach a mini pipe next to a pipe with a Piranha Plant. This will lead to an area with coins and the third Star Coin. Leave that area and avoid Piranha Plants to reach a pipe on the right wall. Hit the stack blocks so you can go through it. This leads to the flag opens a path to the castle.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-7

This is an automatic sidescroller. Making life more interesting are the numerous donut lifts. The first Star Coin is near a ferris wheel platform. There are platforms moving left and right, and will pass past walls, so you might fall off. Jump over the wall to avoid falling. Soon, the level will start moving up. Here, you'll find a set of Red Coins. Past them is the second Star Coin, under some donut lifts. Let them drop down to get it, then quickly wall jump back up. Next is a pyramid of donut lifts. Be careful about jumping up off screen, as Koopas are walking around here. The third Star Coin is a little to the left, so jump up to reach it carefully. The level will start moving to the right after the pyramid. Koopas are on some of the platforms, so be careful. There is an item block between the pipes if you need some extra health. Take the ferris wheel platform to the flag. The path to the castle will open up.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-6

Time for more mushroom platforming. You'll be dealing with mostly Koopas and Piranhas here. After the midpoint, you'll find two rows of brick blocks. Clear out the middle ones on the top row first, then hit the middle ones of the lower row, one which has a vine. Take it up to Coin Heaven, where there is a tilting mushroom to convey you to the first Star Coin. Take the red pipe up to reach the red goal to 7-7. If you bypass the vine, the second Star Coin will be nearby. There are two Parakoopas here, so you can defeat them and use the shell to get it. Go down the yellow pipe and hope over the three Parakoopas to reach the red pipe to the third Star Coin. There will be lots of Parakoopas over here. Go up and over and reach the regular goal to 7-4.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-5

The main enemies you'll have to deal with here are Bob-ombs and Bullet Bills. The first Star Coin is overhead, blocked by bricks. Break some bricks as Super Mario or hit the Bob-omb to break some bricks, then bounce off of a Bullet Bill to reach it. If you're Mini Mario, use a Bob-omb to break a stone block over a mini pipe. Take it down to a room with Micro Goombas. The second Star Coin is blocked by a pipe. The item block contains a Mega Mushroom, so get it and use it to push back the pipe and get the Star Coin. You can't leave until the power wears off, so take out the Micro Goombas, then pound the ground to make Goombas appear from the ceiling. Take the pipe back up and you'll reach the midpoint near a few Bill Blasters and item blocks. Go past some more Bill Blasters and blocks and you'll find the third Star Coin between two Bill Blasters. At the end is a Banzai Blaster in front of the regular goal. This takes you to 7-6. Just in front of the Banzai Blaster is a pipe covered with stones. You'll need two Bob-ombs to break through them. Place them where the stones form corners. The pipe will take you to an underground area with coins, then you'll go up another pipe to thre red goal to 7-A.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-4

This level has lots of mushroom platforms and spin springs. The pink bouncy mushrooms are also here. The first Star Coin is low to the ground on the far right side. The second Star Coin is more towards the middle of the level, higher up, over a red mushroom. The third Star Coin is past the Red Coins. Bounce off the highest pink mushroom on the left side while spinning to get it. Toward the top of the level to the right is a pipe. This will take you to an area with a spin spring and lots of brick blocks. Spring to the top of them and pound them. The block underneath will have a vine in it to the red pipe above. This will take you to Coin Heaven, where there's a P-Switch that makes Silver Coins. You'll end up at the regular goal, which takes you to 7-5. If you're Mini Mario, go up the left side of the level, where you'll find a flying item block. Jump off it and go over to the left to a mini pipe, which leads to the Red Goal and opens a path straight to the castle.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-Fort

This fort has moving spike walls to make the level interesting. Take the red pipe up, climb up, then drop down to the right to the get the first Star Coin. To avoid spikes, duck while jumping up the spiked stones. There will be a stone moving left to right. Go into the alcove above while it's moving, then drop down between the spikes so it will take you to the other side. There are retracting stairs with spikes which lead to a door to the midpoint. The door will take to the next area. Here, you'll have to dodge moving spikes and crushing stones. Hop over the vertically-moving stones, to reach the second Star Coin. There are four moving spiked stones above. They will either move into the formation of a diamond or square. Move when they're a square to avoid being crushed. Just above, a series of stones will move into place to block you from reaching the boss door and third Star Coin. Move quickly and get out of the way, or into the boss door to avoid being crushed. Bowser Jr.'s wearing his mask and the battle takes place on a moving stone slab. Use either the shell he throws or fireballs to take him out. He'll run off with Peach to the castle after you defeat him.

New Super Mario Bros.: 7-3

This level starts off on a grassy plain with a couple of Wigglers wandering around. Pick up and item and head down the green pipe on the right. This will lead to a new area, where a giant Wiggler is the level. He'll be taking you to the pipe at the end. I recommend standing near the middle of the Wiggler. He'll periodically hop so you can reach higher places. There's some Red Coins to get, as well as platforms to hop on. Soon, you'll come across an overhead pipe that spews an infinite amount of Goombas. The first Star Coin is over a Boomerang Bro. The next item block you come across will be a Starman. This is no ordinary Starman: this will make a trail of Silver Coins wherever you go. All other item blocks will also contain Starman as long as you're invincible when you hit the block, allowing you to have a ton of fun. The second Star Coin is over a high platform. Eventually, you'll reach the pipe at the end, which is guarded by another Boomerang Bro. Don't try to follow the Wigger offscreen. There will be stairs made of bricks down to the flag. Before you go to the flagpole, pound the top brick to send a vine down, break the lower brick blocks, walk under the stairs, and drop down the gap. The third Star Coin is in an alcove to the right. Use the vine to reach it, then go to the goal.