Super Mario 3D World: Bowser- Castle -- The Great Tower of Bowser Land

It's time to finally take on Bowser. You'll need 170 Green Stars to unlock this level. At this point, we have 240. Bowser's tower looms in the distance, with seven rainbow lights at the top. You start near Bowser's wrecked car. You can stand in it, but you can't do much else. Take  the gondola down to the roof of a building. Fireballs will rain down and form pools, making it more difficult to dodge the Fire Bros. Walk up the roof until you see a clear pipe. Go towards the screen and carefully drop down to the first Green Star. There's an invisible triple item block to the right so you can get back up. Take the clear pipe to another rooftop.

There are three Cat Goombas in the area. Grab a Super Bell from the item block nearby, then board the Ferris wheel with the Bullies. Push all of the Bullies off to make the second Green Star appear in the center of the Ferris wheel. Past that is Captain Toad, there to cheer you on. He doesn't have anything for you, so hop into the gondola. The gondola takes you to the base of the tower.

Run towards the tower, and Bowser appears. He has a Super Bell, but it's not for you. He puts it on his neck and turns into Meowser. Instead of challenging you there, he starts climbing the tower. You should do the same. The area starts to automatically scroll. Pick up a Super Bell from the item block and start jumping up the clouds. Be aware of where Meowser is, as he will climb up, drop down, and move around, making clouds temporarily disappear and destroy solid platforms. Along the way, take the clear pipes up higher and keep moving. There's a Green Ring which will give you the third Green Star. Eventually, you'll reach a flat area of the tower. Meowser will land and sit on a POW Block on the back wall. Run to it quickly, as he will breathe walls of fire at you. Hit the POW Block immediately. This will send him flying away. The back wall drops, revealing a clock and a pipe. There's an invisible triple item block if you need another power-up. Go through the pipe and you'll see Meowser climbing up the tower alongside you. He drops out of view and gets a Double Cherry, making two Meowsers  run up the walls. The pipe takes you to the midpoint.

Even at the midpoint, the level is still scrolling. Go past the Cat Goombas and launch using the springboard. You'll have to start ascending this part of the tower, either by climbing or solely platforming. There are solid platforms and clouds here. Some clouds are invisible. Do not stand in front of cracked parts of the wall, as a Meowser will appear shortly and attack. Towards the top are trapezes that will get you to another flat area of the tower. Run up the stairs as quickly as you can, but be careful, as Meoswers will appear from the walls and the camera is still scrolling automatically, even when you go around a corner. At the very top, we see the source of the lights: Meowser has the jar with the Sprixie Princesses. He's standing atop a giant POW Block. Hit it four times, dodging the flames of the other Meowsers surrounding the tower. Meowser will fly off, releasing the Sprixie Princesses to a fanfare. A Bowser-shaped firework appears in the sky. The Sprixie Princesses are freed. A pipe appears.

The pipe takes you to a peaceful area in the sky. Over the bell tree is the stamp. The Sprixie Princesses are by the flag, saying "Hey!". Once you hit the flagpole, they'll dance in the order that you rescued them. Roll credits!

Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad will be in cat suits and go through a clear pipe, going past all of the characters they met, including Plessie, Boom Boom, and Pom Pom. The Observatory appears in the background. At the end of the credits, the pipe takes them to the Mushroom Kingdom. Fireworks appear over the castle. We get some messages. The best times for completing courses will be displayed and fast Ghost Mii Characters will come and visit courses. Total lives lost will be displayed on the file, along with a star.

The stamp is of Meowser. In World 1, the Sprixie Princesses are gathered around a rock.

Super Mario 3D World: Castle-Castle -- Bowser's Lavalake Keep

It's time to finally take on Bowser! You'll need 130 Green Stars to unlock the level. To get all of the items, I recommend bringing in a Cat Suit. There are Boomerang Bros and Podoboos here. Stomp the Boomerang Bro near the first Green Star for a Boomerang Flower. You'll need to switch between the two to get the Green Stars and stamp. The first Green Star is low over the lava between two walls. Slide down, then wall jump or climb to safety. To the right is a soccer bomb blaster and some gray bricks. Behind the blaster is a grate with the second Green Star on top. Climb using the Cat Suit to get it. Go back down and use a soccer bomb to destroy the gray bricks. Wall jump up or climb in the area where the gray bricks were for the stamp. Step on the P-Switch at the bottom to lower the grate so you can walk on it. Up ahead are square spike bars and Fire Bros. It's easy to get rid of them with the boomerang. Up ahead are more soccer bomb blasters and the midpoint.

There's a long, narrow pathway ahead where many Podoboos will appear. Run quickly to avoid being burned. The third Green Star is over the lava. Use the boomerang to get it. If you need an extra powerup, there's a Boomerang Flower past the second set of Podoboos, in an invisible block over a metal plate. Keep the Cat Suit if you can. Up ahead are the square spike bars and Hammer Bros. Defeat the Hammer Bros. to make a path appear to the warp box.

The warp box leads to some stairs. At the top of the stairs, Bowser appears in his car again. It's the same battle as before, with spikes and lava pillars. At points, the road will split so there is no middle part of the road. Bowser also breathes fire more often. Switch to the Cat Suit to make the soccer bombs do more damage to Bowser's car. Once he is defeated, the bridge falls and Bowser falls into the lava. A fanfare plays and the warp box to the flagpole appears.

The red Sprixie Princess is trapped at the flagpole with the other six flying around her. Break the jar and all of them dance. Bowser reappears, grabs them, and stuffs them into one large jar. He leaves, the jar smashes, and a beam of light appears from below. Outside the castle is a sparkling clear pipe.

The stamp is of Boomerang Mario.

Super Mario 3D World: 6- Castle -- Bowser's Bob-omb Brigade

It's nighttime and Bowser's soldiers and tanks are out in force. It's another automatically scrolling level. There are Fire Bros on some of the tanks, so keep an eye out for them. Grab a Tanooki Suit from the item block and you'll see some Bob-ombs coming from some Bowser boxes. Use them to blow up the gray bricks to reveal a giant item block. These item blocks make bridges to areas you can't normally reach. The first one leads to a Hammer Bro on a different tank. The Bob-ombs or ground-pounding make the bridge extend all the way at once. There's a triple item block that spews an infinite amount of Bob-ombs. Use them on the giant item block to form a bridge to the first Green Star. Nearby is a Red Coin Ring and a Fire Bro. Ahead, the ground splits. There will be smaller tanks in two columns. Grab a Bob-omb and use it to blow up the gray brick on top of a tank for the second Green Star. Hit a giant item block ahead to get the third Green Star. There's a tank with a pipe at the end. Use a Bob-omb to blow up the back wall to get the stamp.

Through the pipe, you'll meet Boom Boom again. He'll make a copy of himself, which will remain in its shell. Hit the real Boom Boom and he'll make more copies. After three hits, he'll be defeated and a warp box will appear. Go to the flagpole to free the azure Sprixie Princess. She'll use her wrench to make a clear pipe.

The stamp is of a Blockstepper, the soldier enemy.

Super Mario 3D World: 5- Castle -- King Ka-Thunk's Castle

In this castle, there are many spikes bars formed into squares. They'll flip around in a set path. Be careful when jumping over or through them. Grab a Super Bell and deal with the Chargin' Chucks ahead. There are some platforms that swing back and forth. Trigger the Green Ring and collect the Green Coins on these platforms for the first Green Star. Up ahead is a warp box that takes you tot he midpoint.

Here the square spike bars roll on their sides from the walls. Avoid a few of them by climbing the wall, which is where the stamp is. Drop back down because one of the later square spike bars has the second Green Star. If it rolls off the edge, wait a little while and it will come back. There's a Chargin' Chuck in the area. Ahead, the square spike bars will fall towards you, on top of the springboards. Jump carefully. At the end is a warp box. Before you go through it, climb up the wall to find an alcove with the third Green Star.

The warp box takes you to King Ka-Thunk, a square enemy that moves around using a square spike bar. He'll try to hit you by falling over or running into you with the spikes. When he falls face first, stomp the X on his back. After a hit, he'll make two corners of the arena disappear. After the second hit, he'll make the other two disappear. Three hits will defeat him. The warp box to the flag appears. Free the purple Sprixie Princess. She'll use a wrench to build a clear pipe to World 6.

The stamp is of a Chargin' Chuck.

Super Mario 3D World: 4- Castle -- Lava Rock Lair

You need 50 Green Stars to unlock this level. The castle is filled with lava and Brolders. You can pick up the Brolders and throw them around. Throw one on the P-Switch to lower a bridge to the first Green Star. Cross the gaps with the Podoboos and you'll see a Red Coin Ring. The Red Coins will appear over or between brick blocks. To reach the highest ones, throw a Brolder onto the brick blocks to collect them. This will give you a Super Bell. Try to keep it. Take the pipe under the lava with the Podoboos and you'll come out near a Mystery Box. The Mystery Box has three P-Switches and two Brolders. You have 10 seconds to put a Brolder on two of the P-Switches, stand on the third, and collect the Green Star. This may take a while unless multiple people are playing.

Just past the Mystery Box is a tall wall. As a cat, you can climb up the left wall for the stamp. Ahead are some Goomba stacks and Brolders appearing out of the ground. One Goomba stack has a Super Bell. The third Green Star is on the left side, over the lava. Toss a Brolder to get it. At the back is an invisible block with a Super Mushroom and a pipe.

The pipe leads to the battle arena, which is surrounded by lava. Walk to the center and a crystal Brolder called Boss Brolder will appear, with three normal Brolders. Pick up a Brolder and toss it into Boss Brolder. After a hit, Boss Brolder will roll around, chasing you. Hit Boss Brolder three times to win. A warp box to the flagpole will appear. Free the orange Sprixie Princess and she'll use a pipe to build you a clear pipe to World 5.

Super Mario 3D World: 3- Castle -- The Bullet Bill Express

This is an automatically scrolling level. At first, you're on the station platform with the train moving. Hit the item blocks for a cannon box, then quickly get on the train and go to the back for the first Green Star. Bullet Bills will be firing at you. You must get on the train or you'll soon run out of platform and fall. Once on board, move towards the front of the train. There are spinning flies near the item blocks, which have Super Leaves for Tanooki Suits. A train will appear in the background and fire Cat Bullet Bills that will home in on your location. Ahead is the second Green Star in a stack of Goombas. Nearby is an invisible block with a Mega Mushroom. Use it, which helps with the Cat Banzai Bills, but do not destroy the green pipe ahead. Take the green pipe to the train in the background.

On the back train, the level will continue to scroll. You'll find a few crates. Break them to free Captain Toad to get the third Green Star. Over the engine is a warp block back to the main train. There are Fire Bros near the engine. Drop down to enter the engine for the stamp. The pipe on the engine will take you to Pom Pom. She has a ninja star this time. She'll split into three and attack. Hit the one with the pink ninja star and she'll split into four, then five. Once you defeat her, the warp box to the flagpole and the blue Sprixie Princess will appear. Once you free her, she'll use a hammer to create a clear pipe.

The stamp is of Pom Pom. The Sprixie House here has the stamp of the yellow Sprixie Princess.

Super Mario 3D World: 2- Castle -- Bowser's Bullet Bill Brigade

This level is an automatically scrolling level. There's a tank procession and you have to get past it. The blasters fire Bullet Bills at you and soldiers walk in formation on the ground. Pound the crates on the tanks so you can reach things. Get the Fire Flower and hit the far right item block on a different tank to get a Cannon Box. It will automatically fire a projectile in the direction you're facing. Charge the shot by holding (X) or (Y) to increase the range. Try not to run into any enemies so you can keep it. You'll need it. Get the Red Coins if you like. The blasters on brick blocks will turn into Cannon Boxes if you destroy the brick blocks.

The tanks will disappear for a while as you go around a corner. There are Fire Piranha Plants here. In the middle of three of them is the first Green Star. Soon, you'll come across a tank with just a crate on it. The second Star Coin is in it. There's a tank with some grating on it. Destroy the crates and jump onto the grating to find the stamp. At the end of the procession, you'll find a wall with Bowser's seal. Use the Cannon Box to break the wall for the third Star Coin. Go through the pipe and you'll battle Boom Boom. He'll spin around, then stop when he's dizzy. Stomp him, and he'll go into a shell cycle. Stomp him again and he'll go into a shell cycle while invisible. He'll also try to attack while invisible. After three hits, he will be defeated. Coins and a warp box will appear. This will take you to the flagpole, where the yellow Sprixie Princess is trapped in a jar. Land on the flagpole to break the jar. She'll get a hammer and build a clear pipe to World 3.

The stamp is of Boom Boom.

Super Mario 3D World: 1- Castle -- Bowser's Highway Showdown

When you approach the castle, there's a wall blocking the way. You'll need 10 Green Stars to unlock it. Near the start are soccer balls with fuses. Kick them, and they'll explode soon after. Use them to take out enemies. Up on a ledge is a Green Star Ring. Touch it and Green Coins will appear nearby. Collect all 8 for a Green Star. Get the Super Bell from the triple item block and cross the gap using the yellow platforms. Near the blasters spewing soccer bombs is a gray, stone wall. Line yourself up at an angle and kick a soccer bomb into the wall to break it, revealing the stamp.

Just above the stamp is a cat gear. Spin it to make the wall rise. Climb up the wall for the second Green Star. Drop down onto the nearby Thwomp for some clocks. Go to the right and you'll see a Goomba Stack with the third Star Coin. Use a soccer bomb, ground pound, or claw at the Goombas to get it. Ahead are soccer bomb blasters in a wall. Kick the bombs back to destroy the wall. There is a warp block behind the wall.

The warp block leads to some stairs. Walk up the stairs and Bowser appears, riding a purple car. He'll challenge you to a battle. Follow the car as the "highway" automatically scrolls. He'll toss soccer bombs at you. Kick them back or use your claws to hit them back. If you're a cat, you'll score a direct hit if it hits the car. If you're not a cat, you'll need to kick three soccer bombs into the car for a hit. Avoid the soccer bombs that appear red as soon as they leave Bowser's hand. They will explode on impact, so you can't kick them back. After a hit, Bowser will start breathing fire so you can't get too close directly behind the car. After a while, he'll toss a few soccer bombs your way. Be prepared to kick them back because it will be a while before he tosses more soccer bombs. Once the car takes three hits, the "highway" will break apart and Bowser will fall on his car, then fly off with his tail smoking. Take the warp block.

The stamp is of Bowser.

The warp block leads to a block and the flagpole. The Sprixie Princess is trapped in a jar. Jump on the flagpole to shatter the jar and free the Sprixie Princess. Once freed, she takes a hammer and constructs a clear pipe to the next world. She's very industrious.

Super Mario 3D World: Save a Different Princess. Save a Different World. As a Cat.

The Mushroom Kingdom is having a celebration. It's nighttime, and Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Blue Toad are walking outside the castle during fireworks. They come across a clear pipe in the ground. The bros use their plumbing expertise to fix the pipe. Tons of items and blocks spew from the pipe. A green fairy-like person appears from the pipe. She is the Sprixie Princess and tells the four that Bowser has captured her people and put them in jars. Just then, Bowser appears and puts her in a jar, then returns through the pipe. Peach looks into the pipe and falls in. Mario, Luigi, and Blue Toad follow her.

Select your character and you'll land in World 1. You can freely wander around the World Map, but you can only access certain levels after you beat others and the path appears.

It's time for Mario's first 3D HD outing. You can select a character at the beginning of each stage so you can maximize each character's strengths or play as your favorite. There are many things to collect and unlock, as well as special levels to play. Here we go!