Super Mario 3D World: Crown-Crown -- Champion's Road

This is one of the most difficult levels in the game. There are no powerups or midpoints, so you have to bring all of your powerups with you and start the level over every time you die. Playing with others can help, especially because you can hold more items in reserve. For this level, you'll want to be wearing a Tanooki Suit with a Cat Suit (either Super Bell or Lucky Bell will work) in reserve. Peach and Luigi can be very useful here with their extended jumps.

The Gusty Garden music plays here. You'll start off on crystal blocks. Some of the crystal blocks move and have Octoombas on them. Cross the gaps between the blocks, then go through the clear pipe. This will take you to an area with three Fire Bros. You can ignore them or defeat them. At the top of the stairs with the Fire Bros. are a set of narrow crystal blocks. Stand on one to make a Chargin' Chuck charge at you. Stomp it, ground pound it, or run away. You can run over the crystal blocks without jumping. There are more narrow crystal blocks ahead. Stand on one to make three Chargin' Chucks charge. Run on the set of narrow blocks farther from the wall and jump over the Chargin' Chuck at the end. There is a warp box here.

The warp box takes you to an area with Beat Blocks moving in double time. This is where the Tanooki Suit really comes in handy. To deal with the Beat Blocks, remember to jump normally to a Beat Block of a different color than the one you're standing on, but jump and hover with the Tanooki Suit when jumping to a Beat Block of the same color you're standing on. For the first group of Beat Blocks, I recommend walking onto the first blue set as soon as they appear, jump and hover while moving forward, then land when it comes back. Jump immediate to the pink set, then to the next blue set. Jump and hover to solid ground, or land back on the blue set if you need to. The next set forms a set of stairs, but they do not form sequential steps. Line yourself up on the right side, wait for the blue set to appear, then jump straight ahead and land on the sole pink block on the second set of steps. Immediately jump to the blue set, then the lower blocks of the pink set. Jump from the lower blocks of the pink set and hover over the higher block. Land, then run and jump, then hover to solid ground, ignoring the blue blocks to the side. The final group of Beat Blocks form stairs. In order, it goes: blue, pink, blue, pink, pink, blue, blue. Jump up the first four quickly, then jump and hover over the higher pink block in the set of two. Do the same for the set of two blue Beat Blocks. At the top of the stairs is the first Green Star. Use the clear pipe as a cannon and launch.

You'll land in an area with four fire bars and three Magikoopas. You must defeat all three Magikoopas to make the warp box appear. To make things difficult, each tile of the floor you stand on will start sinking and disappear. It will reappear fairly quickly. When you land, the Magikoopas will fire at you, so jump out of the way to avoid taking damage. Try to defeat the Magikoopas quickly and avoid the fire bars. Warp to the next area.

The next area has spike bars as swinging pendulums and Fuzzies. Past the first spike bar is a Potted Piranha Plant. Jump to it and pick it up. It will make dealing with the Fuzzies easier. If you still have the Tanooki Suit, get a little running start, grab the Potted Piranha Plant, then jump and hover to the next set of pendulums. Stand on the narrow ledge between them, then run into the path of the back pendulum, then run and jump to the area with many Fuzzies. The Potted Piranha Plant will eat them. If all Fuzzies on this platform are defeated, many coins will appear. Next are two more pendulums over moving yellow platforms. Stand on the yellow platforms when they are close and the pendulum is swinging away. Jump, then land on the platforms when they meet in the middle, then jump over the last pendulum towards the warp box. Grab the second Green Star (the Potted Piranha Plant will get it for you if you're still holding onto it). Warp to the next area.

Here's where the Cat Suit comes in handy. It's best if you still have the Tanooki Suit at this point. First, you'll have to spring from a springboard onto the wall in front of you. There are many Spiked Ant Troopers walking down the side walls. After you spring onto the wall, run up it as far as you can go, then wall jump to one side and run up higher. Keep wall jumping and bouncing off ants until you reach the top. Without the Cat Suit, you'll have to wall jump and bounce off ants unaided. Ahead is another springboard. The wall you will spring two has four Piranha Creepers on it. Center yourself, then spring up and run as high as you can. You should be able to run past the third Piranha Creeper. Run over it, then slide down on it to bounce. Continue running up the wall and jump to reach it if you have to. Without the Cat Suit, you'll have to spring, then bounce from Piranha Creeper to Piranha Creeper. At the top is a block of water and many spike blocks. Get into the water block and it will start moving to the right. Swim with it. On the back wall are two colors. Gold areas mark where most of the spike blocks are or where they can move. The white areas mark what is mostly safe. Swim to the right until the water block reaches the end of the wall, then quickly swim up and to the left. You'll have to drop down at points to deal with the maze. At the end is a clear pipe cannon, periodically blocked off by a moving red spike block. When the path is clear, you may want to ground pound in the water while over the pipe so you can reach it before the spike block returns. Launch to the next area.

Aside from where you land, the next part is completely made up of boost pads. The Tanooki Suit is especially useful here. Making your life difficult are the numerous lasers in the area. The first set of them fire square lasers and the second set fire circles. When you start, you'll run forward, left, then forward. You'll then have to jump across the gaps to more boost pads. The Tanooki Suit will allow you to hover and slow down, so you can avoid taking damage from the lasers. The boost pads will initially give you two spaces to move forward on, then one. Once you pass those boost pads, the lasers will fire circles and will be closer together. Run to the left to find the third Green Star and the next challenge. The boost pads are arranged in a square with four lasers. There are five Key Coins to collect: one in the middle and two on each side. They can be very tricky to get. The Tanooki Suit will allow you to slow down and hover over the lasers and line yourself up to collect the Key Coins. If playing alone, I recommend getting the Key Coins on one side first, running back up the middle (towards the screen), then getting the other two on the other side. If playing multiplayer, you can try to have everyone go for a set of Key Coins, have one player collect the Key Coins while the others are in bubbles, who can drop in in case the player collecting Key Coins falls off or dies, or have one person collect the Key Coins will the others stand on the lasers to stop them. This will unlock the warp box in the back. Carefully aim for the warp box.

The warp box will take you to a set of clear pipes. You can relax now: the hard part is over and you don't need powerups. All you need to do is not fall off the level. Enter the clear pipe and it lights up like a neon sign. Follow the path to the right and more of the pipe will light up, revealing the message "THANK YOU!!" There is a warp box at the end.

The warp box takes you to the flagpole. Many friends are gathered here, including Sprixies, Captain Toad, with a few piles of coins, some bunnies and Plessie. Slide down the slide and grab the coins. The stamp is on the second step of the stairs. The top of the flagpole is easy to reach. Congratulations, you're done!

The stamp is of Cat Mario holding a coin.

You may notice that you're missing a few stamps. The last stamps you need can be obtained from completing every level with each character (as in, complete all levels as Mario to get the Mario stamp. The stamps will be each character's portrait from the Character Select menu. To see which levels you completed with which character, go to the map using the (-) button and check the level completion.

Even though I ultimately completed the level by myself, several individuals helped me try to beat it. Thanks to Derek, Tony, John, and Tareq! I really appreciate the help!

And with that, we complete Super Mario 3D World. It was a fun game and those last two levels were especially challenging. I highly recommend this game. Stay tuned to see what I play next!

Super Mario 3D World: Flower-8 -- Blast Block Skyway

It's time for more Beat Blocks, but this time, in double time. The blocks switch more frequently, so you can't spend too much time on them. For the most part, if you walk down the center of the Beat Blocks, you should not fall where a blue block is next to a pink one. Grab a Tanooki Suit to make your life easier. Use the ability to control your descent to your advantage. There are many Spikes in the level throwing spike bars. To the left is a Mario stamp that only gives coins. Cross the Beat Blocks and you'll find the first Green Star over an item block over some blue blocks. Carefully go past the Para Dry Bones and jump, then try to land on the item block to safely get the Green Star. Go through the warp box to an area with another Spike. The Beat Blocks ahead form stairs and there's a Spike at the top. Some of the spike bars will fall through, but others will reach the bottom of the stairs.

The midpoint is at the top of the stairs, with a Green Ring. The coins will appear on the back wall. You'll have to be quick and blow on the fan to reach all of them. Carefully drop down the stairs to the warp box. This will take you near the giant slide. Kill the Spikes and line up at the center of the slide. Start sliding and do not steer. As long as you're in the center, you won't fall and you'll be in position to get the third Green Star on the slide. There are Beat Blocks forming stairs to the flagpole.

There are no stamps in World Flower.

Super Mario 3D World: Mushroom-7 -- Broken Blue Bully Belt

You need 240 Green Stars to unlock this level. There are fewer arrow platforms appearing from the lava. There are balls of lava that leave lava trails and Para Dry Bones. Grab a Tanooki Suit and carefully jump from platform to platform. The first Green Star is on the right side over an arrow platform in a group of three arrow platforms. Up ahead are spinning spike bars. Podoboos will make it difficult to take a shortcut through the area. The second Green Star is the center of a set of spinning spike bars. When you're done platforming over the lava, you'll find the midpoint.

To the right are cylinders with spike bars moving over them. At the end is a pipe. Before you go through the pipe, use the Tanooki Suit to reach the third Green Star on the cloud behind the pipe. Through the pipe, you'll find several arrow platforms leading to the flagpole. Be sure to keep up with them.

There are no stamps in World Mushroom.

Super Mario 3D World: Star-7 -- Gargantuan Grotto

Many of the enemies are larger here in this jungle. There are stacks of Goombas, one of which has a 1-up. Nearby are giant Galoombas. The item block on the back wall has a Mega Mushroom. Move quickly to the right. You'll see some gray bricks on the back wall and in the ground. Destroy the gray bricks on the back wall to get the stamp. Destroy the bricks on the ground to drop down. If your Mega Mushroom runs out, there are holes so you can drop down. At the bottom is an invisible block with a Tanooki Suit. To the right are Microgoombas and pink wall enemies. Clear them out and wall jump up behind them for the first Green Star. Farther to the right is the midpoint.

Drop into the water, where there are Bloopers and spike blocks above a vortex. Swim near the back wall near the bottom to avoid the spikes. Swim up and out of the water over the gray bricks. Grab the Mega Mushroom in the item block and go quickly to the right. Pound the bouncy pads to jump through gray bricks ahead. At the top is the second Green Star. As long as you break at least one gray brick, you can swim up to get it later. To the right is a pipe. Swim above it to find another pipe. You'll find a P-Switch and a Mega Mushroom. There are three rounds of coins to collect for the third Green Star. Go back through the pipe, then go through the pipe below to the flagpole. There is a Goomba stack near the flag.

The stamp is of a Mega Mushroom.

Super Mario 3D World: Star-5 -- Super Block Land

The level is filled with giant blocks. There's a Tanooki Suit  in one of the item blocks. Just to the right of the giant brick blocks, on the right side of the tall wall, is an invisible block with a Mega Mushroom. You'll have to use a Bob-omb to clear the giant brick blocks in the way. This makes clearing the path ahead a little easier, since there are several Chargin' Chucks. It also makes getting the stamp easier. Go all the way to the right and you'll find a lone brick block in the lower right corner. Destroy it with the Mega Mushroom, or ground pound it for a while as long as you're not small. The stamp is in the alcove behind it. Nearby are four giant item blocks. Pound them to form a path to a Mystery Box. Inside, pound the right giant item block to reach the first Green Star. The warp box is to the right.

Slide down to the midpoint, behind the POW Block. Use a Bob-omb to destroy the brick blocks in the ground to reveal a springboard. Up ahead and to the left is a gray brick. Use a Bob-omb to destroy it for the second Green Star. On solid ground, you'll find Key Coins and more Chargin' Chucks. Most of the Key Coins are visible and easy to reach. One is under some brick blocks near the back wall. Use a Bob-omb to reach it. Go to the far right and destroy the large brick block. Pound the giant item block to reach the third Green Star. The unlocked warp box will take you to the flagpole. Giant item blocks will form a path to the flagpole when ground pounded.

The stamp is of Tanooki Luigi.

Super Mario 3D World: Bowser-7 -- Grumblump Inferno

There's a large rock sitting in the lava with a couple of mice standing on it. When you stand on it, its face frowns and it starts flipping. Run with the same timing as the mice to stay on. It will keep moving in a set path, then stop at its destination. When you're on solid ground, grab a Tanooki Suit. They're very helpful here. There's another rock up ahead, which will drop down on its journey. You'll find Fire Piranhas nearby. The first Green Star is on a pillar. Up ahead are some Hammer Bros. Past them is a springboard to the midpoint.

The next rock you'll find will slide downhill towards a Hammer Bro on a pillar. The stamp is above it. Stomp the Hammer Bro, then get back on the rock before it slides downhill again. It will stop at solid ground. A couple of lava balls will appear, trailing fire. This makes getting the Green Coins for the second Green Star a little difficult. Past that is a long, rectangular rock. Some mice will join you on it, but won't stay long. You'll have to move quickly when it flips on its long side. When it's flip on the long side, standing tall, is when you can get the third Green Star. Take this rock to the flagpole.

The stamp is of a mouse.

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: 6-7 -- Fuzzy Time Mine

This is an automatically scrolling level. Climb up the platforms on the back wall and you'll see something move from the lower right corner. It's a mass of Fuzzies that will follow you around. Touch the mass is instant death. Grab a Tanooki Suit and go past the Para Dry Bones. Go up the tilting platform and you'll find the stamp in an alcove behind a crushing wall. As you climb higher, you'll find more moving walls. You'll find the first Green Star on the right side, under a cloud. Ground pound the cloud to drop through it to get it. Go up and to the right, where you'll find a POW Block. You'll find the second Green Star over a tilting platform. Ahead is a series of moving walls that will close one by one. Use the springboard to reach the walls and jump up to the third Green Star. Above it is a cloud and a door to the flag.

The stamp is of a Fuzzy.

Super Mario 3D World: 5-7 -- Searchlight Sneak

This is a stealth level. It looks like a castle level. Avoid the spotlights or an alarm will sound and Cat Bullet Bills will be fired and home in on your location. Grab a Tanooki Suit from the item block near a spring enemy. You'll cross a gray brick floor. Be careful about avoiding the spotlights as the Cat Bullet Bills can destroy the bricks. Past the long stretch of gray bricks, you'll find the first Green Star high above the solid floor in the path of a moving spotlight. Use the spring enemies to get it.

When you're past the spotlights circling each other, go behind the wall to the midpoint. You'll be hiding from the spotlights behind the walls. Another spotlight illuminates the stamp over some brick and item blocks, so be careful when you try to get it. There's a crack in the wall. Lead a Cat Bullet Bill to the crack to reveal a Mystery Box. There are brick stairs to the second Green Star. Cat Bullet Bills will appear and destroy the bricks. Move quickly. There are Red Coins ahead if you want them. Climb up the stairs and lead the Cat Bullet Bills to the third Green Star, which is surrounded by bricks. The Cat Bullet Bills will break the bricks so you can reach it. At the top of the stairs is the flag.

The stamp is of Toad jumping.

Super Mario 3D World: 5-5 -- Bob-ombs Below

This place is crawling with Bob-ombs, especially because there are blocks that keep spewing out more. Some item blocks are arranged in pyramids. Use the Bob-ombs to hit all of the blocks in the pyramid at once. Once of them has a Super Leaf, giving you the Tanooki Suit. Go past the Piranha Plants and you'll see a POW Block on the wall. Use it to reach the first Green Star. Ahead is another POW Block. Follow the chain to the end to get the 1-up. You can reach it near the midpoint.

Ahead is a bunny on a circular platform. Chase it down on the inside part of the circle to catch it for the second Green Star. Ahead are a couple of Goomba stacks in front of a crack in the wall. Use a Bob-omb to break the wall. Go behind the wall for the stamp. Go back in front of the wall and take a pipe to a cloud. The cloud cannon launches you to an area in the sky with tiles. Clear the tiles with the help of the Bob-ombs, revealing 8-bit Mario and the third Green Star. Drop back down and use a Bob-omb to start a chain reaction with a POW Block. Run ahead as the POW Blocks clear out the Piranha Plants for a 1-up. Go through the pipe. Use a Bob-omb to make stairs to the flagpole.

The stamp is of a Bob-omb.

Completing the level will give you access to a Sprixie House. The stamp is of the orange Sprixie Princess.

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: 3-1 Snowball Park

There's lots of snow here. Even the Pokeys are made of snow. Use Fire Flowers to defeat them and parts of them will remain. Pick up the snowballs and throw them at enemies. Cross the first patch of ice and go behind the trees to find a Propeller Block. Keep it throughout the level. Walk forward and you'll see many Para-Biddybuds, the flying bugs. There's an alcove behind them with the first Green Star. Kill the enemies to clear the path to it. Go forward and go past the Snow Pokey. The item block has a Super Leaf, which gives you a Tanooki Suit. There's a Goomba in an ice skate. Kill the Goomba to get it. Skate around, which makes navigating on the ice easier, but you'll lose it if you run into something. Across the ice is the midpoint.

Slide down the slope to a large patch of ice with more Goombas in Kuribo's Ice Skate. There's a Red Coin Ring, with the Red Coins appearing in a circle around the ice-free zone in the center. Past the ice is a rabbit with the second Green Star. He can be a little tricky to catch, especially when he crosses the ice. Try using a shortcut to cut him off. It make take a while to catch him, so watch your time. Past the rabbit is a patch of ice with Snow Pokeys. On the narrow strip of ice is the stamp. On dry land, climb the tree near the wall, jump, and use the Propeller Block to reach a high alcove with the third Green Star. The pipe to the right will take you to the flag.

The stamp is of a Para-Biddybud.

Super Mario 3D Land: S1- Mystery Box

For this Mystery Box, we get a Tanooki Leaf to kill one Goomba. We stomp on the Goomba and pick up the Tanooki Leaf, as well as all of the coins. The Mystery Box becomes inactive.

Super Mario 3D Land: Special 1-1

Going through the pipe is like going down the rabbit hole. Mario falls towards the light in the first time we've seen the inside of a warp pipe! We land in what looks like World 1, but with remixed music. This should be interesting.
The level layout looks the same, with a sunset background. We grab a blue striped Tanooki Leaf and get a Tanooki Suit with a red bandana around the neck. This allows us to become a statue, like in Super Mario 3, when we ground pound. This should save us some time when we need to ground pound. There are also purple Poison Mushrooms, like in the Lost Levels of Super Mario Bros. They follow you around. We get a Starman and take out the Spinies for 1-ups. I died from a walking spike block.
Take 2- The first Star Coin is on the green ledge to the left, over a brick block. We Triple Jump to reach it: two to the block, and one from the block. The second Star Coin is over the springy mushrooms, on the left side. We get a 1-up at the flagpole.
Take 3- We find the third Star Coin on top level and jump towards the screen to a floating block off a patch of land jutting out from the top of the castle. The Star Coin is a few blocks away. We reach the flagpole.

Well, that was interesting. Nintendo said that the special worlds would be more challenging, and they are, although they seem to be very generous with the Starmen here (3). The Star Coins are in all new locations, so this won't be just a repeat of the game. I look forward to it.

Super Mario 3D Land: 8- Bowser's Castle Part 2

We need 100 Star Coins to unlock this level. We have 146. This is it! (I hope.) A drawbridge drops down and the eyes on the Bowser head glow. We land on a skull coaster and it goes into a Bowser statue's opening mouth. It goes down and we dodge a large fireball. More fireballs appear that we have to dodge as the coaster snakes around the track. I died from a fireball.
Take 2- We get the first Star Coin, which is in the fireball area, by jumping. We take a hit from a fire bar, then the coaster stops. Nearby is a wooden square with a coin. We hop on and it lifts us to a fragile stone bridge. We cross it and find more wooden squares in the lava. We died from a Dry Bones.
Take 3- I got the first Star Coin and fell in the lava trying to jump to the wooden square from the coaster.
Take 4- See Take 2.
Take 5- See Take 2.
Take 6- The gold block appears in the Bowser statue's mouth. I fell in the lava.
Take 7- We get the first two Star Coins. The second is over the second wooden square with the Dry Bones on it. We hop on another coaster. Next is a barrage of fireballs that we must dodge. Towards the end is the third Star Coin. The coaster takes us to stairs to a cannon. The Toads are there and give us a 1-up. We hop in the cannon and aim for the Red Coin Ring. We land on a tower, where it's raining. The Red Coins are there, so we collect them for a Tanooki Leaf. We take the cannon there and aim for the yellow ring for five coins. We land on a spiral ramp. It is quiet, except for the wind and rain. The door at the top opens and we go through it. We see Peach tied to a flagpole. Mario says, "Ah" and runs forward. Peach calls his name, but a large shadow appears over Mario. Bowser pounds the floor and roars. The floor breaks and they fall. The timer resets and they land on some stairs. It's time for the final battle! We chase Bowser up the stairs, which have cracks in them and will break apart. We dodge fireballs and spike balls. We pass an item block with a Tanooki Leaf and dodge fireballs and take out Paragoombas with our Tanooki Tail. Next, Bowser throws large barrels at us over a cracked bridge. Next is a blue solid bridge, where Bowser will try to hit us with his tail. We dodge and wait for him to jump, then run under him to another blue bridge. Behind that bridge is a wall that Bowser destroys with his tail. Beyond it is the switch. We hit it. Bowser falls into the lava below and we can go further. We run up the stairs and Bowser appears. You didn't think you were done, did you? Bowser now breathes a purple flame and hops around. He won't get in your way, but some Tanooki Goombas might, and the path is mostly cracked. The Tanooki Suit is a good idea here. I tried to jump to a piece that was too high and fell.
Take 8- I fell.
Take 9- I made it much higher, to another blue bridge where we must run from Bowser, hopping over blocks. I recommend hopping over single blocks. He ran into me and I died.
Take 10- I made it across the bridge to the second switch. Bowser falls off, with pieces of debris hitting him on the way down into the lava. He's finally defeated. That was intense! The wall drops down and the timer goes away. We find ourselves near the tower where Peach is being held. She calls his name and new music plays. We climb up the stairs and get a 1-up at the flagpole, freeing Peach. Peach's music plays and Mario gives her a spin. The course has been cleared! Finally!

The credits roll as Mario and the Toads each use a Tanooki Leaf to get down from the castle, while Mario carries Peach. (You didn't think Peach was going to wear a Tanooki Suit, did you?) We can control Mario across the screen. Bowser appears on a stack of Goombas, but falls off. Mario takes Peach back to her castle, where they sit on the Tanooki Tree admiring a Tanooki Leaf in a picture. Shaking makes the leaves and branch shake. A picture floats down to the ground, showing Luigi behind bars, guarded by a Boo and a Koopa. Luigi says, "Help me!". Shaking makes the Boo and Koopa jump and Luigi's head nod. What's that about?

Our file has two Stars on it. We get a message: "You can now use pipes to travel to Special Worlds." There's more? Let's continue!

After completing the special levels, we return. We have two Statue Leaves. The layout is the same. We get a 1-up from the Toads before we launch from the cannon. Once again, we find Peach tied to the flagpole, but the flag is gold, saying we've completed the level. Bowser appears and we go the area of crumbling rocks. We hit the first switch and the second. We get a 1-up at the flagpole and free Peach. The credits roll. This time, we get another picture, that of Peach and the Toads. Peach is wearing a Tanooki Suit, which has the Toads freaking out and Peach startled. We now have four stars on our file.

Super Mario 3D Land: 8-5

This level takes place on ledges attached to stone walls. There are more red and blue flipping platforms. On the blue side of the last platform is the first Star Coin. We drop down some fragile stone steps to more flipping platforms. Here, several Bullet Bills fire at us, some with Tanooki Tails which give Tanooki Leaves. We reach the pole at the end and climb up. We move to another area on a yellow platform, get a Boomerang Flower, and reach the midpoint. We use a Boomerang to get the second Star Coin over a Rocky Wrench. We fell after bad jump timing.
Take 2- I got the second Star Coin, but fell trying to collect Red Coins. I'll leave them alone.
Take 3- I got the second Star Coin and made it to the other side. We go into a purple Mystery Box and find the third Star Coin in there. We wall jump to get it. Next are more flipping platforms and Banzai Bills. At the end are more flipping platforms to the flagpole, with a Rocky Wrench at the end.

Super Mario 3D Land: 8-4

It's another Ghost House! We walk in an empty hallway until the floor ends. A blue light shines and a section of the floor breaks away and moves. It spins and keeps moving. The floor docks in another hallway. There are several item blocks here. Next is a tilting green platform with the first Star Coin. We tilt the platform along the track chasing the Star Coin. It goes up and stops between two stone walls that retract into the wall. We wall jump off one to reach it. The platforms falls to two lower tracks. We reach the midpoint after avoiding Boos with Tanooki Tails. Next is a spinning checked floor with the second Star Coin. The item block has a Starman and makes Boos appear. The Boo with tail will give you a Tanooki leaf if you run into it. We hop onto another section of floor that moves. We pass through two rings of ghosts. The third Star Coin is on this path, near a giant Boo. The floor will stop, then plummet to the door. We go out the door and take the moving stone for a 1-up at the flagpole.

Super Mario 3D Land: 8-3

We need 80 Star Coins to unlock this level. This level is full of bubbles. The Super Mario 3 music plays. There's a Rocky Wrench ahead. There are rotating green and yellow bridges aheead. I fell.
Take 2- I rolled off.
Take 3- There's a gear that we should spin, but we don't have a Tanooki Suit. We keep going and reach the midpoint. We get a Tanooki Suit from Red Coins. In that area with several rotating bridges is the second Star Coin that rotates around a bridge to the left. We go back to the gear and spin it to find the first Star Coin on top of a wall. We go back to where we were and bowl for Rocky Wrenches using green shells. Next are cylindrical bridges and one that arcs up and down. We go down for the third Star Coin. We use the orange Mystery Box to warp to the top area that the bridge reaches. We take that to the flagpole for a 1-up.

Super Mario 3D Land: 7-5

The saws from Super Mario Galaxy 2 return. Super Mario 3 music plays. I fell.
Take 2- I got the first Star Coin by hopping onto the platform it was on, then hopping off before it fell. I ran into a saw.
Take 3- I got the first Star Coin and fell after bouncing off a Goomba.
Take 4- See Take 3.
Take 5- I got a Tanooki Suit and the first Star Coin. We reach the end of the long stretch of platforms and find one spinning so that saws will take off portions of it. Stay towards the center. We hop off in an area with lots of Tanooki Goombas. We quickly move through the area, getting the second Star Coin and reaching the midpoint. We run and jump past more saws, get a Tanooki Suit and destroy a Goomba cutout for coins. Next is a slow-moving wooden platform that will pass through saws. I fell off here.
Take 6- The gold block appears. We hop on the moving platform and stay to the far left. This way, we'll get the third Star Coin. We then move to the remaining platforms to the right, near the middle, which will make it all the way. We climb up stairs riddled with saws and get a 1-up at the flagpole.

Super Mario 3D Land: 6- Airship

We launch from a cannon to the Airship. This one's an auto-sidescroller. We ran into a bomb thrown by a Rocky Wrench.
Take 2- We take a hit from a spike pillar and hop behind the crates for the first Star Coin. We miss the second Star Coin and take another hit from a pillar. We wall jump at the top above two horizontal pillars for the third Star Coin. The end of the Airship is pink, which means we're dealing with Pom Pom. This time, we're dealing with her over pits of fire. I got in one hit, but fell in the fire.
Take 3- We get the first and third Star Coins and died from the pillars.
Take 4- We got the first and third Star Coins, but died from Pom Pom after getting in one hit.
Take 5- We get the first and second Star Coin, which we hit purple arrow blocks for. We died from a pillar.
Take 6- The gold block appears. I got all three Star Coins and two hits to Pom Pom, but I hit her and fell in the fire.
Take 7- I got the first Star Coin and jumped off the Airship.
Take 8- I got all three Star Coins and one hit, but died from a boomerang.
Take 9- I died from a Bomb.
Take 10- We got all three Star Coins but died from pillars.
Take 11- The P-Wing block appeared. I got all three Star Coins and died after one hit.
Take 12- All three Star Coins and two hits.
Take 13- Two Star Coins, died pillar.
Take 14- First Star Coin, died pillar.
Take 15- See Take 11.
Take 16- See Take 6.
Take 17- See Take 6.
Take 18- See Take 10.
Take 19- See Take 11.
Take 20- See Take 14.
Take 21- See Take 7.
Take 22- See Take 7.
Take 23- See Take 11.
Take 24- I got in the third hit and fell into the fire.
Take 25- See Take 11.
Take 26- I got all the Star Coins and finally defeated Pom Pom. That was tedious. I recommend hopping between two platforms when she's in her shell cycle. After she's defeated, the fire goes out and coins appear, as well as a green pipe. Well, we know what to expect from here on out. We go through the pipe and reach the flagpole.

Mario runs into the night and finds an envelope with a Tanooki Tail. The picture shows Peach being chased by Bowser, Boom Boom, and a whole slew of enemies. Shaking makes some enemies jump and everyone shake. Mario freaks out and runs to the next world.