New Super Mario Bros. Wii 8-Fort QSC

The first Star Coin is close to the star over a firebar. I timed my jump well to get it. The 2nd Star Coin is just under the 3rd, in a secret door hidden just to the left and under the midgate. It's above a large firebar, so time your jump well. The 3rd Star Coin is next to the midgate near a firebar. I got it by sliding under the ledge while timing it with the firebar. I defeated Kamek and continued.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 7-Fort QSC

I got the 2nd Star Coin at the top of the first part of the level. There is a gap in the ceiling to the left. In the lower right corner of the gap is an invisible block. I jumped on the block and ran across the ceiling to the right. This will take you to the 2nd part of the level where the 2nd Star Coin is. I got the 3rd Star Coin by blowing up the bricks in front of the Star Coin with a Bob-omb near the top of the level. This took several tries. Underneath the 1st set of double Bob-omb blasters from the top is a ledge protruding out of the wall. I walked into the wall from this ledge and reached the red goal next to a stone gray castle. This creates a vine to 7-6.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 3-Fort QSC

I got the 1st Star Coin through a secret door above the blue C-shaped rotating platform. The 2nd Star Coin is difficult to get. You have to protect the POW block by carrying it, and letting the spike balls rip through the gray blocks near the top of the tower. The Star Coin is to the left. Use the POW block once the gray blocks have been cleared. I got the 3rd Star Coin under the boss door. Getting the 2nd Star Coin took me several tries.
133 down, 74 to go

New Super Mario Bros. Wii 5-Fort QSC

The second Star Coin is high above the midgate on the left side. It will be covered by the left moving spiked wall. Jump to it when the platform underneath it appears. It is just below a point of no return. The third Star Coin is to the left of the boss door. While powered up (not small Mario), break the brick blocks overhead and wall-jump up to reach the Star Coin. You may not want to destroy all of the blocks so you can stand on some as you wait for the wall to retreat.
116 down, 91 to go

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 4-Fort QSC

The 1st Star Coin is found after the 1st pipe. I jumped on a tall enough block to reach it. The 2nd Star Coin is in a secret area under the midgate. The 3rd Star Coin is in the room where the blocks fall to make a staircase. I found the red flag goal near the 3rd Star Coin. In the room with the falling blocks that make a staircase to the 3rd Star Coin, I immediately went to the left side before any blocks fell and jumped into the wall where it was dark green. This took me to the goal with a stone gray castle and a conveyor belt staircase. It opened a path to the cannon to World 6.

99 down, 108 to go

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-Fort QSC

The 1st Star Coin is on the left side of the screen, where there are 3 sets of moving grates, two of which move to the other side. The 2nd Star Coin is just past the midgate on the same level, in a secret behind the wall.

96 down, 111 to go

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 1-Fort QSC

I need the 2nd Star Coin here. I found it in a hidden area above a ledge. I got applause, then died from being crushed between pillars.

Take 2- I got a Super Shroom, which I lost to a Dry Bones. I got another, which I lost to another Dry Bones. I got the 2nd Star Coin. I powered up at the midgate and got a 1-up Shroom and a Fire Flower from 8 red coins. I got a 100-coin 1-up and reached the boss door. I killed Larry with fire balls.

87 down, 120 to go.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 8- Fort -- Just Keep Moving

This looks like a typical fort, with more beams of fire. I used a Super Shroom and got a Fire Flower. I skipped the 1st Star Coin over a beam of fire. I found a secret door to get a 1-up Mushroom and a 100-coin 1-up. I went up the left side and lost the Fire Flower to a fire beam. I reached the midgate and lost my Super Shroom to a fire beam, but got another. I reached the boss door. There are several platforms in the battle room. Kamek uses magic on the platforms, so they start moving right to left. Kamek will then use his magic to turn the platforms into enemies. He turned a platform into a Thwomp, which fell and took out the floor I was trying to stand on so I fell in the void.

Take 2- I used a Super Shroom and got a Fire Flower. I reached Kamek. Kamek turned platforms into Monty Moles, Koopas, and Goombas. I lost the Fire Flower to a Goomba and the Super Shroom to Kamek's magic. In between, I got in the three hits, after which Kamek just disappears, instead of going into a shell cycle. He will also disappear if Mario gets too close before he can use his magic. After being defeated, he flies off to the Airship.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 7-Fort -- Barely Making it Out Alive

This fort is a little unusual. The first part of the level takes place outside. There is a platform that will carry Mario to the top, and Mario can control the side-side direction it goes. There are lots of Bullet Bills. I used the Helishroom, but lost it to a Bullet Bill. I skipped the 1st Star Coin because of the Banzai Bills. I reached the pipe at the top of the area, which led inside the fort. I powered up at the midgate. I lost the Super Shroom to a Bob-omb, got another, and lost it and died from a Bob-omb.

Take 2- I got and lost a Super Shroom to a Bob-omb and died from Bob-omb.

Take 3-6 - Died from a Bob-omb.

In between, I won 6 1-ups in a 1-up Toad House, got 2 Ice Flowers. I used the Ice Flower and lost it to a Big Bubba- man-eating fish, to save Toad and get 3 Super Shroom. I got an Ice Flower and a Fire Flower, and a Helishroom and a Mini Shroom. I was losing too many lives and was not going to make it to the boss if I was not powered up.

Take 7- I used an Ice Flower, but found out that Banzai Bills don't stay frozen for long. I lost the Ice Flower to a Banzai Bill, but get the 1st Star Coin. I reached the midgate and lost the Super Shroom to a Bob-omb. I reached the boss door. Ludwig shoots blue fire that matches his hair which moves in a circle. He can also jump and hover like Yoshi, but for a much longer time, making him extremely difficult to hit. I should hit him quickly after the shell cycle to make sure he cannot shoot any more flames and will not jump and hover. I got in one hit, but died from the blue flame, which is difficult to dodge when it is low in the circle and Ludwig is in his shell cycle.

Take 8- I used a Super Shroom and got an Ice Flower. I lost the Ice Flower to a Bob-omb and the Super Shroom to Ludwig and died from the blue flame.

Take 9- I used a Super Shroom, and like clockwork, Super Guide appears. Even if I go somewhere else, it will keep track of my attempts for a particular area. I lose the Super Shroom to Bob-omb, but get another. I lose my Super Shroom and die from the blue flame, after getting in one hit.

Take 10- I used a Super Shroom and lose it to a Bob-omb, and die from another Bob-omb.

Take 11- I used the Fire Flower and lose it to a Bob-omb. I got an Ice Flower and lost it and the Super Shroom to a Bob-omb. After a lot of skillful dodging, I got in 3 hits to defeat Ludwig. I'm going to call it a day.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 6-Fort -- Pagoda Fort

This level has a long, wide spike pillar running through the center, moving independently, like the central column in a pagoda. I get an Ice Flower and a 100-coin 1-up. I lose the Ice Flower to a Dry Bones. I reach the midgate and discover that there is another spike pillar coming down from the ceiling and the two meet where one of the Star Coins is located. I skipped it and got an Ice Flower. I use the cannon pipes to shoot to levels, but I didn't time it well the first time, and shot into the pillar. I lost my items and died on the pillar.

Take 2- I used a Super Shroom and got an Ice Flower. I skipped the Star Coins and got a Fire Flower near the boss door. This boss is Morton Koopa Jr. and he is flanked by two spike pillars and two slight columns to contain his shell spin. The pillars alternate when they lower. Morton also pounds the ground like Roy in World 2. However, there is not enough room to dodge Morton when he is spinning in his shell, so you have to stand under the spike pillars. I touched the pillar, but I get in 2 hits before I die from touching his shell.

Take 3- I use a Super Shroom, get and lose an Ice Flower to the pillar and get and Fire Flower. I lost both items to Morton, but I got in the 3 hits and dodged him on the column platforms.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 5-Fort -- Nice Platforming

I am still going solo on this level. This level contains a moving spiked wall that covers and uncovers platforms. There are a few Dry Bones, but the main challenge is negotiating the platforms while avoiding the spiked wall. I got and lost a Super Shroom to the spike wall and the spike wall killed me.

Take 2- I got a Super Shroom and the 1st Star Coin. I get and lose an Ice Flower to the spike wall. I eventually reach the Boss Door. Iggy shoots green flames and jumps on 3 raising and lowering platforms. This is kind of like the battle in 1-Castle, but there is nothing to contain Iggy in a smaller area. I got in one hit, but touched the shell. Fortunately, with the platforms, and Iggy's shell timing, there is always a height advantage to be had in avoiding his shell. I got in the last 2 hits and sent him to the castle.

Since World 4, the Koopalings will not stand on top of the Castle while they wait for you. All of them so far will stand on top of the Fort.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 4- Fort -- Abrupt Change in Scenery

For a beach world, this level feels very industrial. I am killed by blocks/platforms that fell off the conveyor belt. That was fast. Take 2- I go up a pipe, with no power-up and skip the Star Coin. I use the block/ conveyor belt combination to reach higher places. I get an lose a Super Shroom to a Dry Bones and power up at the midgate. I use a Propeller Block to get higher up and reach the pipe that is producing the blocks. I have to wait a while for one I can jump over. I miss another Star Coin in the falling staircase, but reach the boss door. I enter the battle room immediately without entering a corridor. Wendy shoots rings that bounce around the room for while, then disappear. I got in one hit, then I touched her shell and died. Take 3- I get a Fire Flower from 8 red coins and reach the boss. I use the fireballs, but stop because they take more time and precision (plus, you don't get as many points). I get in a hit after she hits me with her shell. I get in another hit after the shell cycle, before she makes another ring. The old ring disappears during the cycle, so I don't have to dodge 2 things. After she gets out of that cycle, I get in the 3rd hit. Victory! Wendy hops over to the castle.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 3- Fort Replay -- So Much Easier

I got over the rotating platforms much easier this time. I got an Ice Flower from the 8 red coins. I reached the midgate. I use the Pow Blocks effectively, after the spike balls got rid of the Dry Bones, I took them out 2 at a time. I lost my Ice Flower to a Dry Bones and my Super Shroom to a spike ball. I reached Lemmy. I hit him, and twice more after he got out of the shell cycle, once before he could get on his circus ball again. I saved the game.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2-Fort Replay -- This is getting easier!

I use a Super Shroom to start and get 100-coin 1-up for the P-switch's silver coins. I get and lose an Ice Flower to a Dry Bones. I skip the 1st Star Coin. I reach the midgate, lose the Super Shroom to the spikes, and die from a purple flame. Take 2- I get the 2nd Coin in the secret area. I die on the spikes after getting the 3rd Star Coin. Take 3- I get the 2nd Coin and a Super Shroom, which I lose to the flame. I get an Ice Flower from getting 8 red coins. I reach the boss. I get in the 1st hit and dodged the flame and neutralized it with an ice ball. Roy came out of the pipe and stunned me while I was in the quicksand. I recovered and wall jumped back up and hit him. I hit him again after he got out of the shell cycle. I win and save the game.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 3-Fort -- Tower of Terror

Considering this is an ice world, there is surprisingly no ice in this level. I'm noticing that the forts are mainly vertical towers while the castles are horizontal levels. This fort has rotating levels that you must climb. Thankfully, this level doesn't scroll automatically, because this takes some practice to master. Something tells me, however, that there will be a level with similar platforms with automatic scrolling. After getting over the platforms, and obtaining an Ice Flower, I get on a rising platform with Amps. If I touch them, they will zap me. Fortunately, I can freeze them. I reach the midgate and get to another rising platform. I get a 100-coin 1-up. I take care of some of the Dry Bones that come onto the platform, but spike balls come up and they and the Dry Bones kill me. Take 2- I use a Super Shroom and get an Ice Flower. I use a frozen Dry Bones like a shell to take out other Dry Bones. I lose both my Ice Flower and Super Shroom and am killed stuck under an Ice Flower block. Take 3- I start with a Super Shroom and get an Ice Flower. Ice doesn't work on the spike balls, but they get rid of the Dry Bones. A POW block got rid of the spike balls when one hit them. The POW gives me a 1-up. I made it up to the boss door. Lemmy is standing on a circus ball. He uses his wand to produce circus balls. I touch one of them, but they don't hurt me! This could be easy. Unfortunately, it isn't easy, and a ball pushes me over the edge into the void, which I can't escape from with wall jumps.

Take 4- I get a Super Shroom and lose it to Dry Bones. I get a 100-coin 1-up. The POW block brings floating coins down to the ground. I died from a Dry Bones.

Take 5- I use a Super Shroom, get an Ice Flower, and lose them both stuck under a block. I die from a spike ball.

Take 6- I use a Super Shroom and the POW block to get rid of the spike balls. I got a 100-coin 1-up. I made it to Lemmy and got in one hit, but when into the void, with a ball blocking my wall jump.

Before Take 7, I attempted to get more Super Shrooms from the Ice Bros in the Toad Rescue levels. I go back to World 2 to use the 1-up Shroom House, getting one 1-up. I go back to World 1 Toad House to get 1 Super Shroom, Helishroom, Ice Flower and Fire Flower. I get more Super Shrooms from 3- Toad Rescue.

Take 7- I have to start the level over. I make it to the midgate and am good until I reach the spike balls.

Take 8- I try using the Helishroom, thinking it will make my life easier in dodging the spike balls. It didn't work as planned, but I got a 100-coin 1-up.

Take 9- I use a Super Shroom. Super Guide appears. I lose again.

Take 10- I use a Super Shroom and get a 100-coin 1-up. I made it to the boss. Lemmy was difficult, but I got in the 3 hits. I was also hit, and small.

Lemmy hopped away through an icy veil. I followed him to 3-4. This level is right before the castle. This was a short world.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 2- Fortress -- Any Man caught Lollygagging will be Shot on Sight

This is another vertical tower. I climb a mesh metal screen up and go through a door. I hit a P-switch so I can get the silver coins, and then get an Ice Flower which I use to kill the Dry Bones. Periodically, I see purple fire, which comes towards me and I'm hit by it. This could be Roy's magic. I have to keep dodging it because it aims for me. I skip the 1st Star Coin and get to the midpoint. After I'm hit by another Dry Bones, I find a secret area and the 2nd Star Coin. I died on the spikes.

Take 2- I use the Helishroom to start. I might be going through items too quickly. I lose the Helishroom on the spikes, but I reach the boss door. I find myself on a small platform with quicksand on the edges. Roy has been creating the purple fire that I've been trying to dodge. Roy landed on Mario, so he lost the Super Shroom. When Roy lands, he pounds the ground, creating stunning shock waves. While Mario is stunned, he'll send out a purple flame, which killed Mario.

Take 3- I used and lost an Ice Flower on the spikes. I soon get another one, which I lose on the spikes. I reach Roy, but touch him and lose the Super Shroom, and then die from the fire.

Take 4- I used a Super Shroom and got an Ice Flower. I find a secret door on the stair-like platform. I get 2 1-ups here, one for being fully powered up when I got the 8 red coins, and another from 100 coins. I lose the Ice Flower to the purple fire, the Super Shroom to the spikes, and died after I jumped and accidently ground-pounded the spikes.

Take 5- I got the 2nd Star coin, and got a Super Shroom and Ice Flower. I got a 1-up from the secret door. I made it over the spikes from jumping up high. I lost my Ice Flower to the purple fire in the battle with Roy. I defeated Roy by staying off the ground when he pounded the ground.

I gained access to a 1-up Shroom house, level 2-4, and Toad needs my help in 2-1, which is not going to happen. I am not going through that level again without the ability to use my items. I will probably manipulate the game into sending him to a more manageable level, by either dying or letting him die. Game saved.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: 1-Fort -- Taking All the Credit

The teamwork is still awkward, but it is working. We helped each other climb the Tower- an entirely vertical level. We had to climb up, reaching for platforms, and jumping high. We jumped on each other's heads and dealt with swinging chandelier-like structures. The music is as dark and foreboding as the Fort itself. We only got 2 Star Coins. The player controlling Luigi got bored and the other Wii opened up, so he left after intentionally dying and using up his lives. I died twice in this level. This game lowers the consequence of failure, quite drastically so in Multiplayer Mode, where you appear in a bubble for the other players to rescue. You shake and tilt the Wiimote to make yourself more accessible to them. Your life count still drops, but it is not as noticeable because you don't have to restart the level. I'm still not quite good at the controls, which is probably why I died so quickly from magic blue fire or touching Larry during the battle with Larry. Toad dealt the first two hits, but when he let me out of the bubble, I landed on Larry, dealing the final blow and defeating him, leading Mario to declare, "Mario number 1!" A white flag of surrender is put up on the Fort and Larry hops over to the castle. Save the game? Yes, please! The player controlling Toad leaves, and they resync their Wiimotes to the other Wii, but do not actually leave the game. Thanks to the wonderful staff at the Archive, this situation is remedied. Back to single player mode.