New Super Mario Bros. 2: Bowser's Castle

It's finally time to deal with Bowser. Be aware of the jet engines and Podoboos that are below the platforms you stand on. Use your Raccoon Tail to fly up over the lone jet engine in its own alcove for the first Star Coin. Go past the giant Dry Bones and avoid the jet engines moving vertically as you platform up. Drop down with the Donut Lift and avoid the jet engines until you reach a door. This will take you to a room with a snake platform and more jet engines. Once the snake platform starts moving, the lava starts rising. Stay towards the front of the platform and jump off to get the second Star Coin. Jump back on quickly. This will take you to a door and the midpoint. You'll see the Koopalings in the background on the clown copter. The copter's eyes will change shape and start flashing. This is your cue to get behind a wall (where you can't see them) immediately. The flash will turn Mario into stone. If this happens, jump quickly several times to get out of it. If Mario is caught on a conveyor belt, grate, or donut lift, he's a goner. Some of the walls are near conveyor belts, so run to stay on the other side of them. Drop down from a donut lift to the third Star Coin and retreat to the wall for safety. The P-Switch makes a line of Silver Coins to follow to the boss door. The Koopalings will go away once you reach the wall of the boss door. There is another midpoint here. The first two item blocks have Fire Flowers and the last one has a Super Leaf. I recommend having two Super Leaves for the upcoming fight. Go up the stairs and you'll see fireballs approaching from the right. Drop down into the alcove until they pass, like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. There are three alcoves and one lone fireball afterward.

Next is the room with Bowser and Peach. She calls to Mario from a cage. Bowser roars and the battle starts. Bowser will breathe fire, throw hammers, and jump. When he jumps, run under him and hit the switch. Fireballs will also work. Hitting the switch will make the floor fall. A fanfare will play. Peach's cage is then taken away. Platforms appear from below and Mario hops up them. They start to fall when he lands on them. Peach is taken away and the Koopalings appear, using their magic to make a giant Bowser appear and knock them away, just like Kamek did. Bowser roars, similar platforms appear, and the lava rises. It will continue to rise. Bowser will track your movements, and when his eyes turn orange, he will swipe away the platforms in your vecinity, be it left, right, or center. Keep moving. The Raccoon Tail will help control your decent. I tend to stay in one area until Bowser is poised to strike. Once you see arches on the right and left sides, jump up as high as you can. The is a wall-to-wall platform here, with some coins. Bowser will catch up to you and breathe fire on the floor from one side to the other. Jump over the flames. He'll roar again and you'll start platforming again. The Bowser heads on the walls will periodically breathe fire, so be aware. The second set of arches signals another platform overhead. This time, Bowser will breathe fire in both directions. Once he roars, you're on the path to the top. The Bowser heads breathe purple fire, which can move at angles. Stay near the walls. You'll see a small arch on either side. This marks the small platforms on the left and right sides. Jump up to reach the large ! Switch. Peach, above the switch, will call out to Mario. Bowser looks around and falls. A victory fanfare plays. Peach floats down from the cage. Mario spins, then jumps for joy. Roll credits!

During the credits, Mario carries Peach as they run back to the castle. Periodically, coins will appear from above and below, and in shapes. Collect them to add to your total. I got 279. As the credits roll, you'll see the Koopalings dragging Bowser from the clown copter and crashing. Once the credits finish, you'll get a couple of messages. There is a new world available in the Star Pack for Coin Rush. Gold Flowers can now be stored in Coin Rush. Star World has appeared. We can now save anywhere. There is now one Star on our file.

Coin Total: 47,750
Not bad for a first run. But there's more to explore. Let's see where those cannons lead.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-5

The break from the lava was short-lived. Not only do we have to deal with lava, we also have to deal with Bowser heads breathing fire. There are yellow platforms over the lava that tilt depending on what side you and anything else is on. There is one platform with two spike balls on it. It's below a red pipe. Tilt the platform while standing near the middle to get rid of the spike balls, then run up the platform and go through the red pipe. Wall jump if you have to. There is a spike ball following you in this area, destroying the brick blocks that make the floor. Run quickly and jump to get the first Star Coin, while avoiding the fireballs. Drop back down near the midpoint. Just past the two Bowser heads near the midpoint blocked by blocks. Tilt the yellow platform above it down to the left to roll a spike ball onto the blocks to break them. Next, a spike ball will roll in from above a Bowser head. To the right are two yellow platforms, each with spike balls. Get rid of them to safely get the third Star Coin over the higher yellow platform. There's a staircase of Bowser heads in front of the flagpole.

Coin Total: 33,759

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-4

We get a break from the lava in this level. Go left of where you started for the first Star Coin. More coins will appear when you get it. This level features the platforms carried by ghosts. There are also Boos and crows. There is a rotating item block guarded by a Boo and a crow. Lead the Boo away and jump on the rotating block, then jump up to hit an invisible block. It's a little to the right. It contains a vine that leads to the second Star Coin. The stones you have to jump from are rotating, so be careful. You'll drop down a short distance from the midpoint. Red Coins are nearby. Soon, you'll reach a ring of circling ghosts. In the center of their ring is the third Star Coin, in the gap. Drop down when there's a gap in the ring and wall jump back up. There is a large platform carried by a ghost along a path. Dodge crows and other ghosts, then transfer to one of two platforms. Both will take you to the flagpole.

Coin Total: 46,824
I found the second Star Coin after defeating the final boss.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-Fort

This level features jet engines that are can be turned off temporarily if you hit them or ground pound them. Their bases are marked with exclamation points. Go up the right side of the level and shut off the engines on that side to reach the first Star Coin. Take the platforms on paths up to the midpoint, avoiding and shutting off the engines. Go through the door on the left. Watch the pattern of the engines. You'll be safe standing on the blocks. Carefully hop up to the top of the room, where the second Star Coin is. Take the platform up and shut off the engines on the way, especially the engine below the green pipe on the right, so you can go through the pipe. It leads to a room with a random coin block and the second Star Coin. Watch the pattern of the engines. When they are not firing, hop onto the top of the engines that do not fire on top. The top two engines fire on top, so be quick. The pipe at the top will take you to the boss door. There are four Reznor on a large wheel. Once defeated, the path will open to 6-4.

Coin Total: 33,302

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-B

This level requires five Star Coins to unlock. You'll see yellow platforms at the start. Jump on them to make arrows appear. The platforms will move in this direction until you hit them again or they run into something, and the arrows will change directions. The third one you encounter will move diagonally. Take this platform to the lower right for the first Star Coin, getting off when it gets near a rock. There are Fire Chomps in this level, so be careful. Stay low and you'll approach a green pipe. From here, you can reach the other floating rocks. Nearby and above is a set of two item blocks. Jump on them and hit the invisible block over the item block to the right. It will make a vine appear. It will take you to another platform. You'll find the second Star Coin here between two walls. You'll drop to the midpoint. In this part of the level, there are Bullet Bills and Banzai Bills. There are also Gold Rings for a lot of coin potential. Take the platform to the upper right, past the Red Coins. Near the highest Banzai Blaster is the third Star Coin. To the right is the flagpole.

Coin Total: 46,694
I completed this level after beating the final boss.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-3

Go down the red pipe to reach the main level. There are pink mushrooms in this level that expand and contract. Take out the Fire Bro surrounded by brick blocks and jump on more mushrooms. There will be another Fire Bro nearby. The first Star Coin is over a mushroom and surrounded by brick blocks. Drop down on the right side of the mushroom when it's expanded and duck. When the mushroom contracts, it will pull you towards the first Star Coin. The midpoint is just past it. There are Red Coins over some mushrooms. The lone brick block can become a Gold Block. Take the next yellow pipe to the second Star Coin. It's guarded by two Fire Bros. Activate the Gold Ring and stand in the center of the lower platform to get the coins they throw. Once you return to the main level, you'll see another Gold Ring and some more Fire Bros. Run on top of the brick blocks and jump over the ceiling and run over it beyond the pipe to reach the third Star Coin. The red pipe will take you to the flag.

Coin Total: 46,548
I completed this level after beating the final boss.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-2

Drop down the gap with the coins to slide to the Bone Boat. It looks like the Bone Coaster from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but is larger, slower, and floats on the lava, periodically raising its segments. Jump up to the brick blocks to get the spring instead of hitting the ? Switch, which will drop the Goombas on the boat. Use the spring to get the first Star Coin just past the Microgoombas. At the end of the ride, pick up the spring and use it to jump into the gap in the ceiling. This leads to a red pipe. Activate the Gold Ring and hit the three POW blocks when the Piranhas appear for lots of coins from the pipes above. The red pipe to the left leads to the midpoint and another Bone Boat. This time, coins will periodically arc out of the lava, as well as fireballs. As Super Mario, break the brick blocks surrounding the second Star Coin to get it. Soon after, Bob-ombs will drop in with parachutes. The lava will start to rise when the boat stops on the right side. You can get off and get some 1-ups and coins. Be sure to rejoin the boat. As it rises, on the left side you'll see the third Star Coin surrounded by stone. Use the Bob-ombs to break the stone so you can get it. The lava will stop rising when you reach the pipe to the flagpole.

Coin Total: 46,192
I completed this level after beating the final boss.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-A

Time to go into the volcano! Go down the red pipe and drop down to the rocks below. The lone brick block can become a Gold Block. Once you step on the differently-colored stone, it will sink and the lava will start to rise. The first Star Coin is over the platform with the Dry Bones. Go right to the next platform and jump off it to the left to reach it. The second Star Coin is in your jumping path, between two path lines. Once you have to jump up the platforms and reach an item block between two brick blocks, make a running jump to the left. You may run into a giant Dry Bones. The third Star Coin is to the left. The item block near the giant Dry Bones has a Starman. Use it to your advantage. Keep running and jumping to the right and go through the red pipe. This will take you to the flag. The lava will rise partially, so don't worry about it.

Coin Total: 32,956

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-Ghost House

This is a very tricky Ghost House. For some reason, I found the Red Goal with relative ease, but had a difficult time finding the regular goal. Hit the ? Switch to make the floor below you move away and reveal coins. Hit the next ? Switch to make the floor drop down. Go left and pound the left brick block to get a Gold Block. Go up, drop back down, and go to the right. Hit the ? Switch in the brick block on the right to make the ceiling move away. Climb up for the first Star Coin. Take the door to the right. Go to the right and through the door. It will take you to an area that looks similar. You'll come through the lower door. Go right for a Gold Ring after hitting the ? Switch, which makes the floor appear. Gold Rings make Boos trail coins behind them. Go through the door on the right. You'll end up where you started after going through the first door. Go through the door on the right. This time, hit the ? Switch to make the wall drop and go left. Jump on each platform above to make coins appear. There is a ? Switch behind a Boo that will drop the ceiling. Go up to a door. The floor underneath the door will drop. Hit the ? Switch on the right to gain access to the second Star Coin. Another piece of floor will drop down with a ? Switch on it. This will make the wall to the right rise up to reveal a door to the regular goal. This leads to 6-2. After going through the first door on the right from where you started, go to the door on the right. Hit the ? Switch and go through the door above you. Go to the right. Hit the ? Switch to make the floor appear. Go to the right and hit the ? Switch near the right wall behind the giant Boo. This will make the wall lower to reveal another door. Hit the ? Switch to make the ceiling open up. Wall jump up to get the third Star Coin and keep wall jumping until you reach a door above. This will lead to the Red Goal to 6-A.

Coin Total: 45,505
I found the regular goal after defeating the final boss.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: 6-1

This level takes place outside an erupting volcano. Volcanic rock will rain down and destroy blocks in its path. Hit the POW blocks for coins and items. The first Star Coin is high on a ledge. Go to the right, then up and left to reach it. There are Red Coins over stones that can be destroyed by the volcanic rock. Past them is the midpoint. Hop on some large rocks on the level. Hit the ? Switch to make a stone path ahead. The rock you're standing on will start sinking. The second Star Coin is encased in the stones, so let some volcanic rock destroy some of the stones. There is a gap in the stones right before the stairs. Before you reach the flagpole, drop immediately to the right of the stairs and jump to hit an invisible block with a vine. It leads to the third Star Coin and will drop you directly on top of the flagpole. Free 1-up!

Coin Total: 45,321
I found the third Star Coin after defeating the final boss.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-Castle

It's time to finish this level! We have to platform onto moving stone slab platforms over the lava. Time your jumps carefully. The 1st Star Coin is just over the lava, so use a Koopa shel to reach it, after the stone platform moves out of the way. There are also stone platforms bobbing in the lava. The 2nd Star Coin is over the lava as well, but a small stone platform will come out of the lava briefly so you can get it. You'll reach the midpoint and be able to go over the ceiling. Keep going to the right while over the ceiling to reach the 3rd Star Coin. Go under the ceiling, avoiding the spikes and being crushed. Take the door at the end and climb up the moving stones. This requires good timing, but you are not in any danger. At the top is the boss door, which leads outside. There's a Monty Mole in a tank. The tank will periodically spin and fire Bullet Bills. Every once in a while the Monty Mole will peek his head out of the tank, sometimes to throw a Bob-omb. This is when you should stomp him. Doing so will make the tank spin and the tank will gain a new turret, so it is taller and has another Bill Blaster. Wait for the Monty Mole to appear again and stomp him. This will create another turret, which is more difficult to reach. You must do a running jump to reach the top to stomp him, so be vigilant and quick. Standing on the turret won't help much as you'll slide off the tank if it starts spinning. After the final hit, the tank explodes, Mario gets the key, and Bowser Jr. takes Peach to World 8. We'll be going to World 7 first.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-6

This can be a very tricky level. There are spin springs and Chomps attached to posts. We can ground pound the posts to free the Chomps. You might get the Star Coins out of order. The 2nd Star Coin is at the top of the level, over a Chomp's post. If you go left and down, and pound a stack of brick blocks on the way, you'll find a P-Switch. It will turn brick blocks into coins so you can reach the 1st Star Coin. Return to the top of the level and go down to the right while spinning to collect the Red Coins. Getting the 3rd Star Coin is very tricky and you may only have one shot at this per attempt at the level. Clear all of the brick blocks in the channel over the spin spring, then spring off of it. While spinning down and to the right, bounce off of a Parakoopa and hit the P-Switch above it. This will turn the brick blocks blocking the green pipe to the right into coins. While spinning and slowly descending, bounce off the red Koopa beneath the green pipe and go through the green pipe before the timer runs out. This will take you to the 3rd Star Coin. Afterwards, you'll use several cannons to make your way up. At the top will be a large set of cannons. The second cannon from the right will take you to the flag.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-B

This is an ice level. The pipe to the right is actually a cannon. Once up on the ice, you'll see ropes attached to gears on a path. You'll be using these ropes to cross gaps, so be sure to time your jumps if the ropes are moving. The 1st Star Coin is in the gap, so use a Koopa shell to reach it. As you keep going, you'll see a tilting purple mushroom and another pipe cannon. Use it to reach a higher level of ice, where you can bounce off a Parakoopa to get the 2nd Star Coin. After this is the midpoint and Piranha Plants, including a giant one. There are three pipe cannons to the left of a large floating piece of ice. The left cannon will shoot you under the ice for coins. The middle one will shoot you up high, but short of the ice. The right one will shoot you onto the ice and you'll slide down. Towards the end of the level, there will be a gap where you'll have to transfer ropes. On the last one, swing to build up some momentum, let go and duck under the wall so you can reach the 3rd Star Coin. The blocks next to it will break automatically. At the end, there are pipe cannons to the flag.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-5

A pipe takes us to an underwater level. The green Cheep-Cheep will chase you, so swim quickly or take them out with fireballs. The first Star Coin is near the ceiling. Shortly after is a Red Coin Ring. You'll find a vortex or two in this level. They'll be periodic, so they'll disappear after a short while. Use this time to swim past them and up a yellow pipe between two of them. The 2nd Star Coin is here. Once you return to the main level, you'll reach the midpoint. Nearby is an item block shrouded in seaweed. It has a Starman to make your life easier. Towards the end of the level is a vortex with brick blocks at its base. Go down it to reach the 3rd Star Coin. The pipe will leave you near the end pipe and a giant green Cheep-Cheep. Take the pipe to the flag immediately.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-Fort 2

This fort is filled will conveyor belts, many of which will send you into the spiked walls. The 1st Star Coin is over a conveyor belt to some spikes, which is to the right of two sets of spikes coming from the floor. Keep climbing and you'll reach the midpoint. There are some green pipes on the floor, which act as cannons. The left one will get you some coins. The right one will allow you to progress. You'll need to be at least Super Mario to break the bricks to the 2nd Star Coin. As you climb, you'll find a rope stretched across a gap. Use it to reach the 3rd Star Coin. The green pipe near the top of the fort is a cannon to the boss door. Bowser Jr.'s on the same kind of platform as in the last fort, but this time, he's wearing the mask. This means that you can't stomp him initially, as he'll immediately hide in his shell. He'll throw a Koopa shell at you, which you should stomp, then throw back at him. He'll flip on his back and you can stomp him then. Do this three times for victory. Fireballs work as well and are a much better way to battle him. He'll take Peach to the castle.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-4

This is another rock level. There are firebars located through out the level, especially in areas where you have to sidle on thin ledges. Wall jump past the first firebar for the 1st Star Coin. We then sidle past more firebars, including a large one. Hang from the ledges to avoid taking damage. The ! Switch makes blocks appear so we can wall jump up. You'll reach the midpoint. From there, jump to the left for the 2nd Star Coin. Go to the right and take a pipe to the next area. You'll have to sidle as well as time your jumps to platforms, as you won't be able to jump as high. In this area, take the platforms up to the green pipe and go to the right for the 3rd Star Coin. Take the yellow pipe, then the green to the flagpole.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-3

This level takes us back to the jungle. Some of the item blocks are red now, have spikes, and rotate. Hit them when the spikes are pointed away. Fire Piranhas are also here. After the first set of pipes, there's an item block dangling from a string that's bouncing under the 1st Star Coin. Hit the item block, then jump off it to get the 1st Star Coin. Go down the red pipe to find a log that spins in purple water. It will dump you into the purple water if you stand on it too long, so keep jumping and moving. There are some Red Coins down here. Go up the pipe to the right, avoid the Piranha Plants and go down the second green pipe from the red pipe for the 2nd Star Coin. Come back up the same pipe and go down the last green pipe in the area. Go up the green pipe at the end of that area, which has some coins. You'll soon reach the midpoint. There's a lone coin on the ground, which turns out to be a Moneybag. Chase it down for coins, if you like. Towards the end, go up, over, and left to get the 3rd Star Coin. The flag is nearby.

New Super Bros.: 6-Fort

This tower of terror is filled with spiike pillars coming out of the walls periodically. Platform with good timing and duck to avoid being skewered. The 1st Star Coin is over an alcove to the left. Soon after, you'll reach the midpoint. There's a giant Dry Bones walking around to boost off from to reach the item blocks overhead. As you ascend, you'll find a spring below a set of spike pillars that meet in the middle of the room. Time your jump carefully to reach the next platform without being hurt. As you go up, you'll reach a door. The 2nd Star Coin is to the left and just below the next door you'll encounter. Eventually, you'll reach the boss door. There's a pipe above it, so wall jump up for the 3rd Star Coin. Through the boss door, we meet up with Bowser Jr. once again. The battle takes place on a tilting platform. He's not wearing his mask, so just stomp on him or use fireballs. After you defeat him, he'll carry Peach to the next Fort.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-2

It's back to the beach! The place is crawling with Spinies and the water periodically rises, so the Spinies will curl up and bob at the water's surface. There are Red Coins to collect here. Over one of the palm trees is an invisible block with a vine that takes you to a P-Switch. Hitting it makes silver coins and turns the coins into blocks so we can run across them. Hop over the flying item blocks for the 1st Star Coin. The first green pipe is a cannon to Coin Heaven. Here, you'll find tons of flying item blocks, some of which with 1-ups. The yellow pipe will return us to the main level in an rocky area. Go to the left when the water rises to get the 2nd Star Coin up in an alcove. Continuing to the right, you'll see the 3rd Star Coin under a log. Keep going right and you'll find an item block with a Starman. Get it and go under the log at the end of it and run into the Spinies to get the 3rd Star Coin. You may have to swim depending on the water level. Keep going right and take the yellow pipe to the flag.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-A

This level takes place in the desert, where Lakitu flies overhead. There are tordadoes in this level, which spin you around and launch you in the air. You'll slowly descend to the ground, so pick up any coins you find in mid air. Enter the first tornado from the left side so you'll exit with enough height to reach the first Star Coin in the air. It's to the right; just follow the trail of coins. Soon after you get the first Star Coin, you'll find a patch of quicksand that's higher than the rest. Let the quicksand pull you under to a cave below. In this cave, wall jump for the second Star Coin. Go up the yellow pipe to return to the main level. Past the midpoint you'll find an item block that you can't normally access. Let the quicksand in front of it pull you partway down, then hop up after you go under the rock. It will give you a Starman to make your life easier. Towards the end, you'll find two pipes in a large gap between two large sets of pipes. Go down the yellow pipe and jump over the giant Piranha Plant for the third Star Coin. You'll come up a pipe to the left of the yellow pipe you just when through. A nearby green pipe in that cluster is a cannon that will blast you over the gap, which will trap you with invisble blocks. After that is the pipe to the flag.