Mario’s world is full of items, power-ups, and all sorts of other neat things. There are things to climb, things to destroy, switches to flip, and even creatures to ride! But if you don’t know what is what, then you’re more likely to end up under a Koopa’s foot than heroically rescuing the Princess.
Worlds Map
This is the Worlds Map. From here, you can select which of the nine worlds you want to travel to. Simply cycle left and right across World 1 and World 8, or press up on the +Control Pad to select World 9. However, you can only select worlds that have already been unlocked. To unlock a specific world, you must first beat the Castle level from the previous world. For example, to unlock World 3, you must first beat World 2-Castle.
Each of the first eight worlds has its own theme. To properly prepare for your adventure through each world, keep in mind what power-ups you have and where they might come in handy.
World 1
This is Princess Peach’s kingdom. Usually it’s a peaceful world, but when Bowser decides to start trouble, many of Mario’s typical enemies come out to play. Expect to see Goombas and Koopas, mostly.
World 2
The levels on World 2 are sandy, windy, and extremely hot! This desert world is home to Pokeys, Fire Snakes, and Spike Tops. Bring Fire Flowers and Propellerhead power-ups.
World 3
This snow-covered world can be extremely difficult to traverse. The icy ground is slick, and it forces Mario to slip and slide across levels with little agility and often directly into hazards or enemies! To overcome this slippery hindrance, use the Penguin Suit power-up!
World 4
This world may resemble a series of islands, but don’t expect to get plenty of fun in the sun. In fact, you’ll be diving into the water more often than you might think. Prepare to face off against angry Bloopers, hungry Cheep Cheeps, and Spiny Cheep Cheeps! Bring a Penguin Suit power-up to increase your underwater agility and to freeze enemies.
World 5
Don’t be fooled by the inviting rainforest-like atmosphere. While adventuring across World 5, stay out of the purple liquid! In fact, you can use one of the new creatures, the Big Wiggler, to hop over dangerous waters.
World 6
Prepare to go deep underground in many of World 6’s levels. There, in the pitch-black darkness, you’ll contend with enemies that like to lurk in the shadows. Swoops, Buzzy Beetles, and Spinies all join the fight here.
World 7
This world takes you high into the sky where Koopa Paratroopas, Paragoombas, and flying Jumbo Rays are the norm. If you don’t have a Propellerhead power-up to use in this world, fret not, there are plenty of Propeller Blocks lying around to use.
World 8
This is Bowser’s world. Make no mistake about it, he’ll throw everything he has at you, so stock up on as many different power-ups as you can before entering his domain.
World 9
This is only unlocked after you beat Bowser in World 8-Castle. World 9 has eight distinct levels, each having its own theme, that can only be unlocked by acquiring all of the Star Coins in Worlds 1 through 8.
Overview Map
Every World has an overview map that shows every level, Ghost House, Toad House, Tower, world obstacles, and the Castle.
Toad Houses
Toad Houses are special houses that are run by Mario's Toad friends! The red-roofed huts contain a power-up matching game where you flip panels on a wall to match up power-up icons. For every pair of screens you match up, you get whatever power-up is shown. Huts with gold roofs contain a Star power-up, and green-roofed huts can grant you several 1-Ups!
Cannons
Some worlds contain special cannons that let you skip several worlds! Though they appear on the overview maps, you must unlock the path leading to each cannon.
Ghost Houses
These haunted huts are home to many spooky specters. Unlike other levels, Ghost Houses don't maintain the same theme as the rest of the world. Once you're inside a Ghost House, prepare to deal with sneaky Boos, dark areas, disappearing doors, and maze-like levels with multiple exits.
Towers and Castles
Towers mark the halfway point in any given world. They are the primary dwelling of Bowser's pesky Koopalings. Typically, the Towers are tall, vertical levels that, like Ghost Houses, don't follow the same theme as the rest of the world. Once you've climbed to the top of a Tower, you engage the Koopaling in your first battle. After you defeat the Koopaling, the enemy will flee the tower and take refuge in the world's Castle.
Like the Towers and Ghost Houses, Castles don't always keep to the world theme. They are dark structures with hundreds of booby traps, and they are full of Bowser's creepiest cretins. Unlike Towers, Castles aren't always tall, vertical levels. The can often be long, horizontal mazes. At the end of each Castle is the Koopaling you faced earlier in the Tower. Once you defeat the Koopaling a second time, it retreats for good!
Sky Ships
On occasion, a huge ship will swoop in and help a Koopaling escape after a Castle defeat. When it does, Mario must infiltrate the Sky Ship and confront Bowser Junior! These long, sprawling levels are floating high in the sky, so don't fall out the bottom!
World Obstacles
Unlike other traditional levels, these obstacles are small, themed barricades that require you to grab eight Toad coins to free your kidnapped buddies. These obstacles always block a path on the overview map. They can be passed easily by using the Star power-up!
Items and Power-ups
? Blocks
These ? Blocks are scattered all over the place. They may contain coins, power-ups, and sometimes even Yoshi eggs! Although they can be frequently found near the beginning of a level, they are one of the most plentiful blocks you’ll encounter.
Since ? Blocks are multipurpose blocks, they aren’t limited to coins, power-ups, and eggs. They can contain special items too, so always hit them to see what you can get!
Blocks
Blocks are even more plentiful than ? Blocks! Although most Blocks don’t contain anything, several contain coins or other special items. That doesn’t mean that you should try to break every Block you see—if you do, you might run out of time. But do make sure to hit any Blocks that seem to be out of place.
Invisible Blocks
Not all Blocks can be seen easily. In fact, there are many Invisible Blocks that can only be found by hitting them from below. More often than not, these Invisible Blocks contain 1-Up Mushrooms!
Roulette Blocks
These rapidly shifting Roulette Blocks contain power-ups or 1-Up Mushrooms! Hit the block as it cycles through each power-up and you’ll get whichever item is showing when you hit it! Try to watch the pattern as it cycles, then time your jump to get the item you want!
P Switches
These strangely placed switches reveal several hidden blue coins when they are hit. After hitting a P Switch, hurry to grab all of the blue coins, because they only appear for a short time.
Red Rings and Red Coins
Red Rings can usually be found floating above the ground. When you pass through them, they will reveal eight red coins that appear for a very short period of time. If you collect all eight, you’ll be rewarded with a power-up!
Star Coins
There are three Star Coins in every level. Collect them all to unlock each level in World 9! By collecting all of the Star Coins in a world, you’ll unlock the corresponding level in World 9. So if you collect all of the Star Coins in World 2, then you’ll unlock World 9-2.
Super Mushroom
This is the most basic of all power-ups. When used, Mario becomes Super Mario and grows in size. If you get a Super Mushroom while in Super Mario form, you’ll only get extra points for it and no added effects.
Fire Flower
This is one of the most valuable power-ups of all. When used, Mario becomes Fire Mario and can throw fireballs. Since most enemies are vulnerable to fireballs, try to save Fire Flowers until you absolutely need them.
Ice Flower
Like the Fire Flower, Ice Flowers also grant Mario special abilities. Instead of throwing fireballs, Mario transforms into Ice Mario and gains the ability to throw snowballs that freeze enemies!
Mini Mushroom
These tiny blue mushrooms shrink Mario in size. Although they make him more vulnerable to enemy attacks—Mini Mario will die after taking one hit—the Mini Mushrooms allow Mario to reach small nooks and crannies.
1-Up Mushroom
The green 1-Up Mushroom may look similar to a Super Mushroom, but these are far more rare and valuable. These green fungi grant Mario one extra life per 1-Up Mushroom. Collect as many of these as you can!
Penguin Suit
The Penguin Suit is a brand new power-up for Mario. When he puts it on, he gains the ability to throw snowballs and to swim with greater agility underwater. While in the Penguin Suit, Mario is also unaffected by slippery surfaces!
Propellerhead Power-up
The floating Propellerhead power-up grants Mario the ability to zoom into the air for a short period of time and then glide down. As Mario floats back down to the ground, he descends gently, but he can also execute a drill attack by pressing down on the +Control Pad.
Star
The Star power-up is very rare and very powerful. When used, it makes Mario invulnerable to enemies, their attacks, and other hazards. The only way Mario can die while under its effects is to fall into a pit or lava. In some extremely rare cases, you may be able to link several Star power-ups together by grabbing a new one while still under the effect of a Star power-up.
Super Guide
If you die eight times in a level that you haven’t completed you’ll have the option to start the Super Guide. A big green ! Block will appear at the beginning of the level when you enter it the ninth time (after dying eight times before). Hit it and Luigi will take over, running through the level as you watch. Once he’s done you can choose to retry the level or skip it and move on. If you skip it you can go back later to try yourself.
While this will give you an idea of how to get through the level Luigi won’t go after every Star Coin or find every secret in a level.
Hint Movies
When prompted by the game you can return to Peach’s Castle in World 1 to watch hint movies. These will show you some interesting tricks to try on levels, reveal some hidden areas, and other neat videos.
Some are free to watch once they’re unlocked but most cost Star Coins to view. So check out the walkthrough of this guide to find out how to collect every Star Coin in the game so you can watch all the Hint Movies!