Prima Games eGuides
primagames.com Browse Redeem a code Help
Nintendo Playing with Power eGuide
Sign in My Guides

Sign in or create an account

We'll email you a link. No password needed, and if you don't have an account yet, the link makes one.

By creating an account or signing in, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Have a password?

Had an account on the old eGuides site, or a code from a printed guide? Help and troubleshooting

Sign in with a password

By signing in, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Check your email

A sign-in link is on its way. It works once and expires in 15 minutes. Open it and you're in, with an account if you didn't already have one.

Contents

  • Playing with Power
    • Foreword
    • Introduction
    • The Inside Story of the NES
    • The Launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System
    • First-Party NES Titles: Launch Day
    • The Early Period (1986)
    • An Inside Look at Game Paks
    • The Middle Period (1987-1989)
    • Classified Information
    • Behind the Scenes with Shigeru Miyamoto
    • The Late Period (1990-1994)
    • Counselors’ Corner
    • NES Peripherals
  • Excitebike
    • Summary
    • How To
    • Tracks
  • Ice Climber
    • Summary
    • How to Play
    • Characters and Objects
    • Terrain
    • Scoring
    • Tips and Tricks
  • Super Mario Bros.
    • Summary
    • Levels
      • World 7
      • World 3
      • World 5
      • World 4
      • World 6
      • World 8
      • World 1
      • World 2
  • Balloon Fight
    • Summary
    • How-To
  • Donkey Kong
    • Summary
    • Playing Donkey Kong
    • Characters and Collectibles
  • Donkey Kong Jr.
    • Summary
    • How to Play
    • Cast & Items
    • Scoring
    • Recommended Tactics
  • Mario Bros.
    • Summary
    • How to Play
    • Characters and Items
    • Tips and Tricks
  • Kid Icarus
    • The Tale of Kid Icarus
    • Getting Started
    • How to Play
    • Exploring Angel Land
    • Powering Up
    • Items
    • Enemies
    • Completing Kid Icarus
    • Stages
      • Underworld
      • Overworld
      • Skyworld
      • Palace in the Sky
  • Metroid
    • The Metroid Story
    • Summary
    • Getting Started
    • How to Play
    • Power Items
    • Enemies
    • Completing Metroid
  • The Legend of Zelda
    • Summary
    • The Legend of Hyrule
    • Hero Training
    • Items
    • Characters
    • The Overworld
    • The Underworld
      • Labyrinth 1: Eagle
      • Labyrinth 2: Moon
      • Labyrinth 3: Manji
      • Labyrinth 4: Snake
      • Labyrinth 5: Lizard
      • Labyrinth 6: Dragon
      • Labyrinth 7: Demon
      • Labyrinth 8: Lion
      • Labyrinth 9: Death Mountain
    • The Second Quest
      • The Second Quest
      • Story
      • Conquering the Underworld
  • Punch-Out!!
    • Summary
    • Story
    • Roadwork
    • Minor Circuit
    • Major Circuit
    • World Circuit
    • The Dream Fight
  • Super Mario Bros. 2
    • Story
    • Characters
    • Welcome to Subcon
    • Know Your Enemies
    • Worlds
      • World 1
      • World 2
      • World 3
      • World 4
      • World 5
      • World 6
      • World 7
  • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
    • Summary
    • The Story of the Adventure of Link
    • Hyrule
  • Super Mario Bros. 3
    • A Message From Mario
    • Story
    • Being Mario
    • Worlds
      • World 1: Grass Land
      • World 2: Desert Land
      • World 3: Water Land
      • World 4: Giant Land
      • World 5: Sky Land
      • World 6: Ice Land
      • World 7: Pipe Land
      • World 8: Castle of Koopa
  • StarTropics
    • Summary
    • A Letter From Uncle Steve
    • Chapters
      • Chapter 1: Prelude
      • Chapter 2: Dolphins
      • Chapter 3: Storm and Calm
      • Chapter 4: Confession
      • Chapter 5: Captain Bell
      • Chapter 6: Reunion
  • Dr. Mario
    • Summary
    • Dr. Mario’s Diagnosis
    • Dr. Mario’s Med School
  • Kirby’s Adventure
    • Summary
    • A Crisis in Dream Land!
    • Copy Abilities
    • Levels
      • Level 1: Vegetable Valley
      • Level 2: Ice Cream Island
      • Level 3: Butter Building
      • Level 4: Grape Garden
      • Level 5: Yogurt Yard
      • Level 6: Orange Ocean
      • Level 7: Rainbow Resort
      • Level 8: Fountain of Dreams

Nintendo Playing with Power Guide › Super Mario Bros. 2 › Worlds

World 4

This is the World of Ice: a place covered in slick, slippery platforms that slide you into enemies or off into the frigid ocean. Get some practice on the ice to progress safely.

World 4-1

The fourth world Mario enters is encased with ice. Watch your step! It’s slippery here. To make matters worse, enemies like Flurry, Autobomb, and your old pal Shy Guy are on your heels. Have any ice skates?

Which Character to Choose?

Before you pick your character, think smart. Choosing the right character for you is super important in World 4. If you are good at avoiding enemies with smaller jumps, take Mario or the faithful Toad. If you are not so hot at that, make big jumps with Luigi or the Princess. Whatever you do, choose the character that helps you most at your skill level.

Sub-Space 1

It requires skill, know-how, and nerve to get from here to Sub-Space. Take Potions, because you need them here as never before. Here’s another hint: create a door whenever Flurry is not around.

Sub-Space 2

You’re finally out of Area 1. Good going! How about taking a breather to build up your strength? These rocks aren’t slippery, so you don’t have to worry. Relax!

Get the Best of Autobomb

Autobomb follows you everywhere and shoots flames at you. Here’s a hint: get rid of Shy Guy and get above Autobomb. And look: Autobomb gives you a lift!

Where’s the Boss?

At the end of World 4-1, you probably expect to find a Little Boss waiting for you. Nope! Don’t be disappointed; it was hard enough getting here. Enjoy the breather.

World 4-2

World 4-2 is as challenging as taming and riding a whale. At the start of the level, you encounter troublesome Beezos flying about. The best strategy is to make small jumps and keep moving. In the second area of this level, you walk across the backs of whales.

Get Flurry

Take care of these pesky Flurries now, or they keep after you. Even worse, the Flurries and Beezo attack you at the same time.

Sub-Space 1 and 2

When you reach the second area, move left to find three grass patches on a whale’s back. Pluck the leftmost patch to reveal a Potion, then throw it down and enter Sub-Space to find a Mushroom on the whale’s tail.

There’s another Potion on the craggy cliffs to the right. If it’s Coins you’re after, enter Sub-Space near the patches of grass and pluck away! Before you do, though, you should know there’s another use for this particular Potion.

There’s a jar beyond the whales to the right. If you enter Sub-Space there, you can enter the jar and warp right to World 6! Be warned: It’s easier said than done—it takes quite a leap to reach the jar, and you’ll encounter several enemies along the way.

Ride Across the Water on the Whale Spout

The whale spout carries you up to the Cherries. But be extremely careful. If you blow it, you’ve got big problems.

Autobomb and Cherry!

You can’t walk on this floor, because it’s covered with spikes! Why not hitch a ride on the Autobomb! If you collect the available Cherries, Starman shows up and can defeat the waiting Porcupo—if you move fast enough, you might even be able to use Starman’s power on whatever’s waiting in the next room!

Sub-Space 3

Care to find another Mushroom? There’s one more Potion in this area, which means there’s one more chance to enter Sub-Space. It takes a bit of planning to put it to use, though! First, throw Shy Guy off of his Autobomb—try to toss him away from the spikes. If you move quickly, you can pluck the Potion and jump onto Autobomb. Otherwise, hitch a ride with Shy Guy as he drops down from the ledge.

Once you’ve safely crossed the spikes, enter Sub-space to find another Mushroom!

Oh, No! Birdo Again

You already know this Little Boss: Birdo. When you throw eggs at her this time, beware of the slippery floor.

World 4-3

Once you climb up the ladder and get above ground, you run into Birdo again. This time get on her egg and ride it across the ocean. Next, move toward the two towers. Guess what’s waiting for Mario there: Fry Guy.

Sub-Space 1: Mushroom or Coins?

Before you hop onto Birdo’s egg, grab the nearby potion and use it near the icy spires to the left. Enter Sub-Space here to find a Mushroom! It’s way up there, so you may have to Squat Jump to reach it.

If you’re more interested in Coins than Mushrooms, grab the Potion and hop onto Birdo’s egg. When you land, enter Sub-Space and pluck away!

Get on the Egg and Get Moving

Wait! Don’t defeat this Birdo—as much as you surely want to. You need to hitch a ride on one of her eggs to get across the ocean. Just stand to the right of Birdo, wait for her to launch an egg, and hop on.

Another Shortcut for the Princess!

If you’re playing as the Princess, you can take a shortcut straight to Fry Guy’s tower. Instead of entering the first tower, dash past the door (hold the B Button!), leap from the end of the ledge, and glide over to the second tower. Then follow the bridge to the third tower and head inside!

Spinning Spikes Are Bad News

These icy platforms don’t offer much traction, and one slip-up can send you plummeting to certain doom. Stay in control, and stay off of those spikes!

Beware of Flurry

Heads up! As you make your climb, be on the lookout for falling Flurries. These enemies try their best to head straight toward you. Use this to your advantage. You can usually bait a Flurry into charging right off of a platform. When that’s not an option, be patient. Wait for a Flurry to come to you, then hop right over and keep moving—in most cases, you’ll be out of reach before a charging Flurry has time to change course.

Sub-Space 2

When you exit the first tower, look for the two patches of grass to the right. There’s a Potion hidden under the nearest patch. Grab it and move to the left edge of the bridge. Use the nearby clouds to reach the top of the left tower, and then head back to the right. Enter Sub-Space near the right edge of the right tower to find a Mushroom.

Step on Shy Guy

More spikes! Looks like it’s time for the hard-headed approach. Jump onto the red Shy Guy’s head and let him carry you toward the next door.

Look for the Cherries floating near the drop-off. Once Shy Guy carries you into range, jump over and grab them. You’ll find more Cherries on the way down—try to grab them all. A little help from Starman can make it much easier to reach the tower’s exit.

Grab the Key!

Enter this door and you’ll be in a room with a Key. You need this Key to open the locked door at the bottom of the tower. Remember, the Key can also be used as a weapon. If a persistent Flurry gives you trouble along the way, hit him with the Key and he’s a goner.

Unlock the Door and Scram!

Once you’ve carried the Key to the bottom of the second tower, you’re almost there. Unlock the door, step outside, and follow the bridge to the third tower.

Is This the Calm Before the Storm?

There are two Flurries and a crystal ball in this room. Quick! Get to the Mask Gate and into the room with the Little Boss. Prepare yourself: this is Fry Guy’s territory! And he’s practically boiling over with ideas for keeping you out.

Fry Guy Is One Tough Customer

World 4 might be a frozen world, but Fry Guy is a ball of fire. He’s the strongest Little Boss you’ve met yet. When he spits flames from his mouth, attack with Mushroom Blocks from the upper stairs. Once three Mushroom Blocks strike him, he splits himself into four pieces and keeps coming at you. Use the Mushroom Blocks skillfully for attack and defense.

Keep reading with a free account

The first 3 sections of Nintendo Playing with Power are open to everyone. An account opens the rest of it, and every other guide in the archive. It's free, and there's nothing to buy.

Bought guides on the old Prima Games site? Your account and every guide you own moved here, so there's nothing to buy again. Sign in.

Create a free account Or browse our free guides

PreviousWorld 3 NextWorld 5