World 8 Big Tanks
Bowser’s pulling out all the stops in this last world, and the challenge has never been greater! A parade of Koopa’s finest tanks fills the air with flying lead. You must use fancy footwork to evade the hail of bullets!
Bob-omb Lobbers
These stubby cannons fire Bob-ombs as projectiles. Wait until the Bob-omb explodes and then make a dash for it. Always be watchful of cannon fire; some of these are almost like machine guns!
Leap Quickly
Jump when you see the end of the gun’s barrel. If you wait too long, Rocky Wrench hurls his Ninja Throwing Wrench and makes it hazardous to leap!
Propeller Peril
You can’t destroy these propellers, but you can stand on top of them. You must work fast to get this Power-Up!
Bring Out The Big Guns!
This giant cannon shoots two huge bullets in rapid succession. Either jump on its barrel or duck quickly!
A Wimpy Tank Commander
You’ll be surprised to see a lone Boomerang Brother in the command tank. You’ve made it this far, so don’t let him get you. He should be easy compared to the tanks.
World 8 Battleships
A finer trio of battleships has never graced the seas. Like everything else in Bowser’s underworld, these ships are armed to the teeth.
Dangerous 1-Up!
To get this 1-Up, stay on the right of the screen and, as soon as you can, run down to it and make it appear. Collect it as you duck in front of the gun barrel.
Swim Under The Ships!
It takes practice, but Mario can actually swim under these battleships! The trick is to get just under the boat, but not too far.
Captain Boom-Boom
An old sea dog of a Boom-Boom is waiting for you in the battleship’s cabin. Send him to Davy Jones’ Locker!
World 8 Hand Traps
This flame-lined bridge leads further into Bowser’s underworld! It looks safe to cross, but no sooner do you step onto it than a monstrous hand reaches out to grab you and takes you to a mini-world. If you’re lucky, you can make it through without being snatched, but you may want to hesitate on the bridge and get captured on purpose; for each trap, you’ll get a Super Leaf if you finish!
Hammer Bros. Hand Trap
You must defeat all the members of the Hammer Bros. family here to make it to the goal. These guys should be a piece of cake by now!
Podoboos Hand Trap
Make it over a broken bridge harassed by Podoboos, and you deserve a Super Leaf! Actually, it’s a pretty easy stage if you take your time.
Fish Hand Trap
A swarm of attacking Cheep-Cheeps makes this the most challenging of all the Hand Trap stages; it’s also the longest. Use the B Button run to get through, and don’t be distracted by the meager coins in the “?” Blocks.
World 8 Airships
These mini-airships are the fighter planes of the Koopa’s Air Force. They move faster than the Koopalings’ Airships, so the screen scrolls at top speed.
Take Out Rocky
Try to stomp every Rocky Wrench, as this keeps stray wrenches from hitting you at an awkward time.
Stand On The Engine
It’s best to stand on the rocket when you’re jumping from ship to ship. Concentrate!
World 8-1
After all that military hardware Bowser threw at you, you’ll be glad to see a normal world. But this stage is extremely tough to complete unless you’re Raccoon Mario.
Hit The Switch Block And Dive!
Raccoon Mario can easily fly at the start. Go straight up, hit the P-Switch and go down. Look at all those silver coins!
Try To Power-Up
If you’re not already powered-up, you’d do well to get an item as soon as possible. This one is difficult to collect.
Three-Up Pipe
Charge up your P-Meter at the beginning of the world, and fly to this pipe as Raccoon Mario. Inside are three valuable 1-Ups! Charge up again and fly to the end of the stage.
A Hidden Escape Route
Make this Invisible Block appear so you can easily escape this Bullet Bill firing range.
A Mega-Tough Jump
Pick up the Koopa and release him as you hold him over a pipe. Get a running start, make a small jump onto the Magic Note Block, and immediately jump again while pressing Up.
World 8-2
This world, like all of Bowser’s underworld, is tough. But, there is a secret passage (to beat all secret passages) that takes you through to almost the end of the stage.
Take A Swim In Quicksand?!
Jump into this quicksand pit and go down. Trust us: you’ll be okay. Both the pipes you see take you to a spot near the end of the stage.
Double Jeopardy!
When you come out of this pipe from the secret room, you’ll be surrounded by Piranha Plant fire. If you jump up as they fire, they aim high and you can run by when they retreat.
World 8 Fortress
Wow! If you thought the other Fortresses were tough, wait until you get a load of this one. The pinnacle of Koopa’s crafty engineering, this Fortress boggles the mind with its two sides and multiple traps! Explore it thoroughly.
Lava Room: Get Back Up To The Power-Up
If you go through the third door as Small Mario, you may think there’s no way you can get to that lone “?” Block. But if you go through the door under the Power-Up, Invisible Blocks appear and create a bridge. Now just get past Thwomp.
Blue Room: Secret Room 1-Up
If you’re desperate for 1-Ups, here’s a tricky one to find. Hit the P-Switch and hurry through the door under the “H.” There’s a secret door on the platform to the right of the conveyor. Go in for a 1-Up!
Lava Room: Repeated Item Collection
You can go in and out of this door and collect the Power-Up item multiple times. Just don’t go for it unless the Thwomp is resetting.
Blue Room: Thumb Your Nose At Thwomp!
This Thwomp traps you in this area by the door, impeding your access to the “?” Block above. You can inch close enough to hit the “?” Block, revealing a 1-Up, without getting hit by Thwomp. Wait there and the 1-Up will come to you!
Blue Room: Another Secret P-Switch Door
Hit the P-Switch, go left, and enter the door. Next, go down and to the left, then through the door. You’ll see three Blocks to the left: the one on the far-left contains a 1-Up!
Lava Room: Collect The 1-Up First!
The gap in this area is sealed by Invisible Blocks if you try to jump through it. The right-most Invisible Block contains a 1-Up. Be sure to get that one first, so it falls down where you can collect it.
Blue Room: Secret Door To Multiple Power-Ups
Activate this P-Switch and a door appears on the conveyor belt. It leads to a room with a “?” Block that contains a Fire Flower. If you’d rather have a Super Leaf, go through the lower door and head to the left.
Lava Room: How To Get To Boom-Boom
With all of these secret doors, you might have guessed that the exit is also hidden. Hit this P-Switch and skip the door on the conveyor. The door on the small ledge to the extreme right leads to Boom-Boom. Once you enter, squat under the spikes and take him out!
World 8 Super Tank
A rolling juggernaut of cannons and Bob-ombs manned by six of Bowser’s crack Rocky Wrenches is the only thing preventing Mario from entering the Castle of Koopa. The Princess is waiting for you!
Don’t Panic! (Easier Said Than Done)
Things begin flying fast and furious right here, at the front of the Super Tank. Keep cool and hold down the B Button as you jump.
It’s Raining Wrenches
Six Rockies wait for you here, throwing wrenches at various heights. Avoid jumping if possible: you might lose control.
Shade To The Right
Although it’s not totally safe (no place on the tank is), your best bet is to stay on the right side of the screen. Don’t go to the very edge, though.
You’re Almost There!
Take it slow now. Don’t do anything rash. Just let these cannons fire and then get on their barrels. Next stop: Boom-Boom and then Castle of Koopa!
World 8 The Castle of Koopa
It’s been a long and difficult fight, but you’ve made it to Bowser’s creepy looking Castle of Koopa. A long time has passed since Mario and Bowser first met. You’ve seen how Mario has changed since then. Now find out how time has treated Bowser! Get moving!
Bowser is a vain creature, and the statues he set up in his own image shoot laser beams from their mouths! Run past them or jump over them!
Bowser’s Fortress is like a maze—if you take the wrong path, you’ll end up back at the beginning! One hint: always opt for the high road.
Stay on this Donut Lift until you see an opening to the right, then jump for it. If you miss the opening, you’ll fall into a bottomless pit!
This stairway can be tricky. Crouch on the step near the hub of the Roto-Disc to avoid its whirling attack.
There are precious few Power-Ups in the Castle of Koopa. Be sure to get the 1-Up that’s in the hidden block against the right wall at the top of the second set of stairs—you’ll need it! Squat and jump on top of the Block the 1-Up was in, and if you’re not small, you can go through this wall!
Try to make your way up as high as you can on these Donut Lifts. It will be to your advantage. In any event, be careful: these lifts are the only thing between you and a bath in molten lava!
Bowser’s Castle is full of crafty traps. Spring this Thwomp, then jump over him onto the Donut Lift. Ride it down to the next level of the Castle.
Are your palms sweaty yet? Not to make you nervous, but those are flames from Bowser’s bad breath coming at you. Don’t worry, though—you’re almost there! Think fast and jump quickly to avoid them!
Congratulations! You’ve reached the door to Bowser’s Chamber! Do you think you’re ready? You’d better be, because you’re on your own from here! Up and at ‘em! The Mushroom Worlds are depending on you!