Super Mario Brothers 3, World 8 Hints

World 8, Level 1

• The first level of world 8 has a couple of possible ways to finish, but your best bet is to make sure Mario has his raccoon suit before entering the level. If not, this might be a good time to use a P-wing, provided you have any left. Head up to the skies upon entering the level and you'll find a P switch. Hit that and you can grab a bunch of silver coins. Fly again as far as you can to the left and then make a controlled descent down to the first pipe. Go inside the pipe and collect three 1-ups awaiting you. Get out of there, head to the skies once again, land on the furthest pipe, wait for the piranha plant to disappear, and then jump across that final pipe to the end of the level.

World 8, Level 2

• The first thing to do upon entering the second section of the level is to slide down the quicksand. This will take you to a secret area. Once down there, go to the left and travel down the pipe to get a power-up and many coins. Head out of the pipe to the right. It's smooth sailing from here on out: just avoid the fire plant, head over the hill and jump across two of those note blocks.

Bowser's Castle

• You're almost to the finish line, but first you've got to get through the trickiness of Bowser's castle. Head up and to the right, across the lava, to get to a door on the very top of the screen. Go through the door and you will be faced with a series of statues which have been carved into the likeness of King Koopa himself. The first of these will shoot lasers at you, so be ready to avoid them. Once you get past that first statue, the others will leave you alone. Head across the lava pool on the elevator lifts, avoiding Bowser's fiery breath as you go. Go through the door on the right, and you will be ready for the final battle.

Defeating Bowser

• That ominous music can mean only one thing: it is time for your final confrontation with the green king of mean, Bowser. You will find your arch enemy waiting for you atop a strange platform of bricks. He is eager to dispatch you, and starts immediately blowing fire to make quick work of the thorn in his scaly side. Avoid these fireballs and wait for him to pounce. He will see that the fireballs are not working and, instead, choose to crush you with his immense weight. Dodge out of his way, and he will instead crush the bricks beneath you both. Get him to do this three times in the same place, and he will go straight through the floor, putting an end to his nefarious deeds...until the next time.