World 8 (Super Mario 3D Land)
World 8 is the eighth and final normal world that Mario travels to in Super Mario 3D Land. The setting of this world is a volcanic area, most presumably this games incarnation of Bowser's domicile. Crags and volcanoes are found in the background, while the lava below creates a red mist. World 8 contains 8 levels and no Toad Houses or Mystery Boxes unlike other worlds. This world also consists of two areas, the first containing five levels and Bowser's first castle, and the second containing the sixth level and Bowser's second castle.
Levels
World 8-1
Overview
World 8-1 is a fort-themed level with sunset background. The level starts out in a base with some Spinies and Spiked Ball shooters. climbing a wall, Mario will find a space with two Fuzzies, Coins and yellow Elevators, which lead to a bridge where Giant Spiked Balls roll on, and two Donut Lifts at the end of it, just before a Warp Pipe. It takes Mario to an escalator guarded by Spiked Balls and two Spinies. Above the stairs, there is the Checkpoint Flag. Ahead, there is a two-story corridor. The first one is made of Reversible Platforms and more Spiked Ball launchers. The second corridor (which can be accessed via an Brick Block), has stationary solid floor and contains some Question Blocks and also the rare Question Box. A pole and a Warp Box are seen on the far right. This Warp Box transports Mario to a long downhill protected by Spiked Ball and Giant Spiked Ball cannons. Crates difficult the transition. Reaching the end, Mario can get in either a Warp Pipe or a Cannon, as both can be used to reach the Flagpole.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: After passing the first set of spike balls and Fuzzies, the player should hit the red ! Block to create large blocks that lead to the first medal.
- Star Medal 2: In the area with large Spiked Balls, the player should jump on top of the ledge and move along it to the second medal.
- Star Medal 3: Before shooting the flagpole with the cannon, the player should aim to the left and then up to find the final medal. Once the medal is found, the player must shoot to it.
World 8-2
Overview
This level takes place in grassy summits. Mario begins the level on a small peak, where are a tree and some dandelions. Three poles can be used to reach a summit, where Rocket Engines, two Prongos and a Question Block are found. Another pole moves through a rope to transport the player to another mountain, which holds a Coin Coffer, spinning platforms, the Checkpoint Flag and more Prongos and Rocket Engines. Mario crosses gaps using moving Poles and Donut Lifts, avoiding flames. On the last piece of land, the are spinning platforms and the Goal Pole.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: Climbing up the second pole at the beginning of the level will take the player to this easy to reach medal.
- Star Medal 2: While the player is on the rotating platform below the Rocket Burners, they should jump to the Donut Lifts on the right for the second medal.
- Star Medal 3: The final medal is found on some Donut Lifts at the end of the level.
World 8-3
This level requires 80 Star Medals to unlock. It's main theme is rotating cardboard platforms and the main enemies are Rocky Wrenches. The first section is made of giant cardboard boxes connected via rotating cardboard blocks and cylinders. Some Rocky Wrenches pilot small airships to toss wrenches at Mario. After the Midway Flag, Mario must cross more rotating plaforms until reach a pending platform which takes him to a Warp Box. It transports the player to another swinging platform. In the end, a safe area is found, containing two tiny carboard lifts and the Goal Pole.
Overview
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: The player should start the level with a Super Leaf. After the first set of rotating platforms, the player will come across a gear. They should continuously whack the gear with the Tanooki Suit until they reach the medal.
- Star Medal 2: After the checkpoint, there will be a multitude of rotating platforms. The second medal is found on one of the platforms at the top left corner.
- Star Medal 3: At the end of the level, this medal can be found at the lower portion of the final rotating platform.
World 8-4
Overview
This level is a Ghost House level. The player starts on a staircase-like platform. Upon reaching the end, a section of platform begins moving along on its own. Along the path are a few Spiky Plants, and some Boos. The platform later connects to another platform, which contains an unlit torch and several Question Blocks. Mario must then jump onto a Switchboard, while avoiding several small and large pushing walls, as well as three Tail Boos. The platform at the end of the Switchboard's path contains the Midway Flag. The platform after this is circular and continuously spins around. In the center is a Question Block containing a Star, though five Boos (one being a Tail Boo) spawn as soon as it is hit. The next platform moves as soon as it is hit; the player must avoid several Peepas and Boos, as well as a Big Boo as it travels along. The platform's destination contains the door leading outside with another moving platform and the Flagpole.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: After hopping onto the Switchboard, the player should chase the medal while avoiding the pushing walls.
- Star Medal 2: After the checkpoint, the player should come across a large rotating platform. The medal is found on the edge of it.
- Star Medal 3: On the final moving platform, the player will come across some Peepas and Boos. The Star Medal is found behind two Boos, but be careful of the Big Boo that appears right before it.
World 8-5
Overview
The level is modeled after a fortress. The player starts out on a set of platforms, then must cross two rock-style Donut Lifts to reach a Reversible Platform. He or she must cross three more of these, while avoiding Paragoombas. The player must then cross some more rock Donut Lifts downward to reach more platforms and more Reversible Platforms; on the other end of the reversing platforms are three Bullet Bill Blasters, and a pole that Mario must climb to reach an elevator that takes him to the next area; the midway flag is here. Afterward are several Reversible Platforms, as well as Rocky Wrenches. After this, the player must clime more rock Donut Lifts to get to another platform with several more Reversible Platforms after. The obstacle for these platforms are Banzai Bills; however, they only fire toward the red sides of the platforms. After this is another set of two Reversible Platforms with another Rocky Wrench on the other side, followed by the Flagpole.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: The medal is found at the beginning of the level, on the blue side of the fourth Reversible Platform.
- Star Medal 2: After the checkpoint, the player will see the medal above a Rocky Wrench.
- Star Medal 3: After the second medal, the player should come across a Mystery Box. Hopping into it will transport the player to a room with three Rocky Wrenches plus the final medal.
World 8-
Bowser's Castle 1
Overview
This level requires 90 Star Medals to unlock. At the beginning, Mario is on a platform surrounded by lava. On the other end is a P-Switch, guarded by a pair of Magikoopas. Pressing the button causes a grate platform to rise out of the lava, allowing Mario to advance. On the next platform is a pair of Dry Bones. Following this is another grate platform, with a Coin Question Block on it; however, there is also a Magmaargh that appears out of the lava to attack Mario, as well as a Podoboo in the lava on the other side. On the next platform, there is a Draglet, with the next platform being across the lava; there are also two Podoboos jumping out of it. Next, there is a pole; the player must use this to jump onto another pole to reach the next platform, but there are two lava geysers on both side of it. The next platform has a Firebar and another Magikoopa. He or she must then jump onto a Switchboard to cross the lava and reach the next area, while avoiding several Magmaarghs. On the next area is the Midway Flag, as well as another P-Switch which not only spawns some coins but also causes the section of the platform it is on to rise. The area this leads to contains three Boomerang Bros.. After the player passes them, he or she reaches an area with platforms that spawn when the player nears them; there are also some Magikoopas that appear. This leads to a Warp Box, which takes the player to the area where he or she must face Bowser. After crossing several rotating platforms, he or she must then cross a section with a tightrope above lava. The player must then cross several rock Donut Lifts to reach the bridge that the switch necessary to defeat Bowser is across. By pressing the switch, Bowser falls into the lava, where he is defeated. However, inside the room following, there is only an empty cage.
Upon entering the door at the end of the room, a cutscene is shown; Mario finds what he believes is the princess, but, upon further examination, he finds out that it is really a cardboard cutout. Bowser then shows up, holding the real Princess Peach. Mario attempts to get her back, but Bowser leaps away and heads off; if the player replays this level, this cutscene is not shown a second time. A Warp Block is then present, which takes the player to the tower with the Flagpole.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: After passing a Draglet, the player will come across a pair of poles. The player needs to hop off the first pole, while avoiding the rising magma pillars, to second pole to reach the medal.
- Star Medal 2: After the checkpoint, the player will face some Boomerang Bros. Defeating all three will grant the player with a Boomerang Flower, which is needed to grab the medal nearby. It can also be obtained by clasping the wall and wall-jumping when near the lava to grab the medal.
- Star Medal 3: During the fight with Bowser, it can be seen floating over the lava and between 2 platforms. Mario needs the Boomerang Flower to reach it.
World 8-6
Overview
This level is at the beginning of the second area in World 8, and is modeled after a castle level. The player starts on a platform, and must cross three grate platforms that sink when touched. The next platform has a Dry Bones, as well as a round, grate-like object at the end of it; by standing on the other end, it begins rolling down toward the next platform. The end of the next platform is guarded by a Wallop, and there is a nut on a bolt; the player must stand in the direction the arrows are facing so that it heads toward a Warp Box; however, as soon as Mario steps on it, he is challenged by a Magikoopa. The Warp Box takes Mario to the area with the midway flag on it. On the lower part of the platform are a Dry Bones and another Wallop. The player must then take another angular object that rolls depending on the side the player is on; on the next platform is a Dry Bones and a Draglet, with another cylindrical grate afterward. As the player advances, there are several lava geysers opposing him or her. The next area is another bolt that rises if the player runs in the direction of the arrows. The next platform is another platform that rotates with the player's weight. Two Magikoopas spawn as soon as the player reaches the middle, and a Warp Box is at the end, on the interior of the platform. This Warp Box leads the player to another cylindrical mesh, which takes him or her to the platform with the Flagpole.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: Near the beginning of the level, there will be a large nut and a bolt. The player should turn the nut counterclockwise (rotate it to the south) to be able to reach the first medal.
- Star Medal 2: While rolling across the lava on the cylindrical mesh, the player should see a Plus Clock near a sinking platform. If the player stands on the sinking platform, they will grab the second medal.
- Star Medal 3: This medal is found at the end, right above the Warp Block. The player needs to move along the platform to move it, so the medal can be reached.
World 8-Bowser's Castle 2
Overview
This level requires 100 Star Medals to unlock. It first shows a cut-scene where Mario goes in Bowser's Castle. Then, Mario is on a Bonecoaster and a statue of Bowser's head is shown with the mouth opening. When going in the mouth, coins will appear on both sides of the Bonecoaster, it then goes down which a massive fireball comes right at the middle of the coaster. It then turns on the side with more fireballs coming, breaking little towers. It then turns on the other side with even more fireballs coming. After that, the coaster goes by a Fire Cog in which the player must go over it. The player then jumps to a platform where lava will shoot out from underneath and will go by the rock platforms that break apart. After the player goes through the rock platforms, there will be 3 platforms with fireballs coming out of the gate. The second platform will have a Dry Bones on it. After jumping on those wooden platforms, the player will go on another Bonecoaster. While on it, the player will see lava that looks like its about to hit them, but lava from underneath has the coaster go above the lava. Then, the player has to avoid 2 sets of fireballs going by the coaster. The coaster then has lava from below shoot out and then stops at a point before the cannons. Then, Mario will go up stairs and will see 3 Toads on the side cheering on the plumber. One of them will give the player a 1-up. The player then sees a cannon, goes into it and then will be in an area with another cannon and after shooting out from the 2nd one, will go in an spiral area. By moving, the player will see the doors, they open automatically.
Upon entering, a cutscene plays. Mario sees Peach, bound to the flagpole with a massive bow. Peach then warns Mario as Bowser comes out of nowhere where he will roar. The floor starts to crack and then breaks where both Bowser and Mario fall. The player then tries to go defeat Bowser by going up to the button. Bowser will try to hit Mario with Fireballs & Spike Balls. After Mario is done with the tightrope, Bowser will try to hit Mario with Barrels. After that, Mario will go up a few stairs and will be on a blue platform where Mario must go over him to go to the other side. When the player is on the other side to another blue platform, they will have to go over Bowser again. Then, either duck the fireballs or jump over his tail to have the bricks broken next to Mario on the right. The player will then hit the button with Bowser's emblem on it and the floor will break with Bowser falling to the lava. After going up more steps. Bowser will somehow reappear after falling in lava, spitting out pink fireballs while the player tries to go up. After Mario goes up, the player must either duck under, jump over or move left or right the Brick Blocks while trying to not get hit by Bowser as he is running behind Mario to get him. After that, the player hit the button with Bowser's emblem on it and Bowser falls into the lava again. A cut-scene is shown him slowly falling in the lava with part of the floor hitting his head. He then goes in the lava. After this, there is no time limit. The player goes up more stairs and sees in a cut-scene, Peach, happily saying "Mario!". The player goes on the flagpole, freeing Peach and ending the level. It then shows the three Toads who were cheering on him by the cannon with Super Leaves, Mario with a Super Leaf and Peach soaring around the sky as the credits rolling. Along the way, Bowser is shown trying to get Mario atop of a Goomba Tower but failing to do so. At the end, it shows a picture of Mario and Peach on a branch of the Tanooki Tree with Mario holding a Super Leaf.
Star Medals
- Star Medal 1: While on the first Bonecoaster, the player should avoid the fireballs. After the first U-Turn, the player should jump to grab the first medal.
- Star Medal 2: After leaving the first Bonecoaster, the player will hop across some wooden platforms. The second medal is found after the second platform.
- Star Medal 3: On the final Bonecoaster, the player will come across an onslaught of fireballs. The medal is found during the second wave of fireballs.
Enemies Introduced
- Banzai Bills
- Magmaarghs
- Boss: Bowser
