World 8 (New Super Mario Bros.)
World 8 is the final world of New Super Mario Bros. Mario and Luigi travel to this world in New Super Mario Bros. after defeating Monty Tank or Lakithunder, or using the World 8 cannon in World 5. It starts out as a dark forest area. The tower boss of this world is Dry Bowser. He acts like regular Bowser, but he also throws bones. This makes it hard to jump over him. Then, after Mario defeats him, a new bridge appears outside, and they head into a lava plain.
After traversing through four more levels, they reach the second tower, filled with snake blocks. Finally, they reach Bowser's Castle, separated by other castles by its size and green color. Before the boss fight, Bowser Jr. lets out his trademark snicker, then throws Dry Bowser's remains into a cauldron with a face resembling that of a Koopa Clown Car. A larger-than-life Bowser exits the cauldron. Bowser and Bowser Jr. turn around and look at Mario, and start the final boss fight, which is a rather unfair 2-vs.-1 battle. After that, Peach is freed and gives Mario (or Luigi) a kiss, and the credits begin to roll.
The four regular stages in the volcanic area are much shorter than other stages in the game.
World 8-1
The first level in World 8 takes place on a barren wasteland, filled with Crowbers, Bullet Bills, Banzai Bills, Boos and Splunkins. The first Star Coin is accessed by putting a spring on top of two blocks quite near the start. Mario will bounce up to the coin and drop down near the blocks. The next Star Coin is after the midway point, near a Boo. Mario has to jump on top of on top a Bullet Bill to reach the coin. The final coin is very close to the second, and directly underneath the path of a Banzai Bill. Mario must wait for the Banzai Bill to go over him, then jump down and get the coin.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: Keep moving until there is 2 solid blocks and a ? Block above them, hit the ? Block to reveal a Trampoline, place it on top of the higher solid blocks and jump on it, revealing a secret area with a Star Coin.
- Star Coin 2: The next Star Coin is found next to several Bullet Bill Blasters and a Boo, avoid them and collect the Star Coin.
- Star Coin 3: The last one is found next to a Banzai Bill Blaster, collect it while avoiding the Banzai Bill.
Enemies
World 8-2
The next level is an underground level, with ? Switches that cause water to rise inside and give Mario access to pipes. There is also a pipe Mario can enter if Mario is in his mini form. After one area, Mario goes to an area with many sinking barrels and Skeeters in between them. After getting past the barrel area, Mario can either go down the mini pipe or a normal one. The normal pipe leads to an area filled with Brick Blocks, which he can ground pound to get the first coin. The mini-pipe leads to an area with eight Micro-Goombas and a Question Block containing a Star. After two more watery areas with Skeeters and ? Switches, Mario will reach the goal.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: Located in the room with many Brick Blocks, Ground Pound near the right-side edge of Brick Blocks to collect it on the way down.
- Star Coin 2: Upon hitting the ? Switch to make the water rise, the Star Coin is found at the top.
- Star Coin 3: In the final watery area, head to the right and hit the ? Switch to make the water rise and collect the Star Coin.
Enemies
World 8-
Tower
This is the second last Tower of the game. It features moving walls and spikes. Once Mario gets to the top, he fights Bowser Jr.. During this battle he throws shells. It features moving walls and Rocket Engines as the obstacles.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: The first one is located near the start. Jump onto the moving platform and onto the ledge where a Star Coin is found.
- Star Coin 2: Located near some Spike Tops, get onto a platform and find the Star Coin at the top.
- Star Coin 3: Found above the boss door, jump onto the Flying ? Block and then jump again to hit an invisible ? Block to get high enough to grab the Star Coin.
Enemies
- Dry Bones
- Spike Top
- Bowser Jr. (Boss)
World 8-3
This is an underwater level with many Unagis on a vertical stretch of the level near the start, before a horizontal area with a Mega Unagi which chases Mario/Luigi through the area. All of the Star Coins are in the horizontal area. Probably because the level isn't at all peaceful, the underground music plays instead of the underwater theme. The level's background also looks like the underground background.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: The first one is after the Mega Unagi starts chasing Mario, keep swimming right until there is a stair-like platform with a Star Coin next to it.
- Star Coin 2: The second one is shortly after the first Star Coin, swim up above the Brick Block platform then break the top Brick Blocks (which cannot be achieved while being Small Mario), then grab the Star Coin.
- Star Coin 3: The third one is next to a group of four Brick Blocks, keep as far as possible from the Mega Unagi to get enough time before the Mega Unagi catches up before grabbing this one.
Enemies
World 8-4
This level is filled with Scuttle Bugs and has a lot of moving platfroms, particularly those seen in towers or castles. Scuttle Bugs will keep re-spawning from above throughout the whole level. The first Star Coin is just before the midway point, on a high ledge. After going on some moving platforms, there is the second Star Coin, then an invincibility star. Mini Mario can access the third Star Coin, by going into a tiny pipe, with Micro Goombas in it. Also, there are several invincibility stars, helping Mini Mario to perform the jumps required to get the coin and get out. At the end of the level, a single Scuttle Bug hanging on a string guards the flagpole.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: Before the midway point, on a high ledge, pass the Checkpoint Zone and jump up the stairs while avoiding Scuttle Bugs to reach the ledge.
- Star Coin 2: Above the platforms, wait until the platform is high enough to reach it.
- Star Coin 3: Access the tiny pipe by being Tiny Mario and while collecting Stars to keep Mario invincible in order to keep the Micro Goombas at bay, then grab the Star Coin in the area where Tiny Mario can fit through.
Enemies
World 8-
Castle
This level is the second last Castle of the game. It features lifts that appear by hitting a block that's the same as in the Tower of World 2. The level is hard. The boss who is guarding this castle is Dry Bowser. The fight is the same as Bowser's fight except that there's no lava below and it has no raising platform. After this battle, Bowser Jr. will run off with Princess Peach and a bridge will appear on the lava, leading to the second half of the World and he'll run off to another Tower.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: The first one is located on a high platform, jump on the platform then get off and hit the switch while it's moving then jump back on from the lone ? Block.
- Star Coin 2: The second one is located on a three way platform, hit the switch until the platform is at the highest level, then jump on and it will fall onto the lowest one and collect the Star Coin.
- Star Coin 3: The last one is near the end, in order to get it the platform near the boss door needs to be at the lowest level, ride the platform and collect the last Star Coin.
Enemies
- Dry Bones
- Podoboo
- Dry Bowser (Boss)
World 8-5
This takes place around a volcano. There is a lot of lava, as well as unstable platforms. Podoboos come out of the lava, and generic enemies (such as Goombas and Koopa Troopas) also exist. Since this level is relatively short, there is no checkpoint.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: The first one is on a collapsing platform at the lowest level, avoid the Podoboo while trying to collect the Star Coin.
- Star Coin 2: The second Star Coin is next to a tilting platform, jump on one of the Red Koopa Troopas on the tilting platform and kick it's shell to the Star Coin.
- Star Coin 3: Last Star Coin is next to a high collapsing platform, jump from the lower collapsing platform to the higher one and collect the Star Coin.
Enemies
World 8-6
This level takes place in a volcano. Like the Tower in World 4, the lava rises. Mario must scale the volcano before the lava. This level is a wrap-around level, meaning mario can walk to one side and end up on the other one. At the goal, Mario can Spin Jump off a Spin Block for extra points.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: First Star Coin is located a bit further up, enter the cannon pipe, move to the left side of the level to go to the right side to level, collect the Star Coin before the lava reaches it.
- Star Coin 2: Second one is located inside a walled platform that that contains lots of Brick Blocks stacked to the top of the platform, jump on the spinning trampoline, upon hovering over the Brick Blocks ground pound to collect the Star Coin before the lava reaches it.
- Star Coin 3: The last one is above where many Spinies are, get underneath that platform before the lava gets to the Star Coin.
Enemies
World 8-7
A level that features every type of Bro. except, strangely, the Hammer Bro. It is the only level to feature both Fire Bros. and Sledge Bros. It also features many Koopa Paratroopas to be bounced off of.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: Underneath the platform where the Sledge Bro. is, run across the gaps the first Star Coin is collected.
- Star Coin 2: The second one is next to a Boomerang Bro., defeat the Boomerang Bro. and then collect it.
- Star Coin 3: Below the Sledge Bro. is where the last Star Coin is found, sealed off by Brick Blocks, Ground Pound only one layer of Brick Blocks or Mario will fall to his doom.
Enemies
World 8-8
This level features a new species of Bob-omb called a Kab-omb as well as Raining Debris. Raining Debris destroy blocks like Super Thwomps and appear from the erupting volcanoes in the background. The Player must run to the goal avoiding Kab-Ombs and Raining Debris. The level features music from World 8-5 and 8-6.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: The first one is found near the start of the level, jump onto the Brick Block and onto the platform above before the Raining Debris destroys the Brick Blocks.
- Star Coin 2: After the Checkpoint Zone, there is a Star Coin inside a square shaped row of Brick Blocks, wait until the Raining Debris clears the Brick Blocks and then collect the Star Coin.
- Star Coin 3: The last one requires a Mini Mushroom. Upon collecting the second one, go left until there is a small green pipe seen, while avoiding the Raining Debris wait until it destroys the small white blocks underneath, then use the Mini Mushroom to turn into Mini Mario and enter the pipe, inside there is a maze and if the player manages to reach the end of the maze, there will be a Star Coin waiting at the end.
Enemies
World 8-Tower 2
This tower is difficult. There is a Snake Block in this level and Mario must stay on it to avoid the Abyss below. Also present are Firebars and Spiked Balls.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: The first one is in an area with spikes everywhere, the Star Coin is in an opening above.
- Star Coin 2: Near some Firebars, the second one is on the platform above where the Snake Block travels through.
- Star Coin 3: The last one is on the ledge where the Spiked Ball fell from.
Enemies
- Firebar
- Spiked Ball
- Bowser Jr. (Boss)
World 8-
Bowser's Castle
This stage is the final level of New Super Mario Bros., being Bowser's Castle. Once the Mario Bros. are inside, they will encounter a massive amount of traps, including Rocket Engines and Thwomps. This level is the longest in the game, and some parts of it require pressing one of the many ? Switches to be found. These switches will flip the gravity of the castle upside down, and any enemy along with it. This action is required for getting to certain doors. Because this is the biggest stage, players are given 800 seconds to complete the level.
The first room of the castle involves crossing lava on solid platforms that are close by to each other, in which Mario or Luigi can run across, players have to avoid Podoboos while running across the platforms, after crossing the platforms and avoiding all the Podoboos, there is a door which will lead to the next room. In the second room there is three Brick Blocks and a door that is on the ceiling, the right one contains a Fire Flower and the middle one contains a ? Switch, jump on the ? Switch to rotate the room around to be upside-down and then enter the door. In the third room, there is 3 Brick Blocks at the entrance and Rocket Engines, avoid the Rocket Engines and the Dry Bones in the middle part, then avoid more Rocket Engines on the way across to the right and then enter the door. The fourth room at the entrance has a Super Thwomp and a narrow passage, the player must run passed the Super Thwomp when it starts to rise and then hit the 3rd Brick Block next to the Super Thwomp to reveal a ? Switch and then jump on it to turn the room upside-down and the Super Thwomp will remain in the same part of the screen while the screen is rotating, then avoid the Super Thwomp again and enter the next room. The fifth room contains Rocket Engines and Dry Bones, avoid them while moving left and keep moving left and jump over the long gap containing spikes and hit the lone Brick Block to reveal a Red ? Switch, while avoiding the Rocket Engine press the Red ? Switch to make a platform appear, and then move back to the middle part of the room then jump onto the ledge above while avoiding the Rocket Engines and then enter the door. In this room, there are Thwomps, avoid them while moving right, then move left while avoiding the Thwomp and collect the first Star Coin, then avoid the Thwomp again while moving right and avoid the Dry Bones and start moving right on the ledge below halfway and hit the Brick Block on the right which will reveal a ? Switch, press it and the room will turn upside-down with the Thwomps staying on the same part of the screen while rotating, to the right there is a Thwomp and a Dry Bones to avoid before entering the door which will go back to the previous room. Back in this room, there will be a platform that has appeared after pressing the Red ? Switch from earlier, there is a door on the right which will take Mario (or Luigi) straight to the sixth room of the castle, but instead jump onto the platform and enter the door on the left. In this room, move to the right below the stairs to find the 2nd Star Coin, climb up the stairs and enter the door. In the seventh room, climb up the stairs and enter the door. This will take you to a long looping room (about half of the castle). When you come to three platforms, jump on them in this order. (Bottom, Top, Middle. Then pound the bricks and jump and wall jump. This will give you the third star coin and the last of the game.
After crossing the checkpoint flag, the second part of the castle is a long looping room, similar to the looping castles of 4-4 and 7-4 from Super Mario Bros. while players are avoiding a Podoboo and a Firebar, which can be passed by walking on the right platforms; a buzzer noise alerts players if they pass along the wrong platform. After that, collect the 3rd Star Coin which is trapped by some unbreakable blocks, a passable platform and two Brick Blocks, destroy the Brick Blocks with a Ground Pound and then get up the stairs and go back down while sliding to collect the 3rd and final Star Coin. Once that is done, enter the boss door.
Once inside the room, the player will encounter Bowser Jr. on a long bridge over a deep pit. He will toss his father's bones into the cauldron, thus reviving him, much to Peach's horror.
The duo will then fight Mario (or Luigi) together, with Bowser Jr. using his usual shell-tossing tactic, and his father breathing flames behind him. After the player defeats Bowser Jr., his father will increase his attacks greatly. When Bowser breathes blue fire it can turn Mario into Mini Mario. Mario must then run under one of Bowser's giant jumps and hit the Skull Switch at the end of the bridge, ending the fight and winning the game. Another way to win is if the player has a Mega Mushroom as a stored item; upon using it, the player can jump on Bowser, then make Bowser Jr. fall after hitting the Skull Switch. The player can also hit the Skull Switch without defeating Bowser Jr., causing both him and Bowser to plummet. The platform that Princess Peach is standing on disappear, she floats down saying, "Thank You!" and rewarding Mario (or Luigi) with a soft kiss.
Star Coins
- Star Coin 1: In the 5th room, in the top-left section of the room, avoid the Thwomps while collecting this one.
- Star Coin 2: In an unreachable room underneath the stairs. In the 4th room, avoid the Rocket Engines, jump over a big gap containing spikes, hit the lone Brick Block to reveal a Red ? Switch and press it while avoiding the Rocket Engine. Proceed to the 5th room, avoid the Thwomps, hit the Brick Block to reveal a ? Switch and press it, then return to the 4th room and jump onto the platform and enter the door from there, and find the Star Coin underneath the stairs.
- Star Coin 3: In the second part of the castle, after jumping on the platforms in the correct order (Bottom, Top, then Middle), Ground Pound the Brick Blocks, get up the stairs and run down the stairs then crouch before entering the small opening to collect the 3rd Star Coin.
Enemies
- Dry Bones
- Thwomp
- Super Thwomp
- Podoboo
- Firebar
- Rocket Engine
- Bowser and Bowser Jr. (Boss)
Enemies Introduced
