New Super Mario Bros. Tower and Castle FAQ Written By Tyler Trombley E-mail: Luigi216@aol.com 08/29/06 Version 1.0 ----------------- Table of Contents ----------------- 1. Quick Note 2. Copyright 3. Guide Info 4. Tower and Castle Walkthrough 5. Final Words -------------- 1. Quick Note -------------- Hi, and welcome to my New Super Mario Bros. Tower and Castle FAQ/Walkthrough. Since I am fairly new to writing FAQs, please forgive me for any mistakes I may make. Thank you. ------------ 2. Copyright ------------ This guide may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. Copyright 2006 Tyler Trombley ------------- 3. Guide Info ------------- This guide is desgined to help you get through all of the tower and castle levels in New Super Mario Bros. There is no doubt in my mind that these types of levels are what make Mario Bros. games challenging, and I hope this guide will help you get through every single tower and every single castle with ease and skill. In this guide, I will state which tower/castle I am covering, and exactly how hard I think the level is on a scale of one to five. Also, I will state what I believe is the biggest problem in the level. (In other words, what will give you the most trouble.) At the beginning of each tower/castle, I will write something like this, with words and/or numbers replacing the Xs: ------------------------- World X-Tower/Castle Difficulty: X/5 Biggest Problem: XXXXXXX ------------------------- And at the end of every tower/castle, there is a boss, and I will cover the boss battle, too. Once I have reached the end of a level's walkthrough, I will start to talk about the boss battle of the level. I will write something like this, with words and/or numbers replacing the Xs: ---------------- Boss: XXXXXXX Difficulty: X/5 ---------------- With all this information, you will know how to conquer each tower and castle, and defeat the boss that resides in each one. And one more thing, I am sorry but this guide is not designed to help you get every Star Coin in each tower/ castle. And so, without further ado, it is time to proceed with the Tower and Castle Walkthrough. -------------------------------- 4. Tower and Castle Walkthrough -------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- World 1-Tower Difficulty: 1/5 Biggest Problem: Gray platforms that can squash you --------------------------------------------------- Immediately when you start the level, you will start to drop. Don't panic: you are just on a platform that lowers slightly to allow you to grab some coins. Don't hit the Dry Bones as you jump up the blue platforms. There is a power-up in the left ? Block and a coin in the one toward the right. Be careful not to get squashed between the gray platforms as you make your way onward and upward. Once you reach the top gray platform with the Dry Bones, jump up the blue platforms. Now you must make your way to the right quickly, before you get smashed by the gray blocks above. Jump up the next platforms and do it again, this time dashing to the left. Then jump up again and defeat the Dry Bones so you don't run into him in the tight space. There are several coins in the block next to the ? Block, which contains a power-up. Now jump up the next few blue platforms, then jump up on the moving gray platforms one by one like stairs. Once at the top, hop to the top of the nearest blue platform. There is a pipe to the left that is actually a cannon that will launch you up high and will leave a trail of coins in your wake. You will also have access to a door that leads to rapidly moving gray platforms and a Star Coin. You can use the pipe cannon to skip the little section nearby with spiked platforms, but you'll miss a Star Coin that you may want. Either way you choose (cannon or getting the Star Coin) when you reach the next pipe cannon, time it right so you don't get squashed by the multiple gray blocks that are lined up back to back. The cannon launches you all the way up to the boss door. When ready, head on through the door to confront Bowser Jr. for the first time. ----------------- Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1/5 ----------------- The safest, and definitely the easiest way to defeat Bowser Jr. is to use a combination of fireballs and jumps. Shoot him with some fireballs, then jump on his head. Afterward, a few more fireballs will be enough to defeat him. He is definitely an easy boss to beat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- World 1-Castle Difficulty: 2.5/5 Biggest Problem: That lava kills you the second you touch it; be careful! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the level begins, make a leap to the tightrope and walk on it to collect the coins. On the next tightrope, press the A Button once you have stood still on the tightrope to get extra air, allowing you to snag the coins above. Use the gray platform up ahead to jump and hit the ? Block containing a power-up, and then continue to hop across the next couple of raising and falling platforms while avoiding the lava until you reach solid ground again. Now you must avoid several lowering platforms that have spikes on them, which require timed dashes to avoid. There are places where you can stop and rest between the lowering platforms, but it really isn't too hard to dodge the platforms if you accuarately time your dashes. Once you are past the final lowering spiked platform, you'll reach the midway point of the castle. Jump to the tightrope and make a big leap to the ? Block if you are in need of a power-up. Now hop to the moving gray platform, and don't worry, it will not sink completely into the lava. Now make your way across three tightropes. Jump on the Dry Bones on the next gray platform to avoid running into it on such a small platform, then leap across several more platforms and tightropes. Make sure you don't rush, or else you may find yourself running into a fireball or slipping off a relatively small platform and falling into the lava below. You will find the boss door after you jump to several more gray platform and tightropes. ---------------- Boss: Bowser Difficulty: 1/5 ---------------- Once you enter the boss door, you'll find yourself in a corridor filled with statues of your familiar foe Bowser. He appears at the end of the corridor on a bridge. Simply use the floating platform nearby to leap over the Koopa King, and then step on the switch to send Bowser into the lava. Another easy boss battle to win. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ World 2-Tower Difficulty: 1.5/5 Biggest Problem: Lots of moving and rotating platforms, so watch your footing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The first things you will come across in this level are several ferris wheels with with four platforms on each one. Jump from one ferris wheel to the other and then hit the ? Blocks nearby. The middle one contains a power-up if you need it. Hop up on top of the ? Blocks now and leap to the next ferris wheel. Watch out; the Dry Bones in the vicinity may find a way to sneak onto one of the ferris wheel's platforms. Jump to the solid ground when you see it. Avoid the Dry Bones and jump up to the rope on the ceiling. Use it to grab some coins and get up to a blue platform. You can use the next ferris wheel to get up to a rope on the ceiling by jumping at the wheel's highest point. You can then drop down onto the wheel below, or you can head to the right and proceed through the red ring to start a relatively simple red coin challenge. Collect all eight by standing at the right point as the ferris wheel makes a full rotation to get a prize. After that, jump to the right and bounce on the trampoline to reach a warp pipe. In the next room, you'll see a ? Block containing a power-up and some rotating blocks. Carefully hop across the blocks, (especially the ones that hover over spikes!) and hop up to the next platform when you reach it. Defeat two Dry Bones and hit the block to make more rotating blocks appear. Use the second one to reach the red warp pipe. The pipe leads right to the boss door. ----------------- Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1/5 ----------------- This is pretty much the same as last time, the platform you stand on is just a little bit smaller. Just send a barrage of fireballs at Bowser Jr. and he'll go down in about five seconds. Piece of cake. ------------------------------------------------- World 2-Castle Difficulty: 2.5/5 Biggest Problem: Spiked balls that roll your way ------------------------------------------------- Be careful not to sprint forward once the level begins, or you'll get hit by a spiked ball that will come rolling down, breaking the blocks above you. Now wait until the spiked ball falls into the gap, then jump to the next platform, grabbing the coin in the ? Block on your way. As you proceed to the next platform, be careful not to get hit by incoming spike balls rolling your way. If you are in need of a power-up at this point, you can find one in the ? Block. Press onward, avoiding the spiked balls until you come across a gigantic spiked ball. Use the rope to swing to the platform to the right, and make sure you do not collide with that spiked ball! Leap over the gap, slowing down to avoid the spiked ball will roll toward you the second you clear the gap. Now you must run through a narrow tunnel with spiked balls rolling your way. To dodge the first two, run into the little holes in the floor and duck to avoid the spiked ball as it rolls harmlessly over you. To dodge the third one, jump up onto some blocks and wait until it is out of your way. If you want a Star Coin, you're going to have to dodge another spiked ball, but if you don't want it, just leap over the gap, while dodging a spike ball that will roll toward you, and enter the door. The door leads outside onto desert terrain with Bullet Bills. When you reach an area with a P-Switch, hit it to lower the desert sands, and also cause a spike ball to start rolling around. Dodge it, and then make your way along the area until you reach a huge spiked ball. Use the rope to swing up to a high alcove with a couple of ? Blocks and a Mini Mushroom. Use it to get into the tiny tunnels up ahead with a couple more ? Blocks, one of which contains a Mushroom that will return you to normal size. Hit the P-Switch up ahead to cause the sand to sink, revealing the boss door. Carefully move over to it while avoiding the spiked ball as it rolls back and forth in front of the door. ------------------ Boss: Mummy Pokey Difficulty: 2.5/5 ------------------ If you have a Fire Flower, this boss is a piece of cake. Just shoot 'em with several fireballs and he will go down in a matter of seconds. If you DON'T have a Fire Flower, this boss battle may be a bit tougher. Jump on the Pokey's head when it emerges from the sand. I found it helpful to use a combination of both fireballs and jumps on the head. I defeated this boss fairly easy by shooting a barrage of fireballs at him, and then landing a jump on his head only once. So when you come right down to it, the Fire Flower is your friend in this fight. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World 3-Tower Difficulty: 2/5 Biggest Problem: Koopas that climb on the wire fences just like you do ----------------------------------------------------------------------- When the level starts, you will see three pipes that are actually pipe cannons that will launch you in three separate directions. The one in the middle is the one you should use, because it will launch you high up into the air and to a wire fence that you will grab onto when you press the Up button on the Control Pad. If you want a Star Coin, don't grab onto the high wire fence, but rather drop down a bit to grab onto one that is a little lower, jump to a wire fence with some Koopas, then jump up into a little cranny with a Star Coin you can reach with a wall kick. If you don't want the Star Coin, just grab onto the wire fence that the pipe cannon launches you to. Jump up to the next one, then jump up to the one with several enemies with dangerous electrical charges. Punch the fence to switch sides and to avoid the enemies. Jump up to the next ledge, but watch out for the nearby Koopa. Now jump up to the next wire fence above the ledge where the Red Koopa patrols and jump through the hole between the blocks above the fence to reach an area with two blue platforms and the next wire fence. Climb the fence and head through the door at the top. The door on the right side of the room leads to a section of the previous room with some coins. In this room, you will climb several more wire fences while being careful to avoid Koopas that are climbing on them as well. There are ? Blocks above the third wire fence. The middle one contains a power-up. If you are Super Mario, you will get a Fire Flower, which will prove to be extremely useful if you want to quickly defeat Bowser Jr. There is a door at the top of this room, that leads to another room with one wire fence and two ? Blocks. You can find a power-up in the right ? Block, and a coin in the one on the left. Head to the left of the wire fence to find the boss door. ----------------- Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1/5 ----------------- The boss battles against Bowser Jr. have not become to difficult yet. Bowser Jr. doesn't hide in his shell much, which means he's a wide open target to both jumps on the head and fireballs. Either method you prefer using, he's a pushover and won't take too long to beat. ------------------------------------------------------------- World 3-Castle Difficulty: 3/5 Biggest Problem: Spiked pillars crashing down all around you ------------------------------------------------------------- If you find yourself rushing and taking off immediately to the right, you may find yourself getting hit by the spiked pillar that will come crashing down. Stand still and let it crash down once, then start moving and proceed with caution. Jump over the gap, but slow down to avoid the spiked pillar that will come down once you land on the platform. There is a power-up in the ? Block, as well as a spiked pillar that will hinder your progress for a few seconds as it crashes down fast and slowly proceeds back up. Jump up to the higher platform, but do NOT stand on the blue part or else you'll get hit by a spiked pillar that's hard to see. There is a Star Coin nearby, but it's incredibly risky, because of a spiked pillar that will crash down where the Star Coin is located. If you do not want the Star Coin, just head onward and defeat the Dry Bones up ahead. Now you must jump to a pair of unstable platforms smack dab in the middle of two spiked pillars. Jump continually to avoid making the unstable platforms fall, and when the pillar to the right rises out of your way, jump to the next platform. Get close to the Whomps to make them body slam the floor, but be sure that they don't hit you. Leap the spikes and climb the pole, then drop down the stair-like platforms. Now you must leap across several unstable platforms and then jump to the rope. Swing close enough to the giant Whomp to make it body slam, allowing you to swing to the next platform without hitting the Whomp. Make sure the spiked pillar is not about to rise as you jump to the unstable platforms, or else you'll get hit. Thankfully, if you DO get hit, there is a ? Block on the next platform. Up ahead is a narrow tunnel full of spiked pillars that require accurate timing to get by. At the end of the tunnel is the boss door as well as a risky-to-get Star Coin heavily guarded by a spiked pillar. --------------------------- Boss: Gigantic Cheep-Cheep Difficulty: 2.5/5 --------------------------- This boss would be easier, if it weren't for the fact that annoying little Cheep Cheeps leap up to hit you as you're trying to concentrate on the boss. And the fact that there is a bridge in your way prevents you from hitting the boss with any fireballs as he swims around in the water below. The easiest way to defeat this boss is to just wait for him to jump up onto the bridge and land three jumps on his head. If you are on the opposite side of the bridge than where he jumps up onto, he will flop over to you, making him a much easier target to jump onto. -------------------------------------------- World 4-Tower Difficulty: 3.5/5 Biggest Problem: The constantly rising lava -------------------------------------------- When the level begins, jump to the platform nearby and make sure you don't accidentally fall into the lava below. Stomp on the Dry Bones and then leap from one gray platform to the next, heading upward and making sure you don't get squashed between them. To the left, you'll see a ? Block that contains a power-up and a block next to it containing several coins. Now head through the door on the right side of the room. You will now notice what is probably the most annoying part of this whole level: The lava constantly rises! If you make one mistake, you are likely to plummet into the boiling lava as it constantly floods the area. As soon as you enter the next room, start moving to avoid the lava as it starts heading upward. Jump to the wire fence and punch the grate to flip to the other side if you want some extra coins. But keep moving! Jump to the ledge with the two ? Blocks, and get the power-up in the right one if you need it. Now head jump up, grabbing and climbing wire fences on your way, until you reach solid ground. Don't get squashed by the gray block, and head left and begin to climb more wire fences. You will have to time your jump between wire fences when you get to a pair of gray blocks. Once you reach solid ground again, you will have to hurry, but still be careful to avoid the spiked gray blocks. If you need a power-up, you can grab one in the ? Block between the two spiked gray blocks. You will reach the continue flag after you climb the next wire fence. From there, head over to the wire fence on the left side of the room and wait for the gray block above to move out of the way so you can safely jump to the next fence. Keep heading upward quickly while being careful to get squashed by the gray blocks all around you, but don't wait around too long for the blocks to move, or you may find the lava hitting you and killing you instantly. Once you are done getting through the gray blocks area, you can decide whether or not you want to participate in an eight red coin challenge, or you can just hop up the next few wire fences until you reach the boss door. Make sure you're powered up with a Fire Flower. It will make the fight ahead really easy. ----------------- Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1.5/5 ----------------- Bowser Jr. now hides in his shell a lot more often this time around, and he also throws shells at you. These attacks aren't really that tough to dodge, and you can destroy the shells Bowser Jr. throws at you with a fireball. This boss is still a pushover and you should beat him with little or no problems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World 4-Castle Difficulty: 3/5 Biggest Problem: Thwomps and swinging platforms; look before you leap! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Make a leap to the swinging platform once the level begins and make sure you have good footing or else you'll slip and fall into the dangerous lava. There is a coin in the ? Block nearby, but there is a power-up in the one on the next platform. Now you must jump to two more swinging platforms, and then you will reach solid ground. The Dry Bones on the swinging platforms shouldn't give you too many problems; just jump on them to make then fall into a pile of bones. By the time the Dry Bones rebuilds itself, you'll be off the platform! Once you reach solid ground after the second swinging platform, grab the coins in the ? Blocks and then make your way to the right while avoiding the Thwomps that will come crashing down. They are easy to avoid: Just stand by them, wait for them to crash down, then run past them as they rise toward the ceiling. After you get past all three Thwomps (the third one crashes down on blocks that required a small jump to get over), you will see a column of blocks and a series of blue platforms with a Thwomp. You can completely avoid the Thwomp by easily wall-kicking between the wall and the column of blocks until you reach the top. Both of the ? Blocks here have coins in them. Jump to the next platform and stomp on the Dry Bones. Up ahead, you'll see a gigantic Thwomp that will break the rows of blocks beneath him one row at a time. When he does and then crashes down a fourth time, he will be low enough that you can jump over him before he rises back to the ceiling. Head down the next few stair-like platforms once you get past the gigantic Thwomp, picking up the power-up in the ? Block on the way. Get past the two Thwomps on the stairs and at the bottom, you'll find another gigantic Thwomp. To dodge this one, wait until it destroys the rows of blocks below it, and then sprint across the blocks as the Thwomp rises back to the ceiling. Jump over the lava and to the next platform with the ? Block containing a power-up. Jump to the platform to the right, jump up and hit the ? Block, and then grab the 1-Up Mushroom. It will be easier to grab if you hit the ? Block when the swinging platform is near, because the Mushroom will then move onto the platform, allowing you to grab it easily without the risk of falling into the lava. After jumping from swinging platform to swinging platform, you will come across this castle's boss door. ---------------------- Boss: Gigantic Goomba Difficulty: 3/5 ---------------------- If you think that little Goomba that walks out is going to be the boss of this castle, think again! The Goomba grows into a gigantic Goomba and is determined to stomp you for a change! Stomp on the ? Switch to make two platforms appear that rise when you stand on them. Use one of the platforms and stand on it. When it reaches its highest point, jump and ground pound the Goomba. Do that two more times to win this battle. You can also use fireballs to damage this boss, but it's hard to keep your Fire Flower power for that long, because you are wide open to be hit by the gigantic Goomba if you are not on one of those rising platforms. --------------------------------------------------------- World 5-Tower Difficulty: 4/5 Biggest Problem: Spiked balls that bombard your platform --------------------------------------------------------- You will immediately start to rise when the level starts, and that's because you are on a constantly rising platform, and you will remain that way for most of the level. As you rise, you can grab some of the coins floating in mid-air. But eventually you will start having to deal with spiked balls. The first one appears after about two seconds. You must leap over it as it rolls around on your platform. If you need it, you can find a power-up in the right ? Block (the left one contains a coin) a little higher up from the section of wall that the first spiked ball rolled into. As you proceed higher up, more spiked balls will continue to roll onto your platform. The bad news is, they are annoying and may sometimes even be hard to avoid, especially when there are more than one on your platform at a time. The good news is, the spiked balls will destroy any Dry Bones that find their way onto your platform, which opens up some maneuvering room. Higher up in the level, you will begin to notice that two spiked balls will start to roll around on your platform, so make sure you are extremely careful, and take the power-up in the ? Block that will appear on the left side of the screen if you have taken damage. When the big spiked ball breaks through the wall about three-quarters of the way through the level, it's time to abandon the rising platform and start jumping on the blue ones instead. Don't get too close to the spiked ball or you will take unwanted damage. Just jump up from platform to platform as fast as you can, but avoid Dry Bones. Head upward until the spiked ball rolls off the platform and you see the boss door. Grab the power-up in the block if you need it, then head through the door. ----------------- Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1.5/5 ----------------- What makes this match slightly tricky is the fact that ice coats the platform on which you fight Bowser Jr. But all you have to do is bombard him with fireballs and maybe jump on his head once and that'll be enough to defeat him. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World 5-Castle Difficulty: 3/5 Biggest Problem: Conveyor belts that make your movements less accurate ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a power-up in the ? Block that is above the conveyor belt right next to the starting platform. Be careful because the conveyor belt constantly moves you to the right if you stand still and you may fall into the abyss. Jump to the next platform to prevent this from happening. Jump on the Dry Bones and then jump from conveyor belt to conveyor belt while avoiding Piranha Plants. If you have Fire Flower power, you can shoot the Piranha Plants with a fireball to make walking across these conveyor belts a little bit easier. You can find several coins in the block above the sixth conveyor belt. Now leap to the solid ground platform and stomp on the Dry Bones so you don't get damaged by it. Jump across several more platforms with Dry Bones on them until you reach a conveyor belt with a Dry Bones. The next platform has two ? Blocks above it, the left one containing a power-up. The Piranha Plant up ahead shoots fire, but you can counter with some of your own if you're powered up with a Fire Flower. Head up the next several conveyor belts, while dodging several Dry Bones that will be headed your way, followed by a gigantic Dry Bones. Get past the Piranha Plant on the conveyor belt below (or blast it with a fireball) and then jump to the icy surface. You will encounter several Piranha Plants in this area that will ride conveyor belts for a couple of seconds, and then land on the icy surface. Just avoid them if you do not have Fire Flower power, and hit them with a fireball if you do. You will come across a gigantic Piranha Plant as you press further on to the right, and all you have to do is shoot it with three fireballs to defeat it. Of course, if you are not powered up with a Fire Flower, just leap to the next conveyor belt while completely avoiding it. As you proceed to the right across the slippery surface, avoid or stomp on the Dry Bones, one of which is gigantic. The gigantic one is found right next the boss door. A jump on the head does not defeat these large enemies, but it does freeze them for a second or two. Jump on the gigantic Dry Bones' head once or twice and then head on over to the boss door. -------------------- Boss: Petey Piranha Difficulty: 2/5 -------------------- Petey Piranha has returned from Mario's Gamecube adventure Super Mario Sunshine for a rematch! When Petey slams the ground, you can either jump on him, ground pound him, or shoot him with fireballs. Which ever method you decided to use, this boss isn't that hard to beat. I defeated Petey by using a combination of fireballs and jumps. It isn't that hard of a battle, and the only real challenge is keeping your footing steady on the icy ground. --------------------------------------------- World 6-Tower 1 Difficulty: 3.5/5 Biggest Problem: The spiked pillars are back! --------------------------------------------- This is the first of the two towers here in World 6. When the level starts, you will immediately see a spiked pillar crashing into the wall on the right. Jump up the first two blue platforms. Now wait until the pillar heads to the left and then hit the ? Block to get a power-up. Now leap to the next platform and wait for the spiked pillar above to head over to the left. You must now run to the next blue platform and jump up onto it before the spiked pillar hits you. Don't jump too high, or else you'll get hit by the next spiked pillar which is just above you. Now sprint to the left, run into the lowered section of ground and duck, and the spiked pillar will miss you. When the pillar heads back to the right, jump up the next several platforms dodging more spiked pillars. You will reach the continue flag when you jump to the blue platform with a gigantic Dry Bones once you dodge a couple more spiked pillars. As mentioned before, jumps on the head do not effect the gigantic Dry Bones, but you can jump on him and get extra air to hit the ? Block that contains a power-up. The blocks to the left and to the right of the ? Block both contain several coins each. Jump up the next few platforms very carefully, making sure you time it right to avoid getting hit by those annoying spiked pillars. When you reach the platform with the trampoline, wait for both pillars to head back to their walls, and then bounce on the trampoline to make it to the next platform. Just make sure you don't bump into the gigantic Dry Bones on that platform, though. Now head up the next few blue platforms and head through the door. This room is incredibly dangerous. You must wait until every spiked pillar is back on its wall, and then you must quickly jump from platform to platform before they hit you. It is wise to come into this room powered up with at a Mushroom so that you won't die if you are hit by a spiked pillar. Go through the door at the top of the room to access an area in the previous room with a Dry Bones and the boss door. ------------------ Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1.5/5 ------------------ As you fight Bowser Jr. this time, the platform on which you battle him shifts to the left and to the right depending on where you are standing. It's easy to defeat Bowser Jr. with fireballs, like always, but as the platform shifts, you may have trouble getting hits on him. It's easier to hit him with any fireballs you can, and then finish him off with one or two stomps on the head. It's still not that difficult of a fight, even at this point in the game. ------------------------------------------------------------------ World 6-Tower 2 Difficulty: 3.5/5 Biggest Problem: Conveyor belts and the pesky foes that ride them ------------------------------------------------------------------ A Dry Bones will come at you with the help of some conveyor belts above you as soon as the level begins, so brace yourself and jump on the Dry Bones before it hits you. Now jump up the conveyor belts and above the third one you'll see a ? Block that contains a power-up. Now jump to the next set of conveyor belts, making sure you are constantly moving to the left and fighting against the conveyor belt's flow to the right. Next, perform a wall kick above the spikes on the wall to get onto the platform above you and then kick the shell enemy onto the conveyor belt to the right and it will hit the block several times, giving you extra coins. From the conveyor belt where you kicked the shell enemy, jump up the next two stair-like conveyor belts and then leap to the ones to the left, but be careful not to run into the nearby spikes. Jump up the next to conveyor belts to reach a solid platform with a lone Dry Bones on it. From there, jump to the conveyor belt to your left and then hop up onto the ledge jutting out from the wall. As you head across the next several conveyor belts, beware of the gigantic Dry Bones that will be riding the conveyor belts, attempting to hit you. The block above the ledge jutting out from the wall above the spikes contains a power-up if you need it. If you stand on top of the block, you can jump to the conveyor belt to your left, saving you about ten seconds and allowing you to skip climbing the next few conveyor belts. Now jump up to the solid platform with the two pipe cannons. The left one launches you to the left, allowing you to collect a row of coins. The right one launches you high into the air and onto a platform with a conveyor belt and blocks that Spinys climb on. Duck under the blocks and ride underneath them without getting hit by the Spinys. If you are powered up with at least a Mushroom, you can break the blocks to create a shortcut. Now jump to the next two conveyor belts and then climb the stair-like platform. The first block above this platform contains several coins, while the ? Block contains a power-up. If you want a Star Coin, you'll have to use the nearby rope to get over to it. But if you don't want the Star Coin, just hop right into the pipe cannon to your left and it will launch to the boss door, leaving a trail of coins behind. You can choose to pick them up or just head into the boss door. ----------------- Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 2/5 ----------------- In this battle with Bowser Jr., the shifting platform returns, and your foe likes to hide in his shell a lot more often. He will also toss shells your way that may be a little harder to avoid if the platform has shifted in a way that you cannot jump over the shell. Just hit Bowser Jr. with lots of fireballs if you have them, or use a combination of both fireballs and stomps to finish off Bowser Jr. as soon as possible. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World 6-Castle Difficulty: 3/5 Biggest Problem: Moving gray platforms that can both help and hurt you ----------------------------------------------------------------------- When the level begins, wait for a gray platform to come moving your way, then hop onto it and grab the power-up in the ? Block before jumping to the nearby platform. Defeat the Koopa and then use the gray platform as it moves to the right to reach the next platform, making sure you don't accidentally fall into the red-hot lava below. Now jump to the moving gray platform with the Koopa on it and jump from its highest point to reach the top of the tall platform to the right. Now jump and get the coins in the ? Blocks above this platform. Now stomp on the Koopa and throw its shell at the ? Block to the right to get a power-up. Jump across the next few platforms using the moving gray platforms that moving between each solid platform until you reach a solid platform with a ? Block containing a power-up. You are now about three-quarters of the way through the castle, so keep it up! Next, use the moving gray platform to the right to reach the two gray platforms that move up and down toward each other, but be careful not to get squashed between them. Head through the narrow tunnel, making sure the moving gray blocks don't nudge you into the spikes, then head through the door. Use the gray platforms as steps as you press onward and upward, then jump to the platform with the boss door. ------------------ Boss: Monty Mole Difficulty: 3.5/5 ------------------ Head to the right once you enter the boss door. Monty Mole will come driving up in a tank that shoots Bullet Bills. He will also throw in his own Bob-ombs to make things a little tougher. It's easier to just jump on his head rather than bombard him with fireballs, so stomp on his head once to send him into his tank. He will then start spinning around shooting Bullet Bills one after another. Monty Mole will then come back out of his tank, which now has two Bullet Bill cannons. Since Monty Mole is also a little higher, you will need to jump on a Bullet Bill to get up the necessary height to successfully stomp Monty Mole a second time. Be careful as he shoots Bullet Bills crazily this time, because they come out of both cannons, making dodging every single Bullet Bill incredibly tricky. For the third hit, you must jump on two Bullet Bills, one right after the other, to get high enough to stomp on Monty Mole. After the third hit, he's defeated. ---------------------------------------------------------- World 7-Tower Difficulty: 4/5 Biggest Problem: Gray platforms that move and have SPIKES! ---------------------------------------------------------- When the level begins, you can grab a power-up by hitting the third block in the row of six blocks to the right of the starting point. Head over to the blue platforms. Jump upwards from platform to platform, making sure you are not too far to the right, because if you are, you'll get hit by the spikes. When you reach the top of the blue platforms head to the left and go up the red warp pipe. Once on the other side of the pipe, walk onto the part of the gray platform that does not have spikes, and ride it to the other side. Jump up the next few stair-like platforms, avoiding the spiked gray platforms that rise and lower a few inches above your head. Jump up the blue platforms and avoid the next several spiked gray platforms as you walk across blue platforms and jump across them as well. When you reach the row of ? Blocks, hit the second one from the wall to get a power-up, but be careful not to collide with the spiked gray platform that is dangerously close to the ? Blocks. Jump up the next blue platforms. Now jump onto the gray platform that is not spiked, duck so that you avoid the spiked one above, then jump to the top of the next one that only has spikes on the bottom. Then jump to the one to your left, avoiding the spikes, then leap to the blue platforms on the left wall. Jump to the edge of the gray platform to the right, and then hop up into the little cranny to find a ? Block with a power-up, but you'll have to ride the platform over to the other side and then hop up some blue platforms to reach it. Jump up the gray platforms here as if they were stairs, just don't collide with those spikes. Enter the door to the left. The block in the middle of the row of blocks in this small room contains a power-up. If you need it, grab it, then head through the door on the right side of the room. You are now back in the previous room, but in an area that you could not reach before. Jump up the blue platforms and wait for a gray platform with no spikes and then jump onto it. It will take you up to a ? Block containing a power-up. Run across the path to the left, avoiding the spikes on those gray platforms as you go along. Now jump on top of one of the gray platforms and use it to get over to the blue platform. Next up is a group of gray platforms, and they all have spikes on them. To get by them all, you will have to ride on them as their positions shuffle. When you can jump to the ledge in the upper-right corner, do it. Now just ride one of the many gray platforms here up to the boss door. ------------------ Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 1.5/5 ------------------ The slight movements of the platform on which you fight Bowser Jr. isn't really that hard to deal with, and by now you should be used to Bowser Jr.'s shell hide and shell throwing attack. Fireballs are a great way to finish off this boss quickly, so use Fire Flower power if you have it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- World 7-Castle Difficulty: 4/5 Biggest Problem: Obstacles that make moving platform travel more difficult --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the level has started, jump over the gap and grab the coin in the ? Block before heading up the stair-like platform. At the top, you will see a platform made up of multiple green blocks. Once you step on it, it starts to move. This is your method of transportation throughout most of this castle. As the platform moves along, jump over the electrical enemies that get in your way. When the platform moves above the spikes, hit the ? Block for a power-up. If you are small Mario, make sure most of the moving platform is behind the ? Block so that the Mushroom that will come out of it doesn't fall into the spikes before you can grab it. Keep in mind that Thwomps and spikes will try to make travel more difficult, so trick the Thwomps into falling sooner than later so that you don't run into them as the moving platform continues onward. Or, if you want to, you can just run right past the Thwomps, but make sure you stay on the moving platform or else you'll fall into the spike pit. The moving platform will stop at the solid platform up ahead. Grab the power-up in the ? Block if you need it, then jump to the second moving platform of the castle. Now you must ride this moving platform as it heads toward several Ball 'n' Chains. Keep in mind that the chains of the Ball 'n' Chains do not cause damage. With this bit of information, getting past these Ball 'n' Chains is just a matter of jumping through the chains when the moving platform heads for the spiked ball end of the Ball 'n' Chain. When you reach the rocket engines (that will be familiar for people that have played Super Mario Bros. 3), be careful not to get hit by the flames that shoot out of them as your moving platform heads deeper into the castle. Sometimes waiting on the back end of the moving platform is an easy way to avoid the flames of the rocket engines. The moving platform stops in mid-air just before the platform with the boss door, so hurry and jump off before the platform plummets into the abyss. Head on through the floor when you're ready to fight a Lakitu with a new lightning attack. --------------------- Boss: Thunder Lakitu Difficulty: 2/5 --------------------- As I mentioned above, this Lakitu has a new lightning attack that really isn't all that difficult to avoid. Just stand a safe distance away and you'll be just fine. Thunder Lakitu will also toss Spinys your way, but you can deal with them with fireballs if you got them. To damage Thunder Lakitu, wait for him to swoop toward you, then jump on his head. Now you have to jump on his head only two more times and then you're done. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World 8-Tower 1 Difficulty: 4/5 Biggest Problem: The gray platforms that can both help and hurt return ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wait for a helpful gray platform to move your way so that you can jump to it without falling into the spike pit. Grab the power-up in the ? Block if you need it, then stomp on the Dry Bones. Leap to the next moving gray platform then use it to reach a Star Coin if you want it. Now jump to the long gray platform, avoiding the spikes. Now use the gray platforms to get to the next several platforms, stomping on Dry Bones that may try to damage you as you progress. Spikes on the edge of the platforms will also give you trouble, so remember not to jump too far when trying to get from platform to platform, or else you'll have a hard time avoiding the spikes. When you reach a huge gray platform, be sure it is heading to the right and not about to squash you up against the wall, then wall kick up and onto the platform as it comes back to the left. There is a power-up in the ? Block right above the huge gray platform. Now wait in the opening right before the narrow tunnel with the spikes. When the gray platform comes your way, duck and let it push you through the tunnel. Jump up the stair-like platforms and avoid the Spike Tops that are immune to fireballs. Jump up and to the right, and ride the large gray platform up to a solid platform with a Dry Bones. Stomp on it and then use the next two gray platforms as steps to get up to the next solid platform, but be careful not to get squashed between them! Use the trampoline to get up to the platform with the boss door. ------------------ Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 2.5/5 ------------------ The tricky part of this battle with Bowser Jr. is the fact that there are rocket engines shooting flames on both sides of the battle platform. Still, if you bombard Bowser Jr. with fireballs he'll go down quickly so you don't have to take too much damage from the rocket engine flames. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ World 8-Castle 1 Difficulty: 4/5 Biggest Problem: Moving and rotating platforms above the dangerous lava ------------------------------------------------------------------------ You will see a red-and-yellow block when the level starts. Hit it to make the moving platform ahead switch between two possible tracks. It doesn't matter which one you choose at this point, since you'll only ride this first moving platform for only a couple of seconds. Jump to the solid platform and then switch the moving platform to the higher track only if you want the Star Coin. If you don't just hop on the moving platform and ride it to a solid platform with a lone Dry Bones and a ? Block containing a power-up. Stomp on the Dry Bones and then ride the moving platform to the next solid platform. You can still reach the ? Blocks above even from the lower track, so it's not really worth switching tracks at this point. Hitting the next red-and-yellow block will make a moving platform appear on the track next to the Dry Bones. This moving platform will help you get enough height to reach the moving platform to the right. Ride it as it travels on three separate tracks, then hop off and onto the row of four stone blocks. If you hit the next red-and-yellow block, you will not have to ride dangerously close to the lava, which you must do if you jump on the moving platform while it is on the lower track. At the end of either track you will see a rope. Jump to the rope, then swing and jump to the solid platform with two ? Blocks. The one on the right contains a power-up for those that may need it. Now you must jump across several rotating platforms that come in different shapes and sizes. Just one mistake will send you into the lava, so take it slowly but don't camp out too long, or the platform will rotate and you'll slip off. The ? Block above the first rectangular rotating platform contains a power-up. Wait for all three rectangular platforms to form a straight, long platform, then dash across and leap to the rope. Swing and then jump to the platform with the boss door. ------------------ Boss: Bony Bowser Difficulty: 2.5/5 ------------------ This is a skeleton version of your rival Bowser. This bony boss throws bones at you and can also shoot fireballs at you. Wait for him to jump high into the air and then jump on the switch and he'll go plummeting into the lava. This battle is not too hard once you get used to avoiding the bones Bowser chucks at you. However, this is not the last you'll see of Bowser in this adventure. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- World 8-Tower 2 Difficulty: 4.5/5 Biggest Problem: Spikes and flames make moving platform travel really tough ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the last tower level of the game starts, run to the right and hop onto moving platform made up of eight green blocks. There is a power-up in the ? Block, but it's risky to get because the moving platform might move to fast for you to grab the power-up and then get back to the moving platform in time. Carefully work your way around the flames that will look familiar to people who have played dungeon levels in the original Super Mario Bros. As the moving platform moves along, be careful not to slip off and into any of the spikes that you will encounter and dodge the flames that you will come across also. When you reach the tunnel with spikes all around, the moving platform will start to move in a strange formation. Just keep your cool and remain standing on the platform and don't run into any of the spikes. Once you're out of the spike tunnel, the moving platform will be moving around in different formations in an attempt to make you fall off. Focus and move along with the platform as it moves around in unusual ways. There is a power-up in a ? Block near the area where the moving platform starts moving in a stair-like formation, but there are so many flames around that you may lose that power-up a little to quickly. Jump back to your moving platform and watch out for the spiked ball that will suddenly roll your way. After about fifteen seconds after the first spiked ball, a second one will roll your way and will land on the moving platform. Do not run into it as it rides the platform for about five seconds before falling into the spike pit below. Not long after that spiked ball appears, a third one will roll onto the moving platform, so don't let that one damage you either. Ride the moving platform up between the two walls of spikes, and then jump off the moving platform and head over to the boss door. ------------------ Boss: Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 2.5/5 ------------------ There is lava beneath the battle platform, and fireballs that shoot up from both sides. But the platform doesn't shift, move, or anything. So if you have Fire Flower power, you can take out Bowser Jr. quickly and easily without having trouble hitting him with your fireballs. If you are not powered up with a Fire Flower, however, this can be a tough fight, because of the fact that Bowser Jr. likes to hide in his shell if you get to close and you have to hit him with a shell and THEN jump on him to do damage. -------------------------------------------------------------- World 8-Castle 2 Difficulty: 5/5 Biggest Problem: The extremely large amount of rocket engines -------------------------------------------------------------- This is the final castle in New Super Mario Bros. Keep your wits about you; this is not going to be easy. The second the level starts, start running. If done correctly, you can run across the whole room in just a few seconds without getting hit by the fireballs that shoot out of the lava below. Enter the door at the right end of the room. In the next room, you'll find three blocks. The left one breaks if you hit it, the middle one contains a ? Switch, and the right one contains a power-up. Hit the ? Switch to flip the room upside-down, allowing you to get over to the door that was originally on the ceiling. Enter the door. This room contains the extremely large amount of rocket engines that I think will cause you the most trouble in this castle. There are just so many, it is really hard not to get hit by them. Once you enter the room, jump up onto the row of blocks to the right, but duck to avoid the rocket engine's flame. Now jump up this stair-like platform, avoiding two more rocket engine flames. Stomp on the Dry Bones, then drop down onto the platform below. Wait for the rocket engine flames to retreat, then dash to the right. Use the block above the spike pit to get across, but watch out for the rocket engine that will shoot its flame dangerously close to the block. Wait for the next rocket engine's flame to retreat, then hop to the next platform. Hop to the narrow column of blocks when the rocket engine there is not shooting flame, then jump from there to a door. Go through the door. Stand near the gigantic Thwomp to make it fall, then quickly jump over the blocks the Thwomp lands on before it falls again. There is a power-up in the ? Block and there is a ? Switch in the second block from the column of stone blocks. Hit the ? Switch to flip the room upside-down, then head to the left, avoid the Thwomp, and head through the door. You are now back in the rocket engine room, except now it is upside-down. Press on to the left while avoiding rocket engine flames. Stomp on the Dry Bones and then continue onward, leaping over the spike pit when you reach it. Hit the block here to get a ? Switch. Hit the switch to make a platform appear in the next room over. Now head back to the right until you come to the ledge with a rocket engine that never stops shooting its flame. Carefully jump to the ledge, then duck and slide under the rocket engine up ahead, then enter the door. This room contains three Thwomps. Approach each one of them, then get past them as they rise. When you get past the third Thwomp, jump down toward the blocks below, avoiding the spikes. There is a power-up in the block on the right side of the spike pit. Walk across the blocks to get over the spike pit, then head down the stair-like platforms and hit the right block of the second set of blocks to reveal a ? Switch. Hit it to flip the room upside-down. Now proceed upward and avoid the Thwomp, then jump up the next platform. Stand near the Thwomp to make it fall, then drop down and run before the Thwomp falls again. Jump over the pit, stomp on the Dry Bones, and head through the next door. You are now in the room with the platform that appeared after you hit the ? Switch in the rocket engine room. Use the moving platform to get over the spike pit and over to a ledge with a door. Once you enter the next room, you'll find a Star Coin underneath the platform with the next door, so grab it if you want it. Then jump up onto the platform and enter the door. Jump over the lava and onto the platform and hit the ? Block to get a power-up. Then jump to the next platform without making a mistake and falling into the lava. Up next is a puzzle from the original Super Mario Bros. You must choose the correct path to make the route onward appear. The first correct path is underneath both rows of blocks. Next, jump and run across the blocks, avoiding the spikes by not jumping when underneath them. Finally, head through the middle of the two rows of blocks. Now carefully jump across the next two small platforms, then leap to the next platform, with a Star Coin for those that want it. Jump to the row of blocks, then leap to the platform with the final boss door. Head inside when you are ready. ---------------------------------- Final Boss: Bowser and Bowser Jr. Difficulty: 5/5 ---------------------------------- Proceed down the corridor until you reach the bridge. Bowser Jr. will chuck the bones of Bony Bowser into a cauldron. Suddenly, Bowser pops out of it, fully healed, ready for a final confrontation. The trouble is, Bowser Jr. will be fighting alongside him! This boss battle is very difficult if you are not powered up with a Fire Flower. You will have throw shells at Bowser Jr. and stomp on him as well as dodge Bowser's fireballs. If you ARE powered up with a Fire Flower, however, just shoot fireballs at Bowser Jr. until he's down and out, and know all you have to worry about is Bowser. Bowser shoots red and blue fireballs. Avoid them and wait for Bowser to jump up high. At this point, run underneath him and step on the switch to send Bowser plummeting down into the abyss. Princess Peach will come down and stand next to Mario, and then give her big hero a kiss. Awww. How sweet. --------------- 5. Final Words --------------- And that concludes this New Super Mario Bros. Tower and Castle FAQ! I hope it helped you with the towers and castles of this very fun and addictive game! Thank you so much for reading this FAQ! Have a nice day!