Gameplay

Step into the shoes of Mario as you embark on an epic quest through the vibrant Mushroom Kingdom. Your mission: survive Bowser's menacing forces and rescue the beloved Princess Toadstool. To win each level, simply reach the flagpole at the end.

The world is filled with opportunities for Mario to collect. Coins are scattered everywhere, and hitting question mark blocks is key to uncovering more riches or special power-ups. Even other bricks might hide coins or rare items, so it's worth checking them all when possible. When Mario eats a Super Mushroom , he transforms into Super Mario — doubling in size and gaining the ability to smash bricks from below. If he gets hit in this state, he reverts to regular Mario instead of losing a life. If Mario finds a Fire Flower , he becomes Fire Mario — gaining the power to throw bouncing fireballs. Finally, if Mario touches a rare bouncing Super Star, he turns into Star Mario. In this temporary form, he's invulnerable to almost everything and can defeat enemies with a simple touch. Use these incredible powers quickly! You start with a set number of lives, which you lose if you take damage, fall into a pit, or run out of time.

Mario primarily attacks enemies by jumping on top of them, though different foes react differently. For instance, a Goomba will flatten, while a Koopa Troopa retracts into its shell, letting Mario kick it to clear other enemies. Be careful, though, as shells can bounce back! You can also defeat enemies above you by hitting the brick they're standing on.

The game features eight distinct worlds, each with four "stages." The final stage of every world culminates in a castle showdown with Bowser on a suspension bridge. [SPOILER ALERT] The first seven "Bowser" encounters are actually imposters; the true Bowser awaits in World 8. Defeat Bowser and his decoys by jumping over them and grabbing the axe at the bridge's end.

Explore special underwater stages with unique enemies, plus hidden bonuses and secret areas. Many secret zones offer extra coins, while some contain "warp pipes" that allow Mario to skip ahead to later worlds!