How to Find All Three Switches
Green Switch:
In Course 6, make your way to the blue-water creature area. Climb on his head and steer him over to the island, where there is red grating on the ground but not blocking the door. Jump off onto the red grating, go through the door and jump into the pool of metallic liquid. You will be metallic Mario here temporarily, which will allow you to walk underwater and against the current. Hop from island to island and you will see the green switch that makes you metallic Mario, allowing you to walk underwater and kill most enemies by touching them.
Blue Switch:
From the door in the castle that leads to course 6 (facing away from the door), go left and left again. There should be a door with no star on it. Go in it and you will come to an area with water. There should be two small platforms in the water that you can jump on. Do a butt-slam on both of them, which will drain the castle moat. Once you have drained the moat, go out the door, and head towards the waterfall. There will be a hole you can fall in. Follow the logical path through this area and you will see the blue switch, which makes you transparent Mario, allowing you to walk through all gratings and certain other places.
Red Switch:
After you get 10 stars, a light will shine down in the center of the main floor where you first enter the castle. There is a large picture of the sun on the ground. Stand in the center and look up at the sun. You will be transported to a level where you can fly through the clouds -- you start out in this level with the wings. The red switch is on the platform at the bottom in the center of the level. It gives you wings. To fly, either do a triple jump, or launch yourself out of a cannon.
Tip #2:
Here is an easy way to kill Bowser: When you grab him by the tail, don't swing him around ... just point him towards a bomb and let him go. He will fall in front of you. Go pick him up again, then let him go, etc. He will move forward a tiny bit each time and he will eventually hit the bomb. This trick will kill Bowser 1 and Bowser 2 no problem. On Bowser 3, this trick only works twice. (The third time you actually have to throw him into a bomb.)
Tip #3:
Five Coin Post Trick: If you come across a wooden post in the ground, run around it. After you run about four complete circles around it, five coins will pop out. This makes collecting 100 coins a lot easier on certain levels.
Tip #4:
The Butterfly 1-Up Trick: Sometimes in the game you will see a bunch of butterflies fly out of a tree or grass. Punch or touch any of them and they will turn into a 1-UP. (Normally, they will all scatter, but one will stay around for you to get.) Credits: Kevin Lambert (kevin@lith.com), Jesse Howeth (ferrisb@gnn.com), Derrin Z. (dmzerr@inst.augie.edu), Foh Chit Yee (chityee@signet.com.sg), and Scott McCall (capscott@nauticom.net).This FAQ is copyright 1996, Kevin Lambert. It may be distributed freely, but please keep the credits section and this copyright notice intact.
Tip #5
Bowser 1 --Location: (You need eight stars to open the large star door to get to this level.) Main floor of the castle, up the stairs, through the door with the huge star on it. (Trapdoor in the floor in the hallway.) Prize: The first key. (Opens the locked door to the lower floor of the castle and gives you access to courses 6, 7, 8 and when you get enough stars to enter the next door with the huge star on it, course 9.) To kill Bowser: Run around him, pick him up by the tail, and rotate the joystick in circles. The faster you swing him, the farther you will throw him. Throw him into one bomb to kill him. Star 1: Get all eight red coins.
Bowser 2 --Location: (You need 30 stars to open the large star door to get to this level.) Lower floor of the castle, through the door with the huge star on it. Prize: The second key. (Opens the locked door to the upper floor of the castle and gives you access to courses 10, 11, 12, 13, and when you get enough stars to enter the next door with the huge star on it, courses 14 and 15.) To kill Bowser: Run around him (easiest when he throws fire or runs at you), pick him up by the tail, and swing him into one bomb again. Star 1: Get all eight red coins.
Bowser 3 --Location: (You need 70 stars to get to this level.) Upper floor of the castle, up the stairs that lead to the very top, through the star door and up the final staircase. (If you don't have enough stars, the staircase will go on forever, if you do have enough, you will reach the top of the staircase.) Prize: Finishing the game! To kill Bowser: Run around him (easiest when he throws fire), pick him up by the tail, and swing him into three bombs. Star 1: Get all eight red coins.
Extra Stars --
Star 1: Main floor of castle, up the stairs, door on the right with a star on it. There are pictures of the princess in the small room, jump through the one on the right and finish the race for a star.
Star 2: In the room with the picture for course 3, there are two holes in the wall up high you can jump into. One of them has extra men, and the other is a bonus swimming level. Collect all eight red coins for a star.
Star 3: After you have 20 stars, catch the bunny in the lower level of the castle where courses 6-8 are. (You can run and press punch and dive on him -- it's not easy.)
Star 4: After you have 20 stars, talk to the toadstool guy who should be in room where you enter course 6. He will give you a star.
Star 5: After you have 50 stars, the bunny will be back for more. Catch him again for a star.
Star 6: After you have 50 stars, in the upper level of the castle where courses 10 to 13 are, one of the toadstool guys will give you a star if you talk to him.
Star 7: After you have 50 stars, in the room with courses 14 and 15, talk to the toadstool guy and get a star.
Star 8: In the room with courses 14 and 15, go into the room high up in the wall across from where course 15 is. There is a bonus level there. Collect all red coins for a star.
Star 9: Bowser level 1 - get all eight red coins.
Star 10: Bowser level 2 - get all eight red coins
Star 11: Bowser level 3 - get all eight red coins
Star 12: Green switch level - get all eight red coins
Star 13: Blue switch level - get all eight red coins
Star 14: Red switch level - get all eight red coins
Star 15: Same location as extra star 1 (the princes picture on the main floor of the castle). Finish the race in under 21 seconds.
Tip #6:
Yoshi:After you have all 120 stars, go outside the castle to the grate that has been closed for the whole game. There is a cannon inside. Launch yourself on top of the castle, go around back, and talk to Yoshi. Yoshi says (translated to English), "Wow, I was told that if I hung around here that I'd get to see you! I guess they were right. I have a message for you: 'This is nothing to get excited about, but, since we want you to play this game some more, please accept this "boring" gift.' - from the Mario Staff"
Tip #7:
Warps:
Warps are areas that if you stand still in them, you will be transported to another location in the level. If you want to reuse the same warp, all you need to do is jump, or walk off the warp spot and then walk back. Warp 1a will take you to warp 1b, warp1b will take you to warp 1a, warp 2a will take you to warp 2b, warp 2b will take you to warp 2a, etc.
Course 1: Warp 1a: (Click here for picture) From where you start, as soon as you cross the brown bridge, jump over the fence to the right. The warp is in the center of the yellow flower bed. Warp 1b: (Click here for picture) When you cross the bridge that tilts, climb up the stairs, and keep going straight and to the left of the black bomb guys. The warp is in the center of the yellow flower bed near the red box. Warp 2a and 2b: (Click here for picture) As you are climbing up the mountain, you will notice that the black rolling balls come out of the holes in the side of the mountain. There is a warp in the center of both holes ... one takes you to the other, and vice-versa.
Course 2: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) In the corner next to the only green block on the level. (near the big blue puffy stomping guys).Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) In the corner of the platform with the flagpole that extends up into the sky.
Course 3: ???
Course 4: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) When you start the level, go around to the right. The warp is on the edge of the broken bridge. Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) At the bottom of the level from the pool with the large penguin in it, go right. The warp is at the edge of the broken bridge under the mountain. Warp 2a: (Click here for pictures) In the race, when you see a wall on your right, follow the row of straight coins and go through the wall. Warp 2b: (Click here for pictures) You will come out of the hole into the room at the end of the race. This is a one-way warp -- you can't go from 2b to 2a.
Course 5: ???
Course 6: ???
Course 7: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) There is a platform near where you start with an eyeball on it.Underneath him is a hole in the grating. The warp is in the hole. Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) From the start of the level, there is an island behind you across the fire. It has a red block on it. The warp is in the center of that island.
Course 8: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) There is a palm tree next to a pool of water near where the vulture is flying. The warp is at the bottom of the tree in the tree's shadow. Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) In the corner of the entire level where the cannon is (on the section with the large cubes), the ground is divided into squares. The warp is in the center of the 4th square down from the cannon. (Stand at the cannon and face the pyramid, then turn left, then go down 4 squares and stand in the center.) Warp 2a: (Anyone got a pic?) Inside the pyramid, in the corner of the second floor, there are some goombas around a pole that goes up to the third floor. After you climb the pole, the warp is in the corner on your right. This takes you above the grating on the second floor where you can get an extra man. This is a one-way warp, there is no warp that will take you back.
Course 9: ???
Course 10: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) In the shadow of the tree in the corner of the entire level. Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) In the shadow of the tree just before the island with the moving triangles on it.
Course 11: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) The water level must be all the way down to use this warp. On the ground, there is a white structure made up of three steps. On the second step, there is a spinning black ball that will shock you if you touch it. On the third step, there is a diamond that will raise the water level. The warp is on the ground (you will be standing in the water) in the corner of the smallest step and the largest step. Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) In the corner on the platform with the cannon. If you are standing on the ramp up to the cannon facing the cannon, the warp is in the farthest corner on the left.
Course 12: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) In the chasm with the mushroom platforms with the red coins on them, there are two very small platforms with no coin on them next to each other. The warp is on the small platform closest to the center of the chasm. Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) At the other end of the path with the cannon on this level, there is a square area with a sign on it. The warp is in the corner against the two mountain walls.
Course 13: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) When you are Big Mario, there is a flat switch on the ground that will make a temporary bridge appear that will lead out to a square island in the air. In the corner of the island with the gold coin is the warp. Warp 1b: Unfortunately, this is only a one-way warp. When you take warp 1a, you will appear next to the pipe near the flat ! switch mentioned in warp 1a. (So there is really no warp 1b)
Course 14: ???
Course 15: Warp 1a: (Click here for pictures) Outside on the edge of the platform leading into the castle up in the sky. (Directly across from the fireplace.) Warp 1b: (Click here for pictures) In the center on top of the rectangular building with all the red coins and the pink bomb guy. ere right. I have a message for you: 'This is nothing to get excited about, but, since we want you to play this game some more, please accept this "boring" gift.' - from the Mario Staff"
Tip #8:
Course 10 (Snowman's Land): To cross the bridge with the snowman blowing wind, you can jump up on the penguin's head and let him carry you across.
Course 11 (Wet-Dry World): You can raise or lower the starting water level in this course by how high you jump into the picture. There are three distinct levels. If you jump into the picture very low, the water level will start almost on the ground. If you jump in around the center of the picture, the water level will start at mid-level. If you jump in above the center of the picture, the water level will start higher than you can actually set it in the level. This makes getting to thepink bomb guy a piece of cake. The easiest way to jump into the picture above the center is to stand two checkerboard floor tiles away from the picture and do a backflip into it (double jump, triple jump and turnaround flip also work).
Course 13 (Tiny-Huge Island): If you do a butt-stomp on the large goombas when you are small Mario, you will get a blue coin. This makes collecting 100 coins easier.
Tip #9:
The Fat Penguin Trick: After you get 120 stars, go back to course 4 and select star 3 (the penguin race). Jump into the chimney to race the penguin. Now the penguin is extremely fat and is a bit harder to beat. This is just one of the cool things that happen after you get 120 stars that don't really mean anything.
Tip #10:
Mario's Hat Trick: Mario can lose his hat in three stages. In course 10, if the snowman face blows you off of the bridge, your hat will fall off. In course 8, the vulture can steal your hat. In course 12, the monkey will take it when you pick him up. Note: When Mario's hat is off, he takes double damage. This trick only works in course 8 or 10. Make sure your hat is on the ground. (If you are in course 8, you need to smack the vulture to make him drop the hat.) Don't pick up the hat. Instead, go to any teleporter and warp back and fourth at least twice. Then go back and pick up the hat. Mario will put it on, but more hats will still be on the ground (depending on how many times you warped back and fourth). When you pick up a hat now, Mario will keep holding on to it instead of putting it on his head. Now when you punch, Mario will swing his hat so it looks like he is smacking enemies with the hat.
