Sub-Tree

First off, head to the right. You'll see a treasure chest right away – grab that Gold Medal (1)! Keep going right and take the lower path. Look for a stone statue; smash it to find a hidden door. Head inside, float to the right, and then quickly swim down to a chest holding a Gold Coin (2).

Exit that room and continue right. You'll spot three bomb blocks. Here's a crucial tip: only destroy the left and right ones, leave the middle one alone! Drop down through the opening, go left, and smash a bomb block to reveal the Whip (3).

From there, keep heading right and go through the door into the next area. In this new room, move right and drop down to find a switch. Before you hit it, grab the Wing ability from the bird enemies nearby – it'll be super helpful for the upcoming maze.

Now, for the switch maze! You need to hit the switches in the section you're in, then quickly fly or run through the openings before they close. Don't worry if you mess up; there are doors that will loop you back to the start so you can try again. At the end of this passage, open the chest for a Crystal Ball (4).

Break the bomb block above you and head right. Go down the ladder, then drop through the thin platform into the water. Swim right and up. At the first platform you reach, jump up through the blocks to find a chest with a Lucky Cat (5).

Drop back into the water and swim to the far right. Before you enter the next door, break the bomb block to create a shortcut back to earlier areas – handy! Now, enter the next room.

Inside, fly to the right, making sure to avoid the platforms above the lava. Go up and to the left, past a swinging enemy, and destroy the statue. Head back to where you entered this room and open the chest to get the Seiryu Sword (6).

Continue right and drop through the thin floor. Smash the bomb block to go downward. Head right to find the chest containing the Screw Attack (7).

Head back out of that passage and fly up to the gray blocks in the ceiling. Destroy the statue sticking out, then break the blocks to the right to find a chest with Echigo Candy (8). If you need to save, the sparkling doors below are save rooms – remember that for later!

Keep going right and take the lower path to some blocks on the ground. Break them, along with the stone statue below. Continue up and right briefly. Destroy another gray block in the wall to make a chest drop. Now, head back left, near the save room. Below it, drop through two thin ledges and swim right, then head upward to the chest containing a Phanto Mask (9).

Break the bomb block to your right, swim upward, and go through the door to the next room. You'll face a hammer mini-boss here. Defeat it, then head to the upper-left area. You'll find a cannon – jump in and shoot straight up to reach the chest with a Star Stone (10).

Go down the ladder and continue right, navigating another set of ladders. Pass a mirror and cutter enemy, then break the block in the wall. Go through the passage to a chest containing the Beast's Fang (11).

Head back out and continue upward and to the right, then go through the door at the top of the area. In this new room, head right and eat the first enemy you see to get the Cutter ability – it's pretty obvious which one it is.

Go to the center of the room. You'll see bomb blocks on either side of the central platform. Destroy them all, then open the chest that drops onto the platform below to get the Bandanna (12).

Next, make your way to the upper-right ledge. You'll see a platform held up by a rope. Use your Cutter ability to slice the rope, letting the platform drop. Go right to a chest containing the Seasons Heart (13). Grab the 1-Up nearby too!

Head back out and go through the door to the right. In this room, you'll find a Max Tomato and some free abilities (Jet, Mirror, Sword). The Mirror ability is super useful for the upcoming boss fight, so consider grabbing it! When you're ready, go through the right door to face the Fatty Whale.

Boss Fight: Fatty Whale
This big guy moves back and forth, sometimes jumping or just sliding. Watch out when it jumps – it'll try to crush you and send out a wave of enemies and rocks. Inhale them and spit them back at the whale to deal damage. If you grabbed the Mirror ability, you can use that too! Once you defeat it, go through the door to the right, grab another Max Tomato, and ride the mine cart to the end. Then, go through the final door to enter a new area.