Discover secret mechanics and advanced techniques in Super Mario Bros. 3, from controlling item drops to mastering flight and bonus lives. Elevate your gameplay!
This section covers various oddities, tricks, and quirks found in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Mushroom Drop Control: When hitting a block containing a Super Mushroom or 1-Up Mushroom, the direction it pops out can be controlled by which half of the block you hit. Hitting the left half makes it go right, and hitting the right half makes it go left.
Shell Through Mario Trick: If you stand one block away from a wall and throw a shell, it will pass through Mario when it bounces back.
Guaranteed Star Card: To guarantee a Star Card at the end of a stage, get to full running speed, jump at the slot box, and hit it on the lower-right corner at a 45-degree angle.
Slot Box Card Bonuses: Matching three of the same symbol in the slot boxes at the end of levels grants bonus lives: three Super Mushroom Cards give a 2-Up, three Fire Flowers give a 3-Up, and three Invincibility Starmen give a 5-Up. This makes the Star Card trick particularly useful for gaining lives.
Flight Speed Techniques: If a runway is too short or elevated to build speed for flight, you can use a tap jump to maintain Mario's speed or run back and forth on a partial runway to build speed.
Shells Against Walls: If Mario stands next to a wall and throws a shell, the shell will disappear without bouncing back.
Tanooki Grey Effect: While Tanooki Mario, you can make him appear grey before going down a pipe. As Mario starts down the pipe, press the B Button (like turning into a statue). He will turn grey before exiting the pipe in his usual Tanooki colors.
Item Inventory Limit: Mario can carry a maximum of 28 items. If he collects a 29th item, it will replace the 28th item in his reserves. Use items to make space.
King's Thanks for Special Suits: Defeating a Koopa child while wearing the Frog, Tanooki, or Hammer Suit will result in different thank you messages from the kings of each country in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Flying Through Grass Streaks: In some grass levels, Mario can fly through a dark green streak at the bottom of the screen if he has a P-Wing equipped.
Triggering Level Starmen: Some levels contain a streak of Invincibility Starmen. In certain levels, you must use an Invincible Starman before entering to trigger this occurrence.
Bowser's Stomp Trick: When fighting Bowser, if you stand on a non-breakable brick spot just as he begins to jump and then move to a breakable brick spot, he will not break the brick if timed correctly, even though it is breakable.
P-Wings After Beating Game: If you start a new game immediately after beating the game without shutting it down, you will receive 28 P-Wings.
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