Part 117

Learn how to earn all Save File Stars and Glittering Stars in Super Mario Land, including unlocking Special 8-Crown.

Save File Star #1: Complete World 8-Final Castle

This star is earned simply by completing the final course of World 8. Collecting Star Coins in this course or skipping previous courses does not affect earning this star.

Save File Star #2: Complete every course in Worlds 1 to 8

You must clear every course from World 1 through World 8. Clearing a course means reaching the end; collecting all three Star Coins in each course is not necessary. Mystery Boxes and Toad Houses do not count towards this requirement.

Save File Star #3: Complete World 8-Final Castle Revisited

This star is awarded for clearing World 8-Final Castle Revisited, which is an altered version of World 8-Final Castle accessible after completing Special World 8-Bowser's Castle. The boss battle in this revisited course is harder. Collecting Star Coins is not required to earn this star.

Save File Star #4: Collect every Star Coin in all courses

To earn this star, you must collect all 285 Star Coins found in the normal courses. Star Coins from Mystery Boxes do not count towards this total.

Save File Star #5: Unlock Special 8-Crown

This final Save File Star is awarded upon unlocking Special 8-Crown. To unlock Special 8-Crown, you must complete every course with both Mario and Luigi, achieve a Golden Flag in every course, and find all 285 Star Coins.

Glittering Stars: Never see a Gold Tanooki Leaf Block

Glittering Stars are difficult to obtain and are earned by acquiring all five Save File Stars without ever encountering a Gold Tanooki Leaf Block. These blocks only appear in normal Worlds (not Special Worlds) when you die five times in a single course without completing it. The death count persists even if you exit and re-enter a course, or play other courses in between. Once a course is completed, the Gold Tanooki Leaf Block will no longer appear in that specific course. The Gold Tanooki Leaf Block does not appear in World 8-Final Castle. If a Gold Tanooki Leaf Block appears, you can quit to the title screen via the pause menu to reset your progress before entering the course, effectively avoiding the block's appearance for that attempt.

Characters: Mario and Luigi

Super Mario Land features two playable characters: Mario and Luigi. Luigi can jump higher and further but slides more on the ground, making him suitable for courses requiring large jumps. Mario is better for courses demanding precise jumps onto small platforms, as Luigi's sliding can cause him to fall off. Completing all courses with both characters is necessary to unlock Special 8-Crown.

Cosmic Clone Courses

These special courses feature a Cosmic Clone that chases you. The clone perfectly mimics your actions with a slight delay and is unaffected by gravity. You must keep moving throughout these courses, as stopping will allow the Cosmic Clone to catch up and harm you. Doubling back is not recommended.