Oddities

Discover strange oddities in Super Mario World, including getting behind the goal and infinite points. Learn about secrets and glitches.

Oddity 1: Behind the Goal

To perform this oddity, first obtain a Blue Yoshi (Star World 2 is a good location). Head to Donut Secret 2. Swallow the first green Koopa you encounter. Immediately run right and fly upwards until you are above the screen. Continue flying until you reach a yellow pipe. Drop down to the left of this pipe, then land to the right of the gap below it. Spit out the Koopa into the gap. Swallow the Koopa to the right. Fly northwest and keep going. Your Yoshi will slowly descend as its wings disappear. You should now be behind the goal. Approach the goal and spit out the Koopa shell (hold down and press Y). The shell will transform into a strange fish-like creature, and the goal post will vanish. This trick does not work every time and may require several attempts.

Oddity 2: Infinite Points and Lives

To perform this oddity, you need the Cape. Enter Forest of Illusion 1 and proceed just past the midway point (checkpoint (an auto-save point you restart from on death)) to reach the wooden platforms. The goal is to bounce off enemies to gain points and 1-Ups, creating a chain without touching the ground. Koopas will emerge from blocks on either side, and three Wrigglers are present on these platforms. You will not receive points for bouncing off a red, angry Wriggler, but it will not break your chain. To start, bounce off the left Wriggler (while holding down Y), then head right and bounce off the middle Wriggler, then the right Wriggler, and finally the Koopa. Float to the right to allow the Wrigglers to cool down again. Head back and bounce across the Wrigglers and Koopas to the left side. Float off to the side again to let the Wrigglers cool down and repeat this process to accumulate a massive amount of points and lives. This requires some skill, but it is rewarding. As you accumulate many points, the game will run out of numbers and display strange images instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many levels are there? How do I get 100%?

A: There are 96 exits in total, which the game counts as levels. The number displayed on your saved file indicates the number of levels you have unlocked. Achieving 96 levels means you have 100% completion.

Q: Help! I have 94 / 95 levels! What am I missing!?

A: You might be missing normal or secret exits from the ghost houses in the Forest of Illusion and the Valley of Bowser. Remember to find both exits in the Star World levels. Consult the Checklist in section 6 if you are still unsure.

Q: I suck at flying. Any pointers?

A: After soaring into the air, when you start to dip down, press the opposite direction you are flying to pull up. This technique allows you to fly indefinitely.

Q: Where are all the Switch Palaces?

A: The levels required to reach the Switch Palaces are as follows:

• Yellow Switch Palace: Yoshi's Island 1
• Green Switch Palace: Donut Plains 2 Secret Exit
• Red Switch Palace: Vanilla Dome 2 Secret Exit
• Blue Switch Palace: Forest of Illusion 2 Secret Exit