Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 is the third installment of the Mario series on the NES, and it is the largest and most loved of the series. Mario and Luigi have returned to battle Bowser and his children: Larry Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Roy Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, and Ludwig Von Koopa. With classic and new power-ups, Mario and Luigi are ready to fight Bowser and his brood to free the Mushroom Kingdom from tyranny.

Mario and Luigi have identical skills in Super Mario Bros. 3, so the character being played can be referred to as Mario throughout the guide.

Regular Controls:

The D-Pad controls Mario's movement. Press LEFT and RIGHT to move in those directions. Press UP to climb vines or enter doors. Press DOWN to descend vines or make Mario duck.

The SELECT button has no apparent use in regular play.

The START button pauses and unpauses the game.

Hold the B Button to make Mario run.

Press the A Button to make Mario jump.

Map Controls:

On the map screen, the D-Pad moves Mario and scrolls the cursor through the Item Bar.

The SELECT button has no apparent use on the map screen.

The START button has no apparent use on the map screen.

The B Button opens and closes the Item Bar.

The A Button enters icons on the map and confirms selections in the Item Bar.

Mario Brothers Battles Controls:

In Mario Brothers Battles, the D-Pad moves Mario LEFT and RIGHT.

The SELECT button has no apparent use in Mario Brothers Battles.

The START button pauses and unpauses the game.

Hold the B Button to make Mario run.

Press the A Button to make Mario jump.

Alright, let's dive into some of the cooler tricks you can pull off in Super Mario Bros. 3! These aren't just for show; they'll help you navigate tricky levels and take down enemies more effectively. We'll cover moves that work with any power-up, and then some special ones for specific suits.

Anytime Moves

These are your bread-and-butter techniques that you can use with pretty much any power-up you have equipped. They're super handy!

• Gap Dashing: See a gap between platforms that's just one block wide? If you hold down the B Button while running, you can actually power right over it without falling in. It feels awesome when you nail it!
• Flying Squat: Got a tight spot you need to fly into? Hold B to build up your flight meter. The moment you hit flying speed, press DOWN to squat down. Then, immediately take off again. You can stay in this squat while flying, which lets Mario squeeze into super small spaces.
• Shell Grabbing: When you stomp on a Koopa Troopa or Buzzy Beetle and they retreat into their shell, just hold down the B Button. Mario will pick it up, and you can carry it around until you let go of B. Handy for throwing!
• Slide Duck: Sometimes a space looks just big enough for regular Mario, but you can actually slide through it! Run at the opening, and right before you hit it, press DOWN to duck. Mario will then slide right through.
• Sliding: If you're on a slope, pressing DOWN makes Mario slide down the hill. This is great for taking out enemies in your path.
• Slope Jumping: Ever slide down a hill and hit a bump at the end? If you time it right, you can jump off that bump and soar way higher and farther than a normal jump. It's a great way to get some air!
• Super Jump: When you hop on an enemy, don't just let go! Hold down the A Button as you land on them. This will give you a much bigger jump, letting you reach higher places.

Raccoon Mario Moves

Once you grab a Super Leaf and become Raccoon Mario, you get some sweet new abilities:

• Flying: Hold down the B Button to get a running start. Once your flying meter is full, mash the A Button to flap your tail and take to the sky! It takes a bit of practice, but flying opens up the whole level.
• Tail Attack: Just tap the B Button to swing your tail. You can use this to hit enemies, break blocks, or even just for fun!

Fiery Mario Moves

With the Fire Flower, you become Fiery Mario:

• Fireballs: Press the B Button to hurl fireballs at your enemies. You can have up to two fireballs on screen at once, which is super useful for clearing out groups.

Tanooki Mario Moves

Tanooki Mario is like Raccoon Mario, but with an extra trick up his sleeve:

• Flying: Just like Raccoon Mario, hold B to run and build your meter, then mash A to fly.
• Tail Attack: Press B to swing your tail and take out foes or blocks.
• Statue Stomp: This one's neat! Hold DOWN and B together, and Mario will turn into a statue. This makes you invincible for a short time (about five seconds), but you can do it over and over. It's perfect for dodging tricky attacks or falling hazards.

Frog Mario Moves

When you're Frog Mario, you're built for water levels:

• Swimming: Press A repeatedly to swim with powerful strokes. You can also use the D-Pad to steer through the water with precision.

Hammer Mario Moves

Hammer Mario is one of the coolest power-ups, letting you chuck hammers:

• Fire Repellant: Duck inside your helmet by pressing DOWN. This makes you totally immune to fireballs while you're in there.
• Hammer Throw: Mario can throw powerful Hammers in this suit. They can take out enemies that would otherwise be a real pain. You can throw two hammers at a time, giving you some serious ranged power.