Part 121

Understand how damage works, the different Mario forms, and the mechanics of Help Blocks and the item slot in Super Mario Land.

Damage Mechanics:

1. Taking damage as Small Mario results in death.
2. Taking damage as Normal Mario reverts him to Small Mario.
3. Taking damage as Fire Mario, Tanooki Mario, Statue Tanooki Mario, or Boomerang Mario reverts him to Normal Mario.
4. Falling into lava, poison water, pits, or equivalents results in death regardless of Mario's current form or power-ups (like Super Star or Invincible Tanooki Suit).

Help Blocks:

• The Roulette Block: Dispenses a random item (Tanooki Leaf, Fire Flower, Super Mushroom, or Super Star). Appears after the player dies twice, and then after every three subsequent deaths.
• The Invincibility Tanooki Leaf Block: Dispenses an Invincibility Tanooki Leaf, granting invincibility until the course is completed or Mario dies. Appears after the player dies five times, and then after every subsequent death. Receiving this block makes the player ineligible for 'Glittering Stars' unless the game is restarted without saving.
• The P-Wing Block: Dispenses a P-Wing, which automatically replaces the current item in the item slot. Using a P-Wing generally allows the player to skip to the end of the course. Appears after the player dies ten times, and then after every subsequent death.

Item Slot Mechanics:

• As Any Mario Type: Collecting a P-Wing places it in the item slot, replacing any existing item.
• As Small Mario: Collects any item and immediately wears it, regardless of the item slot's contents.
• As Normal Mario: Collects any item (except a Super Mushroom) and immediately wears it. If a Super Mushroom is collected with an empty inventory, it's stored. If collected with an item in inventory, it's lost and ten coins are earned instead.
• As Powered-Up Mario (Fire, Tanooki, Boomerang, Statue Tanooki):
  • Collecting an item of the same type he's wearing, with a different item in the slot, replaces the item in the slot.
  • Collecting a Super Mushroom with an empty inventory stores it.
  • Collecting any item other than a Super Mushroom with an empty inventory, he wears the new item and stores the previously worn one.
  • Collecting a Super Mushroom with an item in inventory results in ten coins instead of the mushroom.
  • Collecting any item other than a Super Mushroom with an item in inventory, he wears the new item, stores the previously worn one, and the item in his inventory disappears.

Time Trial Mode:

This mode becomes available after completing World 8-Final Castle. It displays the time taken to complete previous courses and your best time for newly completed courses on the Overworld Map. If other save files are in use, your 'Rival's Best Time' from those files will be displayed, encouraging speed run competition.