Part 58

Unlock and conquer the challenging Special Worlds in Super Mario Land. Learn how to access them, understand their unique features like Statue Leaf and Time Trials, and find all Star Coins.

The eight Special Worlds in Super Mario Land are unlocked after completing the final level of World 8. A Warp Pipe will appear at the start of World 1, leading to Special World 1. All levels within a Special World are available from the start, but to unlock the next Special World, you must complete its final Castle or Airship level. These specific levels require a certain number of Star Coins, necessitating that you play through some levels rather than skipping them entirely.

Upon reaching a new Special World, all its levels become accessible (provided you have the required Star Coins). This also opens a Warp Pipe in the corresponding normal world, allowing travel between them. Special World courses are harder versions of normal world levels, often featuring new elements such as Time Trials and Cosmic Clone courses. The Statue Leaf is prominent, replacing the Tanooki Leaf. Its 'Statue Pound' ability transforms Mario into a statue, causing more damage and providing invulnerability while falling.

Special World 1 Overview:

The overworld map for Special World 1 includes levels Special 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4, along with the Special 1-Castle, a Mystery Box, and a Red Toad House. A Warp Pipe is also present.

Special 1-1 Walkthrough:

Begin by heading north and running through shrubs for coins. Grab the Statue Leaf to the right and use Statue Pound on three stumps for coins. Ignore the initial brick blocks. Continue past Spinies, which can be defeated with Tail Spin or Statue Pound. Again, bypass the next two brick blocks. Hit the ? Block for coins, then proceed left. Avoid the next ? Block, as it contains a Poison Mushroom that chases the player, dealing damage upon contact. Continue past this block to find a Super Star. Run through the level, hitting the next six Spinies. The last Spiny is on the first step of a series of stairs. Grab the next Super Star at the top of these stairs. Continue running and hit six Prongos. If the second Super Star is collected before the first ends, the 1-Up counter will not reset, allowing the first kill with the second Super Star to grant a 1-Up, totaling 8 1-Ups. After the run, backtrack to the first step where the last Spiny was.

Star Coin #1 in Special 1-1:

Jump onto the two brick blocks at the base of the stairs (if unbroken). Take a running jump from the right onto these blocks, then use that momentum for a running jump onto the cliff to your left. The Star Coin is on top of a brick block on this cliff. Do not break this block. Take a running jump onto the block and use the momentum for extra height to grab the Star Coin. This may take several attempts, especially if you are Small Mario. Once obtained, drop back down to the base of the steps.