How to Finish Super Mario Three in the Shortest Time

Super Mario Brothers Three was the most complex Mario game created for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Eight large worlds, with several smaller worlds each, have kept players glued for hours to defeat Bowser and all seven of his Koopalings. But it's possible to finish Super Mario Three without finishing any of the first seven worlds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

The Shortest Path

1. Get the first whistle in World 1-3. Kneel on the white block near the goal for five seconds until you fall behind the scenery, then run toward the goal to find the secret house.
2. Get the second whistle in the mini-fortress. Fly above the ceiling where you get the Super Leaf, then run right until you can go no farther and press up.
3. Use the whistle while on the map screen to go to the Warp Zone. Use the second whistle in the Warp world to go to World Eight.
4. Get past Bowser's tanks and battleships. Then go through the pipe.
5. Get past the hand trap bridge. Then go through Bowser's airships and through the pipe.
6. Finish World 8-1, 8-2 and the mini-fortress. Then go north and east to the correct pipe.
7. Get past Bowser's Super Tank. Then complete Bowser's Castle to finish Super Mario Three.

World Eight Mini Fortress

8. Go in the first door, then break the three bricks to the right and go through.
9. Jump over to the Thwomp and break the bricks to his right.
10. Go through the second door or the fifth if you don't have a raccoon tail.
11. Hit the P-switch to the right and head to the door past the Thwomp and Roto-Disc.
12. Jump up to the top platform and run to the end of it. Jump onto the brick sticking out from the right wall and enter the secret door there.
13. Defeat Boom-Boom by stomping on him three times. Then take the crystal to complete the fortress.

Bowser's Castle

14. Run past the laser shooting statues and go up the stairs. Don't take the door, but stand directly underneath the opening above and take the elevator up.
15. Go right until you get to the Donut Lift and take it down to the next platform. Climb up the stairs past the Roto-Discs to move to the far wall. Get the 1-Up Mushroom in the hidden block next to the wall.
16. Jump while squatting onto the 1-Up block and come out of the squat to go through the wall. If you're not Super Mario, you'll have to take the stairs down.
17. Take the highest of the three paths past the lava pool and Donut Lifts and go through the door. In the next room, dodge the first statue's laser, avoid the fireballs as you go past the Donut lifts, and enter Bowser's chamber.
18. Defeat Bowser by making him jump onto the bridge and destroy it which makes him fall into the pit below. If you are Fire Mario, you can also defeat him with 35 fireballs.