New Super Mario Bros./World 8

World 8-1
The first half of World 8-1 has crows and pumpkin Goombas, along with Bullet Bills. The crow will circle the sky above Mario, then dive to Mario's level. Mario can jump on or over the crow. Fire also works. After its dive, the crow disappears and never again bothers Mario. More crows appear as Mario moves right. If Mario advances quickly, many crows might gather. Mario can avoid them if he waits for each crow to dive before he advances further.

The pumpkin Goomba is slightly stronger than its regular cousin. A single bounce only makes it to turn red and run faster, but a second bounce finishes it. Mario can also defeat the pumpkin with a single Ground Pound or with a fireball. When bouncing off pumpkins, beware of Bullet Bills or crows in the air.

The 2nd and 4th ? Blocks contain power-ups (mushroom or flower). The 5th ? Block contains a springboard, which you need for the first Star Coin. To get the springboard, you must hit the ? Block from below. (If you Ground Pound it from above, the springboard falls into the bottomless pit.) The springboard sends Mario to the sky, where the Star Coin hides. To reach the coin, you must move the springboard to the right. Hold and jump up to grab the springboard. Carry it right to the next floating platform. Drop it there, and bounce for your Star Coin. (After you land, the springboard returns to its ? Block. If you miss the coin, you can get the springboard again and try again.)

The second half of World 8-1 has Boos and Bullet Bills; the midway flag is soon after the first Boo. Inside the 6th ? Block is another power-up. Star Coin 2 is in plain view; you can bounce off a Bullet Bill, or just jump from the floor to collect it. Star Coin 3 is on a low platform just before the Banzai Bill Launcher. After you get this coin, you must find a way up. There is no need for a springboard. You can jump right (where the coins are) and Wall Jump off the Banzai Bill Launcher to reach higher ground on the left.

If you want a 1-up from the flagpole, you should stand on the platform between the Banzai Bill Launcher and the flagpole. Wait for the Launcher to fire, then quickly jump on the Launcher (not the bullet), run and jump right, bounce off the bullet, and touch the flagpole.

World 8-2
This level is a somewhat underwater level. By somewhat, I mean that you're going to spend a lot of time in the water and out. Skeeters infest this place and do what they did back in World 3. Only this time, they have less space to move around so bombs will rain down on you even more than they did before. In the first room with water, hitting the switch will make the water rise, which it the gimmick of the level. Have the water rise, avoid the bombs and enemies and move to the next room.

This next room is similar to the last, except there are barrels that you must go across and more Skeeters. Also, there's a mini pipe to lead you to a secret house. Go through the big pipe and move on.

Next, a room of Brick Blocks and a few coins appears. Ignore all of the coins and break the 4th and 5th blocks to the right with a ground pound and hold it. This will get you the Star Coin. This one's tricky and often forgotten, so get this one while you can. Enter the pipe and get to the next room.

The next room is exactly the same as the first, only a few difference with pipes. Two Skeeters impede your progress. You need these to get a Star Coin. That will be explained in a while. Go through the pipe after getting the Star Coin to proceed.

The last room has 2 sides to it. The left side is the exit, the right side is a Star Coin. Hit the button and grab your Star Coin, then hurry to get to the exit. If you don't make it, hit the button again.

Star Coin #1: Break 4th and 5th blocks to the right and keep falling in 3rd room. You should get the Star Coin. If you miss it, you will have to redo the level.

Star Coin #2: In the 4th room, when the water reaches its highest point, jump off the Skeeters and either Wall Kick or, if the Skeeter is in the right spot, jump into it. You have two chances.

Star Coin #3: Last room before the exit, go to the right side of the room when the water is high and nab it.

World 8-8
This level has falling rocks that you must avoid coming from the volcanos in the background. These destroy anything in their path except for the ground and some platforms. To make matters worse, Bob-ombs cousins, Kab-Ombs, which, when hit by fire, will run around and explode. The first half of the level has some sheilds that you can use to hide under when possible; although most will be destroyed when they are hit. The seconds half is dodging debris, avoiding the Kab-Ombs, and then jumping over pits. Luckily, there's a star later in the level to help you out.

Star Coin #1: This one is at the beginning of the level. Can't miss it. To get it, you go to either the four blocks in a row or to a ledge with a few ? blocks. Jump up and run back to get it.

Star Coin #2: Right after the checkpoint, there's a Star Coin surronded by Brick Blocks overhead. Get the debris or a Mega Mushroom to destroy them (because they're coin blocks in disguise) and collect the Star Coin while there are a few blocks left.

Star Coin #3: This last one requires a Mini Mushroom to get. Right before the second Star Coin, there will be a mini pipe surrounded by blocks that can be destroyed by the debris. Wait for them to be destroyed, then go in. There will be a maze that you have to navigate to get your coin. After grabbing the Star Coin, head out and finish the level.

Tip: You can replay the level quite a few times to farm in some lives for the Bowser fight ahead. After the mini pipe that leads you out, there's a hidden Star above the platform over the pipe. Each time you replay the level, you should get 3-4 lives each time. It may not seem like much, but you're going to need them later on.