Level 5-1[edit]
You start the level in the clouds. You'll have to watch out for shots fired by the Shotzos and some minor enemies. At some point you will notice a door half hidden under a cloud. To reach it, you will have to fly carefully, without climbing on the clouds above, but also being careful not to fall to the bottom. There is also a Shotzo, which will not make things easier for you. Once inside, you can collect an extra life and acquire (if you want) the Stone ability. Then enter the door and prepare for a long fall into the void. It is advisable not to change position often, to eliminate the enemies you meet with a headbutt. Along the way you will also find a Pep Drink. You'll land on a row of star blocks, but instead of going through the door, remove them to drop down to a hidden area further down. Here, you'll easily spot a hidden door behind other star blocks. Remove them and enter the door. You will find a switch inside a pool of water, press it to make a Crane Fever minigame appear on the world map. Next to it there is also a (useless) Pep Drink. Then enter the door. The last area is pretty trivial. Proceed to the right paying attention to the frozen breath of the enemies and reach the exit door.
After completing the level, the entrance to the next stage and a museum where you can acquire the Stone and Tornado skills will appear on the world map.
Level 5-2[edit]
Go down the ladder and enter the door. Then follow the path down the flooded tunnel, ignoring the doors above (you'll explore these areas later). Enter the door at the end. Then reach the door on the left, paying attention to the two Scarfies and the coconuts that are in the room. Proceed to the left and enter the door at the end. Avoid the Shotzo and enter the door on the left. Climb up and fall down to reach the door on the right. Enter it and then enter the door that is immediately on your left, to find a 1-Up. Go back, up the ladder and into the next door. You will have to fight against Bonkers. After defeating him, enter the door that will appear. You will now have to go through one last short screen with some enemies, reaching the last door. Go up the slope on the left and go down on the other side. Before you reach the exit door though, search the lower left corner to find a hidden 1-Up. Then enter the star door to complete the level.
Level 5-3[edit]
The level starts with a climbing sequence. In the beginning you will have the opportunity to acquire the Hi-Jump ability, which will allow you to climb quickly and easily avoid shots from the Shotzos. In the second area, you simply need to inflate yourself to take advantage of the air current and fly upwards until you reach the door. The next area is very linear. After a few steps you will be able to acquire the Wheel ability to cross it very quickly. Just be careful not to end up on the spikes just before the end. In the next area you have to cross a kind of bridge made up of star blocks. At the very end, you can easily spot a hidden door behind two star blocks: remove them and enter. You will enter a room where you can acquire the Stone ability and get a Maxim Tomato and a 1-Up by crushing the two poles. However, while you can get the Maxim Tomato without any problems, smashing the pole to the right will also cause the floor beneath it to disappear; you will therefore have to be very careful not to fall into the void after taking the 1-Up. Go back and go to the door on the right. In the last area you'll have to zigzag down, passing through narrow passages with spikes. To do this more easily, you should acquire the Parasol skill from the enemy you meet at the beginning, so that you can glide. Flying in the usual way, it's easier to get hurt. At the bottom you will find the exit door and a Pep Drink to restore energy.
After completing the level, an Egg Catcher minigame will become accessible on the world map, as well as the next level.
Level 5-4[edit]
In the beginning you will have the possibility to acquire the Fireball skill. You should do it, because it will come in handy later on. Then proceed to the right, clearing your way and flying to avoid the spikes. When you have the choice between two paths, take the lower one. Thanks to the Fireball skill you can easily avoid the spikes and get a 1-Up. Then go to the door and enter. You will have to face Meta Knight’s crew. After defeating it, enter the door and proceed to the right. In this area you will have to be careful not to fall into the void, if you have problems just fly. At a certain point you'll notice a door almost completely hidden behind a waterfall. Enter it. Here you can get a 1-Up and a Maxim Tomato. Take the narrow passage to the right and enter the lower door. You will find a switch; pressing it will free up an Arena where you can face Bonkers, on the world map. Then go back and this time go to the door above. In the last area you simply have to drop down a very long waterfall. Along the fall you will meet many enemies, try to hit them from above, with a head shot, not to get hurt. At the bottom, you will find the exit door. Note: if you are not interested in finding the switch, you will have to go through a water path, avoiding several spikes. Along the way you will also find a Pep Drink.
Level 5-5[edit]
Head right and drop down into the first small gap you come across. You will then be able to reach a hidden door at the bottom. Enter it. To get fired from the cannon, you will have to solve a puzzle (easier said that done). If you get it wrong though, you can walk out the door and try again. To remove the star blocks and reach the cannon you need to use the Hi-Jump ability, which you can acquire from the flying enemy on the spot. However, you will have to move so that the other enemy, from which you can acquire the Fire skill, does not leave the screen. After removing the star blocks, drop the current ability and acquire Fire from the enemy. Set fire to the fuse and reach the cannon by jumping in before it fires. Only then, can you reach a switch that, when pressed, will make a Quick Draw minigame appear on the world map. Then enter the door to go back. Proceed to the right until you reach another door. Before entering, search under it to find a Maxim Tomato. Go inside and you will find a Warp Star, which will lead you to a castle. Go in. You can choose between Fire and Sword skills, then you will have to face the last miniboss you have not yet encountered: Fire Lion. It moves fast and jerkily. It occasionally attacks you as a Fireball (you can get this ability from it). If you don't have a particular skill, you can attack Fire Lion using the stars it releases when it crashes to the ground. After defeating it, go right and enter the door. Enter the next door. The last area is very linear, just be careful of the enemies that fall from above. At the bottom you will find the exit door.
Level 5-6[edit]
Premise: if you want to reach the switch in this level, you must necessarily bring the Hammer skill with you, not obtainable here. You have then to face Bonkers in one of the previous levels or in the Arena. You will also have to move carefully, to keep the hammer until almost the end of the level. In the first area, you'll encounter a lot of wheels, which will come at you at great speed, on inclined terrain. Avoiding them is not that easy. There is a Maxim Tomato along the way. In the next area, hit the detonator to clear your way, then run right without stopping. If you keep running, you will automatically jump over small gaps and the enemies that will be freed by the explosion will only fall after you pass. Fly over the pool of water and reach the door. The last area is easy and linear, there aren't many enemies here. Keep going until you come to a door on an islet. Enter it. You will come to a flooded room. If you have the hammer with you, you can destroy the two green blocks and reach a hidden door behind the star blocks. This door will lead you to a room where you will find a switch (which will make the Warp Star Room appear on the world map), a 1-Up and a Maxim Tomato. If instead you take the visible door, on the right, you can only get the Maxim Tomato. Go back outside and take a few steps to the right to reach the exit door.
Boss – Heavy Mole[edit]
This mechanical boss will move to the right, cutting its way through the ground and digging a tunnel. Heavy Mole moves irregularly, jerkily, even moving up or down. You have to chase after it and avoid going off the screen, or you will immediately lose a life. It's not that easy, given the casual way the boss digs, you'll often have to jump or fly. The basic strategy to defeat it, is to suck up the little monsters it releases from time to time and shoot them at the boss. You are then free to use a special ability, if you have one. Alternatively, you can acquire the Hammer skill from the orange monsters and use it to attack the boss. Instead, it is important not to ingest the darker ones, which cause the Sleep ability, which will lead you to almost certain death. Try to always stay close to the boss, obviously without touching it. Defeat Heavy Mole to get the fifth piece of the Star Rod.