Zones[edit]
Super Mario Land 2 is split into 6 zones scattered around the overworld, each zone having 2-5 levels, with one or two secret levels that can only be unlocked by finding a secret exit somewhere in a main level. In all of these levels, Mario has to make his way across the level while avoiding the various enemies and obstacles present in the level. You are free to enter and try to beat any zone in any order at any time, and you're even able to have multiple partially completed zones at one time. The zone order this guide will use is as below:
Once you defeat the boss in each zone, which reside in the zone's final level, you will get a golden coin, and you need to collect six to unlock the door to Wario's castle, which is a single large level without a checkpoint. However, losing all of your lives will make you lose all of your golden coins, and you must fight all of the previous bosses to gain them back.
Bonus minigame[edit]
Most levels have a bell hanging near the goal, which will usually require a certain method to reach. Ringing that bell will let you play a short minigame after exiting through the goal. There are two possible minigames. One contains an automated clamp that will move from left to right, and you need to decide when to lower it to pick up your bonus of choice. The second involves a network of fuses, and triggering one of the four levers will cause a spark to go down the fuses, switching to another line each time it touches a corner. However, there are also two rats that will randomly chew on two of the fuses, causing the spark not to travel down that particular line. Unlike the first minigame, the second is more luck-based, since it is harder to judge which item you will get.
The slot machines[edit]
Unlike in other installments of the series, collecting 100 coins does not grant Mario extra lives. Instead, coins are used for the roulette minigame that can be found inside a mountain at the southern end of the overworld. There are four roulettes with a different range of rewards. Obviously, the more coins needed to use a roulette, the better the range of rewards you get. Below is a table of the prizes you can obtain:
| Coins Needed | Possible rewards |
|---|---|
| 30 coins | Nothing, Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Carrot |
| 50 coins | Nothing, Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Carrot, 1 extra life, 3 extra lives |
| 200 coins | Nothing, 1 extra life, 3 extra lives, 5 extra lives or 20 extra lives |
| 999 coins | 500 coins, 20 extra lives or 50 extra lives |