This stage puts you on an entirely vertical course, with platforms that are few and far between. Thankfully, you get a special moving platform to carry you to the top, which is required to pass most of the course. Watch out for the many Paratroopas flying about in the sky, and don't get crushed by thrusting yourself into a solid ceiling.
Level walkthrough[edit | edit source]
At the starting area, go to the top-right corner and jump into the pipe to begin the main section of the course. When you emerge from the pipe, you can see a platform with arrows to the right of you. Whenever you stand on the platform, it will rise. Standing near either end of the platform also causes it to move in that direction. As you start rising, you should see a red Koopa to the left of several Paratroopas. If you time it right, you can kick the red Koopa's shell into the Paratroopas for a lot of points and a potential 1-Up.
Another notable thing about this level is that the sides loop, so you can go past the left border and emerge from the right, and vice versa. However, you'll be unable to do so when there are visible walls on the borders, such as the column of blocks you will soon pass. After the two block walls, you should see a Star Coin on the right half of the screen. You can easily obtain this Star Coin by breaking the brick blocks around it, either via jumping or with a ground pound.
More Paratroopas will fly near you as you continue rising up on the platform. You will soon see a red ring on the left half of the screen. You can make use of the screen looping feature to get all the red coins efficiently. Move left after touching the red coin to end up on the right side where you can get the first four red coins, then go back to the right to emerge on the left half of the screen where you can get the remaining two. Shortly after passing a platform patrolled by red Koopas, you should trigger the checkpoint.
As you go further upward, more wooden blocks will form somewhat triangular walls that limits your movement space. There are two 10-coin blocks on the top of the right wall that you can hit repeatedly by getting a shell from a nearby Paratroopa and throwing it between the two blocks. Higher up, you will see a Star Coin surrounded by blocks, with only the right wall of its prison being breakable brick blocks. Again, get a shell from one of the Paratroopas, then throw this shell on to the brick block surface opposite of the Star Coin. After breaking a few blocks, the shell should automatically get the Star Coin for you.
There are nothing but coins as you near the top of this section. Start moving left when you see a cascade of Paratroopas moving down from both sides of the screen. The last Star Coin is near the left swarm of Paratroopas. You can try to knock the Paratroopas out with one shell to make collecting it easier. Once you can see the ceiling, jump to the ledge on the right and go into the pipe. In the ending area, you can try using the Paratroopas for a height boost to the top of the flagpole.
Star Coins[edit | edit source]
- The Star Coin can be seen surrounded by brick blocks near the beginning of the lift ride. Simply break the blocks to obtain it.
- Upon seeing a Star Coin surrounded by blocks, get a shell from a Paratroopa nearby. Throw its shell onto the floor of brick blocks to the left and it will collect the Star Coin for you.
- Near the exit pipe is a Star Coin surrounded by a swarm of Paratroopas. Move in carefully to grab it.