Get the first Star Piece

Start a new game

Watch Bowser's Keep collapse.

Go to Mushroom Kingdom.

Get Mallow to join you.

Defeat Croco to get the Rare Frog Coin.

Defeat Mack to get the first Star Piece.

-Start a new game

To begin a new game, press the Start Button on the title screen to view the save files. Press the L Button to select Stereo sound or the R Button for Mono sound. Move the Mario Icon next to the words New Game and press the A Button to start a new game. The game will bring up a name entry screen and request your name. This name will be used for your save files only! The main character's name will always be Mario, of course. To enter a letter, point to it with the cursor and press the A Button. The maximum length is eight letters long. When you are finished, point to the word Done and press the A Button. This will play the introduction, so you can start your adventure.

-Watch Bowser's Keep collapse

You begin the game in Bowser's Keep. When you first begin, you can't access the Item or Status screens. The only buttons that really work are the Jump or B Button and the Run or Y Button. Go up through the doors in the castle until you reach a room with two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Walk diagonally up and right until the game stops you and makes Mario look up to see the Princess. You'll automatically jump up to the top of one of the chandeliers across from your arch enemy, Bowser. Follow Princess Toadstool's directions to defeat Bowser. After defeating Bowser, an automatic sequence will show some clouds with a star on it and a sword falling into the castle. The game will display the Title screen for a little while, but don't be alarmed -- your game has not reset on you. Mario will fly out of the castle and end-up stuck on a wall in his house. After Toad talks to you, press the B Button to jump off the peg you are hanging on. Exit the house and talk to Toad by standing in front of him and pressing the A Button. After talking to him, save your game on the Save Block in the upper-left corner of Mario's front yard, then exit the screen in the bottom-right corner. This will take you out to the World Map screen. Note: You will not be able to move anywhere on the map if you do not talk to Toad! On the map screen, push Left on the Control Pad to move Mario to Bowser's Keep. Press the A Button to enter Bowser's Keep. After watching an automatic sequence where you learn about the Smithy Gang, the bridge to Bowser's Keep collapses and you appear back on the World Map. Press Right to move from Vista Hill to Mario's Pad, then press the A Button to enter Mario's Pad again. Next, you need to go to Mushroom Kingdom.

-Go to Mushroom Kingdom

After watching the bridge to Bowser's Keep collapse, you're ready to enter Mushroom Way. Return to Mario's Pad and enter the house to talk to Toad again. He will suggest telling the Chancellor in the Mushroom Kingdom. Exit the house and then try to exit the area. Toad will bump in to you and offer to teach you how to use items and Timed Hits, which are essential to survive some of the tougher enemies. After he finishes his entire message, you may want to save your game at the Save Point in the upper-left corner again. Exit the screen in the bottom-right corner to access the World Map. Push Right on the Control Pad to move Mario to Mushroom Way. Press the A Button to enter the area. Once inside Mushroom Way, follow the path right to the Treasure Box, then go up and left to where Toad is hopping up and down in front of a Goomba. Defeat the Goombas to release Toad and get a Honey Syrup as a reward. Take the top path to reach the next screen and rescue Toad from the Sky Koopa to get a Flower Tab. Take the upper-right path to the next screen and work your way right to the far-right corner where the Hammer Brothers are holding Toad hostage. Defeat the Hammer Brothers to get the Hammer, then exit the screen through the far-right corner to access the World Map. Push Right on the Control Pad to move Mario to Mushroom Kingdom and press the A Button it. Next, you need to get Mallow to join your party.

-Get Mallow to join you

Now that you've reached the Mushroom Kingdom, you can get the Map and get Mallow to join you. Enter the castle in the upper-left corner of the Mushroom Kingdom. Follow Toad through two doors to enter the Throne Room, and the Chancellor will talk to you and give you the Map. Go to the Vault to get the items the Chancellor told you about, then exit the Castle. You will watch an automatic sequence with Croco and Mallow. When it starts raining, talk to Mallow, the bawling puffball. Agree to help him and he will join you. Next, you need to catch Croco and get the Rare Frog Coin.

-Defeat Croco and get the Rare Frog Coin

Once Mallow has joined you, talk with all the people in Mushroom Kingdom. Purchase armor and other items for Mario and Mallow in the Item shop, then take the RIGHT exit out of town. You'll encounter Croco, and will learn about his recent evil deeds. Take the top right exit of the town to go to the World Map. Push diagonally Down and Left on the Control Pad to go to Bandit's Way and press the A Button to enter the area. Work your way to the bottom-right corner of the first screen and take the path to the next screen. Jump on top of the rotating red flower, then jump off when you are facing the raised platform. Walk to the right side of the platform and jump on to the yellow floating block, then jump to the next floating block. This will cause the block that you were previously on to move ahead of you. Jump on this next block and continue this process until you can jump to the raised platform on the right side of the screen. (If you fall off at any time, just jump back on the block from the ground.) Jump off the right side of the far-right platform, then take the top-right path to the next screen. Take the top-right path to exit the next screen, then work your way up and right until you can go down and right to the far-right screen exit. In the next screen, you will need to sneak-up on Croco three times before he will fight you. To sneak-up on him, RUN by holding the Y Button and jump on his head when he is facing away from you. After catching Croco for the third time, you will fight him to recover the Rare Frog Coin and the Wallet. After you defeat Croco, a spring will appear. Jump on the spring to return to the Save Point in Bandit's Way. Next, you need to defeat Mack in Mushroom Kingdom to get the first Star Piece.

-Defeat Mack to get the first Star Piece

After defeating Croco and getting the Rare Frog Coin, return to Mushroom Kingdom. You will find the Mushroom Kingdom filled with red Snifits bouncing around on pogo sticks. You don't need to fight all of the Snifits that are terrorizing the townspeople, but some of the folks will reward you for saving them. Heal Mario and Mallow and save your game at the Save Block in the Inn, then buy as many healing items as you can afford. Once you're ready, enter the castle and go into the Throne Room. Fight Mack, the big sword, to get the first Star Piece. Mack has about 505 Hit Points, and the recommend Experience Level for Mario and Mallow is 5. To defeat Mack, have Mario attack with the Hammer and have Mallow use his Thunderbolt Special Attack. Use Timed Hits to increase the amount of damage you inflict and try to lessen the damage you receive by using Timed Blocks. Once Mack is defeated, you're off to find the second Star Piece!