Cheats
Infinite Lives in World 1-1
Play through to very nearly the end of World 1-1, making sure that you are Super Mario or better. Just ahead of the staircase at the end of the stage, there is a red Koopa pacing back and forth along some blocks. You can hit him from below to turn his shell upside down. Then you should grab it and carry it to the right. Hop onto one of the steps and continue to hold the shell until the Koopa escapes. When it does, you will take damage, but then the Koopa will begin pacing back and forth on a single block that serves as part of the staircase. Now you can jump and stomp the shell to send it flying. If you time it correctly, Mario will bounce repeatedly on the shell, which hits the block immediately to its right and perpetually rebounds. As Mario continues to bounce, points increase and quickly start to reward him with a 1-up for each bounce, making it easy to rack up a bunch of extra lives before time expires or you complete the stage.
Flagpole Secrets (Last 2 Digit Rewards)
Complete a level and jump on the flagpole with the timing to get:
Fire Flower : Last 2 digits equaling 33 or 34
Ice Flower : Last 2 digits equaling 55
Star : Last 2 digits equaling 88 or 99
Super Accorn : Last 2 digits equaling 77
Super Mushroom : Last 2 digits equaling 11, 22, or 66More Easy Extra Lives in Soda Jungle
As you play through Soda Jungle's first level, you have the potential to earn more than 30 lives on each attempt. As soon as you start the level, you'll see a single small Goomba. Instead of killing it, continue onward to find three larger Goomba enemies. You can start bouncing along Goombas and the number of points they grant you will continue to increase as long as you don't touch the ground (make sure you hold the jump button as you bounce, because that will send you higher into the air and give you more time to select your next target). The larger Goomba foes will split into smaller ones, providing you with still more opportunities. You'll start earning extra lives. There are additional areas within the stage where you can perform a similar cheat, which is how you can gain so many lives on each trip through the stage. You can also come back and repeat the stage as desired to build up your supply of extra lives later in the game.
Unlockables
Secret Island and Superstar Road
Beat the game once and you'll unlock a secret island where you can view your stats throughout the game. You'll also be able to save your progress any time you like by accessing the pause menu, and you'll unlock a series of new stages called Superstar Road. You can access the island and the new stages using any of the pipes on the world map.
Tips and Tricks
Merciless Conqueror
There's an easy trick that works on every boss except Bowser, Bowser Jr., Kamek, and Giant Sumo Bro. When you're first in the room and after you first attack them, wait for them to come out of their shell then right when they do, if you're quick enough, attack them again before they even get the chance to strike back. Do the same thing one more time, and you'll have defeated a boss quickly.
Lurching Urchin Rope Climb
The lurching urchin challenge can be unlocked if you complete enough time trial challenges. Once unlocked, play and die twice before 7. 75 seconds is up, play normally and before half way, up a water blast is a rope. Climb this for quick finish and a red star quick bonus!
Unlimited Toad House Visits
If you earn all 5 stars on your profile you can visit Toad Houses repeatedly without them becoming inactive And previously inactive Toad Houses will become accessible again!
Secret Fireworks
If you touch the flagpole and the last 2 digits are the same (for example 11, 22, etc.), fireworks will appear. The number of fireworks depend on the last 2 digits. 11 is 1 firework, 22 is 2 fireworks, all the way up to 9 fireworks!
Turtle Tipping in Superstar Road
In Fire Bar Cliffs, you'll find stairs with two fire bars. A Buzzy Beatle will be descending them. If you time it right, Mario can jump on that enemy and cause his shell to bounce repeatedly against the stairs, racking up extra lives the same general way that you could at the end of World 3-1 in the original Super Mario Bros. Keep in mind that there are numerous other places throughout the game where you can perform a similar trick, including the Tilted Tunnel level in Acorn Plains and the Switchback Hill level in Meringue Clouds.
Turtle Tipping in Soda Jungle
Work your way to the end of the first Soda Jungle stage and head to the right from where you find the first star coin. You should see a green Koopa descending a giant staircase. If you time it properly, you can jump on the turtle and cause the shell to bounce repeatedly against the stairs as Mario bops it for extra lives, like you could in the very first Super Mario Bros. at the end of the level in World 3.
Flagpole Fireworks and Bonus
Before you tag the flagpole at the end of each level, keep in mind that you can receive an item if the last two digits on the timer are correct (Toad will call you past the castle and allow you to open a treasure chest that holds the rewarded item). Fireworks will also display. The digits required and the corresponding rewards are listed below.
11 - Mushroom
22 - Mushroom
33 - Mushroom
44 - Fire Flower
55 - Ice Flower
66 - Mini Mushroom
77 - Super Acorn
88 - Star
99 - StarSkip Underground Dungeons
When you find a level that starts above ground and begins by heading underground, then ends as you return to the surface to run a short distance to a flagpole, you may be able to skip most of the level using a P-Acorn (which can be obtained by catching Nabbit). Just fly over a wall and you'll skip the underground segment of that particular stage. Some examples of stages that allow you to use that trick include Acorn Plains 2: Tilted Tunnel and Layer Cake Desert 2: Perilous Pokey Cave.
Save File Stars
As you accomplish certain feats, stars will begin to appear next to your save profile, up to a total of five. Those required feats are as follows:
Defeat Bowser
Must capture Nabbit in worlds 1 - 7. Basically, the fifth star will not unlock without capturing Nabbit at least 7 times.
Get every Star Coin in the initial eight worlds
Complete SuperStar Road levels, including Level 9, and get every Star Coin
Find every standard and secret exit (the red flag), for a total of 94 flagpoles
Explore the galaxy in the franchise's first open-world game.
