Level goals

**Valigarmander** · 10-02-2011, 04:01 PM

I doubt this is something you've thought about much before, but let's consider it: what's your favorite level goal in the Mario series? Just to give some examples...

The Flagpole (Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario 3D Land)

The famous flagpole. Once you jump onto it, you'll slide down the bottom, and the level will end. The higher up the pole you get, the more points you earn. If you grab onto the very top, you win an extra life. If the timer is just right when you grab the flagpole, fireworks will appear, boosting your points further.

Hawkmouth & Slots (Super Mario Bros. 2)

You exit most levels in SMB2 through a Hawkmouth. After the level ends, you're given the opportunity to win extra lives by betting any coins you gathered in the level on a slot machine.

Card Roulette (Super Mario Bros. 3)

At the end of most levels in SMB3, there is a Card Roulette you can hit to end the level and win one card. The Card Roulette shifts rapidly between Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Star cards. Getting three cards earns you extra lives, and you get even more lives if all three cards match.

Bonus Stage (Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins)

Levels in Super Mario Land generally have two exits: a low one, and a high one. Going through the difficult-to-reach high exit allows you to play a bonus game where you can win extra lives or powerups. Super Mario Land 2 has a similar bonus game, but you play it by hitting a bell before exiting the level.

Giant Gate (Super Mario World)

Giant Gates are found at the end of most levels in SMW. A bar moves up and down the gate. Hitting the bar earns you Gold Stars; the higher the bar is, the more Gold Stars you win. Getting 100 Gold Stars will take you to a bonus stage where you can win extra lives.

GOAL! Ring (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)

The GOAL! Ring in YI features five flowers and five blue dots. Each of the flowers in the ring represent flowers found in the stage. If you happen to miss a flower, it will not bloom and will have the same effect as a blue dot in the roulette. Jumping into the ring will cause the roulette to slow down and eventually stop. If it lands on a flower, you get to play a Bonus Challenge and win items or extra lives. There are six Bonus Challenges in all.

For pure fun and variety, I'd say the GOAL! Ring takes the cake. The Card Roulette in SMB3 was a great, easy way to win lots of 1-ups. I also really liked the bonus stages in the SML games. What are your favs? They don't need to be limited to the examples I posted.

***Marilink*** · 10-02-2011, 10:34 PM

I was always a big fan of the Giant Gate, mostly because of the massive amount of satisfaction if you ever actually got a 50. That's one of the few things in a Mario Game that I still can't do consistently.

10-02-2011, 04:01 PM	#1
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Level goals I doubt this is something you've thought about much before, but let's consider it: what's your favorite level goal in the Mario series? Just to give some examples... The Flagpole (Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario 3D Land) The famous flagpole. Once you jump onto it, you'll slide down the bottom, and the level will end. The higher up the pole you get, the more points you earn. If you grab onto the very top, you win an extra life. If the timer is just right when you grab the flagpole, fireworks will appear, boosting your points further. Hawkmouth & Slots (Super Mario Bros. 2) You exit most levels in SMB2 through a Hawkmouth. After the level ends, you're given the opportunity to win extra lives by betting any coins you gathered in the level on a slot machine. Card Roulette (Super Mario Bros. 3) At the end of most levels in SMB3, there is a Card Roulette you can hit to end the level and win one card. The Card Roulette shifts rapidly between Mushroom, Fire Flower, and Star cards. Getting three cards earns you extra lives, and you get even more lives if all three cards match. Bonus Stage (Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins) Levels in Super Mario Land generally have two exits: a low one, and a high one. Going through the difficult-to-reach high exit allows you to play a bonus game where you can win extra lives or powerups. Super Mario Land 2 has a similar bonus game, but you play it by hitting a bell before exiting the level. Giant Gate (Super Mario World) Giant Gates are found at the end of most levels in SMW. A bar moves up and down the gate. Hitting the bar earns you Gold Stars; the higher the bar is, the more Gold Stars you win. Getting 100 Gold Stars will take you to a bonus stage where you can win extra lives. GOAL! Ring (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island) The GOAL! Ring in YI features five flowers and five blue dots. Each of the flowers in the ring represent flowers found in the stage. If you happen to miss a flower, it will not bloom and will have the same effect as a blue dot in the roulette. Jumping into the ring will cause the roulette to slow down and eventually stop. If it lands on a flower, you get to play a Bonus Challenge and win items or extra lives. There are six Bonus Challenges in all. For pure fun and variety, I'd say the GOAL! Ring takes the cake. The Card Roulette in SMB3 was a great, easy way to win lots of 1-ups. I also really liked the bonus stages in the SML games. What are your favs? They don't need to be limited to the examples I posted.

10-02-2011, 10:34 PM	#2
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,535 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	I was always a big fan of the Giant Gate, mostly because of the massive amount of satisfaction if you ever actually got a 50. That's one of the few things in a Mario Game that I still can't do consistently.