SMB3: Big & Wet...

Unlock The White Mushroom House (World 3-8, World 4-2)

Super Mario Bros. 3

The Watery Island World (World 3) of Super Mario Bros. 3 is the first really challenging area the player encounters... So why should unlocking the Secret White Mushroom House be any different?

Even the official Strategy Guide lists level 3-8 as one of the most difficult stages in the entire game.

Scavenging all of those pesky coins to unlock the White Mushroom House, to receive a P-Wing in return...

Also taking a look at World 4, Giant Land.

 

Frogman To The Rescue!

World 3-8   (44 coins to unlock the White Mushroom House)

World 3-8

Normally opt for Firepower against Boss Bass - But in this stage, the furious fish seems to "respawn" so quickly that disposing of him doesn't seem to matter.

Tried it with Frog Mario and was more than pleased with the results.

Excellent jumping to catch the coins, and anytime Mario fell in the water, he actually held a slight advantage over the voracious predator.


Especially as Frog Mario, the world itself isn't overly difficult - Just gottta pay attention to the constant rise and fall, mainly to avoid foolishly hopping somewhere where the big fish can make a meal out of you - Kinda like being a real frog!

A ten-coin block is revealed above a pair of ice blocks. Frog Mario may have a slight difficulty plucking the topmost ice block.



As the level rises and falls, I prefer to see the multi-coin block when I start hammering away at it. This way, I can keep track of my coin count, and try to bank 11.

Nothing whets the appetite of a big fat Bass like a nice juicy frog.

A narrow escape from Boss Bass, but Frog Mario can jump all the way to the vine.
All the coins around the vines must to be collected also.

Near the end of the level, gotta time the rise & fall to maximize the window of opportunity with the route below...
Of course the top route is safer, but the game dares you to try.

It'll get flooded out quite quickly, and Boss Bass can still swallow Frog Mario whole.

Give Mario enough time to hop through the tight spot - Without having the water rise high enough that Boss Bass can reach him!

Hopping over the P-Switch to collect those coins first, then onto the P-Switch itself.
(otherwise the coins turn into bricks that can seal the exit)

Nothing crazy from hereon in...
A few relatively easy coins to collect.

A quick hop here, and a quick hop there...

Last coin is actually a hidden 1-Up for the effort.

Frog Mario gets it done.
The White Mushroom House contains a useful P-Wing.

Actually liked the Frog Suit so much that I kept in on for the duration of World 3...

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Extra Credit Assignment:

World 3-9

Relatively few enemies in the next level, World 3-9. But with the impeccable placement of  Piranha Plants, Para Goombas, Bob-Ombs and Bullet Bills, most players will happily skip right past this area racing for the goal.

Raccoon Mario can break the bricks with his tail, gaining access to the tube that leads underwater.











By swimming counter-intuitively to the left, Mario can find a secret pipe that leads to a Frog Suit.




Gotta hold to the right as Mario falls from above so he can land near the big question block.




A few obstacles and Cheep Cheeps offer virtually no challenge with the Frog Suit.

Only really tricky part as Frog Mario is the Koopaling Airship...

World 3
The Doomship!

Gotta hop on a cannonball and get a boost by holding the jump button to get to the safer upper portion of the ship. Frog Mario can't easily hop through the narrow space without losing his Frog Suit to cannon fire.

Wicked Wendy O. Koopa!

The Frog Prince...
Mario wears one of his best suits to meet the King.

Survive a Doomship and the Koopaling battle while wearing one of the special suits and a special message from His Royal Highness.

See Alternate Messages From The King.

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Gigantic!

World 4-2   (24 coins to unlock the White Mushroom House)

World 4-2

The "biggest" world actually has the lowest coin count requirement for the Secret Toad House.

Another world that rises and falls. Once again, gotta pay careful attention to how the level shifts...

Mario must collect every single one of those brick-turned coins once he hits the P-Switch.

The annoying Cheep Cheep is another challenge, so stomp him on the bridge immediately before hitting the switch. He'll respawn, but in those valuable seconds, Mario can get the coins and hop safely out of the water.

Every last coin is needed, so make sure to get them all!

Mario risking his life for a few coins...
Nine lives to commit to this endeavor.

There is a Starman available in the question block... But I find the timing of collecting the item slows me down just enough that I can't race all the way down the bridge to get the rest of the coins...

Opted to go without Invincibility, and actually found it easier.

Watching the replay, actually just missed nabbing the Starman.

Grabbing the very last coin!

A bit of back-tracking to get the coins that were bricks just moments ago...

Finally, made it off the Cheep Cheep bridge and heading towards the exit pipe.

White Mushroom House appears on the map, and Mario can collect an Anchor from Toad.
The Match Card Minigame can often appear at the same time, as an result of racking up so many points!

Always cool to snag an Anchor for the Inventory.
At least it beats another Music Box...