A guide to completing World 2-1 in Super Mario Bros 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

How to Clear World 2-1

Go to the right, and if you look carefully, you can see one brick that isn't shining. If you get close to the brick, it will jump up and try to hit you. This is a Pile Driver Micro-Goomba. You can stomp on it to break the brick and defeat the Goomba, or if you're Raccoon Mario, you can hit it with your tail.

Next, hit the ? block to get a Super Mushroom or Super Leaf, but beware of another Pile Driver Micro-Goomba on top of the bricks on the right.

Go to the right and there is another Pile Driver Micro-Goomba on the rightmost side of the pile of bricks.

Next, there are three brick columns, each of which has a Pile Driver Micro-Goomba on top.

Before you hit the ? blocks, be aware that the one on the right contains a Starman, but if you use the Starman, you won't be able to get a Super Mushroom or Super Leaf from a brick up ahead, because you won't be able to kick the Koopa Shell at the brick if you're invincible. In other words, if you need a Super Mushroom or Super Leaf, don't get the Starman until after you kick the Koopa Shell to the right and get the item from the brick at the end.

To the right of the ? blocks, there is a Red Koopa Troopa, a normal brick, a Pile Driver Micro-Goomba, and a Firesnake. Get rid of those enemies with the Starman, then if you're Raccoon Mario, break the normal brick with your tail, and then you can get some hidden coins if you go to the left so you're standing beneath the ? blocks, then run to the right to fill your P-Meter, and fly up above the metal structure so you're going straight up from the leftmost side of the metal structure. This will make you fly and break the bricks on the left side of a pipe in the sky. Go down the pipe, and in the hidden area, step on the P Switch to make some hidden coins appear. Collect the coins, then go down the pipe. Then go to the left so you can fall down into the gap between the two metal structures.

In the gap between the two metal structures, stand on the ground so you're exactly in the middle of the two wooden blocks, then jump straight up. This makes a Note Block appear. Run and jump onto the Note Block, then jump so you hit the side of the leftmost wooden block. This will make a Super Mushroom or Super Leaf come out.

Then go to the left and jump to break the brick above you. Run and jump up to enter the metal structure. Go to the left and get the coins while carefully dodging the Fire Snake. Then hit the brick between the coins to get a 1UP Mushroom.

Go to the right to exit the metal structure, then run along the top of the next metal structure, and fall down off of the right side. Go to the left to jump and break the brick, then get the coins from inside of this metal structure while dodging the Firesnake (you can hit it with your tail if you're Raccoon Mario). Then go to the right and exit the metal structure.

Go to the right to find two pipes with Piranha Plants coming out, and some bricks that also have a Pile Driver Micro-Goomba hidden among them. Go down the rightmost pipe and step on the P Switch, then quickly go to the left and go up the pipe on the left. Get the coins where the bricks were.

Go to the right, but don't run and hit the Goal Block, because there is a Pile Driver Micro-Goomba beneath it. First, go to the right and stomp on the Pile Driver Micro-Goomba to get rid of it, then run to the left until you are up against the pipe, then run to the right and hit the Goal Block at an angle, and you should get a Star symbol.

After the Level

Next, you can optionally visit the Spade House for a chance of getting some extra lives, then you can move on to World 2-2.