A guide to completing the first fortress of World 7 in Super Mario Bros 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

How to Clear the First Fortress of World 7

In this level, you need to be able to fly to be able to complete the level. There is a Tanooki Suit available in the level, but there is also a Fire Flower. If you use the Fire Flower after you get the Tanooki Suit, you won't be able to complete the level and the timer will run out (unless you jump in the lava pit, since there are no enemies in this level).

Go to the right and use the lower path. If you're not small Mario, skip this paragraph. If you're small Mario, go to the right and go through the door. Then go to the right to find a second door. Go through it. From there, go right and jump on top of the platform above the lava. Jump up on top of the ? Blocks, then run to the left and hit the ? Block to get a Super Mushroom. Then jump back to one of the platforms on the right, and go from there to the door in the bottom-left of the room. Go through it. Then go to the left until you reach the other door. Go through it.

Stand beneath the set of bricks to the right of the solid (non-brick) platform. Jump up and hit the fourth brick from the left, then keep jumping straight up to break the second brick and reveal a P Switch. Step on the switch and a temporary door will appear on the solid platform. You can optionally ignore the door on the solid platform and instead get a bunch of coins. If you don't go through the temporary door, you can go through the door on the right to reach the room with the checkerboard floor, then go through the door you just came out of, and you will be back in the room full of bricks. You can then repeat this paragraph until you have collected as many coins as you want (but keep an eye on the timer so you don't run out of time).

When you're ready to move on, go through the temporary door that appears on the solid platform after you step on the P Switch.

Go to the right, then go down the first pipe, and you will fall through some coins (if the coins are bricks, just wait for the P Switch to run out). At the bottom, hit the Mega ? Block to get a Tanooki Suit. Then go to the right and go up the pipe.

Go through the pipe on the right, then go to the bottom-left of the room and go through the door there.

Now you can run to the left and start flying straight up after you have gone past the + shaped set of blocks after the door. There is a pipe in the ceiling, to the left of three small windows. Go up through that pipe to reach the fortress boss, Boom Boom.

Boom Boom

Boom Boom will move left and right, and sometimes he will crouch and slide. Whenever he crouches, his spiky shell is not safe to stomp on. Try to stomp on him when he is running around. You can also hit him with fireballs. After you stomp him the first time, he will start flying in the air, going left and right, then he sometimes stops and swoops down, then lands on the ground and crouches, showing his spiky shell. Try to stomp him just after he starts flying again. After you stomp on him a second time, he will very quickly run left and right, so jump carefully to avoid letting him bump into you.

After you stomp him a third time, he is defeated, and drops a Magic Ball. Collect it and you will complete the level.

After the Level

Completing the fortress removes a locked door, which gives a shortcut to the start of World 7.

You can optionally go to the Spade House to the right of where the fortress was, for a chance to get 1UPs.

Otherwise, continue on to World 7-6.