VG Advanced Strategies: Super Mario Bros. 3

This week's VG Advanced Strategies will show you how to get two quick whistles in Super Mario Bros. 3. The whistles will allow you to skip entire worlds, and if you have two of them, you can use both of them to instantly reach world 8, the final world in the game.
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This won't be the last time you see Super Mario Bros. 3 in an advanced strategies segment. There are plenty of speed run tricks I can show. But, for now, I will just show you how to get the first two whistles.


Just get through the first two stages as fast as possible. They aren't that difficult. Try to get a feather leaf though, so that Mario can fly with his raccoon tail (does that many ANY sense?). Regardless, enter stage 3 for the first whistle.


This screen shot is towards the end of the stage. Once you are here though, jump on top of the white box and hold down. Eventually you'll go behind the box and the level background (WTF!?). Don't turn around though, as that will cancel this secret. Also, enemies can still hurt you, so don't run into them. From there run to the right to end the stage and you'll go behind the black background.


Ah ha! The first whistle! Wasn't this a cleverly hidden secret?


From there go straight to the fortress. The next whistle is placed here. Make sure you are flying raccoon Mario as you're going to need it for this trick.


You'll see this part of the level as soon as you see the first skeleton koopa. The ? block has a feather in it, so if you accidentally lost it, you can get it back here. Jump on the skeleton and then quickly run from all the way from the right to the left. While flying (tap B quickly to gain altitude), and fly over the ceiling. Yes, it can be done.


Once on top of the ceiling, run all the way to the right and press up to go through the door. You'll then go to another screen.


Hey hey! A second whistle!


Now that you have two whistles, press B to open up the item window and use the first whistle by pressing A. You'll travel to the warp zone.


Now that you're in the warp zone, open the item window again and use the second whistle. You'll be transported to the warp zone... again!


Now you have access to World 8. Don't whistles rule?


Oh man, there's fire and tanks everywhere. World 8 doesn't look as happy as World 1. Maybe this wasn't a good idea...

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This is the fastest way to get to World 8. People who do speed runs of this game always use this technique. The only problem with this method is that you don't get a chance to build up a healthy stack of lives and items to use. However, once you already pwn at this game, you don't even need items or lives. And, knowing this trick brings you one step closer to pwnage.