Couple of secrets for New Super Mario Bros.

[jnguyen822]

Play as Luigi:
Hold the L and R buttons down while selecting a save file just after booting up the game. When you reach the world map, you'll see that you're now playing as Luigi.

Timer Rewards
If you complete any stage when the last two digits of your countdown timer are the same (ex. 177, 233, 088) a bonus mushroom house will appear on the far left side of the world map. Stopping the timer with 11, 22, or 33 will give you a red mushroom house with a random item box. A timer with 44, 55, or 66 will give you a green mushroom house that rewards you with 1-Ups. Stop the timer at 77, 88, or 99 and you'll unlock an orange mushroom house that gives you a Mega Mushroom.

Save Anytime
Normally, you are limited to when you can save your game. However, after defeating the game's end boss you'll unlock the option to save anytime you'd like. It may be helpful to rush to the end of the game to unlock this option before going back to collect all Star Coins.

Unlimited Mushroom Houses
Mushroom houses on the world map give you free power-ups and 1-Ups. Normally when you use a mushroom house, the house will disappear from the world map and never return. But once you've completed every stage in the game you'll be able to go in and out of mushroom houses as much as you'd like.

enjoy

 

[Moxio]

Known information, but thanks for the post!

 

[2Fast]

Common knowledge by now, but welcome to CAG anyway!

 

[jnguyen822]

sorry, i just started playing the game 2 days ago

 

[Puffa469]

Thansk for the tips, I'll be playing as Luigi from now on! =D

Anyone figure out how the fireworks at the end of a stage work? Its not like in the original smb, where the timer had to be on 1, 3, or 6. Ive only gotten fireworks 2-3 times so far and I dont know what I did to trigger them.

 

[Krymner]

Another hidden secret that may not be common knowledge is the Challenge Mode.

Challenge Mode
When you have completed the game, press Start in the world map and input the following combination of buttons during the Start Menu.
L R L R X X Y Y
Challenge Mode makes this game more similar to the original Super Mario Bros. game by adding a forced scroll on all levels. You will not be able to backtrack. Once you've passed something, you cannot go back, just like it was in the original NES game.

 

[wubb]

Check gamefaqs. Has these cheats/secrets and a few more.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/code/920787.html

Puffa -

Original Mario Bros theme and fireworks

If you beat a level with a time left of x11, x22, x33, x44 etc you get fireworks and the original mario level completion song will play.

 

[boo]

I

 

[Javery]

[quote name='Krymner']Challenge Mode makes this game more similar to the original Super Mario Bros. game by adding a forced scroll on all levels. You will not be able to backtrack. Once you've passed something, you cannot go back, just like it was in the original NES game.[/quote]

So what about the levels that require backtracking to flip a p-switch or something? How do you complete those?

 

[wubb]

[quote name='javeryh']So what about the levels that require backtracking to flip a p-switch or something? How do you complete those?[/QUOTE]

Are there definitely levels that simply can not be completed with the forced scroll? You'd think Nintendo would have accounted for all of that with the mode (i.e. the level is slightly changed so you don't have to backtrack), but I guess it depends on how quickly it was thrown in. This could be why it isn't more accessible I guess.

 

[Puffa469]

[quote name='boo']I

 

[Snake2715]

I had come across these somewhat but havent got taht game out in a while as I just got Metroid Pinball... Thanks for reminding me of these as i had forgot or didnt know about some!

 

[Javery]

[quote name='wubb']Are there definitely levels that simply can not be completed with the forced scroll? You'd think Nintendo would have accounted for all of that with the mode (i.e. the level is slightly changed so you don't have to backtrack), but I guess it depends on how quickly it was thrown in. This could be why it isn't more accessible I guess.[/quote]

I'd have to actually play through the challenge mode but I definitely remember a few levels where you had to go back further than one screen length and flip a switch to get a platform to appear or something... someone around here must know the answer...

 

[UncleBob]

The "Forced Scroll" (Which simply disables the ability to backtrack) is automatically disabled on some levels.

However, I have played a few levels where it is not disabled and I find myself stuck in a little alcove where a Star Coin is and I'm unable to backtrack to get out.

 

[wubb]

[quote name='UncleBob']The "Forced Scroll" (Which simply disables the ability to backtrack) is automatically disabled on some levels.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info. No backtracking would be how SMB1 worked, so that makes more sense.

 

[ratzombie]

Yup, good Luigi tip.

I've been playing as Luigi since I bought the game a few weeks ago.