Super Guide

The Super Guide is a recurring feature in various games of the Super Mario franchise of the late Wii and Nintendo DS era across different series. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first game to include it. While the exact implementation differs between games, the general idea is that the Super Guide can be activated on a level a player is struggling to complete. It then shows the player an example run that completes the level, which counts as completing except that the level appears to be incomplete on world maps and is incomplete with regard to mechanics unrelated to level progression. Usually, the player is allowed to take control in the Super Guide's example run at any point, such as after the Super Guide has bypassed a section of a level that is difficult for the player. The concept would be succeeded by invincibility items such as the Invincibility Leaf and Invincibility Bell in games of the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS era and by the Assist Mode of later games.

History[edit ]

Super Mario series[edit ]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit ]

The Super Guide first appears in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In this game, the Super Guide provides players stuck on a level assistance to clear levels. When the player has failed to pass a level at least eight times, a Super Guide Block appears at the start of the level or at the midway point. When the player hits this block, the level restarts in autopilot mode: A computer-controlled Luigi plays the level on his own. The Super Guide only shows the player how to beat the level, but the CPU does not use shortcuts, take damage, or reveal secrets. While the Super Guide is running, the player can press Plus Button on Wii Remote at any time to take control again; the game starts exactly where the Super Guide left off. Once the player has taken control again, they cannot turn the Super Guide back on for the remainder of the level. The level still counts as beaten even when the Super Guide assistance is used—however, the level pad on the world map is red instead of blue; the player needs to beat the level themselves for the level pad to turn blue. If the player ever sees the Super Guide Block, the stars on the save file will permanently lose their shine, even when the block is not used when it appears. When the player takes over, they play as Luigi rather than Mario, but losing a life results in Mario being controlled again. The Super Guide is not available in World 9, even if the player loses eight lives in a World 9 level. If multiple players are playing, the Super Guide Block will not appear, and the save file stars will remain shiny even if the players each lose eight lives in a level.

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit ]

In Super Mario Galaxy 2 , the player may request the Tip Network, which is a short demonstration of Mario taking some actions to progress on certain levels. Another way the game offers assistance is via the Cosmic Guide^[1] mode. If the player finds a very difficult obstacle on their way, an entity known as the Cosmic Spirit (who resembles Rosalina) asks Mario if he needs some help. Activating this mode, the Cosmic Spirit possesses Mario, who passes automatically through the level. The player may stop this mode by pressing the +Control Pad, or yet again the Plus Button, though once the player has chosen this mode, they will finish a level by getting a Bronze Star instead of a Power Star. The player must play through the level without the Cosmic Guide in order to gain a Power Star. Neither the Tip Network nor the Cosmic Spirit appear if the player is playing as Luigi.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit ]

The Super Guide returns in New Super Mario Bros. U , where it behaves the same as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, except it appears after the player loses a life at least five times. It is the only way to play as Luigi in single-player mode. Just like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, if the player uses the Super Guide to complete a level, the level will be marked as red on the map (and if the level was a Castle or a Tower, the white flag will not appear like it usually does). If multiple players are playing, the Super Guide Block will not appear, and the save file stars will remain shiny even if they each die five times in a level. Save file stars also remain permanently shiny even if the Super Guide Block appears; it will only lose the shine if the block is used, unlike its predecessor (however, in New Super Mario Bros. U, if players replay the level without the use of the Super Guide Block, the stars on the save file will be shiny again). When playing as Luigi in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe , the Super Guide Block is colored red and summons a computer-controlled Mario in place of Luigi. In addition, in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, even if the player uses the Super Guide block, save file stars will permanently keep their shine.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![edit ]

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! , the Super Guide is called the Mini Guide. If the player loses five times in one level, the Mini Guide appears as an option alongside "Retry" and "Exit" on the Game Over screen. When activated, the level's solution plays automatically, also accounting for collection of all Coins and M-Tokens.

The player cannot take control of the camera nor any of the objects or Minis while Mini Guide is active. Pausing the game brings up the usual options, but restarting the level will still activate Mini Guide as normal. The player can exit Mini Guide by simply exiting the level, at which opening another level will start gameplay normally. However, if a Game Over is attained again on the level they previously activated Mini Guide in, the option to use Mini Guide will appear immediately. As in other games, the player cannot earn points for finishing levels with the Mini Guide.

Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D / HD)[edit ]

In Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports, the Super Guide appears in the form of Super Kong. If the player loses eight lives (or five lives in New Mode of in the Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Modern Mode of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD), and is not in Time Attack or Mirror Mode, then tutorial pig offers to have Super Kong play the level for them. The player can enable Super Guide from the start of a level or at any checkpoint. While the level is completed, the level on the Level Selection Screen remains red instead of turning blue, the player does not keep any items that Super Kong collected, and they do not gain access to Time Attack for that level.^[2] At any point, the player can press the Plus Button button to take control of Super Kong and try finishing the level from that point. If the player loses a life as Super Kong, they are sent back to the map screen.

Profiles[edit ]

New Super Mario Bros. U[edit ]

• Instruction booklet description:
  • English:
    If you lose a life on the same course five times, a Super Guide Block will appear. Hit the block to have Luigi clear the course for you.
    Super Guide Blocks will only appear when playing alone in New Super Mario Bros. U.
    There may be times when the graphics and music go out of sync.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit ]

• Website description:
  • English (United States):
    If you’re playing New Super Mario Bros. U alone and lose five lives in a course, a Super Guide Block will appear. Hit it to activate the Super Guide, which will show you how to complete the course. From there, you can choose to move on to the next course or give the one you’ve been working on another try.

Names in other languages[edit ]

See also[edit ]

• Super Guide Block
• Cosmic Spirit
• Super Kong
• Assist Block
• Missable content

References[edit ]

• Game mechanics
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii
• Super Mario Galaxy 2
• New Super Mario Bros. U
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
• Donkey Kong Country Returns

• Articles with unsourced foreign names