World 2-4 (NSMB)

World 2-4 is the fourth level of the second world in the game, New Super Mario Bros.. It is mostly a desert level, but with some underwater locations.

Level Description
This level starts out with a seemingly flat desert surface. High in the air resides three ? Blocks and two Brick Blocks. At first glance, it seems impossible to reach the blocks alone; however, a few steps to the right there lies a ? Switch. By pressing this switch, the flat desert will quickly raise into the form of a steep hill, allowing the player to access the aforementioned blocks. After a few steps, the player will encounter a Goomba. Near the Goomba are six coins caged in by brick blocks. The player must Ground-Pound the bricks if he or she wishes to collect the coins. Past the first abyss, the player will find two Goombas and two Koopas. Surrounding the enemies are twelve blocks – four of which are ? Blocks containing coins, while the other eight are plain brick blocks. Past this point, the player will encounter another tiny abyss, followed by two Koopas and a Koopa Paratroopa. If the player stays on the lower ground level and continues rightward, he or she will see a warp pipe inhabited by a Piranha Plant. By wall jumping over the pipe, the player can collect a Star Coin. When the player heads up top and walks to the right, he or she will encounter a Koopa, a Goomba, and a downward staircase infested with Piranha Plants. The player can eliminate the plants with a single Koopa Shell At the bottom of the staircase is a shallow bed of water. To the left is a mini-pipe, able to accessed by using a Mini Mushroom. To the right are two more pipes with Piranha Plants. Another A P-Switch can be found on a small chunk of land. By pressing it, several Silver Coins will appear for the player to grab. Past here are two paths the player can take.

Upward Path
By going up the staircase, the player will encounter a Goomba and three more Piranha Plants. Just past the Goomba is a small gap in the upper part of the wall. By wall jumping repeatedly, the player can collect several coins. As the player reaches the top of the stairs, a bridge with two Koopas can be found.

Downward Path
A narrow path resides to the right underwater. At the end of the path are two pipes. By entering the red pipe, the player will be taken to a secret underwater area. In this area, several coins and two Cheep-Cheeps are found. In the opposite upper side of the area is a pipe. By using this pipe, the player will be taken underneath the aforementioned bridge. Another Star Coin can be found here. Then, by pressing the ? Switch, the ground will rise; the player can now walk atop the bridge and continue forth.

Farther right, a Paragoomba will be encountered. As the player continues, two blocks – one containing a ? Switch, the other containing a power-up – and a Piranha Plant are found. This is where the checkpoint is. By pressing the ? Switch, the ground beneath the Piranha Plant will rise. If the player rushes to the right – over another hill – he or she can gain access to a higher elevation, allowing access to the rest of the level. Past here are two Hammer Bros. guarding the final Star Coin. After here is a staircase with a Koopa, followed by the end-of-level flagpole.