Sky Land

Sky Land (alternatively The Sky or Sky World ) is the fifth world in Super Mario Bros. 3. Sky Land has nine levels, three Hammer Brothers, two Fortresses, three Toad Houses, three Spade Panels, a king's palace, and a special Tower level. There are two parts to the world, "The Ground" and "The Sky", connected by the Tower level. The first three levels, the first Fortress, the first Toad House, one Spade Panel and two of the Hammer Brothers are on the ground, while everything else is in the sky. The world's Airship can move between the two.

The Koopaling Roy Koopa presides over Sky Land. The real king of Sky Land is an older man, wearing a crown, and with long white hair, and a long white beard. During the events of the game, the Koopalings turn him into a vulture; the SNES and Game Boy Advance versions of Super Mario Bros. 3 see him get turned into an Albatoss.

The Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 map shows that the ground area of Sky Land was located to the east of Giant Land, and south of Dark Land.

This world starts out with a Buster Beetle (new enemy) running toward Mario and grab the throw block, then throw at Mario; a jump on it will defeat it. On the brick formation, the wooden block contains a power-up, and a Chain Chomp to the left, which are somewhat prominent in the level. The second one guards the way to another power-up. There are no special secrets, except a Starman hidden in a long row of ? Blocks. Also, the Nipper Plants here can be defeated by a swipe from Raccoon Mario's tail or a fireball.

Alternately, if Mario has a P-Wing, he can enter a pipe, and then fly through narrow corridors to get a Music Box. There is also another pipe exit that Mario can use to gather four 1-Ups. Then, he can fly up and reveal a Switch Block which, when pressed, makes two giant numeral 3's made of coins (a 3 and 4 in the Game Boy Advance version) appear, which is a reference to the game's title (Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 in the Game Boy Advance remake).

The level begins with a small area with one pipe. After the pipe is entered, Mario falls down a path, landing on a Jump Block. From here, there are two routes. Falling down will give the lower route, while bouncing along the Jump Blocks and climbing a block staircase will give the upper route. See below for summaries of each.

If the upper route is taken, Mario must leap on the Jump Blocks and hop on the blocks to get to the pipe, guarded by two Koopas he must dispose of. After entering the pipe, there are plenty of slopes and Goombas to slide on. When a pipe is spotted, Mario can duck into it to unlock a secret room. The jutting block has a power-up with which to break the blocks and get to the big ? Block that has three 1-Ups inside. Outside, none of the ? Blocks contain anything but Coins, but the pipe nearby leads to the goal.

If Mario took the lower route, he should duck into the middle pipe at the bottom to find himself underground, where Buster Beetles throw Ice Blocks. The area is filled with Buster Beetles, Piranha Plants, Venus Fire Traps, and has few power-ups. All the pipes are solid except the last, which leads to the goal.

This is the only level in the entire game where Mario can find the Goomba's Shoe.

The level begins with a few solid bricks and a green pipe, which will take Mario to the next part of the stage. However, before entering a pipe, Mario can hit an invisible coin block, then jump on it to reveal a hidden block with a 1-Up in it.

The next area of the stage contains Piranha Plants, Spinys, Bob-ombs, Munchers, and two Goombas using the Goomba's Shoe. By hitting a block beneath the Goomba, Mario will knock the Goomba out of the shoe and gains the ability to use it. The shoe allows Mario to jump on a Spiny and Piranha Plant, walk over Muncher and spike-covered areas, and defeat Bob-ombs when jumping on them. The first part of the level has one block containing a leaf in it. However, after avoiding the Spiny and Piranha Plant at the beginning of the area, a Goomba using the Goomba's Shoe will appear. After defeating the Goomba and getting the shoe, Mario can walk across a short field of Munchers and collect a 1-Up hidden in a block.

A pipe at the end of this area leads to the area beneath it. This area contains the same enemies as before. Another Goomba using the Goomba's Shoe is contained inside a group of blocks at the beginning of this area, and can be freed by ridding the area of the ice blocks. A Fire Flower is also down here, near the end of this portion of the level.

Another pipe will take Mario to the end of the level. Once he hits the goal, he will lose the shoe.

1
The only secret is that if Tanooki or Raccoon Mario races back and forth along the first corridor (with a Thwomp in an alcove that must be avoided) then takes off, he can fly up past two blocks and a ? Block until he gets to a pipe that will take him to a secret room. Inside, he must fly up to reveal three 1-Ups.

Hammer Bro. 1
The Hammer Bro. will be on a green plain with various hills to the left and right, as well as two rows of seven breakable blocks. Successfully defeating the Hammer Bro. (of which there are two) will reward the player with a chest that contains a P-Wing. Note that if the player unlocked the conditions for accessing the Treasure Ship, the Hammer Bro. will be replaced with the eponymous ship on the map.

Hammer Bro. 2
The Hammer Bro. will be on a green plain with various hills to the left and right, as well as two rows of seven breakable blocks. Successfully defeating the Hammer Bro. (of which there are two) will reward the player with a chest that contains a Starman. Note that if the player unlocked the conditions for accessing the Treasure Ship, the Hammer Bro. will be replaced with the eponymous ship on the map.

Every pipe in this Tower will take Mario higher up, until he is at the top, on towers made of blocks (and some Pile Driver Micro-Goombas). On the second tower, in the middle block, is a 1-Up. Afterward, by the pipe, four blocks are Ten Coin Blocks, and hidden 1-Up Mushrooms can be found to the right. The pipe leads back inside. The player should dodge a Thwomp and Roto-Disc to get in both pipes. Outside again, there are no secrets, but in the row of ? Blocks, the ordinary block holds a Magic Vine to the pipe to the second part of the world, in the clouds. Mario can get back to the ground by taking the Pipe, but if he wants to get back to the sky part, he must re-do the tower.

By taking the pipe back to the ground, Mario will fall out of the pipe and into a free-fall, until he lands on what appears to be the top of the tower. Here, the area contains four blocks, one of which contains a 1-Up, and another pipe that will take Mario back to the ground.

This is the only level with the Fortress music to lack a boss fight, and the only level that can be replayed after being completed.

The level's main attraction is the motion platforms. Some twirl constantly, some twirl occasionally, and some never spin, but will tilt when jumped on. Mario can swim up the waterfalls in this level, so if he falls in one, all is not lost. Raccoon Mario, by taking off from the first cloud, can uncover three clouds way up high, with a few coins. By taking off from the last one and flying as far as possible, this is a very effective way of skipping the whole level. At the goal, Lakitu shows up, and if Mario can get enough Spinys on screen when he hits the panel, he might get a few 1-Ups.

As this level is based on Donut Lifts, Mario must keep moving to avoid falling into a bottomless pit. In the first part, Mario should grab a Koopa Paratroopa and, when some pipes are seen with bricks blocking them, he should throw the shell to clear them. To the right, a row of ? Blocks has a power up and a few coins. Mario should gather all the coins and continue to the right to find coins above and below a row of Donut Lifts. He can gather them all by standing on a Lift until it falls, and just as he hits the coin, jumping to safety. After gathering them all, Mario should continue back to the pipes and enter the one on the right. After falling through a bunch of coins, the big ? Block has a Tanooki Suit. After exiting, Mario must go back to the left, hit the ? Blocks after the pipes again for a few more coins, then race back to where he came from the secret room. In the formation of wooden and ordinary blocks, one has a coin. There are no more secrets, so the player should get to the pipe, hit the goal, and end the level. If Mario got all the coins, a White Mushroom House will appear on the map, and when entered, Toad will supply a P-Wing.

Parabeetles are introduced in this level, flying beetle shells that Mario can leap on to reach new heights. But they are enemies, so Mario should avoid them when he is on solid ground. No secrets are hidden in this level, but when two rows of bricks are seen after most of the Parabeetles are gone, Mario can drop to the lower one and bop the bricks overhead to get a Switch Block. He can stomp it to make the going a little easier.

This stage is filled with blocks, and block-impostor Microgoombas. At preset blocks throughout the stage, a Starman can be obtained, but only if Mario is invincible while hitting the blocks. There are no secrets until the first huge hunk of bricks; the block right by the ? block by the Venus Fire Trap has a 1-Up. Ducking into the Fire Trap's pipe will lead Mario to a platform like World 1, and if Raccoon Mario flies up he can find a big formation of bricks. A P-Wing is best used for this, as Mario must hit them from below to find a Switch Block (below the gap in the blocks) that will turn all the blocks into coins. Afterward, in the sky, a Lakitu appears again. Mario should try to avoid him and the Bill Blasters as he makes his way to the pipe to the exit. Mario can also go over the wall in the plains section to take a shortcut to the goal, bypassing the pipes completely.

2
Mario begins this lava-filled fortress by going through a pipe. Enemies here include Podoboos and Dry Bones, plus a kind of Podoboo which can stay suspended in air for a short while. These fly up and down, suspended in air. In one of the blocks in the long row of ? Blocks, there is a Starman. Mario can grab it and gain invulnerability to everything but lava. After completing the main stretch, Mario will be taken straight to Boom Boom's room.

In this Level, Mario has to cross a large gap by jumping on narrow platforms. To hinder his progress, A Lakitu appears and throws Spiny Eggs at him.

This level has Mario venturing upwards in an auto-scrolling level. He must jump to avoid a quick death, avoiding Fire Chomps and Paratroopas while doing so. No secrets can be found in this level.

This Airship is armed with many traps and obstacles, as well as filled with Bullet Bills, Cannonballs, and Rocket Engines that try to hinder Mario from reaching the boss room. There, like a Sledge Brother, when Roy jumps, Mario should too, as he can stun the plumber. Three hits, though, and he is defeated. Mario then can grab the wand to return the king from an Albatoss to a human.

Hammer Bro. 3
The arena had clouds on the ground as well as two rows of seven breakable blocks each. Upon beating the Hammer Bro. (two during this time), the player is rewarded with a Music Box. If the player already met the prerequisites for the Treasure Ship, this Hammer Bro. will turn into the aforementioned ship.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Sky Land appeared in several episodes of The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. The ground portion of Sky Land was never really brought up; Sky Land was implied to exist directly above the Mushroom Kingdom itself, and is connected to the mainland by a stairway made out of floating blocks. Sky Land is ruled by Emperor Ed.

Reign Storm: One of the problems that Mario and Luigi face while trying to run the Mushroom Kingdom during Princess Toadstool's absence is that the stairway to Sky Land is floating off and dropping people in the garbage dump.

A Toadally Magical Adventure: While unstated, the Ace Magic Wand Factory seems to be based in Sky Land. Bowser and several Koopalings have their sights set on obtaining a special wand that is being delivered to the Wizard King of the West; having spotted the Koopas, the Wizard King of the West alerts the Mario Bros. and requests for them to prevent the wand from being stolen.

Up, Up, and a Koopa: After abducting Emperor Ed, Bowser uses Kooky's new Kooper-Dooper Raiser-Upper from onboard the Doom Ship to levitate everything in the Mushroom Kingdom up to Sky Land (sometimes called "Sky World" in this episode) in an attempt to force Princess Toadstool into surrendering her kingdom. However, Bowser overloads the Raiser-Upper causing everything that was being levitated to fall back down to the Mushroom Kingdom. In the process, Emeperor Ed falls out of the Doom Ship and lands on Toad. He alerts Princess Toadstool as to what's going on, so Mario and Luigi obtain Raccoon Power to bring Emperor Ed back to Sky Land and fly to the Doom Ship. However, they get caught, prompting Princess Toadstool and Toad to fly up to Sky Land using P-Wings. Bowser then decides to take over Sky Land as well by tormenting its people with the Raiser Upper. However, Princess Toadstool and Toad make it to the Doom Ship, where they rescue Mario and Luigi. The group steals the Raiser Upper and use it to not only restore Sky Land and the Mushroom Kingdom back to normal, but to levitate the Doom Ship back to Dark Land.

Trivia

 * There is a glitch in the original NES version of the game in which the Airship can "hide" in an undetermined area between "The Ground" and "The Sky". This means that, if this happens, the player can be permanently stuck and unable to continue, as they cannot reach the Airship to challenge it. The Airship appears to be in the top left corner of Sky Land's screen, where a miniature version of the ground is visible.
 * The ground map on the NES and SNES versions has a different layout when seen on the map on "The Sky"; there more turns in the path in the actual game, and it shows a path Mario cannot take going north from the Tower. This was fixed in the GBA version.
 * The map icon for the fortress is given a blue coloring for the sky portion of this world. This doesn't happen anywhere else in the game.
 * The tower that takes Mario/Luigi to the sky portion of the game resembles Mount Purgatory from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy; the mountain also leads to heaven, just as the tower leads to the sky.
 * Princess Peach's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U uses a sped-up remix of the Sky Land theme.