Super Guide

Super Guide is a standard guide that helps the player finish a level that they may be unable to complete. Its first appearance is in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, where Luigi demonstrates how to complete a given level. The feature continues in Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and New Super Mario Bros. U. In New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U, Super Guide is the only instance in which Luigi can be playable in single-player mode.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
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 a player has failed to pass a level at least eight times, a Super Guide Block appears at the start of the level. When the player hits this block, the level restarts in auto-pilot mode: a computer-controlled Luigi will play the level on his own. The Super Guide only shows the player how to beat the level, but does not use shortcuts or reveal secrets, nor does it collect any Star Coins. While the Super Guide is running, the player can press the on the  at any time to take control again; the game will start exactly where the Super Guide left off. Once the player has taken control again, they cannot turn Super Guide back on for the remainder of the level. The level will still count as beaten even when the Super Guide assistance is used; however, the level pad on the world map will be red instead of blue; a player would need to beat the level themselves for the level pad to turn blue. If the player ever sees the Guide Block, the stars on the save file will permanently lose their shine, even when not used. This will void the player from ever getting 5 shiny stars on their file and there is no way to reverse this action. When the player takes over, they will play as Luigi rather than Mario, but losing a life will result in Mario being controlled again. The Super Guide is not available in World 9, even if the player dies eight times in a level. If multiple players are playing, the guide block will not appear, and the save file stars will remain shiny even if they each die eight times in a level.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
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 mode. If the player finds a very difficult obstacle on his or her 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, 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
Super Guide returns in New Super Mario Bros. U. This Guide behaves the same as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but the player needs to lose a life at least five times. If multiple players are playing, the 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 shiny even if the guide block appears; it will only lose the shine if the block is used, unlike its predecessor. 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.

Unlike New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. U/New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe will not make the stars on the file lose their shine permanently, even when not used, if the player ever sees the Super Guide block. The 5 stars on the file will lose their shine if the Super Guide Block is used. However, there is a way to reverse this action. The player can always come back to replay the level without the Super Guide block. That way, the five stars on the save file will regain their shine.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, Super Guide is called Mini Guide. If the player loses 8 lives in one level, Mini Guide appears as an option with "Retry" and "Exit". When activated, the level plays automatically. As in other games, the player can't earn points for finishing levels with the Mini Guide.

Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
In Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, the Super Guide returns in the form of Super Kong. If the player loses eight lives (or five in the 3DS version), Tutorial Pig offers them the use of Super Kong to finish the level for them. This does not officially complete the level because Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong cannot keep any items that Super Kong collected. At any point, the player can press the  button to take control of Super Kong and try completing a level while playing as him. If the player loses a life as Super Kong, they are sent back to the map screen.

New Super Mario Bros. U

 * Instruction manual bio: "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

 * North American website bio: "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."