Lethal Lava Land



Lethal Lava Land is the seventh course in Super Mario 64, and later Super Mario 64 DS. As the name suggests, it is a course filled with Lava. There are many traps in the course compared to most previous levels. The primary enemies in the stage are the Bullies. The boss, in fact, is a Big Bully that Mario must push into lava. They exist in this stage as an annoyance to push Mario into the lava of the course. Unlike most other Mario games, the lava does not immediately defeat Mario; instead, it depletes Mario's health by three and sends him flying around. Fortunately, there are no bottomless pits to instantly kill Mario.

Highlights of this stage include a sliding puzzle that forms a picture of Bowser, many tilting platforms which easily dip Mario into lava, and a rolling log along which Mario must run. Most notable is a volcano in the center of the stage. In the DS version, Power Flowers can save Wario from taking damage in the lava in this stage. Instead, Metal Wario gradually sinks into the lava as he walks along it, and must continuously jump to keep on the surface, similar to parts of Shifting Sand Land.

The entrance to Lethal Lava Land is a painting of what appears to be a fireball with an eerie face, and is located in the basement of Princess Peach's Castle. It resembles an enemy known as a Bomb.

Star 1: Boil The Big Bully
After Mario enter the stage, Mario should see a large bully on a square platform across the area. Using a variaty of punches, kicks, and other attacks, Mario will be able to push the Big Bully of the areana and into the lava. The Star will appear atop another platform and a set of steps (which will break apart) will also appear leading the plumber to it.

Star 2: Bully The Bullies
Mario should head to the right of the site of his battle with Big Bully. He'll see a larger platform with three regular Bullies. After defeating the trio, a Big Bully will drop down and fight Mario. After pushing it into the lava below, the Power Star will appear in the center of the platform.

Star 3: 8-Coin Puzzle With 15 Pieces
Heading left from the entrance platform, the red capped plumber should see platforms with a picture of Bowser on it. The pieces will shift and Mario will have to collect the 8 red coins above while avoiding falling into the lava. The power star will appear above the star marker on the nearby stone platform.

Star 4: Red-Hot Log Rolling
From the stage entrance, Mario can see what appears to be a large fence or cage. Working his way around the stage, Mario will need to find his way to the other side. There he will find a large wooded log suspended over the lava. Standing on it will cause it to spin. Mario will need to keep his balace and cross the log to reach the Power star.

Star 5: Hot-Foot-It Into The Volcano
To get this star, Mario must jump in the volcano. He must then continue right, along the stones and up. Part of the wall falls away at one point. Bullies must be dodged until the star is reached at the top.

The Volcano
A Volcano is located in Lethal Lava Land in the game Super Mario 64 and its remake. It appears to be the source of much of the lava in the course. It is possible to jump inside the top of the volcano to access a hidden area of the level. The volcano's interior houses the two final Stars needed to complete the level.

Outside
In the center of the Lethal Lava Land stage is an active volcano that sits right in the center of a ring-shaped platform that spins around it. The volcano erupts every few seconds, showering the rotating platform with fireballs. Whenever the volcano erupts, the spinning platform surrounding it will stop, and after the eruption it will continue to spin. This may make it hard to enter the volcano.

Inside
The volcano's diminutive outer appearance betrays its massive interior. The entire "floor" is a pool of lava, fed by an enormous "lavafall" at the back of the volcano, but there are several black stone islands that Mario can stand on. There is also a ledge that runs along the wall to the top of the volcano. Bullies patrol the ledge, and the walls shoot fire. One section of the wall even falls open, crushing Mario beneath it. Suspended high in the air in the middle of the volcano is a floating platform that can only be reached by an elevator. A rotating fire propellor sweeps flames across the platform.

Trivia

 * A Blargg, in its Super Mario World appearance, was originally supposed to be in this level, or another lava-filled level. It was taken out for unknown reasons.