When you get to the end of the level and about to grab the pole, if your time limit ends in a 6 balloons will come out once you grab the pole.
Final level
Get 5 stars on your file.
Grey Tanooki Leaf
In the Special World, the Tanooki Leaves are grey in color. When you grab them, you gain a red or green bandanna around your neck. With this item, you turn into a statue (a la Super Mario Bros 3) when you perform a Ground Pound.
Hatless Super Mario and little Mario with hat
Once you've reached the maximum number of lives(which is 1,110, displayed by a triple-crown), any time you're in Super Mario(or Luigi) form you'll be without your hat, and vice versa when you're little Mario(Luigi). Note: this doesn't apply to any other form than Super, ie. Fire, Tanooki, Boomerang, etc. This includes the opening demo and "demo room"(when you leave the game untouched for a couple of moments at the title screen).
Interact with Photos
When viewing a photo, shake your 3DS to make certain objects and characters move.
Maximun number of lives
In this game, you can actually go over the maximum number of 999 lives, and have up to over 1,000 lives. By utilizing the 1-up trick found in 1-2, or any other place with a koopa troopa and a wall nearby, this is made simple. Once you reach 1,000 lives, there will be a unique sound effect and some applause, and your hundredth place for your lives will turn into a crown. Same goes for the tens, and the ones; they all turn into crowns once they exceed the number 9. Once you reach the maximum number of lives(which is 1,110), the same sound effect and applause can be heard once more.
One-Up Conversion At The Goal
When you're holding an item, such as the blocks that let you twirl higher in the air, see if you can make it to the goal post without letting them go. If you complete the stage while still holding onto the item, it'll change into an extra One-Up Mushroom.
Photo album
Once you reach the Blue Mushroom house in World 3, you will be able to view photographs you've seen throughout the game. You are also able to save any photograph you have to your SD card so you can view them anytime you wish without the need of your game cart. To add more photos to your album, complete the following tasks.
Unlockable
How to Unlock
Photo #10
Beat the game as Luigi.
Photo #11
Unlock Special World.
Photo #12
Complete Special World, then beat the game.
Photo #2
Complete World 1.
Photo #3
Complete World 2.
Photo #4
Complete World 3.
Photo #5
Complete World 4.
Photo #6
Complete World 5.
Photo #7
Complete World 6.
Photo #8
Complete World 7.
Photo #9
Beat the game as Mario.
Save file stars
These are the requirements for getting the five Stars to appear on your save file, which are needed to unlock the true final level, S8-Crown. Glittering Stars are optional, and makes your stars glitter. Glittering Stars is sometimes known as Rainbow Stars. These cannot be lost if the main game is beaten after obtaining them. Although the second star requirement may seem nearly identical to the first, this is not an error. It's probably there because some levels are optional.
Unlockable
How to Unlock
Fifth Star
Have all stages cleared with both Mario and Luigi, and have gotten a Golden Flagpole on each
First Star
Defeat Bowser in World 8's second Castle
Fourth Star
Obtain all 285 Star Medals, not including the ones from Mystery Boxes
Glittering Stars
Never have the Super/Help Item Blocks appear: Never die five or more times in a row on any level.
Second Star
Clear all stages in the first 8 Worlds
Third Star
Defeat Bowser in World 8's second Castle again after defeating him in Special World 8's Castle.
Special World 4-1 No-Enemy Glitch
At the beginning of the stage, there is a platform you are meant to stand on, which will begin moving and enemies will spawn to impede you. If you stand on the edge of this platform right as it begins moving, you shouldn't see any enemies up until the Piranha Plants later in the level.
Stars on your file
If you die less then 5 times in every level the stars will be extra shiny.
Unlockable
How to Unlock
star 1
Defeat bowser in world 8's final level.
star 2
Beat every level as Mario.
star 3
Beat every level as Luigi.
star 4
Collect the gold flag on every level.
star 5
Collect all star coins.
Unlimited 1-ups
World 1-2, right after the checkpoint flag, there are three koopa troopas and three coin blocks. Get on the first long coin block which is on the ground, then simply walk down onto the koopa troopa below when it moves right below the coin block. With a bit of timing and adjusting your position, you'll be bouncing off it repeatedly and start getting 1-ups. If you mess up and die, simply restart from the checkpoint.
