Lethal Lava Land is the seventh course in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. As the course's name suggests, it is filled with lava. When Mario gains the basement key after beating Bowser in Bowser in the Dark World, he can travel into the basement of the castle, where there the painting to Lethal Lava Land can be found. In Super Mario 64 DS, this is the only main course where any of the four characters (Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, or Wario) can obtain any Power Star.
Layout[]
Lethal Lava Land consists of a large pool of lava that extends over the entire playing field. A multitude of sturdy and sinking platforms are the only things that keep Mario from falling into the deadly lava. Several Bullies that roam across the stable platforms will attempt to knock Mario into the lava; they must be avoided or defeated. A large volcano resides in the middle of the stage. When it is not erupting, Mario can jump down the center to access a new sub-world. Two stars are available down here, but Mario can not exit the volcano once he enters it. It can only be exited by obtaining a star or a loss of life and enter a new world.
There are many traps in the course compared to most previous courses. The primary enemies in the stage are the Bullies, which, true to their name, try to push Mario into the lava surrounding their platforms. The boss, in fact, is a Big Bully that will try to stick Mario in lava. Mario must punch and push the Bullies into lava. The Bullies exist in this stage as an annoyance to push Mario into the lava of the course. There are also Fire Arms, a Mr. I, and many Podoboos that jump out of the lava and bounce on the floor across the many bridges around the course.
Unlike in most other Mario games, the lava does not immediately kill Yoshi, Mario, Luigi, or Wario; instead, it depletes their health by three. Landing on a flat surface causes them to run around erratically. There are no bottomless pits in the stage similar to Bob-omb Battlefield.
This stage has a sliding puzzle that forms a picture of Bowser, many tilting platforms which can dip you into lava, and a rolling log along which you must run on. Most notable is a volcano in the center of the stage which periodically erupts sending out small flames, there are also two Stars located inside this Volcano along with more enemies. 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 the quicksand of Shifting Sand Land.
Stars[]
Just as every other main course, Lethal Lava Land features seven Power Stars in Super Mario 64 and eight in Super Mario 64 DS. In both versions, one of these Power Stars is obtained from collecting 100 Coins. In Super Mario 64 DS, the sixth and seventh Power Stars are different than in the Nintendo 64 version.
Consider getting stars 5 or 6 before attempting any of the others. This way, you will be able to play those stars each time the level is revisited and you will also have access to a Koopa shell you can ride.
Star 1: Boil the Big Bully[]
There are multiple ways to get to the Big Bully. Way #1: From the starting point, long jump over the gap and then take a left and a right. Head across the puzzle pieces and head right to the Bully. Way #2: Go to the right instead, then jump to avoid the lava. Watch out for fireballs coming out of the lava. After avoiding them, go to the right again to the curved pathway, then jump to the platforms that continuously go up and down. Then, go to the chain platform that will go to the area where you fight Big Bully.
In order to obtain the star, you have to knock the Big Bully into the lava. This can be accomplished by jumping into him, punching him (which is the best option), or jump kicking him. The star will appear on a nearby platform; the platforms leading to it collapse, so be careful on your approach. Touching the lava will make you lose 3 pieces of health.
Star 2: Bully the Bullies[]
Make your way to the island just past the one where the Big Bully lurked. Knock the three Bullies into the lava and when they are defeated, another Big Bully appears. Be careful, though, because sometimes, they will go all together towards you, which will either be harder to avoid, or easier to knock all 3 Bullies off. Defeat the Big Bully the same way you defeat the other Big Bully and the star is yours. It will appear in the center of the platform.
There are 8 coins on the platform, so losing health won't be a big issue.
Star 3: 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces[]
Head to the shifting platforms that have the picture of Bowser on them. Collect all 8 Red Coins and the star is yours. If the puzzle forms into Bowser, several coins will appear in the center of the platforms. In the DS remake, one coin will appear on each puzzle piece in an aligned order.
Star 4: Red-Hot Log Rolling[]
From the start of the level, head away from the bridge and the Mr. I that is on the wire platform. When you reach the volcano, turn right onto the S-shaped walkway. Look around and you will see a platform with 2 Bullies on it. Head in that direction and turn right. There will be a platform by several lava shooters. Upon reaching the other side, get onto the log and roll it to the left a few times. Collect the star. Alternatively, you can use the Wing Cap near the beginning of the level and use it to fly to this star. Also, if you retrieved stars 5 or 6, you can ride the Koopa shell to this area.
In the DS remake, Luigi's invisibility powers from the Power Flower can be used to phase through the mesh gate barricading the Star.
Star 5: Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano[]
Either use the Wing Cap and fly into the volcano, or just go there without it. Follow the pathway along the wall all the way to the top, avoiding Bullies on the way, which can bump you into the lava below. There are poles you need to jump from one to another, and finally, collect this star located atop the path. It's hard to miss the Power Star and fall accidentally into the lava below.
Star 6: Elevator Tour in the Volcano (N64)[]
Head into the volcano and instead of going up the walkway, get into the elevator and take it up. A series of poles and floating platforms will assist in getting you up to the star.
Star 6: Inside the Volcano (DS)[]
Go into the volcano and head the opposite way you went to collect the fifth star. You should see a moving platform; jump on it and ride it up the volcano until you see another moving platform. Speedily jump on it to avoid falling in the lava. Ride this platform up until you see a very small platform with a pole. Carefully jump from the platform to the pole to collect the star. Timing and the angle of your jump are critical - do not spend too much time on the platform or you will fall into lava. It is not necessary to jump into the volcano. There are enough coins outside to get the Power Star.
Star 7: Flaming Silver Stars (Super Mario 64 DS)[]
Use the Koopa shell in the ! Block near the beginning to surf around and collect the Silver Stars. Try not to lose the shell, as it will make it very difficult, but not impossible, to get all the Silver Stars. If you do lose the Koopa Shell, just return to the beginning and get another one. the The Silver Star locations are listed below.
- On a small platform near the bridge to the 8-Coin Puzzle.
- On an isolated platform south of the bridge to the Big Bully's platform.
- On a platform north of the spinning platform with the Fire Arms.
- On the small platform with the Mr. I.
- On a wooden wheel near the platform where the "Bully the Bullies" Star is located.
Once all 5 Silver Stars are collected, the Star will appear on the platform just west of the course's starting point.
100-Coin Star[]
Enter the level using either stars 5 or 6. Ride the Koopa Shell and surf the lava to collect as many coins as possible. Destroy the two Mr. I's to get blue coins. Go to the island with the Bullies for 8 coins and check out the rolling log area for 8 more. Do not forget to collect the 8 red coins and make sure the Bowser puzzle completes itself so you can get a few more coins. Destroy every enemy possible to collect additional coins. If you need a few more coins to finish, head into the volcano and grab the coins you need, then get the star to exit.
Enemies Encountered[]
Trivia[]
- The Nintendo Player's Guide for Super Mario 64 labels the "Elevator Tour in the Volcano" Star as "Inside the Volcano," which ended up becoming the mission's name in the remake.
- In the beta version of the game, Lethal Lava Land was located somewhere in the main hall. Also, the left section of the first platform was missing, and you started where the Koopa Shell is in the final game.
- The only enemies in this stage are Mr. I's and Bullies, both small, and big.
- Knocking a Bully onto the Bowser puzzle will make it fall into the lava, even if it lands on a puzzle piece, due to collision errors in the game.
- There is a glitch in which you can slide kick on the lava, but it is slightly hard to do and requires good timing.
- There is an unused model of Blargg that would have been used for this course.