Moleville and Mole Mines. Follow the linked route in order, stopping for recovery before the major fights. This chapter follows the original SNES game.
In this chapter
- Moleville
- Mole Mines — Croco’s chase
- Croco’s rematch
- Mole Mines — the blasted passage
- Punchinello
- Rescue Dyna and Mite — mine-cart ride
- Moleville — after the rescue
Moleville
Return to Gaz first if Geno still lacks the Finger Shot. In Moleville, buy the new weapons and compare character armor with Work Pants before paying for both. Mid Mushrooms and Maple Syrup provide stronger recovery than the opening supplies.
Watch the scene with Bowser’s remaining troops, save at the inn and enter the mines. Agree to rescue Dyna and Mite, then jump from the moles to the raised entrance. The children are beyond the blocked tunnel; the obvious spring begins the event needed to open it.
Mole Mines — Croco’s chase
Cross the mine rooms and jump on the spring beneath the low ceiling. Mario hits his head, and Croco steals the party’s coins. Follow him through the passage he blasts open, then move around the connected loop.
Defeat the three hidden Crooks for Flower Tabs if you want their rewards. One hides behind crates, another near the spring. Croco eventually runs through the same loop, so wait in a room and intercept him rather than chasing indefinitely. Start the fight with enough FP for Mallow’s healing.
Croco’s rematch
Croco’s second battle is more dangerous because he steals the item inventory partway through. Preserve FP for Mallow’s HP Rain before that happens. Use strong timed physical attacks, mixing in fire when you can afford it; fire is not suddenly useless in this rematch.
After the theft, your healing plan must use abilities until the battle ends. Recover a companion before another bomb or thrown enemy can defeat them, and do not spend all FP on attacks in the opening turns. Winning returns the items and gives the Bomb needed for the blocked mine passage.
Mole Mines — the blasted passage
Take Croco’s Bomb to Pa Mole at the blocked tunnel. He opens the route deeper into the mine. Climb the crates to the upper passage, take the invincibility star and run through the Bob-ombs while its effect lasts.
Collect the Flower before the nearby full-recovery Mushroom so the recovery also fills the increased FP maximum. Save, follow the rails and approach Punchinello from the side or rear; walking into his frontal bombs sends Mario back. A Fearless Pin helps protect its wearer from the coming Sand Storm.
Punchinello
Use timed physical attacks on Punchinello and keep the shared FP available for recovery. His summoned bombs grow through several sizes. Remove the most dangerous ones with attacks or a group move when needed, but recognize that destroying every bomb immediately makes him summon replacements.
Sand Storm can inflict Fear, reducing your effectiveness. Cure it or use protective equipment while keeping enough HP for the larger bombs. Continue until the scripted giant-bomb scene finishes the fight and the third Star Piece becomes available. Do not expend your last revival item assuming the scene has already begun while the normal battle is still active.
Rescue Dyna and Mite — mine-cart ride
Reach Dyna and Mite and take the mine cart out. Brake before the tight overhead corners, jump the gaps and collect Mushrooms for optional speed boosts. In the side-view stretches, jump to the higher rails for extra coins and use a boost only where the landing remains clear.
A safe first run is sufficient to rescue the children; the later replay challenge uses your time separately. Follow the on-screen controls for your version instead of importing another system’s button labels. The final jump returns the group to Moleville.
Moleville — after the rescue
Leave the family’s house after returning Dyna and Mite. The Snifits’ conversation points toward Booster Pass and the princess in Booster Tower.
Optional preparation: buy Fireworks for five hundred coins in the nearby house and trade them to the girl outside for the Shiny Stone. It directly unlocks the sealed Monstro Town door later; it does not create a second separate key. Save this optional boss item for when your equipment and healing are ready.