World 9, also presented in the in-game text as Fantasy World and “9 World”, is the first secret world and the ninth world in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, unlocked when the player defeats Bowser while clearing all 32 of the game's standard levels in that playthrough. Usually, this entails using no Warp Zones, though it is possible to use the backward Warp Zone in 3-1 to return to 1-1, then warp from 1-2 forward to 3-1 again, or use the backward Warp Zone in 8-1 to return to 5-1, then warp from 5-2 forward to 8-1 again and still unlock World 9. Unlike all other worlds in the game, this world has three levels that take place underwater, as well as a castle that is not the last level of the world. According to an interview given in Family Computer Magazine, Shigeru Miyamoto added World 9 to the game due to interest in a glitch exclusive to the Japanese version of the original Super Mario Bros., where using said glitch to access that game's nonexistent World 9 would load an overworld level with the underwater palette, creating a Minus World-esque effect[1].

The mechanics of World 9 differ depending on the version of the game. In the original release, the player is given only one life to get through World 9 (though they keep their score, coins, and power-up status from World 8-4), though they can still gain more lives by gaining enough coins and from reaching the flagpole under certain conditions. The game over screen for this world, like the opening screen, features a unique message; as a result, the usual options are not displayed and the player effectively cannot choose to continue. If the player clears World 9-4, the game goes back to World 9-1 and the four levels of World 9 loop endlessly until the player receives a Game Over. In the Super Mario All-Stars remake, the player retains all the lives they had upon completing World 8-4, and clearing World 9 advances the player onward to World A.

Aesthetically, Worlds 9-1 and 9-2 in the original FDS version appear as flooded overworld levels with some underwater tiles and underwater palettes, causing parts of the landscape to appear out of place and very discolored (intentionally matching the Minus World glitch effect mentioned above). In the SNES version, overworld tiles are still used, but with more accurate palettes.

In Volume 52 for Nintendo Power, a contest was held where the player needed to get to World 9 in Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, and supply photographic proof that they did so. Anyone who succeeded in doing so would be supplied with an iron-on patchMedia:World-9-patch.png commemorating the occasion.

All secret worlds are inaccessible in the Super Mario Bros. Deluxe port, World 9 included, although their data still remains in the game.

Level information [ edit ]

Level Preview Summary World 9-1 The first level of World 9 and the first of the world's underwater levels, containing many enemies not normally found underwater such as Lakitu and a Hammer Bro. World 9-2 The second level of World 9 and the second of the world's underwater levels. The level is one large chasm with several pipe platforms. World 9-3 The third level of World 9, with the only enemy being Bowser's Brother in a closed space. World 9-4 The fourth and final level of World 9 and the third of the world's underwater levels, containing few enemies and no obstacles.

Gallery [ edit ]

Level maps [ edit ]

The Lost Levels [ edit ]

World 9-1

World 9-2

World 9-3

World 9-4

World 9-1

World 9-2

World 9-3

World 9-4

Screenshots [ edit ]

World 9-1

World 9-2

World 9-3

World 9-4

Game Over [ edit ]

As noted above, the Game Over for World 9 in the original Disk System version was unique compared to the other Worlds. Specifically, the world's Game Over lacks the options for continuing the current level or retrying the game, requiring the player to go back to World 1. Instead, in its place, there is a message attributed to Mario as well as the staff for the game telling the player that they are a "super player", and that they hope they will see the player again.

In the SNES version, it just uses the standard Game Over screen.

Standard world Game Over screen

World 9 Game Over screen

Trivia [ edit ]

This is one of only two playable worlds in the Mario side-scrolling games to not include a true castle level. The other is World 9 in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. However, World 9-3 does have a similar theme to the castle levels, though it takes place outside.