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H. Course 8: Shifting Sand Land
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** In the Talons of Big Bird **

A large bird has taken a power star, and it is up to you to get it 
back. Head straight across the bleak sand, turning left as you get 
to the circular quicksand pit. Keep running across the desert, 
avoiding any enemies you encounter, until you reach the metal 
path that large boxes are rolling on. Do not get on the metal path.

Wait until the box comes right next to you, standing on the dirt. 
Then the box will go back the other way. Follow it as it goes 
back, and make your way to the left. Keep going along the metal 
path, watching out for the other two boxes that are on it. Several 
parts of the paths are separated by only a small gap; you can 
jump over these gaps if you need to.

Soon you will be off the metal path, back onto normal sand. Take 
a quick dip in the pool of water to refill any health you lost. When 
you are ready, head over to the first tall pillar that is there. Go on 
top of the pillar. This may seem like a difficult task, but for some 
reason you can simple walk up the side of the pillars. Walk up to 
the top, and wait for the bird to come near you. Have patience 
and wait for the bird; it may take a while for him to come over to 
you. When he is right above you, jump up to take the star he has.

** Shining Atop the Pyramid **

In this level you finally get to retrieve the power star the is sitting 
near the top of the pyramid. There are two ways to tackle this 
challenge, one being enormously easier than the other. The easiest 
way requires Mario. In order to get the power star the easiest 
way, head towards the large rock pavilion right in front of where 
you start off. As you near it do your triple flip in order to get the 
height to get on top of the pavilion. This requires practice and 
timing, but it is not that difficult to do.

Once you are on top of the pavilion, go over to the ? box, open it 
up, and take the feather. From there, all you need to do is 
perform the triple jump in order to start flying, and then fly over to 
the star in order to get it.

If you like a challenge, there is a different way to complete the 
level. Using the method described in the first level of this area, 
head over to where the bird is flying around. Once you get there, 
keep going around the quicksand at the base of the pyramid. You 
will come to the stone bridge that leads onto the pyramid. Be 
careful, because as you near the bridge, a dust tornado will come 
out and follow you a short ways. If it picks you up, simply guide 
yourself back onto the ground.

Go onto the pyramid. Once you are facing the entrance into the 
pyramid turn right and head to the edge of the pyramid. From 
there jump up onto the next ledge. Avoiding any obstacles you 
may encounter, make your way across each ledge and then jump 
onto a higher ledge. You will need to use extreme caution as you 
get higher, since the ledges become smaller. Once you are at the 
end of the very highest and smallest ledge, all you need to do is 
jump onto the ledge with the star on it to finish the level.

** Inside the Ancient Pyramid **

The time has come for you to enter the pyramid. Using the 
method described in the first level of this area, head over to where 
the bird is flying around. Once you get there, keep going around 
the quicksand at the base of the pyramid. You will come to the 
stone bridge that leads onto the pyramid. Be careful, because as 
you near the bridge, a dust tornado will come out and follow you 
a short ways. If it picks you up, simply guide yourself back onto 
the ground. Go onto the pyramid. Next, head into the entrance of 
the pyramid.

When you enter the pyramid, head over to where the fence 
separating the stone from the sand is, and head right. Follow the 
path, and turn when it does. After turning a corner, you will see a 
large Thwomp, pounding the ground. Instead of running under him 
when he is in the air, stand next to where he pounds. When he 
pounds, jump on top of him, face the wall, and jump to the 
platform to the right.

Now you are on the second floor. Head away from the Thwomp, 
and soon you will come to an area with Goombas and a rope. 
Jump onto the rope, and climp it up to the third floor. When you 
are at the top of the rope, jump towards the wall to get off.

Walk along the walkway of the third floor until you come to a 
wire net. The wire net is suspended above a slope that leads to 
quicksand. Jump up and grab onto the wire net. Hold on, and 
make your way to the other side of the wire net. When you are 
safely across, drop off of the wire net.

There will be several stairs in front of you. Jump up the stairs, 
onto the fourth floor. Walk along the fourth floor walkway. You 
will see a large roller, rolling back and forth along the walkway. If 
you are a good jumper, run at it as it comes near you. Then, jump 
over it and continue on your way. If your jumping skills are 
lacking, wait for it to roll back. When it does, run forward and go 
into the indentation in the wall. Wait there until it rolls past you, 
and continue on your way.

As you turn another corner, you will see several bricks moving up 
and down. Jump from one brick to another (there are no holes in 
between them, so it is not that difficult), and make your way to the 
fifth floor.

On the fifth floor, head across the walkway, avoiding the sperical 
enemies that are flying around. When you reach the first corner, 
the walkway will become narrow. Side-step across the ledge (or 
walk if you are brave enough), until it widens. There will be a 
rope there; climb up it and jump onto the sixth floor.

Once you are on the sixth floor, go along the platform until you 
find the path that the Thwomp is on. Wait next to the edge of the 
path that the Thwomp is on. When the Thwomp comes right next 
to you, jump on top of it. Ride the Thwomp as it goes across the 
path. When it reaches the end of the path, jump off of the 
Thwomp, onto the main walkway. Follow the coins up the ramp, 
until you are at the end of that walkway. There will be a vertical 
line of coins, leading up to a small platform. Jump (or continuous 
jump) up to the small platform, and take the star that is on it.

** Stand Tall on the Four Pillars **

Mario is the ideal character for this level, so start out as him. 
When you begin, head straight towards the pavillion. As you near 
it, do the triple jump so that when you land, you will land on top 
of the pavillion.

Once you are on the pavillion, head over to the ? box and break it 
open. Since you are Mario, a feather will be in it. Take the 
feather, and do the triple jump to start flying. Now that you are in 
the air, head over to each of the four pillars that are around the 
pyramid. When you are above a pillar, pound the ground to land 
on it. Then, do the stationary triple jump, and fly to the next pillar. 
Do the same thing to each of the four pillars. (If you are not Mario 
you can still get on top of the four pillars, since each character can 
run up the side of the pillars. This takes a lot more time to do, and 
is not recommended.)

Once you have stood on all four of the pillars, the top of the 
pyramid will break apart, making the top flat. Fly over to the top 
of the pyramid and land on it. There will be a hole in the top of it. 
Fall through the hole.

You will enter the pyramid, only this time it will be through the 
top. You will land in a small cage, and the cage will go down. 
Wait patiently inside the cage as it goes down. When the cage is a 
the bottom of the level, it will be right next to a large box in the 
center of the pyramid. There is a tunnel leading into the box. Jump 
into the tunnel; you will encounter a brick block. Punch the block 
to break it open, and then continue through the tunnel.

You will fall into a single platform in the midst of a large abyss. 
There is a coffin on one end of the platform. Go over to the coffin, 
and jump on it. The mummy inside the coffin will become angry at 
you, and several of the rocks around the coffin will form two 
hands. Move away from the coffin, heading to the other side of 
the platform. Face the hands and prepare to fight.

Dodge the hands when the try to push you off the edge, but stay 
close to the front of them so you can strike back. When the eye 
on one of the hands opens, go up to it and punch it. Repeat this 
process over and over. When you have hit the eye enough times, 
the hand will be destroyed.

You still have the other hand to destroy. Continue to dodge the 
hand whenever it tries to push you away, and punch its eye when 
it opens. After a few attacks, you will destroy the second hand. 
For your brave accomplishment, you will receive a power star. 
The power star will appear near the coffin; take it to complete the 
level.

** Toy Box Switch Star **

To acquire this star with the least amount of trouble, start off as 
Wario. If you do not, you will have to find his cap, lost 
somewhere in the level. As you start off, run along the stretch of 
sand in between the sand hills and the quicksand. When you 
reach the circular pit of quicksand, turn left and keep running. Run 
past the pavillion, all the way to the metal walkways with toy 
boxes on them.

Wait until the toy box rolls over the metal platform closest to the 
sand, and then follow it as it rolls back. Soon the metal walkway 
will split off into two ways, making a T shape. The toy box will go 
to the right, the same way that you need to go. Wait for a second 
or two until it stops, and then goes back across the left route. 
Now you need to run to the path that goes to the right. It will 
dead end, and there will be a single metal platform in the 
quicksand in front of it. Run and do a long jump to the single 
metal platform. When you are on it, run and do another long jump 
to the larger metal platform that is nearby.

On the larger metal platform, turn so that you are facing the black 
brick block. Walk up to it, and punch it. It will break open, 
revealing the star switch. Step on the star switch to make the star 
appear. Next, run straight past the star switch, and do a long 
jump in order to get across the large gap separating that platform 
from the one across from it. 

Now that you are on the other platform, run straight (at least, as 
straight as you can) across it. If a toy box blocks a portion of 
your route, remember you can jump across the small gaps in 
between the many of the platforms. Since you are Wario, long 
jumps are preferrable. Keep running (and jumping) until you have 
made it past the metal walkway. You will end up on the sand. 
There will be a pond in front of you, and the switch star is directly 
past that pond. Run around the pond (its only a small pond, and 
Wario swims slow), and then run over to the switch star. Break 
the glass enclosure and claim your prize.

** Pyramid Puzzle **

This level requires you to head back into the pyramid. After that, 
you must head to the top of the pyramid. If you need to know 
how to get into and to the top of the pyramid, keep on reading. If 
you already know how to get to the top of the inside of the 
pyramid, head to the tenth paragraph.

Using the method described in the first level of this area, head 
over to where the bird is flying around. Once you get there, keep 
going around the quicksand at the base of the pyramid. You will 
come to the stone bridge that leads onto the pyramid. Be careful, 
because as you near the bridge, a dust tornado will come out and 
follow you a short ways. If it picks you up, simply guide yourself 
back onto the ground. Go onto the pyramid. Next, head into the 
entrance of the pyramid.

When you enter the pyramid, head over to where the fence 
separating the stone from the sand is, and head right. Follow the 
path, and turn when it does. After turning a corner, you will see a 
large Thwomp, pounding the ground. Instead of running under him 
when he is in the air, stand next to where he pounds. When he 
pounds, jump on top of him, face the wall, and jump to the 
platform to the right.

Now you are on the second floor. Head away from the Thwomp, 
and soon you will come to an area with Goombas and a rope. 
Jump onto the rope, and climp it up to the third floor. When you 
are at the top of the rope, jump towards the wall to get off.

Walk along the walkway of the third floor until you come to a 
wire net. The wire net is suspended above a slope that leads to 
quicksand. Jump up and grab onto the wire net. Hold on, and 
make your way to the other side of the wire net. When you are 
safely across, drop off of the wire net.

There will be several stairs in front of you. Jump up the stairs, 
onto the fourth floor. Walk along the fourth floor walkway. You 
will see a large roller, rolling back and forth along the walkway. If 
you are a good jumper, run at it as it comes near you. Then, jump 
over it and continue on your way. If your jumping skills are 
lacking, wait for it to roll back. When it does, run forward and go 
into the indentation in the wall. Wait there until it rolls past you, 
and continue on your way.

As you turn another corner, you will see several bricks moving up 
and down. Jump from one brick to another (there are no holes in 
between them, so it is not that difficult), and make your way to the 
fifth floor.

On the fifth floor, head across the walkway, avoiding the sperical 
enemies that are flying around. When you reach the first corner, 
the walkway will become narrow. Side-step across the ledge (or 
walk if you are brave enough), until it widens. There will be a 
rope there; climb up it and jump onto the sixth floor.

Once you are on the sixth floor, go along the platform until you 
find the path that the Thwomp is on. Wait next to the edge of the 
path that the Thwomp is on. When the Thwomp comes right next 
to you, jump on top of it. Ride the Thwomp as it goes across the 
path. When it reaches the end of the path, jump off of the 
Thwomp, onto the main walkway. Follow the coins up the ramp, 
until you are at the end of that walkway.

At the end of the walkway, you will find your first silver star. 
Once you have it, look at the outside edge of the walkway you 
are on. There is a small wall, keeping you from walking off the 
edge. This small wall has a gap in it, and that gap is where the first 
silver star was.

Walk carefully and slowly through the gap in the small wall. Walk 
off the edge, and your character will go down so that he is holding 
onto the edge. Gently press the direction away from the ledge, 
causing your character to fall. He will fall onto a small platform 
with a silver star on it.

Just across the falling quicksand is another platform, with yet 
another silver star on it. Walk along the wall, towards where the 
quicksand is falling. Slowly walk off the edge of the platform, 
causing your character to grab onto the edge. Now, press and 
hold the direction away from the edge. Your character will land 
on the platform with the silver star on it.

Underneath the platform is a path, filled with the quicksand that 
you just saw falling. At each corner of the path is a silver star. 
Face the silver star at the first corner, and jump down to the path. 
You will land in the quicksand, and you will sink quite a ways. 
There is not enough quicksand for you to fully sink in, so you have 
nothing to worrry about.

Once you are on the path, you have nothing left to do. The 
quicksand will carry you along, and it will guide you to both the 
silver stars, as well as the power star. As soon as you land in the 
quicksand on the path, let go of all the buttons. Wait patiently as 
you are carried to the two silver stars and the power star. You do 
not even have to jump up to collect any of them. On the 
quicksand path with the three other silver stars in your possession, 
this level is as good as beat.

** Free Flying for 8 Red Coins **

Start off this level as Mario; you need his ability to fly in order to 
beat this level. Start out by headings backwards from where you 
start off. The path that you will run on will become more narrow 
as you go. At the very end of the path, wedged in between 
quicksand and a hill. Is the first red coin. Take it, and then run 
back the way you came.

Keep running until you come to the pavillion. Go past the first 
brick block in the pavillion, but destroy the second brick block. It 
will have the second red coin in it. Once you have those two red 
coins, it is time to take to the sky.

Run a short distance away from the pavillion, and then turn 
around. Run towards the pavillion, doing a triple jump as you go. 
Time it so that you will land on top of the pavillion. On top of the 
pavillion, run underneath the ? box. Break it open, and take the 
feather that is inside of it.

With the feather, perform the triple jump in order to start flying. 
There are four red coins in the air around the pyramid. Each red 
coin is a good distance from each of the four corners. Fly around 
the pyramid and collect the red coins. If you need more height, 
land on one of the four pillars. When you are on the pillar, you 
can do the stationary triple jump to start flying again at a higher 
altitude. If your time stars running low with the feather, be sure to 
fly back to the top of the pavillion to get a new feather.

Once you have the four red coins around the pyramid, fly over to 
the pond. The pond is right next to the pillar that is the farthest 
away from the pavillion. There is a red coin in the pond. Still in 
possession of the feather, fly over to the metal area where the toy 
boxes are rolling around. There is a red coin on one of the metal 
platforms. Fly around until you find it, and then pound the ground 
directly above it to stop flying.

Now that you have all 8 red coins, you need to get to the power 
star. The power star is on top of the pavillion. You should still 
have the wing cap at this time, so do the triple jump in order to 
start flying. Fly over to the top of the pavillion, and collect the 
power star there.

** 100 Coin Power Star **

This level does not have an abundance of coins, however, 
collecting this power star should not be too hard. Start out by 
heading towards the pavillion. You will encounter a jumping box. 
Pick it up, and, after it jumps three times, it will break. Five coins 
will come out. Collect those. Also, defeat the Bob-ombs and the 
Shy Guy that are in the area.

Next, head towards the cactus. If you defeat him, he will give you 
a blue coin. Jump up and either kick or swallow his head, and he 
will be defeated. After receiving that blue coin, head under the 
pavillion. Break the brick block there, and take the yellow coins 
inside of it. Defeat the Goombas that are there too, and take their 
coins.

To break the small box in the middle of the pavillion, pick it up, 
and walk over to one of the pillars. Aim at the wall of the pillar, 
and throw the box. It will collide and break, producing a few 
yellow coins. There is also another cactus enemy past the 
pavillion; defeat him and take his blue coin.

Next, make your way to the other side of the pyramid. In 
between the two pillars will be several coins. Pick them up, and 
then head over to the little, stationary block (not the jumping 
block). It is near one of the pillars. Pick it up, and then throw it 
against the side of the pillar. When it breaks open, take the yellow 
coins that were in it. There are also two cactus enemies near the 
two pillars; defeat them to add another ten coins to your score.

When you have around fifty coins, head into the pyramid. If you 
still need more coins, try collecting the 8 red coins in the level. 
There is also a coin above each of the four pillars. Behind the 
pyramid, on a ledge, you will find a row of yellow coins as well. 
By this time you should have at least fifty coins, so head into the 
pyramid.

Inside the pyramid, head down the initial hallway. When you 
reach the part where the path goes off two directions, turn to the 
left. Do not move, but look around until you see the blue coin 
switch. Pound it into the ground. Four blue coins will appear in a 
column. They are above a platform in the quicksand, directly in 
front of where you entered the pyramid.

With those blue coins in your control, head to the route to the 
right of where you came in. Soon you will see several Goombas. 
Defeat them, and take their coins. Keep going along the walkway, 
around the corner and past the Thwomp that goes straight up and 
down. Continue on, defeating any enemies that you encounter.

As the walkway turns another corner, you will see a few gaps in 
the walkway. Jump across the gaps, and take the coin that is on 
the platform after the gap. Once you are past the gaps, there will 
be a set of stairs. Go up the stairs, and around the corner. You 
will now be on the second floor.

At the first major corner, you will see a spherical enemy flying 
around a pole. Connected to that pole is a wire net. Jump onto 
the wire net, and hold it. Make your way around the net, 
collecting all of the coins that are on it. When you have them all, 
get back onto the path and keep going.

Make your way to the third floor, and go until you encounter the 
wire net. Grab onto it and make your way across it, retrieving the 
yellow coins as you go. At the end of the wire net, drop down, 
and head up the few stairs to the fourth floor. There are coins on 
the stairs.

When you are on the fourth floor, make you way past the rolling 
enemy. Go to where moving blocks make a path to the fifth floor. 
There are two lines of two coins each on the stairs, make sure 
that you get them. Go past the fifth floor, and make your way to 
the sixth floor. 

Go across the walkway that the Thwomp is on, and head to the 
ramp that heads up. There are several coins on the ramp. There 
are also some yellow coins leading up to the platform that a 
power star is on. By now you should have one hundred coins. If 
you still need more, collect the five coins that are on the 
quicksand path, and make sure you defeat all of the enemies. 
Make sure you had around fifty coins when you entered the 
pyramid; there are not one hundred coins inside of the pyramid.