- picking up a cherry clones your character
- the more cherries you find, the more characters you can have on-screen at once
- they all mimic every move you do
- eight characters (or potentially more) on screen at once
- person who scores highest in a given level gets to wear a little crown in the next stage
- you can steal it by butt-stomping near them and knocking it loose
- one level features bomb dispensers that shoot out explosives
- Mario and pals can freely kick these around
- punting bombs into walls can break open new paths and reveal secrets
- kick bombs at Bowser while he's driving his big, purple car
- move freely around the level select map
- exploring the map will reveal power-ups and other bonuses
- every stage contains lots of little hidden spots
- one level ends with a small hill-like tower structure with linked doors
- if you duck behind the structure, there's just enough space for Mario (or whoever) to run through a narrow gap and collect coins
- if you're wearing the cat suit power-up, you can climb the structure and hunt for bonuses
- special platforms require you to spin valves with the cat suit's paws
- one underground section featurs portions consisting of silhouettes
- silhouettes are caused by both rear and front lighting
- eventually you'll reach a Toad crying because his shadow is being menaced by the silhouette of Bowser
- walk forward into the camera and you'll reveal a hidden area where a Paper Mario-style wooden standup of Bowser is lit from in front
- knock this down to get a star from Toad
- Peach's dress is white with red highlights when grabbing a fire flower