- simultaneous 4-player mode
- cat power-up allows you to pounce, scratch, and climb objects
- this includes walls and flag poles
- this suit also makes secret areas and objects accessible
- Toad has a different weight and faster speed
- Peach has her hover jump
- uses a wider isometric camera angle
- anyone that is KO’d will be returned to the field in a bubble
- all power-ups and coins are fair game for all players to acquire
- anyone falling behind will be pulled ahead to join the others
- in single player, the isometric view can be pivoted slightly
- this can be done through the second analog stick or by pressing a touch point on the GamePad
- translucent pipes allow players to see where they’re going
- you can also redirect your trajectory mid-pipe warp
- this allows for branching paths and even enemies
- shoot fireballs into pipes
- worm-like dragon boss that is protected by a handful of smaller-yet-similar worms
- the smaller worms have plates on their heads
- leap from plate to plate to reach the boss' head
- objects fall from the sky and other various problematic situations arise during the fight
- hunt down three stars hidden in each stage
- compete for the high score with multiplayer
- high scorer gets a crown that they can carry with them into the next stage
- throw items and players
- team shares an inventory of reserve items
- when you pick up a Super Star, you can share your invulnerability with another player by touching them
- rolling treadmills send players, enemies and items flying
- off-TV play
- use the GamePad touch screen to hold enemies