You're playing World 3-2. It’s snowy. It’s slippery. And if you’re trying to 100% Super Mario 3D World (or the Bowser’s Fury port on Switch), you’re probably pulling your hair out over the Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coins. Most people just call them Green Stars, but they function exactly the same as the classic medals we’ve hunted since the 8-bit days. This level is a vertical climb. It's packed with Fuzzies—those annoying, spiked soot-balls that move on set paths—and the physics are just floaty enough to make you overshoot a jump into the abyss.
Honestly, the second star is the one that ruins most runs. You see it. You think you can reach it. Then a Fuzzy clips your toe and you're tumbling down the mountain.
Getting the First Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coin Without Falling
The climb starts simple enough. You’ve got the blowing wind and the ice, but the first collectible is actually hidden in plain sight. You don't need a Cat Suit for this one, though having one makes the entire level feel like a breeze compared to playing as base Mario or Toad.
About a third of the way up the mountain, you’ll see a clear pipe. It’s not just for transportation. Look to the left of the main path near the first set of Fuzzies circling a platform. There’s a standalone peak. You have to time your jump to land on the moving platforms while dodging the circular path of the enemies. The first of the Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coins sits right there on a ledge. If you miss the jump, don't try to air-stall unless you're Peach. Just take the hit or restart. It's early enough that a "Game Over" doesn't hurt yet.
Most players rush here. Don't. The Fuzzies move in a rhythm. If you count "one-two-jump," you'll usually clear the gap right as the gap in their line opens up. It's basic platforming, but the ice physics add a layer of "frictionless frustration" that Nintendo loves to iterate on.
The Secret Cave: Why Everyone Misses the Second Star
This is the big one.
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After you pass the checkpoint flag, you’ll reach a section with a see-saw bridge and a bunch of Fuzzies moving in a vertical rectangle. To get this specific Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coin, you have to ignore the "upward" instinct. There’s a literal hole in the wall. It’s a secret alcove tucked behind the main climbing path.
You’ll see a shadow. Walk into the wall.
Inside, there’s a sub-area where you have to sprint across a disappearing floor or a series of tight platforms (depending on your character's speed) to grab the star before a line of Fuzzies intercepts you. If you’re playing as Luigi, his high jump actually makes this harder because you might hit the ceiling and lose your momentum.
Pro-Tip for the Second Coin
- Use the Fire Flower: You can actually burn Fuzzies. A lot of people forget this because they’re so focused on the Cat Suit’s climbing ability. If you clear the path with fireballs, the "challenge" of the second star disappears.
- Ground Pound: If you’re about to over-rotate a jump on the ice, a ground pound stops your horizontal momentum instantly. It’s a life-saver on the narrow ledges of World 3-2.
Climbing to the Peak for the Final Star
The third and final of the Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coins is right near the end of the stage. You’ll reach a point where you have to use a series of Jump Panels (those orange pads that launch you upward).
While you're being launched, look for the green ring.
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Passing through the Green Star Ring triggers eight green coins. You have a very limited window to collect them all while being launched and falling back down. If you miss one, the star won't appear, and you can’t exactly "go back" easily because of the vertical nature of the cliff. This is where the Cat Suit is actually mandatory for most players. You can climb back up the wall to snag any coin you missed during your initial flight.
If you're playing the Switch version, the movement speed is slightly buffed compared to the Wii U original. This makes the timing for the green coin ring tighter. You have to be precise with your mid-air nudges.
How to Handle the "Fuzzy" Problem
Fuzzies are predictable, but they’re also one-hit killers if you aren't powered up. In the "Fuzzy Clifftop" stage, they act as a moving fence.
The game designers at Nintendo, led by directors Koichi Hayashida and Kenta Motokura, built this level to teach players about "momentum management." On ice, your character doesn't stop when you let go of the stick. To successfully grab all the Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coins, you have to "counter-steer." When you want to stop, you flick the analog stick in the opposite direction.
If you're struggling with the hitboxes, remember that the "Fuzzy" doesn't have a hurtbox on its top—you can't jump on them. They aren't Goombas. Touch them anywhere, and you shrink. This is why the Fire Flower or the Tanooki Suit (for hovering) are actually statistically better for this specific level than the touted Cat Suit.
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Actionable Steps for 100% Completion
If you're staring at a save file that’s missing these three collectibles, follow this sequence:
- Enter with a Power-up: Don't go in "small." Bring a Fire Flower in your reserve slot (the 'B' button on the controller).
- The Left-Hand Rule: For the first star, always look left after the first climb. It’s on an isolated pillar.
- Hedge the Wall: In the middle section, literally walk against the back of the cliff. When the camera shifts or your character disappears, you’ve found the hidden room for star number two.
- Save your Jump: For the final star ring, don't press any buttons after the Jump Panel launches you until you see the coins' trajectory. Let gravity do half the work.
Once you’ve grabbed all three, you still have to finish the level. Don't get cocky at the flagpoles. The final stretch has one last line of Fuzzies guarding the top of the hill. Jump high, aim for the top of the pole for that extra 1-Up, and move on to the next world.
The real challenge in Super Mario 3D World isn't just finding these items; it's doing it while the clock is ticking. But with the Fuzzies, patience is actually your fastest way to the end.
To wrap this up, the search for every Fuzzy Clifftop Star Coin is basically a test of how well you can handle Mario's "skating" physics. Don't rush the jumps. Use the Fire Flower to delete the obstacles. Check the hidden alcoves. If you do those three things, World 3-2 goes from a point of frustration to just another notch on your 100% completion belt.