Mechanic · structure & scoring
Stage select
A screen on which the player picks the next stage from several, rather than playing them in a fixed order.
A stage select lets the player choose which stage to play next. The screen often shows each stage’s boss or theme, and it marks the stages already cleared, so the order of play becomes part of the strategy.
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988). A map screen for each world, where Mario walks to the next level's panel.1
- Mega Man 6 (1993). Eight Robot Masters, in any order.2
Games
| Game | Year | How | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | 1988 | a map screen for each world, where Mario walks to the next level's panel | |
| Mega Man 6 | 1993 | eight Robot Masters, in any order |
References
- ^On the map screen the player picks the next level by walking to its panel and pressing A. Some paths are blocked until an item clears them, such as a hammer for a pile of rocks, and items Mario has collected can be used there before a level. Enemies roam the map, and meeting one starts a fight that wins another item. A mini-fortress stands partway through each world.MagazineNintendo Power 11 · Mean Machines 13
How we know
Screen and hit the A Button and you’ll be whisked to an Action Scene.
pp. 8-9 · archived copy ↗ if there's a pile of rocks blocking your way, use the hammer to knock the obstacle away! … Items are selected with the A button, and these can help you in your selected level. … Mario can rendezvous with these critters and beat them about a bit, thus gaining another useful item!
p. 58 · archived copy ↗ In the middle of each World is stationed … a Mini-Fortress defended by Boo Diddly
pp. 8-9 · archived copy ↗ The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-26.
- ^The player picks which of the eight robots to fight from the stage select; they are Blizzard Man, Wind Man, Knight Man, Plant Man, Centaur Man, Flame Man, Tomahawk Man, and Yamato Man.ManualMega Man 6 NES manual
How we know
Mega Man will be faced with eight of the kidnapped robots. Use the control pad to select the robot you wish to battle
Getting Started · archived copy ↗ BLIZZARD MAN WIND MAN KNIGHT MAN PLANT MAN … CENTAUR MAN FLAME MAN TOMAHAWK MAN YAMATO MAN
Robot Masters · archived copy ↗ The quote matches our archived copy.
Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-25.