SMB3 does not use its unique tools to build new kinds of puzzles or present alternate paths through a level they just make the challenges a little easier.

This is extraordinarily wrong!

There are secrets that you need specific power ups to get to.

• Raccoon/Tanuki are used to fly to secret areas or break blocks with the tail
• Fire is used to melt blocks in the ice world
• Frog can swim against strong currents
• If you start some levels with an invincible star from the map, it will cause some blocks to drop a star instead of a coin, letting you chain invincibility through the whole level
• Tanuki and Hammer aren’t necessary for anything in the main game, but they are for some e-reader levels where they can break blocks that can’t be broken normally