The Super Mario franchise wouldn't be the same without Bowser. Mario and Bowser share a long legacy of rivalry and competition. Bowser likes to do things his way and often uses force to achieve his goals. It's up to Mario to rescue princesses, restore the natural order, and generally save the day from Bowser's destructive ambitions.
Often being the final hurdle for players to overcome in Super Mario games, Bowser has employed many techniques to try and thwart Mario's heroism. While some are more impressive than others, battles against Bowser are exciting, thrilling, and memorable experiences for many players.
10 In Super Mario 64, Mario Grabs Bowser By The Tail
In Super Mario games before Super Mario 64, Bowser is primarily an untouchable villain. If players jump or run into him, Mario usually takes damage. In the battles against Bowser in Super Mario 64, however, Mario literally grabs Bowser by the tail, spins him around, and throws him across the stage, with a "So long, Kinga Bowser" quip for good measure.
With the King of the Koopas being so much larger than Mario, it adds a feeling of empowerment for players to be able to pick Bowser up despite his size and toss him around. The battles make satisfying use of the 3D perspective as well, which was revolutionary for its time.
9 In Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Goes Through A Gauntlet, Evading Bowser In An Exciting Chase Sequence
Rarely do Bowser escape sequences play out like in Super Mario 3D Land. Mario makes his way through a 3D platforming level, and Bowser chases him through its entirety. Bowser breathes his signature fireballs at Mario throughout the level, causing players to have to dodge and weave their way through various obstacles while an exciting music track sets the tone of the chase.
At specific points, Bowser will obstruct Mario's path directly, and the player has to navigate around him and his attacks to proceed. These moments are reminiscent of Bowser battles from the classic Super Mario Bros. game, and players may appreciate the subtle nods to the origins of the Super Mario franchise.
8 In Paper Mario, Bowser Actually Wins The First Battle And Has The Upper Hand During The Final Encounter
The battles against Bowser in the original Paper Mario spinoff game feel unique. Bowser has the upper hand in a major way, and Mario loses his earlier battle against him. Mario ends up getting launched away after his crushing defeat, and Bowser absconds with Peach yet again.
During the final encounter with Bowser, he makes himself temporarily invincible using the Star Rod. Even the combined powers of the Star Spirits Mario has gathered to his cause prove ineffective when Kammy Koopa's magic further increases Bowser's strength. Princess Peach wishes to the stars for the conflict to end, granting Mario and the Star Spirits the strength to narrowly overcome their seemingly invincible foe.
7 New Super Mario Bros. Wii Has A Giant Surprise In Store For Players
New Super Mario Bros. Wii starts the final encounter with Bowser in a very traditional way. Princess Peach is held captive in a cage above a bridge, with a big button for Mario to jump on just behind Bowser. It's a throwback to the way Bowser battles used to be in the original Super Mario Bros. game.
These days that's suspiciously simplistic, and as Bowser falls into the abyss beneath the collapsing bridge, the truth emerges. Peach turns out to be Kamek in disguise, who sprinkles magic down into the abyss. Bowser is revived as a gigantic version of himself, and a side-scrolling escape sequence begins, complete with fireballs, pitfalls, and crumbling blocks to overcome.
6 In Super Mario 3D World, Mario Scales A Tall Tower While Dodging Attacks From Meowser
The new powerup item that debuts in Super Mario 3D World is the Lucky Bell, turning Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Toad into cat versions of themselves. They can claw enemies, climb trees and walls with ease, and they leave behind charming cat claw marks as they slide back down surfaces that are too tall to scale.
For the final battle with Bowser, he gets in on the Lucky Bell action too, turning into Meowser. Players have to scale a tall tower while Meowser uses his new catlike abilities to try and defeat Mario and his friends. Meowser even employs the Double Cherry powerup to make multiple copies of himself as players get higher up the tower.
5 After The Climactic Battle On The Moon In Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Gets To Be Bowser
The battles against Bowser in Super Mario Odyssey are engaging and fun. In typical Super Mario franchise fashion, each time the two face off the difficulty increases. Bowser employs more tricks leading up to the final encounter, where he pulls out all the stops.
Super Mario Odyssey is all about hats and using Cappy to capture foes. Mario transforms into a variety of enemies and then uses their unique abilities to his advantage. Players finally get to see what it's like to play as Bowser after the final battle. The opportunity to capture him arises as they make their exciting and climactic escape from the moon.
4 Bowser Creates His Own Galaxy To Set The Stage For The Final Battle In Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is an adventure that's all about traversing mini planets and traveling to various galaxies in space. Bowser even manages to create his own galaxy in the center of the universe. He intends to use it as his base of operations to rule over all other galaxies.
Mario faces off against him in a climactic final battle that spans multiple planets in Bowser's galaxy. As the battle progresses, Mario sends Bowser flying off onto other planetoids, and Bowser increases in difficulty at each stage. When players finally triumph, Mario knocks Bowser away one final time, where he falls into the lava abyss of a star-like planet.
3 Mario & Luigi Dream Team Has More Than One Type Of Dynamic And Thrilling Bowser Battle
In most Super Mario games, battles against Bowser follow a specific theme, and the approach players take remains consistent. The earlier battles introduce players to the mechanics Bowser employs, and later battles ramp up the challenge. But sometimes, as with Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, there are completely different types of Bowser battles.
Bowser appears in giant form, and players control a giant Dreamy Luigi in one encounter, while a normal-sized Mario rides atop Luigi's hat. Later, Bowser uses the power of the Dream Stone to become Dreamy Bowser. The battle against Dreamy Bowser is more typical of a Mario & Luigi game, where Mario and Luigi perform team attacks to triumph over the Koopa King.
2 Super Mario Maker 2 Has Mario Driving Through A 3D World-Themed Obstacle Course Before Battling A Flying Meowser
Super Mario Maker 2 has different Bowsers players can utilize in their created stages. The single-player story mode has a stage near its end where players face off against a winged Meowser. Before that, players make extensive use of the new Koopa Troopa Car to reach the part of the stage where Meowser appears.
Meowser chases players throughout the stage, using his various catlike abilities to try and defeat them. As players reach the final section of the stage, the battle with Meowser truly begins. POW blocks can be utilized to take him down, finishing the story mode in a satisfying and climactic way.
1 Bowser's Fury Makes Mario And Bowser The Size Of Entire Buildings And Feels Reminiscent Of Giant Monster Movies
One of the first things that might stick out to players when playing Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is how large and imposing Bowser is. When he appears covered in dark ink-like sludge, he's much larger than Mario. But the scale of battle shifts completely when Mario collects a Giga Bell.
Giga Bells cause Mario to transform into a giant powerful version of Cat Mario. When this happens, players are treated to a larger-than-life battle. Growing many times his normal size, Mario becomes the same size as the giant Fury Bowser, and the areas that Mario traversed in his normal size become dwarfed.
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