Top 5 Best Bowser Fights in Super Mario Games
By Zach Snoddy
The top five best Bowser fights represent the best of the best in a timeless battle between good and evil. Mario has squared off against numerous enemies in his near-forty-year career, but none are as persistent as King Koopa himself. After all the eccentric bosses Nintendo's plumber poster boy must face, Bowser is always the final battle in every Super Mario game.
Mario's first two battles with Bowser in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. II were rather unexciting, as they could be completed in a matter of seconds by scampering underneath Bowser as he jumped. Once you were on the right side of the screen you could easily grab the hammer to collapse the floor and send Bowser careening towards the unknown.
Those early battles between Mario and Bowser don't seem like much, but they laid the foundation for all boss fights in video games. Nintendo has since built upon this foundation to create some of the most memorable boss battles in video game history. In honor of Mario Day (Mar. 10), here are the best Bowser fights:
Top 5 Best Bowser Fights in Super Mario Games
1. Super Mario World
Super Mario World was Bowser's fourth appearance as a final boss, but it's the game that solidified his place in video game history. It was the first time Bowser could effectively move across the screen thanks to his flying Koopa Clown Car, and it was the first Bowser battle to feature multiple phases of increasing difficulty. Mario also couldn't just passively defeat Bowser this time either, as he has to defeat him by striking him with his own weapons.
2. Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 features easily the most unique and memorable Bowser fights of any Mario game. While they might not seem exciting by today's standards, not enough can be said about how fun it was to grab Bowser by the tail and swing him around before flinging him into a bomb offstage. There are three of these fights in the game, including the final battle.
3. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii U followed its DS predecessor in bringing back the original Bowser fight format that can be seen in the original Super Mario Bros. The Wii edition featured a second phase to the battle after you collapse the floor, where Bowser becomes giant. Rather than fight the giant Bowser, the remainder of the fight turns into a challenging level where you must run from Bowser while avoiding numerous obstacles such as lava waves and fire balls.
4. Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy introduced a final Bowser battle where you fight King Koopa on a spherical plane. Super Mario Galaxy 2 built upon this idea and created a boss fight that was bigger and better in every way. Super Mario Galaxy 2 also featured a more difficult Bowser fight than most Super Mario games.
5. Super Mario Odyssey
The most recent battle between Mario and Bowser is also one of its best. This boss battle features some classic callbacks to Super Mario 64, and even gives you the chance to punch Bowser in the face. What's more is after you have defeated him, you actually get to control Bowser for the final portion of the game.
Mar. 10 celebrates Mario and his incredible history in video games. The most recent Mario game, Super Mario World 3D + Bowser's Fury, released just last month.