Editing Impostor Bowser

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{{about|the fake Bowsers from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''|other uses|[[Fake Bowser (disambiguation)]]}}
{{about|the fake Bowsers from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''|other uses|[[Fake Bowser (disambiguation)]]}}
{{species infobox
{{species infobox
|image=[[File:SMPJ Bowser Magic.png|250px]]<br>Artwork from ''Super Mario Party Jamboree''
|image=[[File:BowserMP8.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of a fake Bowser from ''[[Super Mario Run]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[List of games by date#1985|1985]])
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' ([[List of games by date#1985|1985]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|variant_of=[[Koopa (Bowser's species)|Koopa]]
|variant_of=[[Koopa (Bowser's species)|Koopa]]
|variants=[[Tail Bowser]]
|variants=[[Tail Bowser]]
}}
}}
{{quote|It's shocking how much Impostor Bowser looks like the real [[Bowser|Mr. Bowser]]. Magic is an amazing thing, huh?|Lakitu|Super Mario Party Jamboree}}
A '''fake Bowser''', referred to as '''Bowser's decoy''' in ''[[NES Remix]]'', is a standard enemy that was transformed by [[Bowser]]'s black magic into a copy of himself. They first appear in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
'''Impostor Bowsers''', also referred to as '''fake Bowsers''' or as '''Bowser's decoys''' in ''[[NES Remix]]'', are standard enemies that were transformed to resemble [[Bowser]] and serve a comparable role to him. They first appear as [[list of bosses|bosses]] in the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', in which they were transformed by Bowser himself using his black magic.


==Concept and creation==
==Background==
===Concept and creation===
The concept of fake Bowsers came about during development of ''Super Mario Bros.'' Since all enemies have their sprites flipped upside-down when they are defeated (except for [[Piranha Plant]]s, which simply disappear, and [[Bullet Bill]]s, which stay rightside up), one of the programmers accidentally inserted an upside-down Koopa Troopa shell when portraying Bowser's death animation as if he were defeated with fireballs. The developers liked this idea, and as a result, this idea was extended to most of the Bowser battles in the game.<ref>https://www.giantbomb.com/false-bowser/3015-8320/{{better source}}</ref>
The concept of fake Bowsers came about during development of ''Super Mario Bros.'' Since all enemies have their sprites flipped upside-down when they are defeated (except for [[Piranha Plant]]s, which simply disappear, and [[Bullet Bill]]s, which stay rightside up), one of the programmers accidentally inserted an upside-down Koopa Troopa shell when portraying Bowser's death animation as if he were defeated with fireballs. The developers liked this idea, and as a result, this idea was extended to most of the Bowser battles in the game.<ref>https://www.giantbomb.com/false-bowser/3015-8320/{{better source}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
===''Super Mario Bros.'' / ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' / ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''===
====''Super Mario Bros.'' / ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' / ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''====
[[File:SMB W1-4 Fake Bowser Screenshot.png|thumb|The fake Bowser from World 1-4 in ''Super Mario Bros.'']]
[[File:SMB W1-4 Fake Bowser Screenshot.png|thumb|The fake Bowser from World 1-4 in ''Super Mario Bros.'']]
In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the seven fake Bowsers are placed in each [[castle]], with [[World 8-4 (Super Mario Bros.)|Bowser's Castle]] containing the real one. Defeating a fake Bowser with five [[fireball]]s reveals that they are really just common enemies disguised as Bowser. The enemies and their abilities are the following:
In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the seven fake Bowsers are placed in each [[castle]], with [[World 8-4 (Super Mario Bros.)|Bowser's Castle]] containing the real one. Defeating a fake Bowser with five [[fireball]]s reveals that they are really just common enemies disguised as Bowser. The enemies and their abilities are the following:
*'''World 1''': [[Goomba|Little Goomba]] - [[Bowser's Flame|fire]]
*'''World 1''': [[Goomba|Little Goomba]] - [[Fire Breath|fire]]
*'''World 2''': [[Green Shell|Green]] [[Koopa Troopa]] - fire
*'''World 2''': [[Green Shell|Green]] [[Koopa Troopa]] - fire
*'''World 3''': [[Buzzy Beetle]] - fire
*'''World 3''': [[Buzzy Beetle]] - fire
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Like Bowser, the blue [[Bowser's Brother]] in World D-4 is also a fake revealed to be a Spiny when defeated with fireballs, and only breathes fire. In ''Super Mario All-Stars'', both of these fakes are replaced with the real ones that only throw hammers, although Bowser's Brother is now green and looks identical to his twin. Due to ''[[All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros.]]'' also featuring Worlds A-D, all of the fake Bowsers from those worlds return, including the fake Bowser's Brother in World D-4.
Like Bowser, the blue [[Bowser's Brother]] in World D-4 is also a fake revealed to be a Spiny when defeated with fireballs, and only breathes fire. In ''Super Mario All-Stars'', both of these fakes are replaced with the real ones that only throw hammers, although Bowser's Brother is now green and looks identical to his twin. Due to ''[[All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros.]]'' also featuring Worlds A-D, all of the fake Bowsers from those worlds return, including the fake Bowser's Brother in World D-4.


====''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''====
===''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''===
In ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', a fake Bowser appears as a boss in the [[World-e]] level [[Classic World 1-4]], where it plays a similar role to that played in ''Super Mario Bros.'', though it looks identical to the game's real Bowser. It is revealed that the fake Bowser is a Goomba if it is defeated with fireballs. Since it acts like the fake Bowsers in ''Super Mario Bros.'', it is shown walking, unlike ''Super Mario Advance 4''{{'}}s (as well as every other version of ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''{{'}}s) depiction of Bowser, who only leaps.
In ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', a fake Bowser appears as a boss in the [[World-e]] level [[Classic World 1-4]], where it plays a similar role to that played in ''Super Mario Bros.'', though it looks identical to the game's real Bowser. It is revealed that the fake Bowser is a Goomba if it is defeated with fireballs.


====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
===''Super Mario 3D Land''===
While typical fake Bowsers do not appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', variants powered by [[Super Leaf|Super Leaves]] known as [[Tail Bowser]]s make their first appearance.
While typical fake Bowsers do not appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', variants powered by [[Super Leaf|Super Leaves]] known as [[Tail Bowser]]s make their first appearance.


====''Super Mario Run''====
===''Super Mario Run''===
In ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', fake Bowsers appear at the end of [[castle]] courses, excluding [[World 6 (Super Mario Run)|World 6]]'s [[Bowser's Bob-ombing Run]] and [[Make the Cut!]] which have the real Bowser. [[World 1 (Super Mario Run)| World 1]]'s castle, [[Bowser's Castle Hangout]], has a Goomba as the Fake Bowser.  [[World 3 (Super Mario Run)|World 3]]'s [[Fire Bar Castle! Youch!]] has a Green Koopa Troopa as the Fake Bowser, and [[World 5 (Super Mario Run)|World 5]]'s [[Rings of Fire!]] has a Buzzy Beetle as the Fake Bowser. They walk back and forth along their bridge, occasionally shooting a [[Bowser's Flames|Bowser's Flame]], jumping, or jumping and briefly staying in the air to shoot a Bowser's Flame. A [[Pause Block]] is placed directly before the bridge, and a cutscene forces the player to stop on it the first time the player enters the area per run of the course. Fire Bar Castle! Youch! adds a [[Fire Bar]], while Rings of Fire! adds a [[Fire Chain]]. An [[Axe]] on the other side collapses the bridge, causing the Fake Bowser to reveal its true identity before falling into the lava.
In ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', fake Bowsers appear at the end of [[castle]] courses, excluding [[World 6 (Super Mario Run)|World 6]]'s [[Bowser's Bob-ombing Run]] and [[Make the Cut!]] which have the real Bowser. [[World 1 (Super Mario Run)| World 1]]'s castle, [[Bowser's Castle Hangout]], has a Goomba as the Fake Bowser.  [[World 3 (Super Mario Run)|World 3]]'s [[Fire Bar Castle! Youch!]] has a Green Koopa Troopa as the Fake Bowser, and [[World 5 (Super Mario Run)|World 5]]'s [[Rings of Fire!]] has a Buzzy Beetle as the Fake Bowser. They walk back and forth along their bridge, occasionally shooting a [[Bowser's Flames|Bowser's Flame]], jumping, or jumping and briefly staying in the air to shoot a Bowser's Flame. A [[Pause Block]] placed directly before the bridge, and a cutscene forces the player to stop on it the first time the player enters the area per run of the course. Fire Bar Castle! Youch! adds a [[Fire Bar]], while Rings of Fire! adds a [[Fire Chain]]. An [[Axe]] on the other side collapses the bridge, causing the Fake Bowser to reveal its true identity before falling into the lava.


Fake Bowsers do not have an entry in the Notebook. Rather, a Fake Bowser counts as the enemy using the disguise. Thus, the results screen for a course shows that enemy, and adds one to the number of that enemy defeated for the purposes of [[level up|leveling up]] that enemy.
Fake Bowsers do not have an entry in the Notebook. Rather, a Fake Bowser counts as the enemy using the disguise. Thus, the results screen for a course shows that enemy, and adds one to the number of that enemy defeated for the purposes of [[level up|leveling up]] that enemy.
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===''Super Mario Party Jamboree''===
===''Super Mario Party Jamboree''===
{{new subject|section=yes}}
{{upcoming|game|section=yes}}
{{quote|Bet you didn't see that coming. Bye-bye, Toady! Hello, humongous Impostor Bowser!|Kamek|Super Mario Party Jamboree}}
{{quote|Bet you didn't see that coming. Bye-bye, Toady! Hello, humongous Impostor Bowser!|Kamek|Super Mario Party Jamboree}}
In ''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'', [[Kamek]] transforms a [[Toady]] into a massive fake Bowser called Impostor Bowser. Unlike other Fake Bowsers, Impostor Bowser has a purple glow and Magikoopa magic symbols coming out of him. He replaces Bowser himself as the host of [[Bowser Space]]s due to Bowser being a playable character.
In ''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]'', [[Kamek]] transforms a [[Toady]] into Impostor Bowser.<ref>{{cite|author=Big Spoon|date=October 13, 2024|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=qyJR-Z9Q5x0|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree - Opening Cutscene|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=October 14, 2024}}</ref> Unlike other Fake Bowsers, Impostor Bowser has a purple glow and Magikoopa magic symbols coming out of him.
 
Impostor Bowser appears prominently on the [[King Bowser's Keep]] board, where he is in the middle of the Bowser Byway. Periodically, he will change the direction of travel and transform more spaces on the byway into Bowser Spaces. Uniquely on this board, he will grab players that land on Bowser Spaces instead of them being transported to another location, and even occasionally destroy the roulette to instantly steal a star or all of their coins. He also serves as the boss of that board in the Party-Planner Trek mode, being faced in the [[Bowser Crashers]] [[minigame]].
 
Aside from Mario Party mode, Impostor Bowser is also a focal point in the "Bowser Challenges", Koopathlon and Bowser Kaboom Squad. Both involve surviving attacks from Impostor Bowser, with the ultimate goal of the latter being to defeat him within the time limit.


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
{{appearances list
!width=50%|Title
|title1=''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
!width=20%|Description
|role1=Boss
!width=20%|Release date
|release1=1985
!width=10%|Format
|format1=[[Family Computer]] / [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|-
|title2=''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''
|''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
|role2=Boss
|Boss
|release2=1986
|1985
|format2=[[Family Computer Disk System]]
|[[Family Computer]] / [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|title3=''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]''
|-
|role3=Boss
|''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''
|release3=2003
|Boss
|format3=[[Game Boy Advance]]
|1986
|title4=''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''
|[[Family Computer Disk System]]
|role4=Boss
|-
|release4=2011
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''
|format4=[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|Boss
|title5=''[[Super Mario Run]]''
|1993
|role5=Boss
|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|release5=2016
|-
|format5=iOS, Android
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World]]''
}}
|Boss
|1994
|Super Nintendo Entertainment System
|-
|''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]''
|Boss
|1999
|[[Game Boy Color]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]''
|Boss
|2003
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition]]''
|Boss
|2010
|[[Wii]]
|-
|''[[Super Mario Run]]''
|Boss
|2016
|iOS, Android
|-
|''[[Super Mario Party Jamboree]]''
|Boss
|2024
|[[Nintendo Switch]]
|}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
SMB W1-4 Fake Bowser revealed Screenshot.png|The fake Bowser of World 1's true form: a Goomba
SMB W1-4 Fake Bowser revealed Screenshot.png|The fake Bowser of World 1's true form: a Goomba.
Bowser_Impostor_All-Stars_Version.png|A fake Bowser in ''Super Mario All-Stars''
Bowser_Impostor_All-Stars_Version.png|A fake Bowser in ''Super Mario All-Stars''
BowserMP8.png|Artwork from ''Super Mario Run''
SuperMarioRun - screen3.jpg|The first fake Bowser in ''Super Mario Run''.
SuperMarioRun - screen3.jpg|The first fake Bowser in ''Super Mario Run''
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{br|right}}
{{br|right}}
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|Jap=にせクッパ<ref name=SMBsite>{{cite|author=[[Nintendo]]|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/characters/smb/index.html|language=ja|title=CHARACTERS of ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros. 2''|date=2020|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=March 20, 2021|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210074011/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/characters/smb/index.html|archivedate=February 10, 2021|deadlink=yes}}</ref>
|Jap=にせクッパ<ref name=SMBsite>{{cite|author=[[Nintendo]]|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/characters/smb/index.html|language=ja|title=CHARACTERS of ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros. 2''|date=2020|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=March 20, 2021|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210074011/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/character/mario/characters/smb/index.html|archivedate=February 10, 2021|deadlink=yes}}</ref>
|JapR=Nise Kuppa
|JapR=Nise Kuppa
|JapM=Fake Bowser
|JapM=Fake Bowser; shared with [[Bowser Clone]]
|JapN=Shared with [[Bowser Clone]]
|Dut=Nep-Bowser
|Dut=Nep-Bowser
|DutM=Fake Bowser
|DutM=Fake Bowser
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|Kor=가짜 쿠파
|Kor=가짜 쿠파
|KorR=Gajja Kupa
|KorR=Gajja Kupa
|KorM=Fake Bowser
|KorM=Fake Koopa
|Rus=Поддельный Боузер
|Rus=Поддельный Боузер
|RusR=Poddelny Bouzer
|RusR=Poddelny Bouzer
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===Impostor Bowser===
===Impostor Bowser===
{{foreign names
{{foreign names
|Jap=ニセクッパ
|JapR=Nise Kuppa
|JapM=Fake Bowser
|JapC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Japanese website|url=nintendo.com/jp/switch/a7hla/index.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja|accessdate=October 14, 2024}}</ref>
|Dut=Nep-Bowser
|DutM=Fake Bowser
|DutC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Dutch game page|url=nintendo.com/nl-nl/Games/Nintendo-Switch-games/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=nl|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Fre=Faux Bowser
|FreM=Fake Bowser
|FreC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Canadian French game page|url=nintendo.com/fr-ca/store/products/super-mario-party-jamboree-switch/|publisher=Nintendo|language=Canadian French|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official European French game page|url=nintendo.com/fr-fr/Jeux/Jeux-Nintendo-Switch/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=fr|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Ger=Trug-Bowser
|GerM=Deception Bowser
|GerC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official German game page|url=nintendo.com/de-de/Spiele/Nintendo-Switch-Spiele/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=de|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Ita=Bowser finto
|Ita=Bowser finto
|ItaM=Fake Bowser
|ItaM=Fake Bowser
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Italian game page|url=nintendo.com/it-it/Giochi/Giochi-per-Nintendo-Switch/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=it|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Kor=가짜쿠파
|KorR=Gajja Kupa
|KorM=Fake Bowser
|KorC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Korean website|url=nintendo.co.kr/switch/a7hla/|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja|accessdate=October 14, 2024}}</ref>
|Por=Bowser Impostor
|Por=Bowser Impostor
|PorM=Impostor Bowser
|PorM=Impostor Bowser
|PorC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Brazilian game page|url=nintendo.com/pt-br/store/products/super-mario-party-jamboree-switch/|publisher=Nintendo|language=pt-br|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|SpaA=Bowser impostor
|SpaA=Bowser impostor
|SpaAM=Impostor Bowser
|SpaAM=Impostor Bowser
|SpaAC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official Mexican Spanish game page|url=nintendo.com/es-mx/store/products/super-mario-party-jamboree-switch/|publisher=Nintendo|language=es-419|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|SpaE=Bowser de pega
|SpaE=Bowser de pega
|SpaEM=False Bowser
|SpaEM=False Bowser
|SpaEC=<ref>{{cite|title=Super Mario Party Jamboree official European Spanish game page|url=nintendo.com/es-es/Juegos/Juegos-de-Nintendo-Switch/Super-Mario-Party-Jamboree-2591147.html|publisher=Nintendo|language=es-es|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}</ref>
|Rus=Лжебоузер
|RusR=Lzhebouzer
|RusM=False Bowser
}}
}}


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{{SMB3}}
{{SMB3}}
{{SMR}}
{{SMR}}
{{SMPJ}}
[[Category:Koopas]]
[[Category:Koopas]]
[[Category:Bowser lookalikes]]
[[Category:Bowser lookalikes]]
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[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Party Jamboree characters]]
[[Category:Super Mario Run enemies]]
[[Category:Super Mario Run enemies]]
[[de:Falscher Bowser]]
[[de:Falscher Bowser]]
[[it:Bowser finto]]
[[it:Bowser finto]]

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