Editing Koopa Clown Car

|image=[[File:MPS Bowser Artwork.png|220px]]<br>Artwork of [[Bowser]] riding the Koopa Clown Car from ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]''

|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario World]]'' ([[List of games by date#1990|1990]])

The '''Koopa Clown Car''', also called '''Bowser's Heli''',<ref name=MM>{{cite|title=''Mario Mania'' Player's Guide|page=52|date=August 1991|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us}}</ref> the '''Clown Ship''',<ref name=MM/> the '''Koopa-Kopter''',<ref>{{cite|author=Pelland, Scott; Miller, Kent|title=''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' Player's Guide|date=1996|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|page=6}}</ref> the '''Koopa Clown 'Copter''',<ref>{{cite|author=Stratton, Bryan|title=''Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2'' Prima's Official Strategy Guide|page=91|language=en-us|date=February 26, 2002|isbn=0-7615-3913-1}}</ref> or '''Bowser's Clown Copter''',<ref>{{cite|author=Nintendo of America|url=x.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1634252793795039232|title=MAR10DAY post|publisher=X|accessdate=March 10, 2023}}</ref> is one of [[Bowser]]'s many modes of aerial transportation. It is a helicopter-like vehicle with a large clown face on the front, which has the ability to change its expression. A smaller version of the Koopa Clown Car named the [[Junior Clown Car]] is often piloted by [[Bowser Jr.]]

[[File:SMWMvsB.png|thumb|left|[[Bowser]] fighting [[Mario]] in his Koopa Clown Car in ''[[Super Mario World]]'']]

The first appearance of the Koopa Clown Car was in ''[[Super Mario World]]''; in the [[Valley of Bowser]], Bowser can be seen flying around [[Bowser's Castle|his castle]] in it. After making his way through Bowser's Castle and onto the rooftop of it, [[Mario]] proceeds to battle Bowser, who rides around in the Koopa Clown Car. Attacking Mario by dropping [[Metal ball|Big Steelies]] and [[Mechakoopa]]s on him, Bowser can be injured only by having a jumped-on Mechakoopa thrown at him when he sticks his head out of the Koopa Clown Car. After being hit by Mechakoopas several times, Bowser tries to use the Koopa Clown Car, whose face grows more sinister and manic, to crush Mario. Bowser also begins dropping [[Bowser's Flame|Flame]]s from the Koopa Clown Car. [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] tosses Mario a [[Super Mushroom]]. After being hit six times by flung Mechakoopas, Bowser and the Koopa Clown Car are beaten; he then relinquishes Princess Toadstool from it and retreats. The Koopa Clown Car here is able to blink and show other facial expressions with its eyes.

 

[[File:NSMBW Bowser Jr Artwork.png|thumb|Bowser Jr. riding the Junior Clown Car in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'']]

In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', [[Bowser Jr.]] gets his own version of the Koopa Clown Car (later named the [[Junior Clown Car]]). It is encountered in {{world|4|airship}} and {{world|6|airship}}, but in {{world|8|airship}}, Bowser Jr. kicks it out of the boss room in favor of the original Koopa Clown Car. He attacks Mario and friends with fireballs and spiked bombs, which can be used to defeat him with a well-timed [[Ground Pound]].

[[File:Koopalings-NSMB2.png|thumb|left|150px|The [[Koopalings]] riding the Koopa Clown Car in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'']]

The Clown Car re-appears in the [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] game ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]''. The [[Koopalings]] can be seen riding in it together. In the corridors of the final castle in World 6 (and World Star), the Koopalings are seen "flashing" with the Koopa Clown Car's eyes. Mario can evade said "flash" by passing between the castle's pillars. If the flash touches Mario, he will be turned into stone. After Mario defeats Bowser for the first time, the Koopalings use their magic to enlarge Bowser, but in doing so they and the Clown Car get knocked into the lava. The Koopa Clown Car was used one final time in the ending, where the Koopalings attempted to carry Bowser with it. However, because Bowser's size exceeded its capacity, the Koopalings and Bowser were scattered throughout the trees and floor. The Koopa Clown Car was also revealed to have an autopilot function, as demonstrated when the Koopa Clown Car delivered a caged Princess Peach to Bowser's castle shortly after [[Ludwig|Ludwig von Koopa]]'s defeat at the hands of Mario in the game.

====''Super Mario 3D World''====

While the Koopa Clown Car does not appear at all in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', its face can be seen on a ferris wheel in [[World Bowser]] and also in the [[The Great Tower of Bowser Land|final level]].

|image1=Super Mario Maker - Artwork 13.png

|caption1=Mario in the Koopa Clown Car in the ''Super Mario Bros.'' style.

|image2=Super Mario Maker - Artwork 07.png

The Koopa Clown Car makes an appearance in ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS]]'', where it can be placed multiple times in levels. It can be used ''Super Mario Bros.'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Super Mario World'' and ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' styles, where it will simply bob up and down in place when not in use. Additionally, it has been given new sprites for the ''Super Mario Bros.'' and ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' styles. Mario or any enemy can ride the Koopa Clown Car, including Bowser and Bowser Jr. themselves. When the player rides it, it functions similar to [[Lakitu's Cloud]], though it is slower and can be used indefinitely. If Mario is riding it, he can attack most enemies by hitting them with the car's propeller, which will have the same effect as a jump; however, rather than hurting Mario through the car, an enemy only pushes him back. Fire Mario can throw fireballs from inside the car. When the car hits something, including another car, it will bounce against it. If it hits [[Spike Trap]]s, the Clown Car will become dizzy and uncontrollable for a limited period of time. The Clown Car is defeated if it is crushed by more than one Bill Blaster or Muncher. When a [[Boo]] is in a Clown Car, the Clown Car will close its eyes when looked at. The Clown Car takes the form of the [[Junior Clown Car]] in the ''New Super Mario Bros. U'' style. Shaking it transforms it into the [[Fire Koopa Clown Car]].

Bowser always appears using the Koopa Clown Car in ''[[Super Mario Run]]'', except for his appearance in Remix 10. The course [[Bowser's Bob-ombing Run]] is dedicated to a boss fight where Bowser stays on the right side of the screen while attacking the player with projectiles. The Koopa Clown Car's contribution to the battle, aside from letting Bowser fly, is revealing a cannon that can shoot a [[Spike Ball]]. After being hit twice with reflected [[Bob-omb]]s, the Koopa Clown Car becomes angry permanently while expelling smoke. The Spike Balls become larger. After the third hit, Bowser is defeated. Both Bowser and the car tumble off screen and crash.

====''Super Mario Odyssey''====

In ''[[Super Mario Odyssey]]'', the Koopa Clown Car can be briefly seen in the cutscene when [[Mario]] captures [[Bowser]], in a flashback depicting the Bowser battle from ''[[Super Mario World]]''.

 

 

 

Bowser uses a Koopa Clown Car in the introduction cutscene for ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'', riding it when he touches a [[Wonder Flower]]. This transforms Bowser into [[Castle Bowser]], a fusion between [[Prince Florian]]'s castle, Bowser, and the Koopa Clown Car. After Castle Bowser's defeat, Bowser Jr. and Kamek attempt to use the Koopa Clown Car to evacuate Bowser, but his size causes it to crash.

[[File:CartoonClownCar.jpg|thumb|King Koopa using the Flying Clown Head in the ''Super Mario World'' television series episode "[[Send in the Clown]]".]]

The Koopa Clown Car, referred to as the '''Flying Clown Head''' in ''[[Koopa's Stone Age Quests]]'' and a ''[[Captain N: The Game Master]]'' preview, appeared in the [[Super Mario World (television series)|''Super Mario World'' cartoon]] episode "[[Send in the Clown]]." King Koopa uses the Flying Clown Head to announce to the cave-people of [[Dome City]] that they could go to the "[[Koopalings|Koopaling]] Bros. Circus" free of charge. Near the end of the episode, after Mario has destroyed the fake circus, an enraged King Koopa, having taken Princess Toadstool hostage, begins to attack Mario in the Flying Clown Head in a manner similar to the final boss battle from the game. He does so by dropping Big Steelies and [[Mechakoopa|Mechkoopas]] on Mario, as well as attempting to crush him. Eventually, King Koopa and his Flying Clown Head were defeated when Mario hurled a Mechkoopa at the vehicle, damaging its controls and causing it to fly off upside-down, dropping Princess Toadstool in the process.

In "[[Rock TV]]," a flower pot resembling the Koopa Clown Car can be seen in King Koopa's throne room.

In the ''[[Super Mario Adventures]]'' comic, Bowser appears riding in his Koopa Clown Car (called a '''Koopa Copter''' by [[Luigi]]) after Mario and Luigi defeat all the monsters he sent to rampage through [[Peach's Castle|Princess Toadstool's Castle]]. After proceeding to tell Princess Toadstool his plans of marrying her and turning dozens of bystanders to stone, Bowser flees the scene in the Koopa Clown Car, with Princess Toadstool and several dozen [[Toad (species)|Toads]] after him.

Bowser briefly uses the Koopa Clown Car in the ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]''. In this game, Bowser uses the Koopa Clown Car to abduct [[Princess Peach]] from Mario's yard. Bowser then uses the Koopa Clown Car to transport himself and Peach to [[Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Keep]].

At the start of ''[[Paper Mario]]'', Bowser uses a gigantic, stone version of the Koopa Clown Car to raise [[Peach's Castle]] into the atmosphere. This version of the Koopa Clown Car also had several spiked balls hanging off it; it also makes a cameo appearance in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', where it can be seen in the background of the [[Rainbow Road]] track.

Also of note, the [[Power Platform|platform]] used by Bowser to power himself up during his final battle against Mario resembles a long, flat version of the Koopa Clown Car, while several smaller, 3-dimensional versions of the Koopa Clown Car can be found in the hangar of Bowser's Castle. All iterations of the Koopa Clown Car use the "angry" face by default in this game and the next.

[[File:Paper Clown Car.png|thumb|The Koopa Clown Car from the GameCube version of ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''.]]

After learning from [[Kammy Koopa]] that the [[X-Nauts (organization)|X-Nauts]] have kidnapped Princess Peach, Bowser sets off after the Princess in his Koopa Clown Car.

Later on in ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'', Bowser, after failing to get a ride on the [[Blimp|Cheep Blimp]], uses his Koopa Clown Car to get to [[Glitzville]]. Unfortunately, the Koopa Clown Car breaks-down in mid-flight and crashes into the ocean, where Bowser apparently left it.

====''Paper Mario: Color Splash''====

Right after its absence in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' and ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', the Koopa Clown Car makes a background appearance in the end credits of ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', where Bowser rides it, attached to the airship float. The Junior Clown Car also can be seen in the storage room behind [[the Emerald Circus]] tent, but concept art shows that it was originally going to be the Koopa Clown Car.

 

[[File:PMTOK Shy Guy Clown Car.png|left|thumb|100px|A Shy Guy coming to assist Bowser in ''Paper Mario: The Origami King'']]

In ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'', [[Mario]], [[Bowser]], and [[Olivia]] escape on the Koopa Clown Car, which is piloted by a [[Shy Guy]], when [[King Olly]] takes over [[Peach's Castle]]. The Koopa Clown Car can later be seen in the hangar area of [[Bowser's Castle]], where the Shy Guy tells Mario that he is not allowed to pilot it anymore. It has the same design from ''Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam''.

[[File:SSBB Koopaclowncar.png|thumb|The Koopa Clown Car in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.]]

In the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], the Koopa Clown Car has a few minor appearances. It first appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', in the form of a [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]], which shows Bowser holding on to the rims of the Koopa Clown Car while peeking out slightly. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''{{'}}s [[smashwiki:Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary|The Subspace Emissary]] mode, the Koopa Clown Car appears twice: [[Bowser]] first uses the Koopa Clown Car to escape from [[Mario]], [[Pit (character)|Pit]], [[Yoshi]], [[Link]], and [[Kirby]] while taking the princess ([[Princess Peach|Peach]] or [[Zelda]]), then later uses it again to escape from [[Falco Lombardi|Falco]], [[Diddy Kong]], and [[Fox]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', the Koopa Clown Car occasionally appears in the background of the [[Super Mario Maker (stage)|Super Mario Maker]] stage.

In the [[Mario Golf (series)|''Mario Golf'' series]], the Koopa Clown Car first appears in ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]''. During the game's opening clip, Bowser uses the Koopa Clown Car, as well as the two [[Bill Blaster|Bullet Bill Blaster]]s equipped to it, to chase down [[Wario]] and [[Waluigi]] in retribution for unwittingly giving him a black eye during their golfing session. Additionally, Hole 11 of [[Bowser Badlands]] takes place on a giant Koopa Clown Car. In ''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'', an even larger Koopa Clown Car appears as the green for Hole 7 in [[Bowser's Castle (golf course)|Bowser's Castle]].

[[File:KCCMP8.png|thumb|The Koopa Clown Car in ''Mario Party 8'']]

The Koopa Clown Car has appeared in several installments of the [[Mario Party (series)|''Mario Party'' series]], most notably in ''[[Mario Party 5]]'', ''[[Mario Party 6]]'', ''[[Mario Party 7]]'', and ''[[Mario Party 8]]''. In ''Mario Party 8'', it is depicted as having thicker lips and a green extension attached to its propeller; in addition to summoning cannons, it also has the ability to open its mouth, revealing a laser gun. However, these weapons are not all revealed in the beginning of the battle. The battle starts out with Bowser breathing fireballs, and for every three times [[Bowser]] is hit with blasts from the [[Star Rod (Mario Party 8)|Star Rod]] (except for the ninth hit, in which he blows out a large fireball instead before continuing using his normal attacks), he becomes angrier and summons additional weapons, eventually progressing to a full-scale assault, with laser gun blasts and [[Bullet Bill]] cannons being fired simultaneously. In ''[[Mario Party 9]]'', Bowser appears in the Koopa Clown Car at the end of a stage. Bowser and Bowser Jr. also ride their vehicles together in the ending. In ''[[Mario Party: Island Tour]]'', Bowser uses the Koopa Clown Car for transportation and during [[Bowser's Sky Scuffle]]. The Koopa Clown Car is used by Bowser for all three of the Bowser's Gauntlet minigames in ''[[Mario Party: Star Rush]]''. The Clown Car makes a minor appearance in ''[[Mario Party: The Top 100]]'' where it replaces Bowser's unnamed hovercraft in [[The Final Battle! (minigame)|The Final Battle!]]. In the remake of [[Yoshi's Tropical Island]] in ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]'', the Koopa Clown Car replaces the [[Bowser's Shell]] Bowser uses to swap places with [[Toadette]] (who herself replaces [[Toad]] as the one who gives [[Star (Mario Party series)|Stars]] to the players).

 

In its early appearances, the Koopa Clown Car has a similar appearance to its ''[[Paper Mario (series)|Paper Mario]]'' depiction. Starting from ''Mario Party 9'', it has since used its usual appearance.

====''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga'' / ''Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions''====

[[File:Koopa Clown Car M&LSS sprite.png|frame|left]]

In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' and ''[[Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions]]'', after gaining the cure for Mario's [[Bean Fever]], Luigi returns to [[Little Fungitown]], only to encounter [[Bowletta]], who has captured Princess Peach and is rapidly escaping with her in the Koopa Clown Car.

[[File:M&LPiT Baby Bowser Escaping Screenshot.png|thumb|Baby Bowser escaping in the Koopa Clown Car in ''Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time''.]]

====''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team''====

Machines similar to the Koopa Clown Car make an appearance in [[Neo Bowser Castle]] as [[Dreampoint]]s. A switch on the vehicles causes them to hover into the air, activating [[Luiginary Antigravity]] in the [[Dream World]]. The actual machine appears in the ending, where Bowser and his minions use it to escape [[Pi'illo Island]], only for it to start losing altitude due to [[Private Goomp]] and [[Sergeant Guy]] shaking it in an attempt to catch the raining coins. In this game, the Clown Car is not bowl-shaped as it has been in previous games, but has a flat surface level with the rim on which the rider stands. The Dreampoint replicas also have this trait.

====''Mario Kart DS''====

In ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', Bowser's third choice kart is the [[Hurricane (kart)|Hurricane]], a kart that resembles his Clown Car but with a plane motif.

====''Mario Kart 7''====

In ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', an unlockable kart part called the [[Koopa Clown]] is modeled after the Koopa Clown Car. The kart part features a handling boost, but it hinders acceleration and off-road during the process. Actual Koopa Clown Cars appear in the retro battle stage, {{classic-link|N64|Big Donut}}, and in the tracks [[Wuhu Loop]] and [[3DS Neo Bowser City|Neo Bowser City]], blowing wind for drivers flying above with gliders; the ones in <small>N64</small> Big Donut and Neo Bowser City have a green rim and feature Bowser's emblem instead of a face, while the one in Wuhu Loop is featureless and has a teal rim.

====''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====

[[File:MK8DX Koopa Clown.png|thumb|left|100px|The Koopa Clown in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'']]

In ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' [[Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8|DLC]], jack-in-the-boxes shaped like Koopa Clown Cars with [[? Block]]s for the boxes are hazards on the glider portion of {{classic-link|GBA|Ribbon Road}}. The Koopa Clown Car on {{classic|3DS|Neo Bowser City}} returns, but has been slightly redesigned.

 

====''Mario Kart Tour''====

[[File:MKT Paris Promenade 3 Ring Race Koopa Clown Car.png|thumb|x200px|A Koopa Clown Car dropping rings on the track in ''Mario Kart Tour'']]

In ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', air-blowing Koopa Clown Cars from ''Mario Kart 7'' appear in 3DS Neo Bowser City and [[GBA Bowser's Castle 2|GBA Bowser's Castle 2T]]. Regular Koopa Clown Cars are found in [[Tour Paris Promenade|Paris Promenade 3]]'s [[Ring Race]] and [[Los Angeles Laps|Los Angeles Laps 3]]'s [[Break Item Boxes]] bonus challenges, producing [[Ring (Mario Kart series)|rings]] or [[Item Box]]es for the characters to drive through. The Koopa Clown returns in this game alongside a new darker variant known as the [[Dark Clown]] and a Christmas-themed variant known as the [[Candy Clown]].

 

===''Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle''===

In ''[[Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle]]'', Luigi's Bozo Blaster and Peach's Big Top are modeled after the Koopa Clown Car. Additionally, stained glass windows showing the Koopa Clown Car can be seen behind Bowser's throne during the final battle.<ref>{{cite|author=BeardBear|date=August 27, 2017|url=youtu.be/2l3RqLQrcCY|title=Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle - FINAL BOSS & Ending|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=August 27, 2017}}</ref>

 

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===

In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', miniature versions of the Koopa Clown Car can seen piloted by [[Koopa Troopa]]s, some with cannons in their mouths. In an ad for the film, one Koopa Clown Car can be seen carrying a [[Bob-omb]] with arms similar to the [[Junior Clown Car]]'s boxer form but with metallic claws instead of boxing gloves.<ref>{{cite|author=Universal Pictures|date=March 10, 2023|url=www.facebook.com/watch/?v=6177867658901146|title=Super Mario Bros. Il Film {{!}} Fan screening|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref>

 

====''Skylanders SuperChargers''====

|footer=The Clown Cruiser and Dark Clown Cruiser in ''Skylanders: SuperChargers''.

In ''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]'' and ''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers|Skylanders: SuperChargers Racing]]'', [[Bowser|Hammer Slam Bowser]]'s signature vehicle is the '''Clown Cruiser'''. Essentially, it is a mix between a Koopa Clown Car and a plane (much like ''[[Mario Kart DS]]''{{'}}s [[Hurricane (kart)|Hurricane]]). Like its owner, it also possesses a dark variant, known as the '''Dark Clown Cruiser'''.

 

==Profiles and statistics==

===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===

|name=Koopa Clown Car

|game=''Super Mario World''<br>8/91

|unlock=Randomly obtainable from the [[smashwiki:Lottery|Lottery]] after obtaining 250 [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophies]]

|desc=Bowser's single-seat, personal airship doesn't exactly handle like a dream, but it wasn't designed to be sporty. The Koopa Clown Car was made to carry Bowser's huge weight, not to mention a logic-defying arsenal of massive bowling balls. In Super Mario World, Mario busted the Koopa Clown Car by pelting it with [[Mechakoopa|Mecha Koopa]]s.

}}

 

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*In ''Super Mario Maker'', there are unused sprites for a Big Steely and a tear. These were likely intended for a further replication of Bowser's behavior in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', while in the final game, he simply chases the player and throws [[Bob-omb]]s.

 

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