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{{location-infobox
{{Distinguish|Dark Realm}}
|name=Dark Land
{{location infobox
|image = Dark_land2.PNG
|title=Dark Land
|width = 250px
|image=[[File:SMA4 Dark Land 1.png|150px]][[File:SMA4 Dark Land 2.png|150px]][[File:SMA4 Dark Land 3.png|150px]][[File:SMA4 Dark Land 4.png|150px]]<br>Map in ''Super Mario Advance 4''
|greaterloc = [[Mushroom World]]
|greater_location=[[Mushroom World]]
|capital =  
|capital=
|ruler = [[Bowser]]
|ruler=[[Bowser]]
|inhabitants = [[Rocky Wrench]]es, [[Fire Bro]]s.
|inhabitants= [[Bowser's Minions]], [[Bob-omb]]s, [[Rocky Wrench]]es, [[Boomerang Bro]]thers, [[Boom Boom]], [[Fire Bro]]thers, [[Hammer Bro]]thers, [[Sledge Bro]]thers, [[Lava Bubble|Podoboo]]s, [[Cheep-Cheeps]], [[Fire Piranha Plant|Venus Fire Trap]]s, [[Piranha Plant]]s, [[Koopa Paratroopa]]s, [[Boo]]s, [[Koopa Troopa]]s, [[Paragoomba|Para-Goomba]]s, [[Mini Goomba|Micro-Goomba]]s, [[Angry Sun]], [[Roto-Disc]]s, [[Thwomp]]s, [[Hot Foot|Hot Feet]], [[Dry Bones]]
|first_appearance = ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[List of Mario games by date#1998|1988]])
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' ([[List of games by date#1988|1988]])
|latest_appearance = ''[[Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition]]'' ([[List of Mario games by date#2010|2010]])
|latest_appearance=''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'' (2023)
}}
'''Dark Land'''<ref>{{cite|language=en-us|date=1990|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Super Mario Bros. 3'' instruction booklet|page=34}}</ref><ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' North American re-release and European ending.</ref> (also known as '''Koopa Kingdom''' in ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'')<ref>{{cite|author=Mario|quote=We're levitating the Doomship, back to Koopa Kingdom!|title="[[Up, Up, and a Koopa]]", ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]''}}</ref> is [[Bowser]]'s kingdom and [[Bowser's Minions|his army]]'s main base of operations in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. A stark contrast to the rest of the [[Mushroom World]], Dark Land is a wasteland-inspired area untouched by sunlight, filled with skulls and flames.
{{br|toc=1}}
==History==
===''Super Mario Bros. 3'' / ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''===
{{world infobox
|image=[[File:SMA4 Dark Land 1.png|150px]][[File:SMA4 Dark Land 2.png|150px]][[File:SMA4 Dark Land 3.png|150px]][[File:SMA4 Dark Land 4.png|150px]]<br>Map in ''Super Mario Advance 4''
|game=''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''
|levels=11
|before=[[Pipe Land|<<]]
|after=>>
}}
}}
{{articleabout|the country of [[Bowser|King Bowser]] in [[Super Mario Bros. 3]]|the domain of [[Baby Bowser|Prince Bowser]] seen in [[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island|Yoshi's Island]]|[[World 6 (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)]]}}
Dark Land (alternatively '''Castle of Koopa'''<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' North American original and ''Super Mario All-Stars'' International ending.</ref> or '''[[Bowser's Castle]]'''<ref>''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'' International ending.</ref>) first appears as the eighth and final [[world]] in ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' and its remake ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', reached after clearing [[Pipe Land]]. Large numbers of [[tank]]s and [[airship]]s patrol these lands, which most [[level]]s take place on, with only two standard Action Scenes in the entire world. Additionally, one of the areas in the map is so dark that it appears to be completely black, except for a circle of light around [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]]. World 8 is shown to be south of [[Ice Land|World 6]] and to the north of [[Sky Land|World 5]] in ''Super Mario Advance 4''. This is the only world in the game that does not have any [[Toad House]]s, [[Hammer Bro]]thers patrolling the map, or [[Spade Panel]]s in it. It is also the second world to feature completely separate overworld screens, after World 5.
{{Distinguish|Dark Realm}}


'''Dark Land'''<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' English instruction booklet, page 34</ref><ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' North American revision, PAL NES and worldwide VC distribution ending</ref> (alternatively '''Castle of Koopa'''<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' original North American release and ''Super Mario All-Stars'' International version ending</ref> or '''[[Bowser's Castle]]'''<ref>''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3'' International version ending</ref>) is the eighth and final world in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''. A stark contrast to the rest of the [[Mushroom World]], Dark Land is a sinister land largely untouched by sunlight, filled with giant skulls and endlessly burning flames. One of the areas in the map is so dark that it appears to be completely black, except for a circle of light around [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]].
It is possible for the player to enter Dark Land via [[Warp Zone]] (notably, both [[Recorder|Magic Whistle]]s from [[Grass Land]] can be used to reach Dark Land without restoring any of the [[kings]]). In ''Super Mario Advance 4'', as soon as the player warps to World 8, they receive the letter from Bowser that they would have received after clearing World 7; this does not occur in the original game.


Dark Land is Bowser's kingdom, and is the place where his main castle stands. It is also the [[Koopa Troop]]'s main base of operations in ''Super Mario Bros. 3''. Because of this, the area is heavily defended by the Koopa King's military forces. Large numbers of [[tank]]s and airships patrol these lands. In fact, there are so many of these stages that there are only two standard Action Scenes in the entire world.
According to [[Lemmy]], the kingdom's activity was top secret even to the [[Koopalings]], as he claims Bowser was exclusively in charge.<ref name="Ankoku"/> This mention is not present in international translations of the manual.


After Mario and Luigi save the [[Pipe Land|seventh kingdom]] of the Mushroom World, Bowser reveals that he took the princess to his own kingdom. It is also possible for the player to enter it via [[Warp Zone]] (notably, both [[Warp Whistle]]s from World 1 can be used to reach Dark Land without restoring any of the [[kings]]). It is shown to be south of [[Ice Land]], and to the north of [[Sky Land]] in ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''.
Dark Land features the following levels:
{{content description
|name1={{world-link|8|tank3|World 8-Big Tanks}}
|image1=[[File:SMB3 SNES Tank Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description1=One of the tank levels and the first level of Dark Land, this is an autoscrolling level with many [[cannon]]s that fire [[cannonball]]s and [[Bob-omb]]s.
|name2={{world-link|8|navy|World 8-Battleships}}
|image2=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-B Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description2=Another autoscrolling level with many cannons, this time on ships over water.
|name3={{world-link|8|hand|World 8-Hand Traps}}
|image3=[[File:Hand Trap SMAS.gif|200px]]
|description3=A group of three levels that contain many traps. The first features [[Hammer Bro]]s and their variants, the second features [[Lava Bubble|Podoboos]], and the third features [[Cheep Cheep]]s.
|name4={{world-link|8|airforce|World 8-Airship (Super Mario Bros. 3)}}
|image4=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-A Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description4=Another autoscrolling level, though this one moves quicker, has small platforms, and takes place in the air.
|name5=[[World 8-1 (Super Mario Bros. 3)|World 8-1]]
|image5=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-1 Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description5=The first of two standard levels in Dark World, this level has many [[Bill Blaster|Turtle Cannon]]s and [[Warp Pipe|pipe]] platforms.
|name6=[[World 8-2 (Super Mario Bros. 3)|World 8-2]]
|image6=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-2 Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description6=The second of two standard levels in Dark World, this level reintroduces the [[Angry Sun]] from [[Desert Land]].
|name7={{world-link|8|fort|World 8-Fortress}}
|image7=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-F Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description7=The [[fortress]] level which is made up of a maze of doors and traps.
|name8={{world-link|8|tank3|World 8-Super Tank}}
|image8=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-ST Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description8=Another autoscrolling tank level with many cannons and enemies.
|name9={{world-link|8|bowser3|World 8-Bowser's Castle (Super Mario Bros. 3)}}
|image9=[[File:SMAS SMB3 World 8-BC Screenshot.png|200px]]
|description9=The final level of the game and is where [[Bowser|King Koopa]] is keeping [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] captive.
}}


==Levels==
===''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3''===
==={{world|8|tank3}} 1===  
[[File:DarkLandCartoon.jpg|thumb|Dark Land in ''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'']]
[[File:Smb3mariotank.png|thumb|right]]The large tanks are similar to [[airship]]s, only they are on the ground. Here, the player will meet up with [[Rocky Wrench]]es, cannons, and [[Rocket Engine]]s. There is also one power-up in this [[level]]. At the end of the level awaits a blue [[Boomerang Bro]].
{{quote|QUIET! You wanna wake the dead? You don't want Koopa to find out we're in his kingdom, do ya?|[[Mario]]|"[[Do the Koopa]]"}}
Dark Land appears in quite a few episodes of ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', where it is depicted as a gloomy wasteland and the home of King Koopa and the Koopalings. Lava-filled caverns are shown to be beneath the surface of Dark Land in a few episodes as well. However, most of what goes on within Dark Land happens either near or inside [[Bowser's Castle|Kastle Koopa]].


In ''[[Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', this level was made shorter by removing two of the tanks that came after the [[Question Block|? Block]].
The episodes with this world shown as the title card are "[[Never Koop a Koopa]]" (with [[Grass Land]]'s music), "[[Do the Koopa]]", "[[Crimes R Us]]", "[[Recycled Koopa]]" and "[[Super Koopa (episode)|Super Koopa]]".


==={{world|8|navy}}===
Not counting episodes in which all the Dark Land scenes were restricted to events within the perimeters of Kastle Koopa, Dark Land appears in the following episodes:
These [[battleship]]s are similar to tanks, only in the water. As these are in ordinary water, Mario (or Luigi) will not be hurt if he jumps in. After avoiding obstacles and enemies, [[Boom Boom]] awaits at the end of the level. One can actually swim under the ship for the entire length of the level and emerge unscathed.
*'''[[Reptiles in the Rose Garden]]''': In order to give [[Wendy O. Koopa|Kootie Pie]] rulership of the [[United States of America]] as a birthday present, Bowser transports the [[White House]], along with everyone inside, to Dark Land. Bowser later sinks the White House to the bottom of the [[Mushroom Sea]]. However, Mario managed to raise the White House to the surface, and with Luigi's help, was able to return the building to its proper spot to [[Washington, D.C.]]
*'''[[Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario]]''': Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad travel through Dark Land via a [[Steam Cloud Balloon]] to recover [[Prince Mushroomkhamen]]'s stolen sarcophagus, only for it to get flung into a tower of Kastle Koopa by a [[Mushroom Kingdom]] [[tornado|twister]]. Luigi then uses the remnants of the Steam Cloud Balloon to construct a [[steam powered mummy sled]], which he, Princess Toadstool and Toad use to escape from Kastle Koopa, and subsequently, Dark Land.
*'''[[Princess Toadstool for President]]''': After discovering that Bowser in ahead in the polls for leadership over the Mushroom Kingdom only by using a [[Nice Guy Potion]], Mario and Luigi travel to Dark Land in order stop [[Ludwig von Koopa|Kooky]] and [[Larry Koopa|Cheatsy]] from making another dose before the election. Upon arriving in Dark Land, Mario and Luigi are pursued by [[Rocky Wrench]]es in tanks, which chase them through a pipe into a lava-filled cavern. From that point, Mario and Luigi then have to deal with [[Flame Chomp|Fire Chomp]]s, [[Hot Foot]]s and a [[Fire Snake]] before making it to Kastle Koopa.
*'''[[Never Koop a Koopa]]''': When Bowser announces that he is giving up his evil ways, he donates Kastle Koopa to Princess Toadstool. Deciding she wants to turn Kastle Koopa into a retirement home for elderly [[Toad (species)|Mushroom]]s, Princess Toadstool travels to Dark Land with Mario to check the place out. However, Luigi is wary of the whole thing. He and Toad travel to Dark Land after Mario and Princess Toadstool, where they wait in a boat on the Mushroom Sea for their friends to return from Kastle Koopa. When Mario and Princess Toadstool fail to come out after waiting for a long time, Luigi drags Toad into the Mushroom Sea, and both enter Kastle Koopa via a drainpipe. Discovering that the whole ordeal turned out to be a trap, the group of four reunite and later escape from Kastle Koopa after obtaining [[Raccoon Mario|Raccoon Power]].
*'''[[Do the Koopa]]''': Princess Toadstool discovers a map leading to the [[Doom Dancer Music Box]], which is hidden in the underground [[Temple of Gloom]]. Mario, Luigi and Toad accompany Princess Toadstool to Dark Land, but they are immediately spotted by a [[Dry Bones]], who heads to Kastle Koopa to warn Bowser of their arrival. As Bowser is sick, he orders [[Roy Koopa|Bully]], [[Morton Koopa Jr.|Big Mouth]], and Cheatsy to follow the Dry Bones, who leads them to where the heroes are traveling. Mario's group brave the cavern's many traps and ultimately make it to the Temple of Gloom, where they succeed in obtaining the Doom Dancer. However, a trap set up by Bully causes Mario to lose the Doom Dancer, which winds up in Bully's hands. Bully then brings uses the Doom Dancer's power to bring everyone back to Kastle Koopa, where Bowser, who is unable to hear well due to his cold, takes the Doom Dancer from Bully. Bowser then uses the Doom Dancer to force everyone in the [[Mushroom World]] to dance forever, but the Mario Bros. foil his plan.
*'''[[Recycled Koopa]]''': The Koopas are ordered to dump all their garbage, and the place they do so is in Princess Toadstool's Castle. Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad manage to steal one of the Koopa Kids' wands to remove all the garbage and send it back where it came from. The heroes believe the Koopas will try again and spy on them with Luigi's [[Plumber's Periscope]], and see the Koopalings dumping garbage down another pipe leading to the Real World.
*'''[[The Venice Menace]]''': Although Dark Land is unseen in this episode, Bowser's intention is to scare all the humans out of [[Venice]] so that he can warp the entire city to Dark Land and turn it into a water park for Kootie Pie.


==={{world|8|trap}}===
===''Nintendo Adventure Books''===
[[File:Hand Trap SMAS.gif|thumb|right|A Hand Trap level]]
Dark Land is the setting of the fourth [[Nintendo Adventure Book]], ''[[Koopa Capers]]'', where Bowser has a [[magic carpet]] bring Luigi to the kingdom to help (whether he wants to or not) in the search for Wendy O. Koopa after the Koopaling disappears. The two main areas of the region that can be explored in the book are a gloomy and trap-filled fortress, and a highly volcanic area known as the Magma Pits.
Upon entering this area in the [[Game Boy Advance|GBA]] version, the player will see a hologram of Peach calling out for Mario.


When the player passes over these three stages, there is a small chance that Mario will be pulled into the stage and forced to play it. The player can also enter these levels normally, however.
In the proceeding book, ''[[Pipe Down!]]'', Dark Land (though here referred to as '''Dark World''') is mentioned once by [[Ludwig|Ludwig von Koopa]], who states that he intends to take his new ballet, ''Dribbling Beauty'', on a seven-year tour of the kingdom.


#This contains every [[Hammer Bro]] variety found in the game. The level starts with a [[Fire Bro]]. After it, there are two [[Hammer Bro]]s. ready to attack. Also, there is a power-up in one of the blocks. A [[Boomerang Bro]] awaits further into the level. The final enemy, a [[Sledge Bro]]ther, is encountered towards the end of the level. Once past there, the player can go up the [[Warp Pipe|pipe]] to claim a [[Super Leaf]].
===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
#The player must jump over [[Podoboo]]s and leap onto platforms to reach the end. A Super Leaf is at the end of this level.
[[File:TSMBM Dark Land.jpg|thumb|The Dark Lands in ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'']]
#The player must avoid jumping [[Cheep Cheep]]s in this level. At the end there is a Super Leaf.
In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', after Mario and Luigi are accidentally separated from each other in the [[Warp Zone]] after traveling through the [[mysterious pipe]], Luigi ends up in the '''Dark Lands''',<ref>{{file link|TSMBM Monopoly Board.jpg|Monopoly ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'' Edition board}}</ref> also formatted as '''Darklands''',<ref>Track title "The Darklands" from ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)]]''</ref><ref>{{cite|author=@universaluk|language=en-gb|date=March 16, 2023|url=x.com/universaluk/status/1636338994962219008|title=Wahoo! Mario has entered the feed. Get your tickets now! #SuperMarioMovie|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref> where he briefly searches for Mario before being chased by many [[Dry Bones]]. Luigi enters a [[castle]] that is surrounded by a [[lava]] moat and appears abandoned at first, but he is captured by two [[Shy Guy]]s and a [[Snifit]], who bring him to Bowser in the [[Shy Guy balloon]]. The Dark Lands are portrayed as a dark and dreary forest with lakes of lava, infested with [[Bat (Super Mario Galaxy)|bats]] and hostile Dry Bones. According to [[Toad]], the area is under the control of Bowser.
 
==={{world|8|airforce}}===
A ton of tiny, Rocket Engine-equipped jets patrol the night sky. Rocky Wrenches are found on most of the jets. At the end, Boom Boom awaits to battle. After the player attacks Boom Boom twice, it'll start to fly. Most of the ships have the same form. This level scrolls significantly faster than other airship or tank levels.
 
==={{world|8|1}}===
At the start of the level, there is a Switch Block in the air, which reveals many blue coins closer to the ground. The player can use a [[Super Leaf]] or [[Tanooki Suit]] to fly from the very first platform to a pipe way up high where three 1-Ups are. Further into the level, a [[? Block]] near a [[Fire Piranha Plant|Venus Fire Trap]]'s pipe holds a power-up. A row of bricks is soon found. In between the tall multi-[[Bill Blaster]]s, within a ? Block, there is a [[Star|Starman]]. A hidden [[1-Up Mushroom]] can be found within a long line of blocks. Then, the player must use a red [[Koopa Paratroopa]] to leap over a very tall Bill Blaster. The player can jump out between the two Blasters. The [[Jump Block]] nearby will send the player across the gap. After this, the player needs to leap over the [[Piranha Plant]] and the level will be completed.
 
==={{world|8|2}}===
At the beginning, the player can either fall through the quicksand or enter one of the pipes, or jump over the quicksand. In the latter case, this level is the second and final to feature the [[Angry Sun]], which is very rare. The player must avoid multiple Venus Fire Traps; eventually, a block containing a [[P Switch|Switch Block]] can be found. After the ♩ blocks hovering over a pit, the player must ascend and descend the Venus Fire Trap populated hill. After the hill comes a small pit with one ♩ Block. The player must leap off a Koopa Paratroopa and bounce on the [[Jump Block]] to reach the exit.
 
==={{world|8|fort}}===
The level starts out with an area with blocks and a door. Further on, the player must maneuver on conveyor belts; however, there is [[lava]] below. To the left is a power-up, needed to complete the level. The player must repeat this process until he has secured a Super Leaf, which is to break the bricks to the right. To the right, the player must avoid the [[Thwomp]] and smash a way through the blocks. Next, the player must enter the third door to the right, entering the next room; here, the player must avoid the Thwomps moving diagonally. Then the player must enter another door. Then, the player has to keep right, entering the door placed on the metal blocks. The player must then press the Switch Block and run right, entering the door at the end without stopping. After coming out of the door, the player has to keep moving, until two coins, unmoving, wedged between the metal blocks and a conveyor belt, are spotted. The player must wait until the Switch Block wears off, sneak under them, and hit the right one for a Switch Block again. The player can then enter the door that appears to the farthest right. Then, the player must wait again for the Switch Block to wear off, and duck as the belt carries the player safely under the spike ceiling before reaching the area where Mario (or Luigi) will battle Boom Boom.
 
==={{world|8|tank3}} 2===
The player must avoid [[Bob-omb]]s, Rocky Wrenches, and other hazards on these huge tanks. At the end, [[Boom Boom]] will battle the player for the final time.
 
==={{world|8|bowser3}}===
In the final level of the game, the player finally reaches Bowser's Castle. But inside, Bowser has set up several traps. Near the start, statues with laser vision attack in place; if the player jumps over them, they can reach brief safety. Then, ride the platform up, taking the [[Donut Lift]] down. Here, ascend the staircase, avoiding the [[Roto-Disc]]s. At the top the player must go back down to the ground on the other side. Alternatively, there is an extra life at the top right of this section, in a hidden block. If the player ducks and jumps on top of this block, they will float through the wall, skipping the descent. Afterward, a lake of lava with Donut Lifts and Podoboos looms. In an alternate route, the player can go up and head right. If the player keeps heading right, avoiding the pool of lava and dodging [[fireball]]s, a door awaits. Once again, there is a room with statues and fireballs. Then, the player must go through the door at the far left. This is where the final battle with Bowser takes place.
 
[[File:SMB3 Bowser Battle.png|thumb|left|The battle with Bowser.]]
The King of the Koopas can be defeated with either hitting him with twenty fireballs or at most four [[hammer]]s, (giving '''100''' points) depending on the player's precision. In battle, Bowser will leap up occasionally, crashing down into the weak floor, making an indent. Bowser's only other attack is his ability to breathe fire. If Bowser breaks through the whole floor, he's defeated. The door to the right will open and flash. Entering this door, the player will find [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]] hiding in fear. Mario and Luigi will approach her, and she will thank them, along the way joking that the Princess is in another castle (a reference to the [[Mushroom Retainer|mushroom retainers']] line from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''). The curtain then goes down, and the names of each world is shown with some related images. The game ends on a THE END message, and the music loops.
{{br|left}}
 
==''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3''==
[[File:DarkLandCartoon.jpg|thumb|Dark Land in ''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3''.]]
As it is home to Bowser and the [[Koopalings]], Dark Land appears in quite a few episodes of ''[[The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', where it is depicted as a gloomy wasteland. Lava-filled caverns are shown to be beneath the surface of Dark Land in a few episodes as well. However, most of what goes on within Dark Land happens either near or inside [[Bowser's Castle|Kastle Koopa]]. Not counting episodes in which all the Dark Land scenes were restricted to events within the perimeters of Kastle Koopa, Dark Land appears in the following episodes:
 
'''[[Reptiles in the Rose Garden]]''': In order to give [[Wendy O. Koopa|Kootie Pie]] rulership of the [[United States of America]] as a birthday present, Bowser transports the [[White House]], along with everyone inside, to Dark Land. Bowser later sinks the White House to the bottom of the [[Mushroom Sea]]. However, Mario managed to raise the White House to the surface, and with Luigi's help, was able to return the building to its proper spot to [[Washington, D.C.]].
 
'''[[Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario]]''': Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad travel through Dark Land via a [[Steam Cloud Balloon]] to recover [[Prince Mushroomkhamen]]'s stolen sarcophagus, only for it to get flung into a tower of Kastle Koopa by a [[Tweester|Mushroom Kingdom Twister]]. Luigi then uses the remnants of the Steam Cloud Balloon to construct a [[Steam-Powered Mummy Sled]], which he, Princess Toadstool and Toad use to escape from Kastle Koopa, and subsequently, Dark Land.
 
'''[[Princess Toadstool for President]]''': After discovering that Bowser in ahead in the polls for leadership over the [[Mushroom Kingdom]] only by using a [[Nice Guy Potion]], Mario and Luigi travel to Dark Land in order stop [[Ludwig von Koopa|Kooky]] and [[Larry Koopa|Cheatsy]] from making another dose before the election. Upon arriving in Dark Land, Mario and Luigi are purused by [[Rocky Wrench]]es in tanks, which chase them through a pipe into a lava-filled cavern. From that point, Mario and Luigi then have to deal with [[Fire Chomp]]s, [[Hot Foot]]s and a [[Fire Snake]] before making it to Kastle Koopa.
 
'''[[Never Koop a Koopa]]''': When Bowser announces that he's giving up his evil ways, he donates Kastle Koopa to Princess Toadstool. Spoiltly wanting to turn Kastle Koopa into a retirement home for elderly [[Toad (species)|Mushroom]]s, Princess Toadstool travels to Dark Land with Mario to check the place out. However, Luigi is wary of the whole thing. He and Toad travel to Dark Land after Mario and Princess Toadstool, where they wait in a boat on the Mushroom Sea for their friends to return from Kastle Koopa. When Mario and Princess Toadstool fail to come out after waiting for a long time, Luigi bloodthirstily drags Toad against the Mushroom Sea, enters Kastle Koopa via a drain pipe and slams him up against a dumpster and starts pounding on him. While the whole ordeal turned out to be a trap, the group of four later escape from Kastle Koopa after obtaining [[Raccoon Mario|Raccoon Power]].
 
'''[[Do the Koopa]]''': Princess Toadstool discovers a map leading to the [[Doom Dancer Music Box]], which is hidden in the underground [[Temple of Gloom]]. Mario, Luigi and Toad accompany Princess Toadstool to Dark Land, but they are immediately spotted by a [[Dry Bones]], who heads to Kastle Koopa to warn Bowser of their arrival. As Bowser is sick, he orders [[Roy Koopa|Bully]] [[Morton Koopa Jr.|Big Mouth]] and Cheatsy to follow the Dry Bones, who leads them to where the heroes are travelling. Mario's group brave the cavern's many traps and ultimately make it to the Temple of Gloom, where they succeed in obtaining the Doom Dancer. However, a trap set up by Bully causes Mario to lose the Doom Dancer, which winds up in Bully's hands. Bully then brings uses the Doom Dancer's power to bring everyone back to Kastle Koopa, where Bowser, who is unable to hear well due to his cold, takes the Doom Dancer from Bully. Bowser then uses the Doom Dancer to force everyone in the [[Mushroom World]] to dance forever, but the Mario Bros. foil his plan.
 
'''[[The Venice Menace]]''': Although Dark Land is unseen in this episode, Bowser's intention is to scare all the [[human]]s out of [[Venice]] so that he can warp the entire city to Dark Land and turn it into a water park for Kootie Pie.
 
==''Nintendo Adventure Books''==
Dark Land is the setting of the fourth [[Nintendo Adventure Book]], ''[[Koopa Capers]]'', where Bowser has a [[Magic Carpet]] bring Luigi to the kingdom to help (whether he wants to or not) in the search for Wendy O. Koopa after the Koopaling disappears. The two main areas of the region that can be explored in the book are a gloomy and trap-filled fortress, and a highly volcanic area known as the Magma Pits.
 
In the proceeding book, ''[[Pipe Down!]]'', Dark Land (though here referred to as '''Dark World''') is mentioned once by [[Ludwig von Koopa]], who states that he intends to take his new opera, ''Dribbling Beauty'', on a seven year tour of the kingdom.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Dark_Land.jpg|[[Raccoon Mario]], [[Bowser]], and one of his tanks in Dark Land.
Castle of Koopa NES.png|Map in ''Super Mario Bros. 3''
File:Castle of Koopa NES.png|Map in NES version of ''Super Mario Bros. 3''
SMAS SMB3 World 8 Map.png|Map in ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''
Dark_Land.jpg|[[Raccoon Mario]], [[Bowser]], and one of his tanks in Dark Land
World 7 Letter SMB3 NES.png|Bowser's message
SMAS SMB3 World 7 Letter.png|Bowser's message in the SNES version
SMA4 Bowser Message World 8.png|Bowser's message in the GBA version
SMA4 Peach Help World 8.png|Peach screaming for help in the GBA version
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Media==
{{media missing|more=yes|section=y|Dark Land portion of "King Bowser" from ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''}}
{{media table
|file1=World 8 Theme Super Mario Bros 3.oga
|title1={{FULLPAGENAME}}
|description1=BGM
|length1=0:30
|file2=SMAS SMB3 World 8 Map.oga
|title2=Castle of Koopa
|description2=BGM (''Super Mario All-Stars'' version)
|length2=0:20
|file3=MP Dodging Danger.oga
|title3=Dodging Danger
|description3=Used in [[Skateboard Scamper]] and [[Piranha's Pursuit]] from ''[[Mario Party]]'', which is an arrangement of "Dark Land" from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.
|file4=MKDS-Music-BowserCastle.oga
|title4=Bowser Castle
|description4=Used in [[Bowser Castle (Mario Kart DS)|Bowser Castle]] from ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', which is an arrangement of "Dark Land" from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.
|file5=SPM Bowser Battle.oga
|title5=Bowser Battle
|description5=Used in the battle against Bowser from ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', which is an arrangement of "Dark Land" from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.
|file6=MPS Dodging Danger.oga
|title6=Dodging Danger
|length3=0:30
|description6=A rearrangement of the theme used in Piranha's Pursuit from ''[[Mario Party Superstars]]'', arranging the "Dark Land" theme from ''Super Mario Bros. 3''.
}}


==Names in other languages==
==Names in other languages==
{{foreignname
===Dark Land===
|Jap=ワールド8 <span class="explain" title="あんこく">暗黒</span><span class="explain" title="くに"></span><ref name="Ankoku">''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 34</ref><br>''Wārudo 8 Ankoku no Kuni''<br>カメ帝国<ref name="Teikoku">''Super Mario Bros.'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 10</ref><br>''Kame Teikoku''
{{foreign names
|JapM=World 8: Dark Land (''Castle of Kuppa''<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Super Mario Collection'' and ''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario 3 + Mario Bros.'' Japanese ending</ref> in-game)<br><br>Turtle Empire (''Super Mario Bros.'' manual)
|Jap=ワールド8 {{ruby|暗黒|あんこく}}の{{ruby|国|くに}}
|SpaA=Reino de las Sombras<br>(''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'')
|JapR=Wārudo 8 Ankoku no Kuni
|SpaAM=Kingdom of the Shadows
|JapM=World 8: Dark Land (alternatively "Castle of Kuppa"<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' and ''Super Mario Collection'' Japanese ending.</ref> in-game)
|JapC=<ref name="Ankoku">{{cite|title=スーパーマリオブラザーズ3 (''Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Surī'') instruction booklet|page=34|language=ja|publisher=Nintendo|date=1988}}</ref><ref>''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario 3 + Mario Bros.'' Japanese ending (in kana).</ref>
|ChiS=黑暗大陆
|ChiSR=Hēiàn Dàlù
|ChiSM=Dark Land
|ChiSC=<ref>[https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV12D4y1r7zX?p=15 【720P高清修复】超级马里奥兄弟3 TV版动画【1990年】【中文语音字幕】【全26集】]</ref>
|Fre=Château de Bowser
|Fre2=Pays-noir
|Fre2N=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'', ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' instruction booklet
|FreM=Bowser's castle
|Fre2M=Dark-land
|Ger=Dunkelland
|GerM=Dark-Land
|Hun=Sötétföld
|HunN=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3''
|HunM=Dark Land
|HunC=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX41JXbYOsA Super Mario kalandjai 1990 VHSRip]</ref>
|Ita=Mondo dell'Oscurità
|ItaC=<ref>{{cite|title=''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Italian instruction booklet|page=34}}</ref>
|ItaN=''Super Mario Bros. 3''
|Ita2=Terra Oscura
|Ita2C=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK0ZuzFfx_s&list=PLWzo2ShQRIik_9vJAjpCtOYPKTMiWfQMb&index=5 Le avventure di Super Mario 2x05 - Il regno dei funghi]</ref>
|Ita2N=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3''
|Ita3=Castello di Bowser
|Ita3C=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYUZfpwwKCU (ITA) Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 - Parte 3]</ref>
|Ita3N=''Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3''
|Ita4=La terra oscura
|Ita4C=<ref>{{cite|date=November 15, 2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=40}}</ref>
|Ita4N=''Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia''
|ItaM=Darkness World
|Ita2M=Dark Land
|Ita3M=Bowser's Castle
|Ita4M=The dark land
|PorA=Terra das Trevas
|PorAM=Land of the Darkness
|PorAC=<ref>{{cite|language=pt-br|title=''VideoGame'' magazine, issue 8A|page=22|publisher=Editora Sigla|date=November 1991}}</ref>
|Rom=Tărâmul întunecat
|RomN=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'', episodes "[[Princess Toadstool for President]]" and "[[Recycled Koopa]]"
|Rom2=Regatul Koopa
|Rom2N=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'', episode "[[Up, Up, and a Koopa]]"
|RomM=Dark land
|Rom2M=Koopa kingdom
|RomC=<ref>May 20, 2015. [http://ok.ru/videoembed/26871859844 "Princess Toadstool for President", dubbed in Romanian by KidsCo]. ''Odnoklassniki (OK.ru).'' Retrieved January 4, 2016.</ref>
|Rom2C=<ref>May 20, 2015. [http://ok.ru/videoembed/26871925380 "Up, Up, and a Koopa", dubbed in Romanian by KidsCo]. ''Odnoklassniki (OK.ru).'' Retrieved January 4, 2016.</ref>
|Rus=Даркленд
|RusR=Darklend
|RusM=Dark Land
|RusC=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DwSbIQkrUo Приключения братьев Супер Марио 3 (все серии) (6+)]</ref>
|SpaA=Reino de las Sombras
|SpaAN=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3''
|SpaAM=Kingdom of Shadows
|SpaAC=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy_nkmaUBxI&list=PL9SW0yG7n_bnpxH7s64Qgh_Wa4ycVmNpt&index=11 Las Aventuras de los Super hermanos Mario: 11 - La Princesa Seta Para La Presidencia]</ref>
|SpaE=Castillo de Bowser
|SpaE2=Reino de las Sombras
|SpaE2N=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'', re-dub
|SpaE3=Tierra Tenebrosa
|SpaE3N=''The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3'', original dub
|SpaEM=Bowser's Castle
|SpaE2M=Kingdom of Shadows
|SpaE3M=Dark Land
|SpaE2C=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYhJxiMRlAc Les aventures de Super Mario Bros 3 in Castilian Spanish - Bonkers de Yonkers]</ref>
|SpaE3C=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ne28Iqw2A&list=PL2lUnuHRmZtzqzUPj5vJysHm-kxWJi2BN&index=6 Super Mario Bros. 3 - La princesa Sapolina para presidente (Doblaje castellano original)]</ref>
|Swe=Mörklandet
|SweM=Dark Land
|SweC=<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkalotTT_jM&list=PLxFcguXyn2GqZhdcXT2-4r_KUtNLmRb_H&index=15 The Adventures of Super Mario Bros 3 - Episode 15 - Swedish]</ref>
}}
 
===Dark Lands===
{{foreign names
|Jap=ダークランド<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/smbmovie|title=ザ・スーパーマリオブラザーズ・ムービー {{!}} 任天堂|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja|accessdate=June 24, 2024}}</ref>
|JapR=Dāku Rando
|JapM=Dark Land
|Cat=Regne de les Ombres <small>(''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'')
|CatM=Kingdom of Shadows
|ChiS=暗黑之国
|ChiSR=Ànhēi Zhīguó
|ChiSM=Dark Country
|ChiT=暗黑之國
|ChiTR=Ànhēi Zhīguó
|ChiTM=Dark Country
|Ita=Terra Oscura
|ItaN=''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''{{'}}s books
|ItaC=<ref>''Super Mario Bros. Il Film Il libro ufficiale'', by Salani Editore, 2023, page 15.</ref>
|Ita2=Terre Oscure
|Ita2N=''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''
|Ita2C=<ref>"''Tuo fratello è approdato nelle Terre Oscure''" (Netflix subtitles: "''Tuo fratello è finito nelle Terre Oscure''"), Toad, ''Super Mario Bros. Il Film'', Illumination, 2023.</ref>
|ItaM=Dark Land
|Ita2M=Dark Lands
|Pol=Mroczna Kraina
|PolM=Dark Land
|PorA=Reino das Sombras
|PorAM=Kingdom of Shadows
|Rom=Ținuturile întunecate
|RomM=The dark lands
|Rus=Темные земли
|RusR=Temnyye zemli
|RusM=Dark lands
|SpaA=Tierras Oscuras
|SpaAM=Dark Lands
|SpaE=Reino de las Sombras<ref>{{cite|author=Sonic Channel Gaming|date=December 1, 2022|url=youtu.be/z0-cG_iMwSk|title=The Super Mario Bros. Movie New Spanish TV Spot (#2 Extended) (Credits to Illumination)|publisher=YouTube|language=es-es|accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
|SpaEM=Kingdom of Shadows
}}
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Dark Land is the only world in the game that does not have any [[Toad House]]s, [[Hammer Bro]]s. patrolling the map, or [[Spade Panel]]s in it.
*In ''[[Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition]]'', Dark Land is the only world from ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' to not be featured in any challenges.
*According to [[Lemmy Koopa|Lemmy]] in the Japanese instruction manual, the kingdom's activity was top secret even to the [[Koopalings]], as he claims Bowser was exclusively in charge.<ref name="Ankoku"/>
*In all Japanese releases of ''Super Mario Bros. 3'', Dark Land is known as "Castle of Kuppa" during the game credits (although more closely translated to "Country of Darkness" in the manual). In the initial North American release and worldwide versions of ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'', this was corrected to the standard Castle of Koopa. It was again changed to Bowser's Castle in the Game Boy Advance version.
*This world has a subterranean equivalent in ''[[Super Mario World]]'': the [[Valley of Bowser]]. Both worlds are the final worlds of their respective games.
*In the manual for the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the description for a green [[Koopa Troopa]] mentions that it is a soldier of the Turtle Empire.<ref name="Teikoku"/><ref>''Super Mario Bros.'' English instruction booklet, page 10</ref> This may be an early name for Dark Land, as it appears to refer to the same location.
*[[World 6 (Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island)|World 6]] of ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' is also suggested to be Bowser's sovereignty, so it may be the past incarnation of the same territory.


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
{{BoxTop}}
 
{{SMB3 levels}}
{{SMB3}}
{{SMB3}}
{{TAoSMB3}}
{{TAOSMB3}}
[[Category:Places]]
{{TSMBM}}
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. 3|8]]
[[Category:Haunted forests]]
[[Category:Worlds]]
[[Category:Volcanic areas]]
[[Category:Airship areas]]
[[Category:Kingdoms]]
[[Category:Kingdoms]]
[[Category:Volcanic Areas]]
[[Category:Super Mario Bros. 3 worlds]]
[[Category:The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 locations]]
[[Category:The Super Mario Bros. Movie locations]]
[[de:Dunkelland]]

Latest revision as of 06:11, December 2, 2024

Not to be confused with Dark Realm.
Dark Land
First area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Second area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Third area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Fourth and final area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Map in Super Mario Advance 4
First appearance Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
Latest appearance The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Greater location Mushroom World
Ruler Bowser
Inhabitants Bowser's Minions, Bob-ombs, Rocky Wrenches, Boomerang Brothers, Boom Boom, Fire Brothers, Hammer Brothers, Sledge Brothers, Podoboos, Cheep-Cheeps, Venus Fire Traps, Piranha Plants, Koopa Paratroopas, Boos, Koopa Troopas, Para-Goombas, Micro-Goombas, Angry Sun, Roto-Discs, Thwomps, Hot Feet, Dry Bones

Dark Land[1][2] (also known as Koopa Kingdom in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3)[3] is Bowser's kingdom and his army's main base of operations in Super Mario Bros. 3. A stark contrast to the rest of the Mushroom World, Dark Land is a wasteland-inspired area untouched by sunlight, filled with skulls and flames.

History[edit]

Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

Dark Land
First area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Second area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Third area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3Fourth and final area of Dark Land, from Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Map in Super Mario Advance 4
Game Super Mario Bros. 3
Level(s) 11
<< List of worlds >>

Dark Land (alternatively Castle of Koopa[4] or Bowser's Castle[5]) first appears as the eighth and final world in Super Mario Bros. 3 and its remake Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, reached after clearing Pipe Land. Large numbers of tanks and airships patrol these lands, which most levels take place on, with only two standard Action Scenes in the entire world. Additionally, one of the areas in the map is so dark that it appears to be completely black, except for a circle of light around Mario or Luigi. World 8 is shown to be south of World 6 and to the north of World 5 in Super Mario Advance 4. This is the only world in the game that does not have any Toad Houses, Hammer Brothers patrolling the map, or Spade Panels in it. It is also the second world to feature completely separate overworld screens, after World 5.

It is possible for the player to enter Dark Land via Warp Zone (notably, both Magic Whistles from Grass Land can be used to reach Dark Land without restoring any of the kings). In Super Mario Advance 4, as soon as the player warps to World 8, they receive the letter from Bowser that they would have received after clearing World 7; this does not occur in the original game.

According to Lemmy, the kingdom's activity was top secret even to the Koopalings, as he claims Bowser was exclusively in charge.[6] This mention is not present in international translations of the manual.

Dark Land features the following levels:

Image Name Description

SMB3 SNES Tank Screenshot.png World 8-Tank One of the tank levels and the first level of Dark Land, this is an autoscrolling level with many cannons that fire cannonballs and Bob-ombs.
SMAS SMB3 World 8-B Screenshot.png World 8-Ship Another autoscrolling level with many cannons, this time on ships over water.
Hand Trap level World 8-Hand Trap A group of three levels that contain many traps. The first features Hammer Bros and their variants, the second features Podoboos, and the third features Cheep Cheeps.
SMAS SMB3 World 8-A Screenshot.png World 8-Jet Another autoscrolling level, though this one moves quicker, has small platforms, and takes place in the air.
SMAS SMB3 World 8-1 Screenshot.png World 8-1 The first of two standard levels in Dark World, this level has many Turtle Cannons and pipe platforms.
SMAS SMB3 World 8-2 Screenshot.png World 8-2 The second of two standard levels in Dark World, this level reintroduces the Angry Sun from Desert Land.
SMAS SMB3 World 8-F Screenshot.png World 8-Fortress The fortress level which is made up of a maze of doors and traps.
SMAS SMB3 World 8-ST Screenshot.png World 8-Tank Another autoscrolling tank level with many cannons and enemies.
The final battle between Mario and Bowser, in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 3. World 8-Bowser's Castle The final level of the game and is where King Koopa is keeping Princess Toadstool captive.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

Dark Land
Dark Land in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
“QUIET! You wanna wake the dead? You don't want Koopa to find out we're in his kingdom, do ya?”
Mario, "Do the Koopa"

Dark Land appears in quite a few episodes of The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, where it is depicted as a gloomy wasteland and the home of King Koopa and the Koopalings. Lava-filled caverns are shown to be beneath the surface of Dark Land in a few episodes as well. However, most of what goes on within Dark Land happens either near or inside Kastle Koopa.

The episodes with this world shown as the title card are "Never Koop a Koopa" (with Grass Land's music), "Do the Koopa", "Crimes R Us", "Recycled Koopa" and "Super Koopa".

Not counting episodes in which all the Dark Land scenes were restricted to events within the perimeters of Kastle Koopa, Dark Land appears in the following episodes:

  • Reptiles in the Rose Garden: In order to give Kootie Pie rulership of the United States of America as a birthday present, Bowser transports the White House, along with everyone inside, to Dark Land. Bowser later sinks the White House to the bottom of the Mushroom Sea. However, Mario managed to raise the White House to the surface, and with Luigi's help, was able to return the building to its proper spot to Washington, D.C.
  • Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario: Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad travel through Dark Land via a Steam Cloud Balloon to recover Prince Mushroomkhamen's stolen sarcophagus, only for it to get flung into a tower of Kastle Koopa by a Mushroom Kingdom twister. Luigi then uses the remnants of the Steam Cloud Balloon to construct a steam powered mummy sled, which he, Princess Toadstool and Toad use to escape from Kastle Koopa, and subsequently, Dark Land.
  • Princess Toadstool for President: After discovering that Bowser in ahead in the polls for leadership over the Mushroom Kingdom only by using a Nice Guy Potion, Mario and Luigi travel to Dark Land in order stop Kooky and Cheatsy from making another dose before the election. Upon arriving in Dark Land, Mario and Luigi are pursued by Rocky Wrenches in tanks, which chase them through a pipe into a lava-filled cavern. From that point, Mario and Luigi then have to deal with Fire Chomps, Hot Foots and a Fire Snake before making it to Kastle Koopa.
  • Never Koop a Koopa: When Bowser announces that he is giving up his evil ways, he donates Kastle Koopa to Princess Toadstool. Deciding she wants to turn Kastle Koopa into a retirement home for elderly Mushrooms, Princess Toadstool travels to Dark Land with Mario to check the place out. However, Luigi is wary of the whole thing. He and Toad travel to Dark Land after Mario and Princess Toadstool, where they wait in a boat on the Mushroom Sea for their friends to return from Kastle Koopa. When Mario and Princess Toadstool fail to come out after waiting for a long time, Luigi drags Toad into the Mushroom Sea, and both enter Kastle Koopa via a drainpipe. Discovering that the whole ordeal turned out to be a trap, the group of four reunite and later escape from Kastle Koopa after obtaining Raccoon Power.
  • Do the Koopa: Princess Toadstool discovers a map leading to the Doom Dancer Music Box, which is hidden in the underground Temple of Gloom. Mario, Luigi and Toad accompany Princess Toadstool to Dark Land, but they are immediately spotted by a Dry Bones, who heads to Kastle Koopa to warn Bowser of their arrival. As Bowser is sick, he orders Bully, Big Mouth, and Cheatsy to follow the Dry Bones, who leads them to where the heroes are traveling. Mario's group brave the cavern's many traps and ultimately make it to the Temple of Gloom, where they succeed in obtaining the Doom Dancer. However, a trap set up by Bully causes Mario to lose the Doom Dancer, which winds up in Bully's hands. Bully then brings uses the Doom Dancer's power to bring everyone back to Kastle Koopa, where Bowser, who is unable to hear well due to his cold, takes the Doom Dancer from Bully. Bowser then uses the Doom Dancer to force everyone in the Mushroom World to dance forever, but the Mario Bros. foil his plan.
  • Recycled Koopa: The Koopas are ordered to dump all their garbage, and the place they do so is in Princess Toadstool's Castle. Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad manage to steal one of the Koopa Kids' wands to remove all the garbage and send it back where it came from. The heroes believe the Koopas will try again and spy on them with Luigi's Plumber's Periscope, and see the Koopalings dumping garbage down another pipe leading to the Real World.
  • The Venice Menace: Although Dark Land is unseen in this episode, Bowser's intention is to scare all the humans out of Venice so that he can warp the entire city to Dark Land and turn it into a water park for Kootie Pie.

Nintendo Adventure Books[edit]

Dark Land is the setting of the fourth Nintendo Adventure Book, Koopa Capers, where Bowser has a magic carpet bring Luigi to the kingdom to help (whether he wants to or not) in the search for Wendy O. Koopa after the Koopaling disappears. The two main areas of the region that can be explored in the book are a gloomy and trap-filled fortress, and a highly volcanic area known as the Magma Pits.

In the proceeding book, Pipe Down!, Dark Land (though here referred to as Dark World) is mentioned once by Ludwig von Koopa, who states that he intends to take his new ballet, Dribbling Beauty, on a seven-year tour of the kingdom.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

Dark Land as seen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Dark Lands in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, after Mario and Luigi are accidentally separated from each other in the Warp Zone after traveling through the mysterious pipe, Luigi ends up in the Dark Lands,[7] also formatted as Darklands,[8][9] where he briefly searches for Mario before being chased by many Dry Bones. Luigi enters a castle that is surrounded by a lava moat and appears abandoned at first, but he is captured by two Shy Guys and a Snifit, who bring him to Bowser in the Shy Guy balloon. The Dark Lands are portrayed as a dark and dreary forest with lakes of lava, infested with bats and hostile Dry Bones. According to Toad, the area is under the control of Bowser.

Gallery[edit]

Media[edit]

Soundx.png It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specific(s): Dark Land portion of "King Bowser" from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Please upload all related music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for information on how to get started.
Icon of an audio speaker. Dark Land - BGM
File infoMedia:World 8 Theme Super Mario Bros 3.oga
0:30
Icon of an audio speaker. Castle of Koopa - BGM (Super Mario All-Stars version)
File infoMedia:SMAS SMB3 World 8 Map.oga
0:20
Icon of an audio speaker. Dodging Danger - Used in Skateboard Scamper and Piranha's Pursuit from Mario Party, which is an arrangement of "Dark Land" from Super Mario Bros. 3.
File infoMedia:MP Dodging Danger.oga
0:30
Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser Castle - Used in Bowser Castle from Mario Kart DS, which is an arrangement of "Dark Land" from Super Mario Bros. 3.
File infoMedia:MKDS-Music-BowserCastle.oga
Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser Battle - Used in the battle against Bowser from Super Paper Mario, which is an arrangement of "Dark Land" from Super Mario Bros. 3.
File infoMedia:SPM Bowser Battle.oga
Icon of an audio speaker. Dodging Danger - A rearrangement of the theme used in Piranha's Pursuit from Mario Party Superstars, arranging the "Dark Land" theme from Super Mario Bros. 3.
File infoMedia:MPS Dodging Danger.oga
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

Names in other languages[edit]

Dark Land[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ワールド8 暗黒あんこくくに[6][11]
Wārudo 8 Ankoku no Kuni
World 8: Dark Land (alternatively "Castle of Kuppa"[10] in-game)
Chinese (simplified) 黑暗大陆[12]
Hēiàn Dàlù
Dark Land
French Château de Bowser[?] Bowser's castle
Pays-noir[?] Dark-land The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet
German Dunkelland[?] Dark-Land
Hungarian Sötétföld[13] Dark Land The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Italian Mondo dell'Oscurità[14] Darkness World Super Mario Bros. 3
Terra Oscura[15] Dark Land The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Castello di Bowser[16] Bowser's Castle Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
La terra oscura[17] The dark land Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia
Portuguese (NOA) Terra das Trevas[18] Land of the Darkness
Romanian Tărâmul întunecat[19] Dark land The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, episodes "Princess Toadstool for President" and "Recycled Koopa"
Regatul Koopa[20] Koopa kingdom The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, episode "Up, Up, and a Koopa"
Russian Даркленд[21]
Darklend
Dark Land
Spanish (NOA) Reino de las Sombras[22] Kingdom of Shadows The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Spanish (NOE) Castillo de Bowser[?] Bowser's Castle
Reino de las Sombras[23] Kingdom of Shadows The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, re-dub
Tierra Tenebrosa[24] Dark Land The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, original dub
Swedish Mörklandet[25] Dark Land

Dark Lands[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ダークランド[26]
Dāku Rando
Dark Land
Catalan Regne de les Ombres (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)[?] Kingdom of Shadows
Chinese (simplified) 暗黑之国[?]
Ànhēi Zhīguó
Dark Country
Chinese (traditional) 暗黑之國[?]
Ànhēi Zhīguó
Dark Country
Italian Terra Oscura[27] Dark Land The Super Mario Bros. Movie's books
Terre Oscure[28] Dark Lands The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Polish Mroczna Kraina[?] Dark Land
Portuguese (NOA) Reino das Sombras[?] Kingdom of Shadows
Romanian Ținuturile întunecate[?] The dark lands
Russian Темные земли[?]
Temnyye zemli
Dark lands
Spanish (NOA) Tierras Oscuras[?] Dark Lands
Spanish (NOE) Reino de las Sombras[29] Kingdom of Shadows

Trivia[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1990. Super Mario Bros. 3 instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 34.
  2. ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 North American re-release and European ending.
  3. ^ "We're levitating the Doomship, back to Koopa Kingdom!" – Mario. "Up, Up, and a Koopa", The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.
  4. ^ Super Mario Bros. 3 North American original and Super Mario All-Stars International ending.
  5. ^ Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 International ending.
  6. ^ a b 1988. スーパーマリオブラザーズ3 (Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Surī) instruction booklet. Nintendo (Japanese). Page 34.
  7. ^ Monopoly The Super Mario Bros. Movie Edition boardMedia:TSMBM Monopoly Board.jpg
  8. ^ Track title "The Darklands" from The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
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