Bowser's Brother: Difference between revisions

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{{rename|Bowser's Brother}}
{{rename|Bowser's Brother}}
{{about|the blue-colored Bowser, who appears in the [[Family Computer Disk System]] version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''|the Bowser's minions transformed into fake versions of him and of Bowser|[[Fake Bowser]]}}
{{another language}}
{{character-infobox
{{character-infobox
|image=[[File:SMBTLL Blue Bowser.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of '''Blue Bowser''' from ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.
|image=[[File:SMBTLL Blue Bowser.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of '''Blue Bowser''' from ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.
|species=[[Koopa (species)#Bowser's species|Bowser's species]]
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' ([[List of games by date#1986|1986]])
|first_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' ([[List of games by date#1986|1986]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#1999|1999]])
|latest_appearance=''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#1999|1999]])
|species=[[Koopa (species)#Bowser's species|Bowser's species]]
}}
}}
'''Blue Bowser''' (direct translation from the Japanese 「クッパアオ」/ 「青クッパ」) is a [[Koopa (species)#Bowser's species|member of Bowser's species]] who looks very similar to [[Bowser]], except for the brown and blue color of his skin and shell. He appears in the [[Family Computer Disk System]] version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' and its remakes. While considered to be [[Bowser]]'s younger brother before the release of ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'',<ref name="SMCE"/><ref name="CSMGE"/><ref name="SMBD"/> after his recoloring in that game making him indistinguishable from Bowser, the depiction of his identity changed over time, being first considered like a [[Fake Bowser]],<ref name="PEGMCE"/><ref name="Smash"/><ref name="SMP"/> then a blue-bodied Bowser whose identity is unknown.<ref name="ESMBmore"/>
'''Blue Bowser''', also known as '''[[Bowser]]'s Brother'''<ref name=PG>{{media link|Bowser's brother mentioned in All-Stars Player's Guide.jpg|Page 62 of the ''Super Mario All-Stars'' Player's Guide}} is titled ''Bowser's Brother'' and states "You're in for a surprise. Bowser's got a twin."</ref>, is the apparent twin of [[Bowser]] that appears in ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. His [[#Identity|identity]] varies in supplemental material.


==History==
==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros.''====
====''Super Mario Bros.''====
Even though Blue Bowser does not appear in the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the palette used for castle sections before the final boss battle causes [[List of Super Mario Bros. glitches#Blue_Bowser_Glitch|a glitch]] in which [[Bowser]] has the same colors of Blue Bowser.
Even though Blue Bowser does not properly appear in the original ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', the palette used for castle sections before the final boss battle causes [[List of Super Mario Bros. glitches#Blue Bowser Glitch|a glitch]] in which [[Bowser]] has the same colors of Blue Bowser. This is due to color of Bowser's skin and shell being obtained through a palette swap commonly used in castle sections of the game, except for the parts in which the boss is fought. Because of this, standing near the end of a castle in a way so that Bowser is barely seen on the right-hand side of the screen causes him to appear blue, but he will revert back to his correct colors if Mario or Luigi advances any further. The same glitch can be duplicated in ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.


====''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels''====
====''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels''====
[[File:SMBTLL Mario 8 4 Blue Bowser.png|thumb|256px|left|[[Fire Mario]] facing Blue Bowser in [[World 8 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 8-4]] of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.]]
[[File:SMBTLL Mario 8 4 Blue Bowser.png|thumb|256px|left|[[Fire Mario]] facing Blue Bowser in ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.]]
Blue Bowser makes his first appearance as a distinct character from Bowser in the [[Family Computer Disk System]] version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. There, he appears in World 8-4 and, according to the ''[[Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]'', World 9-3. He tries to stop [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] both by throwing hammers at them and by breathing fire.
Blue Bowser makes his first appearance in the [[Family Computer Disk System]] version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. There, he appears in [[World 8-4 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 8-4]] and, according to ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]'', [[World 9-3 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 9-3]].<ref name=ESMBmore>Page 30 of ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]'' states 「謎の青いクッパ! W8-4でクツパと対決する直前、体の青いクッパと戦うことになる。クッパと同等の能力を持つが、その正体は不明。W9-3とWD-4にも登場する。」, which translates to ''Mysterious Blue Bowser! In W8-4 just before confronting Bowser, a blue-bodied Bowser must be fought. He has the same abilities as Bowser, but his true identity is unknown. He also appears in W9-3 and WD-4.''</ref> He tries to stop [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] both by throwing [[hammer]]s at them and by [[Fire Breath|breathing fire]].


While distinguished from [[Bowser]] through the color of his skin and shell, when defeated with fireballs he does not turn into one of Bowser's minions, revealing his actual identity as a [[Koopa (species)#Bowser's species|member of Bowser's species]], distinct from that of the [[Fake Bowser]]s.<ref>NitnendoComplete (September 1, 2013). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-U1ggYRKw Super Mario Bros. 2 (The Lost Levels) Famicom Playthrough - NintendoComplete]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved March 24, 2017. Blue Bowser is defeated with fireballs both in the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-U1ggYRKw?t=2813 fight on World 8-4] and in the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-U1ggYRKw?t=3291 fight in World 9-3].</ref> On World D-4, a fake version of him appears that only breathes fire and, when defeated with fireballs, is revealed to be a [[Spiny]].<ref>World of Longplays (November 17, 2010). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apu4ML9Wto?t=5792 NES Longplay <nowiki>[</nowiki>070<nowiki>]</nowiki> Super Mario Bros. 2 (Japan)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved March 24, 2017.</ref>
While distinguished from [[Bowser]] through the color of his skin and shell, when defeated with [[fireball]]s he does not turn into one of Bowser's minions, revealing him to be distinct from the previous [[fake Bowser]]s. In [[World D-4]], a fake version of him appears that only breathes fire and, when defeated with fireballs, is revealed to be a [[Spiny]].


[[File:SMAS SMBTLL Blue Bowser.png|thumb|256px|Fire Mario facing the recolored Blue Bowser in [[World 8 (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels)|World 8-4]] of the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.]]
[[File:SMAS SMBTLL Blue Bowser.png|thumb|256px|Fire Mario facing the recolored Blue Bowser in the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''.]] In the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version, Blue Bowser is recolored to look identical to Bowser and also appears in D-4 in place of the fake version of him.
The color of his skin and shell are actually obtained through a palette swap commonly used in castle sections of the game, except for the parts in which the boss is fought. Because of this, standing near the end of a castle in a way so that Bowser is barely seen on the right-hand side of the screen causes him to appear blue, but he will revert back to his correct colors if Mario or Luigi advances any further. In the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' version of the game, on the other hand, Blue Bowser is recolored to look identical to Bowser and also appears in D-4 in place of the fake version of him.<ref>MasterOfHyrule (June 2, 2013). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQWywR3Oce8 Unmasking The Fake Bowsers in Super Mario Bros 2 / The Lost Levels (Super Mario All Stars on SNES)]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved March 24, 2017.</ref><ref name="PEGMCE">{{media link|PEGMCE page 65.png|Page 65 of the ''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten'' (「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」, ''Perfect Edition of the Great Mario Character Encyclopedia'')}}. The text states ''A fake Bowser appears in the Famicom version of Super Mario. Since his color is blue, you can tell at a glance that he's a fake, but unfortunately in Mario All-Stars he became the same green.'' while the two captions state ''Obviously fake blue Bowser.'' and ''He can't be distinguished from the real thing.''</ref><ref name="PG">{{media link|Bowser's brother mentioned in All-Stars Player's Guide.jpg|Page 62 of the ''Super Mario All-Stars'' Player's Guide}} is titled ''Bowser's Brother'' and states "You're in for a surprise. Bowser's got a twin."</ref> Nonetheless, more recent sources rather stress Blue Bowser's body being blue as the main feature of the character, without mentioning him possibly having other coloring.<ref name=Smash>"''A Bowser Impostor?! In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario fights a blue fake Bowser before the real thing. That blue fake is his eighth color in this game!''" - ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' Tips. The Japanese version is 「にせクッパ!? 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ2』には、青いクッパが登場する。倒すとその先にいつもの緑のクッパがいる。『スマブラ』では8Pカラーで青いクッパになる。」, explicitly using the term 「にせクッパ」 used for [[Fake Bowser]]s.</ref><ref name="SMP">{{media link|SMP Blue Bowser.png|The bio of Blue Bowser in the ''Super Mario Pia''}}, Blue Bowser is referred to as ''Fake Bowser'' (「ニセクッパ」) while still stressing his body being blue.</ref><ref name="ESMBdesc">{{media link|ESMB page 27.png|Page 27}} of the ''[[Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]''.</ref><ref name="ESMBmore">Page 30 of the ''[[Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]'' states 「謎の青いクッパ! W8-4でクツパと対決する直前、体の青いクッパと戦うことになる。クッパと同等の能力を持つが、その正体は不明。W9-3とWD-4にも登場する。」, which translates to ''Mysterious Blue Bowser! In W8-4 just before confronting Bowser, a blue-bodied Bowser must be fought. He has the same abilities as Bowser, but his true identity is unknown. He also appears in W9-3 and WD-4.''.</ref>
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}
====''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''====
====''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''====
[[File:SMBDX Blue Bowser.png|thumb|160px|left|Fire [[Luigi]] facing Blue Bowser in ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''.]]
[[File:SMBDX Blue Bowser.png|thumb|160px|left|Fire [[Luigi]] facing Blue Bowser in ''Super Mario Bros. Deluxe''.]]
Blue Bowser returns in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]''. Here, he appears in World 8-4 of the game's ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' (referred to in this game as "''Super Mario Bros. For Super Players''") port, having the same role and appearance as that game.
Blue Bowser returns in ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]''. Here, he appears in the game's port of ''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels'' (referred to in this game as "''Super Mario Bros. For Super Players''"), having the same role and appearance as the original game.
{{br}}
{{br}}
===''Mario Tennis'' (Nintendo 64)===
===''Mario Tennis'' (Nintendo 64)===
[[File:Bowser Colors.png|thumb|150px|The second color of [[Bowser]] in ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]''.]]
[[File:Bowser Colors.png|thumb|150px|The second color of [[Bowser]] in ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]''.]]
Blue Bowser doesn't actually appear in ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]'', but one of Bowser's palette swaps features blue skin and a blue-colored shell similar to Blue Bowser's, but more saturated.
Blue Bowser doesn't actually appear in ''[[Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)|Mario Tennis]]'', but one of [[Bowser]]'s palette swaps features blue skin and a blue-colored shell similar to Blue Bowser's, but more saturated.
{{br}}
{{br}}
===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
[[File:Bowser SSB4 Artwork - Blue.jpg|thumb|150px|The eighth recolor of [[Bowser]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''.]]
[[File:Bowser SSB4 Artwork - Blue.jpg|thumb|150px|The eighth recolor of [[Bowser]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''.]]
While ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' does not actually feature Blue Bowser, the eighth recolor of Bowser is said to be inspired by him.<ref name=Smash/> This alternate coloration returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.
While ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' does not actually feature Blue Bowser, the eighth recolor of [[Bowser]] is said to be inspired by him. This alternate coloration returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.
{{br}}
{{br}}
 
==Identity==
==Family relationship==
Initially mentioned as just another [[Bowser]] in the Japanese guides of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'',<ref>{{media link|FCCVD 7 page 50.png|Page 50 of the ''Family Computer Hisshō Dōjō ⑦ Super Mario Brothers 2'' (「ファミリーコンピュータ必勝道場⑦スーパーマリオブラザーズ2」, ''Family Computer Certain Victory Dojo ⑦ Super Mario Bros. 2'')}} refers to Blue Bowser as 「1匹めのクッパ」, the first Bowser, also noting that he isn't the real Bowser (「こいつ真のクッパではない。」).</ref><ref>{{media link|FCCVD 11 page 62.png|Page 62 of the ''Family Computer Hisshō Dōjō ⑪ Super Mario Brothers 1 & 2 Kami Waza Taizenshū'' (「ファミリーコンピュータ必勝道場⑪スーパーマリオブラザーズ1&2神わざ大全集」, ''Family Computer Certain Victory Dojo ⑪ Super Mario Bros. 1 & 2 Great Complete Work on Miracles/Glitches'')}} states 「1匹めのクッパはむりして倒さなくていいよ!そのうちの1匹めは,青いクッパなんだけど」 which translates to ''It's ok if you try hard but don't defeat the first Bowser. In worlds 8-4 and D-4, Bowser appears twice. The first of those is Blue Bowser''.</ref> without specifying what was his relationship to Bowser besides not being his twin,<ref>{{media link|SMB2GCWST pages 88 89.png|Page 89 of the ''Super Mario Brothers 2 < Urawaza Taizenshū >'' (「スーパマリオブラザーズ2<裏ワザ大全集>」, ''Super Mario Bros. 2 Great Complete Work on Secret Tricks'')}} has this paragraph: 「おお一つと!またグッバがいた。ということは、大魔王クッパはふたごだったのか、なんちゃって。アホ。」 . It translates to ''Oh! Bowser is here again. That is to say, the Great Demon King Bowser is actually a TWIN, not! Idiot.'' The author is mocking the reader because he believed that Bowser is a twin.</ref> in the character books of the '90s released before the release of ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' Blue Bowser was described as being Bowser's younger brother,<ref name=SMCE>{{media link|SMCE pages 144 145.png|Page 144}} of the ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'' (「スーパーマリオ<span class=explain title=オールひゃっか>全百科</span>」, ''Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia''). Blue Bowser is referred to as 「クッパブラザーズの弟」, ''the younger of the Bowser brothers''. The page also states that 「クッパの弟だ」, ''He's Bowser's younger brother''.</ref><ref>{{media link|CSMGE page 155.png|Page 155 of the ''Zen Super Mario Ōhyakka'' (「全スーパーマリオ大百科」, ''Complete Super Mario Great Encyclopedia'')}} calls Blue Bowser 「クッパ兄弟の1匹目はよけろ!」, ''The first of the Bowser brothers!''.</ref><ref>On {{media link|SMBD page 36.png|page 36 of the ''Super Mario Bros. Daizukan''}} [[Dr. Mario]] states 「『マリオ2』ではクッパの弟が影武者だったクッパとおなじ力をもった強敵だったぞ!」 which translates to ''In "Mario 2", Bowser's little brother was a strong enemy who had the same strength as Bowser's body doubles.''</ref> with the ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'', a book written in collaboration with [[Nintendo]], putting him as part of the 「王族」 (''Ō-zoku'', literally "King Tribe") and thus a leader of the [[Koopa Troop]] and member of Bowser's royal family, along with the [[Koopalings]] and Bowser himself.<ref name=SMCE/><ref>On {{media link|SMCE pages 88 89.png|page 89 of the ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'' (''Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia'')}} the 「王族」term, meaning ''King Tribe'', is described as 「クッパ軍団を統率する王家の面々。クッパ、コクッパがこれにあたる。」, which translates to ''Every member of the royal family that leads the Bowser army corps. Bowser and the Koopalings apply here.''</ref> Due to his recoloring from blue in ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'', he was not considered a distinct character from [[fake Bowser]]s in the Japanese official guide book.<ref>On {{media link|SMC NOG page 92.png|page 92 of the ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super Mario Collection''}}, Blue Bowser is referred to as 「にせクッパ」, the Japanese name of a [[fake Bowser]].</ref> However, he was stated to be Bowser's brother in the [[Nintendo Power]] guide for ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''.<ref name=PG/> After the release of ''Super Mario All-Stars'' and his recoloring to look identical to Bowser, he started being considered a fake Bowser.<ref>{{media link|PEGMCE page 65.png|Page 65 of the ''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten'' (「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」, ''Perfect Edition of the Great Mario Character Encyclopedia'')}}. The text states ''A fake Bowser appears in the Famicom version of Super Mario. Since his color is blue, you can tell at a glance that he's a fake, but unfortunately in Mario All-Stars he became the same green.'' while the two captions state ''Obviously fake blue Bowser.'' and ''He can't be distinguished from the real thing.''</ref> In ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', the English text suggests this depiction<ref>"''A Bowser Impostor?! In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario fights a blue fake Bowser before the real thing. That blue fake is his eighth color in this game!''" - ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' Tips.</ref> while the Japanese version leaves the nature of Blue Bowser ambiguous.<ref>「にせクッパ!? 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ2』には、青いクッパが登場する。倒すとその先にいつもの緑のクッパがいる。『スマブラ』では8Pカラーで青いクッパになる。」 (''Fake Bowser!? In Super Mario Bros. 2, a blue Bowser appears. Defeat him and beyond is the usual green Bowser. In Smash Bros., the 8P color is the blue-colored Bowser.'') - ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' Tips.</ref> The ''Super Mario Pia'', a memorial book also written in collaboration with Nintendo, supports the interpretation that Blue Bowser is a particular fake Bowser.<ref name=SMP>{{media link|SMP Blue Bowser.png|The bio of Blue Bowser in the ''Super Mario Pia''}}, Blue Bowser is referred to as ''Fake Bowser'' (「ニセクッパ」) while still stressing his body being blue.</ref> ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]'', which was released around the same time, distinguishes him from fake Bowsers<ref name=ESMBdesc>{{media link|ESMB page 27.png|Page 27}} of ''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]''</ref> but states that his identity is unknown.<ref name=ESMBmore/>
Initially mentioned as just another Bowser in the Japanese guides of ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'',<ref>{{media link|FCCVD 7 page 50.png|Page 50 of the ''Family Computer Hisshō Dōjō ⑦ Super Mario Brothers 2'' (「ファミリーコンピュータ必勝道場⑦スーパーマリオブラザーズ2」, ''Family Computer Certain Victory Dojo ⑦ Super Mario Bros. 2'')}} refers to Blue Bowser as 「1匹めのクッパ」, the first Bowser, also noting that he isn't the real Bowser (「こいつ真のクッパではない。」).</ref><ref>{{media link|FCCVD 11 page 62.png|Page 62 of the ''Family Computer Hisshō Dōjō ⑪ Super Mario Brothers 1 & 2 Kami Waza Taizenshū'' (「ファミリーコンピュータ必勝道場⑪スーパーマリオブラザーズ1&2神わざ大全集」, ''Family Computer Certain Victory Dojo ⑪ Super Mario Bros. 1 & 2 Great Complete Work on Miracles/Glitches'')}} states 「1匹めのクッパはむりして倒さなくていいよ!そのうちの1匹めは,青いクッパなんだけど」 which translates to ''It's ok if you try hard but don't defeat the first Bowser. In worlds 8-4 and D-4, Bowser appears twice. The first of those is Blue Bowser''.</ref> without specifying what was his relationship to [[Bowser]] besides not being his twin,<ref>{{media link|SMB2GCWST pages 88 89.png|Page 89 of the ''Super Mario Brothers 2 < Urawaza Taizenshū >'' (「スーパマリオブラザーズ2<裏ワザ大全集>」, ''Super Mario Bros. 2 Great Complete Work on Secret Tricks'')}} has this paragraph: 「おお一つと!またグッバがいた。ということは、大魔王クッパはふたごだったのか、なんちゃって。アホ。」 . It translates to ''Oh! Bowser is here again. That is to say, the Great Demon King Bowser is actually a TWIN, not! Idiot.'' The author is mocking the reader because he believed that Bowser is a twin.</ref> in the character books of the '90s released before the release of ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' Blue Bowser was described as being Bowser's younger brother,<ref name="SMCE">{{media link|SMCE pages 144 145.png|Page 144}} of the ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'' (「スーパーマリオ<span class=explain title="オールひゃっか">全百科</span>」, ''Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia''). Blue Bowser is referred to as 「クッパブラザーズの弟」, ''the younger of the Bowser brothers''. The page also states that 「クッパの弟だ」, ''He's Bowser's younger brother''.</ref><ref name="CSMGE">{{media link|CSMGE page 155.png|Page 155 of the ''Zen Super Mario Ōhyakka'' (「全スーパーマリオ大百科」, ''Complete Super Mario Great Encyclopedia'')}} calls Blue Bowser 「クッパ兄弟の1匹目はよけろ!」, ''The first of the Bowser brothers!''.</ref><ref name="SMBD">On {{media link|SMBD page 36.png|page 36 of the ''Super Mario Bros. Daizukan''}} [[Dr. Mario]] states 「『マリオ2』ではクッパの弟が影武者だったクッパとおなじ力をもった強敵だったぞ!」 which translates to ''In "Mario 2", Bowser's little brother was a strong enemy who had the same strength as Bowser's body doubles.''.</ref> with the ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'' (''Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia''), a book written in collaboration with Nintendo, putting him as part of the ''King Tribe'' (「王族」) and thus a leader of the Koopa Troop and member of Bowser's royal family, along with the [[Koopalings]] and Bowser himself.<ref name="SMCE"/><ref>On {{media link|SMCE pages 88 89.png|page 89 of the ''Super Mario Zen Hyakka'' (''Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia'')}} the 「王族」term, meaning ''King Tribe'', is described as 「クッパ軍団を統率する王家の面々。クッパ、コクッパがこれにあたる。」, which translates to ''Every member of the royal family that leads the Bowser army corps. Bowser and the Koopalings apply here.''</ref> He was also stated to be Bowser's brother in the ''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]'' Player's Guide,<ref name="PG"/> which marked the only time that concept was referenced in the English language. However, after the release of ''Super Mario All-Stars'' and his recoloring to look identical to Bowser, he started being considered akin to a [[Fake Bowser]].<ref name="PEGMCE"/> This depiction is confirmed as well in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''<ref name="Smash"/> and even in the ''Super Mario Pia'', a memorial book written in collaboration with Nintendo and released in 2015.<ref name="SMP"/> Importantly, due to his recoloring in ''Super Mario All-Stars'' and his new status as Fake Bowser, no Japanese ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' ever considered him a distinct character from the latters<ref>On {{media link|SMC NOG page 92.png|page 92 of the ''Nintendo Official Guidebook'' of ''Super mario Collection''}}, Blue Bowser is referred to as 「にせクッパ」, the Japanese name of [[Fake Bowser]].</ref> until the release of the ''[[Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.]]''. There, he is clearly distinguished from Fake Bowsers,<ref name="ESMBdesc"/> but his identity is stated to be unknown, leaving his current relationship with Bowser unexplained.<ref name="ESMBmore"/>


==Profiles and statistics==
==Profiles and statistics==
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*"''A Bowser Impostor?! In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario fights a blue fake Bowser before the real thing. That blue fake is his eighth color in this game!''"
*"''A Bowser Impostor?! In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario fights a blue fake Bowser before the real thing. That blue fake is his eighth color in this game!''"


==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=クッパ·アオ<ref name=SMCE/><br>''Kuppa Ao''<br>ニセクッパ<ref name=SMP/><br>''Nise Kuppa''<br>クッパ(青)<ref name=ESMBdesc/><br>''Kuppa (Ao)''
|JapM=Blue Bowser<br><br>Fake Bowser<br><br>Bowser (Blue)
}}
==References==
==References==
<references />
<references/>
 
{{Koopa}}
{{Koopa}}
{{Koopas}}
{{Koopas}}

Revision as of 06:52, November 27, 2018

Template:Rename

The title of this article is official, but it comes from a non-English source. If an acceptable English source is found, then the article should be moved to its appropriate title.

Template:Character-infobox Blue Bowser, also known as Bowser's Brother[1], is the apparent twin of Bowser that appears in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. His identity varies in supplemental material.

History

Super Mario series

Super Mario Bros.

Even though Blue Bowser does not properly appear in the original Super Mario Bros., the palette used for castle sections before the final boss battle causes a glitch in which Bowser has the same colors of Blue Bowser. This is due to color of Bowser's skin and shell being obtained through a palette swap commonly used in castle sections of the game, except for the parts in which the boss is fought. Because of this, standing near the end of a castle in a way so that Bowser is barely seen on the right-hand side of the screen causes him to appear blue, but he will revert back to his correct colors if Mario or Luigi advances any further. The same glitch can be duplicated in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

Blue Bowser makes his first appearance in the Family Computer Disk System version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. There, he appears in World 8-4 and, according to Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros., World 9-3.[2] He tries to stop Mario or Luigi both by throwing hammers at them and by breathing fire.

While distinguished from Bowser through the color of his skin and shell, when defeated with fireballs he does not turn into one of Bowser's minions, revealing him to be distinct from the previous fake Bowsers. In World D-4, a fake version of him appears that only breathes fire and, when defeated with fireballs, is revealed to be a Spiny.

Mario facing Bowser's Brother in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
Fire Mario facing the recolored Blue Bowser in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

In the Super Mario All-Stars version, Blue Bowser is recolored to look identical to Bowser and also appears in D-4 in place of the fake version of him.

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

Luigi facing Bowser's Brother in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe.
Fire Luigi facing Blue Bowser in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe.

Blue Bowser returns in Super Mario Bros. Deluxe. Here, he appears in the game's port of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (referred to in this game as "Super Mario Bros. For Super Players"), having the same role and appearance as the original game.

Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)

Bowser and his alternate costume from Mario Tennis in the Tiebreaker mode.
The second color of Bowser in Mario Tennis.

Blue Bowser doesn't actually appear in Mario Tennis, but one of Bowser's palette swaps features blue skin and a blue-colored shell similar to Blue Bowser's, but more saturated.

Super Smash Bros. series

One of Bowser's several recolors artwork.
The eighth recolor of Bowser in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

While Super Smash Bros. for Wii U does not actually feature Blue Bowser, the eighth recolor of Bowser is said to be inspired by him. This alternate coloration returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Identity

Initially mentioned as just another Bowser in the Japanese guides of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels,[3][4] without specifying what was his relationship to Bowser besides not being his twin,[5] in the character books of the '90s released before the release of Super Mario All-Stars Blue Bowser was described as being Bowser's younger brother,[6][7][8] with the Super Mario Zen Hyakka, a book written in collaboration with Nintendo, putting him as part of the 「王族」 (Ō-zoku, literally "King Tribe") and thus a leader of the Koopa Troop and member of Bowser's royal family, along with the Koopalings and Bowser himself.[6][9] Due to his recoloring from blue in Super Mario All-Stars, he was not considered a distinct character from fake Bowsers in the Japanese official guide book.[10] However, he was stated to be Bowser's brother in the Nintendo Power guide for Super Mario All-Stars.[1] After the release of Super Mario All-Stars and his recoloring to look identical to Bowser, he started being considered a fake Bowser.[11] In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the English text suggests this depiction[12] while the Japanese version leaves the nature of Blue Bowser ambiguous.[13] The Super Mario Pia, a memorial book also written in collaboration with Nintendo, supports the interpretation that Blue Bowser is a particular fake Bowser.[14] Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros., which was released around the same time, distinguishes him from fake Bowsers[15] but states that his identity is unknown.[2]

Profiles and statistics

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tip

  • "A Bowser Impostor?! In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario fights a blue fake Bowser before the real thing. That blue fake is his eighth color in this game!"

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese クッパ·アオ[6]
Kuppa Ao
ニセクッパ[14]
Nise Kuppa
クッパ(青)[15]
Kuppa (Ao)
Blue Bowser

Fake Bowser

Bowser (Blue)

References

  1. ^ a b Template:Media link is titled Bowser's Brother and states "You're in for a surprise. Bowser's got a twin."
  2. ^ a b Page 30 of Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros. states 「謎の青いクッパ! W8-4でクツパと対決する直前、体の青いクッパと戦うことになる。クッパと同等の能力を持つが、その正体は不明。W9-3とWD-4にも登場する。」, which translates to Mysterious Blue Bowser! In W8-4 just before confronting Bowser, a blue-bodied Bowser must be fought. He has the same abilities as Bowser, but his true identity is unknown. He also appears in W9-3 and WD-4.
  3. ^ Template:Media link refers to Blue Bowser as 「1匹めのクッパ」, the first Bowser, also noting that he isn't the real Bowser (「こいつ真のクッパではない。」).
  4. ^ Template:Media link states 「1匹めのクッパはむりして倒さなくていいよ!そのうちの1匹めは,青いクッパなんだけど」 which translates to It's ok if you try hard but don't defeat the first Bowser. In worlds 8-4 and D-4, Bowser appears twice. The first of those is Blue Bowser.
  5. ^ Template:Media link has this paragraph: 「おお一つと!またグッバがいた。ということは、大魔王クッパはふたごだったのか、なんちゃって。アホ。」 . It translates to Oh! Bowser is here again. That is to say, the Great Demon King Bowser is actually a TWIN, not! Idiot. The author is mocking the reader because he believed that Bowser is a twin.
  6. ^ a b c Template:Media link of the Super Mario Zen Hyakka (「スーパーマリオ全百科」, Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia). Blue Bowser is referred to as 「クッパブラザーズの弟」, the younger of the Bowser brothers. The page also states that 「クッパの弟だ」, He's Bowser's younger brother.
  7. ^ Template:Media link calls Blue Bowser 「クッパ兄弟の1匹目はよけろ!」, The first of the Bowser brothers!.
  8. ^ On Template:Media link Dr. Mario states 「『マリオ2』ではクッパの弟が影武者だったクッパとおなじ力をもった強敵だったぞ!」 which translates to In "Mario 2", Bowser's little brother was a strong enemy who had the same strength as Bowser's body doubles.
  9. ^ On Template:Media link the 「王族」term, meaning King Tribe, is described as 「クッパ軍団を統率する王家の面々。クッパ、コクッパがこれにあたる。」, which translates to Every member of the royal family that leads the Bowser army corps. Bowser and the Koopalings apply here.
  10. ^ On Template:Media link, Blue Bowser is referred to as 「にせクッパ」, the Japanese name of a fake Bowser.
  11. ^ Template:Media link. The text states A fake Bowser appears in the Famicom version of Super Mario. Since his color is blue, you can tell at a glance that he's a fake, but unfortunately in Mario All-Stars he became the same green. while the two captions state Obviously fake blue Bowser. and He can't be distinguished from the real thing.
  12. ^ "A Bowser Impostor?! In Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Mario fights a blue fake Bowser before the real thing. That blue fake is his eighth color in this game!" - Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Tips.
  13. ^ 「にせクッパ!? 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ2』には、青いクッパが登場する。倒すとその先にいつもの緑のクッパがいる。『スマブラ』では8Pカラーで青いクッパになる。」 (Fake Bowser!? In Super Mario Bros. 2, a blue Bowser appears. Defeat him and beyond is the usual green Bowser. In Smash Bros., the 8P color is the blue-colored Bowser.) - Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Tips.
  14. ^ a b Template:Media link, Blue Bowser is referred to as Fake Bowser (「ニセクッパ」) while still stressing his body being blue.
  15. ^ a b Template:Media link of Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros.

Template:Koopa