Bouldergeist

Not to be confused with Smoldergeist or Poltergeist.

Bouldergeist
First appearance	Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
Latest appearance	Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)

“If that's all, then scram! Or I'll crunch and break you!”

—Bouldergeist, Super Mario Manga Mania, page 110

Bouldergeist is a boss in Super Mario Galaxy. Bouldergeist is essentially a huge column of rocks roughly shaped into a face, and its insides are made up of shadows. However, its true form is revealed when its rock armor has been destroyed, revealing a face with yellow eyes and a red tongue or uvula hanging from the bottom. Its eyes and body color are extremely similar to those of the Bomb Boos it spawns, though it is not indicated if they are actually related. In its rock form, it also has two enormous stone hands which are used in the second half of the battle. Bouldergeist's attacks include tossing rocks at Mario, summoning lines of stalagmites from the floor, and in the second half of the battle, slamming its hands on the ground and punching at Mario. It is fought in a plain circular arena. Its name is a portmanteau of "boulder" and "poltergeist." It is the boss of the Ghostly Galaxy. Bouldergeist returns in Super Mario Galaxy 2 as the fourth out of five Super Mario Galaxy bosses encountered in the Boss Blitz Galaxy, using the same tactics as in the first game. Boldergeist shares its battle music with Kingfin.

In the Twisted Mansion course of Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the arch leading to the underwater section of the course bears Bouldergeist's likeness.

Battle

Bouldergeist raising boulders into the air preparing to attack Mario.

This battle practices Mario's use of the Bomb Boo. To get Bomb Boos, Mario must dodge the black rocks that the Bouldergeist throws at him. Once they hit the ground, they turn into Bomb Boos. Each hit gradually causes Bouldergeist to lose a bit of its stone layer. Three hits completely destroy the entire stone layer surrounding Bouldergeist's real form. Once this happens, Mario has to spin a Bomb Boo at the shadow's red weak point to inflict more damage on Bouldergeist. However, the fight is not over, as Bouldergeist regains its old stone layer, and reveals its large rock hands. Bouldergeist then has a greater variety of attacks, as well as a larger form of protection. Mario can, however, destroy the hands the same way, but they regenerate after a short time, so Mario has to damage Bouldergeist before the hands reappear again. Mario must once again swing three Bomb Boos into it, and then swing one final Bomb Boo into its shadow form to defeat the Bouldergeist and claim its Power Star (a Launch Star in Super Mario Galaxy 2). Also, Bouldergeist may shoot golden rocks which reveal a coin. However, it only shoots up to a maximum of 20 coins.

Bouldergeist after taking some damage.

Bouldergeist's attacks consist of a boulder throwing attack that Mario can only run from, and summoning a row of stone spikes out of the ground, indicated by dark shadows appearing where the spikes will be. The spikes do not harm Mario after they are out of the ground and can be broken with a spin attack. After the boss forms its hands, it has new attacks in addition to the old ones, which change depending on Mario's distance. If Mario is far enough, Bouldergeist draws back its fist, after which it will try and punch Mario. Bouldergeist cannot change directions once it starts the attack so it is easily avoided and used to destroy any stone spikes. If Mario is close enough, Bouldergeist holds its hands over the surface of the arena, after which it uses a slap attack that crushes Mario if not dodged, though it does not cause instant death and only causes him to lose one health point. This is the only instance in the game in which Mario can get crushed without instantly dying. Also, Bouldergeist's stone spike attack forms two rows of spikes that Mario has to avoid. Bouldergeist's inner form is too weak to attack Mario. It can only flee and summon Bomb Boos.

Later, Mario must defeat Bouldergeist with one wedge of health under the Daredevil Comet to claim its second star. Bouldergeist no longer throws golden rocks in this battle.

Bouldergeist has unused animations for popping into and out of the ground, and when it does this its true form appears with a somewhat early design.

Statistics

Super Mario Galaxy

Bouldergeist
	Dome	Kitchen	Galaxy	Ghostly Galaxy
	Mission	Beware of Bouldergeist Bouldergeist's Daredevil Run	Reward

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Bouldergeist
	World	World S	Galaxy	Boss Blitz Galaxy
	Mission	Throwback Throwdown Throwback Throwdown Speed Run Green Star 2	Reward

Gallery

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  Key artwork

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  Bouldergeist without arms as its first form

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  Bouldergeist spawning Bomb Boos

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  Bouldergeist punching in its second form

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  Bouldergeist's true form, showing its red, tongue-like weak point

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  Bouldergeist using its crushing attack

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ポルタ[?] Poruta	A shortened form of "poltergeist"; also likely a play on "boulder"
French (NOA)	Polta[?]	Polta
French (NOE)	Polta	Polta
	Le chef des fantômes (in-game)[?]	The boss of the ghosts
German	Polter[?]	From "poltergeist"
Italian	Rocciospettro	Rock-ghost
	Boss Fantasma (in-game)[?]	Ghost Boss
Korean	형님귀신[?] Hyeongnim Gwisin	Big Brother Ghost
Spanish (NOA)	Jefe Fantasmal[?]	Ghostly Boss
Spanish (NOE)	Polta, Jefazo Fantasmal[?]	Polta, Big Ghostly Boss