Bowser's Castle (race course)

Template:Articleabout Bowser's Castle (also called Bowser Castle in some games) is one of the common race courses found in the Mario Kart series. The course takes place on the castle of Bowser and surroundings, usually featuring hazards as lava pits, Thwomps, fireballs and tight turns. In recent Mario Kart games, Bowser Castle is the penultimate course before Rainbow Road in Special Cup. In Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, however, there had been multiple versions of them, very much like Mario Circuit.

History

Super Mario Kart

For more info, see Bowser Castle 1, 2 and 3.

In Super Mario Kart, three Bowser Castle courses appeared in the Mushroom, Flower and Star cups. The stages had the same appearance and features such as lava pits and Thwomps. The later Bowser Castles have more obstacles and turns than the first Bowser Castles.

Mario Kart 64

Template:Racecourse In Mario Kart 64, the course has a lot of Thwomps that block drivers from preceding to further areas. Near the beginning of the course there is a green thwomp locked in a cage and has yellow teeth, and it will shake and laugh if a the player goes near it, this laugh can also be heard by the normal thwomps throughout the course. In further corridors there are pictures of Bowser and large stone statues that shoot flames from their mouths, but they are harmless. At the end of the track racers will race on the roof of the castle. On the last lap, or when the player gets too close to the Bowser statue at the start of the track, Bowser's famed laugh plays. Thwomps are the main obstacle in this course. Most of them will move around the room and try to crush the racers, some are stationary, and some slide across the room. It is the only Bowser's Castle that is not in Super Mario Kart or Mario Kart: Super Circuit in the Star Cup; the rest are in The Special Cup

This course reappears as the fourth and last course of the Lightning Cup in Mario Kart Wii. Many changes have been made. In this version, lava columns spring out from the pits to cause the drivers to bowl over, specially when racers attempt to jump. The green thwomp that was present in the Nintendo 64 version is no longer there, instead it is replased by a normal thwomp that looks no different then the rest, however it will shake and make an angry expression when a player comes near, though no laugh will be heard. The flame-shooting statues are still harmless. Bowser's laugh is still heard on entry on the final lap, or when the player gets too close to the Bowser statue at the start of the track. It is the longest track, taking around one minute per lap, and one of the most difficult tracks in the game.

Instruction Manual Description

Surprisingly, the Bowser's Castle has been transformed into a race ground! Because it's inside the building, most of the corners are tricky right angles. However, the most difficult part of the course is where the Thwomps are. They will block your path, and if you run into one, you will spin out. Should you be stepped by one, you'll find yourself squished flat as a pancake.

Gallery

N64

Bowser'sCastle.png

The icon from the menu.
MK64 BowserCastle.JPG

The Stairs found halfway through the level.
Mk64bowsercastle2.jpg

The roof of the castle.
Mk64bowsercastle3.jpg

The green Thwomp.

Wii

The giant Bowser statue.
The green Thwomp is replaced by a regular Thwomp.
The Thwomps in this area no longer make sinister laughs, but they do shake when racers get close.
The stairway does feature newer portraits of Bowser.
At the castle exit, lava geysers can be seen when crossing the bridge.
Starting with the second lap, the first jump on the castle's roof will have one of two lava geysers spawning at the jump point.

Competitions

The N64 Bowser's Castle competition.

In Mario Kart Wii, a competition occurred on this track, which had players race against Dry Bowser, who utilized the ability to attack with fireballs. This competition took place as the second competition for March 2009, and it was restricted to karts. It was later repeated as the second competition of June 2010, but without any restrictions. It was repeated for the third time as March 2011's second competition, and the karts only restriction returned.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

For more info on the Mario Kart: Super Circuit courses, see Bowser Castles 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

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Bowser and Bowser Jr. prepare to do a Time Trial run at Bowser's Castle, using the Koopa King.

The start of the track with Lakitu, Bowser Jr., and Bowser.

Racers start out outside of the castle and enter through a large doorway shaped like Bowser. As they precede through the hallway, Thwomps will try to spin them out or squish them. Racers will then travel over a pit of lava and through a circular room filled with Podoboos. During the final stretch of the course a statue of Bowser will shoot fireballs at oncoming cars. If the players have any trouble, Bowser's famed laugh will emit. Escaping the castle by a jump only leads to the front of the track again for the second lap.

Course Layout

The race starts in a quite straight dirt road that leads into the castle, past a drawbridge and into an opening that is shaped like Bowser. The players can then see that the path splits, but it results in two identical paths that also have the same obstacles: Thwomps. Past that, where the path meets again, is a 90 degree turn to the left with leads into another straight path with Thwomps. In split screen mode, the Thwomps in this lane are absent. After the Thwomps, there is another turn left that leads into a room with lava on the ground.

In the room with the lava on the floor, the players drive over a chain link bridge with a square in between. In single player, Podoboos will fly out of the lava and try to burn the players. Falling off the chain link bridge results in falling in the lava. After the chain link bridge is a ramp with boost panels in it. Past the ramp is a long curve that spirals upwards into a nearly complete circle. Succeeding the curve is another circular room, this time with fire balls that orbit a pillar in the center. The players can see portraits of Bowser Jr. on the walls of this room.

Past the circular room is a short path that turns to the left in a 90 degree angle, which also leads to another 90 degree angle turn. It leads outside and the players can see the start of course on this road. However, if players attempt a shortcut here, the game will consider it as falling off the track and place the racer back on the track. The road has two somewhat steep ramps that aren't exactly straight, but they don't slow down the players. Past the ramps is a U-turn that leads to a straight road. The road then curves to the left, then makes a U-turn that leads into another interior.

In this room, there is a giant Bowser Machine that shoots one fireball at a time to the players. Despite that, the road is straight. After that is a turn left and a curve right that leads nearer to the Bowser Machine. The players then makes a left turn that also has the Bowser Machine's fireballs, but it isn't getting directly shot at the players. The road is straight and there is a ramp that has boost panels in it. After the ramp is a curve left and the finish line.

There is one notable shortcut in this course that does not require the use of a Mushroom. It is in the room with the Bowser machine. Before the curve that leads the players right, one can notice an opening in a wall, directly where the Bowser Machine belches out fire from. The players can drive over that, but must steer quickly or risk falling into the lava just after making the ramp. The players also have a risk of getting burnt by a fireball just before the jump, making the players also fall into the lava.

Official Descriptions

Official Website: “In Bowser’s Castle, the nightmare never ends. Fight your way through tight corners, Thwomp traps, fireball, a boiling lake of lava and a fire-spewing statue of Bowser himself.”