Bowser in the Fire Sea
| Bowser in the Fire Sea | |
|---|---|
 Super Mario 64  Super Mario 64 DS | |
| How to unlock | Complete Board Bowser's Sub. |
| Boss(es) | Bowser |
| Stars | Super Mario 64: Super Mario 64 DS: 
|
Bowser in the Fire Sea, also called Bowser's Lava Sea[1] or simply the Fire Sea,[2] is the second Bowser level in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. This level is made of concrete and mesh platforms above a huge lake of lava, sharing Lethal Lava Land's background of a vast lava ocean with a fiery sky. Several Bullies and Goombas guard these platforms and the route to Bowser's arena. This level is located in the basement of the Mushroom Castle. The level is unlocked by completing Board Bowser's Sub in Dire, Dire Docks, and its own completion unlocks the Mushroom Castle's second floor.
The entrance to Bowser in the Fire Sea is found in the same room as the entrance to Dire, Dire Docks, which requires 30 Power Stars to enter. Before the player obtains the first Power Star from Dire, Dire Docks, the blue portal to the water level is in front of the entrance to Bowser in the Fire Sea. Once the first Power Star of Dire, Dire Docks is obtained, the blue portal moves to the back of the room, allowing access to Bowser in the Fire Sea.
Layout
The player starts on a small platform with a metal platform near it. Stepping onto the metal platform causes it to move. At certain points, the platform dives under the lava, so the player needs to jump to nearby tilting platforms in order to avoid taking damage. After the moving platform's stopping point is a series of blue platforms that constantly go under the lava, then resurface. Beyond those is a Bully followed by three Goombas situated around a Spinning Heart. A rising pole, circled by an Amp, helps the player reach the tilting platforms above. To the right of the platforms is an area with a yellow block containing three coins, and the pole to the left at the end of the platforms leads to a cage with an elevator that brings the player up to the next level.
The second level first contains a moving platform that goes through a flamethrower, which leads to a sloping mound. After the slope is a hanging grate the player can use to climb to the other side of the lava pool. Beyond that are two moving platforms, followed by a couple of Bullies and a tall set of moving interconnected platforms that lead the player to the next level.
The final level starts with a stone slope containing a flame thrower, a Bob-omb, and a yellow block. After the stone slope is a row of sinking and rising platforms that are protected by flamethrowers and Amps. Beyond those is a stone structure containing rising and falling poles. Finally, a falling bridge leads to the warp that sends the player to the Bowser fight.
The starting platform in Super Mario 64
Mario climbing a pole in Super Mario 64
Mario in the cage in Super Mario 64
Mario on a tilting platform in Super Mario 64
Mario on the shifting platforms in Super Mario 64
A Bob-omb chasing Mario in Super Mario 64
Mario near a yellow block in Super Mario 64
The spring leading to Bowser in Super Mario 64
Bowser battle
The tactic to defeat Bowser is the same as that for the fight in Bowser in the Dark World, though he has some additional moves. Bowser immediately starts the battle by jumping up and landing, causing the stage to tilt toward him. The same happens if the player throws Bowser off the stage but misses a spiked orb, making Bowser land and cause the stage to tilt. Unlike in his previous battle, he spits single balls of fire as opposed to a continuous stream. Bowser can also warp to a different spot if the player is close and charge at the player if they are far away. The player can somersault or dive to dodge Bowser's charging attack. If he runs into the edge of the platform, he falters, giving the player an opportunity to grab his tail. Throwing Bowser into a spiked orb defeats him, granting the player the Big Key to the castle's upper floors.
Screenshot of Bowser from Super Mario 64
Battling Bowser in Super Mario 64
Mario swinging Bowser in Super Mario 64 DS
Missions
Two Power Stars can be collected in this course, with one being exclusive to the DS version of the game.
Power Star for 8 Red Coins
Like in Bowser in the Dark World, there are eight Red Coins to be collected, during the mission Power Star for 8 Red Coins.[3] These are the locations of the Red Coins:
- Floating above a central hole in a square metal floor with regular coins, found at the end of the metal floor path before the first Spinning Heart
- Floating above a side of the first tilting platform after the pole circled by an Amp
- Floating above in a corner of the cage with the elevator
- Floating below the elevator in the cage. The player must get on the elevator, quickly get off it, and then fall down the hole to get this coin.
- Floating above the octagonal floor with a Bully on it at the end of the narrow path next to the top of the sloping mound
- Floating above the third moving interconnected purple platform, indicated by a small shadow. The player must wait for the platforms to rise enough to get this coin.
- Right next to the last flamethrower in the area with sinking and rising platforms on the third level
- Floating above the last sinking and rising pole before the falling bridge leading to Bowser
After the player collects all eight Red Coins, the Power Star appears atop a wall shortly before the warp that leads to Bowser. The player must wall-kick, triple-jump, or use Luigi's Backward Somersault to reach it.
Switch Star (DS only)
Near the first Star is a Star Switch. Upon the player pressing the switch, the Power Star appears on the far side of a lava pool that the player must quickly backtrack across in order to reach it before it disappears. If playing as Luigi, the player can backward-somersault over the lava to the Star.
Gallery
Mario about to fall into Bowser in the Fire Sea in Super Mario 64
Luigi falls into Bowser in the Fire Sea in Super Mario 64 DS.
Level in Super Mario 64 DS
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ほのおの うみの クッパ[?] Honō no Umi no Kuppa |
Bowser of the Flame Sea | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 火海中的酷霸王[5] Huǒhǎi zhōng de Kùbàwáng |
Bowser of the Fire Sea | |
| French | Bowser des laves[?] | Bowser of the Lava | |
| German | Bowsers Lavasee[?] | Bowser's Lava Sea | |
| Italian | Bowser nel Lago di Lava[?] | Bowser in the Lava Lake | Super Mario 64 DS |
| Bowser sulla lava[4] | Bowser on the lava | ||
| Korean | 불바다의 쿠파[?] Bulbada ui Kupa |
Bowser of the Fire Sea | |
| Spanish | Bowser en la lava[?] | Bowser in the Lava |
References
- ^ May 1997. Nintendo Magazine System (AU) Issue #50. Page 47.
- ^ Knight, Michael (March 16, 2010). Nintendo DS Pocket Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 978-0-307-46760-7. Page 377.
- ^ Pelland, Scott and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 81.
- ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Page 91.
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in iQue's localization of Super Mario 64 DS.
