SNES Bowser Castle 3

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This article is about the race course from Super Mario Kart. For the race course from Mario Kart: Super Circuit and retro course in Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart Tour, see GBA Bowser's Castle 3.
Bowser Castle 3
Bowser Castle 3 from Super Mario Kart.
Information
Appears in Super Mario Kart (1992)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001)
Mario Kart Tour (2023)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass, Wave 6) (2023)
Cup(s) Star Cup (Super Mario Kart)
Extra Star Cup (Super Circuit)
Spiny Cup (8 Deluxe)
Tour(s)
Online play Available (Switch)
Music sample
Super Mario Kart / Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (frontrunning)
Course map
Super Mario Kart
The map for Bowser Castle 3.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
MKSC SNES Bowser Castle 3 Map.png
MKSC SNES Bowser Castle 3 Extra Cup Map.pngMKSC SNES Bowser Castle 3 Mini Map.png
Mario Kart Tour
SNES Bowser Castle 3 map in Mario Kart Tour
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Map of SNES Bowser Castle 3 in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Staff ghost(s)
8DX 150cc Nin★Polly
1:54.632 BowserLandshipWoodSuper Glider
8DX 200cc Nin★Mark
1:22.052 Dry BonesStandard KartMonster (tire)Super Glider

Bowser Castle 3 is the fourth course of the Star Cup in Super Mario Kart. Like every Bowser Castle course, the entire race is held inside a large castle room filled with a big lava pool.

The course returns in Mario Kart: Super Circuit as the second track of the Extra Star Cup, in Mario Kart Tour starting with the 2023 Bowser Tour, and the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the third course of the Spiny Cup, as well as being the penultimate course of the game overall.

Super Mario Kart

Course layout

Luigi driving on Bowser Castle 3
Luigi approaching a split path on Bowser Castle 3

As with the other Bowser Castle tracks, Bowser Castle 3 is composed entirely of straightaways and 90° turns. There are also Thwomps as obstacles, which remain airborne on the first lap. The course begins with a left turn, a straightaway with a row of four Thwomps at the end, and another left turn. Racers then encounter the first fork where they must continuously jump over the lava onto various platforms while dodging four individual Thwomps. The platforms also have individual ? Panels. After two left turns, a brief straightaway with another row of four Thwomps, and two right turns, racers encounter the track's second fork; here there are three distinct paths separated by walls. The leftmost has six coins and a zipper, but is farthest away and narrows the following turn into a hairpin. The easiest path to reach is the right one, which has a jump pad and a zipper directly behind such that a player who hits the jump line passes over the zipper. To reach the zipper, racers must time a hop over the jump pad. The middle path has six coins and two jump pads with ? Panels positioned behind them. At the end of the left and rights paths is an individual Thwomp. After two more left turns, racers pass a pair of Thwomps and soon reach the finish line.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Bowser Castle 3 from Mario Kart: Super Circuit.
Bowser racing on the course in Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Bowser Castle 3 reappeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and is the second track of the Extra Star Cup. It uses the background from that game's Bowser Castle 1. The Thwomps and zippers were removed from the track, along with the jump pad in the rightmost path at the end. Also, the Question Blocks in the first split path were reduced to just three Item Boxes (one on both sides early on, and one in the middle afterwards).

Mario Kart Tour

SNES Bowser Castle 3 in Mario Kart Tour
The view of the course in Mario Kart Tour

Bowser Castle 3 returns in Mario Kart Tour starting with the 2023 Bowser Tour, marking the first reappearance of an SNES Bowser Castle course in a Mario Kart title since Mario Kart: Super Circuit. It was the final SNES course added to the game. The course has received a major visual and gameplay overhaul, including a new starting banner, being the first SNES remake in the Mario Kart series to feature any kind of dynamic elevation. Unlike the GBA Bowser's Castle courses in Mario Kart Tour, this course retains its original name, Bowser Castle, as opposed to being changed to read "Bowser's Castle".

Large stretches of the course are now angled vertically, including segments of lava. The course now features more walls, pillars, and ramps. Offroad has been added all throughout the course, similar in appearance to the offroad present in GBA Bowser's Castles. Unlike in most other Tour courses, the offroad is not blocked off at all through the game's Smart Steering, even for the patches that do not serve as opportunities for shortcuts. The layout of the jump section has been streamlined, with the platforms all being fully aligned and offroad now breaking up the platforms. Lava Geysers now erupt from the lava. An extra turn has been added before the U-bend where the track previously only got thinner, marked with an arrow sign. The walls separating the three roads towards the end are now aligned and can now be driven on, and gaps have been added between sections of the walls. The final turn is now a curved bend as opposed to two 90° turns. Bone Piranha Plants have been added to the end of the course. The background is more open, since the arches in the background have been trimmed down and do not fill the entire horizon. A volcano similar to that of 3DS Bowser's Castle has been added to the course's background.

The course also appears as Bowser Castle 3R (reversed), Bowser Castle 3T (with ramps), and Bowser Castle 3R/T (reversed with ramps). In the R variant, there is a glide ramp at the beginning of the last straightaway, allowing racers to cut off the final turn. In the T and R/T variants, a glide ramp is located at the fork with the numerous jumps. In the R/T variant this allows racers to cut off the second to last turn if they can dodge the additional Bone Piranha Plants that are present.

This course reuses its original musical arrangement from Super Mario Kart.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of SNES Bowser Castle 3 tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which SNES Bowser Castle 3 and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of SNES Bowser Castle 3 tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
SNES Bowser Castle 3 from Mario Kart Tour
Normal variant
Goomba Mii Racing SuitGreen Mii Racing SuitLarry Mii Racing SuitMeowserPetey PiranhaRosalina (Chef)WhiteTanookiMarioWiggler Black Kabuki DasherCact-RFlaming SpeederFlowery BadwagonGold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGold Double-DeckerMagma BroomPink SpeederRed OffroaderSilver Cupid's ArrowTaiko Drum DasherYeehaw Wagon 8-Bit GoombaCalico Toe-Bean BalloonsFuzzy KiteGold Cloud BalloonsGold Eggshell GliderLava RocksMario Golf CapPiranha Plant BalloonsRainbow Fare FlierRainbow Flappy WingsRed Checkered GliderWonderful Diamond Dr. BowserDr. LuigiDr. PeachPauline (Rose)Peach (Happi)Pink Shy Guy (Ninja)Piranha Plant Mii Racing SuitRoaring Racer Mii Racing SuitToad (Astronaut)Yellow Shy Guy (Explorer)Yoshi Mii Racing Suit Blue Crawly KartBlue-Green Capsule KartCapsule KartChain Chomp ChariotCream ClassicDesert Rose WagonDragonflyGold Bullet BlasterGold Hop RodGold Jingle BellGold Sushi RacerGoo-Goo BuggyGreen B Dasher Mk. 2Green Cat CruiserJumbo JetterPurple Rattle BuggyRainbow StreetleStrawberry Soft SwerveSwift Talon 8-Bit Block Glider8-Bit Super GliderBlack Great SailFestival WingsGold BellsGold MeteorsGolden GliderMario's Hat BalloonPara-PaniniPink Bubble BalloonPink Checkered GliderRed and Gold UmbrellaRoy OilpaperShip's WheelTropical BalloonsWiggler Parachute
Koopa (Freerunning)Light-blue YoshiPink Toad (Pit Crew)White Shy Guy
Wendy Landship Piranha Plant Parafoil
SNES Bowser Castle 3 from Mario Kart Tour
R variant
? Block Mii Racing SuitBlack Mii Racing SuitDr. PeachGold MarioLight Green Mii Racing SuitLudwig Mii Racing SuitOrange Mii Racing SuitPeach Mii Racing SuitPink Shy Guy (Ninja)Piranha Plant Mii Racing SuitReindeer Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Volendam) Black CarriageBlue-Green Capsule KartBright GirlCleanup HitterDesert Rose WagonGold BruiserGold Bullet BlasterGold Capsule KartGold Hop RodGold Jingle BellGreen B Dasher Mk. 2Green Cat CruiserParty-WingPink SneekerPurple Rattle BuggyRed Crawly KartSakura Sports CoupeSilver Cupid's Arrow 8-Bit Block GliderBright RibbonFire Manta GliderFlying FlappersGold MeteorsLuigi's MustacheMeteor BalloonsMosaic StarchuteRainbow BellsRed and Gold UmbrellaSilver Luigi's MustacheSky-High Flyer Dolphin Mii Racing SuitLarry Mii Racing SuitMoo Moo Mii Racing SuitPeach (Kimono)Penguin ToadetteSanta Mii Racing SuitToad (Tourist)White Mii Racing SuitWhite Tanooki MarioWhite YoshiYellow Shy Guy (Explorer)Yoshi (Gold Egg) Black Kabuki DasherCream B Dasher Mk. 2Cupid's ArrowFlowery BadwagonGold 8-Bit Pipe FrameGold B DasherGold Cupid's ArrowGold PipesGold QuickshawGold Rambi RiderGold Sushi Racer***Gold TricksterHoliday SpeederRainbow Pipe BuggySilver Flower KartSky-Blue B Dasher Mk. 2Sleigh RiderSpicy ZucchiniStreetleSwift TalonWild Gold 8-Bit 1-Up MushroomAurora BalloonsFuzzy KiteGold Boo MasksGold Candlelight FlightGold Cloud BalloonsGold Eggshell GliderGold Manta GliderGold Piranha Plant BalloonsLuigi's Hat BalloonMint & Berry BalloonsRainbow Fare FlierTulip CorsageWiggler Parachute
Koopa (Freerunning)Red Koopa (Freerunning)Red Yoshi Dark Clown Birdo (Orange)Green Toad (Pit Crew)Hammer Bro Red Streamliner
Iggy
SNES Bowser Castle 3 from Mario Kart Tour
T variant
Baby Rosalina (Detective)Builder ToadCat MarioCheep Cheep Mii Racing SuitDr. LuigiDry Bones Mii Racing SuitIggy Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Luigi (Painter)Mario (Black Suit)Monty Mole Mii Racing SuitOrange Mii Racing SuitPastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPenguin MarioPenguin ToadettePetey Piranha Mii Racing SuitRocky Wrench Mii Racing SuitSanta Mii Racing Suit Blazing EagleCamo Tanooki KartDaikon RocketFish Bone FerryGold Cupid's ArrowGold Lunar CruiserGreen CometGreen LightningHot Pot Hot RodJumbo JetterPink SneekerPink SpeederRainbow StreetleShielded SpeedsterSilver Warrior WagonStreetleSwift Talon 8-Bit Goomba8-Bit Super Glider8-Bit Super MushroomBlack StarchuteBoo MasksFestival WingsGold Hard Hat BalloonGolden GliderGreen Cat ParafoilLuigi's Hat BalloonPink Bubble BalloonPink Checkered Glider Black Mii Racing SuitCat LuigiDaisy (Sailor)Dr. MarioGreen Mii Racing SuitLight Green Mii Racing SuitMario (Musician)Mario (Satellaview)Mario (SNES)MeowserPauline (Rose)Peach (Happi)Peach Mii Racing SuitPiranha Plant Mii Racing SuitPoochyReindeer Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Volendam)Roy Mii Racing Suit***Wendy Mii Racing SuitWhite YoshiWigglerYellow Mii Racing Suit Black B Dasher Mk. 2Black CarriageBlack Cat CruiserBlack SneekerBlooper ShuttleBlue SpeederBright GirlGold CometGold Sweet RideGreen SpeederIce-Cream MinibusMagma BroomPink B Dasher Mk. 2Pink CometPurple BunnyPurple DozerRainbow TaxiSilver Cupid's ArrowTaiko Drum DasherYeehaw Wagon Autumn LeavesBright RibbonChocolate PretzelCream Toe-Bean BalloonsGlittering GliderGlittering ParasolGold 8-Bit GliderGold UmbrellaIcy Mario's MustacheMario Golf CapRed Checkered GliderRoy Oilpaper***White Waves Origami GliderWonderful GarnetYellow Hard Hat Balloon
Green Standard 8 Fire BroRed Koopa (Freerunning)Red Yoshi Flame Flyer
SNES Bowser Castle 3 from Mario Kart Tour
R/T variant
Cat LuigiDaisy (Sailor)Dr. LuigiGold Mii Racing SuitLudwig Mii Racing SuitMario (Black Suit)Pink Mii Racing SuitPoochyWendy Mii Racing SuitYellow Mii Racing Suit Black B Dasher Mk. 2Black Jingle BellBlooper ShuttleChain Chomp ChariotDark TricksterGold Cupid's ArrowGold PipesGoo-Goo BlackHoliday SpeederRainbow Pipe BuggySakura Hop RodSilver KingSports Coupe 2022 Autumn LeavesChocolate PretzelCream Toe-Bean BalloonsFire Manta GliderGlittering GliderGold 8-Bit GliderMosaic StarchuteWiggler ParachuteWonderful GarnetYellow Hard Hat Balloon Baby Rosalina (Detective)Blue Mii Racing SuitBrown Mii Racing SuitCheep Cheep Mii Racing SuitDaisy (Fairy)Daisy (Swimwear)Daisy (Thai Dress)Larry Mii Racing Suit***Mario (King)Monty Mole Mii Racing SuitPara-Biddybud Mii Racing SuitPeach (Yukata)Penguin MarioToadette (Astronaut) Blue SpeederCamo Tanooki KartDesert Rose WagonDry Bones Dasher***Flower KartGold Capsule KartGreen CometHot Pot Hot RodMoo Moo OffroaderParty-WingPink SneekerPink SpeederSakura Sports CoupeSilver Warrior WagonYeehaw Wagon 8-Bit Super MushroomBright BalloonsCalico Toe-Bean BalloonsFlying FlappersGold Manta Glider***Mario's MustacheNew Year's 2023Pink Bubble BalloonRainbow BellsRoy OilpaperSmiley Flower GliderWonderful DiamondYoshi's Cookies
Koopa ClownOrange Turbo Yoshi 8-Bit Jumping Mario
Roy
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges

Big Reverse Race
Icon Course variant Opponents Tour appearances Cup
7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Extra
Thumbnail of the Diddy Kong Cup challenge from the 2023 Bowser Tour; a Big Reverse Race challenge set on SNES Bowser Castle 3 Regular Driver Ludwig von Koopa Roy Koopa Morton Koopa Jr. Wendy O. Koopa Lemmy Koopa Iggy Koopa Larry Koopa N/A Bowser Tour (2023) Diddy Kong Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Diddy Kong Cup
Kart Koopa Clown Koopa Clown Koopa Clown Koopa Clown Koopa Clown Koopa Clown Koopa Clown
Glider Super Glider[1] Super Glider[1] Super Glider[1] Super Glider[1] Super Glider[1] Super Glider[1] Super Glider[1]
Steer Clear of Obstacles
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Obstacles Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Shy Guy Cup challenge from the 2023 Bowser Tour; a Steer Clear of Obstacles challenge set on SNES Bowser Castle 3 Regular Iggy Koopa's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Iggy
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
Two Barrel Bombs
Barrel Bomb
A Bone Piranha Plant from Mario Kart Tour
Bone Piranha Plant
Bowser Tour (2023) The icon of the Shy Guy Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Shy Guy Cup

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Bowser Castle 3 in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The course in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Bowser Castle 3 reappears in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the sixth and final wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC. It appears as the third course of the Spiny Cup, marking the first time an SNES Bowser Castle course has been present in a cup since Mario Kart: Super Circuit. It and SNES Mario Circuit 3 are the only courses from Super Mario Kart to appear in the Booster Course Pass. It is also the only classic Bowser's Castle to appear in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is based on its appearance in Mario Kart Tour, but with significant visual upgrades. Anti-gravity has been added starting from the first jump, continuing up until the end of the slanted section, making it the first SNES course to use anti-gravity. The Thwomp in this section was removed. The ground at the top of the incline is now a metal grate, instead of stone. Fireballs have been added as an obstacle, while more Thwomps appear along various parts of the course. Some of the added offroad from the Tour version was removed, while all the offroad was removed from the minimap. The turn following the antigravity section has been made slanted instead of following 90° angles. Metal blocks were added along the inner edge of the curved turn. Two Thwomps are added at the final jump with coins that lay atop them, which can be collected by players passing over them. The left side of the course in this final stretch has been widened. The music was also arranged as a metal composition; the only retained instruments from the original SNES version of the track are the sampled AKAI S1000 brass hits, though at times, their sound also deviates from the original. Like Rock Rock Mountain in Mario Kart 7, Toad Harbor, 3DS DK Jungle, Mute City, and GBA Ribbon Road, the final lap version of the music uses a different, shorter intro than the normal version; it is the only Booster Course to do so.

Although the course's name in-game and in the Wave 6 reveal trailer reads as "Bowser Castle", like in its previous appearances, the official North American website for the Booster Course Pass names the course as Bowser's Castle 3, matching most modern Bowser's Castle courses. Bowser Castle 3 is the only SNES course in the game to not be the second course of its cup, as SNES Donut Plains 3, SNES Rainbow Road, and SNES Mario Circuit 3 are respectively the second courses of the Banana, Triforce, and Turnip cups.

Internally, the course is referred to as "Cnsw_57", implying it may have originally been intended to be the third course of the Cherry Cup.

Profiles

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

  • Nintendo Switch News app (UK): Burn up the track in Bowser Castle 3!
    Today we'd like to present another course released as part of the sixth wave, which is available now: Bowser Castle 3.
    This course, first introduced in the Super NES game Super Mario Kart, is hosted in the imposing, lava-encircled environs of Bowser Castle, on a track further complicated by Thwomps and Bone Piranha Plants. You'll need to drift deftly to navigate the course's many right-angle corners, and make good use of Spin Boosts in the antigravity zones of the latter half if you're aiming for a decent time!
  • Nintendo Switch News app (US):
    • This course first appeared in the Super Mario Kart™ game on the Super NES™ System.
    • Welcome to Bowser Castle! For those who lava good obstacle, this course is littered with Thwomps and Bone Piranha Plants looking to stand in your way. Oh, and of course watch out for lava!
    • You’ll need to flex your drifting skills to tackle the many sharp 90° curves here. You can try to shorten your time by using the spin turbos in the anti-gravity areas in the first half of the course.

Gallery

Mario Kart Tour

Course icons

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Kart Tour race course icons (SNES courses) § Bowser Castle 3.

Screenshots

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese クッパじょうコース 3[?]
Kuppa Jō Kōsu 3
Bowser Castle Course 3 Super Mario Kart
クッパじょう3[?]
Kuppa Jō 3
Bowser Castle 3
Chinese (simplified) 酷霸王城堡 3[?]
Kùbàwáng Chéngbǎo 3
Bowser Castle 3
Chinese (traditional) 庫巴城堡 3[?]
Kùbā Chéngbǎo 3
Bowser Castle 3
Dutch Bowsers Kasteel 3[?] Bowser's Castle 3
French Château de Bowser 3[?] Bowser’s Castle 3
German Bowsers Festung 3[?] Bowser’s Castle 3
Italian Castello di Bowser 3[?] Bowser's Castle 3
Korean 쿠파 성 3[?]
Kupa Seong 3
Bowser Castle 3
Portuguese Castelo do Bowser 3[?] Bowser's Castle 3
Russian Замок Боузера 3[?]
Zamok Bouzera 3
Bowser's Castle 3
Spanish Castillo de Bowser 3[?] Bowser's Castle 3

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bri-1101 (May 9, 2023). Gliders used in bonus challenges (2023 Bowser Tour). Reddit. Retrieved May 9, 2023.