Bowser's Brother

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Bowser's Brother
Artwork of Bowser's Brother from the Family Computer Disk System version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
Artwork of Bowser's Brother from Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Species Koopa
First appearance Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986)
Latest appearance Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. (2020)

Bowser's Brother,[1] also referred to as Fake Bowser (Blue)[2] and a Bowser Impostor,[3] is a character similar to Bowser who appears in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. His identity varies in supplemental material, which describes him either as Bowser's twin or a fake Bowser. His most consistent characteristic is his bluish color, but this was removed in Super Mario All-Stars.[4]

History

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

BowserBrotherSMBTLL.png

Bowser's Brother makes his first appearance in the Family Computer Disk System version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. There, he appears before the fight with Bowser in World 8-4, where he tries to stop Mario or Luigi by throwing hammers at them and breathing fire. He reappears alone in World 9-3, but does not breathe fire.

While distinguished from Bowser by the color of his skin and shell (brown and deep cyan, respectively), defeating him with fireballs does not reveal him as one of Bowser's minions, making him distinct from the fake Bowsers. In World D-4, however, a fake version of him appears that only breathes fire, being revealed as a Spiny when defeated with fireballs.

All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. reuses World 8-4 and World D-4 from The Lost Levels, so Bowser's Brother and his imposter also return.

Bowser's Brother returns in the Super Mario All-Stars remake of The Lost Levels, where he is colored identically to Bowser, though an unused color palette shows him with his blue color scheme, as well as magenta hair.[5] In World D-4, he replaces his imposter but does not breathe fire.

Super Smash Bros. series

One of Bowser's several recolors artwork.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Bowser's palette swap from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The eighth recolors of Bowser, claimed to be Bowser's Brother

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the eighth costume of Bowser is said to be Bowser's Brother in the tips. It replaces a similar-looking costume from previous games that has yellow hair and green limbs, likely based on Bowser's original artwork (though with the shell and skin colors swapped). If Peach's Classic Mode route in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, "No Damsel in Distress", is played with two players, the penultimate battle with Bowser has him accompanied by another Bowser using the eighth costume as a partner.

Blue-colored versions of Bowser distinct from Bowser’s Brother

Even though these blue-colored versions of Bowser likely affected the depiction of Bowser's Brother, they are not stated to be him.

Super Mario Bros.

In the original Super Mario Bros., the palette used for castle sections before the final boss battle causes an unintended consequence in which Bowser has the same blue coloration of Bowser's Brother. 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 part where the axe is loaded. 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 dark shades of teal, but he will revert back to his correct colors if Mario or Luigi advances any further. The same graphical oversight can be seen in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. Additionally, defeating a fake Bowser before his color change will result in the enemy acting as his true form to retain this color scheme (such as World 5-4's fake Bowser becoming a Lakitu using the underground/castle color scheme). Similarly, in the Disk System version of the Minus World, due to that level using the underwater color palette, causing all green enemies to turn gray, including the "green" Cheep-cheeps, Bowser appears gray in his appearance in that version of World -1, based on World 1-3.

Yoshi's Cookie (SNES)

Sprite of Bowser's alternate costume in Versus Mode, from the SNES version of Yoshi's Cookie.

In the Super Nintendo Entertainment System release of Yoshi's Cookie, Bowser takes on a blue-and-red palette as player two if Bowser is already player one.

Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

The different colorings of Bowser in Mario Golf

The second palette swap of Bowser in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf features a blue skin and a blue shell. Contrary to what would happen in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the shell and head have a lighter blue color than the skin.

Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)

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

In the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis, one of Bowser's palette swaps features the same blue colors seen in Mario Golf.

Identity

The character was initially mentioned as the first/fake[6] or first/blue[7] Bowser in the Japanese guides for Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, which do not specify his relationship to Bowser besides one suggesting that he is not his twin.[8] In the character books released in the 1990s before Super Mario All-Stars, the blue Bowser is described as being either Bowser's first[9] or younger[10][11] brother. Super Mario Zen Hyakka, a book written in collaboration with Nintendo, describes him as part of the「王族おうぞく」(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.[10][12] Due to his recoloring from blue to green in Super Mario All-Stars, he is not considered a distinct character from fake Bowsers in the Japanese official guide book.[13] Contradicting one of the original Japanese guides for The Lost Levels (which suggested that he was not a twin),[8] the Nintendo Power guide for Super Mario All-Stars refers to him as "Bowser's Brother" and states "Bowser's got a twin" in reference to him.[1] After the release of Super Mario All-Stars, he was referred to as a fake Bowser,[4] except in the Prima Games guide for Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, where he is again considered Bowser's brother.[14] In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the English text suggests the blue Bowser is a fake[3] while the Japanese version leaves his nature ambiguous.[15] Super Mario Pia, a memorial book also written in collaboration with Nintendo, depicts the blue Bowser as a particular fake Bowser.[16] Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros., which was released around the same time, distinguishes him from fake Bowsers[17] but states that his identity is unknown.[18] The Japanese Mario Portal website similarly lists him as a blue Bowser,[19] while the English version lists him as a blue fake Bowser.[2]

Profiles

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U / Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 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!"

Gallery

  • Fire Mario facing Bowser's Brother in World 8-4 of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

    Fire Mario facing Bowser's Brother in World 8-4 of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

  • Bowser's Brother in World 9-3 of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

    Bowser's Brother in World 9-3 of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

  • Fake Bowser's Brother in World D-4 of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. It is revealed to be a Spiny if defeated with fireballs.

    Fake Bowser's Brother in World D-4 of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. It is revealed to be a Spiny if defeated with fireballs.

  • Luigi facing Bowser's Brother in the Super Mario Bros. Deluxe version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (referred to in this game as "Super Mario Bros. For Super Players")

    Luigi facing Bowser's Brother in the Super Mario Bros. Deluxe version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (referred to in this game as "Super Mario Bros. For Super Players")

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

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

  • Unused palette in Super Mario All-Stars

    Unused palette in Super Mario All-Stars

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese クッパ・アオ[10]
Kuppa Ao 		Blue Bowser
ニセクッパ[16]
Nise Kuppa 		Fake Bowser
クッパ(青)[17][19]
Kuppa (Ao) 		Bowser (Blue)
German Bowser (blau)[20] Bowser (blue)
Italian Bowser Blu[22] Blue Bowser
Spanish Bowser azul[21] Blue Bowser

Trivia

Bowser with captured Princess Toadstool, as they were originally depicted. A Koopa Paratroopa and two mushroom retainers are also seen.
Bowser art for Super Mario Bros.
  • Due to his bluish coloration, Bowser's Brother resembles Shigeru Miyamoto's original blue depiction of Bowser in artwork for Super Mario Bros., prior to the character's redesign in artwork for Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
  • An event in the now-defunct mobile game Miitomo to celebrate the launch of Super Mario Run featured a Miitomo Drop minigame known as "Super Mario Run! Princess Peach & Bowser Style", with one of the prizes being a Bowser costume for Miis to wear that has the color scheme of Bowser's Brother.

References

  1. ^ a b "BOWSER'S BROTHER You're in for a surprise. Bowser's got a twin." – 1993. Super Mario All-Stars Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 62Media:Bowser's Brother Source.jpg.
  2. ^ a b English Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp (English). Retrieved June 5, 2024. (Archived August 13, 2022, 14:35:18 UTC via archive.today.)
  3. ^ a b "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!" – Tips. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
  4. ^ a b "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 Collection he became the same green." – 1994. 「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」(Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten. Shogakukan. Page 65Media:PEGMCE page 65.png. while the two captions state "Obviously fake blue Bowser." and "He can't be distinguished from the real thing."
  5. ^ TCRF. Super Mario All-Stars § Unused Palettes. The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Page 50Media:FCCVD 7 page 50.png of「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 Hisshō Dōjō ⑦ Super Mario Bros. 2, or "Family Computer Certain Victory Dojo ⑦ Super Mario Bros. 2") refers to the blue Bowser as「1匹ぴきめのクッパ」(the first Bowser), also noting that he isn't the real Bowser:「こいつ真しんのクッパではない。」
  7. ^ Page 62Media:FCCVD 11 page 62.png of「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 Hisshō Dōjō ⑪ Super Mario Bros. 1 & 2 Kami Waza Taizenshū, or "Family Computer Certain Victory Dojo ⑪ Super Mario Bros. 1 & 2 Great Complete Work on Miracles/Glitches").「1匹ぴきめのクッパはむりして倒たおさなくていいよ!ワールド8-4とDディー-4には、クッパが2匹出ひきでてする。そのうちの1匹ぴきめは,青あおいクッパなんだけど」(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 the blue Bowser...)
  8. ^ a b Page 89Media:SMB2GCWST pages 88 89.png of「スーパマリオブラザーズ2<裏ワザ大全集>」(Super Mario Bros. 2 < Urawaza Taizenshū >, or "Super Mario Bros. 2 Great Complete Work on Secret Tricks") has the paragraph:「おお一つと！またグッバがいた。ということは、大魔王だいまおうクッパはふたごだったのか、なんちゃって。アホ。」(Oh! Bowser is here again. That is to say, the Great Demon King Bowser is actually a TWIN, not! Idiot.) Note that the author is mocking the reader for believing that Bowser has a twin.
  9. ^ Page 155Media:CSMGE page 155.png of「全スーパーマリオ大百科」(Zen Super Mario Ōhyakka, or "Complete Super Mario Great Encyclopedia") states of the blue Bowser:「クッパ兄弟きょうだいの1匹目ぴきめはよけろ!」(The first of the Bowser brothers!)
  10. ^ a b c Page 144Media:SMCE pages 144 145.png of「スーパーマリオ全百科オールひゃっか」(Super Mario Zen Hyakka, or "Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia"). The blue Bowser is referred to as「クッパブラザーズの弟おとうと」(the younger of the Bowser brothers). The page also states「クッパの弟おとうとだ」(He's Bowser's younger brother).
  11. ^ On page 36Media:SMBD page 36.png of「スーパーマリオ大図鑑だいずかん」(Super Mario Bros. Daizukan, or "Super Mario Great Picture Book") Dr. Mario states:「『マリオ２』ではクッパの弟おとうとが影武者かげむしゃだったクッパとおなじ力ちからをもった強敵きょうてきだったぞ！」(In "Mario 2", Bowser's little brother was a strong enemy who had the same strength as Bowser's body doubles.)
  12. ^ On page 89Media:SMCE pages 88 89.png of「スーパーマリオ全百科オールひゃっか」(Super Mario Zen Hyakka, or "Super Mario Complete Encyclopedia") the「王族おうぞく」term, meaning King Tribe, is given the following explanation:「クッパ軍団ぐんだんを統率とうそつする王家おうけの面々めんめん。クッパ、コクッパがこれにあたる。」(Every member of the royal family that leads the Bowser army corps. Bowser and the Koopalings apply here.)
  13. ^ On page 92Media:SMC NOG page 92.png of the Nintendo Official Guidebook of Super Mario Collection, the blue Bowser is referred to as「ニセクッパ」(Fake Bowser).
  14. ^ "Look out! Bowser has a Hammer-throwing brother, and he’s here to stop you from getting to the end. If you’ve got fireballs, use ʻem. Otherwise ..." – Cain, Christine (1999). Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 0-7615-2190-9. Page 71.
  15. ^ 「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.
  16. ^ a b On page 22Media:SMP Blue Bowser.png of「スーパーマリオぴあ」(Super Mario Pia), the blue Bowser is labeled as「ニセクッパ」(Fake Bowser) while still stressing his body being blue.
  17. ^ a b Page 27 of「スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック」(Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guide Book, or "Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: Nintendo Official Guide Book")
  18. ^ Page 30 of「スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック」(Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guide Book, or "Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: Nintendo Official Guide Book").「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。」(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.)
  19. ^ a b Original Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels entry on the official Mario Portal. nintendo.co.jp (Japanese). Retrieved June 5, 2024. (Archived July 21, 2021, 09:21:01 UTC via archive.today.)
  20. ^ Super Mario Encyclopedia – Die ersten 30 Jahre. Page 27.
  21. ^ Enciclopedia Super Mario Bros 30ª Aniversario. Page 27.
  22. ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 27.
[Edit]
Bowser's family
Forms and counterparts
Alarm Koopa • Baby Bowser (Mega Baby Bowser) • Black Bowser • Blockhead Bowser • Bowcien • Bowser • Bowletta • Castle Bowser • Dreamy Bowser • Dry Bowser • Fury Bowser • Giant Bowser • Giga Bowser • Glohm Bowser • Golf Daiō • King Koopa's alter egos • King Tetris • Koopa 3 • Magma Bowser • MegaDragonBowser • Meowser • Paper Bowser • President Koopa • Qix Daiō • Shiny RoboBowser • Shrowser • Torino Daiō
Current in-game relatives
Dry Bowser • Bowser Jr. • Paper Bowser Jr.
Former in-game relatives
Bowser's Brother • Koopa Kid • Koopalings (Larry Koopa · Morton Koopa Jr. · Wendy O. Koopa · Iggy Koopa · Roy Koopa · Lemmy Koopa · Ludwig von Koopa)
Miscellaneous relatives
Bowser's cousin • Bowser's father • Bowser's mother • Bowser's sister • Enma Daiō • King Koopa's great-great grandkoop • Poopa La Koopa
Pets
Mechawiggler • Pookie • Ratso
President Koopa's relatives
Iggy • Spike
[Edit]
Koopas
Characters Bowser, forms, and counterparts Alarm Koopa • Baby Bowser (Mega Baby Bowser) • Black Bowser • Blockhead Bowser • Bowcien • Bowser • Bowletta • Castle Bowser • Dreamy Bowser • Dry Bowser • Fury Bowser • Giant Bowser • Giga Bowser • Glohm Bowser • Golf Daiō • King Koopa's alter egos • King Tetris • Koopa 3 • MegaDragonBowser • Meowser • Molten Bowser • Paper Bowser • Qix Daiō • Shiny RoboBowser • Shrowser • Torino Daiō
Bowser's current game relatives Dry Bowser • Bowser Jr. • Paper Bowser Jr.
Bowser's former game relatives Bowser's Brother • Koopa Kid • Koopalings (Iggy Koopa · Larry Koopa · Lemmy Koopa · Ludwig von Koopa · Morton Koopa Jr. · Roy Koopa · Wendy O. Koopa)
Bowser's adaptation relatives Bowser's father • Bowser's mother • Bowser's sister • Enma Daiō • King Koopa's great-great grandkoop • Poopa La Koopa
Other Bowser X • C. Everett Koopa • Dark Bowser • Darkmess Bowser • Francis Ford Koopola • Gary Koopa • James Fennimore Koopa
Species Impostor Bowser • Koopa Kid • Koopa Zombie • Tail Bowser
Facsimiles and other constructs Robots Blasta Mechakoopa • Bowser??? • Bowser's mech • Flying Mechakoopa • Mecha-Bowser • Mecha Hand • Mechakoopa • Mega Mechakoopa • Mekakuppa • Mini Bowser • Mini Bowser Jr. • Rabbid Mechakoopa • Robo-suit • The Great King Bowser • Zappa Mechakoopa
Statues Abominable Snowkoopa • Bowser Monument • Bowser Snow Statue • Bowser Statue • Bowser Stunner • Guard Door • Koopa no Yukidaruma • Papercraft Bowser • Papercraft Bowser Jr.
Buildings Bowser's Castle • Bowser's Galaxy Generator • Koopamart • Temple of Koopa
Vehicles Bone Rattler • Flame Runner • Gilded King • Holiday King • Koopa Cruiser • Koopa King • Silver King
Related items Bowser Bomb • Bowser Candy • Bowser Capsule • Bowser Suit • Bowser's Shell • Grand Spiky Shell • Koopa Kid Orb • Spiky Shell
[Edit]
Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels / Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Characters Playable Mario • Luigi
Unplayable Mushroom King • Mushroom retainer • Princess Toadstool • Boo2 • Yoshi2
Worlds Super Mario Bros. World 1 • World 2 • World 3 • World 4 • World 5 • World 6 • World 7 • World 8 • Hard Mode
The Lost Levels World 1 • World 2 • World 3 • World 4 • World 5 • World 6 • World 7 • World 8 • World 9 • World A • World B • World C • World D
Misc. Coin Heaven • Minus World • Sub-area • Warp Zone
Items 1 up Mushroom • Coin • Fire Flower • Magic Mushroom • Poisonous Mushroom1,2 • Red Coin2 • Starman • Yoshi Egg2
Objects ? Block • 3-2-1 Block2 • Ax • Balance Scale • Beanstalk • Brick Block • Bridge • Buzzy shell • Cloud • Coral • Door1 • Dotted-Line Block2 • Face Block2 • Fireworks • Flagpole • Flimsy Lift • Hidden Block • Horsehair plant • Jumping board • Koopa shell • Lift • Pipe • POW Block3 • Small cloud • Staircase • Super Mushroom • Super Spring1,2 • Water • Wind1
Forms Fiery Mario • Invincible Mario • Regular Mario • Super Mario
Enemies and obstacles Bloober • Bottomless pit • Bowser's Brother1,2 • Bullet Bill • Buzzy Beetle • Cheep-cheep • Enemy clone3 • Fire-Bar • Hammer Brother • Koopa Paratroopa • Koopa Troopa • Koopa's fire • Lakitu • Lava • Little Goomba • Piranha Plant • Podoboo • Sky Blooper1,2 • Spike Trap2 • Spiny • Spiny's egg • Turtle Cannon
Bosses Bowser • Fake Bowser
Miscellaneous Gallery (The Lost Levels · Deluxe) • Glitches (The Lost Levels) • Media • Pre-release and unused content • References in later media • Staff (Deluxe) • Super Mario Bros.: Mario Syndrome
Related games All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. • BS Super Mario Collection • Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. • Super Mario All-Stars (+ Super Mario World · Limited Edition) • Super Mario Bros. 35 • Super Mario Bros. Special • VS. Super Mario Bros.
1 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
2 Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
3 Super Mario Bros. 35
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