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 his insides are made up of shadows. However, his true form is revealed when his rock armor has been destroyed, revealing a face with yellow eyes and a red glowing tongue or uvula hanging from the bottom. His eyes and body color are extremely similar to those of the Bomb Boos he spawns, though it is not indicated if they are actually related. In his rock form, he also has two enormous stone hands which are used in the second half of the battle. Bouldergeist's attacks include tossing rocks at Mario/Luigi, summoning lines of stalagmites from the floor, and in the second half of the battle, slamming his hands on the ground and punching at Mario/Luigi. He is fought in a plain circular arena. His name is a portmanteau of "boulder" and "poltergeist." He 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 his 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
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 his stone layer. Three hits completely destroy the entire stone layer surrounding Bouldergeist's real form. Once this happens, Mario/Luigi have 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 his old stone layer, and reveals his large rock hands. Bouldergeist then has a greater variety of attacks, as well as a larger form of protection. Mario/Luigi can, however, destroy the hands the same way, but they regenerate after a short time, so Mario/Luigi have to damage Bouldergeist before the hands reappear again. Mario/Luigi must once again swing three Bomb Boos into it, and then swing one final Bomb Boo into his shadow form to defeat the Bouldergeist and claim his Power Star (a Launch Star in Super Mario Galaxy 2). Also, Bouldergeist may shoot golden rocks which reveal a coin. However, he only shoots up to a maximum of 20 coins.
Bouldergeist's attacks consist of a boulder throwing attack that Mario/Luigi can only run away 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/Luigi after they are out of the ground and can be broken with a spin attack. After the boss forms his hands, he has new attacks in addition to the old ones, which change depending on Mario/Luigi's distance. If Mario/Luigi is far enough, Bouldergeist draws back his fist, after which he will try and punch Mario/Luigi. Bouldergeist can't change directions once he starts the attack so he is easily avoided and used to destroy any stone spikes. If Mario/Luigi is close enough, Bouldergeist holds his hands over the surface of the arena, after which he uses a slap attack that crushes Mario/Luigi if not dodged, though it does not cause instant death and only causes them to lose one health point. This is the only instance in the game in which Mario/Luigi can get crushed without instantly dying. Also, Bouldergeist's stone spike attack forms two rows of spikes that Mario/Luigi have to avoid. Bouldergeist's inner form is too weak to attack Mario/Luigi. He can only flee and summon Bomb Boos.
Later, Mario/Luigi must defeat Bouldergeist with one wedge of health under the Daredevil Comet to claim his 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 he does this, his true form appears with a somewhat early design.
Profiles and statistics
Super Mario Galaxy
| Bouldergeist | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Dome | Kitchen | Galaxy | Ghostly Galaxy |
| Mission | Beware of Bouldergeist Bouldergeist's Daredevil Run |
Reward |  
|
Trading card
| Image | Name | Description
|
|---|---|---|
 |
Bouldergeist | In the Ghostly Galaxy, Mario is ultimately challenged to do battle with Bouldergeist to win a Power Star. An evil mound of rocks, this boss throws boulders and punches at Mario. To defeat it, Mario must swing Bomb Boos into it three times. Act fact and don't forget its shadow figure! |
Super Mario Galaxy 2
| Bouldergeist | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| World | World S | Galaxy | Boss Blitz Galaxy |
| Mission | Throwback Throwdown Throwback Throwdown Speed Run Green Star 2 |
Reward | 
|
Gallery
Key artwork
Bouldergeist without arms as its first form
Bouldergeist spawning Bomb Boos
Bouldergeist punching in its second form
Bouldergeist's true form, showing its red glowing tongue-like weak point
Bouldergeist using its crushing attack
Thumbnail from Mario Portal
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[1] | Polta | |
| Le chef des fantômes (in-game)[?] | The boss of the ghosts | ||
| German | Polter[?] | From "poltergeist" | |
| Italian | Rocciospettro[1][2] | 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 |
References
- ^ a b November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 128.
- ^ Colombo, Alessandro (March 9, 2022). Super Mario Mangamania. Edizioni BD (Italian). ISBN 978-88349-07122. Page 7.
