Airship
An Airship is a large, propeller and Rocket Engine-driven ship that can soar through the sky. Airships are most commonly equipped with cannons (which can launch cannonballs), Bullet Bills and Bob-ombs.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario Bros. 3
In Super Mario Bros. 3, several Airships are used by Bowser and his Koopalings in their invasion of the Mushroom World. Mario or Luigi would need to avoid the various obstacles and the Rocky Wrench crew of an Airship to reach its main cabin, where the Airship's captain could be fought. If Mario or Luigi failed to conquer an Airship, it would fly away to another location on the world map. However, if the Airship was weighed down by an Anchor, it would be unable to do so.
Super Mario World
In Super Mario World, a crashed, ruined Airship, named the Sunken Ghost Ship, can be explored in Soda Lake.[1] Completion of this sunken Airship is necessary to unlock the Valley of Bowser's entrance.
Super Mario 64
In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, what may be an Airship appears in Rainbow Ride. Wind blows there, and a Lakitu, Bob-omb, and Goomba appear aboard it. In one mission, Wario needs to use his metal ability to grab a Star on this Airship (in the original the metal form wasn't necessary). In addition to the Super Smash Bros. series, this Airship would later be seen in Mario Party (housing the Luigi's Engine Room board), and, interestingly, its rather aberrant winged design appears to be based on a Japanese advert for Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, Bowser and his Koopa Troop attack Princess Peach's Castle with Airships. Later in the game, Mario will have to fight enemies on Airships. There are three Airship stages. In the Good Egg Galaxy, two Airships are commanded by King Kaliente. In the Space Junk Galaxy, a larger group of Airships are lead by Kamella. Finally, an entire fleet Airships are lead by Bowser Jr.. Bowser Jr. also rides a small Airship throughout the game.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
An airship also appears at the beginning of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, where Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings carry off Princess Peach in it. In Worlds 4. 6 and 8 Bowser Jr. will be battled on an airship instead of a Castle or Tower like the rest of his siblings.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
A single Airship, owned by Bowser and only ever referred to as the Doomship, appeared regularly throughout The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3; like its game counterparts, the Doomship was equipped with a large amount of artillery and also possessed a trait not seen in any game's featuring Airships, the ability to teleport to other locations. The Doomship was built by Kooky von Koopa.[2]
Nintendo Comics System
"Mutiny on the Fungi"
In Nintendo Comics System, an Airship only ever made one appearance, in the issue "Mutiny on the Fungi", which had Bowser and his crew of Koopa Troopas and Mushroom People using an Airship to steal various treasures.
Nintendo Adventure Books
Airships also appeared in several Nintendo Adventure Books, where they were used by Bowser and the Koopalings; like in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, the Airships of Nintendo Adventure Books were only ever referred to by the moniker of Doomship.
Super Smash Bros. series
The Mushroom Kingdom: Rainbow Cruise/Rainbow Ride stage featured in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl would give the Super Mario 64 Airship a return appearance; it is the beginning platform in these stages, and carries players left until it hits a platform-filled area and sinks, only to be generated again later as the automatically-scrolling stage loops back to its beginning. Of note is that this interpretation of the Rainbow Ride Airship is actually more Airship-like than the original one; while Super Mario 64 showed it to only have wings keeping it afloat, the Super Smash Bros. series also gives it the propellers common on traditional Airships.
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart DS
In Mario Kart DS, the race course Airship Fortress appears in the Star Cup and partially takes place on an Airship, which is in the midst of attacking a collapsing fortress. Like the Airships of Super Mario Bros. 3, the Airship portion of Mario Kart DS's Airship Fortress track is filled with Rocky Wrenches, Bullet Bills and Rocket Engines. Also of note is that more of the inner workings of Airships are seen in this game; the Airship explored features, in addition to the deck, a storage room, boiler room, and a very large cannon.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3
In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Black Mage, White Mage and Ninja's court, the Rainbow Ship, is a large Airship adorned with various statues and a large basketball court on it.
Trivia
- The Airships in Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii share music with those of Super Mario Bros. 3.
- While Airships are absent from Paper Mario, their music is remixed for the Koopa Bros.' Bill Blaster attack on Mario and his partners.
- While airships are largely absent from the RPG series, the Koopa Cruiser seems to be Bowser's personal airship in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. It is quite different from the other airships of the series.
