Bowser BGM

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This article is about the musical theme from Super Mario World. For other musical themes associated with and/or named after Bowser, see Category:Bowser's themes.
"Bowser BGM"
"Bowser BGM" in Super Mario World
The image for "Bowser BGM (Phase 1)" from Super Mario World on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Genre Thrash metal
Key E minor
First appearance Super Mario World (1990)
Latest appearance Mario Kart World (2025)

"Bowser BGM",[1] also known as "Final Boss",[2] is a thrash metal-styled musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario World, where it plays during the final boss battle against Bowser. The opening of the theme sounds very similar to "World 8 Map (Dark Land)" from Super Mario Bros. 3.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario World[edit]

Super Mario World marks the first appearance of "Bowser BGM", and it returns in the port of the game included in Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World for the same purpose. It is also included in the official albums Super Mario World and Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music.

Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

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In the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario World, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays for the same purpose as in the original game. The electric guitar used in the first phase version of the arrangement is out of sync compared to the second and third phase versions, playing one verse earlier than normal.

Super Mario Maker[edit]

In Super Mario Maker, the intro portion of "Bowser BGM" plays when the player completes a level as Costume Mario with the Bowser costume.

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

In Super Mario Odyssey, a brief excerpt of "Bowser BGM" plays during the cutscene when Mario captures Bowser at the end of the game, which features a screenshot of the final boss battle from Super Mario World as one of Bowser's past memories.

Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

In Super Mario Maker 2, the original version of "Bowser BGM" plays whenever the "Final Boss" sound effect is triggered in Super Mario World-style levels. The intro portion of the theme (sans the final note) is omitted.

Super Mario World television series[edit]

In the Super Mario World animated series, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" is featured in the episode "Send in the Clown".

Mario Kart series[edit]

Super Mario Kart[edit]

In Super Mario Kart, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays in all Bowser Castle race courses: Bowser Castle 1, Bowser Castle 2, and Bowser Castle 3. It is titled "Bowser Castle" in the Nintendo Music app. It is also included in the official album Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music, where it is simply titled "Castle".

Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser Castle - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Kart
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Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]

In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, an arrangement of "Bowser Castle" from Super Mario Kart with chiptune instrumentation plays in the extra tracks Bowser Castle 1, Bowser Castle 2, and Bowser Castle 3.

Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser Castle (Extra Track) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart: Super Circuit
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Mario Kart Tour[edit]

In Mario Kart Tour, the original version of "Bowser Castle" from Super Mario Kart plays in SNES Bowser Castle 3.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

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In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as part of Wave 6 of the Booster Course Pass, a heavy metal arrangement of "Bowser Castle" from Super Mario Kart plays in SNES Bowser Castle 3. It is likewise titled "SNES Bowser Castle 3" in the Nintendo Music app. The AKAI S1000 brass hits from the original SNES version are retained, though their sound also deviates from the original at times. A looping drum set beat is added to the instrumentation whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.

The version of the theme that plays during the final lap features a unique intro; this distinction is shared with "Rock Rock Mountain" and "DK Jungle" in Mario Kart 7, "Toad Harbor", "Mute City", and "GBA Ribbon Road" in Mario Kart 8, and "Peach Beach" in Mario Kart World.

Icon of an audio speaker. SNES Bowser Castle 3 - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Icon of an audio speaker. SNES Bowser Castle 3 (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Mario Kart World[edit]

In Mario Kart World, a metalstep arrangement of "Bowser Castle" from Super Mario Kart can play on VS Race routes coming from Airship Fortress, Wario Shipyard, Dry Bones Burnout, and Bowser's Castle.

Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser Castle - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World
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Itadaki Street series[edit]

Itadaki Street DS[edit]

In Itadaki Street DS, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays when one player has reached the target net worth of a Super Mario-series board. It is titled 「魔王クッパBGM」 (Maō Kuppa BGM, "Evil King Bowser BGM") in the game's sound test.

Icon of an audio speaker. 魔王クッパBGM - The arrangement heard in Itadaki Street DS
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Fortune Street[edit]

In Fortune Street, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays when one player has reached the target net worth of a Super Mario-series board.

Icon of an audio speaker. Target Net Worth Reached - The arrangement heard in Fortune Street
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Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario World Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1990 Original "Bowser BGM"[1] Koji Kondo
Super Mario Kart Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1992 Arrangement "Bowser Castle"[1] Soyo Oka
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1994 Original "Bowser BGM"[1] Koji Kondo
Mario Kart: Super Circuit Game Boy Advance 2001 Arrangement
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 Game Boy Advance 2001 Arrangement
Itadaki Street DS Nintendo DS 2007 Arrangement 「魔王クッパBGM」 (Maō Kuppa BGM)[3]
Fortune Street Wii 2011 Arrangement
Super Mario Maker Wii U 2015 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario Maker 2 Nintendo Switch 2019 Original "Final Boss"[2] Koji Kondo
Mario Kart Tour iOS, Android 2023[a] Past arrangement (Super Mario Kart)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch 2023[b] Arrangement "SNES Bowser Castle 3"[1]
Remix
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement "Bowser Castle"[4]
  1. ^ Added in the 2023 Bowser Tour on May 2, 2023
  2. ^ Added in Wave 6 of the Booster Course Pass on November 9, 2023

Film and television[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario World 1991 Arrangement Michael Tavera

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario World 1991 Original 「魔王クッパBGM」 (Maō Kuppa BGM) Koji Kondo
Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music 2004 Original 「クッパ」 (Kuppa) Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario Kart) "Castle" Soyo Oka

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Nintendo Music 2024 Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) "SNES Bowser Castle 3"
2025[a] Past arrangement (Super Mario Kart) "Bowser Castle" Soyo Oka
2025[b] Original "Bowser BGM" Koji Kondo
  1. ^ Added on January 20, 2025
  2. ^ Added on February 3, 2025

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 魔王クッパBGM[1]
Maō Kuppa BGM
Evil King Bowser BGM

References[edit]