Editing Castle

{{about|the type of level found throughout the Mario franchise|the [[Super Mario Maker]] sample level of the same name|[[Castle (level)]]|the [[Super Mario World]] musical composition of the same name|[[Castle (theme)]]}}
{{distinguish|Fortress}}
{{multiple image
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|image1=CastleNSMB.png
|caption1=A Castle in ''New Super Mario Bros.''
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|caption2=A Castle in ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''
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[[File:Castle Icon.png|frame]]
'''Palaces''' (originally called '''Castles''') are a common type of level in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]]. Usually found at the end of each world, they are typically where the [[Mario]] [[Luigi|Bros]]. and their allies confront the world's boss before moving on to the next world. Besides housing the boss, palaces also tend to be rather hazardous places, with lava being more frequently found in these places than in most other areas in the series.

==History==
===''Super Mario'' series===
====''Super Mario Bros.''====
[[File:SMBCastle.png|thumb|left|A Castle in ''Super Mario Bros.'']]
In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', all castles are made of red bricks (except for the one in [[World 6-3 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 6-3]], which is gray), and all have the same basic shape. The castles can be found at the end of each world, but can also be found at the start of most worlds, aside from World 1, the first level of the game, and World 5, which starts with a [[fortress]] instead of a castle. Inside the first seven castles, the player will have to pass [[Fire Bar]]s, [[lava]] and other assorted dangers in a grey brick interior, leading up to an encounter with a [[fake Bowser]]; defeating the impostor will allow [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] to free a [[Toad (species)|mushroom retainer]], who informs them that their princess is in another castle. Only in World 8's castle do Mario or Luigi confront the real [[Bowser]] himself. Defeating him allows the plumbers to finally rescue [[Princess Peach|Princess Toadstool]]. Smaller castle-like fortresses also appear at the end of every level (except for the fourth level of each of world, where a normal castle appears) and the beginning of each water or underground level, where Mario emerges from and enters a [[Warp Pipe]]. Castles appear to be a fortress stacked upon a larger section.

In ''[[Super Mario Bros. Deluxe]]'', after completing a castle level, a cinematic is shown of Mario on the world map jumping repeatedly on the castle and causing it to collapse into rubble with a flag on top before moving on to the next world.

====''Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels''====
As ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'' is almost identical in gameplay and design as to ''Super Mario Bros.'' in terms of gameplay, castles play the exact same role in this game, and even look almost exactly the same as they did in their predecessor. However, Bowser can now be  confronted in two of the game's castles rather than simply the last one.

====''Super Mario Bros. 2''====
Castles are fairly sparse in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', with only one genuine castle making an appearance. This castle is located in the clouds, and is inhabited by the game's final boss, [[Wart]], who had captured it from the [[Ōsama|King of Subcon]]. This castle is unique amongst most castles in the ''Super Mario'' franchise in that it looks more like a palace than a simple, lava-flooded citadel.

====''Super Mario Bros. 3''====
Castles (also known as "'''fortresses'''"<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' English instruction booklet, page 25.</ref>) in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'' are found at the end of every world, but function completely differently than their predecessors do. Instead of housing the boss, each of the first seven castles will house one of the [[kings]] of the [[Mushroom World]] who had just been turned into an animal by one of the [[Koopalings]]. After speaking to the Toad accompanying the king, Mario/Luigi will board one of the Koopalings' [[Airships]], where they will confront the Koopaling in battle. Defeating the Koopaling will cause Mario to fall into to the castle with the wand in hand, where he is greeted by the newly restored king and given a letter from Princess Peach.

The last castle - Bowser's Castle - is a typical citadel-esque castle like the original ''Super Mario Bros.'', containing lava and a variety of traps. The level ends with a battle against Bowser, after which the Mario Bros. can rescue Princess Peach and finish the game. In addition to castles, a new level type also called a [[Fortress|Mini-Fortress]] appears which functions similarly to a castle: these fortresses always end in a battle against [[Boom Boom]], who must be defeated in order to access some areas of each world.

====''Super Mario World''====
[[File:SMW castle entrance.png|thumb|Mario preparing to enter a castle in ''Super Mario World'']]
Like most of its predecessors, in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', castles will be found at the end of each world, where Mario will confront the world's boss—usually one of the Koopalings. Yoshi cannot enter castles, as shown in the cutscene at the beginning of each castle; this forces Mario or Luigi to head to the boss without him. The technical reason of why this happens is that Yoshi is not compatible with some enemies inside the castles, notably [[Lava Bubble]]s.

After Mario has defeated one of the seven Koopalings, he will save a single [[Baby Yoshi]] and destroy the castle after exiting it. After the cutscene, Mario proceeds to the next world, giving the player a chance to save the game. The castles cannot normally be revisited in this game, being replayable only if the player holds both the {{button|SNES|L}} and {{button|snes|R}} buttons at the same time while on the castle on the world map.

==== ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'' ====
In ''Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins'', Mario is revealed to have [[Mario's castle|a castle of his own]], which had been invaded by [[Wario]] while Mario was rescuing [[Princess Daisy]] in [[Sarasaland]]. Mario must retrieve the [[Golden Coin|6 Golden Coins]] to unlock the door to his castle to stop Wario in order to reclaim what is rightfully his. The castle appears as the final level of the game, which was made dangerous because of Wario, and Mario confronts him at the end of the level.

====''Super Mario 64'' / ''Super Mario 64 DS''====
[[File:Peach's Castle SM64 exterior.png|thumb|left|A view of the Mushroom Castle from ''Super Mario 64'']]
In ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' and ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the main hub world is the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]]. However, "castles" in the sense of the boss levels of the 2D ''Super Mario'' games do not appear in this game.

====''New Super Mario Bros.''====
[[File:Castle NSMB.png|frame]]
After a 13½-year hiatus, ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''-esque Castles return in ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'' In this game, castles function similarly to how they had in prior 2D Mario games, being a dangerous, usually lava-flooded level that ends in a boss fight. A variety of boss enemies appear in these castles, from [[Petey Piranha]] to Bowser himself.

The beginning of the game also features Peach's Castle, which is struck by lightning and ignited in the opening cutscene. While Mario is running off to investigate this mishap, Bowser Jr. appears and kidnaps Peach, forcing Mario to abandon the castle and give chase to the Koopa prince. The castle thereafter serves as part of the scenery of the first world. It can also be seen in [[World 1-1 (New Super Mario Bros.)|1-1]].

====''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''====
Castles in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' work in a similar way to how they acted in the [[New Super Mario Bros.|previous game]]. Mario and his allies traverse a dangerous, usually lava-filled area before having a rematch with one of the Koopalings; before the battle begins, [[Kamek|Magikoopa]] appears and uses his magic to alter the battle in ways to make Mario's battle more difficult, such as increasing the size of [[Lemmy Koopa]]'s ball or flooding [[Wendy O. Koopa]]'s boss room. The final castle pits Mario and co. against Bowser, who is fought similarly to the original Super Mario Bros. Upon his defeat, Magikoopa appears again and uses his magic to turn Bowser giant, forcing the heroes to flee from the revived Koopa king for the rest of the stage.

====''Super Mario 3D Land''====
Castles also appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''. They once again serve as locations where bosses are fought, but unlike prior games are only found in four of the main eight worlds; one each in Worlds 1 and World 5, and two in World 8. The first two castles in the game are home to two [[Tail Bowser]]s, while both in World 8 are Bowser's castles, and pit Mario against the Koopa King himself. In the Special Worlds, castles appear more prominently; however, they are almost always time trials, giving the player 30 seconds to complete. [[Dry Bowser]] resides inside the [[Special 1]], [[Special 5]], and [[Special 8]] castles. Also unlike prior games, all the castles in this game have a giant [[Goal Pole]] at the end.

====''New Super Mario Bros. 2''====
Castles, along with [[Tower]]s, return in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', acting much like it did in the previous games. The [[Koopalings]] appear as the bosses only in the castles, as the Towers are occupied by [[Reznor]]s. A [[Hidden Block]] containing a [[Super Leaf]] can be found at the end of every castle before a Koopaling battle, with the exception of [[Lemmy Koopa]]'s castle, which has a [[Fire Flower]] in a Hidden Block at the end.

====''New Super Mario Bros. U''====
Castles and [[tower]]s return yet again in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', acting much like it did in the previous ''New Super Mario Bros.'' titles. However, the path to the [[Koopalings|bosses]] are different. Mario and the other characters now have to shoot themselves out of a cannon to reach the airships the Koopalings reside in.

====''Super Mario 3D World''====
Castles appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', similar to ''Super Mario 3D Land'' and the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' games. Only some bosses have castles before them, however - other bosses have either a different kind of stage before the boss fight, or have the whole stage dedicated to the boss fight. Once again, the Goal Pole can be found after defeating the boss, in contrast to most of the 2D ''Super Mario'' games. The seventh world of the game is also named "[[World Castle]]".

====''Super Mario Bros. Wonder''====
In ''[[Super Mario Bros. Wonder]]'', Castles, now called '''Palaces''', appear as the final level of every world except [[Shining Falls]], [[Fungi Mines]], and [[Petal Isles]]. Every palace houses a [[Royal Seed]] and a boss fight with [[Bowser Jr.]] In the game's introduction, Bowser uses Wonder power to alter the palaces after transforming into [[Castle Bowser]], turning them into green buildings filled with hazardous ooze that summons enemies. After the player defeats Bowser Jr., the palace is restored.

According to a Japanese article, the palaces were built in each world by their leaders, who ruled the [[Flower Kingdom]] together, as their home and as a way to protect the Royal Seeds. When they retired, the leaders left the palaces and most of them remained, while those in Shining Falls, Fungi Mines, and Petal Isles disappeared.<ref>(January 12, 2024). [https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/article/81448599-29e6-4579-b553-6c95c7201f65 全て合わせて120以上。マリオたちが冒険するフラワー王国のいろんなコースをご紹介。【ワンダーの世界へ Vol.12】] ''nintendo.co.jp''. Retrieved January 12, 2024. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20240112160425/https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/article/81448599-29e6-4579-b553-6c95c7201f65 Archived] January 12, 2024, 16:04:25 UTC via Wayback Machine.)</ref>

===''Mario Kart'' series===
Several of the racecourses in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]] have had castles, either as part of the course or as part of the background. The most prominent castle in the series is Bowser's Castle, as it appears as one of the courses in every game in the series.

[[Peach's Castle]] has also had some appearances in the series. The [[N64 Royal Raceway|Royal Raceway]] track of ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' features a castle that can be explored outside. In ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''{{'}}s [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)|Rainbow Road]], the castle can be spotted on top of Bowser's Castle, like in ''[[Paper Mario]]'', in the background. In ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', it appears on [[GCN Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]] and vaguely on [[GCN Mushroom Bridge|Mushroom Bridge]], but also as part of the track's background. The back of Peach's Castle is featured in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', on the [[DS Peach Gardens|Peach Gardens]] course. In ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', the castle once again appears in the background of [[Mario Circuit (Mario Kart Wii)|Mario Circuit]]. ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' also features Peach's Castle (once again on [[3DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]]), although this time it is a part of the track and the player is able to drive up a windy path inside of the castle. ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' features Peach's Castle in the courses [[Mario Circuit (Mario Kart 8)|Mario Circuit]] and {{classic-link|N64|Royal Raceway}}.

===''Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island'' / ''Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3''===
[[File:SMW2YI castle entrance.png|thumb|Yoshi outside [[The Potted Ghost's Castle]] in ''[[Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''.]]
Like in most other games, the castles in this game are found at the end of the World the Player is in. However, the  creature found at the end usually does not intend to harm [[Baby Mario]] and [[Yoshi]], until [[Kamek]] comes, and transforms it into a huge boss for the Player to fight, trying to slow down or even stop Yoshi from reaching [[Baby Bowser]]'s Castle. Once the player gets to Baby Bowser's castle, even though it is guarded by Kamek, the player does not get to fight Kamek; instead, the player will fight Baby Bowser, powered up with Kamek's magic.

===''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars''===
[[File:SMRPG castle entrance.png|thumb|left|The entrance of Bowser's Keep from ''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' before being destroyed by [[Exor]].]]
In ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'', near the beginning of the game, Mario will go to [[Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Keep]] to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Also, castle-like areas appear in some places.

===''Paper Mario'' series===
====''Paper Mario''====
In ''[[Paper Mario]]'', [[Bowser]] lifts [[Bowser’s Castle|his castle]], and by extension [[Peach’s Castle]], into the sky.

====''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''====
[[File:Introduction Of Hooktail Castle.png|thumb|[[Hooktail Castle]], the castle that appears in ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''.]]
In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', [[Hooktail Castle]] appears in the first chapter of the game. [[Bowser's Castle]] also appears, but only serves as an interlude. [[The Thousand-Year Door]]'s [[Palace of Shadow|interior]] can also be considered a castle-themed location, since castle enemies such as [[Dry Bones]] appear.
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====''Super Paper Mario''====
[[File:Castle Bleck.png|thumb|left|[[Castle Bleck]] in ''Super Paper Mario'']]
''[[Super Paper Mario]]'' includes [[Castle Bleck]]. Bowser's Castle again appears only in the prologue cutscene, although Bowser claims a smaller castle in [[The Bitlands]].

====''Paper Mario: Sticker Star''====
In ''[[Paper Mario: Sticker Star]]'', [[Bowser's Sky Castle]] appears.

====''Paper Mario: Color Splash''====
In ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', Bowser's Castle is known as [[Black Bowser's Castle]], due to Bowser [[Black Bowser|being possessed]].
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====''Paper Mario: The Origami King''====
[[File:PMTOK Origami Castle.jpg|thumb|[[Origami Castle]] in ''Paper Mario: The Origami King'']]
In ''[[Paper Mario: The Origami King]]'', both Peach and Bowser's castles appear. The former is relocated to a distant mountain and turned into [[Origami Castle]] by [[King Olly]], and it is restored to its original conditions after his defeat; the latter crash-landed into [[Shangri-Spa]] and is where the Green Streamer is located and [[Scissors (boss)|Scissors]] is fought.

===''Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games''===
A [[Brick Block]] structure in the shape of a castle from ''Super Mario Bros.'' floating on a cloud appears as an obstacle in [[Golf Plus]] in the [[Nintendo 3DS]] version of ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Nintendo 3DS)|Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''. It functions as a simple obstacle that does not let balls pass through with empty windows.

===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
In ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', [[Luigi]] can be seen running toward an almost run-down-looking castle while trying to escape from some pursuing [[Dry Bones]] after arriving at the [[Dark Land]]s as a result of him accidentally being separated from Mario while traveling through the [[mysterious pipe]]. When he enters the castle, he is captured by a group of [[Shy Guy]]s.

==Profiles==
===''New Super Mario Bros. 2''===
*'''European Website bio:''' ''"The last level in each World is a Castle where you'll face off against one of Bowser's team of shifty types – keep going and you'll be on your way to the next cool World before you know it."''

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
LostLevels LargeFortress.png|''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''
SMW MapIcon Castle.png|''[[Super Mario World]]''
LargeFortress SMAS.png|''[[Super Mario All-Stars]]''
SMB NES Bowser Screenshot.png|The Bowser fight in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
SMB3 Bowser Battle.png|The Bowser fight in ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''
SMW IggyKoopa.png|[[Iggy Koopa]]'s castle battle in ''[[Super Mario World]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap={{hover|城|しろ}}<ref>''Super Mario Bros. 3'' Japanese instruction booklet, page 24.</ref><br>''Shiro''<br>お{{hover|城|しろ}}<ref>''Super Mario World'' Japanese instruction booklet (fold-out)</ref><br>''Oshiro''<br>キャッスル<br>''Kyassuru''
|JapM=Castle
|Spa=Castillo
|SpaM=Castle
|Fre=Château
|FreM=Castle
|Dut=Kasteel
|DutM=Castle
|Ger=Burg<br>Kastell<br>Festung
|GerM=Castle<br>Castle<br>Fortress
|Ita=Castello
|ItaM=Castle
|Por=Castelo
|PorM=Castle
|Rus=Замок
|RusR=Zamok
|RusM=Castle
|Kor=성
|KorR=Seong
|KorM=Castle
|Chi=城堡
|ChiR=Chéngbǎo
|ChiM=Castle
}}

==Trivia==
*In the 2010 version of [[Nintendo Monopoly]], there is a [[Brick Block]] card that rewards the player with $100 for inheriting a castle.
*Every castle in the ''New Super Mario Bros.'' series has a [[Hidden Block]] next to the boss door, containing a power-up.
*In the [[Pikipedia:Pikmin Adventure|Pikmin Adventure]] attraction of ''[[Nintendo Land]]'', stage 14, "Out of the Darkness", features a structure at the start that resembles the castles in ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
*In ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]'', the [[Bowser]] levels at the end of Worlds 2 and 4 are represented in the map as castles.
*In the castle theme of ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'', if the bridge is taken down, all enemies on screen will fall into the lava (even if they are not placed on the bridge).
*In the multiplayer modes of ''[[Super Mario Maker 2]]'', if the player is in an area with the Castle theme when the course is cleared, the castle clear fanfare will play, even if the end of the course is not in the Castle theme.<ref>DarkX2 - Nintendo Gameplays (October 20, 2019). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RURhMQPqe0&t=6m58s Super Mario Maker 2 Multiplayer with Friends!]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved October 22, 2019.</ref>

==References==
<references/>

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[[Category:Castles|*]]
[[Category:Levels]]
[[Category:Homes]]
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[[it:Castello]]