Fortress Boss (Super Mario Bros. 3)
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| "Fortress Boss" | |
|---|---|
| "Fortress Boss" in Super Mario Bros. 3 | |
 Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |
| Key | E minor |
| BPM | 178 |
| Time signature | 4 4 |
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Fortress Boss",[1] also known as "Boss Music",[2] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for the boss battles against Boom Boom and the Koopalings in Super Mario Bros. 3. It has been rearranged as boss music in several games throughout the Super Mario franchise.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
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Super Mario Bros. 3 marks the first appearance of "Fortress Boss". It is also included in the official albums Super Mario World, Game Sound Museum: Super Mario Bros. 3, Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music, Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music, and Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection.
Additionally, when Bowser's letter is shown upon completion of World 7-
Airship, a remix of the theme's intro with some of its percussion removed plays.
Super Mario All-Stars[edit]
In the SNES remake of Super Mario Bros. 3 in Super Mario All-Stars, Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World, and Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition, arrangements of "Fortress Boss" and the Bowser's letter jingle play for the same purposes as in the original game.
 Fortress Boss - The arrangement heard in Super Mario All-Stars | File info 0:30 |
| Bowser's Letter - The arrangement heard in Super Mario All-Stars | File info 0:03 |
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
In Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, arrangements of "Fortress Boss" and the Bowser's letter jingle play for the same purposes as in the original game.
| Fortress Boss - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | File info 0:30 |
| Bowser's Letter - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | File info 0:03 |
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
In New Super Mario Bros., an arrangement of "Fortress Boss", titled "Boss Battle" in the Nintendo Music app, plays during Castle boss battles. The version of "Boss Battle" in the Nintendo Music app has a noticably slower tempo than that of the original game.
Additionally, the intro of "Bowser Jr. Battle" is an arrangement of the intro of "Fortress Boss".
| Boss Battle - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. | File info 0:30 |
| Bowser Jr. Battle - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. | File info 0:30 |
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
- Main article: Bowser Jr. Battle (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" plays during the boss battles against the Koopalings and Kamek in each of the game's eight Tower levels. It is similar to the arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros.
The theme that plays during the boss battles against the Koopalings in each of the game's seven regular Castle levels incorporates an intro that is based on the intro of "Fortress Boss".
The theme that plays during the three boss battles against Bowser Jr. in World 4-
Airship, World 6-Airship, and World 8-Airship incorporates an intro based on the intro of "Bowser Jr. Battle" from New Super Mario Bros., which itself is based on the intro of "Fortress Boss".
| Tower Boss - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Boss - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:30 |
| Bowser Jr. Battle - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:30 |
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
In New Super Mario Bros. 2, the Castle boss battle theme from New Super Mario Bros. Wii plays during the boss battles against the Koopalings in each of the game's seven regular Castle levels. The Tower boss battle theme does not return, as the boss battles against Reznors instead feature a arrangement of "Koopalings BGM" from Super Mario World.
New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe[edit]
In New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, the Tower boss battle theme from New Super Mario Bros. Wii plays during boss battles against Boom Boom, Boss Sumo Bro, and Magikoopa in Tower levels. It is titled "Boom Boom Battle" in the Nintendo Music app.
The Castle boss battle theme from New Super Mario Bros. Wii plays during the boss battles against the Koopalings in each of the game's seven regular Castle levels. It is titled "Koopaling Battle" in the Nintendo Music app.
Super Mario Maker series[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, its Nintendo 3DS port, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, the original version of "Fortress Boss" plays when the "Boss Music" sound effect is triggered in Super Mario Bros. 3-style courses.
Super Mario Run[edit]
In Super Mario Run, the Tower boss battle theme from New Super Mario Bros. Wii plays during boss battles against Boom Boom in the Airship levels Airship Cannons...Fire!, Firing the Airship's Burners, Throwing It All Overboard, and Airship Plunder.
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
Two arrangements of "Fortress Boss" can be heard throughout The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. The first arrangement debuts in "Mind Your Mummy Mommy, Mario" when Mario and his friends are alerted by a mummy on the loose in Desert Land. This arrangement has a different drum mix with an additional backing track. A different version with the in-game drum pattern plays in "Kootie Pie Rocks" when Princess Toadstool is shown in her Milli Vanilli outfit.
The second arrangement, which closely resembles the one from in-game, is used in many episodes. It often plays in action sequences and when trouble is occurring. It first plays in "Reign Storm" when Toad finds out Kooky von Koopa is spying on him and Princess Toadstool in Hawaii.
Mario Strikers series[edit]
Mario Strikers Charged[edit]
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In Mario Strikers Charged, an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" is incorporated into Bowser's theme.
Mario Strikers: Battle League[edit]
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In Mario Strikers: Battle League, a metal arrangement of "Fortress Boss" is one of two themes that can play during a match if Lava Castle is chosen for both halves of the stadium.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a medley arrangement of "Fortress Boss" and "Castle BGM" from Super Mario World, titled "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)" in the game's sound test and arranged by Yusuke Takahama, can play in the Luigi's Mansion stage, as well as when encountering False Peach and/or Zelda in the Subspace Emissary.
The arrangement was originally able to be played in the Delfino Plaza stage[3]; however, it cannot play on that stage in the final game.
| Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Brawl | File info 0:30 |
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Super Smash Bros. Brawl medley arrangement of "Fortress Boss" and "Castle BGM" from Super Mario World returns, with its title instead being formatted as "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World/SMB 3)" in the game's sound test. It can play in the Luigi's Mansion and Super Mario Maker stages.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" by Akihiro Honda appears. This arrangement is titled "Fortress Boss - Super Mario Bros. 3" in the game's sound test. The arrangement also incorporates faithful renditions of "World 6 Map (Ice Land)" and "World 8 Map (Dark Land)", as well as the sound effect of a vine growing from a ? Block, "Power Up, and "Pipe Travel / Power-Down". Recorded instruments replicate the original chiptune sound.
The Super Smash Bros. Brawl medley arrangement of "Fortress Boss" and "Castle BGM" from Super Mario World returns again, with its title instead being formatted as "Castle / Boss Fortress - Super Mario World / SMB 3".
Both tracks can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.
| Fortress Boss - Super Mario Bros. 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | File info 0:30 |
Mario & Sonic series[edit]
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit]
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In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" plays during the second portion of Mario's Figure Skating Spectacular.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: Both arrangements Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
The Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games features two arrangements of "Castle Boss Battle" from New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which are used as Larry and Wendy's themes.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[edit]
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In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" plays when Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings appear on the track.
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, two separate arrangements of "Fortress Boss" (here titled "Fortress Boss BGM" in the game's pause menu) and "Castle Boss Battle" (here titled "Castle Boss" in the game's pause menu) respectively can play during routes in VS Race and in Free Roam for the latter. In Grand Prix, the latter is one of four arrangements that can play on the route from Sky-High Sundae to Wario Shipyard in the Star Cup.
| Fortress Boss BGM - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
| Castle Boss - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie[edit]
An arrangement of "Bowser Jr. Battle" from New Super Mario Bros. Wii can be heard in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.[4]
Other appearances[edit]
Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music[edit]
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In addition to the original version of the theme, the compilation album Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music features an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" by Kazumi Totaka. It was performed by Mitsuhiro Hikino on guitar, Kenta Nagata on bass, and Totaka on digital guitar.
Gallery[edit]
Image for the "Hurry Up!" variant on Nintendo Music
Image for "Boss Battle" from New Super Mario Bros. on Nintendo Music
Image for "Boom Boom Battle" from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Music
Image for "Boom Boom Battle (Hurry Up!)" from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Music
Image for "Koopalings Battle" from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Music
Image for "Koopalings Battle (Hurry Up!)" from New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | Nintendo Entertainment System | 1988 | Original | "Fortress Boss"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario All-Stars | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1993 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | ||
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | Taiju Suzuki | |
| New Super Mario Bros. | Nintendo DS | 2006 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario Strikers Charged | Wii | 2007 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)" | Yusuke Takahama |
| New Super Mario Bros. Wii | Wii | 2009 | Arrangement | Kenta Nagata[5] | |
| Kenta Nagata[6] | |||||
| Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition | Wii | 2010 | Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | ||
| New Super Mario Bros. 2 | Nintendo 3DS | 2012 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | ||
| New Super Mario Bros. U | Wii U | 2012 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | |
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | ||||
| New Super Luigi U | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | |
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | ||||
| New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | |
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | ||||
| Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games | Wii U | 2013 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World/SMB 3)" | Yusuke Takahama |
| Super Mario Maker | Wii U | 2015 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | Wii U | 2016 | Arrangement | ||
| Arrangement | |||||
| Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Super Mario Run | Android, iOS | 2016 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | |
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | ||||
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Arrangement | "Fortress Boss - Super Mario Bros. 3" | Akihiro Honda |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Castle / Boss Fortress - Super Mario World / SMB 3" | Yusuke Takahama | |||
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | |
| Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | Kenta Nagata | ||||
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Original | "Boss Music" | Koji Kondo |
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | Nintendo Switch | 2020 | Arrangement | Ryo Nagamatsu | |
| Mario Strikers: Battle League | Nintendo Switch | 2022 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Fortress Boss BGM"[7] | |
| "Castle Boss"[7] |
Film and television[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 | 1990 | Arrangement | Michael Tavera | |
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | 2026 | Arrangement | Brian Tyler |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario World | 1991 | Original | 「砦のボス」 (Toride no Bosu) | Koji Kondo |
| Game Sound Museum: Super Mario Bros. 3 | 2004 | Original | 「砦のボス」 (Toride no Bosu) | Koji Kondo |
| Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music | 2004 | Original | 「砦のボス～ワーニング～砦のボス ハリーアップ！」 (Toride no Bosu ~ Wāningu ~ Toride no Bosu Harī Appu!) |
Koji Kondo |
| Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music | 2004 | Original | 「砦のボス」 (Toride no Bosu) | Koji Kondo |
| Arrangement | 「砦のボス」 (Toride no Bosu) | Kazumi Totaka | ||
| Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection | 2005 | Original | 「砦のボス」 (Toride no Bosu) | Koji Kondo |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 砦のボス Toride no Bosu |
Fortess Boss | [1] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Nintendo Music
- ^ Super Mario Maker sound effect
- ^ Screenshot of Delfino Plaza's My Music menu in Super Smash Bros. Brawl taken from a pre-release build of the game shown on the Smash Bros. DOJO!! promotional website
- ^ kurttocci (March 5, 2026). #ad main character of smelling SUPER 💪🏻😃 @The Super Mario Galaxy Movie #SuperMarioGalaxyMovie #OldSpicePartner @Old Spice #comedy #foryoupage. TikTok. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
- ^ New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos
- ^ やさしくひける New スーパーマリオブラザーズ Wii. yamaha music media. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Mario Kart World pause menu
