Fortress Boss (Super Mario Bros. 3)
|
It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this article be uploaded. Specifics: Sheet music excerpt Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this article. See the help page for help getting started. |
- "Boss Fortress" and "Fortress Boss BGM" redirect here. For other musical themes that also play during boss battles, see Category:Battle themes.
| "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 (Common time) | ||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
| |||
"Fortress Boss",[1] also known as "Boss Fortress",[2] "Boss Music",[3] or "Fortress Boss BGM",[4] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario Bros. 3, where it plays during all boss battles (excluding Bowser).
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3 / Super Mario All-Stars / Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
|
|
It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The original NES version of the Bowser's letter jingle Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
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.
A remix of the intro of "Fortress Boss" with some of its percussion omitted plays when Bowser's letter is shown after the player completes World 7-Airship.
In the Super Nintendo Entertainment System remake of Super Mario Bros. 3 in Super Mario All-Stars, arrangements of "Fortress Boss" and the Bowser's letter jingle play for the same purposes as in the original game.
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Advance 4: 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 All-Stars | File info 0:30 |
| Bowser's Letter - The arrangement heard in Super Mario All-Stars | File info 0:03 |
| 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]
- "Bowser Jr. Battle (New Super Mario Bros.)" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Bowser Jr. Battle (New Super Mario Bros. Wii).
New Super Mario Bros. features two arrangements of "Fortress Boss"
An arrangement of "Fortress Boss" plays during boss battles in the castle levels. It is titled "Boss Battle" in the Nintendo Music app. The version of "Boss Battle" included in the Nintendo Music app initially had a noticeably slower tempo than that of the original game, but this has since been fixed.
The intro of the theme that plays during boss battles against Bowser Jr. is an arrangement of the intro of "Fortress Boss". It is titled "Bowser Jr. Battle" in the Nintendo Music app.
| 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 articles: Koopaling Battle, Bowser Jr. Battle (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii features three arrangements of "Fortress Boss".
An arrangement of "Fortress Boss" based on the New Super Mario Bros. arrangement plays during the boss battles against the Koopalings and Kamek in each of the game's eight tower levels.
The intro of the theme that plays during boss battles against the Koopalings in each of the game's seven regular castle levels is an arrangement of the intro of "Fortress Boss".
The intro of the theme that plays during boss battles against Bowser Jr. in World 4-
Airship, World 6-Airship, and World 8-Airship is an arrangement of the intro of "Bowser Jr. Battle" from New Super Mario Bros., which itself is an arrangement of the intro of "Fortress Boss".
| Tower Battle - The arrangement heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:30 |
| Koopaling Battle - 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. 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 New Super Mario Bros. Wii arrangement of "Fortress Boss" 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.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, the original version of "Fortress Boss" plays whenever the "Boss Music" sound effect is triggered in Super Mario Bros. 3-style levels.
Super Mario Run[edit]
In Super Mario Run, the New Super Mario Bros. Wii arrangement of "Fortress Boss" 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]
|
|
It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In Mario Strikers Charged, an arrangement of "Fortress Boss" is incorporated into the theme that plays during the cutscene of Bowser falling onto the field before the match starts and whenever Bowser scores a goal.
Mario Strikers: Battle League[edit]
|
|
It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In Mario Strikers: Battle League, a metal arrangement of "Fortress Boss" is one of two themes that can play when both halves of the stadium are Lava Castle.
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 arranged by Yusuke Takahama can play in the Luigi's Mansion stage. It also plays when encountering False Peach and/or Zelda in The Subspace Emissary. It is titled "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)" in the game's sound test. This arrangement was originally able to be played in the Delfino Plaza stage,[5] but in the final game, it cannot play in that stage.
| 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, "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl 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" arranged by Akihiro Honda with recorded instruments that replicate the original chiptune sound can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. It is titled "Fortress Boss - Super Mario Bros. 3" in the game's sound test. This arrangement also quotes "World 6 Map (Ice Land)" and "World 8 Map (Dark Land)" from Super Mario Bros. 3 near the end, and samples the sound effect of a vine growing from a ? Block, "Power-Up", and "Pipe Travel / Power-Down". "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl also returns and can play in the same stages. It is formatted as "Castle / Boss Fortress - Super Mario World / SMB 3" in the game's sound test.
| Fortress Boss - Super Mario Bros. 3 - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | File info 0:30 |
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit]
|
|
It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
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.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition[edit]
In Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, the New Super Mario Bros. Wii arrangement of "Fortress Boss" plays during all boss battles (sans the Koopalings, Bowser Jr., and Bowser).
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[edit]
In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, a brief medley arrangement of "Fortress Boss" and "Enter Bowser Jr.!" from Super Mario Galaxy plays when Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings appear on the track.
| Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings Appear - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | File info 0:12 |
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, a progressive metal arrangement of "Fortress Boss" can play on VS Race routes coming from Airship Fortress, Wario Shipyard, Dry Bones Burnout, and Bowser's Castle during any time of day, and on any VS Race route during nighttime. It is titled "Fortress Boss BGM (Super Mario Bros. 3)" in the Nintendo Music app.
| Fortress Boss BGM (Super Mario Bros. 3) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
Other appearances[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3, Hop! Step! Jump![edit]
|
|
It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
The Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3, Hop! Step! Jump! album features a medley arrangement of various themes from Super Mario Bros. 3 arranged by Ikuro Fujiwara, including "Fortress Boss". It is titled "Super Mario Bros. 3 —Nonstop Special Dance Version—".
Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music[edit]
|
|
It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
The Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music compilation album features a unique arrangement of "Fortress Boss" arranged by Kazumi Totaka. It was performed by Mitsuhiro Hikino on guitar, Kenta Nagata on bass, and Totaka on digital guitar.
Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live[edit]
The "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series featured a live big band jazz medley arrangement of "Ground BGM", "Athletic BGM", "World Clear", "World 1 Map (Grass Land)", "Fortress Boss", and "Ending" from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Gallery[edit]
Image for the "Hurry Up!" version of "Fortress Boss" from Super Mario Bros. 3 on Nintendo Music
Image for "Boss Battle" from New Super Mario Bros. on Nintendo Music
Image for "Bowser Jr. 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 "Fortress Boss BGM (Super Mario Bros. 3)" from Mario Kart World 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 | Soyo Oka | |
| Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | Soyo Oka | |
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | Taiju Suzuki | |
| New Super Mario Bros. | Nintendo DS | 2006 | Arrangement | "Boss Battle"[1] | |
| "Bowser Jr. Battle"[1] | |||||
| Mario Strikers Charged | Wii | 2007 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)"[6] | Yusuke Takahama |
| New Super Mario Bros. Wii | Wii | 2009 | Arrangement | ||
| Kenta Nagata[7] | |||||
| Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition | Wii | 2010 | Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | Soyo Oka | |
| New Super Mario Bros. U | Wii U | 2012 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | "Boom Boom Battle"[1] | |
| New Super Luigi U | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | "Boom Boom Battle"[1] | |
| New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | "Boom Boom Battle"[1] | |
| 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)"[8] | Yusuke Takahama |
| Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | ||
| Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | ||
| Super Mario Maker | Wii U | 2015 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Super Mario Run | iOS, Android | 2016 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Arrangement | "Fortress Boss - Super Mario Bros. 3"[9] | Akihiro Honda |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Castle / Boss Fortress - Super Mario World / SMB 3"[9] | Yusuke Takahama | |||
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | "Boom Boom Battle"[1] | |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Original | "Boss Music"[3] | 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 (Super Mario Bros. 3)"[1] |
Film and television[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 | 1990 | Arrangement | Michael Tavera |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3, Hop! Step! Jump! | 1989 | Arrangement | "Super Mario Bros. 3 —Nonstop Special Dance Version—" | Ikuro Fujiwara |
| 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 |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nintendo Music) | 2025 | Original | "Fortress Boss" | Koji Kondo |
| New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Nintendo Music) | 2025 | Past arrangement (New Super Mario Bros. Wii) | "Boom Boom Battle" | |
| Mario Kart World (Nintendo Music) | 2026[a] | Past arrangement (Mario Kart World) | "Fortress Boss BGM (Super Mario Bros. 3)" |
- ^ Added to the album on June 15, 2026
Live performances[edit]
| Event | Year | Location | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live | 2015 | Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan and Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan | Arrangement | Super Mario Special Band |
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 d e f g h i j Nintendo Music
- ^ Super Smash Bros. series sound tests
- ^ a b Super Mario Maker 2 sound effect
- ^ Mario Kart World pause menu
- ^ 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
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ^ New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos
- ^ Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sound test
- ^ a b Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
