- Not to be confused with Giant Bowser.
| Giga Bowser | |
|---|---|
 Artwork from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | |
| Applies to | Bowser |
| Power(s) given | increased size and strength, various elements added to attacks, immunity to flinching, launching, and being grabbed, |
| First appearance | Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001) |
| Latest appearance | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) |
Giga Bowser is a giant, bestial, and more powerful version of Bowser in the Super Smash Bros. series. He has a more muscular physique and a spikier scaled shell. His horns get longer and curve differently, and the spikes on his collars get longer. Some of Giga Bowser's attacks use elements like ice and electricity, which Bowser cannot use normally. He was created as a throwback to the older "aggressive" look of Bowser from games prior to Super Mario 64.[1] Giga Bowser first appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee as the final boss of Adventure Mode in higher difficulties, and in later games Bowser's Final Smash is to temporarily transform into Giga Bowser.
While Giga Bowser is a version of Bowser, a character from the Super Mario series, Giga Bowser is a character from the Super Smash Bros. series. This is corroborated by how the Super Smash Bros. symbol is displayed next to his damage percentage in Super Smash Bros. Melee and that his spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is listed as being of the Super Smash Bros. series.
HistoryEdit
Super Smash Bros. MeleeEdit
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Giga Bowser is the secret final boss of Adventure Mode. He can only be battled in the mode's final stage, Final Destination, and even then only if the difficulty is set to normal or higher, the player completes all stages prior to Final Destination within 18 minutes, and without using a continue at any point.
If these conditions are met, then the final boss battle is against a black-colored Giant Bowser at Final Destination instead of a green-colored Giant Bowser. Winning the battle against Giant Bowser ends with a cutscene where Bowser's trophy falls off stage and is KOd, but if the conditions for fighting Giga Bowser are met, a second cutscene starts where the trophy floats back onto Final Destination. It is then struck by yellow lightning, which crackles around the trophy as it transforms into Giga Bowser. The game transitions into battle. Unlike Master Hand, but like normal characters, Giga Bowser flinches, accumulates damage, can be launched, and is KOd when he leaves the screen. Unlike normal characters, Giga Bowser's weight is high enough to resist being launched until he has a very high amount of damage. Giga Bowser has all of Bowser's moves, including the special moves Fire Breath, Koopa Klaw, Whirling Fortress, and Bowser Bomb, but Giga Bowser's versions are all stronger, and some of the non-special move attacks have additional elements. Due to his size, his attacks also hit an overall larger area than Bowser's versions. Giga Bowser can pick up items during the battle. Once the player defeats Giga Bowser, a final cutscene shows Bowser's trophy tumbling off the stage before exploding. Defeating Giga Bowser in Adventure Mode awards the player 100,000 points, along with the Giga Bowser trophy.
Additionally, Giga Bowser is one of the opponents in the final Event Match, The Showdown, with Ganondorf and Mewtwo fighting alongside him. Each of the opponents, including Giga Bowser has three stocks in this battle.
In the Japanese and American versions, an unused voice clip has the narrator referring to Giga Bowser as "Giga Koopa" (Giga Bowser's Japanese name) when the language settings are set to English. Additionally, when the language is set to Japanese, the narrator calls him "Giga Bowser", despite the fact that Bowser is named "Koopa" in Japanese. This does not apply to the European and Australian versions, as the "Giga Koopa" voice clip is removed and the "Giga Bowser" one is used for all languages.
Super Smash Bros. BrawlEdit
- SmashWiki article: Giga Bowser (Final Smash)
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Bowser's Final Smash is to temporarily transform into Giga Bowser. When initiated, Bowser starts growing and he emits a couple bolts of orange electricity. He is enveloped by a green glow, and changes to Giga Bowser as the glow fades. Giga Bowser is broadly similar to his last appearance, using his increased power and size over Bowser to easily attack and KO opponents, but Koopa Klaw is replaced with Flying Slam to match Bowser's moves being changed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Some of Giga Bowser's attacks, such as his side smash attack, are weaker than Bowser's versions. Additionally, Giga Bowser's roar is deeper than Bowser's. Once the time limit is reached, Giga Bowser shrinks down before being enveloped in a green glow. He reverts to Bowser when the glow clears.
Giga Bowser does not flinch from attacks, which further means he cannot be launched. This makes him impossible to KO without the player controlling Giga Bowser making a mistake, but inflicting damage to Giga Bowser does reduce the duration of the tranformatioh. Giga Bowser can be KOd if he falls off the bottom of the screen, or if he takes damage while beyond the left, right, or top edges of the screen. If Giga Bowser is KOd, then the player respawns as normal Bowser. Giga Bowser cannot swim, and he actually does not have a corresponding animation. Instead, he falls through water as though it were air.
Giga Bowser's Final Smash trophy depicts him tearing apart several platforms as Mario and Peach look on from ground level.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii UEdit
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Bowser retains his Final Smash from the prior game, with most of the same mechanics. However, while Bowser is changed in this game to give him more human-like posing, new animations for that posing, and some new attacks building from those animations, Giga Bowser maintains his moveset from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Giga Bowser also does not have custom moves, so if Bowser is using any of his, they do not affect Giga Bowser. Giga Bowser is instantly KOd if he touches the Danger Zones on The Great Cave Offensive while at 100% damage or higher, just as all characters are.
The transformation into Giga Bowser only has the green glow, but he crackles with electricity afterward. Giga Bowser's snout is a tan color, instead of the light green it was previously. He flickers between darker and lighter colors when the transformation is close to ending. Reverting to Bowser is largely identical to the prior game.
Giga Bowser's Final Smash trophy is broadly similar to the one from the prior game. The platforms have a different texture. Mario falls backward in shock while Peach holds him and prepares her frying pan.
Super Smash Bros. UltimateEdit
Giga Bowser returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in three different roles. His colors have been slightly altered again to be even closer to Bowser, though Giga Bowser's face is still turquoise. Giga Bowser's scales are also much more smooth than in previous appearances.
Bowser's Final Smash is changed to Giga Bowser Punch, a singular attack that starts by transforming into Giga Bowser but stopping midway to teleport into the background. Once there, Giga Bowser grows even larger than he does normally, and readies a powerful punch into the main plane. The player moves a large reticle around the screen to aim the punch. If a target's damage is high enough, the punch will instantly Screen KO them. After punching, Giga Bowser shrinks down, teleports back to where the Final Smash was started, and reverts to Bowser.
Giga Bowser is a boss in the game, appearing in four different scenarios. All of them take place on Final Destination, and each one starts with a cutscene where Bowser morphs into Giga Bowser. Bowser crouches down, then emits purple electricity and flames. With a flash, he becomes Giga Bowser, crackling with blue electricity a little more. Giga Bowser again reflects Bowser's abilities from Super Smash Bros. Brawl instead of being updated to match Bowser's abilities in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Unlike in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but like this game's boss characters as a whole, Giga Bowser has a health meter that depletes by taking damage. This further means that, much like in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, launching Giga Bowser is impossible. Therefore, the player must drain all of Giga Bowser's HP to win. Giga Bowser does not flinch when taking damage. Giga Bowser never chooses to jump or grab, and therefore is unable to use air attacks, grab attacks, and throws. When Giga Bowser is defeated, he repeatedly explodes before despawning in one final explosion.
In Classic Mode, Giga Bowser is a boss on three routes. The seventh and final rounds of Here We Go! and Up Close and Personal, Mario's and Captain Falcon's Classic Mode routes are battles against Giga Bowser. However, the loading screen for both only announces a single Bowser as the opponent, and the player is led to believe that the round only consists of fighting Bowser. Once Bowser is KOd, Giga Bowser's battle starts. In the cutscene, Bowser has the smoke emitting effect that fighters use when they have a high amount of damage, implying that Bowser returned to the stage during the cutscene's fade to black. A Maxim Tomato appears after the cutscene for the player to recover damage taken during the Bowser battle. These two scenarios are direct references to Adventure Mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The sixth round in The Chosen Ones, Sephiroth's Classic Mode route, is a battle against Giga Bowser exclusively. A Maxim Tomato does not appear following the cutscene in this scenario.
Giga Bowser also appears as a boss in the World of Light mode, where he is the boss of the Molten Fortress sub-map. He is a neutral opponent. As with all of the bosses in the Light Realm in the mode, defeating Giga Bowser damages Galeem's shield, bringing the player closer to being able to confront Galeem directly. Uniquely among the game's boss battles, defeating Giga Bowser also rescues Bowser from Galeem, unlocking Bowser as a playable character in the mode and in the game as a whole if the player has not normally unlocked Bowser yet.
Giga Bowser is a Advanced class neutral primary spirit. The spirit uses artwork created for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. When equipped, he strengthens the user's fire attacks. He has three slots for support spirits. Giga Bowser lacks a spirit battle and cannot be summoned. He can only be obtained by defeating Giga Bowser in World of Light.
Unused appearancesEdit
Giga Bowser was briefly considered as a transformation for Bowser for his Skylanders: SuperChargers appearances before being replaced by an original form, Molten Bowser.[2]
Powers and abilitiesEdit
It has been requested that this section be rewritten. Reason: Much of this section has information very pertinent to specific game mechanics, and these data points should be incorporated into the article. This may result in this section being trimmed down.
In Giga Bowser's initial appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee, he has all of Bowser's moves. Several moves have an additional elemental effect compared to Bowser's. For instance, Giga Bowser's down smash attack can freeze opponents, and his side smash attack is explosive. Giga Bowser is updated to reflect changes to Bowser's moveset in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, later games do not continue to update Giga Bowser. Since Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U change Bowser's stature and animations such that he acts more like a human, Giga Bowser in comparison is more monstrous than Bowser. Giga Bowser is immune to grabs, including special moves that use the mechanics of grabs such as Egg Lay.
Giga Bowser cannot swim, and he actually does not have a corresponding animation. Instead, he falls through water as though it were air. Giga Bowser can pick up items in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but cannot in all later games. Giga Bowser can still possess the effects of the Bunny Hood and Superspicy Curry. Giga Bowser is unaffected by Metal Boxes, as he does not gain a metallic appearance, even when players are playing a Metal Special Smash. Similarly, Super Mushrooms, Poison Mushrooms, and Lightning will not affect Giga Bowser's size, but his size can be altered by playing a Giant or Tiny Special Smash.
While Giga Bowser is large, overall he is less powerful than Bowser under the effects of a Super Mushroom. This is especially notable when comparing both characters' side smash attacks.
Giga Bowser Punch only allows Giga Bowser to attack one time before transforming back into Bowser, but the transformation is larger than it is normally, and the punch may instantly Screen KO targets.
Profiles and statisticsEdit
Super Smash Bros. MeleeEdit
| Trophy Giga Bowser | ||
| ||
| Game/move: Super Smash Bros. Melee 12/01 | ||
| How to unlock: Complete Adventure Mode defeating Giga Bowser without using any continues | ||
| An even more imposing figure than the original King of the Koopas, Giga Bowser is roughly twice the size of his scaly, fire-breathing, spike-studded Super Smash Bros. Melee counterpart. Predictably, this monstrous creature's offensive and defensive powers are a grade higher than those of regular Bowser. Good luck defeating this colossus! | ||
Super Smash Bros. BrawlEdit
| Trophy Giga Bowser | ||
| ||
| Appears in: Wii Super Smash Bros. Brawl | ||
| How to unlock: Clear All-Star Mode as Bowser. | ||
| Bowser, transformed into the terrible and brutal form first seen in Super Smash Bros. Melee. While in this form, he cannot be stunned or budged. His appearance is so fierce, it's as if he doesn't even belong in the Smash Bros. universe. He cannot maintain this form for long, so dealing out damage efficiently is key. | ||
Super Smash Bros. for Wii UEdit
| Trophy Giga Bowser | ||
| ||
| Category: Final Smash | ||
( ) Appears in:- | ||
| ( ) Trophy Box: 90: Final Smashes 1
| ||
| How to unlock: Clear All-Star Mode as Bowser | ||
| Prepare to behold Bowser in all his Koopa glory. This fearsome form first appeared all the way back in Melee. While transformed, Bowser deals extra damage, is better at launching foes, and even gains special effects on some of his attacks. He won't flinch and can't be thrown, but he does still take damage. (American English) | ||
| The definitive way to prove that Bowser's the king. This fearsome form made its debut all the way back in Melee. While transformed, Bowser deals more damage, launches foes further, and certain attacks have extra effects like freezing opponents. He won't flinch, and he can't be thrown either, but he will still take damage. (British English) | ||
Super Smash Bros. UltimateEdit
| Spirit #1097 Giga Bowser | ||
|
Series/game | Super Smash Bros. Series |
| Type | Primary | |
| Slots | 3 | |
| Class | Advanced | |
| Strength / effect(s) | Neutral Fire Attack ↑ | |
| How to obtain | World of Light (Molten Fortress) | |
| Spirit battle | Opponent(s) | Giga Bowser |
| Conditions |
| |
| Stage | Final Destination | |
| Song | Giga Bowser |
GalleryEdit
Giga Bowser's stock icon in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Giga Bowser transforming in front of the Ice Climbers in Super Smash Bros. Melee
The Bowser trophy becoming Giga Bowser in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Giga Bowser's model in Super Smash Bros. Melee
The battle against Giga Bowser in the Event Match Lv. 51: The Showdown in Super Smash Bros. Melee
Bowser uses his Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Giga Bowser chasing after Samus in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Giga Bowser's model in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Giga Bowser, appearing as Bowser's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
A screenshot of Giga Bowser in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
A screenshot of Giga Bowser in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
A screenshot of Giga Bowser Punch being used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Comic by Daniel Fernandez Casas
Names in other languagesEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ギガクッパ[?] Giga Kuppa |
Giga Bowser | |
| ギガクッパ変身[?] Giga Kuppa Henshin |
Giga Bowser Transformation | Final Smash | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 巨兽酷霸王[?] Jùshòu Kùbàwáng |
Giant Beast Bowser | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 巨獸庫巴[?] Jùshòu Kùbā |
Giant Beast Bowser | |
| Italian | Giga Bowser[?] | - | |
| Korean | 기가쿠파[?] Giga Kupa |
Giga Koopa | |
| Russian | Гига-Боузер[?] Giga-Bouzer |
Giga Bowser | |
| Spanish | Giga Bowser[?] | - |
NotesEdit
- Giga Bowser is the only character playable exclusively thorough a Final Smash that has a victory pose.
- Although Giga Bowser has identical voice clips to Bowser's, their pitch level is altered so that they sound deeper in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. It is possible to give Bowser the exact same pitch level for his voice clips as Giga Bowser by having him grow to giant size using Lightning.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ 速報スマブラ拳!! : アンケート集計拳!!. Nintendo (Japanese). Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Nintendo of America (June 17, 2015). Nintendo Treehouse Live @ E3 2015 Day 1 Skylanders SuperChargers. YouTube (American English). Retrieved June 29, 2024.
| Bowser forms | |
|---|---|
| Main | Big Dry Bowser • Black Bowser • Blockhead Bowser • Bowcien • Bowletta • Castle Bowser • Dreamy Bowser • Dry Bowser • Fury Bowser • Giant Bowser • Giga Bowser • Glohm Bowser • Molten Bowser • Mega Baby Bowser • Mega Bowser • MegaDragonBowser • Meowser • Metal Bowser • Shiny RoboBowser • Shrowser • Wonder Bowser |
| Other | Alarm Koopa • Dark Hammer Slam Bowser • Hammer Slam Bowser • Heat Cannon (Mega Strike ability) • King Koopa's alter egos • Megaton Koopa Hō • Mushroom • Rookie • Scarecrow • Shroob mushroom • Tail Bowser |
| KC Mario | Gahaha Daiō • Golf Daiō • King Tetris • Kinoko no Sei • Koopa Seven • Mr. K • Poseidon Koopa • Qix Daiō • Torino Daiō |
| Bowser's family |
|---|
| Forms and counterparts |
| Alarm Koopa • Baby Bowser (Mega Baby Bowser) • Black Bowser • Blockhead Bowser • Bowcien • Bowser • Bowletta • Castle Bowser • Dreamy Bowser • Dry Bowser • Fury Bowser • Gahaha Daiō • Giant Bowser • Giga Bowser • Glohm Bowser • Golf Daiō • King Koopa's alter egos • King Tetris • Kinoko no Sei • Koopa 3 • Magma Bowser • MegaDragonBowser • Meowser • Mr. K • Paper Bowser • Poseidon Koopa • President Koopa • Qix Daiō • Shiny RoboBowser • Shrowser • Torino Daiō • Wonder Bowser |
| Current in-game relatives |
| Dry Bowser • Bowser Jr. • Paper Bowser Jr. |
| Former in-game relatives |
| Bowser's Brother • Koopa Kid • Koopalings (Larry Koopa · Morton Koopa Jr. · Wendy O. Koopa · Iggy Koopa · Roy Koopa · Lemmy Koopa · Ludwig von Koopa) |
| Miscellaneous relatives |
| Bowser's mother • Enma Daiō • Ippa • Nippa • Zappa |
| Pets |
| Mechawiggler • Pookie • Ratso |
| President Koopa's relatives |
| Iggy • Spike |