Bowser's Theme (Super Mario 64)

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Not to be confused with Bowser's Road.
"Bowser's Theme"
"Bowser's Theme" in Super Mario 64
The image for "Bowser's Theme" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Key D minor
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance Mario Kart World (2025)

"Bowser's Theme",[1][2] also known as "Koopa's Theme",[3] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario 64, where it plays during the boss battles against Bowser in Bowser in the Dark World and Bowser in the Fire Sea. The theme's title originally used Bowser's Japanese name, despite the soundtrack releasing in the West physically in 1996 and in Super Mario 3D All-Stars in 2020. This was corrected in the Nintendo Music app in 2024. In subsequent games and other works in the Super Mario franchise, this theme is often used as a leitmotif for Bowser.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

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See also: The Final Battle (Super Mario 64)

Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "Bowser's Theme".

A brief arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays when the player first enters the Mushroom Castle at the beginning of the game, and whenever the player tries entering an inaccessible door. It is titled "Bowser's Message" in the Nintendo Music app and "Koopa's Message" in the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

An arrangement of the first four notes of "Bowser's Theme" played on a church organ is incorporated in the theme that plays during the final boss battle against Bowser in Bowser in the Sky. It is titled "The Final Battle" in the Nintendo Music app and "Ultimate Koopa" in the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

"Bowser's Theme", "Bowser's Message", and "The Final Battle" all return in the Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, for the same purposes.

"Bowser's Theme" is also included in the official album Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits.

Icon of an audio speaker. The Final Battle - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]

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In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, an arrangement of "Bowser's Message" plays if two Bowser or Bowser Jr. panels are flipped over in Power-up Panels.

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

Main article: Break Free (Lead the Way)
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In Super Mario Odyssey, a brief excerpt of "Bowser's Theme" can be heard during the cutscene when Mario captures Bowser at the end of the game, which features the artwork of Mario swinging Bowser from Super Mario 64 as one of Bowser's past memories. Moreover, an electric guitar arrangement of the main riff of "Bowser's Theme" is incorporated in the song "Break Free (Lead the Way)", which plays during last section of the escape sequence at the end of the game's story, as well as during the ending cutscene.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder features three arrangements of "Bowser's Theme".

An electric guitar arrangement of the first four notes of the main riff of "Bowser's Theme" plays during the opening cutscene when Bowser transforms into Castle Bowser. It is titled "Prologue: Creation of Castle Bowser" in the Nintendo Music app.

A brief arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays when the player and Prince Florian notice Castle Bowser being surrounded by Cloud Piranhas after visiting the Petal Isles. It is titled "Bowser's Here!" in the Nintendo Music app.

The theme that plays during the final boss battle against Castle Bowser incorporates elements of "Bowser's Theme". It is titled "Castle Bowser Battle" in the Nintendo Music app.

Mario Tennis series[edit]

All arrangements in the Mario Tennis series were arranged by Motoi Sakuraba.

Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)[edit]

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The Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis features three arrangements of "Bowser's Theme".

An arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays during the opening cutscene when Bowser and Boo enter the scene. It is titled 「オープニング クッパ登場」 (Ōpuningu - Kuppa Tōjō, "Opening - Bowser Appears") in the official Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.

An arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays in the Bowser Stage mode and in the Bowser Court. It is titled 「クッパステージ」 (Kuppa Sutēji, "Bowser Stage") in the official Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.

An arrangement of "Bowser's Theme plays during Bowser's trophy award cutscene. It is titled 「トロフィー 授与 クッパ」 (Torofī Juyo - Kuppa, "Trophy Award - Bowser") in the official Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.

Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)[edit]

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In the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis, a chiptune arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays in the Two-on-One minigame.

Mario Power Tennis[edit]

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In Mario Power Tennis and the Wii port, New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, an arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays during Bowser's trophy award cutscene.

Mario Tennis Open[edit]

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Mario Tennis Open features two arrangements of "Bowser's Theme".

An arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays during the court introuction sequence for Bowser's Castle.

A metal arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays in Bowser's Castle.

Mario Tennis Aces[edit]

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In Mario Tennis Aces, a medley arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" and "Bowser's Road" from the same game plays during the final boss battle against Bowcien.

Mario Kart series[edit]

Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]

Main article: Bowser Castle (Mario Kart: Super Circuit theme)

In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, an arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays in all Bowser's Castle courses: Bowser Castle 1, Bowser Castle 2, Bowser Castle 3, and Bowser Castle 4. It is much faster than the original theme and adds a chugging bassline. The second half of the arrangement also features a unique melody. It is titled 「クッパキャッスルコース」 (Kuppa Kyassuru Kōsu, "Koopa Castle Course").[4]

Icon of an audio speaker. クッパキャッスルコース - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart: Super Circuit
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Mario Kart World[edit]

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In Mario Kart World, an arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" can play in Free Roam. It is simply titled "Bowser's Theme" in the game's pause menu.

Mario Golf series[edit]

All arrangements in the Mario Golf series were arranged by Motoi Sakuraba.

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour[edit]

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In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, an arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays in Bowser Badlands.

Mario Golf: Super Rush[edit]

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In Mario Golf: Super Rush, part of the theme that plays in the Bowser Highlands golf course is loosely based on "Bowser's Theme".

Mario Party 10[edit]

In Mario Party 10, an arrangement of "Bowser's Theme" plays whenever Bowser's amiibo is being controlled in the amiibo Party mode. It is simply titled "Bowser's Theme" in the game's sound test.

Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser's Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario Party 10
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Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge[edit]

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge features two arrangements of "Bowser's Theme", both of which were arranged by James Phillipsen. The first arrangement plays in levels 1 and 3 of Fire Ride Fortress, while the second arrangement plays in levels 2 and 4 of the same world.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fire Ride Fortress A - The arrangement heard in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
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Icon of an audio speaker. Fire Ride Fortress B - The arrangement heard in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie[edit]

In a trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Bowser is heard singing a rendition of "Bowser's Theme".[5]

Other appearances[edit]

Minecraft[edit]

In the Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and New Nintendo 3DS versions of Minecraft, the original version of "Bowser's Theme" can play in the Nether in the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack.

Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Nintendo 64 1996 Original "Bowser Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Arrangement "Bowser's Message"[1]
"The Final Battle"[1]
Mario Tennis Nintendo 64 2000 Arrangement 「オープニング クッパ登場」 (Ōpuningu - Kuppa Tōjō)[6] Motoi Sakuraba
「クッパステージ」 (Kuppa Sutēji)[6]
「トロフィー 授与 クッパ」 (Torofī Juyo - Kuppa)[6]
Mario Tennis Game Boy Color 2000 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Mario Kart: Super Circuit Game Boy Advance 2001 Arrangement 「クッパキャッスルコース」 (Kuppa Kyassuru Kōsu)[4] Minako Hamano
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Nintendo GameCube 2003 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Mario Power Tennis Nintendo GameCube 2004 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Super Mario 64 DS Nintendo DS 2004 Original "Bowser's Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Bowser's Message"[1]
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis Wii 2009 Past arrangement (Mario Power Tennis) Motoi Sakuraba
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii 2009 Arrangement
Mario Tennis Open Nintendo 3DS 2012 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Mario Party 10 Wii U 2015 Arrangement "Bowser's Theme"[7]
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge Nintendo 3DS, Wii U 2016 Arrangement James Phillipsen
Minecraft: Wii U Edition Wii U 2016[a] Original Koji Kondo
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition Nintendo Switch 2017 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch 2017 Original Koji Kondo
Arrangement "Break Free (Lead the Way)"[1] Naoto Kubo
Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition New Nintendo 3DS 2018[b] Original Koji Kondo
Minecraft Nintendo Switch 2018 Original Koji Kondo
Mario Tennis Aces Nintendo Switch 2018 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Nintendo Switch 2020 Original "Bowser's Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Bowser's Message"[1]
Mario Golf: Super Rush Nintendo Switch 2021 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2023 Arrangement "Prologue: Creation of Castle Bowser"[1]
"Bowser's Here!"[1]
"Castle Bowser Battle"[1]
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement "Bowser's Theme"[8]
  1. ^ Added as downloadable content on May 17, 2016
  2. ^ Added in an update on June 5, 2018

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack 1996 Original "Koopa's Theme" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Koopa's Message"
Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits 1996 Original "Bowser's Theme" Koji Kondo
Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack 2000 Past arrangement (Mario Tennis [Nintendo 64]) 「オープニング クッパ登場」 (Ōpuningu - Kuppa Tōjō) Motoi Sakuraba
「クッパステージ」 (Kuppa Sutēji)
「トロフィー 授与 クッパ」 (Torofī Juyo - Kuppa)

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Nintendo Music 2024[a] Past arrangement (Super Mario Bros. Wonder) "Prologue: Creation of Castle Bowser"
"Bowser's Here!"
"Castle Bowser Battle"
2024[b] Original "Bowser's Theme" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Bowser's Message"
  1. ^ Added on October 31, 2024
  2. ^ Added on December 23, 2024

Names in other languages[edit]

"Bowser's Theme"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese クッパのテーマ[1]
Kuppa no Tēma
Bowser's Theme
German Kampf Kantate[3] Battle Cantata

"Bowser's Message"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese クッパのメッセージ[1]
Kuppa no Messēji
Bowser's Message
German Bowser Boogie[3] -

References[edit]