Bob-omb Battlefield



Bob-omb Battlefield is the first course in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. The painting through which Mario can enter Bob-omb Battlefield is located on the first floor of Princess Peach's Castle, through the door on the far left. It is the only course which does not require Power Stars to enter. Bob-omb Battlefield takes places in a grassland area with many trees. It contains several mountains and hills which can be climbed. Bob-omb Battlefield is always in constant war, the Black Bob-ombs vs. the Bob-omb Buddies. Mario's enemies include Bob-ombs, Goombas, a Koopa Troopa and a Chain Chomp, the only one in Super Mario 64. There are several Wing Cap ! Blocks and six cannons in the level. It is impossible to fall off the course here.

Levels
The level titles and numbers correspond to Super Mario 64 unless otherwise noted.

Star 1: Big Bob-omb on the Summit
In the very first level of Super Mario 64, Mario has to get to the summit of the mountain of Bob-omb Battlefield to fight the Big Bob-omb, an enemy to the Bob-omb Buddies, and essentially the first boss character of the game. Mario has to straightly follow the path that starts at the beginning of the level. There are several obstacles and enemies on his way, including Goombas, the Chain Chomp, water balloons and big metal cannonballs which roll down the path. When reaching the summit, Mario is confronted by the Big Bob-omb. Mario can defeat the giant Bob-omb by picking him up from behind and throwing him to the ground. When Mario misses and throws the Big Bob-omb from the summit plateau, he will come back and Mario will have to start over again. Mario must throw him to the ground three times. On defeat, the Big Bob-omb releases a Power Star.

In Super Mario 64 DS, the battle is changed. Yoshi is the only character available at the beginning of the game, so the Big Bob-omb will throw Bob-ombs at Yoshi. As such, Yoshi has to grab a Bob-omb with his mouth and throw it at the Big Bob-omb, before the bomb explodes in Yoshi's mouth. Technically, this mission can be done with other characters, if the player gets a star such as "Behind Chain Chomp's Gate" before this one.

Star 2: Footrace with Koopa the Quick
For the second Power Star of the level, Mario has to race the Gargantua Koopa Troopa Koopa the Quick. Mario has to reach the flagpole at the summit of the mountain before Koopa the Quick does. This Star isn't too difficult since Koopa The Quick isn't especially fast and takes a rather long path. However, just like when racing the Big Penguin in Cool, Cool, Mountain, the player can't cheat. Using one of the Cannon scattered across Bob-omb Battlefield will make Koopa The Quick refuse to give away the star. However, in the DS version, players are allowed to use the warp on the side of the mountain.

To get to the flagpole, the player must follow the dirt path to a wooden bridge, passing several Goombas. After crossing the wooden bridge, the player must follow another dirt path, this time avoiding a Bob-omb and a Chain Chomp. This path will lead to another wooden bridge that will tip if the player doesn't cross it fast enough. Meanwhile, Koopa the Quick will fail to cross this bridge, but then attempt to cheat by climbing the white rock that the player can't climb. There will be two spaces of land ahead of the player, but they should head to the right, in the direction towards the mountain. In this area, there will be several Bob-ombs and falling water bombs. The player should try to dodge these enemies. If the player gets to the end of the field, they will find a gate, allowing access to the mountain. The rest of the course is simple, but easier said than done. The player must climb the path which rotates in a circular motion. Giant metal balls roll down the path, having the player to dodge or jump over them. Once the player gets to the top, they will see a flag with a Green Shell on it. If the player stands near it, they will beat Koopa the Quick and receive a star. If they fail, they will have to try again.

This mission is pretty much the same in Super Mario 64 DS. However, there is a slight change. Koopa The Quick will only want to want race against Mario himself. Since Yoshi is the only character available at the time, Yoshi must take a Mario Cap and then race against Koopa The Quick. If Yoshi loses the cap during the race for various reasons, Koopa The Quick will wonder where Mario is and won't relinquish the Star.

Star 3: Shoot to the Island in the Sky
In the original Super Mario 64, the third Power Star of Bob-omb Battefield is found in a ! Block on a floating platform/"island", which is floating near the big mountain. In order to get it, Mario first has to talk to the Bob-omb Buddies at the beginning of the level to open the cannons, the cannon right at the beginning of the level can not be used to shoot to the floating island, but, it can be used to shoot to the cannon that is located about right underneath the floating island inside a rock formation. When the player blasts off to the floating island, it is possible to go over the island if aimed incorrectly when fired and land on top of the mountain. If this happens, there is a cannon located on the mountain that can be used to shoot to the floating island. The cannon near the summit is the only other cannon that can be used to shoot to the floating island. Also, when performing this mission, the player should try to aim for the tree on the floating island, as Mario will grab it. Then break the mystery block on the floating island to grab the Power Star that comes out of it.

This level was removed in Super Mario 64 DS.

Star 3 (DS): Five Silver Stars!
In Super Mario 64 DS, the player, who can play this mission with any character, has to find the five Silver Stars which are scattered throughout the battlefield. This is the only mission where the Chain Chomp is running loose on the battlefield. The locations of the Silver Stars are:
 * Revealed after defeating the Goomba with Wario's cap.
 * Revealed after defeating the Goomba near a tree and a cannon.
 * Near the Chain Chomp.
 * Atop a tree (as shown in the image to the right).
 * In a patch of flowers.

Star 4: Find the 8 Red Coins
For the fourth Power Star, Mario has to find the eight Red Coins of the level. They are scattered throughout the battlefield. The locations of the Red Coins are: When Mario has collected all Red Coins, the Power Star appears.
 * One is on moving platforms beside the main path.
 * One on the stump the Chain Chomp.
 * One on a small hill near the Chain Chomp and the Koopa Troopa.
 * Two near the Star Marker.
 * Another on a slope down the mountain.
 * One on the tree on the floating island.
 * One in a small area where the ground ! Switch is.

In Super Mario 64 DS, the star is basically the same as if it was done in the original version and as if the coins are in the same place, however instead of Star 4, it is moved to Star 6.

Star 4 (DS): Big Bob-omb's Revenge
The player has to fight the Big Bob-omb, this time with a character other than Yoshi, because in this battle there are no projectiles to throw. To get the Power Star, Mario, Luigi or Wario has do the same objective as Star 1 in the N64 version. However, if the player throws the Big Bob-omb off the mountain, he'll jump back to the mountain and say, "You must fight with honor! It is against the rules to throw the king out of the ring." Once Big Bob-omb is thrown three times, the Power Star will appear.

Star 5: Mario Wings to the Sky
This level was exactly the same in both Super Mario 64 and its remake. Mario has to fly through five rings of coins in the air using the Wing Cap (aquired after collecting ten Power Stars, going into the castle and looking up when there is sunshine beaming down on the rug) and collect all five middle coins of the rings to make the Power Star appear. Taking off from the Island in the Sky, he has to use the Wing Cap and shoot himself from a cannon to have enough speed to hit all the rings, as well as being able to fly upwards. The Power Star appears in the meadow near the Star Marker. It is also possible to use the cannon on its own to go through all the rings, but this takes good aiming and can't be done in one try.

Star 6: Behind Chain Chomp's Gate
The sixth Power Star of Bob-omb Battlefield is located behind iron bars near the Chain Chomp. To get it, Mario first has to free the Chain Chomp by Ground Pounding its pole three times. Freed, it will destroy the iron bars and Mario will be able to get the star.

The star in Super Mario 64 DS is the same as if it was gotten in the original version of the game and collected as if it was done in the same way, except an easier way would be to use Luigi and his vanishing ability to sneak into the iron gates, which this idea has been used in many blooper videos since the player will be trapped inside the cage. This star has also been moved to Star 7.

Quotes
"Wow! You're smack in the middle of the battlefield. You'll find the Power Stars that Bowser stole inside the painting walls. First, talk to the Bob-omb Buddy (Press B to talk.) He'll certainly help you out, and so will his comrades in other areas. To read signs, stop, face them and press B. Press A or B to scroll ahead. You can talk to some other characters by facing them and pressing B."
 * Upon entering the course in the Nintendo 64 version:

Trivia

 * Bob-omb Battlefield is very similar to Wario's Battle Canyon, as both feature a war between Bob-ombs and Bob-omb Buddies.
 * There is a total of 146 coins in this course.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, if one plays at least 50 hours of brawling, then the level's theme song (simply known as Main Theme Super Mario 64) wil be unlocked on the Delfino Plaza stage.
 * In the DS version of Behind the Chain Chomp's Gate it is possible to use Luigi's Power Flower ability to get the Star instead of Ground Pounding the Chain Chomp's stake.