Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet
| Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Area | World 4 |
| How to unlock | Get 40Power Stars, including the first one from eitherStarshine Beach Galaxy orChompworks Galaxy |
| Boss | Giant Bowser |
| Comets | Speedy Comet Green Comet |
| Missions | Breaking into Bowser's Castle Gravity Star Speed Run Green Star 1 Green Star 2 |
| Stars |    |
| Galaxy icon | A large castle on top of alava lake with jumping fireballs |
| <<>> | |
- “WHAA--?! IT'S YOU?! Well, I'd expect as much from my archnemesis. Your time is up,Mario! Now it's smooshin' time... And time for my huge fist to meet your puny face!”
- —Bowser,Super Mario Galaxy 2
Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet is agalaxy inWorld 4 in the gameSuper Mario Galaxy 2 and itsNintendo Switchport. The level is based entirely on gravitational forces. Most of the level involves sidescrolling, except for the beginning and the end. The level is covered in lava, but there is one part whereMario orLuigi will need to swim through water to get through the level.Magikoopas are common enemies here and can summonLi'l Cinders at will.Fire Bars are placed throughout the whole level, even underwater. Fireballs also defy gravity because they can change direction in midair. When Mario or Luigi reaches the end,Bowser will challenge Mario or Luigi to a battle. Bowser battles in the same manner as inBowser's Lava Lair fromWorld 2, but this time his meteors create shockwaves and the Koopa King leaves a trail of fire when his health runs low.
This is the onlyBowser level throughout bothSuper Mario Galaxy games where there is water to swim in.
Planets[edit]
Bowser's Castle[edit]
The level focuses on a large castle where there appears to be almost no normal gravity at all. The castle is surrounded by lava with fireballs jumping out of it.
Starting Area[edit]
Mario starts his journey through the Galaxy on a walkway with lava surrounding it. There areFire Bars andDry Bones found here. The walkway is twisted, with the local gravity pointing towards the lava mass. There is also aMagikoopa near the end of the section and a platform that sinks under Mario's weight should he step on it.
Castle Interior[edit]
When Mario enters the castle, he will find more fireballs jumping out of the lava. As he progresses, he will switch to walking on the walls and eventually on the ceilings. The entrance marks aCheckpoint. ABrick Block that Mario can surmount with hisBackward Somersault has aComet Medal above it.
Flooded Passageway[edit]
At the end of the second area, there is an upside-down underwater section withFire Bars andCheep Cheeps accessed through a hole in the ceiling. Mario has to collectCoins to keep up his air supply, lest theWater suffocates him.
Whomp's Walkway[edit]
After the Flooded Passageway is a small outdoors section withWhomps. There are someBlack holes nearby. The start of the section marks the secondCheckpoint, above which is a1-Up Mushroom that can be reached via a backward somersault off aMystery Block just after the checkpoint.
Fire Bar Gravity Planet[edit]
This is a small square planetoid on the opposite side of the castle wall to the Whomp's Walkway area. Mario has to navigate this planetoid to get to the next area. The core is aFire Bar's center, with the four ends poking above the surface; the platform that Mario lands on when he arrives here is high enough to avoid the Fire Bar.
Spinning Wheel Planet[edit]
Mario must navigate a small 2D spinning wheel with platforms sliding over it on the same side of the castle as the Fire Bar Gravity Planet to reach the door that takes him to Bowser. As with the Fire Bar Gravity Planet, this wheel has a four-wayFire Bar centered on the core. In theSpeedy Comet,Gravity Star Speed Run, theLaunch Star leading to the Large Door Planet is gone and aPower Star appears on the opposite side of the wall close to the Fire Bar Gravity Planet.
Large Door Planet[edit]
A circular planet where Mario mustGround Pound threemeteorites at three large locks in order to open the door leading to the next battle with Bowser. Additional meteorites will rise up from the ground whenever Mario Ground Pounds the previous ones to launch them at the locks on the large door. ACheckpoint Flag is also found here, along with twoCrystals; one contains aLife Mushroom, the other contains someStar Bits.
Throne Planets[edit]
A small planet shaped like a star, in front of which is another planet that acts as Bowser's throne. When Mario first appears here, Bowser will be absent, unlike at hisLava Lair andGalaxy Generator, but will quickly come crashing down to the planet after the Apricot Luma does some investigating. After talking to Mario, Bowser will send him to the Bowser Battle Planet.
Bowser Battle Planet[edit]
This planet is very similar to the planet thatBowser is fought on at hisLava Lair, except for the fact that it is more deteriorated. It is a small planet made out of small bricks and a few rocks with coins.
Enemies[edit]
Bowser (boss)
Missions[edit]
| Name | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking into Bowser's Castle |  | This mission's objective is to traverse through the course and defeatBowser. |
| Gravity Star Speed Run |  | This mission's objective is to complete a version of the previous mission without the boss battle within thirty seconds by collectingclocks to extend the time limit. |
Green Stars[edit]
Green Star 1[edit]
The firstGreen Star in this galaxy is on a sunken pillar in lava near the entrance to the castle. Mario can backward somersault onto the pillar. Also, Mario can jump into the lava to bounce up onto the pillar and grab the Star.
Green Star 2[edit]
The second Green Star in this galaxy is at the end of the castle above a? Block. Mario can backward somersault andSpin to get the star. It is easier to get the star withLuigi instead due to his higher jumping ability.
Music[edit]
 Bowser's Lava Lair - Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet shares the same music asBowser's Lava Lair. It is a cover of "Koopa's Road" fromSuper Mario 64, and similar to the cover heard inBowser's Star Reactor andBowser's Dark Matter Plant fromSuper Mario Galaxy. | File info |
Prima Official Game Guide description[edit]
- "You've finally made it to the edge of World 4.Bowser lurks here, perfecting his schemes at the heart of his flying castle. Survive his gauntlet of tricks and traps, outsmarting ever-changing gravity fields. If you make it through Bowser's defenses, the Koopa King has no choice but to battle you for possession of aGrand Star."
Gallery[edit]
Artwork fromSuper Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クッパの重力帝国[?] Kuppa no Jūryoku Teikoku | Bowser's Gravity Empire | |
| Chinese | 庫巴的重力帝國[?] Kùbā de Zhònglì Dìguó | Bowser's Gravity Empire | |
| French | Forteresse féroce de Bowser[?] | Bowser's fierce fortress | |
| German | Bowsers Schwerkraftparcours[?] | Bowser's Gravity Parcours | |
| Italian | Regno Gravitazionale di Bowser[?] | Bowser's Gravitational Reign/Kingdom | |
| Korean | 쿠파의 중력 제국[?] Kupa-ui Jungnyeok Jeguk | Bowser's Gravity Empire | |
| Portuguese | Gambito Gravitacional do Bowser[1] | Bowser's Gravity Gambit | |
| Spanish | Fortaleza Fulminante de Bowser[?] | Bowser's Fulminating Fortress |
References[edit]
- ^In-game name from the 2025Nintendo Switch version ofSuper Mario Galaxy 2.
