If Nintendo has a true mascot, it is, without a doubt,Mario. The beloved plumber-turned adventure hero is forever linked with the Nintendo gaming universe.Mario’s games are not just numerous,they are ever-present in society. The series has stood the test of time and is viewed in terms of “classic gaming” whilestill releasing some of the hottest new games in the industry, year after year.
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However, it’s not just the main character that makes the franchise great. In many cases,the bosses that Mario battlesare thecharacters that really stand out. Some bosses are noteworthy for their backstories. Some are known for their power, and some for their appearance. There are a select few, however, that stand above the rest. Let’s look at the noblest bosses in the franchise and see where they rank.
5Wart
Our list begins with anoble character with an ignoble name. Wart is the main villain and final boss ofSuper Mario Bros. 2. He is the leader of a gang called the 8 Bits, and his goal is to conquer the land of dreams known as Subcon. He is described as “The most mischievous of all in the world of dreams”. He may not be an actual king, but he sure does dress like one, and he gives commands that he expects to be obeyed.
Dressed inroyal regalia of a crown, cape, and major bling, Wart’s battle mainly consists of the player throwing vegetables into Wart’s mouth that come from a machine in the background to deal damage. He only has one, very basic attack, and that is throwing a line of bubbles at the current player, with decent gaps in between them.It is an amazingly simple fight. Hit him a few times and the battle ends.
4Crystal King
Next up, we have a (sort of) real king. Crystal King is the ruler who dwells in the Ice Palace and serves as the guardian of the seventh and final Star Spirit, Kalmar, inChapter 7 ofPaper Mario. Crystal King instantly stands out for hisunorthodox yet incredibly interesting design, being nothing more than a floating cloak with eyes and a crown. The guy has all the noble vibe, yet he can’t actually be seen. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t fight.
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The Crystal King’s boss battle can easily be considered one of the more complex and difficult ones in the game. He can levitate, making any kind of Hammer attacks ineffective. He can create Crystal Bits that act as minions and projectiles. TheCrystal King can also make clones of himself, forcing the player to figure out which is the real one to deal damage. He can also heal 20 HP up to 3 times if not beaten quickly.
3King Bob-omb
King Bob-omb is quite a popular guy. He has mademany appearances throughout the Mario series. He is, after all, a king. However, it is his appearances inSuper Mario 64andMario & Luigi: Paper Jamwhere he really shines and earns him the number 3 entry in our list. Never one to be quiet or shy, this king is absolutely bombastic.
King Bob-omb is the first boss ofSuper Mario 64, and as such, the fight doesn’t have a ton going on. It’s avery basic processof just running behind him and throwing him down in the arena. Repeat this 3 times and it’s over. HisPaper Jamappearance, however, is a bit more interesting. The battle usesa special timer that will deal immense damageto the trio if the fight is not finished in 4 minutes. He attacks by throwing Bob-ombs that damage him if successfully counterattacked, and also add more seconds to the timer.
2King Croacus 4
Next up, we have a character of noble bearing, who didn’t start out as a noble. King Croacus IV is the chapter boss of Chapter 5 inSuper Paper Mario. He was the regent for King Croacus III until he came of age to rule, but King Croacus III died shortly after claiming the throne. King Croacus IV wasappointed the official king thanks to his stabilizing influence. Hey, whatever works, right? And, that approach certainly worked for Croacus.
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His battle isn’t too complicated. The first phase has 3 smaller flowers being supported by the main one that can be thrown to damage him, makingThoreau a great choice for this battle. King Croacus IV’s head is constantly blooming and closing, and can only be damaged when bloomed. Once damaged enough, the main body disappears and his petals start flying around the room and spinning like sawblades. They can also be picked up and thrown to damage King Croacus IV when exposed.
1Hisstocrat
Hisstocrat is the second boss of World 3 inSuper Mario 3D Worldand its Switch re-release.Hisstocrat comes in 2 different forms, a blue form with a kingly appearance, and a pink one with a queenly appearance, both having elegant designs to match. Either way, there is certainly a noble aspect to their forms. They are initially only fought individually but later on are battled at the same time in Boss Blitz in World Flower.
Theyonly have 2 attacks, shooting boulders downwards to land on the player, and sending snakes upwards from the ground. Some of the snakes carry plates, allowing the use of them as platforms to reach Hisstocrat’s head, their only weak point. Theplates sometimes have Super Bells on top of them, making the battle as a whole easier when obtained.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Furyis currently available on Nintendo Switch.
