Hat-to-Hat Combat
Mario’s journey to Metro Kingdom takes an unexpected detour when the Odyssey catches up to Bowser in the skies near Cloud Kingdom. Not about to back away from a challenge, Bowser disembarks his airship as soon as Mario enters Nimbus Arena. Metro Kingdom will have to wait!
Boss: Bowser
Bowser leaps onto one of the raised platforms in Nimbus Arena and tosses his hat at Mario. Bowser’s top hat is equipped with punching gloves and can certainly deliver Mario a beating, but we’re not going to let that happen! Hit Bowser’s hat with Cappy to knock Bowser’s hat upside-down. Run to the hat so Mario can put it on.
Mario can run, jump and side somersault as normal while wearing Bowser’s hat. Use these skills to leap over the fire rings that radiate across the ring each time Bowser leaps to a new platform. Chase after him as he jumps around the area so that you’re close by when he tires.
Hurry to Bowser and unload with a flurry of punches, using his mechanical punching hat against him! Continue the flurry of punches until Bowser is knocked against the spiked fence. He falls back on the platform, stunned, then recovers and leaps to the other side of the arena. Get ready for round two!
Bowser doesn’t just toss his white punching hat this time. He tries to confuse Mario by throwing two purple ones at the same time. Avoid the purple hats by running from left to right across the arena so that you’re in position to hit the white hat with Cappy. Cappy can also be used to flick away the purple hats. Focus on the white hat, as striking the proper hat causes the others to disappear.
Bowser leaps to a new platform, creating another round of fire rings to jump over. More significantly, Bowser also hurls a cannonball-like sphere at Mario comprised of bricks. Punch through the brick-ball if you’re unable to dodge it (it may yield a Heart if punched) and close on Bowser’s position. If Mario is close enough already, he can run right under the brick sphere. Unleash another flurry of punches on Bowser to knock him into the spiked railings a second time. Two hits down, one to go!
The fight continues in much the same manner for a third sequence, only this time Bowser hurls six hats at Mario instead of three. Once again, dodge the purple hats by running across the arena, then side somersault or hit the purple hats with Cappy while angling toward the white hat. Purple hats often drop a Heart when destroyed. Hit the white hat with Cappy and rush toward it to put it on.
Ambush Bowser with a flurry of punches, but beware, this time he’s going to block them! Watch for him to briefly turn his back to Mario and stop punching. Wait a moment then leap over his tail swipe as it sweeps across the platform. Unleash another barrage of punches to knock Bowser back to his airship.