Unlocking the Castle Secrets: What Happens When You Beat Bowser in Super Mario 64?
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So, you’ve faced the Koopa King in the Bowser in the Sky level and emerged victorious in Super Mario 64. Congratulations! But what exactly happens after you hurl Bowser into that final bomb? The immediate aftermath is a cascade of satisfying events. After defeating the final Bowser, he’ll give you the Jumbo Star. Princess Peach is freed and returns to her castle. With the third and final defeat of Bowser, you unlock the castle’s second floor and the basement. What’s more, is that you also have the opportunity to obtain 100 lives by finding Yoshi on the castle roof! But the journey doesn’t necessarily end there; plenty of secrets and challenges await the persistent player who seeks to achieve true 100% completion.
The Immediate Rewards: Princess Peach and Access to More Secrets
The most immediate reward is the heartfelt reunion with Princess Peach. She expresses her gratitude for your heroism, baking you a cake as a token of appreciation. But the true reward lies in the expansion of your Super Mario 64 world. By defeating Bowser for the third time, you gain access to previously inaccessible areas of Peach’s Castle.
Unlocking New Areas of the Castle
The defeat of Bowser isn’t just a symbolic victory; it’s a key that unlocks new possibilities. With Bowser vanquished, you can now explore the second floor and the basement of the castle, which are filled with even more puzzles and hidden stars. These new areas dramatically increase the game’s depth, offering seasoned players a fresh wave of challenges to overcome. If you’ve been diligent in collecting stars, you might even have enough to unlock the door to the roof!
The Yoshi Encounter and 100 Lives
One of the most rewarding secrets revealed after beating the final Bowser is the encounter with Yoshi on the castle roof. Reaching Yoshi requires 120 stars. Climbing the clock tower can be a challenge in itself, but the reward is well worth the effort. Speaking with Yoshi not only grants you a heartfelt message but also awards you 100 lives. This boost to your life count is incredibly useful for tackling the more challenging stars you might have missed on your initial playthrough.
The Quest for 100% Completion: Beyond the Main Story
Beating Bowser is the culmination of the main storyline, but it’s not the end of the game. A true Mario 64 master aims for 100% completion, which means collecting all 120 Power Stars.
Castle Secret Stars
Beyond the main courses, there are 15 hidden stars to be found in the secret levels within Peach’s Castle. These stars often require you to discover hidden passages, solve intricate puzzles, or master specific movement techniques. Some of the most well-known Castle Secret Stars are:
- The Princess’s Secret Slide: A fun slide with two stars to collect.
- The Secret Aquarium: Find the entrance to the aquarium and swim through the hoops to earn a star.
Completing Every Course Star
Each of the 15 main courses in the game has seven stars to collect. This includes the standard six stars earned by completing various objectives in the course, as well as the 100-coin star, which requires you to collect 100 coins within the course. The 100-coin star can be particularly challenging, requiring a thorough exploration of the level.
Mastering the Controls and Hidden Techniques
Achieving 100% completion in Super Mario 64 requires more than just finding all the stars; it requires mastering the game’s controls and learning the many hidden techniques that experienced players utilize. These include:
- Wall Kicks: Essential for reaching high platforms and accessing secret areas.
- Triple Jumps: A classic Mario move used to cover large distances.
- Long Jumps: A powerful jump that can be used to clear gaps or gain speed.
Understanding the game’s physics and mastering these techniques is crucial for overcoming some of the more difficult challenges.
The Enduring Appeal of Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 remains a timeless classic for a reason. Its innovative gameplay, charming world, and abundance of secrets continue to captivate players of all ages. Even after beating Bowser and collecting all 120 stars, the game offers endless replayability. Whether you’re speedrunning the game, experimenting with glitches, or simply revisiting your favorite levels, Super Mario 64 has something to offer everyone. Learn more about the impact of gaming on learning through organizations like the GamesLearningSociety.org.
Super Mario 64: Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about what happens after you beat Bowser in Super Mario 64? Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you on your journey to mastering the game:
- Can you keep playing Mario 64 after beating Bowser? Yes, you can keep playing. Beating Bowser unlocks new areas and allows you to collect the remaining stars to reach 120 for full completion.
- Does the Bowser star count towards the 120? No, the final Bowser star does not count toward your total star count.
- What is the final Bowser stage called? The final Bowser stage is called Bowser in the Sky.
- How many times do you fight Bowser in Mario 64? You fight Bowser a total of three times in the game.
- Does Bowser give you a star? Yes, after defeating Bowser in each encounter, he gives you a star to advance to the next area.
- What is considered the hardest star to get in Mario 64? Many players consider stars like the Big Penguin Race and 100 Coins in Tick Tock Clock to be among the most difficult.
- Are there hidden stars in Mario 64? Yes, there are 15 hidden stars located in secret areas within Peach’s Castle.
- What do you do after beating Bowser? After beating Bowser, you can explore new areas, collect remaining stars, and strive for 100% completion. You also get to see Yoshi on the roof after collecting all 120 stars.
- Is Bowser the final boss in Super Mario 64? Yes, the third encounter with Bowser in Bowser in the Sky is the final boss battle.
- How do you get 100 lives in Mario 64? By collecting all 120 stars, you’ll be able to speak to Yoshi on top of the castle, who will grant you 100 lives.
- Was Luigi originally supposed to be in Mario 64? The game was original designed for two players with the second player being Luigi, but was cut during development for Mario.
- Who is the first boss in Mario 64? The first boss is Big Bob-omb on top of Bob-omb Battlefield.
- What happens if you lose your hat in Mario 64? If Mario loses his hat, he takes more damage from enemies.
- What happens if you lose all your lives in Mario 64? If you lose all your lives, the game ends and you have to start from your last save point.
- What happens if you get 500 power moons in Super Mario Odyssey? This question is about Super Mario Odyssey, not Super Mario 64. The Mushroom Kingdom becomes available as soon as the story is complete, while the Dark Side of the Moon becomes available when you have found 250 Power Moons, and the Darker Side will become available when you have found 500 Power Moons.
With these secrets unlocked and your questions answered, you’re well-equipped to dive back into the world of Super Mario 64 and experience everything it has to offer!