Bowser is essentially a saturday morning cartoon villain - except he not only *knows it*, he does it on *purpose*. Because what is a villain without presentation?
A note on his role in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team - that game was Bowser at his most competent as a villain in the RPG games. He not only manages to stay one step ahead of the plumbers at almost every turn like he did in Odyssey, but - to use his own words - played Antasma like a fiddle, using the wicked dream fiend for his own ends without being used himself. Why did he suddenly become so competent? Because in Bowser's Inside Story, the Koopa King saw what it meant to be on the hero's side while keeping a villain's mindset, and LEARNED FROM IT.
Bowser: you may be a villain, just not a super one. Every over villain: what’s the difference?! Bowser: *laughing while breathing fire on his airship* PRESENTATION!
At the end of the day, Bowser isn't a villain because he has to be, or because he hates the hero, or because he was wronged in some way, or to gain anything, or even just for the fun of it. Bowser takes being a villain as an *art form.* And he's always looking for a new canvas. Improving for the sake of improving.
Bowser is basically an inverse Stockholm syndrome... Instead of falling in love with the captor, he's the captor that ended up falling in love with the one he kidnapped.
I think the line that defines him the most is "Your saying this kingdom will vanish not today THIS KINGDOM IS ALL MINE SO YOU VANISH" his only reaction to an actual god threatening to end the world is just "nuh uh" and he than procedes to pound the tar out of evil personified with nothing but sheer strength
Actual dark God: This world will be destroyed. Your hopes are nothing. Your death will be in vain. You have already lost. No one: No person in this world: Literally no one ever: Bowser: no u
I disagree on Bowser is the dumbest in Bowser's Inside Story. If anything, it showed he was actually very intelligent. He came up with very clever strategies in it. Straight forward, sure, but clever. He may not be the best at underhanded tactics. But straight forward ones? He's surprisingly clever with those.
When there's a straighforward option that will work, he sees it and takes it instead of overthinking and looking for solutions that _might_ be more effective, but far more complex.
@@CoralCopperHeadsidestepping complexity addiction is something that few scheming villains do. i honestly really appreciate this aspect of bowser. his plans are often quite effective but rarely complicated. i mean, in mario 64, he would have won if it weren’t for peach having happened to have just sent mario a letter. the plan? just make peach castle his own and keep peach there. simple. he even tries it again to slightly lesser effect in NSMBU
One thing you didn't mention about the Mario & Luigi series and that's extremely important : Bowser being Mario's main rival always gets to fight the bros at one point using the gimmick of the current game. In superstar saga, he gets duo boss battles and bros attacks, the foundation of the series. In partners in time, he gets to cooperate with his younger self, just like the bros. In bowser's inside story, he gets to use all the attacks the player got to be familiar with up until that point In dream team, he gets to be buffed by a dream world being, antasma, just like Mario gets buffed by dreamy Luigi In paper jam, he gets to team up with his paper self and use paperization attacks, just like the playable trio. It's amazing that out of every character it could have been, Bowser always fills that role of turning game mechanics against the player. Also, the side stories in the remakes (minion quest and bowser jr's journey) really show how respected and loved he is, even when he's not around.
Another thing that makes Bowser awesome is that the games don't seem to start until Bowser has achieved, or is close to achieving his goal. Most of the games, he ALREADY has the princess and the Mushroom Kingdom under his control. In Paper Mario, he ALREADY has the Star Rod and imprisoned the Elders In Sunshine, Junior has ALREADY tarnished Mario's name In both Galaxy games, he ALREADY has a universe-spanning empire Hell, in Odyssey, he starts off beating Mario to mush! In short, each game starts of with him WINNING before anyone even knows he had a plan to begin with. All we do as players is just knock him down a bunch of pegs. He is by far, the MOST SUCCESSFUL villain in fiction!
The only difference between Bowser and Ozymandias is that we don't get to see the fall of Ozymandias's system, that we know is coming because of Rorschach's journal.
I think my favorite portrayal of Bowser is still probably Mario RPG, there’s just something so great about how comically serious about how much Bowser treasures his rivalry with Mario and his unconditional love for Peach. I feel Mario and Peach would want Bowser to change and would definitely support him, the problem is how Bowser was brought up as a kid he just thinks that he deserves everything because well that’s what happened considering Yoshi’s island. Dude is just really stubborn and it’ll be a long and hard process for him to change (But I feel he can do it, only to show Mario that he can change as a flex.)
I can totally see Mario and friends accepting Bowser even after everything he's done. Mario even consoles Bowser on their shared rejection showing he doesn't feel soley negative towards the turtle. The real problem with Bowser is definitely how he was brought up. Kamek was less of a father and more of a servant. Sure he raised Bowser but Bowser also got everything he wanted, instilling in him that what he wants, he will get and what he doesn't get, he's strong enough to take by force. Plus, I think Bowser has just fell in love with being the bad guy. Sure he's a good father but he also on multiple occassions has taken great pleasure in terrorizing others and being evil as well as waiting for the day he'll finally beat Mario. I don't think anything will change how stubbornly bad Bowser is, even if good people will welcome him.
@@castform7 Getting what you want isn't bad. Being taught to be entitled to what you want is. There's a very large difference. He was pretty much raised to be an evil overlord. Being told you're entitled to rule the world is very different from having a regular kid's wants indulged. The latter is fine - unless it's truly unreasonably impractical, then you should ease a kid into understanding why they can't have something. But being told you're supposed to be the boss of everyone from childhood will mess anyone up.
Bowser always feels like he's at his best when he's playing villain protagonist. Like, Bowser's Inside Story...it does not get enough praise for how fucking stellar Bowser is.
@@Vaquix000 well, now they’re listening. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake just dropped not too long ago, and it’s as amazing as it was back in 2004. Nintendo’s in a better place now. Bowser’s got some wonderful qualities in these more recent games, and he hasn’t changed a bit.
@@CoralCopperHead He Was One Of The First Final Bosses I Beat,Yoshi's Island On The GBA!If You Let Him Get Too Close,You DIE!That Was What I Feared The Most!
The sheer fact that Super Mario RPGs characterization of Bowser managed to make its way into a feature length multibilliom dollar movie almost 30 years later, is a testament to how important that game really was. It's a relatively obscure RPG game from the mid 90s yet it is the start of the core characterization for he most recognizable franchise in the world. And It wasn't even made by Nintendo.
Because it was made by Squaresoft who are good with stories. Nintendo sucks with stories. So not sure why you're surprised by the "and it wasn't even made by nintendo" bowser is always at his most bland in the mainline series.
24:30 I just wanna take a moment to say, Bowser's a catch actually. He's royalty, loves and is loved by his subjects, wonderful father, absolute unit, has sensitive side; once you look past the kidnapping hobby he's got alot going for him
@@Bacxaber He actively goes out of his way to help his army. ...I admit I don't have a response to the "Toads To Bricks" trick he pulled in the first game.
So I'm playing through Inside Story for the first time and I just wanna say I get why Bowser brute forces his way through everything. Because he makes it so fun. Punching and breathing fire on anything who dares to challenge the king. There will be nothing more satisfying than getting an Excellent on Bowser's punch, him reeling back to really sell the clobbering and finally decking whatever shnozz in front of him so hard they fly back. I rely on it more than my minions which is about as stupid as Bowser is this game but I don't care. I feel like this bruiser who may make dumb decisions but has the power to take on the world by myself and win. I feel like a boss. I feel like Bowser.
This comment makes me wish I tried pushing the one rock to the left rather than constantly trying to push it to the right years ago in a room inside of Bowser. I never got past that point and it pisses me off because I don't have a working DS anymore. If only Nintendo were to port the game to the switch. I don't know how exactly, but I just wish they did. One way or another.
I totally missed that "high energy" kid line in Origami King. That's hilarious! Bowser has always been one of my favorites. Super Paper Mario was what really stuck his character to me with that "Grade A Certified Final Boss" line.
He was a pretty decent final boss in the 90's. But when the 3D era came along it was like "Why are we still doing this? we already beat this guy over and over time for something else"
@@insertobligatoryreferenceh489 ignore him, seems like all he has going for him is constantly hating on Nintendo, Mario, and Miyamoto, I find him on a couple of comments going over Mario final bossses and constantly hating on everything related to it. On top of that I remember in one of them he also begun praising the Sonic franchise, so he’s also a Sonic purist, not surprising at all.
I've always seen Bowser as the Mario equivalent of Dr. Doom or Skeletor. He's not the most evil, powerful, or imposing villain in the Rogues Gallery, but he's a certified badass, and will always finds his way back in the position of top dog of villainy.
Bowser is such an interesting case to study. He balances being a tyranical monster who wants his influence known across kingdoms or even entire galaxies and being a goofy meathead that loves his son and really wants the pretty princess to like him near perfectly. What I love about Bowser is how he just seems to relish in his villainy. To himself, he is the biggest threat around, even after he loses. He fully acknowledges being the bad, loving it and being dedicated to it. Every loss to Mario is actually just a small setback and will definitely win next time. He doesn't "team up with people to fight a bigger threat" he makes people honourary minions to help him prove to others why he's on top. And to top it all off, he is the king of presentation. Not just with his massive castles either. How about a giant theme park with a giant tower he scales up with the powers of a cat. Or a wedding on the moon with supplies he got from terrorizing others. Or how about turning himself into a castle and using Wonder power to [redacted so that no one angry I spoiled but if you know you know]. All these add to the charisma that allows him to be so malleable. Why does Bowser want to go golfing. To beat Mario by any means necessary. Whether or not he's imposing, no one can deny that whatever Bowser does is exactly what Bowser would do.
I think one of my favorite bits of characterization for Bowser is in Dream Team when he throws Antasma to the curb, since he might have a better chance of beating Mario with Antasma backing him up, but there's absolutely no way he's ever sharing the spotlight with _anyone_ when he beats Mario. Bowser is probably the most determined character in all of fiction with how he doesn't just try time and time again to beat Mario, but he also specifically wants to beat Mario _himself_ with no third party butting in. It's also fun how sometimes Mario and the gang don't seem to _hate_ Bowser as much as they just find him a nuisance. Like they know he's capable of good things, but he's too preoccupied with his obsession of beating Mario.
One of the hardest things about commenting on your videos is trying to come up with something you didn't already say better than I ever could have. Your commitment to being a thorough as possible and covering every single last corner of the subject material you talk about it truly and utterly unrivaled and that is demonstrated better than anything else by the fact that you STILL are out here making references to the Mario Superstar Baseball community of all things. Just 1 small and niche community, normally otherwise eclipsed by so many other communities that have so much more to say, yet you still find the time to bring up the fucking BASEBALL META. As always, incredible job. I knew this was gonna be a treat the moment I saw the musical sync right at the beginning of the video
One of my favorite gaming moments and best Mario moment is in new super Mario bros wii, I was playing 2p with my late brother-in law during family game night and we were powering through the final world then finally "Beating" bowser only for Kamek to fly in work thier magic and gigantify Bowser and the sheer panic set in, we had never made it that far, had no idea what to expect and we ran, jumped, bubbled, bounced off each other and somehow working on instinct alone all actions working in sync, using each other but never getting in each other's way we raced to the end without a death. It's one of my fondest memories with a great man gone too soon
This was so fun to work on, truly an honor. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something so special. I think you should be VERY proud of this one. Nailed it my friend. LONG LIVE THE KING.
There's also Bowser's time as a Skylander; in the special comic to promote him and Donkey Kong as Nintendo exclusives, he agreed to a temporary truce and even accepting that he has to be a hero to keep other worlds safe since whatever evil is afoot will most likely come for his. I remember reading somewhere that Bowser even stood in as leader of the Superchargers in the event their main leader was away on a mission.
What I really love about Bowser is hard to describe. He's a true villian, but not a complete monster. He has his doubts and insecurities, flaws and strengths, he has more layers than a planet sized cake. Bowser is a hopeless romantic, hammy supervillian, yet a father to his men and a wonderful parent. And yet he's perfectly fine to get together with his arch nemesis casually from time to time as a breather and for fun. He's basically a punch-clock villian. And despite all of his evil deeds, he's never done anything that crosses the line that'd make him unforgiveable (minus the movie, but that's a different canon). The only person he tries killing is the one that foils his plans and he's still willing to kart with him on weekends. His kidnapping is basically the worst he does and it's not even that bad. Peach is given comfort typically. It's basically just routine for everyone. He's capable of doing so much and is so gargantuan I'm not entirely sure if I can do him justice. Bowser is Bowser. He's awesome. That's all you need to know.
something special is how he can maintain his intimidating threatening presence despite losing over and over, he doesn't let that turn him into a running joke, he doesn't let that define him as a loser or hurt him, he just gets back up and keeps being the biggest and baddest because he's fully convinced he's that guy, the games might use him for some jokes but he isn't the joke
What makes bowser the best villain is that hes not necessarily completely evil. He looks menacing and scary, but hes just a little guy who has problems with feelings. Often portrayed as a joke villain, whos just “oh no bowser kidnap da princess, go save her” Rarely is bowser ever portrayed as scary, hes just a funny and incredible character. And whenever bowser talks, it is amazing dialogue and is also sometimes being made a complete joke out of. Or hell, to even becoming allies with his greatest enemy. Granted its for his own benefit he could care less about actually helping mario. But whenever somethings really that serious and something happens to bowser, he will always end up on marios team if they were to cross. Theres even some times where bowser genuinely does care for mario. Like in super mario rpg for example he says to leave mario out of it and instead threatens the manager by saying that he is the real threat to the manager. Bowser is also caring for peach, I mean he really just wants hers but like she loves peach and even more when she becomes an elephant. Honestly huge respect. If I was peach id accept. Bowser is also a great father, caring about Jr. Calling him in mario rabbids to ask to make sure he did his homework, took out the trash and that he isnt throwing a party. And thats what makes bowser so great, a lovable doofus who tries to be a menacing villain. Is he as evil as say Sephiroth, Ganondorf, Albert Wesker, or even Mr Jefferson from Life is Strange? No, not at all, not even close. But you dont need a villain to be completely evil to be the best.
@breadandcircuses8127I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of Bowser redeeming himself to some extent in the movies when we inevitably get the 2nd and 3rd Mario movies, after all I’m sure they won’t make Bowser the villain for all 3 movies, although the chances of this might appear slim I could imagine a villain like Dimentio being the final villain for the 3rd Mario movie and just like what happened in Super Paper Mario, Bowser will join Mario, Luigi & Peach, and we’ll also no doubt get to see Bowser’s fatherly side when Bowser Jr. & the Koopalings are introduced in probably the 2nd movie, and with more development by the 3rd movie, I personally think they should end it with 3 Mario movies, all I’m hoping is that they add Rosalina, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, Bowser Jr. & the Koopalings, certain basic enemies & and also bosses like Petey Piranha, Count Bleck & Tippi & Dimentio to the sequels. As well as the Donkey Kong spin-off movie where we get to see all of the Kongs and I hope King K. Rool & the Kremlings appear in the movie.
It was a tumultuous ride getting here, but I'm beaming with pride over how the final product turned out. I still remember us talking... I think it was 2 years ago?About the best written Nintendo characters and you brought up that Bowser was #1. Surprised me at first, but its true! He's a stellar character, and its been a delight to see that viewpoint grow and evolve into what this video became, as well as a sheer delight to help get it finished! Long Live the King!!!
IMO, Bowser’s best role as a villain was in Dream Team. The whole game, Antasma was being hyped up by everyone. And when they teamed up, it seemed like it’d be the Bowser usual where he gets betrayed/possessed and loses the title of final boss. But instead, Bowser was the one in charge. Every action by the duo was successful because of Bowser, and in the final part of the game, Bowser actually backstabs first. Unceremoniously chucking aside the Nightmare King, and leaving with the Mcguffin. That moment stuck with me.
Considering we visit Bowser's homeland in Mario Odyssey, it really puts his upbringing in perspective. He's part of a dynasty of Japan-styled warlords, and it's pretty clear that being a bully and a conqueror is downright expected of him by his people.
Man, I really like your essays. I clicked this without being too interested in the topic, simply because I enjoyed your previous videos so much. Then in the intro, you gripped me with the question "Why does Bowser still posture so frightfully even when he's had his ass kicked so many times?" And I was like, damn, I didn't think of it that way. Now I'm on board for the next 40 minutes. Cheers.
Mario Party Bowser has some hilarious lines. Bowser: "Time to play a minigame called GIVE BOWSER 100 Coins and your Star" (Later) Bowser: "That was so fun."
5:31: Not only was Bowser modeled after the Bull Demon King, Bowser’s design is compared to Lóngguī the Chinese Dragon Turtle, a hybrid creature which has more notable design features, specifically hair and horns on the head, a pronounced muzzle, and having his body inside a turtle shell… Bowser’s also got a dash of Alligator Snapping Turtle for the spikes, which I can’t quite explain.
Bowser is a fun villain, but he is at his best when he reluctantly teams up with Mario to take down a bigger bad to prove he is the better bad guy. Take no substitutes.
Bowser: You're a villain alright... Just not an awesome one! Whatever villain is trying to take Bowser's place as Gaming's most iconic villain: Oh yeah, what's the difference? Bowser: PRESENTATION!!!
My favorite aspect of Bowser is that he manages to have a parallel against Mario while also retaining his own character. Most villains that parallel their hero, like Iron Monger and Iron Man, trying to be the best of their ideals of power vs legacy using their tech genius, typically aren’t very unique as themself, as Iron Monger’s story is built on Iron Man’s. Bowser’s story is his own, and he rivals Mario, not just as sport or love interest, but in their determination. I think the movie shows this the best, as it is structurally similar to a videogame, where Mario’s and DK’s determination allows them to conquer challenges and end up at Bowser. Bowser, as an eternal turtle, is perfectly characterized as the force that can’t be put down. In the movie, he endures the entirety of two superstars, only losing when distracted by Peach. And he shows no signs of reflection on his failure other than how to make the next attempt be more successful. As the mainline games progressed, he has less self-destructive ways of being defeated (except in NSMB series, 3D Land, 3D World, and Sunshine), and almost always gives it his all (exceptions being Sunshine and Wonder), where Mario only wins because of a surprise ally (FLUDD, Master Luma, and Cappy). His adaptability is definitely an aspect to be appreciated.
Having a video finally go in depth on validating my opinion on why Bowser is a genuinely amazing character beyond “Gaming Icon” and “yeah he’s funny” was so euphoric. God especially the BIS portion, it completely captures what made that game so goddamn iconic and AUHH when In The Final hit I was so GUISHSJS. I love bowser.
Bowser may not be my Personal favorite. He may not be yours. But we can all agree that Bowser is what Video game villains stride to be. Icon. Evil. Incredible bosses that improve and change each appearance. While still being the villain we know and love. So All Hail King Koopa. Ruler of the Video game Villains!
Gosh, Bowser is so cool. He absolutely deserves his title of THE video game villain, and this is a brilliant showcase of just how and why. Long live the king, indeed.
Ahh, the love note for THE villain, while also bringing up other aspects of video game villainy (which can easily spread to other mediums)... it's a love note to villainy as well! 46 minutes of praising Bowser, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for a great year, and here's to more!
amazing essay! I never realized how much Bowser reflects the challenges inside a game, personifying the game design itself, blowing it out of proportions and making it epic, like a boss fight should do. And he keeps doing this for everything, not only for the game's he's in, but for himself as well. Taking such a simple concept, but mastering it to a tee. Showing yet again how good character writers can be at their craft. And at how well essayists are at deconstructing and explaining stuff like this.
Awesome video. In super Paper Mario Bowser had to be convinced about the world and his minions, but we see that progression in Origami King where Bowser was forced to watch his minions be turned into folded soldiers, he was instantly upset and wanted revenge for them. His characterization reached its intended point on ToK especially as he respected Jr and Kamek, as well as comforting Olivia’s fear about facing her brother. It’s awesome and I look forward to seeing where his character goes in the future after the TTYD remake.
I needed this video; almost brought a tear to my eye. I’ve loved Bowser since I was about 7 years old; my parents got me a Bowser plushie and it was my absolute favorite stuffed animal throughout my childhood. I always play as Bowser in Mario Kart, Smash, and pretty much every other game I can, and I even had a Bowser-themed birthday party when I was younger! My absolute favorite video game character ever, and easily one of, if not the greatest fictitious villain ever conceived. Long love the king! 👑
LONG LIVE THE KING! [: Was thinking this morning about how he'd be a fun addition to Project X Zone 3 because of the recent Source Gaming roster streams
@breadandcircuses8127 not that I'm aware of I just think Bowser would be a good fun pick for a Unit (Paired or Solo) if Nintendo characters get to be in like PXZ2 (:
What I like most about Bowser is how powerful they make him to be. He may be a lovesick idiot sometimes but that lovesick idiot has the capabilities of wiping out everyone with a single breath.
what's awesome about this guy is that even as a baby, he's intimidating....you know you got yourself an awesome and memorable villain when even as a baby, he's terrifying.
Man, this brought back a whole lot of memories. Ever since I played New Super Mario Bros Wii when it came out and watched playthroughs of Bowser's Inside Story via youtube letsplays, Bowser has been one of my favorite characters (much to my family's confusion haha). I've always thought he was so cool and that his relationship with Peach, Mario, and his kids was so interesting. All his bossfights, silly rpg appearences, and power trips in the games where he's playable have brought me so much joy over the years. This has got to be one of my favorite videos of yours. Keep up the great work dude!
This video was a joy to watch. Bowser is one of my favorite villains ever. Always love your stuff man. I’m hoping you tackle King K. Rool more in depth some day in a video like this!
Same, and I hope he makes an in depth video on why he thinks King K. Rool is a great villain as well, same with an in depth video for Dr. Eggman, Ganondorf and Sephiroth.
Quiet viewer here. Just had to comment your analysis might be spot-on, and I never realized the _first_ RPG was the true root of his character. That said, I'll never forget going into Super Paper or Dream Team and first realizing "Oh. The bad guy is a fully dimensional _person."_ It was awesome. You're correct when you say he's the jack of every trade a villain has tried (and Bowser Jr malquote aside, it's a really telling look from another person about what Bowser fundamentally is).
This is my new favorite Designing For video, and that's saying something with how quality your work is. If it's ok, I'd like to request a video on Plants vs. Zombies. Maybe "Designing for Escalation" on how the Zombies and Plants adapt to each others tactics in the first game. Have a Merry Christmas!
Bowser is actually my favorite character of all time, full stop. He has been ever since i played Bowser's inside story way back when. After that I just discovered more to love about him
Bowser is the most badass villain and turtle throughout the entire gaming industry! He has a lot of forms, power ups, minions, ultra forms, cool styles and a bunch of tricks up his sleeve and I'm telling you Bowser can easily take on Thanos in a heartbeat from my point of view! Bowser is the greatest video game villain ever, long live the king!!!!
Haven't watched yet, but the terrifying part about bowser is that 99% of the time, _he wins_ . How many times do you think that mario has literally died, and only been revived because of magical mushrooms?
I mean some of the rpgs had them. Inside story revives a brother upon consumption. I actually like to believe that Bowser picks up mario. Puts him at a flag he placed as a checkpoint for him and leaves. If not bowser one of the minions. Since in the end. Mario (or the others) are the only ones brash enough to go and beat him. And who better to have as an adversary then the one that never gives up. Since he never does himself. It be funny tho if thats the case. he just...Does it so he can fight them again. And again. And again. Just a thought though.@@sythrus
30:42 What makes this so great is that this is precisely what makes Mario great, as well. Even in a franchise as simple as Mario, the villain reflects the hero.
You pretty much summed up my thoughts and more about Bowser. He's funny, he's a troll, he can be a simpleton, he's great dad, he's a respectful leader, and he's an absolute powerhouse when overstepping his limits. There are definitely some video games villains that are a lot more conniving, threatening, and interesting, but Bowser just has this iconic charm and charisma that almost no other antagonist has.
Honestly, the best way I can reason why Bowser is so timeless is because of who he was based on. Miyamoto had stated that the character borrowed heavily from The Ox King from Journey to the West, but also Bluto from the Popeye the Sailor cartoons. A magic wielder, and a rough and tough bruiser fighting the main character over a girl. And I think that balance of actual threat and goofy screwup who can be beaten if you can handle it is probably why the Koopa king has stuck in the zeitgeist when folks like Wart and Fawful haven't.
Bowser is mucj more than just an evil turtle dragon king. He's a general, a cool manager, and a great father. Like eggman, he is not always comedic all the time (for example, sonic mania and bowser fury) but is also very respectful and has a small heart of gold. He may be bad, but not heartless, he care for his minions, his son, and even princess peach. That's why i like bowser
This video was incredible front to back. Your story telling ability and passion keeps the viewer engaged and wanting more. As someone who has played Nintendo for nearly 30 years, this was such a fun video to watch.
This was amazing, and since you mentioned that there’s villains you like more than Bowser, and you showed King K. Rool, I’d love to watch in depth video of why you think King K. Rool is a great villain, also I’d love to see an in depth video for why Dr. Eggman, Ganondorf and Sephiroth are great villains as well, it’d be fitting to make videos based on them because they’re considered the most iconic video game villains just behind Bowser, and I actually really like the longer videos because I feel like it gives the characters their due respect.
Mario Party Bowser is my favorite villain of all video games because he somehow manages to be the most chaotic and hated character while still being loved in a game where conventional antagonists just wont work
Giga Baby Bowser from Yoshi's Island is the pinnacle of atmospheric tension in a boss fight. The monstrous silhouette looming and growing in the distance, the intense fight music, it all culminates to make one of the most iconic fights in the whole series.
Seeing Kefka Palazzo, Senator Steven Armstrong, and King Bowser Koopa directly compared to one another in the same essay is honestly one of the biggest highlights of "Funny because it's true" comedy in general.
Bowser is one of my favorite villains of all time. Sure there's fellas like... Tomura Shigaraki from My Hero Academia who has a tragic backstory to show how he became so evil, but I think Bowser's cooler and more fun. Helps that he's not all evil since there was Bowser's Inside Story where he treated his minions well, rescuing them which gave him new Brawl Attacks. In Super Mario RPG, he was fine with some of his minions quitting the army. Lastly, he was not down with what happened to the Sammer Kingdom. I am a fan of how he didn't kidnap Peach in Super Mario Bros Wonder and 3D World. Was nice for him to change things up there.
I think one of the best parts of Bowser as well.. he not only got his own characterization, but he gave Mario and Peach character as well when back then they were just rather flat. Every moment he has involving Peach ... is kidnapping yes. But games like Paper Mario where Peach is given storytime of herself. Or even Super Princess Peach where SHE was the protagonist against Bowser. Not only does it show that Bowser has the power and brains to outbest Mario, but it helped showing that Peach is a capable princess who can defend herself and isn't just some hopeless damsel. The LINE sticker set even has her just slapping Bowser when he got close to her for kidnapping. Even when being shoved flowers in her face by both her captor and even her love interest, she just rejects both of them, showcasing that she does have a tipping point where she can just be fed up with everything. And Mario, his personality started to really shine in Super Mario Odyssey, mainly that said rejection where we just see Mario patting a sobbing Bowser's back. That imagery sits with my mind with Mario just showing he isn't a total jerk to Bowser. Bowser's Fury, Mario is just really fed up with Bowser for the 35 years of constantly fighting him and it's hilarious. Seeing Mario at the ending of the game just standing there nonchalant not moving an inch as Bowser tries to hit him but Junior held him back.
Bowser is a Classic history Conquerer, operating in a modern world that hates wars and conquest. His moments of softness or sweetness aren't some weakening of his character, they're his core: the world is HIS, and to those who will grant it to him, he holds no quarrel. To those who would deny him, he holds no mercy He's the mighty, evil king, but at the end of the day, he's evil BECAUSE he's king. As far as he's concerned, a King is a Conqueror, why WOULDN'T he try to take over everything? That's his _job._ And he LOOOOOOVES his job
I personally think one of the reasons Bowser works so well is his sheer determination Mario could take him down every day for a hundred years, time and time again, sometimes twice in a single game, and the MOMENT Bowser is back on his feet, he's going to try again. No amount of failure will stop Bowser, and no amount of defeat can dull his edge. Every time Bowser comes back in the Villain Spotlight, he's going to be _at least_ as brutal as he was the last time. It doesn't matter if he's fighting Mario until the heat death of the universe. Bowser knows what he wants, and not even death is going to stop him.
I mean...Death didn't stop him. He technically died I believe at some point. But the afterlife just sucked so he returned. Death can't keep this ol' koopa down. Until mario gives his final breath. I don't think even death will take him.
Bowser is essentially a saturday morning cartoon villain - except he not only *knows it*, he does it on *purpose*.
Because what is a villain without presentation?
Certainly not a super one.
Classy
Tighten
That's a damn neat way to slick in a Megamind ref
I love how they develop Bowser's focus presentation, especially in Wonder
A note on his role in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team - that game was Bowser at his most competent as a villain in the RPG games. He not only manages to stay one step ahead of the plumbers at almost every turn like he did in Odyssey, but - to use his own words - played Antasma like a fiddle, using the wicked dream fiend for his own ends without being used himself.
Why did he suddenly become so competent?
Because in Bowser's Inside Story, the Koopa King saw what it meant to be on the hero's side while keeping a villain's mindset, and LEARNED FROM IT.
The greatest plans comes from not only understanding your perspective but also your enemy’s perspective
@@JanusHoW 😱🤯
"To know your enemy, you must become your enemy."
It's genuinely one of the biggest plot twists in gaming.
hopefully this new era of m&l games keeps this level of attention to detail.
Bowser: you may be a villain, just not a super one.
Every over villain: what’s the difference?!
Bowser: *laughing while breathing fire on his airship* PRESENTATION!
AND VERITY!!!
At the end of the day, Bowser isn't a villain because he has to be, or because he hates the hero, or because he was wronged in some way, or to gain anything, or even just for the fun of it.
Bowser takes being a villain as an *art form.* And he's always looking for a new canvas. Improving for the sake of improving.
He is an actor just like Mario is.
Bowser is basically an inverse Stockholm syndrome... Instead of falling in love with the captor, he's the captor that ended up falling in love with the one he kidnapped.
That's called Lima Syndrome
@@BJGvideos Ah neat. I figured that was _probably_ an actual thing, but didn't have any idea what it was called.
@@lasercraft32Yeah it isn't as discussed
That’s a stalker
...aww?
One of the main takeways from the video is that Super Mario RPG is great for many reasons.
@breadandcircuses8127Wario already filled in the anti hero and rival spot and fits him better
And this comment isn’t even TALKING ABOUT BOWSER
Super Mario Rpg IS great for many reasons! Solid takeaway, I would say! ;)
@@trufreedom why is it a takeaway? I thought takeaways are detrimental.
Gameplay not being one of them
Exactly, spread the words of truth more
I think the line that defines him the most is "Your saying this kingdom will vanish not today THIS KINGDOM IS ALL MINE SO YOU VANISH" his only reaction to an actual god threatening to end the world is just "nuh uh" and he than procedes to pound the tar out of evil personified with nothing but sheer strength
In a tone that KNOWS he can back up that denial.
Actual dark God: This world will be destroyed. Your hopes are nothing. Your death will be in vain. You have already lost.
No one:
No person in this world:
Literally no one ever:
Bowser: no u
I disagree on Bowser is the dumbest in Bowser's Inside Story. If anything, it showed he was actually very intelligent. He came up with very clever strategies in it. Straight forward, sure, but clever. He may not be the best at underhanded tactics. But straight forward ones? He's surprisingly clever with those.
When there's a straighforward option that will work, he sees it and takes it instead of overthinking and looking for solutions that _might_ be more effective, but far more complex.
Agreed. He can be surprisingly creative, but he's very much the straight forward type of thinker. @@CoralCopperHead
@@CoralCopperHeadsidestepping complexity addiction is something that few scheming villains do. i honestly really appreciate this aspect of bowser. his plans are often quite effective but rarely complicated. i mean, in mario 64, he would have won if it weren’t for peach having happened to have just sent mario a letter. the plan? just make peach castle his own and keep peach there. simple. he even tries it again to slightly lesser effect in NSMBU
In Bowsers inside story, he is the dumbest character at the beginning but as the game goes on he gets smarter and smarter as the game goes on
When your main toolset is a hammer, you get real creative at making the world nothing but nails.
One thing you didn't mention about the Mario & Luigi series and that's extremely important :
Bowser being Mario's main rival always gets to fight the bros at one point using the gimmick of the current game.
In superstar saga, he gets duo boss battles and bros attacks, the foundation of the series.
In partners in time, he gets to cooperate with his younger self, just like the bros.
In bowser's inside story, he gets to use all the attacks the player got to be familiar with up until that point
In dream team, he gets to be buffed by a dream world being, antasma, just like Mario gets buffed by dreamy Luigi
In paper jam, he gets to team up with his paper self and use paperization attacks, just like the playable trio.
It's amazing that out of every character it could have been, Bowser always fills that role of turning game mechanics against the player.
Also, the side stories in the remakes (minion quest and bowser jr's journey) really show how respected and loved he is, even when he's not around.
Another thing that makes Bowser awesome is that the games don't seem to start until Bowser has achieved, or is close to achieving his goal.
Most of the games, he ALREADY has the princess and the Mushroom Kingdom under his control.
In Paper Mario, he ALREADY has the Star Rod and imprisoned the Elders
In Sunshine, Junior has ALREADY tarnished Mario's name
In both Galaxy games, he ALREADY has a universe-spanning empire
Hell, in Odyssey, he starts off beating Mario to mush!
In short, each game starts of with him WINNING before anyone even knows he had a plan to begin with. All we do as players is just knock him down a bunch of pegs.
He is by far, the MOST SUCCESSFUL villain in fiction!
I agree with you in everything except the last part.
Look up Ozymandias from Watchmen
The only difference between Bowser and Ozymandias is that we don't get to see the fall of Ozymandias's system, that we know is coming because of Rorschach's journal.
@@motherfuckingenterprises7436 The shear fact that we are comparing Bowser to Ozymandias shows how good Bowser is
I think my favorite portrayal of Bowser is still probably Mario RPG, there’s just something so great about how comically serious about how much Bowser treasures his rivalry with Mario and his unconditional love for Peach.
I feel Mario and Peach would want Bowser to change and would definitely support him, the problem is how Bowser was brought up as a kid he just thinks that he deserves everything because well that’s what happened considering Yoshi’s island. Dude is just really stubborn and it’ll be a long and hard process for him to change (But I feel he can do it, only to show Mario that he can change as a flex.)
Really gotta give the guy a break. He was raised by freakin' Kamek, after all.
Bowser is great in every rpg he speaks in.
@@FelisImpurrator Honestly he is trying to be a better father than Kamek so that’s good at least.
I can totally see Mario and friends accepting Bowser even after everything he's done. Mario even consoles Bowser on their shared rejection showing he doesn't feel soley negative towards the turtle. The real problem with Bowser is definitely how he was brought up. Kamek was less of a father and more of a servant. Sure he raised Bowser but Bowser also got everything he wanted, instilling in him that what he wants, he will get and what he doesn't get, he's strong enough to take by force. Plus, I think Bowser has just fell in love with being the bad guy. Sure he's a good father but he also on multiple occassions has taken great pleasure in terrorizing others and being evil as well as waiting for the day he'll finally beat Mario. I don't think anything will change how stubbornly bad Bowser is, even if good people will welcome him.
@@castform7 Getting what you want isn't bad. Being taught to be entitled to what you want is. There's a very large difference.
He was pretty much raised to be an evil overlord. Being told you're entitled to rule the world is very different from having a regular kid's wants indulged. The latter is fine - unless it's truly unreasonably impractical, then you should ease a kid into understanding why they can't have something. But being told you're supposed to be the boss of everyone from childhood will mess anyone up.
Bowser always feels like he's at his best when he's playing villain protagonist.
Like, Bowser's Inside Story...it does not get enough praise for how fucking stellar Bowser is.
If he was an actor, hed get an Academy Award lol
@@Echostooge234dude does not deserve an academy award.
He at least deserves an Oscar.
This is what most people are saying but nintendo doesn't listen. They need to change the way it works.
@@Vaquix000 well, now they’re listening. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake just dropped not too long ago, and it’s as amazing as it was back in 2004. Nintendo’s in a better place now. Bowser’s got some wonderful qualities in these more recent games, and he hasn’t changed a bit.
As a child, the final boss fight against Bowser in Yoshi's Island was genuinely terrifying
It still is for me
Terrifying music for a boss fight against a giant that was a literal baby just seconds before, set in a firey hellscape. You know, for kids!
@@CoralCopperHead He Was One Of The First Final Bosses I Beat,Yoshi's Island On The GBA!If You Let Him Get Too Close,You DIE!That Was What I Feared The Most!
Legit the only part of the game I worked up to that I would hand the controller off to my dad. 5 year old me could not handle that. LOL
i played Yoshi's island the first time at high school, and even then i was scared of sheer size of the baby Koopa King.
The sheer fact that Super Mario RPGs characterization of Bowser managed to make its way into a feature length multibilliom dollar movie almost 30 years later, is a testament to how important that game really was. It's a relatively obscure RPG game from the mid 90s yet it is the start of the core characterization for he most recognizable franchise in the world. And It wasn't even made by Nintendo.
Because it was made by Squaresoft who are good with stories. Nintendo sucks with stories. So not sure why you're surprised by the "and it wasn't even made by nintendo" bowser is always at his most bland in the mainline series.
That's how Bowser's personality is in paper mario and mario and luigi
24:30 I just wanna take a moment to say, Bowser's a catch actually. He's royalty, loves and is loved by his subjects, wonderful father, absolute unit, has sensitive side; once you look past the kidnapping hobby he's got alot going for him
Been thirsting for the big man too I see?
Honestly, the spiked collar drip is real nice too.
The kidnapping thing is a plus for some people too
Big himbo energy.
He turned everyone into bricks or plants and left the koopalings to die.
@@Bacxaber He actively goes out of his way to help his army.
...I admit I don't have a response to the "Toads To Bricks" trick he pulled in the first game.
So I'm playing through Inside Story for the first time and I just wanna say I get why Bowser brute forces his way through everything. Because he makes it so fun. Punching and breathing fire on anything who dares to challenge the king. There will be nothing more satisfying than getting an Excellent on Bowser's punch, him reeling back to really sell the clobbering and finally decking whatever shnozz in front of him so hard they fly back. I rely on it more than my minions which is about as stupid as Bowser is this game but I don't care. I feel like this bruiser who may make dumb decisions but has the power to take on the world by myself and win. I feel like a boss. I feel like Bowser.
Honestly, if it's just more fun, it might be like Luffy; he could easily make himself smart, sure, but it's more fun to take the direct route.
This comment makes me wish I tried pushing the one rock to the left rather than constantly trying to push it to the right years ago in a room inside of Bowser. I never got past that point and it pisses me off because I don't have a working DS anymore.
If only Nintendo were to port the game to the switch.
I don't know how exactly, but I just wish they did. One way or another.
I totally missed that "high energy" kid line in Origami King. That's hilarious!
Bowser has always been one of my favorites. Super Paper Mario was what really stuck his character to me with that "Grade A Certified Final Boss" line.
He was a pretty decent final boss in the 90's. But when the 3D era came along it was like "Why are we still doing this? we already beat this guy over and over time for something else"
@@Vaquix000…What? This comment has nothing to do with any of Bowser’s boss fights.
@@insertobligatoryreferenceh489 ignore him, seems like all he has going for him is constantly hating on Nintendo, Mario, and Miyamoto, I find him on a couple of comments going over Mario final bossses and constantly hating on everything related to it. On top of that I remember in one of them he also begun praising the Sonic franchise, so he’s also a Sonic purist, not surprising at all.
I've always seen Bowser as the Mario equivalent of Dr. Doom or Skeletor. He's not the most evil, powerful, or imposing villain in the Rogues Gallery, but he's a certified badass, and will always finds his way back in the position of top dog of villainy.
Bowser is such an interesting case to study. He balances being a tyranical monster who wants his influence known across kingdoms or even entire galaxies and being a goofy meathead that loves his son and really wants the pretty princess to like him near perfectly. What I love about Bowser is how he just seems to relish in his villainy. To himself, he is the biggest threat around, even after he loses. He fully acknowledges being the bad, loving it and being dedicated to it. Every loss to Mario is actually just a small setback and will definitely win next time. He doesn't "team up with people to fight a bigger threat" he makes people honourary minions to help him prove to others why he's on top. And to top it all off, he is the king of presentation. Not just with his massive castles either. How about a giant theme park with a giant tower he scales up with the powers of a cat. Or a wedding on the moon with supplies he got from terrorizing others. Or how about turning himself into a castle and using Wonder power to [redacted so that no one angry I spoiled but if you know you know]. All these add to the charisma that allows him to be so malleable. Why does Bowser want to go golfing. To beat Mario by any means necessary. Whether or not he's imposing, no one can deny that whatever Bowser does is exactly what Bowser would do.
I think one of my favorite bits of characterization for Bowser is in Dream Team when he throws Antasma to the curb, since he might have a better chance of beating Mario with Antasma backing him up, but there's absolutely no way he's ever sharing the spotlight with _anyone_ when he beats Mario.
Bowser is probably the most determined character in all of fiction with how he doesn't just try time and time again to beat Mario, but he also specifically wants to beat Mario _himself_ with no third party butting in.
It's also fun how sometimes Mario and the gang don't seem to _hate_ Bowser as much as they just find him a nuisance. Like they know he's capable of good things, but he's too preoccupied with his obsession of beating Mario.
Came back to watch this again after Death Battle released Bowser vs. Eggman (November 2024). I love the Koopa King.
One of the hardest things about commenting on your videos is trying to come up with something you didn't already say better than I ever could have. Your commitment to being a thorough as possible and covering every single last corner of the subject material you talk about it truly and utterly unrivaled and that is demonstrated better than anything else by the fact that you STILL are out here making references to the Mario Superstar Baseball community of all things. Just 1 small and niche community, normally otherwise eclipsed by so many other communities that have so much more to say, yet you still find the time to bring up the fucking BASEBALL META.
As always, incredible job. I knew this was gonna be a treat the moment I saw the musical sync right at the beginning of the video
Bro I see you fucking EVERYWHERE!! You always have something cool or insightful to say 😎
I don't think there's ever been a channel that can consistently give me chills as much as you can
One of my favorite gaming moments and best Mario moment is in new super Mario bros wii, I was playing 2p with my late brother-in law during family game night and we were powering through the final world then finally "Beating" bowser only for Kamek to fly in work thier magic and gigantify Bowser and the sheer panic set in, we had never made it that far, had no idea what to expect and we ran, jumped, bubbled, bounced off each other and somehow working on instinct alone all actions working in sync, using each other but never getting in each other's way we raced to the end without a death. It's one of my fondest memories with a great man gone too soon
This was so fun to work on, truly an honor. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something so special. I think you should be VERY proud of this one. Nailed it my friend.
LONG LIVE THE KING.
There's also Bowser's time as a Skylander; in the special comic to promote him and Donkey Kong as Nintendo exclusives, he agreed to a temporary truce and even accepting that he has to be a hero to keep other worlds safe since whatever evil is afoot will most likely come for his. I remember reading somewhere that Bowser even stood in as leader of the Superchargers in the event their main leader was away on a mission.
What I really love about Bowser is hard to describe. He's a true villian, but not a complete monster. He has his doubts and insecurities, flaws and strengths, he has more layers than a planet sized cake. Bowser is a hopeless romantic, hammy supervillian, yet a father to his men and a wonderful parent. And yet he's perfectly fine to get together with his arch nemesis casually from time to time as a breather and for fun. He's basically a punch-clock villian. And despite all of his evil deeds, he's never done anything that crosses the line that'd make him unforgiveable (minus the movie, but that's a different canon). The only person he tries killing is the one that foils his plans and he's still willing to kart with him on weekends. His kidnapping is basically the worst he does and it's not even that bad. Peach is given comfort typically. It's basically just routine for everyone. He's capable of doing so much and is so gargantuan I'm not entirely sure if I can do him justice.
Bowser is Bowser. He's awesome. That's all you need to know.
I don't know why minus the movie part when movie bowser didn't even do anything worse then regular bowser
@@aaronjones6299 tbf he was going to sacrifice a bunch of kidnapped civilians in honor of Peach at the wedding.
So, Bowser is like a ogre, and ogres are like onions.
something special is how he can maintain his intimidating threatening presence despite losing over and over, he doesn't let that turn him into a running joke, he doesn't let that define him as a loser or hurt him, he just gets back up and keeps being the biggest and baddest because he's fully convinced he's that guy, the games might use him for some jokes but he isn't the joke
Perfectly said!
What makes bowser the best villain is that hes not necessarily completely evil. He looks menacing and scary, but hes just a little guy who has problems with feelings. Often portrayed as a joke villain, whos just “oh no bowser kidnap da princess, go save her”
Rarely is bowser ever portrayed as scary, hes just a funny and incredible character. And whenever bowser talks, it is amazing dialogue and is also sometimes being made a complete joke out of. Or hell, to even becoming allies with his greatest enemy. Granted its for his own benefit he could care less about actually helping mario. But whenever somethings really that serious and something happens to bowser, he will always end up on marios team if they were to cross. Theres even some times where bowser genuinely does care for mario. Like in super mario rpg for example he says to leave mario out of it and instead threatens the manager by saying that he is the real threat to the manager. Bowser is also caring for peach, I mean he really just wants hers but like she loves peach and even more when she becomes an elephant. Honestly huge respect. If I was peach id accept. Bowser is also a great father, caring about Jr. Calling him in mario rabbids to ask to make sure he did his homework, took out the trash and that he isnt throwing a party. And thats what makes bowser so great, a lovable doofus who tries to be a menacing villain. Is he as evil as say Sephiroth, Ganondorf, Albert Wesker, or even Mr Jefferson from Life is Strange? No, not at all, not even close. But you dont need a villain to be completely evil to be the best.
@breadandcircuses8127yeah that proves my statement
@breadandcircuses8127I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of Bowser redeeming himself to some extent in the movies when we inevitably get the 2nd and 3rd Mario movies, after all I’m sure they won’t make Bowser the villain for all 3 movies, although the chances of this might appear slim I could imagine a villain like Dimentio being the final villain for the 3rd Mario movie and just like what happened in Super Paper Mario, Bowser will join Mario, Luigi & Peach, and we’ll also no doubt get to see Bowser’s fatherly side when Bowser Jr. & the Koopalings are introduced in probably the 2nd movie, and with more development by the 3rd movie, I personally think they should end it with 3 Mario movies, all I’m hoping is that they add Rosalina, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, Bowser Jr. & the Koopalings, certain basic enemies & and also bosses like Petey Piranha, Count Bleck & Tippi & Dimentio to the sequels. As well as the Donkey Kong spin-off movie where we get to see all of the Kongs and I hope King K. Rool & the Kremlings appear in the movie.
It was a tumultuous ride getting here, but I'm beaming with pride over how the final product turned out. I still remember us talking... I think it was 2 years ago?About the best written Nintendo characters and you brought up that Bowser was #1. Surprised me at first, but its true! He's a stellar character, and its been a delight to see that viewpoint grow and evolve into what this video became, as well as a sheer delight to help get it finished!
Long Live the King!!!
IMO, Bowser’s best role as a villain was in Dream Team.
The whole game, Antasma was being hyped up by everyone. And when they teamed up, it seemed like it’d be the Bowser usual where he gets betrayed/possessed and loses the title of final boss. But instead, Bowser was the one in charge. Every action by the duo was successful because of Bowser, and in the final part of the game, Bowser actually backstabs first. Unceremoniously chucking aside the Nightmare King, and leaving with the Mcguffin. That moment stuck with me.
Considering we visit Bowser's homeland in Mario Odyssey, it really puts his upbringing in perspective. He's part of a dynasty of Japan-styled warlords, and it's pretty clear that being a bully and a conqueror is downright expected of him by his people.
Man, I really like your essays. I clicked this without being too interested in the topic, simply because I enjoyed your previous videos so much. Then in the intro, you gripped me with the question "Why does Bowser still posture so frightfully even when he's had his ass kicked so many times?" And I was like, damn, I didn't think of it that way. Now I'm on board for the next 40 minutes. Cheers.
I love the idea that the only reason Bowser shows up for party ganes is just so he can prove that he's better, or just because he was bored
Or be an agent of chaos
Mario Party Bowser has some hilarious lines.
Bowser: "Time to play a minigame called GIVE BOWSER 100 Coins and your Star"
(Later)
Bowser: "That was so fun."
5:31: Not only was Bowser modeled after the Bull Demon King, Bowser’s design is compared to Lóngguī the Chinese Dragon Turtle, a hybrid creature which has more notable design features, specifically hair and horns on the head, a pronounced muzzle, and having his body inside a turtle shell… Bowser’s also got a dash of Alligator Snapping Turtle for the spikes, which I can’t quite explain.
Bowser is a fun villain, but he is at his best when he reluctantly teams up with Mario to take down a bigger bad to prove he is the better bad guy. Take no substitutes.
Bowser: You're a villain alright... Just not an awesome one!
Whatever villain is trying to take Bowser's place as Gaming's most iconic villain: Oh yeah, what's the difference?
Bowser: PRESENTATION!!!
My favorite aspect of Bowser is that he manages to have a parallel against Mario while also retaining his own character. Most villains that parallel their hero, like Iron Monger and Iron Man, trying to be the best of their ideals of power vs legacy using their tech genius, typically aren’t very unique as themself, as Iron Monger’s story is built on Iron Man’s. Bowser’s story is his own, and he rivals Mario, not just as sport or love interest, but in their determination. I think the movie shows this the best, as it is structurally similar to a videogame, where Mario’s and DK’s determination allows them to conquer challenges and end up at Bowser. Bowser, as an eternal turtle, is perfectly characterized as the force that can’t be put down. In the movie, he endures the entirety of two superstars, only losing when distracted by Peach. And he shows no signs of reflection on his failure other than how to make the next attempt be more successful. As the mainline games progressed, he has less self-destructive ways of being defeated (except in NSMB series, 3D Land, 3D World, and Sunshine), and almost always gives it his all (exceptions being Sunshine and Wonder), where Mario only wins because of a surprise ally (FLUDD, Master Luma, and Cappy). His adaptability is definitely an aspect to be appreciated.
I like the fact that Bowser being married with Peach was SO against the laws of the universe that it summoned THE DARK HEART OF CHAOS!! 😂
Having a video finally go in depth on validating my opinion on why Bowser is a genuinely amazing character beyond “Gaming Icon” and “yeah he’s funny” was so euphoric. God especially the BIS portion, it completely captures what made that game so goddamn iconic and AUHH when In The Final hit I was so GUISHSJS.
I love bowser.
One of the first video game villains and he is still one of the best today.
Great video.
Bowser may not be my Personal favorite. He may not be yours. But we can all agree that Bowser is what Video game villains stride to be. Icon. Evil. Incredible bosses that improve and change each appearance. While still being the villain we know and love. So All Hail King Koopa. Ruler of the Video game Villains!
Long live the Dragon Turtle King.
Long live the Dragon Turtle King.
He is Gaming’s most iconic villain
Gosh, Bowser is so cool. He absolutely deserves his title of THE video game villain, and this is a brilliant showcase of just how and why. Long live the king, indeed.
Ahh, the love note for THE villain, while also bringing up other aspects of video game villainy (which can easily spread to other mediums)... it's a love note to villainy as well! 46 minutes of praising Bowser, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for a great year, and here's to more!
amazing essay! I never realized how much Bowser reflects the challenges inside a game, personifying the game design itself, blowing it out of proportions and making it epic, like a boss fight should do.
And he keeps doing this for everything, not only for the game's he's in, but for himself as well. Taking such a simple concept, but mastering it to a tee.
Showing yet again how good character writers can be at their craft.
And at how well essayists are at deconstructing and explaining stuff like this.
Awesome video.
In super Paper Mario Bowser had to be convinced about the world and his minions, but we see that progression in Origami King where Bowser was forced to watch his minions be turned into folded soldiers, he was instantly upset and wanted revenge for them. His characterization reached its intended point on ToK especially as he respected Jr and Kamek, as well as comforting Olivia’s fear about facing her brother. It’s awesome and I look forward to seeing where his character goes in the future after the TTYD remake.
This is exactly why he is my favorite video game character of all time. Amazing video.
I needed this video; almost brought a tear to my eye. I’ve loved Bowser since I was about 7 years old; my parents got me a Bowser plushie and it was my absolute favorite stuffed animal throughout my childhood. I always play as Bowser in Mario Kart, Smash, and pretty much every other game I can, and I even had a Bowser-themed birthday party when I was younger! My absolute favorite video game character ever, and easily one of, if not the greatest fictitious villain ever conceived. Long love the king! 👑
Thank you so much for covering the KING OF AWESOME!
LONG LIVE THE KING! [:
Was thinking this morning about how he'd be a fun addition to Project X Zone 3 because of the recent Source Gaming roster streams
@breadandcircuses8127 not that I'm aware of
I just think Bowser would be a good fun pick for a Unit (Paired or Solo) if Nintendo characters get to be in like PXZ2 (:
He’d be a boss for several stages before becoming one of the last Solo units in the game.
What I like most about Bowser is how powerful they make him to be. He may be a lovesick idiot sometimes but that lovesick idiot has the capabilities of wiping out everyone with a single breath.
what's awesome about this guy is that even as a baby, he's intimidating....you know you got yourself an awesome and memorable villain when even as a baby, he's terrifying.
Man, this brought back a whole lot of memories. Ever since I played New Super Mario Bros Wii when it came out and watched playthroughs of Bowser's Inside Story via youtube letsplays, Bowser has been one of my favorite characters (much to my family's confusion haha). I've always thought he was so cool and that his relationship with Peach, Mario, and his kids was so interesting. All his bossfights, silly rpg appearences, and power trips in the games where he's playable have brought me so much joy over the years.
This has got to be one of my favorite videos of yours. Keep up the great work dude!
Bowser: Oh your Villian, schmuk! Just not a Super one!
Fawful/Dark Bowser: Oh yeah what am I missing!?
Bowser: PRESENTATION!
Bowser unleashing his inner Megamind
This is one of the best videos I've ever watched, and reaffirms everything I believe about bowser
he’s always so funny in the RPGs, one of my favorite characters ever lmao
This video was a joy to watch. Bowser is one of my favorite villains ever. Always love your stuff man. I’m hoping you tackle King K. Rool more in depth some day in a video like this!
Same, and I hope he makes an in depth video on why he thinks King K. Rool is a great villain as well, same with an in depth video for Dr. Eggman, Ganondorf and Sephiroth.
Bowser is the personification of "It doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, it's about how many times you get back up"
He's managed to beat the right Pong paddle, now THAT'S impressive
For as goffy as that game is
Sunshine Bowser was something else, man.
He was on vacation, to be fair.
I love how passionate you are in your videos. Makes me feel good.
Quiet viewer here. Just had to comment your analysis might be spot-on, and I never realized the _first_ RPG was the true root of his character. That said, I'll never forget going into Super Paper or Dream Team and first realizing "Oh. The bad guy is a fully dimensional _person."_ It was awesome.
You're correct when you say he's the jack of every trade a villain has tried (and Bowser Jr malquote aside, it's a really telling look from another person about what Bowser fundamentally is).
Amazing video, the editing is impeccable, and a few moments like the long live the king at the end were very epic. great work :)
Seeing Viridi in the top tiers of writing, now i definitely want you to make a kid icarus video
Seconded about the KIU video idea.
If Mario is regonized as Mr. Video Game, Bowser is Mr. Video Game Villain
This is my new favorite Designing For video, and that's saying something with how quality your work is. If it's ok, I'd like to request a video on Plants vs. Zombies. Maybe "Designing for Escalation" on how the Zombies and Plants adapt to each others tactics in the first game. Have a Merry Christmas!
Bowser is actually my favorite character of all time, full stop. He has been ever since i played Bowser's inside story way back when. After that I just discovered more to love about him
Bowser is the most badass villain and turtle throughout the entire gaming industry!
He has a lot of forms, power ups, minions, ultra forms, cool styles and a bunch of tricks up his sleeve and I'm telling you Bowser can easily take on Thanos in a heartbeat from my point of view!
Bowser is the greatest video game villain ever, long live the king!!!!
Wait a second, Bowser doesn't have sleeves...
Haven't watched yet, but the terrifying part about bowser is that 99% of the time, _he wins_ .
How many times do you think that mario has literally died, and only been revived because of magical mushrooms?
The bowser we see is the one who has had mario actually somehow survive, despite all his plans, and all his power
The real question is, what happens when a 1up is used? Do we jump to a different timeline, or does it literally resurrect him?
Are 1ups even canon?
I mean some of the rpgs had them. Inside story revives a brother upon consumption.
I actually like to believe that Bowser picks up mario. Puts him at a flag he placed as a checkpoint for him and leaves.
If not bowser one of the minions.
Since in the end. Mario (or the others) are the only ones brash enough to go and beat him.
And who better to have as an adversary then the one that never gives up.
Since he never does himself.
It be funny tho if thats the case. he just...Does it so he can fight them again. And again. And again.
Just a thought though.@@sythrus
For all the times he loses, he never diminishes as a threat and absolute unit.
Bowser is video games' equivalent of Godzilla. Always gets beat, always comes back.
30:42 What makes this so great is that this is precisely what makes Mario great, as well. Even in a franchise as simple as Mario, the villain reflects the hero.
You pretty much summed up my thoughts and more about Bowser. He's funny, he's a troll, he can be a simpleton, he's great dad, he's a respectful leader, and he's an absolute powerhouse when overstepping his limits.
There are definitely some video games villains that are a lot more conniving, threatening, and interesting, but Bowser just has this iconic charm and charisma that almost no other antagonist has.
Honestly, the best way I can reason why Bowser is so timeless is because of who he was based on. Miyamoto had stated that the character borrowed heavily from The Ox King from Journey to the West, but also Bluto from the Popeye the Sailor cartoons. A magic wielder, and a rough and tough bruiser fighting the main character over a girl. And I think that balance of actual threat and goofy screwup who can be beaten if you can handle it is probably why the Koopa king has stuck in the zeitgeist when folks like Wart and Fawful haven't.
Bowser is mucj more than just an evil turtle dragon king.
He's a general, a cool manager, and a great father.
Like eggman, he is not always comedic all the time (for example, sonic mania and bowser fury) but is also very respectful and has a small heart of gold. He may be bad, but not heartless, he care for his minions, his son, and even princess peach. That's why i like bowser
I love the way you speak in all these videos! The way you describe the feeling of power when playing as Bowser made me feel energized 😀
This video was incredible front to back. Your story telling ability and passion keeps the viewer engaged and wanting more. As someone who has played Nintendo for nearly 30 years, this was such a fun video to watch.
This was amazing, and since you mentioned that there’s villains you like more than Bowser, and you showed King K. Rool, I’d love to watch in depth video of why you think King K. Rool is a great villain, also I’d love to see an in depth video for why Dr. Eggman, Ganondorf and Sephiroth are great villains as well, it’d be fitting to make videos based on them because they’re considered the most iconic video game villains just behind Bowser, and I actually really like the longer videos because I feel like it gives the characters their due respect.
I think we take for granted how AWESOME his theme is in Mario 64.
Mario Party Bowser is my favorite villain of all video games because he somehow manages to be the most chaotic and hated character while still being loved in a game where conventional antagonists just wont work
44:49 that Beatrice jumpscared me...
Great video
He's always getting more and more powerful everytime. He's like evil Goku.
BEST video of this incredible channel EVER for the BEST villain.
LONG
LIVE
THE
KING!!!!
GRRWAAAAAAAA!!!!
You made me realize that the first time Bowser went full Kaiju in game was in Yoshi's Island
As a toddler
What a guy
Giga Baby Bowser from Yoshi's Island is the pinnacle of atmospheric tension in a boss fight. The monstrous silhouette looming and growing in the distance, the intense fight music, it all culminates to make one of the most iconic fights in the whole series.
*THANK YOU SO MUCH! THANK YOU FOR SHOWING LOVE TO THE GOAT!*
I just wanted to tell you that this has become one of my favourite channels over the last couple of months.
Seeing Kefka Palazzo, Senator Steven Armstrong, and King Bowser Koopa directly compared to one another in the same essay is honestly one of the biggest highlights of "Funny because it's true" comedy in general.
Bowser is one of my favorite villains of all time. Sure there's fellas like... Tomura Shigaraki from My Hero Academia who has a tragic backstory to show how he became so evil, but I think Bowser's cooler and more fun. Helps that he's not all evil since there was Bowser's Inside Story where he treated his minions well, rescuing them which gave him new Brawl Attacks. In Super Mario RPG, he was fine with some of his minions quitting the army. Lastly, he was not down with what happened to the Sammer Kingdom.
I am a fan of how he didn't kidnap Peach in Super Mario Bros Wonder and 3D World. Was nice for him to change things up there.
Bowser: You're a villain alright... Just not an awesome one!
Tomura Shigaraki: Oh yeah, What's the difference?
Bowser: PRESENTATION!!!
An amazing video to get ready for Bowsers upcoming Death Battle!
2:13 this makes me want an eggman analysis video
Nintendo: Can I copy ur homework? Daei: Yeah, just make it different Nintendo: *Makes Big Bowser*
I think one of the best parts of Bowser as well.. he not only got his own characterization, but he gave Mario and Peach character as well when back then they were just rather flat. Every moment he has involving Peach ... is kidnapping yes. But games like Paper Mario where Peach is given storytime of herself. Or even Super Princess Peach where SHE was the protagonist against Bowser. Not only does it show that Bowser has the power and brains to outbest Mario, but it helped showing that Peach is a capable princess who can defend herself and isn't just some hopeless damsel. The LINE sticker set even has her just slapping Bowser when he got close to her for kidnapping. Even when being shoved flowers in her face by both her captor and even her love interest, she just rejects both of them, showcasing that she does have a tipping point where she can just be fed up with everything.
And Mario, his personality started to really shine in Super Mario Odyssey, mainly that said rejection where we just see Mario patting a sobbing Bowser's back. That imagery sits with my mind with Mario just showing he isn't a total jerk to Bowser. Bowser's Fury, Mario is just really fed up with Bowser for the 35 years of constantly fighting him and it's hilarious. Seeing Mario at the ending of the game just standing there nonchalant not moving an inch as Bowser tries to hit him but Junior held him back.
Bowser is a Classic history Conquerer, operating in a modern world that hates wars and conquest. His moments of softness or sweetness aren't some weakening of his character, they're his core: the world is HIS, and to those who will grant it to him, he holds no quarrel. To those who would deny him, he holds no mercy
He's the mighty, evil king, but at the end of the day, he's evil BECAUSE he's king. As far as he's concerned, a King is a Conqueror, why WOULDN'T he try to take over everything? That's his _job._ And he LOOOOOOVES his job
The absolute disrespect towards O'Chunks when you called him a miniboss
To be fair, every boss in that game deserves to be called a miniboss the moment you get Bowser.
True lol
Absolutely loved the passion you had in this video! Made me smile all the way thru!
after seeing this video, we can now say that kamek steals any trup card eggman has due to rigged chance time
I personally think one of the reasons Bowser works so well is his sheer determination
Mario could take him down every day for a hundred years, time and time again, sometimes twice in a single game, and the MOMENT Bowser is back on his feet, he's going to try again.
No amount of failure will stop Bowser, and no amount of defeat can dull his edge. Every time Bowser comes back in the Villain Spotlight, he's going to be _at least_ as brutal as he was the last time.
It doesn't matter if he's fighting Mario until the heat death of the universe. Bowser knows what he wants, and not even death is going to stop him.
I mean...Death didn't stop him.
He technically died I believe at some point.
But the afterlife just sucked so he returned.
Death can't keep this ol' koopa down.
Until mario gives his final breath.
I don't think even death will take him.
@@lorenzojongste6766
Heaven won't take him, hell is afraid of him
This is way more praise than "goofy occasional family-man turtle" deserves
LONG LIVE THE KING!!!!!
God tier video btw, keep up the great work man!
4:50 And I'm going to dethrone this guy with my own guys.