10 Best Boss Fights In 3D Super Mario History

Much like Tarantox before him, King Kaliente is a boss that helps the player understand the limitations of Mario's abilities. Here however, the ante is upped in an exciting and visually stunning boss battle that occurs incredibly early on into the game.

King Kaliente is fought in the game's very first galaxy and Mario must use the spin attack to their advantage - Mario's key ability in the game. King Kaliente fires a trio of flaming balls at Mario before then shooting a harmless fruit at him. The player must use the spin attack to deflect the fruit back at Kaliente, who will try and volley it back at Mario.

The set-up is simple, but effective. As Kaliente nears defeat, he'll summon several little blue flames who act as his minions. Having to avoid them, the fireballs and the King's tentacles while attempting to swat the fruit back at Kaliente offers up one manic boss battle and a great early example of what to expect.

Kaliente himself is excellently designed, with a lot of characterful animations including his crown being blown off his head, causing him to become enraged. This level of charm became a staple of Super Mario Galaxy's appeal.