10 Best Boss Fights In 3D Super Mario History
4. Mecha-Bowser (Super Mario Sunshine)
About halfway through the game, Super Mario Sunshine hits you with one hell of a surprise: The mysterious Shadow Mario you've been chasing all this time turns out to be Bowser's son, Bowser Jr. This is the first time Jr. ever appeared in a Mario game, and he quickly went on to become a fan favourite.
Now, not only is Mecha-Bowser visually impressive, dwarfing any enemy seen so far in the game, but the fight is fun with an absolutely killer soundtrack to boot.
As Mario, you duel the robot while sitting on a rollercoaster, which whizzes up and down, encircling the massive boss. It's a spectacle to behold. Mecha-Bowser doesn't move, but instead spews fire onto the track. The machine also fires Bullet Bills that chase Mario, coming from both the front and back, with only a last minute warning from F.L.U.D.D to let you know.
The entire boss is very frantic and you're constantly on your toes, with attacks coming from all directions. Mario himself is suited and booted however, collecting water rockets from along the tracks and blasting them straight back. It's an epic fight, and from a presentation standpoint, is one of the best boss fights from the 3D Mario games without question.