How to Beat Bowser’s Dark Matter Plant in Super Mario Galaxy

This is one of the hardest and most confusing levels in all of Super Mario Galaxy. Before you attempt to beat this level, be sure to stock up on 1-Up mushrooms and read these steps carefully.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nintendo Wii console
• Super Mario Galaxy disc
• Wiimote
• Nunchuck attachment

1. Run onto the yellow platform floating in the dark blue water. Don’t touch the water; it’s deadly. Ride the platform until you’re even with the next one, then run across. At the end of the line, run onto the path. Cross the spinning cylinders ahead very carefully. Jump onto the closest one as soon as it’s reachable, and move forward only as the moving platforms line up.

2. This next section is very tricky and involves changing gravity. The arrows on the colored walls ahead will indicate which way is “down” in every section; as soon as you cross a color line, you’re immediately subject to an all-new gravity. Start by jumping into the pink section. Run to the yellow block and stand in the inside corner. It will start moving and carry you to a new area.

3. The gravity changes when you move into the green area. Jump to the brown block ahead, and ride it to another yellow block. Just like with the first block, stand in the inside corner of this one so that you won’t fall when the gravity changes. Ride this block to the end, then jump off to the stone stairs.

4. When you come to the flagpole, climb it to the top. Be careful when you jump off, because you don’t want to jump through either of the moving holes surrounding the top of the flagpole. After safely jumping off, keep moving to the series of moving pink walkways. These walkways reveal hidden holes as they move, and you’ll have to avoid those. There is only one hole in each of the two lower platforms, but there are two in the farthest one. Observe the locations of the holes and jump carefully to proceed.

5. The two sets of moving yellow platforms ahead offer similar hidden holes. Watch them and memorize the locations of the holes and the movement of the platforms first, then time your jumps as you move ahead to the stone walkway with the green carpet.

6. Follow the path to the second gravity manipulation section. Each color area of this section puts you in danger of falling into the hole in the center, so you must plan and execute your jumps and landings perfectly. Jump to the top of the blue block in the green section. Ride down to the T-shaped block and stand on the left side of the platform. This block will move you into the blue area. Jump to the plus sign-shaped block and stand in the corner on the left side. This block will move you into another green area.

7. Now you’ll have to do some jumping around on the plus sign-shaped block. In the green area, jump to the other side of the tall part next to you so that there will be solid ground beneath your feet when you move into the pink section ahead. In the pink section, do the same thing, jumping toward the gray section that you’re approaching. When the block stops, jump to the nearby yellow platform and stand in the inside corner as you have done before. When you get to the blue section, jump to the platform on the right.

8. Ride the brown platform to the checkered platform and break free the Luma at the top. He’ll create stairs for you to advance to another checkered platform. Collect the Power Up Mushroom and free the second trapped Luma to advance to the boss.

9. Time to fight Bowser. Bowser has 3 types of attacks: he spits fireballs, creates energy rings that run over the surface of the planet and performs ground-pound jumps. To defeat Bowser, you must entice him to perform a ground pound on any of the large blue circles by standing in one of these areas while he’s in the air, then running away at the last second. When he does this, his tail will catch on fire. You must run around the planet in the opposite direction as Bowser, charging directly at him. When he gets close to you, he will spin around to turn the other way. Use this opportunity to perform a spin attack on his tail. As he spins around on his back, you must spin attack him again. You must complete this entire process 3 times to defeat Bowser.

Tips & Warnings

• The first time you get Bowser spinning on his back, he stays in place, making him easy to attack. But the next two times, he will spin all over the planet. Run around the planet in the opposite direction and perform a spin attack as you’re about to hit him head-on; there’s no other way to catch him.
• Avoid Bowser’s fireballs by running around the planet in the same direction he’s firing them. You can run around the planet faster than Bowser can turn in place.
• Avoid Bowser’s energy rings by either jumping in place or jumping while running towards them. Jumping over them while running away can be difficult.