Super Mario Galaxy 2 Walkthrough

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Bowser's Fortified Fortress

Your final face off with Bowser will take place in this galaxy, but many challenges are still ahead. The road to King Koopa's throne is filled with peril -- and lots of lava. All the more reason to ignore the initial Luma's directions and run to the left to score a Life Mushroom at the top of the flag pole.

Carefully jump through the fire trap and the Luma will create a launch star at the edge of the platform. The three Hammer Bros. are surprisingly tough to topple. Run from their attacks and wait until right before they hop to a new location before attacking. Since you are short on star bits, you'll have to rely on a quick spin between their hammer volleys. Destroy them to reveal a ... flower.

Grab the flower and float down to the bottom of the lava falls. Grab a Spin Drill and dig through the dirt to the next area. Grab the midway flag and wait for a break in the Banzai Bills to dash to the next patch of dirt near the cannon. You can use the safe spot with the coin to wait for an opportune time to drill.

Keep drilling your way forward, avoiding the Bills. One of the dirt patches off to the side of the Bills' path leads to a 1-Up. A launch star is at the end of the planetoid.

The rotating platforms on this massive cylindrical object can be crossed with ease -- just be mindful of the fireballs and use long-jumps to speed things up. Pick up the Cloud Flower and jump for the Life Mushroom just above the lava. Spin to save yourself on a fluffy cloud.

Climb using the cloud platforms. You can use back flips to gain more vertical distance as you make your way up. There's always a Cloud Flower refill for when you run out. The Luma at the dead-end at the top will create a launch star allowing you to continue.

Cross the bridge and pick up your dinosaur pal, Yoshi on the right. Yoshi can make short work of the Hammer Bros. His tongue stuns them and you can also gulp up their projectiles if you are fast. The flower pegs near the wall lead to a 1-Up. Grapple over with Yoshi's tongue and drop to the 1-Up, quickly grabbing the nearest flower peg before you hit the lava.

Take the row of flower pegs across the lava and attack the Hammer Bros. with your tongue.

When the walls of lava part, grab the Dash Pepper with your tongue and carefully dodge the obstacles on your path forward. Use the launch star at the end of the line to get to the next area.

Wait on the pink platform until you get a Life Mushroom, then take the left section as it splits. When a Magmaargh rears its fiery head, jump to the right side. Jump back to the left as another Magmaargh appears and you should be right in front of the Comet Medal.

Use the flower pegs to get the Medal and then flutter-jump back onto the pink platform. Immediately grab the Blimp Fruit on the right and float upwards while following the pink platform below. You should pass right over the final Magmaargh as it lunges.

Toggle the midway flag and dismount Yoshi with a back flip. Ascend the pole and head towards the meteor lock system. A Life Mushroom can be found to the left is you need it.

Ground pound the gold meteor into all three locks to gain access to Bowser's inner sanctum.

Boss: Bowser Part III

The final battle with Bowser is remarkably similar to the last two. He hasn't learned any new tricks -- planet-punching and breathing fire are his two main attacks -- but there are more purple lasers to dodge this time around. Not only do lasers ripple out in rings from the falling meteors, but each punch he performs causes a new laser pattern to engulf the planet. You can avoid all of these with some careful jumping, but you can also avoid them by staying on the offensive.

Lead Bowser's massive planet punch just off to the side of a clump of meteors. When he pounds downward, jump to one of the meteors just as it gets tossed into the air. In doing so you'll avoid the lasers and be primed for your counter attack. Butt stomp the meteor right in the market "sweet spot" to send it flying at Bowser.

After two hits he'll step up his game. To avoid his fire breath, run away from it until it bears down on you and then switch directions and run perpendicularly to his line of attack. It will take two more meteor blasts to make him cough up his Power Star. But it's not over yet...

After the cutscene, you'll find yourself in a swirling vortex populated with gold meteors and a very angry turtle-dragon-thing. As he spins closer to you, patiently wait for him to come out of his shell. When he does so, ground-pound the meteor to send it at him. If you hit his back, the meteor will ricochet off, so make you have a clear shot.

It will take four direct hits to topple Bowser for the final time. Congratulations, you've beat Bowser and saved Princess Peach! But the game is not over yet. On to the Secret World, World S!