Storming the Castle

Storming the Castle is the final level in Peach's Castle of New Super Mario Bros. 3.

Layout
The first part of the course is a short section of lava and platforms similar to a Spine Coaster. Bowser Jr. will chase the player in his Junior Clown Car, periodically attempting to drop on their head and also may try to push the Mario Bros. and Steve into the lava below if they get too close. The player can dodge the attack by moving out of the way as Bowser Jr. drops, but the young Koopa will destroy any Brick Blocks he hits on the way down. If Bowser Jr. hits the previously mentioned platforms, he will create a damaging wave that must be jumped over. The player cannot harm Bowser Jr. in this section (due to a glass dome over the cockpit of his Junior Clown Car), so they must simply avoid his attacks as they work their way through the course.

Inside is a hallway with four doors numbered 1 to 6. Each door leads to a different room with enemies and obstacles that vary depending on which door was selected.


 * Door 1: A room with Bone Goomba towers, Dry Bones, Bone Bros., Bone Terror Wolves, and Bone Piranha Plants.
 * Door 2: A maze with many blocks, Bob-ombs, Firebars, and Thwomps. A 1-up Mushroom and Super Acorn are hidden in the room.
 * Door 3: A room with a Snake Block, Flamethrowers, and Ball 'n' Chains.
 * Door 4: Fences with Climbing Koopas, Climbing Dry Bones, Ball 'n' Chains, and Parabones.
 * Door 5: A room with many variants of Hammer Bros.
 * Door 6: A room with Ball 'n' Chains, Chargin' Chucks, Laser Cannons, Bone Waddlewings, and Spiked Balls.

All four rooms then lead to another hallway with another four doors, this time numbered 7 to 12. The enemies and obstacles will again vary depending on which door is selected.


 * Door 7: An underwater room with Fishbones, Fishchomps, and Skewers.
 * Door 8: A room with Grinders, Chargin' Chucks, Sledge Bros, Dry Bones, Bony Beetles, and Bone Terror Wolves.
 * Door 9: A room with Rocket Engines, Bob-ombs and Mechakoopas.
 * Door 10: A room full of Gray Bowser Statues that shoot fireballs, Gold Bowser Statues that pursue the player, Bone Terror Wolves that bite the players, and Firebars.
 * Door 11: A room with Thwimps, Thwomps, Whomps, and Chain Chomps.
 * Door 12: A room with Chargin' Chucks, Bob-ombs, Bone Goombas, Thwomps, Whomps, Chain Chomps, Lava Bubbles, Dry Bones, Bone Waddlewings, Bone Bros., Bone Terror Wolves, and Bone Piranha Plants.

After the second set of doors, Kamek will appear and try to blast the player. In order for the player to dodge, they must go behind the walls although the platforms are moving. If the player is shot, they will temporarily turn to stone. Near the middle of the section, there will be sets of Donut Lifts. On the first set in the middle row, the player must ride down the Donut Lift to get the Star Coin. After getting the Star Coin, the player must jump on another Donut Lift or the platform in order to stay alive. Then the player will enter the room to the final battle.

The final battle is the same as in The Final Battle from New Super Mario Bros. U. The player gets a checkpoint right after the gate and gets three Item Blocks containing two Fire Flowers and a Super Acorn. After the player gets the power-ups, they must go up the steps and dodge the fireballs that Bowser spits out and then finally battle Bowser. Like most of the previous games, Mario must get past Bowser and press the ! Switch to cause an ax to cut the bridge Bowser is standing on, making him crash into the pit below. After the player moves on to the final part, Bowser Jr. arrives with the Koopalings, who cast a spell to enlarge Bowser.

The final part of the course takes the player to a courtyard overlooked by a tower holding Princess Peach captive. Before the player can reach the princess, they must survive a boss battle with Giant Bowser. Unlike the three previous encounters, the player must directly harm Bowser by stealing Bowser Jr.'s Junior Clown Car and crashing it down on Bowser's head. However, Bowser Jr. cannot be defeated, no matter how many stomps or attacks from the player(s) he has taken, although he can be stunned. The player can then throw Bowser Jr. at Bowser to damage him, although this method is time consuming. The player can also shoot a large amount of fireballs at Bowser to defeat him. While doing this, they must evade Bowser's enormous fireballs and spinning shell, as well as Bowser Jr.'s diving attacks and dropped Bob-ombs and Mechakoopas. After three strikes to the head, Bowser is defeated and the game is beaten.