Clown Car

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This article is about the helicopter-like devices often used by the Koopa Troop. For the device that Bowser himself uses, see Koopa Clown Car. For kart body, see Koopa Clown.


A standard, faceless Clown Car

Clown Cars[1] are a type of vehicle used commonly in Mario's World, particularly within the Koopa Troop. They're mechanical in nature, usually using a propeller to fly, and are recognisable by their expressive clown-like faces, though not every model of Clown Car has this feature.[2][1] They come in multiple sizes, shapes and colours and have many peripheral devices.

History

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

The earliest Clown Car seen chronologically is Bowser's in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. He was seen using it to escape the Vim Factory with Kamek after he took two Cobalt Star shards from the Mario Bros.. He was also seen riding it when the Mushroom Kingdom of the past was saved as he and Kamek returned to his castle.[3] Since it had the same appearance then as it does when Bowser is an adult, it's entirely possible that the Koopa Clown Car is the original Clown Car of its type, or even as a whole, and that its clown-like features were designed specifically for the young prince.

Super Mario World

In Super Mario World Bowser used his Koopa Clown Car in the final battle against Mario in the Valley of Bowser. Here it's shown that Clown Cars can hold multiple Mechakoopas and Big Steelies, as well as Bowser and Princess Peach, all at once. The Clown Car's face is also shown to seemingly mimic Bowser's emotions, such as how it cries when Bowser is hit.[4]

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

The Koopa Clown Car appears once again in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. At the beginning of this title, Bowser used the Koopa Clown Car to kidnap Princess Peach from the front of Mario's Pad[5]. It was later used again by a Shy Guy when the Koopa Troop were making repairs to Bowser's Keep, to Bowser's frustration.[6] Finally, it was used by Bowser during the parade as he chased Croco and a Crook after they stole from his float, before Booster managed to hijack the car while Bowser angrily ran behind.[7]

Bowser's Castle's Hangar.
MediGuy PM.png
Bowser's Castle Paper Mario 64.png
Final Boss Arena Paper Mario 64.png

Paper Mario

Many Clown Cars in many forms appeared during the events of Paper Mario. During Bowser and Kammy Koopa's attack on Star Haven at the beginning of this title, Bowser used his Koopa Clown Car to fly to Star Haven and take the Star Rod.[8] He also used his Clown Car to break into Peach's Castle during Princess Peach's party, and to briefly escape Mario with Peach before the final battle.[9][10]

Three Clown Cars were docked in the Hangar of Bowser's Castle in the final chapter of this title. A Clown Car propeller with three blades could also be seen propped up against the wall of the Hangar.

Medi Guys, found in Shy Guy's Toy Box during this title, used small, propeller-less Clown Cars with hearts on them that acted as ambulances.

When Bowser used the power of the Star Rod to put Peach's Castle on top of his own during Princess Peach's Party, he lifted them both into the sky with a giant, stone Clown Car. The sky arena that Kammy Koopa builds for Bowser's final battle against Mario is also a large, stone Clown Car with nine propellers and the ability to increase Bowser's Power.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Since Bowser's Castle from Paper Mario appeared in the background of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the stone clown car allowing it to fly also made another appearance.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

In Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door Bowser flew to Rogueport in his Koopa Clown Car once he heard that Princess Peach had been kidnapped.[11] He also tried to use his Koopa Clown Car to fly to Glitzville after unsuccessfully attempting to get a ticket for the Cheep Blimp. His flight was cut short however as a warning light lit up inside the Clown Car and it fell out of the sky after coming to a halt. After plummeting into the ocean, Bowser left his Clown Car behind and swam back to Rogueport.[12]

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Bowletta used Bowser's Koopa Clown Car to steal Princess Peach from Little Fungitown.[13] Later on at Joke's End, Bowletta continued to use the Koopa Clown Car for transportation and to contain Princess Peach. When Bowletta and Fawful believed the Peach they kidnapped to be an impostor, they ejected her through the Clown Car's mouth. and grabbed the other Peach between the Clown Car's lips.[14]

Toadstool Tour Bowser Badlands Hole 11.png

Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour

In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Wario and Waluigi were chased by Bowser using his Koopa Clown Car after the duo gave him a black eye. Here the Koopa Clown Car is armed with two side-cannons containing explosives as well as Bob-ombs inside the car's bowl for Bowser to throw. Bowser also seems to be able to summon the Koopa Clown Car with just the snap of his finger.[15]

On Hole 11 of Bowser Badlands, part of the course takes place on a giant Clown Car. This Clown Car looks almost identical to Bowser's, not accounting for size or the Golf Course built where the bowl's entrance would normally be.

Mario Party 5

In Mario Party 5, Koopa Clown Car-like jack-in-the-boxes appeared beneath certain Happening Spaces on the Toy Dream board. They launched whoever landed on them to a random space. The faces of the jack-in-the-boxes featured tongues sticking out from their mouths.[16]

On the Bowser Nightmare board, Bowser used his Koopa Clown Car whenever someone landed on a ? Space leading to Bowser's Tower of Chance. If the hero was sent back to the start of the board as a result of this, he'd fly there in his Clown Car to tell them how lucky they were.[17][18]

Bowser Jr.‘s Journey

Iggy's Clown Car from Bowser Jr.'s Journey.

In Bowser Jr.'s Journey, Iggy used a faceless Clown Car while battling in the Mushroom Kingdom. When Iggy was pushed off the cliffs of Cavi Cape by the Best Fitness Friends, his Clown Car was found by Bowser Jr., Kamek and Morton. Bowser Jr. took the Clown Car for himself, giving it a face. This became Bowser Jr.'s main mode of transport from that point onwards, the Junior Clown Car. [19]

Bowser Jr. also used the Junior Clown Car for both the Snacktime and Volleybomb Captain Commands, where he controlled it using a remote control. The Junior Clown Car uses boxing glove-like hands to carry food during the Snacktime command.[20]

Mario Party 6

In Mario Party 6, Bowser's Koopa Clown Car appeared on the Infernal Tower board, where Bowser could have used it to carry away the hero if he managed to entrap them within a cage at the top of the tower.[21]

The Koopa Clown Car as seen in Grand Canal.
The platform used by Koopa Kid and Hammer Bro.
Ohm Platform.png
MP7 Clown Cars.png

Mario Party 7

In Mario Party 7, many clown car-like devices appear.

It is implied that Bowser used his Koopa Clown Car to fly after the MSS Sea Star when he heard Mario & friends went on vacation without him, as on the title screen he can be seen flying after them in the Clown Car.[22] He also used the Clown Car on the Grand Canal board during certain Bowser Time events where he blew up the bridges using Bob-ombs, before new ones were built that only had Bowser Spaces on them.

Koopa Kid also used a Clown Car-like platform to appear to Mario & friends every time they got a Koopa Kid Orb or landed on a Koopa Kid Space in this title. This device was flat, resembled a Koopa Shell and had a single yellow propeller on the bottom.[23] Hammer Bro. also used this device to appear to victims of a Hammer Bro Orb.[24]

The Minigame Take Me Ohm also took place on a Clown Car-like platform with two large propellers.[25]

The Minigame Bowser's Lovely Lift! featured two Clown Car-like vehicles fashioned after the heads of Bowser and Koopa Kid. While Bowser's had blue motifs, a blue propeller and 6 horns, Koopa Kid's had red motifs, a red propeller and two horns. Both could shoot Fireballs and homing missiles. Both were shot down after being pelted with Shooting Stars summoned by a Power Star the hero had.[26] Funderwall also featured three of the aforementioned Koopa Kid vehicles, piloted by Green K. Kid, Red K. Kid and Blue K. Kid.

Mario Party 8

In the final battle of the Star Battle Arena mode in Mario Party 8, Superstar Showdown, Bowser used his Koopa Clown Car to face off against the hero wielding the Star Rod. When Bowser lost 3 HP, he summoned two peripheral Bill Blasters which attached to the sides of the Clown Car. After losing another 3 HP, the mouth of the Clown Car opened and a laser gun extended from it. Spikes also appeared on the rims of the bowl and Bull's-Eye Bills were shot from the blasters instead of Bullet Bills during this phase. After Bowser's defeat, he and the Koopa Clown Car are sucked into a Black Hole.

Mario Kart DS

In Mario Kart DS, Bowser's unlockable kart, the Hurricane, resembled a Koopa Clown Car in the shape of a plane, with its green coloration, propellers and signature clown face at the front.

Bowser, Kamek and the Elite Trio on a Clown Car.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

In Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, multiple Clown Cars appeared around Neo Bowser Castle, acting as Dreampoints.[27] By pressing a red button on the Clown Cars, Starlow could cause them to ascend and descend, affecting the Luiginary Antigravity in the Dream World. There were a total of four of these Clown Car Dreampoints around Neo Bowser Castle.[28][29][30] After his defeat, Bowser (along with the Elite Trio and Kamek) used one of these Clown Cars to fly home from Pi'illo Island. When the coins from the Dream Coin began raining down around them, Sergeant Guy and Private Goomp began shaking the Clown Car in the excitement of the coin rain, causing the Clown Car to plummet towards the ocean.[31] Later on it can be seen that the Clown Car became operational once again and the Elite Trio managed to grab some bags of coins, holding them on top of the Clown Car.

The Clown Cars here are different from the traditional Koopa Clown Car used by Bowser elsewhere. These Clown Cars have no bowl to sit into, instead having a metal platform where the entrance would normally be and along what would normally be the bowl's rim there are protruding metal bolts. as well as that, the eye makeup-like designs on either side of the eyes are black on these Clown Cars instead of the usual orange and the exterior of the Clown Cars' bodies are also made up of multiple segmented sheets of material, as opposed to the smooth exterior of most Clown Cars.

A dream manifestation of the Junior Clown Car also made an appearance in the Battle Ring, when Mario and Dreamy Luigi faced off against its secret boss at the end of the Battle Medley, Bowser Jr. The Junior Clown Car here stored small Spike Balls and Bob-ombs, protected Bowser Jr. from attacks. It could also fly independently of Bowser Jr. At certain points, during the battle, Mario & Dreamy Luigi could hop inside the Junior Clown Car themselves, before throwing Iron Balls, Hammers, Wrenches, Spiny Eggs, Mechakoopas and Green Shells. Eventually, the Junior Clown Car would short out, requiring Monty Mole mechanics to repair it.[32]

New Super Mario Bros. 2

In New Super Mario Bros. 2, the Koopalings used the Koopa Clown Car to kidnap Princess Peach. After Ludwig's defeat in World 5, the Koopa Clown Car with a caged Peach inside it, took off towards Bowser's Castle.[33] They later used it in Bowser's Castle after Mario got to the castle's first Checkpoint Flag. Here the Koopa Clown Car's eyes were shown to be able to generate a flash of light which could turn those caught in it to stone temporarily. When Mario defeated Bowser, the Koopalings used their wands to revive him, accidentally getting knocked along with the Koopa Clown Car by Bowser when he grew giant.[34] As Mario and Princess Peach walked back to Peach's Castle, the Koopalings in the Koopa Clown Car flew by, holding onto Bowser by his tail, before they lost balance and crashed into the ground.[35] Finally, the Koopalings used the Koopa Clown Car in World Star-Castle. Here it was used for the same purposes as it was in Bowser's Castle, attempting to turn Mario to stone and later reviving Dry Bowser after his defeat.[36]

Birdo flying in a Clown Car from Pair of Aces in Mario Party 9.

Mario Party 9

Various Clown Cars appeared throughout Mario Party 9.

At the end of each board, while deciding the results, the heroes stood on Clown Car-like platforms with yellow propellers.[37]

On various boards, whenever the heroes landed on a Bowser Jr. Space or arrived at a Fort, Bowser Jr. appeared in his Junior Clown Car. In the Bowser Jr. Minigame Pair of Aces, two heroes used Remote Control Clown Cars to shoot cannonballs at Bowser Jr. in the Junior Clown Car. These cannonballs were the same color as the rim and propeller of the Clown Car that fired them. In Bumper Sparks these Clown Cars were also used by the heroes to bump Bowser Jr. in his Junior Clown Car into the electrified walls of the arena. These Clown Cars used by the heroes appeared to be of a lower quaity, with their exteriors being made up of multiple plates (much like the Clown Cars seen in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team) bolted together. They had round, yellow protrusions on the rims and two lights, which somewhat resembled eyes, on their fronts.[38] They were controlled using a single lever in the cockpit, and in Pair of Aces they had cannons on their fronts, between the two lights. In Mecha March, the Junior Clown Car was seen with legs that resembled the arms it had in Bowser Jr.'s Journey as well as metal, koopa-like feet instead of the usual propeller. The heroes give chase to it in a half red, half blue RemoCon Clown Car with similar legs of its own.[39]

At the end of each board, Bowser made an appearance in his Koopa Clown Car before the heroes had to face the boards' boss. On Bowser Station, Bowser and Bowser Jr. used the Koopa Clown Car and Junior Clown Car, respectively, to greet the heroes when they arrived, as well as to traverse the board.[40] Bowser began to use his Clown Car to appear whenever a hero landed on a Bowser Space as well.[41] During Bowser Jr.'s Boss Battle, he inserted his Junior Clown Car into a larger Clown Car device. This Clown Car had large robotic arms, a spiked rim, an angry expression as default and a more robotic appearance. This Clown Car could spit explosives with Bowser Jr.'s emblem and dices that would transform into giant hammers, which it could pick up and attack the heroes with. After being damaged by the heroes, this Clown Car began short-wiring and exploded into Mini Stars.[42] After their defeat, Bowser and Bowser Jr. flew home in their Clown Cars. While attempting to grab the recently released Mini Stars as they flew by, Bowser fell out of his Koopa Clown Car before it spun away.[43]

The Junior Clown Car appeared to have two levers inside the Junior Clown Car's bowl for control here.[44][38]

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Bowser Jr. used his Junior Clown Car to fight Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad and Yellow Toad when they boarded the Airship in World 4.[45] When they defeated Bowser Jr., the Junior Clown Car became damaged, becoming grimy with soot and having part of its exterior replaced with a metal cover. Bowser Jr. reused his Junior Clown Car again when Mario & Co. boarded the Airship in World 6. During this battle Mario & Co. used RemoCon Clown Cars to push Bowser Jr. and the Junior Clown Car into the electrified walls of the arena. These RemoCon Clown Cars were of a higher quality than those used in Mario Party 9, resembling a basic, faceless Clown Car with a ? symbol on the front. When entered by a hero the symbol on the front would become the emblem of the character who entered it.[46] During this fight, the Junior Clown Car began smoking, before eventually ceasing to function correctly. Finally, in World 8, Bowser Jr. decided to kick aside the Junior Clown Car and instead use his father's Koopa Clown Car when fighting the heroes. Here the Koopa Clown Car's could spit giant, explosive Spike Balls from a cannon in its mouth. After hitting the Koopa Clown Car with its own Spike Balls three times, the heroes defeated Bowser Jr.[47]

An Undergrunt Gunner in a Clown Car from Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2, Undergrunt Gunners used Clown Cars with built-in Bill Blasters/cannons in Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet and during the "Fastest Feathers in the Galaxy" mission of Fleet Glide Galaxy. These Clown Cars are orange and can shoot Bullet Bills and cannonballs.[48][49]

While the Junior Clown Car didn't actually appear in Super Mario Galaxy 2, Bowser Jr.'s cockpit vaguely resembled it. It was a spherical, rocket-propelled vessel with cushioned seats and lights on the front resembling those seen in a RemoCon Clown Car from Mario Party 9. Bowser Jr. used the cockpit in Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla and Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet.[50] Megahammer, Bowser Jr.'s robot controlled by the cockpit, had even more of a connection to Clown Cars, with its white and green color scheme, clown-like face, Bullet Bill cannons and hammers that were nearly identical to those used by the Clown Car from Bowser Jr. Breakdown in Mario Party 9. Megahammer was even controlled by Bowser Jr.'s cockpit in a similar way to how the Junior Clown Car controlled the larger Clown Car from that minigame.[51] Both the Megahammer and the cockpit were destroyed by Mario and were later seen, broken, in Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker. Though the machines no longer worked as a whole, Megahammer's Bill Blasters continued to function.[52]

A Clown Car in N64 Big Donut from Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 7

In Mario Kart 7 the design of the Koopa Clown Kart Body was based on the Koopa Clown Car. The kart's exhaust pipe stuck out from its clown lips. As well as this, actual Clown Cars appeared in the centre of N64 Big Donut, as well as in the background of 3DS Neo Bowser City. The Clown Cars in both of those locations had multiple bolted plates, Bowser emblems on their fronts and fans in the middle where the pilot would normally sit.

Super Mario 3D World

While no actual Clown Cars appeared during the events of Super Mario 3D World, the appearance of the Koopa Clown Car's face was used for a Ferris Wheel in World Bowser. It can be seen from The Great Tower of Bowser Land.

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash

In Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, Bowser Jr. used his Junior Clown Car to compete. He held the Tennis racket in the Clown Car's boxing glove-like hands. Here, the Junior Clown Car would go in whatever direction Bowser Jr. pointed and mimic his arm movements.[53] The Junior Clown Car could fly rather high to return certain shots and even grow in size alongside Bowser Jr. with the power of a Mega Mushroom.[54][55]

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Mario Party: Island Tour

Mario Golf: World Tour

Paper Mario: Sticker Star

Mario Party 10

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Bowser’s Fury

Paper Mario: the Origami King

Mario Party: Star Rush

Mario Party: The Top 100

Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Run

WarioWare Gold

Mario Tennis Aces

Dr. Mario World

Mario Kart Tour

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [1] Retrieved April 7th, 2021
  2. ↑ Bowser Jr. tinkering with Clown Car from Nintendo Official Corporate book for 2020, translated by Kaihatsu Retrieved April 2nd 2021
  3. ↑ [2] Surefire Tactics (July 14th, 2011). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  4. ↑ Clown Car Cries Super Mario World Final Battle Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  5. ↑ [3] NintendoComplete (January 3rd, 2018). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  6. ↑ [4] NintendoComplete (January 3rd, 2018). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  7. ↑ [5] NintendoComplete (January 3rd, 2018). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  8. ↑ [6] NintendoMovies (January 2nd, 2019). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  9. ↑ [7] NintendoMovies (January 2nd, 2019). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  10. ↑ [8] NintendoMovies (January 2nd, 2019). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  11. ↑ [9] Paper Mario Artist (October 23rd, 2020). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  12. ↑ [10] Paper Mario Artist (October 23rd, 2020). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  13. ↑ [11] Ninbanyan (January 16th, 2021). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  14. ↑ [12] Ninbanyan (January 16th, 2021). Retrieved April 2nd, 2021
  15. ↑ [13] LongplayArchive (January 20th, 2020). Retrieved April 3rd, 2021
  16. ↑ [14] Longplays HD (January 13th, 2018). Retrieved April 4th, 2021
  17. ↑ [15] Longplays HD (January 13th, 2018). Retrieved April 4th, 2021
  18. ↑ [16] Longplays HD (January 13th, 2018). Retrieved April 4th, 2021
  19. ↑ [17] XCageGame (February 9th, 2019) Retrived April 4th, 2021
  20. ↑ [18] aWiibo (January 31st, 2019). Retrieved April 3rd, 2021
  21. ↑ [19] Kids Monster (November 13th, 2019). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  22. ↑ [20] Longplays HD (September 14th, 2019). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  23. ↑ [21] NintendoMovies (November 9th, 2019). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  24. ↑ Hammer Bro. on Pagoda Peak Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  25. ↑ [22] NintendoMovies (September 24th, 2018). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  26. ↑ [23] NintendoMovies (September 24th, 2018). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  27. ↑ [24] Japancommercials4U2 (August 28th, 2013). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  28. ↑ [25] Japancommercials4U2 (August 28th, 2013). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  29. ↑ [26] Japancommercials4U2 (August 28th, 2013). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  30. ↑ [27] Japancommercials4U2 (August 28th, 2013). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  31. ↑ [28] Japancommercials4U2 (August 28th, 2013). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  32. ↑ [29] Japancommercials4U2 (August 28th, 2013). Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  33. ↑ [30] World of Longplays (December 17th, 2012). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  34. ↑ [31] YTSunny (May 13th, 2016) Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  35. ↑ [32] YTSunny (May 13th, 2016) Retrieved April 5th, 2021
  36. ↑ [33] ProsafiaGaming (July 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  37. ↑ [34] LongplayArchive (April 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 [35] arronmunroe (October 25th, 2016). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  39. ↑ [36] arronmunroe (October 15th, 2016). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  40. ↑ [37] LongplayArchive (April 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  41. ↑ [38] LongplayArchive (April 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  42. ↑ [39] LongplayArchive (April 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  43. ↑ [40] LongplayArchive (April 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  44. ↑ [41] LongplayArchive (April 14th, 2020). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  45. ↑ [42] Project Longplay (January 12th, 2019). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  46. ↑ [43] Project Longplay (January 12th, 2019). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  47. ↑ [44] Project Longplay (January 12th, 2019). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  48. ↑ [45] NintendoCentral (June 18th, 2018). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  49. ↑ [46] NintendoCentral (June 18th, 2018). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  50. ↑ [47] NintendoCentral (June 18th, 2018). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  51. ↑ [48] NintendoCentral (June 18th, 2018). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  52. ↑ [49] NintendoCentral (June 18th, 2018). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  53. ↑ [50] XCageGame (November 18th, 2015). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  54. ↑ [51] XCageGame (November 18th, 2015). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
  55. ↑ [52] XCageGame (November 18th, 2015). Retrieved April 6th, 2021
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