Bowser's Lava Lair is the second boss galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2. It is located in World 2, as is the final galaxy of that world as well. To unlock this galaxy, the player must get 16 Power Stars, as well as one from the Wild Glide Galaxy, Honeybloom Galaxy or Cosmic Cove Galaxy. Hence the name, the galaxy is filled with Lava, Firebars and other fire enemies. Whomps are introduced to the player in this galaxy. Giant Bowser is sitting on a throne here, which looks like a castle. For the player to earn the Grand Star he is holding, he must hit him 4 times using Meteorites when he punches his fist in the ground (which is indicated by a large yellow light spotting on the player).
Planets[]
Starting Planet[]
This planet is a simple planet with a few columns on the side and a large green rug running through the center of the floor. There is a Magikoopa that spawns Burn Bits with its magic. There is a Luma here that tells Mario/Luigi that it senses a Grand Star ahead. It also warns him of the danger ahead.
Cylindrical Planet[]
This planet, hence the name, is shaped like a cylinder. There is Lava in the middle, which must be crossed using the moving square platforms, made of wood and iron. These platforms circle the planet. Several Podoboos are also on this planet. On the side, Mario/Luigi must reach (which is the planet's left side) is a Spring and a Luma. Mario/Luigi must Ground Pound the Spring to reach the next planet, the Fireball Planet.
Fireball Planet[]
This planet is nearly identical to the Cylindrical Planet, however, there are some differences. The moving wood and iron platforms move different through the Lava (they move vertically this time instead of moving horizontally and circling the planet). Several Fireballs are moving rapidly on the sides of the planet. A 1-Up Mushroom and a Life Mushroom are also found on this planet. At the top of the planet is an Item Crystal with a Launch Star inside. The player must Spin the Item Crystal to release the Launch Star, and then Spin again to activate the star. It will launch them to the Whomp Lava Planet.
Whomp Lava Planet[]
This planet is a fairly large planet. Members of the Toad Brigade and a Tip Network are found here. Mario/Luigi will encounter some Flimps who will try to flip Mario/Luigi and cause them to fall into the Lava below. After defeating a Hammer Bro. on a circular platform, a Sling Star appears. It leads the player to short tower with a platform next to it. On this platform is a Ground Pound Switch which must be Ground Pounded in order for the player to be taken to the lower area of the planet. Here, the player will encounter more Flimps and the path is lined with Electric Fences, as shown in the picture above ^^. Some Whomps and Dry Bones are found here, hence the name. There is a large door with a big stone lock. This lock must be destroyed by Ground Pounding a nearby Meteorite into it. The door will then open, leading the player to the Lava Cube Planet. The galaxy's Comet Medal is found here. It can be collected by Wall-Jumping or backflipping off a Whomp.
Lava Cube Planet[]
This planet is rather small compared to the Whomp Lava Planet. It is cube/rectangular prism-shaped. Surrounded by Lava are some Mattermouths who will eat away the floor. There is a Black Hole underneath the floor. Near the Checkpoint Flag at the beginning, there is one of the members of the Toad Brigade trying to find a 1-Up for Mario/Luigi. He instead gives him some Star Bits. There is a Snake Block that Mario must ride in order to cross the Lava. Mario must also avoid some Firebars along the way. Another Life Mushroom can be found above one of the Firebars. The Snake Block will end at another safe floor where Mario/Luigi must run to the other side of the planet and ride another Snake Block. This time, Mario/Luigi must dodge three pairs of Gray Bowser Statues. Each pair will face each other and create a line of electricity that must be jumped over to avoid. So basically, Mario/Luigi must jump over three lines of electricity. Before the final Checkpoint Flag are three Hammer Bros. that Mario/Luigi must defeat. The player must then destroy three giant lock on the door using Meteorites. There is another Life Mushroom around one of the Flagpoles which must be climbed to reach. When all locks are destroyed the player will find himself on the Throne Planet, where he finds Giant Bowser. During Lava Lair Speed Run, the player must get behind the giant door to earn the Power Star.
Throne Planets[]
This planet is a small planet shaped like a star. Giant Bowser is sitting on his throne here, which greatly resembles a castle. After threatening to defeat and squish Mario/Luigi, the two are sent to the Bowser Battle Planet for the battle. It is impossible to fall into Space from this planet, for if the player does so, they will be grabbed by some energy, which will take Mario/Luigi back to the planet, similar to falling off the edges of the Comet Observatory in Super Mario Galaxy.
Bowser Battle Planet[]
This is a small circular planet made of black bricks. There are a few rocks that Mario/Luigi can destroy for one Coin. Here, Mario/Luigi must defeat Giant Bowser by Ground Pounding Meteorites into him when he slams his fist into the ground. After being hit four times, the Grand Star is spat out of his mouth, and Bowser decreases in size. The player is then taken back to the Lava Cube Planet where Bowser complains to Mario about how hard it is to defeat him just before telling the plumber about plan B of how to defeat him. He then disappears and Mario can collect the Grand Star.
Missions[]
Bowser's Big Lava Power Party[]
To get the Grand Star, Mario/Luigi must make his way to Giant Bowser. In order to get there, Mario/Luigi must defeat a Magikoopa on the Starting Planet, causing a Pull Star to appear. He must then use it to get to the Cylindrical Planet. On this planet, Mario must use the square platforms to cross the Lava and reach a Spring that will take him to the Fireball Planet. Once again, Mario/Luigi must use the square platforms to safely cross the Lava and use the Launch Star to be taken to the Whomp Lava Planet. Here, Mario/Luigi must avoid all the obstacles and find a platform with a Hammer Bro. When defeated, it will drop a Sling Star, which will send Mario to another area. Mario/Luigi must Ground Pound a Ground Pound Switch that will drop them to a lower area. Here, Mario/Luigi must avoid the Whomps, Lava, Electric Fences and numerous Flimps that could flip him into falling into the Lava. At the end of this planet, Mario must Ground Pound a Meteorite to break a large lock on an even larger door. The door will open and a force will take the heroes to the Lava Cube Planet. Here, Mario/Luigi must follow two sets of Snake Blocks while avoiding obstacles in the way, such as Firebars and Gray Bowser Statues; the latter will create lines of electricity (similar to Electric Fences) which must be jumped over in order to safely make it to another safe floor. Here, the player must defeat three Hammer Bros. before making it to Bowser's door. Here, Mario/Luigi must Ground Pound a Meteorite several times to destroy the three locks on Bowser's door. A Life Mushroom is found on the Flagpole here. Anyway, after one Meteorite is Ground Pounded, another one will spawn. Once all locks are destroyed, the door will open and a force will carry Mario/Luigi to the Throne Planets. Giant Bowser will threaten to squish Mario with his new power before the two are carried to the Bowser Battle Planet. Here, Mario must Ground Pound Meteorites into Giant Bowser four times to cause the monster to spit out a Grand Star. The two are carried back to the Lava Cube Planet where the locked door was. Bowser complains about how hard it is for him to defeat Mario and talks about plan B before he disappears. The Grand Star can now be collected, instantly unlocking World 3.
Enemies[]
- Magikoopas
- Burn Bits (spawned by the Magikoopa on the Starting Planet)
- Podoboos
- Hammer Bros.
- Flimps
- Whomps
- Dry Bones
- Firebars
- Fireballs
- Mattermouths
- Gray Bowser Statues
Planets Visited[]
- Starting Planet
- Cylindrical Planet
- Fireball Planet
- Whomp Lava Planet
- Lava Cube Planet
- Throne Planets
- Bowser Battle Planet
Lava Lair Speed Run[]
To get this Power Star, the galaxy's Comet Medal must be collected to cause a Speedy Comet to spawn. Mario/Luigi must make his way to the end of the Lava Cube Planet before the time runs out. He must collect + Clocks along the way to increase time.
Enemies[]
- Magikoopas
- Burn Bits (spawned by the Magikoopa on the Starting Planet)
- Podoboos
- Firebars
- Fireballs
- Hammer Bros
- Flimps
- Whomps
- Dry Bones
- Mattermouths
- Gray Bowser Statues
Planets Visited[]
- Starting Planet
- Cylindrical Planet
- Fireball Planet
- Whomp Lava Planet
- Lava Cube Planet
Green Star 1[]
This Green Power Star is located on the Whomp Lava Planet. Here, Mario/Luigi must go to a platform with a stone switch on it. Here, there is a rock in the Lava. Mario/Luigi must Long-Jump to reach the star.
Enemies[]
Planets Visited[]
- Starting Planet
- Cylindrical Planet
- Fireball Planet
- Whomp Lava Planet
Green Star 2[]
This Green Power Star is located on the Lava Cube Planet. Mario/Luigi must let the Mattermouths eat away the floor, revealing the Star. They must then carefully fall to it to grab it. There is a Black Hole under here, which will waste the player if they miss the star, causing them to redo the mission.
Enemies[]
Planets Visited[]
- Starting Planet
- Cylindrical Planet
- Fireball Planet
- Whomp Lava Planet
- Lava Cube Planet