Big Boo's Haunt is the fifth course in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, and is located in the Castle Courtyard. The course itself is a three-story mansion located in a small cage. To gain access to the level, the player must defeat the larger one of the Boos in the castle courtyard, then walk up to the small mansion in a cage that appears. Unlike most other courses, Big Boo's Haunt is one of the rare courses that is not accessed via a painting. Instead, Mario must travel to the castle's courtyard (after he has collected twelve Power Stars, fifteen in the DS remake) and defeat a Big Boo. The Boo will drop a small cage containing the course. Mario gets teleported to Big Boo's Haunt upon entering this cage.
Mario shrinks as he is entering the cage to Big Boo's Haunt. The level is bounded by what appears to be the bars of a cage, like the one in the entrance to the course, suggesting, along with his entrance into the level, that Mario has shrunk. The course's background is a night sky located in a dark forest.
Big Boo's Haunt is inhabited by none other than Big Boo himself. There is a small shack on the side of the mansion that has a lift to the basement. In the center of the basement is a large merry-go-round with many Boos and some Flamethrowers. There is also the Mad Piano (a piano that comes to life and tries to bite Mario if he gets too close), Bookends (books which emerge from the bookshelves and launch themselves at Mario), and Killer Chairs (chairs which levitate before attacking). Big Boo's Haunt is also home to Big Mr. I. There are two entrances into the main building: the front door immediately visible upon entering the level, and a single back door that leads into a room containing two Boos. This course is one of a few that contain bridges made of bricks that fall away when walked upon. Big Boo's Haunt is the only course that does not share a theme with another course. The music for the Merry-Go-Round is also used in the minigames Lakitu Launch, Bingo Ball, and Slots Shot. In the DS remake, the third floor also contains a painting to the Big Boo Battle which appears to be located on the tower (highest floor) of Big Boo's Haunt where King Boo resides. This place is also where Mario unlocks Luigi.
In Super Mario 64 DS, this is the only main course that Yoshi can't access at all; he can't defeat Boos in this game, nor can he successfully eat any.
Features[]
The course features a large building and grounds, with three floors, an accessible balcony that leads to the roof, and a basement. A separate building found in the basement contains a speedy merry-go-round in the sewers. The boss, who is fought a number of times, is Big Boo.
In the DS remake, there is also a secret area, where you fight King Boo so that you can play as Luigi. It's accessible through the painting of Luigi in the third floor.
Stars[]
Star 1: Go on a Ghost Hunt[]
To complete this star Mario must enter the mansion and defeat the six Boos located on the ground floor of the mansion. Once this is done, the Big Boo appears in the mansion hall. Once Mario defeats the Big Boo, the stairs to the upper floor of the mansion are revealed, along with the star for the level located at the top of the stairs. The locations of the Boos are as follows
- Two are located inside a small room which can be accessed from the back of the mansion. Alternatively, since the room is interconnected to the kitchen room with the Killer Chairs, you can wait for them and they will come out of the painting.
- Inside the small room with the Mr. I.
- In the room with the crumbling bridge, cross the bridge and defeat the Boo.
- In the room on the far right, defeat the Boo near the ledge, attack the Boo but be sure not to fall off the edge or you will have to climb back up.
Star 2: Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round[]
To complete this star Mario must enter a separate building near the mansion. Mario must go down the elevator, and go through the door at the end of the corridor. Once this is done, Mario must head through the nearest door. Inside is a big Merry Go Round. Six boos come out of the paintings one by one. Once the boos are defeated, the Big Boo appears. Once he is defeated, the Merry Go Round stops, and the star is revealed.
Star 3: Secret of the Haunted Books[]
To complete this star Mario must enter the mansion and climb the stairs to the top floor and enter the second door on the left. After entering the door, Mario must head down the corridor and punch the books in the correct order. Once this is done, the bookcase opens, and a secret platform with the star is revealed.
Star 4: Seek the 8 Red Coins[]
To complete this star Mario must head into the mansion and find the 8 Red Coins scattered on the upper and lower floors of the mansion. After the 8 Red Coins are found, the star is revealed in the main hall of the mansion. The locations of each Red Coin are listed below.
- Behind the Mad Piano's resting spot.
- In the dining room with the Killer Chairs atop the Bookshelf.
- In the aforementioned room atop the other Bookshelf.
- On the room on the far right on the ledge near the pit.
- Atop the red mesh platforms above the Mr. I's room.
- Inside the Mr. I's room on the upper floor below one of the coffins.
- Inside the Mr. I's room on the upper floor below another one of the coffins, in the DS remake, this Red Coin was moved parallel to the stairs above them. The Red Coin be reached either by using Luigi's backflip, Mario's Balloon Powers from the Power Flower, or triple jumping as Mario or Luigi.
- On the far right room on the second floor behind a corner near the trapdoor.
One all 8 Red Coins have been collected, the Star will appear on the second floor on the left balcony.
Star 5: Big Boo's Balcony[]
To complete this star, Mario must enter the mansion and head up to the upper floor and enter the second door to the right. Once inside Mario must wall-jump off one of walls and reach a door on the third floor (in Super Mario 64 DS, Mario can also use the power flower to get there). Mario must then enter the door on the third floor. On the other side of the door is a balcony with Big Boo on it. Once Mario defeats Big Boo the star is revealed on the roof of the mansion. In the DS remake, Luigi can use his backflip to reach the roof much easier.
Star 6: Eye to Eye in the Secret Room[]
To complete this star Mario must enter the mansion and head to the upper floor, then enter the second door to the right. Once this is done Mario must go to the other side of the room and enter the door. On the other side of the door is the Vanish Cap. Mario must put on the Vanish Cap, head to the third floor and enter the painting of a boo before the Vanish Cap runs out. Inside is a Boo and an unusually large Mr. I. Once Mr. I is defeated, the Power Star is revealed.
In the DS remake, to complete this star, enter the stage as Luigi, enter the second door to the right in the upper floor and hit the ? block in that room to get the power flower (instead of the vanish cap).
Star 7: Switch Star in the Basement (DS)[]
Enter the course as Wario and immediately run into the small cabin to the left (not the main house). Take the elevator down to the basement level and wade through the halls of water until you go through a doorway. You'll find a large black-brick block in the basement that Wario can ground pound to crush—hit the star switch underneath and very quickly run around to the other side of the basement to grab the star.
However, there's a problem: Wario is slow. Before you hit the switch, run to the other side of the basement to grab the Mario cap from under the water (you can see it on your map). Now that you've transformed to Mario, step on the switch again and quickly run to the star. Mario's much faster than Wario, making it pretty easy to get the golden power star.
100 Coins[]
Simply collect 100 coins from the stage. Most of the enemies in the stage release Blue Coins, making this task much easier. The Blue Coin switch allows for a further twenty to be collected, and the eight Red Coins should take the player near the 100 mark.
Enemies Encountered[]
- Scuttle Bug
- Boo
- Mr. I
- Bookend
- Killer Chair
- Mad Piano
- Coffin
- Flamethrower
- Big Boo (BOSS)
- Big Mr. I (BOSS)
Trivia[]
- This course marks the first appearance of Mr. I.
- Big Boo's Haunt is one of the levels in the game that doesn't contain a true painting leading to the level, the others being Shifting Sand Land, Dire, Dire Docks, Snowman's Land and Rainbow Ride.
- Big Boo is the only boss you fight multiple times (other than Bowser and some others in the DS version).
- This course becomes available at 13 stars (13 being an unlucky number. Ghosts, which boos resemble, are another unlucky symbol).
- This is the only course that requires the defeat of an enemy in order to gain access.
- Despite the spooky appearance, it is very hard to die on this course for the following reasons:
- Most, if not all enemies release blue coins which restore lots of health.
- Most big drops have water at the bottom which cushions the fall.
- Very few enemies in the course actually pursue Mario. The only ones that do are the haunted books, the killer chairs, and piano.
- It is fairly easy to acquire invisibility caps which prevent most damage.
- This course is completely enclosed, similar to Bob-omb Battlefield.
- There are no "instant death" obstacles.
- The entrance to this course, as well as the boundaries of the course seem to resemble a bird cage.
- The house is eerily similar in frontal appearance to Luigi's Mansion, which had not released until five years later in 2001.
- This is the only course in the game that doesn't share its music with another course.
- The bars around the course resemble the bars on the cage of the course's entrance, suggesting, along with his entrance in the course that Mario has shrunk.
Gallery[]
To view Big Boo's Haunt's image gallery, click here.
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See also:[]
Characters | Playable | Mario • Yoshi • Luigi** • Wario** |
---|---|---|
Supporting | Bob-omb Buddy • Dorrie • Headless Snowman • Hoot • Koopa the Quick • Lakitu Bros. • MIPS* • Mother Penguin • Penguin Champ • Princess Peach • Rabbits** (Glowing**) • Toad • Tuxie | |
Bosses | King Bob-omb • Whomp King • Goomboss • Bowser#1 • Big Boo • Big Mr. I • King Boo • Big Bully • Eyerok • Bowser#2 • Chill Bully • Chief Chilly • Wiggler • Bowser#3 | |
Enemies | Enemies | Amp • Beach Koopa • Big Bertha** • Big Steely • Big Venus Fire Trap • Bob-omb • Boo • Bookend • Bub* • Bubba* • Bullet Bill • Bully • Butterfly • Chair • Chain Chomp • Cheep-Cheep** • Chuckya • Clam • Fire Chomp** • Fly Guy • Fwoosh • Goomba • Grand Goomba • Grindel • Heave Ho • Klepto • Koopa Troopa Kuromame* • • Lakitu • Mad Piano • Manta • Micro-Goomba • Moneybag • Monty Mole • Mr. Blizzard • Mr. I • Piranha Plant • Podoboo • Pokey • Scuttle Bug • Skeeter • Snufit • Spindel • Spindrift • Spiny • Sushi • Swooper • Thwomp • Tox Box • Tweester • Ukiki • Unagi the Eel • Venus Fire Trap • Whomp |
Items | Items | 1-UP Mushroom • Big Key • Blue Coin • Jumbo Star • Key • Luigi Key** • Luigi Cap** • Mario Key** • Mario Cap • Metal Cap* • Mushroom** • Power Flower** • Power Star • Red Coin • Secret • Silver Star** • Vanish Cap* • Wario Key** • Wario Cap** • Wing Cap • Yellow Coin |
Objects | Regular | ! Switch • Arrow Lift • Arrow Sign • Big Star Door • Block • Blue Coin Block • Bubble ring • Cannon • Cap Block • Cap Switch • Chairlift • Conveyor Belt • Crate • Crazed Crate • Crystal Tap • Falling Block • Flowers • Ice Block • Key Door • Koopa Shell • Lift • Magic Carpet • Mushroom Platform • Painting • Pendulum • Pole • Rainbow Cruiser • Rolling log • Seesaw • Shrinker Pipe • Slide • Spiked orb • Spinning Heart • Star Door • Star Marker • Star Sphere** • Star Switch** • Stump • Switching room** • Treasure Chest • Tree • Warp Pipe • Wire net • Work Elevator • Yoshi Egg** |
Obstacles | Boulder • Casket • Coffin • Current • Endless stairs • Fire Arm • Flamethrower • Frozen Water • Hidden smasher • Iron ball • Lava • Moving sand • Pit • Quicksand • Skull Crate • Toxic Gas • Turtle Cannon • Water bomb • Whirlpool | |
Moves | Moves | Backward Somersault • Crawl • Crouch • Dash • Dive • Double Jump • Egg Throw** • Flutter Kick** • Fly • Jump • Jump Kick • Kick • Long Jump • Pound the Ground • Punch • Scuttle** • Side Somersault • Slide • Slide Kick • Spin Jump • Stomp • Swallow** • Sweep Kick • Swim • Triple Jump • Wall Kick • Wild Swing-Ding** |
Power-ups | Balloon Mario** • Fire Power** • Mega Mario** • Metal Mario*/Metal Wario** • Vanish Mario*/Vanish Luigi** • Wing Mario | |
Courses | First floor | Bob-omb Battlefield • Whomp's Fortress • Jolly Roger Bay • Cool, Cool Mountain • Goomboss Battle • Bowser in the Dark World |
Castle Courtyard | Battle Fort (DS only) • Big Boo's Haunt • Big Boo Battle (DS only) | |
Basement | Hazy Maze Cave • Lethal Lava Land • Shifting Sand Land • Dire, Dire Docks • Bowser in the Fire Sea | |
Second floor | Chief Chilly Challenge • Snowman's Land • Wet-Dry World • Tall, Tall Mountain • Tiny-Huge Island | |
Third floor | Tick Tock Clock • Rainbow Ride • Bowser in the Sky | |
Power Stars | Bob-omb Battlefield | Big Bob-omb on the Summit • Footrace with Koopa the Quick • Shoot to the Island in the Sky (N64) • 5 Silver Stars (DS) • Big Bob-omb's Revenge (DS) • Find the 8 Red Coins • Mario Wings to the Sky • Behind Chain Chomp's Gate* |
Whomp's Fortress | Chip Off Whomp's Block • To the Top of the Fortress • Shoot into the Wild Blue • Red Coins on the Floating Isle • Fall onto the Caged Island • Blast Away the Wall • Switch Star of the Fortress (DS) | |
Jolly Roger Bay | Plunder in the Sunken Ship • Can the Eel Come Out to Play? • Treasure in the the Ocean Cave • Red Coins on the Ship Afloat • Blast to the Stone Pillar • Through the Jet Stream • Switch Star of the Bay (DS) | |
Cool, Cool Mountain | Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS) | |
Big Boo's Haunt | Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement | |
Hazy Maze Cave | Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star | |
Lethal Lava Land | Boil the Big Bully • Bully the Bullies • 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces • Red-Hot Log Rolling • Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano • Elevator Tour in the Volcano (N64)/Inside the Volcano • Flaming Silver Stars (DS) | |
Shifting Sand Land | In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle | |
Dire, Dire Docks | Board Bowser's Sub • Chests in the Current • Pole-Jumping for Red Coins • Through the Jet Stream • The Manta Ray's Reward (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Koopa Surfin' Switch Star (DS) • Collect the Caps... (N64)/Inside the Cage (DS) | |
Snowman's Land | Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS) | |
Wet-Dry World | Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS) | |
Tall, Tall Mountain | Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain | |
Tiny-Huge Island | Pluck the Piranha Flower • The Tip Top of the Huge Island • Rematch with Koopa the Quick • Five Itty Bitty Secrets (N64) • Klepto the Condor • Wiggler's Red Coins • Make Wiggler Squirm • Switch Star of the Island (DS) | |
Tick Tock Clock | Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars | |
Rainbow Ride | Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor | |
Other locations | Other locations | Big House • Princess Peach's Castle (Castle Grounds · Princess Peach's room · Rec Room**) |
Minigames** | Luigi's | Lucky Stars • Mario Slot • Memory Master • Memory Match • Mushroom Roulette • Pair-a-Gone • Pair-a-Gone and On • Picture Poker • Super Mario Slot |
Mario's | Bounce and Pounce • Bounce and Trounce • Connect the Characters • Mario's Slides • Shell Smash • Shuffle Shell • Sort or 'Splode • Trampoline Terror • Trampoline Time | |
Wario's | Bingo Ball • Bob-omb Squad • Coincentration • Giant Snowball Slalom • Intense Coincentration • Lakitu Launch • Psyche Out! • Slots Shot • Snowball Slalom | |
Yoshi's | Boom Box • Hide and Boo Seek • Loves Me...? • Mix-a-Mug • Puzzle Panel • Puzzle Panic • Tox Box Shuffle • Wanted! • Which Wiggler? | |
Versions | Versions | Super Mario 64 (1996) • Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō (1997) • Super Mario 64 DS (2004) |
* Exclusive to the N64 version ** Exclusive to the DS version |