Main Characters
Mario
The hero of Hyrule, taking the role of Link. Living in Toad forest, he is called upon by Peach to save Hyrule from Bowser.
- The Hero: As always, he is the one saving Hyrule, and takes the place of Link as the Hero of Time.
Princess Peach
The Princess of Hyrule, taking the role of Zelda. A benevolent leader beloved by her people, she is dedicated to preserving the peace between species and sends Mario to gather the stars needed to save Hyrule.
- Big Good: As the Princess of Hyrule, she essentially has authority over it, taking the place of Zelda, and wants to stop Bowser from destroying the harmony between the races of Hyrule.
King Bowser
The king of the Koopas, taking the role of Ganondorf/Ganon. Though he once ruled alongside his fellow monarchs, he betrayed them out of a desire to be the sole ruler. He has obtained the Black Grand Star and wants the other eight Grand Stars to conquer Hyrule.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: Past Bowser uses the Black Grand Star to grow to a colossal size — even bigger than Ganon from the original Ocarina — for the final battle.
- Big Bad: He takes the role of Ganondorf as the leader of the enemy forces out to conquer Hyrule, which he plans to do by stealing the nine Grand Stars.
- Disc-One Final Boss: The fight with future Bowser at the top of his castle seems like it will be the first part of a final Sequential Boss like in Ocarina, but Bowser tells Mario that his past self is still out there. After beating him and escaping the tower, Mario can laze about until he is ready to confront past-Bowser.
- Evil Old Folks: His future self, who reigns over Bowserule, says to Mario that he is an old turtle and much less powerful than his past version. Nevertheless, he is still an Evil Overlord as he was in the past.
- Evil Overlord: Like Ganondorf, he leads all the enemy forces to conquer Hyrule. When he actually takes control in the Bad Future, he runs it into the ground, renaming the kingdom Bowserule and either driving the citizens out or killing them.
- Load-Bearing Boss: Once defeated, Future Bowser starts bringing down the castle, forcing Mario to escape with Bob-ombs raining down around him.
- One-Winged Angel: Past Bowser uses the Black Grand Star to grow to massive size, much like Ganondorf turned into his Ganon form, only this one is even bigger.
- Orcus on His Throne: Even more than Ganondorf in Ocarina. Despite being the leader of the invasion, he stays in his headquarters, relying on his allies and minions to do the work for him, and is only encountered at the very end for the final battle, whereas Ganondorf made appearances here and there.
- Sequential Boss: Future Bowser. First, he sends his four children after you one at a time, then he attacks you himself, and finally Mario must escape the collapsing castle and avoid the falling Bob-ombs.
- Tennis Boss: Bowser, like Ganondorf, will throw shells at Mario, who must deflect them back at him — though unlike Ganondorf, Bowser does his in his giant phase rather than his first phase. From the first hit onward, he will set it on fire, necessitating Mario to transform into Metal Mario.
- Wicked Cultured: Like Ganondorf, Bowser plays an organ as Mario rises up the tower to fight him.
Species
Toads
The inhabitants of Toad Forest, replacing the Kokiri.
Bob-ombs
The inhabitants of Bob-omb Mountain, replacing the Gorons and Dodongo.
Penguins
The inhabitants of Penguin Domain, replacing the Zora.
Rabbits
The inhabitants of Kakariko Village.
Goombas and Koopas
The inhabitants of Desert City, replacing the Gerudo.
Monarchs of Hyrule
The various rulers of the different species. Each one looks over the Grand Stars, keeping them safe from those who would abuse their power. All of them have entered an alliance with Princess Peach for the sake of keeping the peace between the different species. They consist of the Great Deku Tree, the Bob-omb King, the Penguin King, Lord Jabu-Jabu, and the Goomba Royal Family.
- Adaptational Heroism: The Goomba King in Mario canon is a recurring boss throughout the series and loyal to Bowser, but here, the Goomba King is peaceful and an ally to Mario who opposes Bowser.
- Big Good: Along with Peach, all of them are benevolent leaders who desire to keep good relations between the races of Hyrule. They help Mario whenever they can.
- The Good King: All of them are good to their people and serve as quest-givers to Mario.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Unlike Bowser, they actually care for their subjects and are nice to Mario as well.
Bowser's Army
Big Scuttlebug
The boss of the Great Deku Tree, replacing Queen Gohma.
- Flunky Boss: It has several smaller Scuttlebugs wandering around the boss room.
- King Mook: It is a giant version of the Scuttlebugs, with no change to its attack pattern.
- Giant Spider: A giant version of the Scuttlebug enemies, it is about twice the size of Mario.
- Warmup Boss: The boss of the Great Deku Tree dungeon, the first dungeon of the game.
Big Monty Mole
A giant Monty Mole found as a mini-boss in the Lost Woods.
- King Mook: A giant version of the Monty Moles, though it has a different attack pattern since it burrows in a circle.
- Mini-Boss: It is not fought as the boss of a dungeon, but is instead out-of-the-way In then Lost Woods area.
- Optional Boss: Fighting it is purely optional.
Yoshi Ranch Boss (spoilers)
Big Swoops
A trio of giant Swoops who appear in the Yoshi Ranch, tending to it and caring for the Yoshis. Or so it seems.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: They seem nice enough to Mario and welcome him to the ranch, allowing him to play with the Yoshis and even take one with him. Then Mario finds a diary revealing that they took over the farm from the original owners and plan on sucking the blood of the Yoshis.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Subverted. Initially, they seem to be friendly despite being giant bats, and are taking the time to care for Yoshis, raising them in a ranch. Actually, they stole the ranch and plan on drinking the Yoshis’ blood.
- "Get Back Here!" Boss: When exposed, they will fly away from Mario.
- Mini-Boss: They are not fought as a dungeon boss, but as the boss of the small Yoshi Ranch area.
- Optional Boss: They are the boss of an optional area.
- Walking Spoiler: They initially present themselves as the caring owners of the Yoshi Ranch; but if Mario finds their secret diary, it is revealed that they actually stole the Ranch from the original owners and plan on sucking the blood of the Yoshis dry.
King Bob-omb
The boss of Bob-omb cavern, replacing King Dodongo. Though he originally ruled alongside the similarly-named Bob-omb King, he and his Battle Bob-ombs betrayed the others, pulling the Bob-ombs into a civil war.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Somewhat literal example, as the way to beat him is by kicking back the Bob-ombs at him.
- King Mook: A canon one, as the king of the Battle Bob-ombs.
Armored Amp
The boss of Jabu-Jabu's belly, replacing Barinade.
- Attack Its Weak Point: The armor on top of its head is ironically the weak point, or at least covering it, which needs to be ground-pounded.
- King Mook: It is a giant Amp with the same attack pattern.
- Turns Red: Every time Mario hits it, it grows larger.
Big Boos
The mini-bosses and boss of Toad Village and the Forest Temple, replacing the Poe Sisters and Phantom Ganon, respectively. They consist of the regular/White, Red, Blue, Green, Purple, and Black Big Boos.
- Cowardly Boss: The Big Black Boo floats around the boss area a bit before flying into a Portal Picture, upon which Mario must chase him.
- Flunky Boss:
- The Big White Boo is in an area with a bunch of Monty Moles.
- The Big Blue Boo has several Blue Boos around it.
- The Big Black Boo has several Kuromames/Kenropa Balls in the Portal Picture it escapes to.
- King Mook: They are all versions of the Big Boo from Mario 64. The normal Big Boo is unchanged from the original, but the others all have some extra ability.
- Optional Boss: The Big White Boo is not fought inside the Forest Temple, but outside in Toad Forest, and unlike the other Bog Boos, which need to be beaten to complete the dungeon, this one does not.
Big Blaarg
The boss of the Fire Temple, replacing Volvagia.
- Whack-a-Monster: It pops out of the nine holes in the ground and shoots fire, and Mario must jump on it.
Dark Mario
The mini-boss of the Water Temple, replacing Dark Link. Returning from Super Mario 64: Last Impact, he blocks the way to a switch needed to get to the boss room.
- Degraded Boss: In Last Impact, he was the boss of the second Bowser level (Shadow Factory) and thus a major boss. In this game, he's little more than a Mini-Boss.
- Expy: Of Dark Link, a shadow version of the hero who serves as a Mirror Boss and Mini-Boss, even being introduced the same way.
- Giant Space Flea from Nowhere: Like in Last Impact, he comes out of nowhere, is never explained, and disappears after defeat.
- Mini-Boss: Of the Water Temple, who is fought before the Big Manta.
- Mirror Boss: Like in Last Impact, he copies Mario's moves.
Big Manta
The boss of the Water Temple, replacing Morpha.
- Adaptational Villainy: In the original game and most hacks, the Manta is a friendly NPC that holds one of the power stars and will give it if Mario passes its challenge. In this game, the Manta is now a boss and minion of Bowser.
Big Snufit
The mini-bosses of the Well and Shadow Temple, replacing Dead Hand.
- King Mook: They are giant versions of the Snufits with the same attack pattern.
King Whomp
The boss of the Shadow Temple, replacing Bongo Bongo. He rules over the Whomps and is one of the kings who allied with Bowser.
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: He is absolutely gigantic, towering over Mario.
- Boss-Arena Idiocy: The giant Banzai Bill Blasters and Banzai Bills in his room are the key to beating him.
- Flunky Boss: He has four Banzai Bill cannons in his boss room; unlike most, the mooks wind up being his weakness.
- King Mook: He is a giant version of the Whomps and has the same attack pattern.
King Thwomp
The mini-boss of the Spirit Temple, replacing the Iron Knuckle Nabooru. He rules over the Thwomps and is one of the kings who allied with Bowser. Returning from Mario 64, he blocks the way to the boss room.
- King Mook: As in Mario 64, he is one for the Thwomps.
- Took a Level in Badass: Minor variation; while he does not change his simple attack pattern, he has trained himself to become sturdier, and as a result, his weak spot can only be hit with Metal Mario.
Big Koopa Troopa
The boss of the Spirit Temple, replacing Twinrova.
- King Mook: He is a giant version of the Koopa enemies with no change to the attack pattern.
