With more than enough stars collected to open the first star door, I decided there was no reason to delay it any longer.
I already knew what waited behind it: Bowser’s Badlands – Battlefield.

This level has a strange quirk where every time you leave with a star, Mario plays the key animation as if you have just unlocked a door.
Since there are four stars here along with the Bowser fight itself, I ended up seeing that animation five times before I was finished.

The first task was reaching the Pink Bob-Omb, which turned out to be the hardest part of the course.
Getting to him requires a triple jump followed by two wall kicks, and for some reason I kept missing the second one.
Either I wasn’t getting enough height, or I wasn’t pulling back on the stick enough, but after a few attempts I finally made it.

With the cannon unlocked, I decided I would collect every star in the level before facing Bowser.
I don’t know if the stars have official names in-game, so I’m using the names listed on the wiki.

The first star was Top of the Starting Tower.
Exactly what it sounds like — the star sits on top of the tower, and the only way to reach it is with the cannon.
I lined the shot up, fired, and somehow hit the perfect angle.
One of those once-in-a-lifetime cannon shots where everything just works.
Straight onto the tower, straight onto the star.

Next was Secret Corner, another cannon shot, this time to reach a hidden area that can only be accessed from above.
Once I landed, a short drop and a kick for momentum was enough to secure the star.

At this point I couldn’t help thinking that past me would be wondering where these skills were years ago.

After that I went for Scaffolding Path.
This one required a slower approach.
I took my time, played the jumps carefully, and worked my way across without rushing.
Star number three collected.

That left Red Coins of the Battlefield.
The coins are scattered all over the course, most of them placed just close enough to edges to make you think twice before jumping.
I half expected the game to leave me inside the level after collecting them,
but instead I was thrown back out again like the other stars.

With the stars finished, it was time to deal with Bowser.

One more cannon shot, a few Bob-Ombs dealt with, then onto the purple switch section with the timed blocks.
I missed the first attempt, but managed it on the second.

Bowser gave his usual speech, mentioned the bombs were set slightly higher this time,
but that didn’t stop me from throwing him straight into one.

The camera did something strange while he handed over the key,
but the result was the same.
First Bowser battle done.

There are still more courses in this area waiting,
but I have to admit, part of me keeps thinking about how much trouble this hack gave me years ago.

I’m playing better now, no question about that.
But I also know this hack well enough to understand something else.

The easy part is over.