Inside the Castle Walls
"Inside the Castle Walls" is a recurring musical theme from the Mario franchise composed by Koji Kondo. It was first used as the background music for Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64, and is usually associated with that appearance or with Peach's Castle in general. The original Super Mario 64 version of the theme is played by a string ensemble. In the A section, all of the parts harmonize the melody's rhythm, aside from pizzicato runs, contrasting the melody with brief silences. This leads into a contrapuntal legato B section.
"Inside the Castle Walls" made a few appearances in the Donkey Kong franchise. Its first Donkey Kong appearance, and second one overall, is in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, in the form of an arrangement titled Wrinkly 64, composed by David Wise.
Both the Mario Golf series and Mario Tennis series feature arrangements done by Motoi Sakuraba.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, "Wrinkly 64" sometimes plays in Wrinkly's Save Cave, whenever Wrinkly is playing her Nintendo 64, suggesting that she is playing Super Mario 64, a game which released shortly before Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. "Wrinkly 64" does not appear in Donkey Kong Country 3 for the Game Boy Advance.
"Wrinkly 64" was included as the seventh track of the Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Original Soundtrack, on which it has a length of 1 minute and 39 seconds.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[edit]
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, an arrangement plays in the levels of Toadstool Castle. A slightly different variation plays in Special Kit 2 custom levels in the Construction Zone. While the Mini Marios or Mini Peaches are inactive, only the backing instruments play; after they begin to move, the music plays in full.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! arranges "Inside the Castle Walls" as the background themes for Teatime Twirl, the first attraction in which Mini Princess appears. They are paired with original preparation, course clear, and life lost themes, all based on the original piece.
 Teatime Twirl: First music | File info |
| Teatime Twirl: Second music | File info |
| Teatime Twirl: Third music | File info |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[edit]
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, "Inside the Castle Walls" is arranged in the Swirling Courtyard theme.
| Swirling Courtyard | File info |
Related appearances[edit]
Mario Golf series[edit]
Mario Golf (Game Boy Color)[edit]
In Mario Golf for the Game Boy Color, an 8-bit arrangement plays in the Peach's Castle course.
Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour[edit]
In Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, an arrangement plays in the second half of the Peach's Castle Grounds theme.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour[edit]
The Mushroom Course from Mario Golf: Advance Tour uses a rendition of the Peach's Castle Grounds theme as its background music, so it incorporates "Inside the Castle Walls" by extension.
Mario Tennis series[edit]
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)[edit]
In Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64, an arrangement plays on the Peach Court.
Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)[edit]
In Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color, an arrangement plays on the Castle Court in Exhibition mode, as well as when inside of Peach's Castle during the Mario Tour mode.
Mario Power Tennis[edit]
In Mario Power Tennis, the court introduction theme for Peach Dome, as well as the trophy award theme for Peach, is an arrangement of the A section of "Inside the Castle Walls", arranged by Motoi Sakuraba. The theme is also arranged in full for the Artist On the Court minigame.
Mario Tennis Open[edit]
In Mario Tennis Open, the court introduction theme for Peach's Palace is an arrangement of the A section of "Inside the Castle Walls", arranged by Motoi Sakuraba. The court's background music is a brass rock arrangement. A minor key arrangement is used as the tiebreaker theme for this court.
| Peach's Palace | File info |
Mario Party series[edit]
Mario Party 3[edit]
In Mario Party 3, two arrangements of the B section play in Peach's Castle: one in the main hall and the Data Room, and the other in the Sound Room. They were arranged by Ichiro Shimakura.
Mario Party 10[edit]
In amiibo Party mode of Mario Party 10, an arrangement titled "Peach's Theme" plays while Peach's amiibo is being controlled.
| Peach's Theme | File info 0:30 |
Mario Super Sluggers[edit]
In Mario Super Sluggers, an orchestral arrangement plays in Peach Ice Garden. The transition to the melody's second half after the melody repeats is dragged out, though otherwise the song is faithful to the original.
| Peach Ice Garden | File info |
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]
In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the music that plays in the hub world incorporates arrangements of "Inside the Castle Walls", arranged by Grant Kirkhope.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
In Super Mario Odyssey, a faithful arrangement plays inside Peach's Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. It was arranged by Shiho Fujii.[1]
| Peach's Castle | File info |
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020[edit]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 features a new arrangement that plays during the Dream Karate event.
Mario Strikers: Battle League[edit]
In Mario Strikers: Battle League, when playing both halves of the Royal Castle stage, a rock arrangement of Inside the Castle Walls is one of tracks that can play in the background, arranged by Chad York and Darren Radtke.
