Bogmire and Bouldergeist; An Eery Similarity?

Anyone who has ever played Super Mario Galaxy will have heard of Bouldergeist from how it kept killing a ton of players during the Daredevil run. Bogmire was a relatively difficult boss from Luigi's Mansion. But the thing is, why does it seem like there is an almost spooky relation between them, how they seem almost too similar? Are they one in the same? Or more likely, could they be of the same species?

First up though, think about the location. Bogmire was a ghost found in the Cemetary of Luigi's Mansion. Bouldergeist was found in a cemetary type location floating in the Ghostly Galaxy. But the two areas seem very similar, the house design especially. Does that suggest a possible basis on Luigi's Mansion for this galaxy and it's various ghostly inhabitants? Does to me, especially the roof style and the general building structure.

It however is the boss design which seems most similar. First look at the eyes. They both seem to have the same creepy kind of yellow eyes which seem to have an almost blank look, which may suggest they could be related. Compare:

Then compare the general body. They have a circular base with no form of lower limbs. They have a head which goes into a narrow shape at the top, and the general formation seems almost creepily similar. Then think of how both seem to made of a dark gooey liquid. Bogmire was shown as being made of the same stuff in one of the paintings you could get, and his shadows had an uncanny resemblance to Bouldergeist in this respect, being dark black coloured and shadowey.

Then there is the matter of arena. Bogmire had a circular arena with a metal fence seemingly round it and a dark blue coloured sky when you were in the actual battle, and this area does seem to remind me of the spot where you battle Bouldergeist. It seems awfully strange Nintendo would reuse the general battle arena layout for two similarily designed bosses if there wasn't at least a very minor connection.

Another thing to think about is the battle style. In both battles they send out shadowy minions which must be sent back at the master (Bogmire sent out shadows, Bouldergeist sent out Bomb Boos), and in both battles this is then followed by a 'heart' type object being revealed which then must be damaged for the battle to commence. very samey strategies in my opinion, and also gives rise to the possibility that it is Bouldergeist who created the Bomb Boos as minions just as Bogmire did the shadows.

But what could the connection be? Well I have generally narrowed it down to a few interesting possibilities which only you can decide between. This is because we need a bit more proof and clarification from Nintendo to declare one correct, but oh well:

1. Bouldergeist IS Bogmire, returned from Luigi's Mansion with a new loyalty to Bowser. Like how King Boo was freed from the painting by a mysterious force.

2. They are of the same species, and hence shadow ghosts are actually a semi species created as a manifestation of the fear and despair (or just certain emotions) relating to a place in the Mushroom Kingdom or universe in the series.

3. Bouldergeist could be one of the shadow ghosts that Bogmire sent out as an attacker against Luigi. It could have somehow escaped and got somewhat more powerful, possibly by influence from the Koopa Klan.

I personally have no answer to this. But I generally believe number 2 the most, since there are still minor differences between the two characters.