Partner hint
| Partner hint | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Tippi scanning a Frackle | |||
| First appearance | Super Paper Mario (2007) | ||
| Latest appearance | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) (2024) | ||
| |||
Partner hint, simply referred to as hints prior to the Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, is an ability found in the Paper Mario series. It is used to give the player clues and advice about how to proceed through the game, succeeding the role filled by Tattle in the first two entries.
History[edit]
This article needs Paper Mario improvement and is being worked on by Wandering Poplin. Specifically:
- The opening paragraph is somewhat under-developed, as well as the "Similar abilities in other games" section. (There's a aspect of Mario & Luigi: Brothership which is loosely comparable.)
- More elaborate info on the version from Paper Mario: Color Splash
- Images of the versions from the other games, including PMTTYD's remake.
- The name "Partner hint" is currently unsourced. If this is going to be a separate subject from Tattle, I think that this is an important thing to have.
Super Paper Mario[edit]
In Super Paper Mario, the player can point at screen to view hints[1] to have Tippi provide information about subjects on the screen. Tippi's replica from later in the game, Tiptron, has the same ability. Dialogue generically refers to it as Tippi's power. During gameplay, except for in situations where Tippi is unavailable, the player may point the Wii Remote at the screen. Tippi will turn into a large cursor, and the screen will freeze and darken. The player can move the cursor over an enemy or object by pointing the remote and press 
to receive information on that subject. When selecting the player character, Tippi gives advice on what to do next. This ability can also reveal invisible objects.
All enemies and bosses can be scanned using Tippi's ability, except Dimentio and the Underchomp. During Dimentio's first battle at the top of The Dotwood Tree, Tippi is still captured by Francis, and during his second battle in Castle Bleck, Mario and Tippi leave Luigi to fight him alone. The Underchomp cannot be scanned at all due to the turn-based nature of the fight. Despite this, it still has unused scan text. Big Blooper is the only enemy that cannot be scanned during its fight, but can be scan later on. Francis cannot be scanned during his mandatory fight, but can be canned during his optional fight. Bowser cannot be scanned during his first fight, but can be scanned during his second.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]
In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Kersti will comment on the area when the player presses 
, and if the area has not been cleared yet, may offer additional advice on how to proceed.
Unlike the previous game, Kersti's hints cannot scan individual subjects, and cannot be used during combat. Instead, they are mostly used to help the player solve puzzles, and figure out how to progress through certain areas.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]
- See also: List of Huey's advice
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, partner hints function similarly to their appearance in the previous game, and are provided by Huey. They can be activated by pressing 
.
Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]
- See also: List of Olivia's hints
In Paper Mario: The Origami King, Olivia can give advice when the player presses 
, and it functions similarly to its appearance in Paper Mario: Sticker Star and Paper Mario: Color Splash.
Unlike the previous two games, this can also be done during standard battles, and will prompt her to say information about certain enemies on the field.
During the period of the story where Olivia is unavailable due to being crushed by a boulder in Sweetpaper Valley by King Olly, Bob-omb takes over her partner hint role instead. This does not happen during any other point in the game where Olivia is absent.
Additionally, during boss battles, Hint Envelopes can be found which give Mario information and tips about the specific boss, in a similar manner.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Nintendo Switch)[edit]
Partner hints were added to the Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Unlike Tattle, which can only be done by Goombella, partner hints can be given by any party members in the game whenever 
is pressed. Due to its functionality as a sepearate move, some of Goombella's tattles were rewritten to avoid redundancy.
Similar abilites in other games[edit]
- In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Mallow can perform a similar move called Thought Peek.
- In Luigi's Mansion, Luigi can obtain information in a similar manner by scanning objects with the Game Boy Horror.
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 2007. Super Paper Mario Instruction Booklet (PDF). Redmond: Nintendo of America (English, French, Spanish). Page 7.