Editing The Bitlands

{{level infobox
|title=The Bitlands
|image=[[File:The Bitlands.png|250px]]
|code=3-1
|game=''[[Super Paper Mario]]''
|boss=[[Bowser]]
|before=[[Merlee's Basement|<<]]
|after=[[The Tile Pool|>>]]
|track=The Open Plane
|sample=[[File:SPM The Open Plane.oga]]
}}
'''The Bitlands''' is a dimension located beyond [[Flipside Tower]]'s yellow door in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''. It has a unique art style that makes the world look as if it was drawn on a grid, like pixel art. According to [[The InterNed]], the overworld music of The Bitlands is titled "The Open Plane", and the music in the underground area beneath the two red pipes is titled "Nostalgic Underground", due to it being an altered version of the classic [[Underground Theme]] from ''Super Mario Bros.''

==Chapters/Locations==
{| style="text-align: center; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto 10px auto; border-collapse: collapse; font-family:Arial;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|-style="background: #ABC;"
!width="5%"|Level
!width="1%"|Preview
!width="20%"|Description
|-
|'''The Bitlands'''<br>(''Chapter 3-1: When Geeks Attack'')
|style="background: #202020" |[[File:The Bitlands.png|150px]]
|This pixelated grassland contains many references to ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' [[Bowser]] is fought and recruited here.
|-
|'''[[The Tile Pool]]'''<br>(''Chapter 3-2: Bloops Ahoy'')
|style="background: #202020" |[[File:The Tile Pool.png|150px]]
|A large sea inhabited by many underwater creatures, as well as [[Big Blooper (Super Paper Mario)|Big Blooper]]. [[Thudley]] is found here.
|-
|'''[[The Dotwood Tree]]'''<br>(''Chapter 3-3: Up, Up, and a Tree'')
|style="background: #202020" |[[File:SPM Dotwood Tree.png|150px]]
|An enormous tree with three areas, one outside, one inside, and one at the top. [[Dimentio]] is battled here for the first time.
|-
|'''[[Fort Francis]]'''<br>(''Chapter 3-4: The Battle of Fort Francis'')
|style="background: #202020" |[[File:SPM Fort Francis.png|150px]]
|[[Francis]]'s castle. It is filled with many cat robots, some of which attack the player. References to [[Nintendo]] products and pop culture abound. Francis is the Chapter boss, and [[Carrie]] is found here.
|}

==Chapter 3-1: When Geeks Attack==
[[File:SPM Chapter 3 Preview.png|thumb|Chapter preview]]'''Storyline text'''
<blockquote>''Mario and his new friends opened the door, unsure of what they would find.''

''All the while, Merlee's words about finding the "other two heroes" rang in their minds.''

''Were these other heroes somewhere in this new world? If not, where?''

''Meanwhile, the creeping [[The Void|void]] grew larger in the skies above Flipside.''

''The hopes of all worlds rested on the heroes finding the next Pure Heart...''</blockquote>
[[File:GrodusChronicles.PNG|thumb|left|Francis]]
[[File:SPM Bitlands Warp Pipe.png|thumb|Underground section.]]
[[Mario]], [[Princess Peach|Peach]] and the [[Pixl]]s have just entered the door to The Bitlands when [[Tippi]] is snatched up by a nerdy-looking chameleon, who claims it has caught a "super rare pixelated butterfly". Before Mario and Peach can help her, the chameleon disappears. Mario and Peach hear a voice coming from a bush and find a Pixl named [[Barry]] in it. Barry tells Mario and Peach that Tippi was kidnapped by [[Francis]], the "nerd to end all nerds," who also has a liking for butterflies. He has taken her to [[Fort Francis|his castle]], which has been known to be locked up tight. Barry discourages trying to get Tippi back, but Mario's persistence wins out and Barry agrees to help. He gives Mario and Peach three tips. First, he tells Mario and Peach that "[[Koopa Troop|a bunch of no-class jerks]]" are hiding out in a group of old fortresses. However, the fortresses are so old and worn out, they could be taken out easily with an explosion. Next, he tells Mario and Peach  about [[The Tile Pool|an ocean]] just past the fortresses. There, they will have to fight a [[Big Blooper (Super Paper Mario)|monster]], but it can be dispatched by attacking its red tentacle. His last tip is to watch for [[The Dotwood Tree|an enormous tree]]. There's a large gorge on the other side of it and to get past it, Mario and Peach must ride the red wind. After giving them those tips, Barry asks them to come back to see him if they somehow defeat Francis, hinting at how to recruit this Pixl.

The first area consists of a small mountain, patrolled by several [[Koopa Troopa]]s (who, notably, are not wearing sunglasses, as these have not been brainwashed into [[Count Bleck]]'s army). There is a pipe on either side of the mountain, with a [[Piranha Plant]] in one. Beyond the mountain is a huge pipe bypassed by [[Flip]]ping. On the other side is a flip block that can be used to get on top of the pipe. There is a [[Save Block]] and then a large chasm with a red pipe on either side. Across the chasm is several vertical lines of colored blocks. Flipping reveals these blocks to actually be in different patterns, such as a humanoid figure or castle turret. This area has some [[Magikoopa]]s and a [[Back Cursya]]. If Mario or Peach are able to get on top of the colored blocks, they may find a floating platform with a Piranha Plant [[Catch Card|Card]]. At the end of this area is a pipe leading into the background, where a pipe leading underground is found. In the underground room is a [[Thunder Rage]] and a [[Blomeba]]. Defeating the Blomeba reveals a pipe leading back up. An [[Ice Storm]] can be found at the edge of the background area.

[[File:SPM Mega Peach.png|150px|thumb]]
Back across the red pipes, the player should get on top of the tall pipe and jump, revealing an invisible block with a ladder inside that can be climbed to a floating platform with a door on it. To the left of this new area is two pipes, a short one and a tall one, and a [[Sproing-Oing]]. There is a Piranha Plant in the right pipe. Peach's parasol can be used to get on top of the tall pipe, which leads into the background where a [[Catch Card SP]] is found. To the right is a [[? Block]] containing a [[Mega Star]], which can be used to get through the following area to another door. The next area consists of many sets of blocks and the door opens in midair. When the player lands, a Koopa Troopa sees them and runs away, hitting a ? Block in the process and collecting a Mega Star, becoming [[Mega Koopa]]. The ideal way of defeating Mega Koopa is to run to the left and collect a Mega Star. To the far right of this area is a sign that, when read backwards, reads:
"fall in between the red pipes".

[[File:SPM Mario and Bowser Meet.png|thumb|left|Mario used [[Boomer (Super Paper Mario)|Boomer]] to blow up Bowser's temporary fortress.]]
By jumping into the pit between the red pipes in the first area, the player can access an area very similar to [[World 1-2 (Super Mario Bros.)|World 1-2]] of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' After this area is an area where the player must deal with many [[Koopa Striker]]s before getting to the old fortress Barry spoke of. Mario and Peach find the [[Koopa Troop]] holed up inside. They must get through the fortresses, dodging enemies, until they get to a red X on the side of the last fortress. Using [[Boomer (Super Paper Mario)|Boomer]] near the X destroys the fortress and reveals [[Bowser]]. Bowser sees Mario and flies into a rage about having his castle destroyed yet again. He separates Peach from Mario and duels him. Mario wins using Boomer and is reunited with Peach. After a humorous argument, Bowser joins the team as a playable character. He tells the Koopa Troop to hold down the fort while he is gone. They pretend to be upset that he is leaving, but secretly plan to party. The three heroes leave to go rescue Tippi.
{{br}}
===Enemies===
<gallery>
File:SPMKoopaTroopaGreenVariant1.png|[[Koopa Troopa]]
File:SPMPiranhaPlant.png|[[Piranha Plant]]
File:SPMMagikoopa.png|[[Magikoopa]]
File:SPMBackCursya.png|[[Back Cursya]]
File:SPM Megabite Catch Card.png|[[Megabite]] (near red pipes)
File:SPMBlomeba.png|[[Blomeba]]
File:SPMSpikedGoomba.png|[[Spiked Goomba]]
File:SPMSproingOingSprite.png|[[Sproing-Oing]]
File:SPMHammerBro.png|[[Hammer Bro]]
File:GoombaSPM.png|[[Goomba]]
File:SPMParagoomba.png|[[Paragoomba]]
File:SPM Red Paratroopa.png|[[Koopa Paratroopa|Paratroopa]]
File:SPM Mega Koopa Catch Card.png|[[Mega Koopa]]
File:SPMGloomba.png|[[Gloomba]]
File:ToopaStriker.png|[[Toopa Striker]]
File:SPMKoopaStriker.png|[[Koopa Striker]]
File:SPMBulletBill.png|[[Bullet Bill]]
File:SPMBillBlaster.png|[[Bill Blaster]]
File:BowserSprite.png|[[Bowser]] (boss)
</gallery>

===Menu description===
*''"Francis kidnapped Tippi from these beautiful Bitlands. Bowser battled Mario here too, but Mario prevailed. Once Peach charmed him, he agreed to join the group."''

==References to other ''Super Mario'' games==
The Bitlands (especially Chapter 3-4) holds many references and similarities to older ''[[Mario]]'' games, or to other [[Nintendo]]-related things. These include:
[[File:SPM Francisroomright.png|thumb|Francis's computer room.]]
[[File:SPM Francis 2nd Room.png|thumb|Francis' room.]]
*[[Francis]] has a [[Family Computer|Famicom]], a [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], a [[Virtual Boy]], a [[Nintendo 64]], a [[Nintendo GameCube]], a [[Game Boy]], and (if the player flips into 3-D) a [[Wii]].
*[[Francis]] has a huge amount of posters showing [[Lady Bow]] and [[Bootler]] (this marks [[Lady Bow]]'s second cameo appearance in ''[[Super Paper Mario]]''), [[Petuni]], [[Princess Peach]], and other, less identifiable characters.
*[[Mega Koopa]] is identical to a [[Koopa Troopa]] from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]].
*[[Bowser]] declares that there will be no more sequels; many ''[[Mario]]'' games have at least one sequel, and [[Bowser]] gets defeated in all ''[[Paper Mario]]'' sequels.
*[[Francis]] is a big fan of certain TV shows, whose names are filled with references to characters from the ''[[Paper Mario]]'' series, such as [[The Blubbening]], which apparently involves [[Tubba Blubba]] (this way making ''Super Paper Mario'' the third ''[[Paper Mario (series)|Paper Mario]]'' game in a row to at least mention a giant [[Spike]] in their corresponding third Chapters), [[Starship X-Naut]], seemingly focusing on the [[X-Naut|X-Nauts]], and [[The Grodus Chronicles]], which seems to feature [[Sir Grodus]].
*The underground cavern in Chapter 3-1 is an almost exact replica of World 1-2 in the original ''Super Mario Bros.'' The only differences are that some of the power-ups have been changed, and that a small area has been removed.
*The overworld music has several interludes, in which segments of the ''Super Mario Bros.'' theme can be heard clearly.
*The player must take the second [[Warp Pipe]] in the [[Warp Zone]] look-alike area to progress through the level, which may be a reference to ''Super Mario Bros.'', as [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] must take the second [[pipe]] in the [[Warp Zone]] if they wish to take a shortcut to World 3. The Bitlands happens to be the third world Mario and co. visit.
*[[Fort Francis]] has a few bars of music similar to those of ''[[Paper Mario]]'', specifically, the music resembles the [[Shiver Mountain]] music track.

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=ピクセランド (dimension)
|JapR=Pikuserando
|JapM=Pixeland; a portmanteau of "pixel" and "land"
|Jap2=カクカク平原 (stage)
|Jap2R=Kakukaku Heigen
|Jap2M=Jagged Plain
|Kor=도트도트랜드
|KorR=Doteu-doteu Raendeu
|KorM=Dot Dot Land; "dot" is an alternative word for "pixel".
|Fre=Pays Rétro
|FreM=Retro Country
|SpaE=Bitania<ref name=bitania>[https://youtu.be/ZXGbbq8Glbc?t=17 "Super Paper Mario - Mundo Pixelado - Fase: 3-1"].</ref>
|SpaEM=Derived from "bit" and "-ia" (a common suffix used for forming place names)
|Ger=Die Bitlande
|GerM=The Bitlands
|Ita=Bittonia
|ItaM=Bittony
}}

;When Geeks Attack
{{foreign names
|Jap=アンナさらわれる
|JapR=Anna Sarawareru
|JapM=Tippi Kidnapped
|Ita=Quando i Nerd attaccano
|ItaM=When Nerds attack
|Fre=L'attaque de l'otaku
|FreM=The otaku's attack
|SpaE=El ataque de los friquis<ref name=bitania>[https://youtu.be/ZXGbbq8Glbc?t=17 "Super Paper Mario - Mundo Pixelado - Fase: 3-1"].</ref>
|SpaEM=When nerds attack/The nerds' attack
|Ger=Wenn Nerds angreifen
|GerM=When Nerds attack
|Kor=안나 납치되다!
|KorR=Anna nabchidoeda!
|KorM=Tippi is kidnapped!
}}

==Trivia==
*The Bitlands is also one of only two worlds where there is at least one boss in each section ([[Bowser]] in 3-1, who joins Mario's party after being defeated, [[Big Blooper (Super Paper Mario)|Big Blooper]] in 3-2, [[Dimentio]] in 3-3, and [[Francis]] in 3-4), with [[Castle Bleck]] being the other world. 
*Furthermore, including the optional [[Pixl]]s, [[Barry]] and [[Tiptron]], the player gets four Pixls in The Bitlands, which is more than in any other world in ''Super Paper Mario''.
*On the fortress that requires blowing up on a red X, there are some enemies that aren't normally attackable due to the fortress being too tall to jump on. These enemies don't require items to defeat though, as one can use [[Thoreau]] to grab the [[Bullet Bill Blaster]]'s [[Bullet Bill]]s and throw them back. One can also use [[Dashell]], if obtained before Chapter 3, to jump off the fortress before it and use [[Princess Peach]]'s Parasol to get on the fortress. This allows access to the other side of it that is normally otherwise inaccessible, and the [[? Block]] that is normally destroyed with it can be hit (it gives a single coin).

==References==
<references/>

{{SPM}}
[[Category:Grasslands|Bitlands, The]]
[[Category:Dimensions|Bitlands, The]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario locations|Bitlands, The]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario levels|Bitlands, The]]
[[Category:Super Paper Mario worlds|Bitlands, The]]