Super Paper Mario

For more uses, see Paper Mario (disambiguation).

Super Paper Mario is a RPG-type platformer for the Wii, in the vein of the classic Mario titles, but with the aesthetic qualities of the Paper Mario series. However, it's not just a 2D side-scroller. The game fuses elements of 2D and 3D gameplay together, shifting back and forth between dimensions. As Nintendo Power magazine describes it, the game is the first "5D" sidescrolling videogame.

The player must start out with is Mario, as time moves on Princess Peach, Bowser, and even Luigi will be playable and switched at anytime via the + menu. The characters in the game are able to transform into humongous 8-Bit sprite versions of themselves, and plow through enemies and bricks with reckless abandon. Interesting to note is that the giant characters are actually versions of the original Super Mario Bros. sprites, blown up to epic proportions.

The game was originally planned for the Nintendo Gamecube, but Nintendo changed it to the Wii. Additionally, the game was originally going to be released in 2006, but the year has been changed to 2007. All of the graphics in the game also seem to have pixelated effects, including small squares to make up colors of objects and backgrounds; however, they are visible and share a style with Mario's Super Picross. Super Paper Mario has recently been released in North America on April 9, 2007.

Story
As so many stories start, Princess Peach has been kidnapped and, upon hearing this news, Mario and Luigi set off to save her from Bowser, whom they suspect to be the kidnapper. However, it is not true. Once they arrive, the evil Count Bleck, a mastermind who refers to himself and others in third person, uses his control of black holes to take everyone, except Mario, in Bowser's Castle into his own keep. He has possession of a book named Dark Prognosticus which tells of a marriage of a powerful king, Bowser, and a pure-hearted princess, Peach, that will open a dimensional rift ("The Void") that will swallow the whole universe.



After Peach and Bowser are swallowed into the dimension, Peach is being asked by Nastasia to "take Bowser as her lawfully wedded husband until her games be over". She refuses, but is put into hypnosis by Nastasia and forced to say "I do". Luigi, also in the area, wakes and tries to stop Bleck. But the Chaos Heart appears, Bleck begins laughing evily and flees the scene.

Meanwhile, Mario is greeted by Tippi, who brings him to the town of Flipside. Here Mario meets Merlon. Merlon has the opposite of Bleck's book called the Light Prognosticus, and he explains to Mario that the book tells of a hero to stop Bleck, which exactly describes Mario. But before he can do anything, he must find the eight Pure Hearts, one of which Merlon has.

Using the Pure Heart, Mario gains access to Lineland, and attempts to find a Pure Heart there. He meets O' Chunks, a minion of Count Bleck who attacks him. After going through Yold Ruins, he encounters Fracktail, who gets corrupted by Dimentio, another of Count Bleck's minions. Defeating Fracktail, he recovers the Pure Heart and returns to Flipside, where his finds Peach unconcious and revives her. After picking up Peach, they head to Merlee's Mansion, where they meet Mimi yet another minion of Count Bleck's, and retrieve the Pure Heart there. Meanwhile, Luigi attempts to escape from Castle Bleck, but is captured by Bowser minions that were brainwashed by Nastasia. Mario and Peach go to the Bitlands, where Tippi is kidnapped by Francis, the nerdy chameleon. While they are trying to save Tippi, Mario and Peach come across Bowser, and enlist his help to find the Pure Hearts. At first, Bowser is reluctant to come, but after being beaten by Mario and told that the wedding had taken place purely to make the Chaos Heart, he decides to come along. The three set out to rescue Tippi at Fort Francis and collect more Pure Hearts.

Between chapters, an all-dialogue narrative takes place, concerning the story of two lovers named Blumiere and Timpani, which becomes increasingly relevant to the main story of the game.

Playable Characters
Playable characters are
 * Mario – He has the ability to view the two dimensional world from the side, making a three-dimensional path that would normally be impassible. However, this uses up power from his ability meter, then his health, and at the same time restoring the power gauge.
 * Princess Peach – She can use her parasol to float long distances and deflect damage. Playable after Chapter 1, she at first starts out in Castle Bleck, then ends up at Flipside. After this, she joins Mario in his adventure. She becomes unplayable in two points however; from after Chapter 6 to the middle of Chapter 7-3, and from the end of Chapter 8-2 to the middle of the fight with Count Bleck.
 * Bowser – He is able to breathe fire, a far more powerful attack than other attacks, and his jumps deal double the damage. Playable from Chapter 3 onwards except from two points; from after Chapter 6 to the middle of Chapter 7-2, and from the end of Chapter 8-1 to the middle of the fight with Count Bleck.
 * Luigi – He has a higher jump than the others, allowing him to reach places otherwise inaccessible. First playable after Chapter 2, he begins in Castle Bleck. Afterwards, he does not become playable again until Chapter 7 onwards, when he joins Mario's party. There are two more instances where he is not playable: from the end of Chapter 8-3 to the middle of the fight with Count Bleck, and the entire fight with Super Dimento.

Items
Attack Items


 * Fire Burst – Broils enemies with searing flames.
 * Ghost Shroom – Summons a Ghost Shroom to damage enemies.
 * Ice Storm – Pelts enemies with frigid shards of ice.
 * Pow Block – Rattles enemies on the ground and ceiling.
 * Shell Shock – Rams into enemies when you kick the shell.
 * Shooting Star – Showers enemies with a flurry of shooting stars.
 * Thunder Rage – Strikes enemies with lightning.
 * Volt Shroom – Briefly paralyzes enemies the player touches.

Defense Items


 * Block Block – Makes the player invincible temporarily.
 * Courage Shell – Temporarily reduces the damage the player takes by half.

Recovery Items


 * Big Egg – Restores 12 HP and cures poison.
 * Black Apple – Restores 1 HP and cures poison.
 * Blue Apple – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Cake Mix – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Dayzee Tear – Restores 3 HP and cures poison.
 * Dried Shroom – Restores 1 HP and cures poison.
 * Fresh Pasta Bunch – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Fresh Veggie – Restores 10 HP and cures poison.
 * Golden Leaf – Restores 1 HP and cures poison.
 * Honey Jar – Restores 10 HP and cures poison.
 * Horsetail – Restores 7 HP and cures poison.
 * Hot Sauce – Temporarily doubles your Attack.
 * Inky Sauce – Restores 3 HP and cures poison.
 * Keel Mango – Restores 7 HP and cures poison.
 * Life Shroom – Automatically restores 5 HP if the player falls in battle.
 * Long-Last Shake – Regenerates the player's HP over time.
 * Mighty Tonic – Briefly doubles the player's attack.
 * Mild Cocoa Bean – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Mushroom – Restores 10 HP.
 * Peachy Peach – Restores 10 HP and cures poison.
 * Pink Apple – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Power Steak – Restores 15 HP and cures poison.
 * Primordial Fruit – Restores 15 HP and cures poison.
 * Red Apple – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Sap Soup – Restores 3 HP and cures poison.
 * Shroom Shake – Restores 10 HP and cures poison.
 * Slimy Shroom – Restores 10 HP and cures poison.
 * Smelly Herb – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.
 * Super Shroom – Restores 20 HP.
 * Super Shroom Shake – Restores 20 HP and cures poison.
 * Turtley Leaf – Reduces all damage by half.
 * Ultra Shroom – Restores 50 HP.
 * Ultra Shroom Shake – Restores 50 HP and cures poison.
 * Whacka Bump – Restores 30 HP and cures poison.
 * Yellow Apple – Restores 5 HP and cures poison.

Miscellaneous Items


 * Bone-In Cut – Temporarily doubles the player's Attack.
 * Catch Card – Catches an enemy's soul (rarely works).
 * Catch Card SP – Catches an enemy's soul (almost always works).
 * Gold Bar – A bar worth around 100 coins.
 * Gold Bar x3 – A trio of gold bars; worth around 300 coins.
 * Gold Medal – A medal worth 10,000 points.
 * HP Plus – Raises HP by 5 permanently.
 * Mega Star – Makes the player huge and invincible for a short time.
 * Mystery Box – Becomes a random item when used.
 * Pal Pill – Summons little buddies to surround and defend the player.
 * Poison Shroom – Poisons and damages the player.
 * Power Plus – Raises Attack by 1 permanently.
 * Sleepy Sheep – Briefly puts enemies to sleep.
 * Slow Flower – Temporarily slows down time; triples value of coins and points.
 * Speed Flower – Temporarily speeds up time; triples value of coins and points.
 * Star Medal – A medal worth 1,000 points.
 * Stop Watch – Stop enemies in their tracks.

Important Items


 * Ancient Clue – Serves as toilet paper for Fleep in Chapter 4-2.
 * Autograph – In the Piccolo side quest, Paper transforms into this item once Merlumina signs it.
 * Card Key – Opens the door to the processing center in Chapter 5-4.
 * Cooking Disks – Unlocks a page of the Dining Specializer. (There are seven Cooking Disks in all.)
 * Crystal Ball – You must deliver this item to Merlee in the Piccolo side quest.
 * Diet Book – Return this to Hagra in Chapter 7-2.
 * Floro Sprout – A disguise you'll get from O'Chunks in Chapter 5-4.
 * Elemental Tablets – Needed to obtain Cudge in Chapter 5-2; there are three Tablets-Stone, Fire, and Water.
 * Golden Card – Unlocks the Hammer Whacker arcade game.
 * Goldfish Bowl – The player can get this from Pook in Flipside; it becomes the Helmet.
 * Helmet – A breathing apparatus the player needs in Chapter 4-1; the Goldfish Bowl becomes this item.
 * Keys – Opens doors in various areas; keys come in several varieties.
 * Orbs – Needed to create a bridge in Chapter 7-4; there are three Orbs-Yellow, Red, and Blue.
 * Paper – The player receive this item from Watchitt in the Piccolo side quest.
 * Return Pipe – Returns the player to Flipside from most chapters.
 * Training Machine – An exercise machine that the player must deliver to Merluvlee in the Piccolo side quest.
 * You-Know-What – A mysterious item that the player must deliver to Bestovius in the Piccolo side quest.

Bosses



 * Chapter 1-3: O'Chunks
 * Chapter 1-4: Fracktail
 * Chapter 2-4: Mimi
 * Chapter 3-1: Bowser
 * Chapter 3-2: Big Blooper
 * Chapter 3-3: Dimentio
 * Chapter 3-4: Francis
 * Chapter 4-4: Mr. L, Brobot
 * Chapter 5-2: O'Chunks
 * Chapter 5-4: O'Chunks, King Croacus IV
 * Chapter 6-2: Mimi
 * Chapter 6-1 (Post-Destruction): Brobot L-Type
 * Chapter 7-2: The Underchomp
 * Chapter 7-4: Bonechill
 * Chapter 8-1: O'Chunks
 * Chapter 8-2: Francis (Optional), Mimi
 * Chapter 8-3: Dimentio
 * Chapter 8-4: Count Bleck, Super Dimentio
 * Flipside Pit of 100 Trials: Wracktail
 * Flopside Pit of 100 Trials: Shadoo

Pixls
Pixls are new creatures in the game that give Mario and crew new abilities. There are twelve in total, three are optional. Instead of Goombas (Goombario and Goombella), Koopas (Kooper, Koops and Lakilester), Bob-ombs (Bombette and Bobbery), Paratroopas (Parakarry), Boos (Lady Bow), Cheep-Cheeps (Sushie), Yoshis (Yoshi Kid), Shadow Sirens (Vivian), and Mousers (Ms. Mowz), other creatures (Madam Flurrie), Nintendo decided to use Pixls.

Tippi Thoreau
 * Tippi is the first Pixl that Mario will find. She resembles a butterfly, and can find secrets and areas previously inaccessible without her. She will also give information on characters and give the crew hints. One designer at Nintendo explained that she is the Goombella or Goombario of Super Paper Mario. Tippi is unique because she is always active, so Mario will always have two Pixls out at once (one of which is always Tippi). As the game progresses, it is revealed that Tippi was not always a Pixl. Tippi has a different power, you point the Wii remote at the screen and she can reveal hidden items and objects, such as doors and tresure chests.
 * Thoreau is a box creature that has five circles on his head. He grants the chacters the ability to pick up enemies, and then throw them. Nintendo Power noted that this ability is probably a reference to the move that the characters could perform in Super Mario Bros. 2 or Doki Doki Panic. This is the very first pixl you get in World 1-2

Boomer
 * Boomer possesses the ability to turn into a bomb, and blow up. This will uncover secret areas, and can kill certain enemies. He is usally the key in many boss battles as well.

Slim
 * Slim will allow Mario and crew to turn sideways, and squeeze through tight spaces such as rails. Also if the player stands still s/he'll become invisible.

Thudley
 * Thudley will give Mario and friends the ability to Ground Pound.

Carrie
 * Carrie is able to turn into a platform that can carry Mario and Co. through dangerous places, to safety. She can travel over spikes and take no damage.

Fleep
 * Fleep can flip objects caught in a different dimension back to its original one. Look for shining objects.

Cudge
 * Cudge lets Mario use a hammer like in previous Paper Mario titles. It can slam down posts, break open areas, and gives a lot of damage!

Dottie
 * Dottie has the ability to shrink the main character. You can then go into little red doors. (They are shops with hard-to-find items.)


 * Barry
 * Barry can surround the main character with a strong barrier that can destroy enemies in its way. (optional)

Piccolo
 * Piccolo plays music that can cure Mario and team from any status problems (such as poison or burned). (optional)

Dashell Dashell provides a speed boost for the party. (optional)

Tiptron
 * Although not a Pixl, Tiptron can be bought off of Francis for 999 coins as an additional partner. "She" replaces Tippi at the end of the game and has all of the same powers as her, even her consciousness. (optional)

Trivia

 * In Chapter 3, there is an area that is a recreation of Super Mario Bros's 1-2.


 * Parts of chapter 1-1 are like Super Mario Bros. 1-1, and Chapter 5-3 has a nearly perfect recreation of Super Mario Bros. 2-1, complete with coin heaven. (Even though the level is underground)
 * Before fighting Fracktail, when he checks his database for Mario, the Wii Shop Channel loading logo is displayed in his eyes complete with chimes.
 * The game has a noticeably darker theme to it than any previous Mario game, with scenes like Mimi cracking her neck and transforming, King Sammer's Kingdom being obliterated into a white void, Bowser seemingly dying, and quite a few others.

Links
Official Site