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.

Though the character you start out with is Mario, as time moves on Princess Peach, Bowser, and Luigi will be playable and switched at anytime with a press of the B button. 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. According to Gamespot.com, the game will include a whopping 256 different enemies, and 96 different recipes. Super Paper Mario has recently been confirmed to be 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 "Chaos Heart") that will swallow the whole universe.



After Peach and Bowser are swallowed into the dimension, Mario is greeted by Tippi, who brings him to the town of Flipside, created by the rift from the Chaos Heart. Here Mario's quest begins. Mario finds the opposite of Bleck's book called the Light Prognosticus which tells of a hero to stop Bleck, which exactly describes Mario. But before he can do anything, he must find the eight Pure Hearts, much like the Crystal Stars and Star Spirits.

Meanwhile, Peach is being asked by Bleck to "take Bowser as her lawfully wedded husband until her games be over". She refuses, but is electrocuted by Bleck 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.

Mario sets back to his own world, and attempts to find Peach and Bowser. After picking up Peach, they head to Bowser's new keep, and enlists 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 on their new adventure.

Playable Characters
Confirmed 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 from Chapter 2 onwards.
 * 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.
 * Luigi - He has a higher jump than the others, allowing him to reach places otherwise inaccessible. Playable in Chapter 7.

Items

 * Mushroom - Replenishes 10 HP.
 * Super Shroom - Replenishes 20 HP.
 * Life Shroom - Replenishes 5 HP when player reaches 0 HP.
 * Mega Star - Turns Mario, Peach, Bowser, or Luigi into a giant Super Mario Bros. sprite like the Mega Mushroom. Like the Mega Mushroom in the beta versions of New Super Mario Bros., enemies can also catch ahold of these to turn large. In a picture shown in Nintendo Power it seems that common(Koopas, Goombas) can get ahold of these items, causing themselves to turn into a huge 8-bit version of themselves.
 * Red Flower - This will boost the character's speed.
 * Slow Flower - This will make the character sluggish.
 * Shroom Steak - Replenishes HP.
 * Shroom Shake - Replenishes 10 HP and cures poison.
 * Sleepy Sheep - Makes enemies fall asleep.
 * Pal Pill - Causes mini 8-bit Marios to follow the player and act as a mini-Mario army.
 * Horsetail - An item from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door that makes a return, though with a better effect. Rather than only restoring 3 HP, it replenishes 7 HP and cures any poison.
 * Turtley Leaf - reduces damage by &#189; for a short time.
 * Courage Shell - same as Turtley Leaf.
 * Hot Sauce - doubles attack for a short time.

Bosses
One of the Bosses you fight is a humongous Blooper, currently being called Ultra Blooper. You fight this underwater with the Blooper's head above water. It is unknown about the rest of this fight.

Another boss is one of Count Bleck's minions, Mimi, a shapeshifter in the form of a giant spider. This fight is in the ladies room while Merlee is hiding outside of the room, reciting a magical cheer to knock out the arachnid's defenses. Another one is a giant dragon that looks like Hooktail named Fracktail. An actual video of the whole boss fight has been released. There is also a mummy type boss, who was later shown in an article in issue 214 of Nintendo Power. Also in the article was a jester looking creature, Dementio. Even Luigi will be fought as Mr. L in Chapter 4, though we do not yet know why he suddenly turns against Mario in this chapter.

Pixls
Pixls are new creatures in the game that give Mario and crew new abilities. While the exact number of different Pixls have not been confirmed, the gaming community has found at least ten with names. An unknown Pixl can be seen in the above screenshot with the Blooper boss, and pieces of artwork depicting what seems to be several more Pixls have been released.

Other characters
The following is character artwork that has been revealed.

Links
Official Site