List of Paper Mario pre-release and unused content

This is a list of pre-release and unused content for the game Paper Mario.

Early iterations
Paper Mario was originally going to be named Super Mario RPG 2, but due to complications involving Square, the makers of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the name was changed to Mario RPG 64, Super Mario Adventure, and later Mario Story (Paper Mario out of Japan).

In an early interview with Nintendo Power, Shigeru Miyamoto (after being asked about Super Mario RPG 2) said that they wanted the game's graphics to be in the vein of its predecessor, as well as include multiple events and characters that are commonly featured in other Mario games.

The game was originally in development for the failed Nintendo 64DD, but was ultimately released as a cartridge.

Early builds
Early screenshots of this game showed that Poochy was going to play some sort of role in the game, and another screenshot showed that Nep-Enuts were going to be in this game also (indicating that Lavalava Island was going to be more like Yoshi's Island). Also, the early version of Forever Forest showed that it would be much smaller, with all the forest's trees having sinister faces. A screenshot had also shown a strange early Whale. Mario has a different look in the early version, having sclera in his eyes as he does in artwork for other Mario games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, instead of simple black dots in the final version. According to an old article from Nintendo's website, the game was being developed by HAL Laboratory and also suggests that Mario's followers would fight on their own, without any input from the player.

Unused data


Fully functional Dark Paratroopa, Albino Dino, and Whacka enemies exist in the ROM. Also, Goombaria's, Goompa's, and Twink's names and icons are present in the game's list of partners for Mario.

Unused Items
These unused items were found in the code of Paper Mario. Most of their names and descriptions were never translated officially.

Unused Badges
The release version of the game contains some scrapped Badges that can be accessed with a Gameshark or a similar device. These Badges can be found in the game's data and are never seen during the game.

In addition to the above, the following images were found within the game's ROM. Though they have no assigned item, they are likely to be unused item sprites. The key items are on top, badges are in the center, and normal items are on the bottom.

Extra Badges
In addition to unused badges, some badges have unused duplicates in the game's data, presumably implying the player was supposed to be able to own multiple copies of specific badges. All of these function as intended.

Unused Enemy Palettes
The ROM contains several unused palettes for enemies, including aqua-blue Fuzzies, bright Embers, frosty Goombas and Koopas, and even Crystal King palettes.

Debug Rooms
Debug rooms are areas in a game that facilitate testing. Some leftover debug rooms were found in the Paper Mario ROM. As with most debug rooms, they are accessible using an exit modifier GameShark code.


 * 1) In this debug room, the text 'MARIO RPG' is written on the floor and the blocks give mushrooms. If Mario attempts to talk to the Star Rod, the game freezes. There is a hammer in the chest (which also freezes the game), another small chest, several mushrooms and paths numbered from 0 to 7 (the numbers shown are in the same font used in Super Mario 64 and leads to the chapter with the number the player chooses). If Mario jumps on Goompa, it acts as if it were an enemy, but there is no battle. Mario's partner will fly through this room. When Mario talks to Kolorado (in the 2nd path) his HP changes to 11. When he talks to the Koopa (in the 1st path) his HP changes to 8.
 * 2) Some blocks appear in this room.
 * 3) A chest, stairs and some blocks appear here, but they are empty.
 * 4) Here, there are several blocks, including an unused POW Block. If Mario hits it, it will just shake the screen and nothing will happen.
 * 5) This is an area with a Mario clone, a useless switch, and Goompa, who says nothing.
 * 6) In this room, if Mario goes through any of the doors, he will reappear in the opposite path. Colored arrows reorient the camera if stood on. A health block and star piece panel are also in the area. This area is likely a test room for Forever Forest.
 * 7) This room looks like it is in Crystal Palace, except the background is different than in the final version.
 * 8) In a strange unused area, there are Koopas who have the ability to transform into Mario's partners. The floor will also start moving in a wave-like way whenever Mario walks somewhere.
 * 9) This room has various pipes in the floor, which do not lead to anywhere (Mario cannot enter them).
 * 10) In this room, Goombario is shown saying the same tattle he says in the Jump Attack game.

Unused enemy formations
The ROM contains some enemy formations not used in the game.

Unused character sprites
Princess Peach has an unused sprite of her kissing someone. The dark palette suggests it happens sometime during the ending epilogue when her castle returns to the ground.

Trivia

 * Upon being obtained on one of the multiple plateaus near the entrance to Bowser's Castle, the Deep Focus badge's overworld sprite is the same as its early one, but when viewed in the badge section of the Start Menu, it appears with the normal coloration.