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 (although the term "2.5D" has already been applied to similar games, such as Yoshi's Story).

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 ca. 190 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 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 Dimento, 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

 * 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. In World 3-1, however, a Koopa Troopa grabs hold of one, becoming the Mega Koopa, similar to the Mega Goomba.
 * 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 called Big Blooper. You fight this underwater with the Blooper's head above water.

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 named Fracktail. An actual video of the whole boss fight has been released. Francis, the nerdy chameleon, is also one of the bosses. Luigi even makes an appearance as a boss (calling himself Mr. L) and in his giant robot Brobot in both worlds 4 and 6. Other bosses include King Croacus, king of the Floro Sapiens, Bonechill, a skeletal ice dragon equipped with a cannon, and Wracktail, a color swap of Fracktail that is found at the bottom of the Flipside Pit of 100 Trials.

Pixls
Pixls are new creatures in the game that give Mario and crew new abilities. There are twelve in total, three are optional. Tiptron is technically a robot with Tippi's consciousness, not a Pixl, so "she" is not included.

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

Trivia

 * In Chapter 3, there is an area that is an exact 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)

Links
Official Site