List of Paper Mario pre-release and unused content

This article pertains to the beta elements of Paper Mario.

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 Lava Lava 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. Paper Mario was also originally going to be named Super Mario RPG 2, though due to complications involving Square, the makers of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the name was changed to Super Mario Adventure and later Mario Story (Paper Mario out of Japan). Also, it was originally in development for the failed Nintendo 64DD. However, it was released in cartridge. A screenshot had also shown a strange early Whale.

The release version of the game contains some scrapped Badges that can be accessed with a Gameshark or a similar device. Fully functional Dark Paratroopa and Albino Dino enemies exist in the ROM, as well. Finally, Goombaria's name and icon are both present in the game's list of partners for Mario.

Mario has a different look in the early version, having the kind of eyes he has in Super Mario Bros 3, instead of the final black dot.

Debug Rooms
Debug rooms are areas in a game that facilitate testing. They sometimes can be considered beta elements. 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) Here, there are several blocks, including a beta POW Block. If Mario hits it, it will just shake the screen and nothing will happen.
 * 3) In the third room, if Mario goes through any of the doors, he will reappear in the opposite path. A health block and star piece panel are also in the area.
 * 4) This is an area with a Mario clone, a useless switch, and Goompa (who says nothing). This may have been used for testing purposes.
 * 5) 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.
 * 6) In this room, Goombario is shown saying the same tattle he says in the Jump Attack game.
 * 7) This room is identical to room three.
 * 8) This room looks like it is in Crystal Palace, here the background is different than in the final version.
 * 9) This room has various pipes in the floor, which don't lead to anywhere (Mario can't enter them).
 * 10) Some blocks appear in this room.
 * 11) A chest, stairs and some blocks appear here, but they're empty.

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
These Badges can be found in the game's coding 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.

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.