Scorching Sandpaper Desert

“It is really big! Wow! I guess it must be the desert after all, since it's just a wiiiiide open space filled with sand.”

—Olivia, Paper Mario: The Origami King

Scorching Sandpaper Desert is a location in Paper Mario: The Origami King, a desert divided into several smaller sections, all of which are shrouded in darkness due to the missing sun. It is located in the yellow streamer district, explored directly after the Breezy Tunnel. A coffee shop can be found here, as well as the green Sensor Lab. In addition, one of the four desert towers is found here, along with the Sun Altar and a village ruins area located in the southeast corner of this desert. Fortunately, the Boot Car is unlocked recently, allowing for easy exploration and travel over the desert and its surrounding areas.

History

When Mario and Olivia first exit the tunnel and enter the desert, Olivia comments on its size and unusual darkness, believing the sun is the source. She then realizes the sun is actually missing, replaced by a dark hole in the sky. As she begins to wonder and ponder how this happened, she decides to ignore it and focus on trailing and finding the yellow streamer. The most obvious point of interest is the tall tower in the northwest part of the desert. This is one of four towers in the desert areas. Mario must use the Diamond Jewel buried at the foot of the statue to activate the tower from the inside, placing the jewel in the hollow eye. This turns the tower to the northwest, shooting a laser down into Scorching Sandpaper Minor. After finding the other jewels and activating the other towers, Mario is able to complete a Magic Circle, allowing him to use the Earth Vellumental to access the Temple of Shrooms.

Before Mario can clear all of the towers, he must head to the hotel in Snif City and obtain the Sun Incense from the front desk. He must place this at the Sun Altar, located northeast in the main desert area. This summons Mega Paper Macho Pokey, who creates a sandstorm trapping Mario. Mario must defeat him by hammering a sticker on each segment, made easier by using the Boot Car to reach a segment before he sinks back into the sand. Defeating Mega Paper Macho Pokey frees Professor Toad, who becomes Mario's ally as he explores the desert. Later on, Mario must head south of the altar to find six bird statues facing different directions. He must hammer them a certain number of times to get them to stare directly in the center. Doing this reveals a microphone, requiring Olivia to sing a special song to make the Fire Vellumental Cave appear nearby.

Layout

One of the four towers is located in northwestern territory of this desert. Additionally, the Sun Altar is in the northeast region, with a village ruins area to be found southeast. To the right of the ruins is a hidden area, where the door to a coffee shop can be found. Inside, Mario can order a "Mega Tasty Coffee" from a Sledge Bro for 100 coins. Doing so triggers a cutscene in which a depressed Mini Goomba orders another cup, the contents of which are quickly drunk by a hoard of other Mini Goombas.

There is a special pipe shortly southwest of the altar which can be used as a shortcut to the other universal pipes. On the west end of the kingdom is a small ledge with the door to the green Sensor Lab. Notably, in the southwest edge of the desert is a ring of rocks. Mario can have Professor Toad dig in the center of them to recover a Shriveled MAX UP Heart. Mario can bring this item to the spring in Whispering Woods to turn it into a regular MAX UP Heart, giving him 5 additional HP.

There are several small spots of light throughout the desert and its surrounding areas. After Professor Toad is rescued, Mario can have him dig in any of these spots to reveal an abundance of coins, or perhaps a collectible treasure. These spots remain after the desert is restored to its original state. If Mario leaves the desert, the professor does not follow him. However, Mario can return at any time and have the professor join him until he leaves again. After the sun is restored to the sky, the entire desert lights up in addition to revealing a set of stairs beneath the altar. These stairs lead to a freezer where Captain T. Ode is trapped in a large chunk of ice. After he is rescued, he requests they take him to his submarine in the museum and set out to The Great Sea in search of the next streamer.

Hidden Toads

There is a Toad buried in the ground at a small distance southeast of the altar.
There is a Toad disguised as a yellow scorpion in one of the village strongholds.
There is a Toad stuck in the arm of a cactus in the secret area to the right of the ruins, next to the door to the coffee shop.
There is a Toad buried in the ground at a fair distance in front of the bird statues.
There is a Toad jammed in the fax machine in the Sensor Lab.
There is a Toad disguised as a green lizard climbing the cliff wall below the Sensor Lab. Mario must slide down to knock it off and hammer it at the bottom.
There is a Toad disguised as a yellow beetle climbing the tower's right foot.
A Toad's hand is seen sticking out of the ground southeast of the tower, just over the hill.
Professor Toad is automatically rescued and becomes Mario's ally after Mega Paper Macho Pokey is defeated.
The final Toad, Captain T. Ode, is frozen in a large chunk of ice in the freezer below the altar. Mario must activate a Magic Circle and use the Fire Vellumental to thaw out the ice.

Not-Bottomless Holes

There is a Not-Bottomless Hole in the wall rounding the altar and the ruins.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole in the ground just before the narrow path to Scorching Sandpaper Minor.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole in the cliff wall next to the origami lizard.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole on this ledge revealed to be the door to a Sensor Lab when filled in.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole in the wall rounding out the southwestern area of the desert.
There are two Not-Bottomless Holes in the ground at the start of the ruins section.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole below a ? Block in the southwestern portion of the desert.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole in the southeastern part of the ruins.
There is a Not-Bottomless Hole at the end of the hidden area to the right of the ruins revealed to be the door to a coffee shop when filled in.

Collectible Treasures

Mario must have Professor Toad dig in a glowing spot in the west side of the ruins to find Collectible Treasure #60: Boot Car.
Mario must head a good distance southeast of the tower and have Professor Toad dig in a glowing spot to find Collectible Treasure #61: Cactus.
Mario must strike the Hidden Block above the crate in the freezer to find Collectible Treasure #64: Temple of Shrooms Statues.

? Blocks

There is a ? Block on the east side of the desert, at a fair distance southeast of the Sun Altar, containing a 100-Coin.
There are two ? Blocks in the village ruins. One contains a Shiny Fire Flower, while the other contains Flashy Boots.
There is a ? Block in the secret area to the right of the ruins containing an Ice Flower.
In the freezer below the altar, there is a Hidden Block Mario must hammer to get onto the crate.
While on top of the crate, Mario must jump to reveal another Hidden Block containing Collectible Treasure #64: Temple of Shrooms Statues.
At the start of the area, off to the left, there is a Not-Bottomless Hole below a ? Block containing a Flashy Hammer.

See also

• Scorching Sandpaper Minor
• Scorching Sandpaper East
• Scorching Sandpaper West
• Scorching Sandpaper Far East
• Scorching Sandpaper Far West

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ヤケスナ大さばく Yakesuna Dai Sabaku	Great Burning Sand Desert
Chinese (simplified)	热沙大沙漠 Rèshā Dà Shāmò	Great Burning Sand Desert
Chinese (traditional)	熱沙大沙漠 Rèshā Dà Shāmò	Great Burning Sand Desert
Dutch	Grote Imposantvlakte	Large Imposing Plains (pun on zandvlakte (sand plain))
German	Große Sandpapierwüste	Large Sandpaper-Desert
Italian	Deserto Cartavetro maggiore	Sandpaper Desert Major
Spanish	Gran Desierto de Lija	Great Sandpaper Desert