Paper Mario was a game released for the Nintendo 64. It is the first in the Paper Mario series. It revolves around Mario trying to stop the Evil Bowser, who has once again kidnapped Princess Peach. This time around, though, he has help from several partners, who are all common enemies. The name comes from the distinct Graphical style, in which all characters were made out of Paper. The game was so popular that it has two sequels, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on the Nintendo Gamecube system and Super Paper Mario on the Wii system.
Gameplay
Paper Mario combines a traditional role-playing game (RPG) elements with concepts and features from the Mario series.The player controls Mario for the majority of the game, who can jump and use his hammer to overcome physical obstacles placed in the game's overworld. Many of the game's puzzles and boundaries are based upon the abilities of Mario's partners, who each have a specialized skill required for progression in the game. The player accumulates partners as they advance into different locations; only one partner can accompany Mario in the overworld, although the player can interchange between them at any time. These characters also assist Mario in the game's turn-based battles, where damage inflicted against them results in temporary paralysis as the characters do not have individual HP statistics. Attacks in the game are similar to those in traditional RPGs, although the player can influence the power of a move when attacking or defending by timing a button-press accurately or performing some other action command as required. Mario and his partners have a finite capacity to perform special moves, with each of these consuming a particular number of flower points (FP) when performed. Such statistics can be increased by earning Star Points (experience points) in combat to level up. There is also an on-screen gauge to display Star Energy, which is required to perform another type of move that accumulate in number as the player advances through the game. The player can locate hidden battle upgrades in the game's overworld, which promotes one partner character to a new rank at a time.
Progression through Paper Mario depends upon interaction with the game's non-player characters (NPCs), who will often offer clues or detail the next event in the storyline. As in other RPG games, the player can find or purchase items from NPCs to help in and outside of combat. Badges can also be obtained that yield bonuses ranging from added moves to gradual health restoration during combat; each consumes a set number of Badge Points (BP), meaning Mario can only equip a limited number of badges at a time. Princess Peach is playable at particular points in the game as a recurring side quest. The objectives and actions of each transition to Peach vary, although most are stealth-based.
Plot and setting
The game is set in Mushroom Kingdom, beginning as a party is being held in Peach's Castle. After Bowser's invasion and victory over Mario, the Castle becomes attached to Bowser's Fortress, which serves as the location for playable side quests of the kidnapped Peach. In the main quest, Mario tries to retrieve all of the Star Spirits on land,[8] where most of the locations are linked to the central Toad Town, which acts as the game's hub area. The story's main conflict arises when Bowser invades Star Haven, the residence for the seven Star Spirits, and steals the Star Rod.
Story and characters
The game's story centres on Mario as he tries to reclaim the seven Star Spirits, who have been incarcerated in playing cards by Bowser and Kammy Koopa. Their combined power is required to negate the effects of the Star Rod, which makes Bowser invincible. Once Mario rescues all of them, he uses their assistance to defeat Bowser and rescue Peach. The story is presented in the context of a novel, with each adventure involving the rescue of a Star Spirit denoted as a single chapter. Peach is playable between chapters, where she allies with a star named Twink in the castle to relay vital information to Mario regarding his quest. During the final boss scene, Peach gives Twink a wish to defeat Bowser's assistant, Kammy Koopa.
Mario allies with eight partners in total, each of whom represents a different type of enemy from the Mario series. There is Goombario the Goomba; Kooper the Koopa; Bombette the Bob-omb; Parakarry the Paratroopa; Lady Bow the Boo; Watt the L'il Sparky; Sushie the Cheep Cheep, and Lakilester the Lakitu. Near the end of the game, Mario recounts his tale to Luigi, who had remained at home while Mario went on the adventure.
Bosses and Star Spirits
The Seven Star Spirits
There are nine bosses spread throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, seven of them guarding Star Spirits.
These are the bosses of each chapter, where they are found, and which Star Spirit they guard:
| Chapter: | Boss Name: | Location: | Star Spirit: |
| Prologue | Goomba King | Goomba Road | none |
| Chapter One | Koopa Bros. | Koopa Bros. Fortress | Eldstar |
| Chapter Two | Tutankoopa | Dry Dry Ruins | Mamar |
| Chapter Three | Tubba Blubba | Gusty Gulch | Skolar |
| Chapter Four | General Guy | Shy Guy's Toy Box | Muskular |
| Chapter Five | Lava Piranha | Mt. Lavalava | Misstar |
| Chapter Six | Huff N. Puff | Cloudy Climb | Klevar |
| Chapter Seven | Crystal King | Crystal Palace | Kalmar |
| Chapter Eight | Bowser | Bowser's Castle | none |