Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
| Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | |
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| Developer: | Intelligent Systems |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Release date: | October 12, 2004 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Game modes: | Single player |
| ESRB rating: | Everyone (E) |
| Platform: | GameCube |
| Media: | 1.5 gigabyte optical disc |
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the sequel to the Nintendo 64 video game Paper Mario, and is the fourth in the series of Mario role-playing game titles that includes Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. It was developed by Intelligent Systems and released in the U.S. on October 12, 2004 exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube video game console. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door follows the artistic style of its predecessor with a unique 2D-characters-in-a-3D-world look. It has many injokes and references regarding Intelligent Systems' Fire Emblem series, older titles in the Mario series, and other games that play on Nintendo consoles and handhelds.
Game play
Unique elements
The Thousand-Year Door has some unique elements which owe to its very singular visual style. The graphics consist of an interesting mixture of three dimensional environments and two dimensional characters, who look as if they were made of paper, hence the name. At various points, Mario is "cursed" with four different abilities which enable special field moves, and which are based on the paper theme. These include:
- Becoming a paper airplane and flying for short distances
- Turning sideways to become as thin as a piece of paper
- Rolling into a tube to duck under low-hanging objects
- Folding into a boat to cross water
Another example of this is after flipping a switch in Petal Meadows, a bridge appears by way of a flipbook-like animation, each "page" causing a new piece of the bridge to appear. While hard to describe, it is immediately recognizable as though you were actually thumbing through a flipbook.
Battle system
Battles in The Thousand-Year Door borrow heavily from the original Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga. The turn-based system, in which players select an attack, defense, or item from a menu, is augmented by timed button presses that, when performed correctly, can result in substantial attack or defense bonuses. In contrast to both Paper Mario and Superstar Saga, battles in The Thousand-Year Door happen on a stage in front of an audience. As the characters perform more advanced attacks, the audience grows, and Star Power is awarded based on the size of the audience. Having Star Power in turn lets you perform Star Power moves. The auditorium that battles take place in grows by 50 seats for every 10 levels that Mario gains.
Defeating enemies awards various numbers of Star Points to Mario; for every 100 points, Mario is able to level up, choosing between three character statistic enhancements. Selecting Health (HP) adds the specified number of points to Mario's maximum Heart Points, allowing him to last longer in battle; opting for Flower Points (FP) gives Mario additional ability to do special attacks or defenses; and finally selecting Badge Points (BP) increases the number of badges you can equip at any given time by increasing Mario's total BP.
Badges
Badges are found or bought in various spots. The character Dazzle will trade you Star Pieces for badges as well. Equipping a badge can do various things; some badges provide boosts in defense, some provide additional attacks, and some increase your character statistics. There are literally dozens of badges in the game, and each one has a unique power. Each badge takes a certain number of Badge Points, or BP, to equip; as noted above, you increase your total BP by selecting the BP block when levelling up.
Controls
| Button | Overworld | Menu | Battle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Jump, Talk, Examine | Confirm | Confirm, Stylish Move, Defend |
| B | Hammer, skip dialogue | Cancel | Counterattack |
| X | Use partner ability | Not used | Attack Crowd |
| Y | Use paper vehicle tile | Not used | change battle order |
| Z | Scroll back dialog, bring up info display | Not used | Not used |
| L | Not used | Scroll up lists | Not used |
| R | Paper Mode | Scroll down lists | Not used |
| Analog Stick | Move Mario | Move Cursor | Move Cursor |
| D-Pad | ↑: Inventory, ←: Partner, →: Badges, ↓: Journal | Move Cursor | Move Cursor |
| C-Stick | Not used | ||
| Start/Pause | Menu | Exit Menu | not used |
Story
Template:Spoiler Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door begins as most Mario games do: Princess Peach has managed to be kidnapped once again, but there is a twist, this time. After receiving a letter from Peach, Mario goes to the seaside town of Rogueport to meet her. When he arrives, he can't find her, and assumes she has travelled on without him. Not knowing that she has been kidnapped, Mario meets Goombella, a Goomba on a treasure hunt. As it happens, Mario has a treasure map (sent to him by Peach) and the two meet with Professor Frankly, who informs them that after collecting seven Crystal Stars, they will be able to unlock the Thousand-Year Door and claim the treasure.
As it turns out, Peach has not been kidnapped by Mario's usual nemesis Bowser, but by a group called the X-Nauts, whose leader is Grodus. Grodus is also after the Crystal Stars, and thus the stage is set for a showdown.
Characters
- Mario is the venerable hero of the Super Mario Bros. video game series, as well as various offshoot games. In The Thousand-Year Door, he is on a treasure hunt for seven Crystal Stars, and teams up with Goombella and Koops, among others, during the game.
- Boots - Mario has many Jump skills, which assist him both in and out of battle. His moves are:
- Jump - In battle, the Jump skill is useful to attack flying enemies, but is useless against spiked enemies. When you land on an enemy, pushing A will cause a Double Jump. Push A during midjump will do a Stylish move. Out of battle, you can jump on buttons or hit floating blocks.
- Spin Jump - In battle, Spin Jump is used by pushing A right when you're about to land. Push A before you land with your first jump at the highest point to do a Stylish move. Out of battle, push A when midair to butt stomp on weak ground to break through. Found at The Great Tree.
- Spring Jump - In battle, the Spring Jump is used by pushing A when you jump on the enemy first to bounce. When you hit the enemy a second time, push A to do a Stylish move. Out of battle, hold A, spin the stick, and let go of A to make Mario go high, grabbing on any above pipes, or knocking items floating above you down. Found at Riverside Station.
- Hammer - Mario's Hammer assists him both in and out of battle. His moves are:
- Hammer - In battle, hold the stick to the left until the Star lights up. When Mario's about to go back, push A to do a Stylish move. It's the same with all three of the Hammer moves. Out of battle, Mario can hit some blocks, switches, etc.
- Super Hammer - In battle, hold the stick to the left longer, and when the Star lights up, let go. Push A when you hit to knock the enemy into another enemy on the ground. Out of battle, hold down B and spin the stick to charge Mario up. Let go next to a big yellow block to break it. It can also break small ones. Found at Glitzville.
- Ultra Hammer - In battle, hold the stick to the left even longer than the other two, and let go when the Star lights up. Push A when Mario hits the enemy to hit all of the enemies behind him on the ground. Out of battle, it can break metal and regular blocks the same as the Super Hammer. Found at Rogueport.
- Paper Transformations - Mario learns four transformation moves during the game. The moves are:
- Plane - Pushing Y on a white panel turns Mario into a Paper Plane. Push left & right to guide Mario as he flies. Found at Rogueport Sewers.
- Paper - Hold down R anywhere to make Mario thin. Allows him to go through bars. Found at Hooktail Castle.
- Tube - Hold R, and spin the stick to turn into a Tube that can roll. Used to get into small holes and under things. Found at Twilight Town.
- Boat - Pushing Y on a dock panel will turn Mario into a boat. Allows him to travel over water. Found at Pirate's Grotto.
- Finding herself kidnapped is a primary feature of Princess Peach's life. Very few games go by where she is not the target of some ne'er-do-well's plots. Unlike most Mario games, however, this time she is kidnapped by Grodus and his X-Nauts.
- Goombella is the first travelling companion that Mario meets, and in addition to being useful in battle, is able to provide information about different characters and their strengths and weaknesses. During battle, this ability is referred to as "tattle" or "tattling", and it is useful if you want to complete the game 100%. Taunting enemies will get them onto the tattle list.
- Abilities - Here is a list of the abilities Goombella has.
- Tattle - Goombella reads from a book, and makes a circle and a cursor appear on the screen, and you have to line up the cursor in the circle to get information about the enemy. Tells you their FP, Defense, Attack, Strengths and Weaknesses, and also adds to the Tattle Book, for those of you who want to beat it 100%.
- Headbonk - Jumps onto an enemy and bounces on them with her head. Right when she jumps, push A to do a Stylish Move, and when you hit the enemy, push A to do a Special Move. She can do it twice this way, like Mario's attack. Powering her up makes it stronger.
- Multibonk - Jumps onto an enemy and bounces on them with her head. Right when she jumps, push A to do a Stylish Move, and when you hit the enemy, push A to do a Special Move. She can do it for as long as you time it right, like Mario's attack. Powering her up makes it stronger. Costs four Flower Points.
- Rally Wink - Winks at Mario, which gives him another turn. Costs six Flower Points.
- The second to join Mario's party, Koops is a Koopa from Petalburg. He can retreat into his shell and use it as a weapon against foes, and Mario can also launch him at switches or distant objects to hit them or retrieve them. He is with Mario to avenge his father, whom he believes to be dead, and to prove to Petalburg that he is not a coward.
- Madame Flurrie, a cloud spirit, brings many wind-related abilities to the table when she joins Mario on his quest. In addition to using these abilities during battle, she can send a gust of wind across objects to uncover secret items hidden behind paper.
- Appearing as a baby, Yoshi is one of Mario's partners. Depending on how long you spend with him during the fights, he'll vary in colors: green, blue, red, orange, white and black, and pink. When you acquire him, you get to name him. Mario can ride him, making you move faster, and his Flutter Jump, while too weak to fly high, can get you across large gaps. Throughout the game, he refers to Mario as the Great Gonzales, because that's what everyone called him in the Glitz Pit.
- When the game begins, Vivian is a Shadow Siren working with her sisters Beldam and Marylin, who are all sent to defeat Mario in the Boggly Woods. The Sirens, however, fail at defeating Mario, and eventually she changes sides to team up with Mario in Twilight Town, after the unnamed ghost steals Mario's name and body. She can hide Mario in the ground to get past objects that move over you. She is often blamed for things she didn't do.
- A retired Bob-omb sea captain, Admiral Bobbery assists Mario in his quest with his bomb-related attacks and abilities. He refuses to help you and Flavio get to Keelhaul Key, because he has vowed to not go out to sea again until you give him a letter from his late wife.
- Miss Mowz is a thieving mouse who runs a Badge Shop at Rogueport and often flirts with Mario. She's the only optional character, and you have to accept a Trouble and find a Badge for her in Hooktail Castle before she'll join you. She has the useful ability to sniff out any type of item, ranging from coins to items to Star Pieces.
- King Bowser is Mario's nemesis, and is usually responsible for trouble in the Mushroom Kingdom. In this game, Bowser has many cutsences where he is a playable character. These sences are often quite humorous
- Kammy Koopa is King Bowser's right hand Magikoopa. She has been involved in both of Bowser's plans against Mario in the Paper Mario series.
- Grodus is the leader of the X-Nauts, a band of thugs determined to capture the Crystal Stars before Mario.
- Second in command of the X-Nauts, Lord Crump is Grodus' servant and usually the leader of the X-Nauts in the field.
- The X-Nauts are short, fat, and individually weak, but rush to the defense of their leader when he is threatened. In the field, this is most often Lord Crump.
- The leader of the Shadow Sirens, the old hag is often forgetful, and on more than one occasion, her forgetfulness gets Vivian in trouble. She is more of a magic user than the other two are.
- The biggest Shadow Siren in the bunch. Other than one line, she is unable to say more than "Guh", and various forms of it. She can become stronger and hit hard.
- Luigi is Mario's brother. Every once in a while, he is sitting in the audience, and will occasionally assist you. He goes on adventures all during the plot. Each Chapter, he will have a new story and a new ally, and eventually, you can buy a novel about him, titled 'Super Luigi'.
- The good Professor consults with Mario and Goombella at various points during their quest, and helps them with hints on where to go next.
- TEC is a computer made by the X-Nauts to operate their system and gather information. He is a self-proclaimed "perfect" computer, and often summons Peach into the main computer room to ask her questions. She learns he doesn't know things like love, and will let her send mail to Mario in return for teaching him.
- Flavio is a Pirate that, for the first four Chapters, sits in the Rogueport Inn admiring his red skull-shaped stone. In chapter five, he assists you in getting to Keelhaul Key. He's not a very dependable man, and would only go with you into the Jungle under pressure from the other shipmates.
- Zess T. is an old woman that gets very angry with you when you step on her contact lens and blocks your route to West Rogueport until you get her a new one. She will also cook stuff for you; give her a cookbook, and she can make foods with two items as well. She doesn't forgive you for crushing her contact lens though.
- The leader of a bunch of thugs that keeps people in line in Rogueport, Don Pianta's daughter, Fransesca, ran off with one of his minions, Frankie. He wants Mario to find them and bring them back to him in return for a Blimp Ticket.
- Grubba manages the Glitz Pit. He tries hard to help you win, but eventually, Mario finds out that his intentions aren't exactly pure.
- Jolene is a female Toad that works at the Glitz Pit. She seems to be up to no good, as many contestants have been disappearing, but it is revealed that she has been trying to help you in order to save her brother, Prince Mush.
- The big, burly champion of the Glitz Pit, Rawk Hawk is undefeated. He is a shady character that will do anything to win when Mario, or the Great Gonzales, climbs the ranks.
- The holder of the first Crystal Star is the dragon Hooktail. He has no problem with eating the innocents in the audience, but he does get a bit sick when he hears the sounds of crickets.
- A young Puni that you find in Rogueport Sewers, Punio helps you get to the Great Tree. He often helps you get around, and is constantly yelled at by the Elder.
- An old woman with a short temper. When she is angry, she grows giant and yells at the person she's angry at, scaring the daylights out of them. She later wants a Life Shroom so she can live longer.
- Punio's little sister Petuni was captured by the X-Nauts along with most of the others. She asks you every once in a while to play the 'Stump Petuni' game. If you let her win, she will give you a Mystic Egg.
- Merlon has the ability to raise each secondary character one level, for three Shine Sprites.
- Merluvlee is a fortune teller, able to tell you where there are Star Pieces, Shine Sprites and even tell you where to go next. For a fee, of course.
- Merlee, for a fee, will curse you, and appears in battles to help you, by raising your attack or defense levels, or raising Star Points gained.
- Four Demons are locked in Black Chests, and beg for you to free them, saying you will help them. But when they come out, the Black Chest Demons place a curse on you. They are actually the four heroes of legend that were cursed by the demon. Fortunately for you, their curse is in your favor - they are how you obtain your four special Paper abilities. It is later implied that the demons are the four who originally sealed away the Shadow queen, transformed by a curse she placed on them at the last moment.
- A nameless ghost that seemingly ends the search for the fourth Crystal Star. Once you defeat him, however, you gain control of him. You eventually realize that he stole your name and body. To get it back, you have to guess his name and then fight him, but unfortunately, you lack the letter "p", so you can't get your identity back until you find it.
- Bosses in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door are like paper, like the characters. Some of them, like Hooktail and Cortez, are like origami, as the paper used to make them is bended to give it a 3-D apperence. Some bosses, like Macho Grubba, are flat, like Mario is. They either end a chapter, or there is some more thngs that are needed to do to end the chapter( a example of this is Smorg).
References to other titles
Several references to other Nintendo games appear during gameplay. In at least one case (Fire Emblem), a non-playing character discusses the merits of purchasing it.
- Paper Mario — some of the partners abilities were taken from Paper Mario to Paper Mario 2. There are also many cameos and references of Paper Mario characters, such as Bow, Bootler, Merlon, and so on, as well as most previous items and badges appearing.
- Fire Emblem
- Super Mario Bros. After the 2nd, 4th, and 6th chapters, Bowser does land, ocean, and castle levels. Also, in the X-naut moon fortress, you can do a Super jump in the 2nd floor room in which the vent cover isn't completey on, then go right and drop through the next vent cover and remove the curtain. Mario and his active partner now have an 8-bit look and the music from the very first level plays insted of the X-naut fortress music. It becomes inactive when you leave the room.
- Donkey Kong (arcade game)
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/The Wind Waker After Chapter 4, when you control Peach, TEC gives you a quiz with 3 potential awnsers. A untrue awnser to one of the questions is "a legendary sword", which may refer to how the Master Sword is needed to defeat Ganondorf.