Paper Mario: Sticker Star

PAPER MARIO: STICKER STAR

And now, we come to the ones that hurt. Starting with this game on, the developers traded out great storytelling and interesting, layered characters for cheap gimmicks, and a lot of fans, including myself, were justifiably let down and even angry at times over it. That said however, in making this series, I do feel a little as though I have been unfair to at least this one. In this game, I saw some of the same creativity that went into Yoshi's Woolly World and Crafted World, that hearkened back to greats like Little Big Planet before it, and for that at least, it should get some credit.

The game follows Mario after Bowser crashes their yearly sticker fest, stealing the powerful Sticker Star and making a mess of everything. Mario is accompanied by Kersti, a sticker-spirit-thing and protector of the Sticker Star, as they work to set things right. Mario's abilities include basics like jumping and using his hammer (sadly having to rely on collected stickers to use any of them in battle), but he now has sticker related abilities, like peeling off stickers wherever he finds them or using Kersti to place lost sections of the map back where they go. A major gimmick of the game (and arguably one of the best parts in my opinion), is the use of a number of collectible real world items that can be used in battle for various effects. These include: scissors, an electric fan, a cat-o-luck porcelain doll, a faucet, a trumpet, a soda can, a lightbulb, a jackhammer, a baseball bat, a magnifying glass, a vacuum cleaner, a high-heeled shoe, a boom box, a billiard ball, a fish hook, scotch tape, a square can, a violin, a bowling ball, a balloon, a newspaper, a searchlight, a trophy, a drum, a pillow, a battery for a watch, a thumbtack, a bed, a box of matches, a bellows, a squirt gun, a car battery, a paper fan, hair shears, a goat, a curling stone, a hair dryer, a refrigerator, an over, a stapler, a flashlight, tailor shears, a powder puff, a mini vacuum, an air conditioner, teapot, a turkey, a basin, and a guitar. These could be a possibility for both Mario and Kersti, I think.

We have a few supporting characters, like Princess Peach being captured again; Luigi showing up in random spots and you having to peel him off; so many Toads, who can stack up and form a ladder so there's that; and Birdo, who descends on a swing and puts on some kind of performance in the background at one point. A Wiggler also plays a surprisingly large role in the story, having been separated into his individual segments and requiring Mario to track down them all. When you do, he will eventually sprout wings and carry you to a new location.

Bowser is our main villain this time around, having stolen the sticker star, which powered him up and gave him a sticker crown, which whips up a giant whirlwind when he does. In battle, he can spin in his shell, stomp, and breathe fire, and will become giant as well. Bowser Jr. and Kamek also appear throughout the game. Junior flies entirely in his Klown Kar and can throw bombs, put up a shield, and fire cannonballs at you. He can also pull up sections of the world that Mario and Kersti will have to restore. Kamek flies around on his broom, casts spells, smacks you with his wand, makes things grow large, and creates duplicates of himself. He is also responsible for splitting up Wiggler into pieces and occasionally will cast a spell on you and turn all of your collected stickers into nothing but flipflops.

There are only three unique bosses to speak of, with the other major two being just an enlarged Goomba and enlarged Pokey respectively. These include Gooper Blooper returning, mostly attacking with tentacles and spitting poison as normal; Petey Piranha, who flies, butt bashes, bites, and spins fast this time around; and a giant snowman named Mizzter Blizzard, who will stomp, throw snowballs, and fall apart.

The enemies are all pretty basic Mario enemies, though some have some paper gimmicks attached to them, like stacking up, folding into cones so they have a spike top, and rolling up to run you over. The returning enemies include: Koopas, Goombas, Buzzy Beetles, Lakitus, Bob-Ombs, Shy Guys (with buckets of paint), Pokeys, Spikes, Swoopers, Hammer Bros, Snifits, Ninjis (who can fold into shurikens), Piranha Plants, Bloopers, Piders, Cheep Cheeps, Boos, Scaredy Rats, Fuzzies, Chain Chomps, Rocky Wrenches, Broozers, and Whomps. There are no unique enemies.

There are a number of stages throughout the game, though most fall into specific zones. The game starts out at a carnival called Sticker Fest, while the main hub world is called Decalburg. The first area is a basic grassland with names like Warm Fuzzy Plains and Bouquet Gardens, leading up to Goomba Fortress. The second area is a desert-themed world, the first being called Drybake Desert and includes a Yoshi Sphinx. The third area takes place in a dense forest called the Bafflewood and includes the Wiggler's Tree House, but also extends to the Whitecap Beach. The fourth area is a snowy area, including Snow Rise and Whiteout Valley. The fifth area takes place in a jungle, with areas like Shy Guy Jungle, Chomp Ruins, and Rumble Volcano. The last two stages are Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla and Bowser's Sky Castle, similar to his flying castle from the first Mario game.

The items in this game are stickers. Stickers, stickers, stickers, stickers, stickers. Everything is stickers. Except the real world items that you can also turn into stickers. Did I mention stickers.

Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:
Mario: jumping, fireballs, punch, hammer, koopa shells
Paper Mario: jump, hammer, companions, Star Spirits, badges, items like Fire Flowers and Sleepy Sheep, turn sideways, paper airplane, paper boat, roll up, Crystal Star powers, flip between 2D and 3D, items, pull off stickers, Paperize, real world items
Luigi: various adventures, Mr. L, run, jump, super jump
Mr. L: jump, pilot Brobot
Princess Peach: therapy, group hug, sleepy time, mute, come back, psych bomb, slap, parasol, fan, frying pan, Sneaky Parasol, Twink, turn invisible, parasol float, parasol shield
Bowser: Terrorize, Crusher, Bowser Crush, Poison Gas, throw Chain Chomp, drill glove, throw Mario, stomp, breathe fire, claw, Klown Kar, Star Rod, lightning, shockwave, bite, grow giant, sticker crown, whirlwind
Mallow: Thunderbolt, HP Rain, Psychopath, Shocker, Snowy, Star Rain, cymbals, froggie stick
Geno: Geno Beam, Geno Boost, Geno Whirl, Geno Flash, Geno Blast, pellets, shooting stars, rocket fists
Pixls: Tippi, Thoreau, Boomer, Slim, Thudley, Carrie, Fleep, Cudge, Dottie, Barry, Dashell, Tiptron
Kammy Koopa: fly on broom, summon block, throw lightning
Kersti: paperize, Sticker Star, scissors, an electric fan, a cat-o-luck porcelain doll, a faucet, a trumpet, a soda can, a lightbulb, a jackhammer, a baseball bat, a magnifying glass, a vacuum cleaner, a high-heeled shoe, a boom box, a billiard ball, a fish hook, scotch tape, a square can, a violin, a bowling ball, a balloon, a newspaper, a searchlight, a trophy, a drum, a pillow, a battery for a watch, a thumbtack, a bed, a box of matches, a bellows, a squirt gun, a car battery, a paper fan, hair shears, a goat, a curling stone, a hair dryer, a refrigerator, an over, a stapler, a flashlight, tailor shears, a powder puff, a mini vacuum, an air conditioner, teapot, a turkey, a basin, and a guitar
Yoshi: race, Ground Pound, Gulp, Mini-Egg, Stampede
Toad: stack up, form ladder
Toadsworth
Toadette
Pianta
Bowser Jr.: Klown Kar, bombs, shield, cannonballs, Paperize
Kamek: broom, cast spells, smack with wand, duplicates, enlarging spell, split Wiggler, flipflops
Star Spirits: Refresh, Lullaby, Star Storm, Chill Out, Smooch, Time Out, Up and Away, Focus, Star Beam, Peach Beam, Star Rod, lightning, shockwave
Merlon (and family): cast spell, lightning, tell future, divine secrets, trade, raise into the air, level up, light prognosticus
Smithy: sledgehammer, meteor shower, drain, smelter, Tank Head, Magic Head, Treasure Head, Mask Head, build machines
Count Bleck: chaos heart, dark prognosticus, light cage, distortion shield, black hole, throw black hole, warp
Sir Grodus: cast lightning, blue fire, stomp time, X-Yux, shield
Lord Crump: butt bash, X-Naut horde, stack, ball, hang from ceiling, Magnus von Grapple, battleship
Nastasia: hypnotize
Dimentio: teleport, magic things, multiples, trap in box, explosion, D Dimension, seedlings, Super Dimentio
Axem Rangers: axes, bombs, petal blast, heal, freeze, electrify, mute, body slam, The Blade, breaker beam
Smithy Gang: Mack (fire), Bowyer (arrows, electricity), Yaridovich (spear, spells), Punchinello? (bombs)
O'Chunks: ground pound, butt bash, jump, spin and throw, spin, charge, throw blocks, chunk up, fart
Mimi: mimic, spider form, missile, drop from above, tidal wave, circle, line, razor blades
Jr. Troopa: tackle, hide in shell, wings, head spike, spell, transform
Croco: steal, run away, bite, bombs, weird mushrooms
Booster: toy train, toy minions, card tricks, throwing knives, bouncing on a ball, killer Bundt cake
Birdo: shoot eggs
X-Naut: tackle, drink potion, throw potion
Johnny: trident, boost HP, drain, minions with spears, starfish, crabs, treasure chest, springs to get out of water, King Calamari
Valentina and Dodo: fly, peck, cancel moves, Petal Blast, Diamond Saw, Blizzard, Water Blast, Aurora Flash, Light Beam, Solidify
Francis: tongue, invisible, flash with camera, Meowbots, Swoon.exe
Culex: Shredder, Dark Star, Flame Stone, Meteor Blast, fire crystal, water crystal, earth crystal, wind crystal
Koopa (Kooper/Parakarry/Koops): Shell Toss, Power Shell, Dizzy Shell, Fire Shell, Sky Dive, Shell Shot, Air Lift, Air Raid, Shell Shield, Shell Slam
Goomba (Goombario/Goombella): Headbonk, Tattle, Charge, Multibonk, Rally Wink, stack up, roll, fold into cone
Spiny
Lakitu (Lakilester): Spiny Flip, Spiny Surge, Cloud Nine, Hurricane
Hammer Bro
Shy Guy: Groove Guy, Sky Guy, Medi Guy, Spy Guy, Gourmet Guy, Pyro Guy, Spear Guy, General Guy, bucket of paint, Snifit
Cheep Cheep (Sushie): Belly Flop, Squirt, Water Block, Tidal Wave
Boo (Lady Bow): Smack, Outta Sight, Spook, Fan Smack
Piranha Plant
Bob-Omb (Bombette/Bobbery): Body Slam, Bomb, Power Bomb, Mega Bomb, Bomb Squad, Hold Fast, Bob-Ombast
Chain Chomp
Dry Bones
Blooper
Lil Sparky (Watt): Electro Dash, Power Shock, Turbo Charge, Mega Shock
Pokey: fall over, roll up, throw body parts
Monty Mole
Bandit
Tiny Mouser (Ms. Mowz): Love Slap, Kiss Thief, Tease, Smooch
Buzzy Beetle
Spike: clubs, butt bash, eat ghosts, heart, butt bash, punch, back flip, power up
Koopatrol
Duplighost (Doopliss): shape shift, turn into pigs
Wiggler: segments, fly, charge
Ninji: shurikens
Flurrie: Body Slam, Gale Force, Lip Lock, Dodgy Fog
Vivian/Shadow Sirens: Shade Fist, Veil, Fiery Jinx, Infatuate, slap, punch, boost, electricity, icy wind
Shadow Queen: shadow hands, steal energy, spread darkness, possess Peach, disintegrating blast
Rawk Hawk: sliding kick, double flip, superman slam, prop drop, drop shroom, drop stomp, cheat
Petey Piranha: fly, butt bash, spin, bite

Bosses:
Belome
Exor
Smithy
Mega Smilax
Czar Dragon
Etc.
Goomboss
Koopa Bros.
Tutankoopa
Tubba Blubba
General Guy
Lava Piranha
Huff N. Puff
Crystal King
Hooktail
Cortez
Macho Grubba
Bonetail
Gloomtail
Shadow Queen
Fracktail
King Croacus
Bonechill
Gooper Blooper
Mizzter Blizzard

Stages:
Mushroom Kingdom
Tadpole Pond
Forest Maze
Yo'ster Island
Mole Mountains
Booster Tower
Sea Side
Star Hill
Sunken Ship
Land's End
Nimbus Land
Barrel Volcano
Bowser's Keep
Smithy's Factory
Peach's Castle
Toad Town
Star Sanctuary
Bowser's Castle
Goomba Village
Koopa Village
Mt. Rugged
Dry Dry Desert
Forever Forest
Boo's Mansion
Gusty Gulch
Shy Guy's Toy Box
Lavalava Island
Flower Fields
Cloudy Climb
Shiver Mountain
Crystal Palace
Rogueport
Petal Meadows
Hooktail Castle
Boggly Woods
Glitz Pit
Twilight Town
Church Steeple
Keelhaul Key
Excess Express
Poshley Sanctum
Fahr Outpost
The Moon
X-Naut Base
Thousand-Year Door
Shadow Palace
Flipside
Flopside
Lineland
Yold Desert
Merlee's Mansion
Bitlands
Fort Francis
Outer Space
Whoa Zone
Downtown of Crag
Floro Caverns
Sammer's Kingdom
Underwhere
Overthere
Castle Bleck
Sticker Fest
Decalburg
Warm Fuzzy Plains
Dry Bake Desert
Bafflewood
Snow Rise
Shy Guy Jungle
Bowser Jr.'s Flotilla
Bowser's Sky Castle

Items:
Badges
Mushrooms
Lots of Food
Fire Flower
Sleepy Sheep
Thunderbolt
Snowman Doll
Stop Watch
Fire Burst
Ghost Shroom
Ice Storm
POW Block
Shell Shock
Thunder Rage
Volt Shroom
STICKERS!!!!
Too many to list

Thanks for reading! Next up, let's finish up for now with . . . Color Splash!