Thursday, October 23, 2014

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Direct - 10/23/14

Nintendo has some news about the upcoming release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
1. The default fighter lineup is over 40. The fighters have the same move set between the 3DS and Wii U. You can still unlock some characters.
2. The Wii U has higher resolution and you can play with 6 players.
3. On certain stages, 8 players can play, but not online. Some of the stages are larger to accommodate more players.
4. There are more stages in the Wii U version and they are bigger to incorporate the larger number of fighters.
5. The Great Cave Offensive stage has danger zones that appear as pits of lava or spikes. You'll take damage from hitting them. If you hit them with over 100% damage, it's an instant knock-out.
6. Jungle Hijinxs is a stage with two planes: the foreground and background. Players can move between the planes with the barrels. After using a barrel, you'll be surrounded in non-damaging flames. If you use another barrel soon after, you'll blow up. Fighters also launch more easily from the rear plane.
7. There are more stages than the 3DS version and they are designed differently.
8. Miiverse Stage will incorporate messages posted to Miiverse that cheer on the fighters.
9. Some of the characters will have in-game commentary. Choose Pit and other characters, such as Palutena and Viridi, may add their commentary.
10. Gaur Plain from Xenoblade Chronicles is a stage on this version as well. Metal Face will appear at night and add commentary and attack. You can attack him and knock him out.
11. Ridley will appear on a certain stage called Pyrosphere. If one player attacks him enough he will fight on their side. Once he consumes enough energy, he will become the more vicious Meta Ridley. Knock him out for a point, even if he's on your side. FG II-Graham units, Zeroes, and Joulions appear on this stage and can be used by players.
12. Time, stock, and coin battle modes will be available. In coin battles, you'll compete to pick up the coins dropped from launched fighters. Try not to lose your stash.
13. There's also Stamina Smash, where you reduce the other players' hit points to zero. It's a part of Special Smash Mode.
14. Special Smash Mode is a new mode that allows you to customize the rules. These matches will not affect your records.
15. You can choose the frequency with which items appear, if at all.
16. In My Music, you can select music to play than the 3DS version. You can select the frequency with which you hear the song. The music covers all parts of Nintendo's history.
17. You can also change how frequently you hear certain songs of menu music.
18. There are more songs to hear than on the 3DS version. Almost all of the music from the 3DS will be in this version.
19. There is a long list of composers for the game's music.
20. CDs appear in the game. Collect them to add a song to your library. They may appear when smashing or as rewards for completing challenges.
21. Challenges appear on one screen and completing them will unlock new ones.
22. In Classic Mode, you progress depending on how well you survived and dominated other players. There are rivals and challengers. The difficulty can be adjusted, which also affects your reward.  You can also play with two players in Classic Mode.
23. Once you clear Classic Mode, you'll be shown a movie featuring the fighter you used.
24. In All-Star mode, take on all fighters with limited healing items. You'll fight characters in reverse chronological order. You can also play with another player. In the Rest Area, there's a coliseum in the background with trophies of fighters you've defeated. You'll battle characters in reverse-chronological order.
25. In Event Mode, you'll fight in set, themed battles. Clear stages to reveal the path forward. Two players can participate in this mode, but with battles designed for two players.
26. Smash Tour is a new mode, which is like a board game that supports 4 players. Miis move around the board, using items as you choose. As you go around the board, you'll collect fighters to fight for you and powerups. If two players land on the same space, all players will battle. Fighters will be used in the order collected. If you win, you can steal a fighter. Go through checkpoints to become stronger. At the end, you'll play a stock battle based on how many fighters you gained.
27. Target Blast gives you a time bomb to launch at targets to gain points which affects your Global Smash Score. The second time bomb is bigger, heavier, and has a more powerful explosion.
28. Group Stadium allows for multiplayer in Stadium events, even Target Blast. Up to four players take turns. Multiman Smash can also be played with four players. Home-Run Contest will be a two-player co-op with up to four players.
29. Special Orders will reward you for winning matches on tickets. Master Orders has you clear winning matches on a ticket and receiving rewards. Each ticket can only be played once and are used separately. Crazy Orders will cost you coins or a pass to play. You'll have to survive many battles within a set time limit. Survive long enough to face off against Crazy Hand in an all-or-nothing battle for the rewards you earned from the previous battles. Master Hand is the final boss in Classic Mode.
30. Master Fortress is a new form that Master Core can take. It appears on harder difficulties.
31. You can use the following controllers: Wiimote + with or without Nunchuk, GamePad, Classic Controller, Classic Controller Pro, Wii U Pro Controller, GameCube Controller, and the 3DS. You can customize the button settings on all of the above controllers.
32. With the GameCube Controller Adapter, you can plug GameCube controllers into the Wii U. You can use GameCube Controllers you already own or new ones like the Super Smash Bros. Edition.
33. If you have the 3DS Smash game, you can use your 3DS as a controller. Select 3DS on the Wii U menu and Wii U on the 3DS menu.
34. If you transfer 3DS data to the Wii U, all data and equipment will be transferred.
35. There are a lot of trophies, mostly from home console titles. There are more trophies than the 3DS version.
36. There are trophies of the characters' Final Smashes. Clear All-Star mode to get that fighter's Final Smash trophy.  
37. There's a Trophy Box, so you can arrange your trophies according to theme.
38. You can also arrange them and take pictures in the Photo Studio.
39. You can get a lot of trophies in Trophy Rush. You can play with another player cooperatively or competitively.
40. Masterpieces are a sort of time trial mode to play short snippets of games from characters' past. You can buy the games on the eShop.
41. Scan in Amiibo figurines and you can level them up as figure players. You can power them up by feeding them powerups. You can fight with or against them, or let them fight amongst themselves. Send them to fight a friend and they will become tougher and bring you presents.
42. The Wii LAN Adapter is compatible with the Wii U if you do not have a stable internet connection.
43. If your Wii U is connected to the internet, at the top of the menu, you'll have a feed displaying notifications and the latest topics.
44. You can play With Anyone using the same Wii U. Select Team Smash to play alone or with a friend.
45. You can host tourneys, but this mode will not be available at launch. You can set the rules for your tourneys.
46. 64-player tournaments will be available. After each battle, you can watch replays.
47. On the GamePad, you can display the damage all of the players have taken or the action on the screen. 
48. Use the GamePad to paint and edit pictures. You can post the pictures online and send them to friends.
49. The microphone allows you to talk to other players, except during battles to preserve internet connectivity.
50. You can also easily design stages on the GamePad with Stage Builder. You can choose between five themes and any music.
51. You'll also be able to share pictures and stages with friends and the world.
52. All of the movies of fighters joining the battle will be on the Wii U version.
53. If you purchase both versions and register them with Club Nintendo, you'll get two soundtrack CDs. The Red CD has 3DS tracks and the Blue CD has Wii U tracks.
54. Mewtwo will be a free download for those who purchase both version in Spring 2015.

Bowser Jr. will be a playable character, using his Clown Copter as a vehicle and weapon, as the Koopalings will.  The Wii U version will launch November 21.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Super Paper Mario -- Chapter 8-4: Tippi and Count Bleck

A frigid wind blew through the dim and draft corridors of Castle Bleck. Bowser, Peach... and even brave Luigi were gone. Mario was the only hero left. It was up to Mario to stop the dark prophecy. Every world hung in the balance. What thrilling conclusion awaited our hero? Mario ran to the count's inner sanctum, his mustache fluttering in the breeze...

Tippi says it's just her and Mario now, which reminds her of the time they first met. She apologizes, saying she promised to help Mario find his friends, who are now gone forever. Mario disagrees. Tippi thinks he may be right that they survived. They are heroes and she's going to believe in them, and HIM most of all.

In Castle Bleck's Inner Sanctum, you'll find Coptas, Poison Pokeys, and Cursyas. You'll also find some Mushrooms in item blocks. Go through the door and you'll find Magiblots and no way out. Use Tippi's power to find a hidden door. In this room, you'll find rising platforms, along with Parabuzzies and Spiky Parabuzzies. You'll come to a dead end. Flip to find a path around the tall platforms, then go through the door.

There are infinite platforms in this room. In the middle of the room, when you reach solid ground, flip to find a pipe. Flip and use Dottie to shrink to pass through a tiny hole in the wall. This leads to a chest with a key. Return to the infinite platforms to unlock the door. The door leads to a room with many Mega Muths, with 200 HP and 8 attack. Some of them are in 3D.

Go through the door and you'll find a hallway that dead-ends. Flip and you'll see several doorways to your right and left. These lead to different hallways, some with items and most with enemies. From the door, go right four times to find a chest with a Shooting Star. From the door, go left once to find a door.

From the door, take the first right to find a chest with a Super Shroom Shake. To reach the next door, from the door, go left three times. In the next set of hallways, take the first right, then the second right, then walk backwards to take the first right to find a chest with an Ultra Shroom Shake. Go through the first right to reach a door. The door leads to some stairs with an Ultra Shroom in an item block and a Save Block. When you're ready, go through the door.

Tippi feels something powerful on the other side of the door and she thinks it may be the Chaos Heart. Count Bleck and Nastasia are here. "Bleh heh heh heh heh... I see you've come at last! So you really are the hero of the Light Prognosticus. But you are far too late to stop the Dark Prognosticus and me... Count Bleck! All worlds will soon end. Come to grips with that now, for you cannot stop it. I suggest you make yourself comfortable and enjoy this one, final spectacle!" Tippi asks why he wants to destroy everything and how could he do this. "Count Bleck does not care about any world! They are all meaningless. Better that I destroy them! Better yet, I shall make it as if they never existed at all!" Tippi asks Blumiere if their meeting was meaningless as well. "You know the answer, dear Timpani... Count Bleck does not have to tell you... But the hour has grown too late. You should know that by now." Tippi knows the only want to stop this is to defeat him, which is why she and Mario are here. "BLEH HEH HEH HEH! BLECK! Very well! But I will also do what I must! Count Bleck is the deleter of worlds! My fate is written in the Dark Prognosticus. Do not think for a moment that I will hesistate to strike you down. ALL NOW ENDS! Leave me, Nastasia! I will deal with these two ALONE." Nastasia tries to object, but he says, "Count Bleck demands it! I will not say it again." Nastasia leaves and he continues, "Are you prepared, hero? Our duel will be worthy of the last clash the world will ever see!"

Count Bleck has 150 HP and 8 attack. He shoots out blasts of dark energy. He's also invincible, guarded by a shield of the Chaos Heart. "How laughable! Is that all the heroism you can muster? Let me show you true power! You can't so much as tug on the cape of Count Bleck! You have failed! Bleck! I expected more potency from the hero of the prophecy! I will watch your game end, and then your precious worlds will end soon after!" He prepares a huge energy blast. Tippi wonders if this is the end. Someone asks if they're giving up already? It's Bowser, telling Mario to man up, as he never gives up this easily when he attacks his castle. "Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... So you ARE alive, then!" Peach and Luigi show up. Peach says they'll never let him destroy everything. Luigi says they won't let him get away with this and that they're not giving up. Count Bleck will never win. Tippi asks how they got here. Bowser fell through the floor before the ceiling could crush him. Peach landed on Bowser, which was a surprisingly soft landing. Luigi doesn't know what happened, but Peach found him unconscious. He's ready to defeat Count Bleck. Bowser says Count Bleck will have to deal with all of them.

"Bleh heh heh heh heh heh... 'When the four heroes are united...' It is all as foretold." Light flashes. "What... What's this?" The heroes start glowing. Peach asks what's happening to Count Bleck. Pure Hearts appear around him and shatter the Chaos Heart's barrier. "Bleh heh heh heh... huh?! My barrier... is gone?!" Tippi quotes Merlee, saying, "Four heroes unite, their hope burns forth light to shatter the walls of blight." "So be it... says Count Bleck! But don't celebrate just yet. Your precious worlds aren't safe until my last breath! Let us finally end this! Now the true battle beings... with Count Bleck!"

You can now damage Count Bleck and select from the four heroes. Count Bleck likes to move around and flip to change his location. Hop on the platforms to reach him. You'll want to stomp him, then get out of the area to avoid any attacks he has up his sleeve. He can summon a black hole that will slow you down and do a lot of damage if you get caught up in it. Run away from it until it goes away.

When you defeat him, he says, "BLEHHHH!" The Chaos Heart disappears, then reappears near the floor. Count Bleck appears near it, looking worn out. "Ex... Excellent..." Nastasia appears near the count. He says, "You have won... Now finish Count Bleck. Dispatch me and the Chaos Heart will disappear. The prophecy will be undone..." Tippi asks why it has to end like this. "Timpani... when you vanished, I searched long for you. I never gave up looking... I searched and searched... But I never found you. Without you, the world had no meaning or joy... So I used the forbidden prophecy of the Tribe of the Ancients to end all worlds. I wanted to destroy everything that had taken you away from me..." Tippi says that she's here now and none can keep them apart anymore. "It is too late. Count Bleck has done so much evil... It must end. Just knowing that you are still alive... And knowing that the world you still live in will continue... It gives me peace. I do not have long to live. You must end my game before The Void destroys all..." Tippi protests that they're together again.

Nastasia looks shocked and tells Count Bleck to look out. She's hit by a familiar-looking blast. "Na-Nastasia!" Someone calls her a silly assistant for absorbing the attack to protect the count. They call it an adorably hopeless gesture. It's Dimentio, saying he was about to give the count the everlasting peace he desperately wants. Tippi is shocked that Dimentio's alive. He says this is his moment. Even if the count dies, the Chaos Heart won't disappear if he continues to control it. He needed the Pure Hearts to beat Count Bleck, something he couldn't do on his own. Instead, he has the heroes do all the sweaty labor for him and they even used up the Pure Hearts to defeat the count. If they make greeting cards to thank people for helping with evil plans, he owes them one. Now, none of them hold any value, so he's ending their games. He tells Mr. L that they're all his. He snaps his fingers and Luigi starts flapping his arms against his control. A sprout appears on his head and he says, "I AM MR. L! Master Dimentio, what is your bidding?" Dimentio explains he sent Luigi here after planning a seed in his unconscious, which has now sprouted. He sends Luigi off to prepare for his big entrance. Dimentio takes the Chaos Heart, saying, "Get ready for the greatest magic show you'll ever see!" Both are absorbed into the darkness. Someone says "GREEEEEEN!" Something gigantic appears with Luigi's head and feet and Dimentio's torso. Dimentio explains that the Dark Prognosticus says Luigi's the ideal host for the Chaos Heart and he added his own power to the concoction. "No... Stop!" says Count Bleck. Dimentio makes Count Bleck, Tippi, and Nastasia disappear, saying he'll squeeze the life out of them later. He tells them to wait in the dimension he sent them to. He enters the robot, saying the Chaos Heart is his. He'll destroy all worlds, create perfect new ones, and become king of all worlds.

The platforms in the room start moving and making faces. This is Super Dimentio, with 200 HP and 6 attack, but he's invincible right now. He'll target the heroes and either land on them or shoot at them. Keep moving so he can't hit you. He can also punch you. The platforms also shoot at you, so be careful. After a while, Super Dimentio announces it's destruction time and he'll begin with the heroes as they wallow in helplessness like upside-down turtles. He calls out, "L-POWER!"

On Flopside Tower, Merlon says the worlds are trembling. He wonders if the end is nigh. Norlem calls this unfortunate. The worlds that the heroes have visited start warping. In Dimension D, where Dimentio sent Tippi, Count Bleck, and Nastasia, Tippi says they have to do something to save Mario and the others. "We cannot. Without the Pure Hearts, there is not way to counter the Chaos hHEart. All we can do is give up." Tippi is shocked that Count Bleck would give up after promising long ago that they would find happiness together. She asks if it was just a lie. "It was no lie. But without the Pure Hearts, all worlds are doomed. What can we do?" Tippi tells Blumiere to snap out of it, asking how he can think that after they've suffered apart from each other. They found each other because they stayed alive, so she can't believe he'd admit defeat. She's not giving up because he promised they'd find happiness. Someone says Tippi's right. Mimi and O'Chunks flip in. "My minions... How did you find us here?" Mimi says they followed his smile. O'Chunks says that Nastasia said they'd be here. "Nastasia..." O'Chunks says Nastasia sacrificed herself to save him. He also promised the count his life and will live up to that promise. Both he and Mimi want to help, declaring their loyalty. "My... My loyal minions..." Black hearts appears, then reveal themselves to be Pure Hearts. "Hmm... What's this? Pure... Hearts?! But why?" Tippi explains that they are the feeling of our souls. As long we feel love, they live on. Tippi says she'll take them to Mario.

Dimentio says they should stop wasting time and finish this. Lights flash and the Pure Hearts surround Super Dimentio. He thought the heroes wasted them fighting Count Bleck. Super Dimentio is no longer invincible and the heroes are fully healed. Tippi rejoins them, saying the Pure Hearts have given them power. Now that you can attack, attack the head. Once you defeat him, he asks how they did it. He wonders how he could lose with the power of the Chaos Heart and Luigi. He asks if the prophecy has been undone. Peach says the prophecy was wrong all along. Bowser says Dimentio believed in the prophecy and they believed in mopping the ground with him. Tippi says nothing is decided entirely by fate and that everyone can choose their destinies. She bids him farewell. They'll add a footnote about his failure to the prophecy. Dimentio says this isn't finished. They can't stop this or escape. He has one last surprise. Super Dimentio spits out the Chaos Heart and Luigi. Luigi wonders what he's doing there. The Chaos Heart disappears.

Count Bleck, Mimi, and O'Chunks appear. "So it seems the end of all worlds is really upon us..." Tippi asks if defeating Dimentio wasn't enough to stop it. "I thought the Chaos Heart would disappear if the person controlling it fell... Dimentio... must have left behind a shadow of his power to continue controlling it. It won't last long... but it may be enough to ensure the end of every world..." Bowser asks what they should do now. "There is only one thing left that we can do." Count Bleck summons a large, cracked door. "This way!"

The door leads to the alter where the wedding ceremony between Peach and Bowser was performed. Count Bleck asks, "Timpani... Do you still... Do you still love me?" Tippi says she does. "Then you must come with me." O'Chunks asks what they're doing and he explains, "We will use the Pure Hearts again, this time to banish the Chaos Heart. All we need is true love... And that is something I am lucky enough to possess... But... With the Chaos Heart gone, the Pure Hearts and those linked to them... They may cease to exist." Mimi doesn't want him to go away. "All of this is my fault. It is my price to pay. I do not have long to live anyway. But you, Timpani... It pains me to know this may cut your game short... Still... There is no other way to end this." Tippi understands. "Timpani..." She says nothing else matters as long as they are together.  The ground shakes violently. Luigi announces that the end is happening. "We must go, Timpani..." Tippi agrees. They fly up to the alter, where the Chaos Heart is. "There were so many things I wanted to say to you.. but I could not find the words." Only one thing matters to Tippi: she never got to return his question. She asks if he loves her. "Of course... I have thought about you every moment since you disappeared... But I have caused you so much suffering..." Tippi says her life would have been more carefree if she hadn't met him. "But I had to be with you, Timpani. I will never apologize for that..." Tippi knows that and says she loves him. "And I love you, Timpani... Hundreds of thousands of years from now, that fact will not have changed..." Pure Hearts surround the Chaos Heart and engulf it. The world starts shaking. Bowser wonders if they're too late. Luigi hears something. They all hear bells chiming. The ground stops shaking. Peach says the bells are giving their blessing to Tippi and Bleck. In the worlds they've visited, The Void slowly disappears and the worlds are restored, including the Sammer Kingdom.

Blumiere: Timpani... do you remember the promise we made to each other that day?
Timpani: Yes, I remember...
Blumiere: If there was a place where we could be happy together, we would find it. Will you come with me to that place now?
Timpani: Blumiere... Of course... I will always be with you...

Back on Flipside Tower, Luigi wakes up Mario. Mimi, Nastasia, and O'Chunks are with the heroes. Nastasia wakes up, thrilling O'Chunks.  Peach draws their attention to the sky, where The Void is closing. Someone says it's a sign that the Prophecy of Destruction has not come to be. Merlon appears, saying all worlds have been saved. He thanks them for a job well done. He looks around, wondering where Tippi is. Mario explains what happened. Merlon accepts that she is gone under the guidance of the Pure Hearts. Peach wonders what happened to Count Bleck and Tippi and Merlon thinks they were lost when the prophecy was nullified. Nastasia disagrees, saying they're alive, fulfilling their old vows after overcoming time. She starts crying that she's all alone. O'Chunks agrees they're alive but says she shouldn't shame the count by crying. Mimi says they're still together, so they can build the count's world. Nastasia agrees that the count wouldn't approve of her crying. She also wants to create the count's world of love and not war. She suggests they pencil in an appointment for hope. Merlon comments on how farewells are bittersweet, but unavoidable. To feel sadness is to live, but the future is a blank page. After that profound musing, Merlon announces that he is hungry. He asks Saffron to make some snacks. Bowser likes this plan and starts heading for the elevator with the minions. The bros and the Pixl leave as well. Peach starts to leave, but stops when Merlon mumbles something. He wonders if Lady Timpani is truly happy. Peach says she is. Merlon agrees and they leave to get some snacks.

So the dark prophecy was averted and peace reigned. The Dark Prognosticus again faded into history... Count Blumiere and his love, Lady Timpani, both vanished. Where did the pair go? None know. And so the story of the lost book of prophecies comes to an end... May we meet again in another time and place...

Roll credits! After the credits roll, you'll see Lady Timpani and Count Blumiere, standing in a field together near a tree.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Super Paper Mario -- Chapter 8-3: Countdown to Destruction

First Bowser and then the fair Princess Peach were lost to the halls of Castle Bleck. Would they ever be seen again? Without his allies, could our hero Mario hope to stand against the evil Count Bleck? The very air in the castle grew heavier and even more ominous with every step. All they could do was plod forward in silence...

In Castle Bleck's Interior, Tippi notes the power of The Void is growing and the Chaos Heart is close. The end is almost here. There are flipping Skellobits here, some with spikes. The item blocks have a Happy Flower, Pal Pills, and a Slow Flower. There are also Cursyas. Go through the doors and you'll find Hogarithms. The door to the right doesn't work, so walk to the left of it and Super Jump up to a Sobarribad, a stronger version of a Barribad. Flip to get past the barrier to attack it. Now the door works.

This leads to a hall of mirrors with Dimentio appearing in them, along with many gaps in the floor. There are Longadiles here. Keep an eye on the mirrors, as one will not have Dimentio's reflection and will not shine. Flip and you'll be able to jump through it, as it's actually a window. There's a chest at either end of this room, one with an Ice Storm and another with a key. Go back through the window and unlock the door on the right. The door leads to some stairs. Flip to find a hallway under the stairs. There are Soopa Strikers in this hallway.

Go through the door at the end to find some Magiblots. There are three blocks at the end. Hit them to make a door appear. In the next room, you'll find three more blocks. Hit the middle one to make a door appear. In the room after that, there's a door and three blocks. Hit the right block to make the door move under the middle block. Go through the middle door to find some Red Chomps and a blue switch that removes the bars on the door. Go through the door on the right to find three more blocks. Hit them in the following order: middle, right, left. They are numbered in 3D. This makes a chestappear with a key. Go back to the stairs and climb up them. At the top are item blocks with a Happy Flower and Zombie Shroom and some Koopatrols. Unlock the door to the right.

The door leads to a small room that's actually a maze. Flip to see the arrows of which path to take to make the door to the right lead forward. You'll have to Super Jump to reach some platforms. The door leads to another hall of mirrors and Longadiles. Look for the window and jump through it to find a room swarming with Dimentios. They won't hurt you, but moving around will be difficult. Use Cudge to clear a path. There are chests and a Super Shroom hidden here. One has a Thunder Rage and another has a key. Go back through the window, then save before unlocking and opening the door.

Someone says they've made it here at last. It's Dimentio, mentioning that the heroes are missing the ravishing princess and the arm flailer. Tippi says they're not here to trade barbs with him and orders him to move out of the way. Dimentio says he will get out of their way and leaves, but later says he'll get out of their way once they defeat him. The heroes were worthy foes in the past, so he won't make it easy. They must come get him first, like it's a game of tag with magic. A space rift appears. Use Fleep's power on it to make a blue switch appear. Hit it to warp.

You warp to somewhere familiar: 1-1. Tippi wonders where they are and they notice Dimentio fly off. Keep an eye on the direction Dimentio goes and follow him. You don't need to finish the level, but to look for another space rift. Listen carefully for it, as it blends in to some areas. The space rift here leads to 2-3, Merlee's Mansion. The space rift is on the safe. Next is 3-2, the Tile Pool. The space rift is to the left of the item block with the Mushroom (Dimentio flies to the left). In 4-2, on Planet Blobule, the space rift is past the tall cliff. Flip to find a path past it. In 5-1, Downtown of Crag, flip and drop down to where you found the Fire Tablet. The space rift is to the left. In the destroyed Chapter 6, run with Dashell or Carrie and listen carefully for the space rift, as it blends into the background well. On the Underwhere Road, 7-2, climb up the area, without lit torches. The space rift is at the top, over a Dorguy.

This will take you back to Castle Bleck. Dimentio asks if they enjoyed the game of tag. Luigi tells him to stop messing around and fight them for real. Dimentio says he's not messing around. Magic is no laughing matter and he's always deadly serious. Dimentio's been watching them, saying they're the ones who can stand up to Count Bleck. He asks them a favor: will them help him destroy the count? Luigi asks why he's talking about betraying the count. Dimentio explains that Count Bleck betrayed him when he said he'd destroy all worlds and create new and perfect worlds in their place. Count Bleck was lying: he plans to obliterate all worlds and keeping them in ruin. Tippi is startled. Dimentio says he's always known about Count Bleck's nefarious goal, but he could never hope to stop the count on his own. Instead, he feigned loyalty to him and searched for someone to help him defeat the count. He explains that this is why he rescued the princess from certain brainwashing and sent them all to The Underwhere to fix the Pure Heart. He also a freed a man to be reunited with his brother. Tippi realizes that Dimentio's been helping them all this time. Diemntio asks them to return the favor and he'll give them the power to defeat Count Bleck if they fight side by side. Decline his offer. Dimentio says his offer drips with generosity and that with the Chaos Heart, they can rule every world. Reject the offer and Dimentio says he's wasted his time, so their game ends. He'll start with the green one, as the shag on his lip will make a fine trophy. Luigi is insulted, saying his moustache is not shag, but it's all Luigi. He tells Mario to leave Dimentio to him, as he doesn't have time to fight him when there are worlds to save. He tells Mario not to let Bowser's and Peach's sacrifices be for nothing, or his, either. Plus, it's personal: Dimentio made fun of his moustache, which he's sensitive about. Mario leaves. Dimentio calls the moment tender, saying he squeezed out a tear. He says Mario can run along and if he manages to defeat Count Bleck alone, all the better. He says he'll strike like an unseen dodgeball in an echoing gymnasium.

Dimentio has 80 HP and 4 attack. It only took a few hits with Luigi's attack doubled with his catch card. He'll create an illusion and shoot magic or try to trap Luigi in boxes. Hit the real one with a Super Jump and try to stomp him repeatedly. Once he's defeated, he cries uncle. Luigi asks if he's had enough. He didn't need his superstar brother to defeat him. Dimentio sees that Luigi's power is formidable, so he can't let Luigi fall into Count Bleck's velvet-lined gloves. He creates a box around the both of them. Luigi asks what he's doing and Dimentio says he has him now. They will both taste the agony of game-overing by magic. Luigi screams while Dimentio bids farewell as fireballs go off inside the box. Outside, Tippi calls to Luigi and the castle shakes. The door won't open. Tippi says they must grieve later, even though it's tough and it hurts. They must stop Count Bleck. The star is to the right.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Super Paper Mario -- Chapter 8-2: The Crash

An endless labyrinth of mind-boggling turns and deadly enemies... This final journey was more dangerous and trying than our heroes had seen before. Mario and friends kept on without Bowser, who was lost in a duel. There was no time to stop and search for Bowser, or even grieve. Our heroes knew they had to rush toward the final encounter with Count Bleck.

The ground is shaking in Castle Bleck's Foyer. Luigi's lost count of the tremors. Peach finds it strange that Count Bleck would let the destruction of The Void ravage his private castle, wondering what kind of evil plan it is if it destroys him in the process. Tippi wonders if Blumiere is here, then says they must keep moving and find Count Bleck soon. There are Zoing-Oings, Cursyas, Red Is, and Blastboxers in the area. Go through the door.

Someone says the heroes have finally arrived. The music from Merlee's Basement plays. It's Merlon, who somehow beat the heroes here. Tippi asks what he's doing here and he says he found a fascinating passage in the Light Prognosticus, so he rushed here to tell them. The passage says they can reach Count Bleck by hitting the totally unsuspicious block in front of them. Behind Merlon is a locked door. Hit the block to open up a trapdoor. Merlon giggles, calling the heroes a bunch of suckers and transforming into Mimi. The heroes drop down to a cage with a pipe on the other side of the bars. On the right side is a crack in the wall. Blow it up and go through it to reach the pipe. There are doors on either side. The door on the right leads to a room with spikes, Para Spike Tops, and a red block. The door to the left leads to a room with Magiblots, fire bars, and a red block. The red blocks in each room will move the pipe to the left or the right. Move the pipe to the far left, then go through it. There are three chests in the room with a Courage Shell, a Life Shroom, and a Key. Flip to find a hole in the floor, then drop down to the locked door.

Go through the door and you'll find Gloombas and stairs with flipping hammer bros, Koopas, and Fire Bros. Go through the door on the middle landing and you'll find many Cursyas. Flip to find a hidden path to the right which leads to a chest with an Ultra Shroom Shake. Return and go through the door at the top of the stairs. Here you'll find three dangling Mushrooms. As before, there's a trapdoor under each. The left one has three Shlorps, the middle one has all kinds of Cherbils except Dark Cherbils, and the right one has a Chromeba in 3D. Defeat the Chromeba for the key. Return to the room so you can unlock the door on the right.

Someone is speaking in rhyme about how the heroes have arrived. It's Merlee, saying she knew the heroes would survive. She has three questions to ask that will hold the key to the heroes' future. They must answer honestly and fairly.
1. Which one of theses beasts is hardest for you to make deceased? Goomba, Clubba, or Ultra Shroom
2. Next, which of theses fearsome three most rattles your knees? Fuzzies, Hammer Bros., Thunder Rage
3. Now which of these do you despise like fleas? Amayzee Dayzee, Francis, Cooking Mistake
After you answer the questions, Merlee leaves, saying they will meet again. Go through the door to find the answers to your questions in the next three rooms.

After the third door, Merlee is hopping mad, asking what the heroes are trying to pull. She reveals that she's actually Mimi, who put everything the heroes "hate" in those rooms, and asks how they got through the icky stuff. She suspects that they may have been lying. Peach asks how Mimi dares lecture them as she was just pretending to be Merlon and Merlee. Mimi ought to be ashamed for using such dirty tricks. Mimi says she likes getting what she wants, so she does whatever she needs to get it. She calls Peach always having to get rescued by boys embarrassing. Peach is a lot of talk when she has her little boyfriends to protect her. Peach is shocked and decides to give Mimi what she so richly deserves. Luigi asks if Peach is serious and Peach says to stay out of it. Mimi threw mud at her dignity. She tells the bros to leave her be and they understand. Mimi is amused that the pretty princess wants to face her along, but says it would be sad if her boyfriends had to cry over spilled peaches. She transforms, saying Peach should try not to cry or her pretty makeup will run.

Mimi has an unknown amount of HP and four attack. As always, she'll attack with Rupees. She'll also have Rubees spin around her as she moves on a line. Duck when she does this. She's faster than last time. Throw Rubees to knock her off the ceiling and stomp her to make her legs fall off one by one. When she's defeated, she screams "WAHHHHHH!" Peach asks what's the matter and if she spanked her too hard. Luigi congratulates her, but the castle shakes violently. Tippi says the destruction is spreading and if they dawdle, they're doomed. Peach suggests they leave, so the bros take off, but she stays behind, saying Mimi can't stay here and should find some place safe in the castle. Mimi doesn't think Peach cares. The castle shakes even more violently.

Outside the room, Tippi wonders what that loud noise was. Luigi calls for Peach, but the door won't open. Back in the room, Peach is holding onto a ledge, as most of the floor has given way. With her other hand, she's holding onto Mimi. Mimi asks the silly princess what she's doing. Peach asks herself the same question, saying she just leapt into action without thinking. Mimi doesn't want her help and wants to be left alone. Peach can't do that, even though Mimi has been very bad. Peach doesn't know how Mimi was raised, but she was taught to help people in need, so she can't leave Mimi to die. The castle shakes again and Peach falls.

Outside, Luigi laments that they've lost two party members: first Bowser, and now, Peach. He asks Mario what they should do. Tippi says they have to keep going, but Luigi says they can't leave the princess. Tippi knows it's horrible, but this is the end of all worlds. They must press on, which is what Peach would want if she were here. Luigi says that would be a thing Peach would say and that he's worried about her. He says she'd be mad at them for wasting time, so they should keep going. To the right is the star.