Showing posts with label Hooktail Castle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hooktail Castle. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door -- Interlude After Chapter 1 -- Part 2

In Petalburg, Koops announces that he'll be going with Mario and will come back a strong Koopa. His father is proud of him and Koopie Koo will be waiting for him. Mayor Kroop says he can always come home and that Petalburg will always be his home. Goombella says they need to return to Rogueport and hold the map in front of the Thousand-Year Door to find the location of another Crystal Star. Go to the mayor's house and flip sideways. Slip past the fence to get the Mega Rush P badge. Go the item shop and purchase 5 Courage Shells. Leave Petalburg heading west. Mario will shake briefly. Goombella asks if he has a Mailbox SP, the one with the light. It's an email from Peach. She's not sure where she is, but she's unharmed. She tells Mario that the X-Nauts are after the map and looking for the Crystal Stars. Peach is unsure of what they are planning but knows it's not anything positive. She tells Mario to collect the Crystal Stars first and that the X-Nauts know he has the map. She closes by saying not to worry about her.

Go to the ruins under Rogueport and slip through the bars to reach a pipe you couldn't earlier. The pipe takes you to the background and allows you to reach the house of Merlee. She provides spells in battle, such as increasing attack power, defense power, and doubling Star Points.

Return to Rogueport and you'll see Luigi standing near Professor Frankly's place. He says he's on an adventure to rescue Princess Éclair of the Waffle Kingdom. She was kidnapped by the evil Chestnut King. He recently met with the Waffle Kingdom's cabinet members. He says it's a long story. Choose to listen and Mario and his party will fall asleep. Mario got a letter from Peach and left. Luigi was cooking a snack when another letter arrived from Crepe, a cabinet member of the Waffle Kingdom. The kingdom was attacked by the Chestnut King and he kidnapped Éclair. The letter says that Crepe needs his help and skills. Luigi answered the plea since Mario had already left and went to the Waffle Kingdom to investigate. An oracle said that the Marvelous Compass could locate Princess Éclair, but it was broken into seven pieces by an ancient curse and scattered. Each part of the compass points to the next and one part is embedded in the princess's tiara. Once he finds all other parts, he'll be able to find her. He was given the compass base spoken of in fables. It activated and lit right up, indicating the deep south to Rumblebump Volcano on the Pudding Continent. Luigi's leaving Rogueport for the volcano soon. It's dangerous, but he has to save Princess Éclair.

Go into Merlon's shop, which is marked with a Shine Sprite. He'll power up party members and have them learn a new move for three Shine Sprites. Right now, we have enough to power up just one. I powered up Koops. To the left of Merlon's shop is a wall. Walk towards the middle of the wall, then either left or right. The wall is an optical illusion. There's a Bandit here, as well as some gloomy kid. Walk to the back and climb up on the crates for a Star Piece. Go to the item shop in the central square and you'll find the contact lens is in stock. Purchase it for 10 coins and give it to Zess T. She'll move from the gate and go insider her house. She's a chef and can now cook things for you, but doesn't have a great attitude about it. Outside, you'll find a merchant in a striped red shirt. He has items for sale, but some of them are quite expensive.

To the west is the nicer side of Rogueport. There's another shop here with different items and a gambling parlor. Behind the nearby trash can is a Star Piece.  There's also a grate in the road. Drop down it and you'll reach the Pit of 100 Trials. Leave it alone for now. Go east of Frankly's, where Gus was standing guard. The only unlocked door is that of the Trouble Center. People come in with their troubles and post them on the bulletin board. You can take on one trouble at a time and try to help that person out and get a reward. You have to pay to cancel, however. Here are the ones you can tackle right now:

McGoomba is behind Zess T.'s house and wants a package delivered to Goomfrey near Frankly's. He gives you a box. Give the box to Goomfrey, then talk to McGoomba again to complete the trouble and get your reward- 20 coins.

Arfur is just outside the Trouble Center. He wants to start his own shop and needs to see what his competitors are charging. Go into the item shop in the center square and check out the prices for Fire Flowers, Sleepy Sheep, and Tasty Tonics. He'll then ask you to report the prices. The prices are 10 coins for a Fire Flower, 8 for Sleepy Sheep, and 3 for a Tasty Tonic. He doesn't think he can turn a profit with prices that low, but pays you 20 coins for the information.

Garf lost his house key somewhere in Rogueport. He's in front of the locked door east of the Trouble Center, across the bridge. Talk to him and he says he thinks he lost it near the badge shop. To reach the badge shop and the key, go into the inn and go to the top floor. There's a door to the left that leads to the badge shop. The key is here. Return it for 20 coins.

Goomther is in the center square. He wants you to find the guy committing credit card fraud. The guy you're looking for is Lars the Bandit. He's hiding on the other side of the wall near Merlon's shop. He runs off to the port by the scaffolding near the stairs. Once you find him, he runs off again. Go behind the center square and you'll find him near the house of the Bandit that stole your coins earlier. Goomther appears, gives you your 20-coin reward, and takes Lars away.

Mousimilian is a purple mouse in the center square in front of the shop. He needs his memory jogged because he forgot a hot tip on how to make money. You must hit him with his hammer until he remembers, but not after that, or he'll forget. It takes about 11 hits until he remembers. The tip, which is your reward, is to buy Sleepy Sheep in Rogueport, then sell them in Petalburg for a two-coin profit.

Bomberto is a Bob-omb by the Rogueport docks near the Save Block. He's hungry and was sent an empty lunchbox. He'll pay varying amounts for whatever food you give him. A Honey Syrup will get you 11 coins.

Koopook calls himself the hide-and-seek champion and is hiding in Hooktail Castle. He's in the room with the rising green block that leads to the armory. Take the green block up, then walk all the way to the left, then drop down to the back. You'll also find a Life Shroom here. He's a master of sneaking and hiding, and also happens to be Koops's neighbor. They used to play hide-and-seek a lot. Koops was usually "it". One day, no one found Koopook, so he decided to become the Hide-And-Seek Koopa. As a reward, he gives you a Special Card to use in the Gambling Parlor.

Mayor Kroop is in his house in Petalburg. He's lonely and wants someone to listen to him. He talks about kids these days and goes on tangents about his wife. As a reward, he gives Mario a Turtley Leaf, which can be cooked into a tea. Mario can come listen to him anytime.

Plenn T. runs the item shop in Rogueport's center square. The shop's low in inventory and needs to restock Courage Shells. You can get them in Petalburg's item shop for 5 coins each. Your reward is an Ultra Shroom.

After you complete the troubles, you'll have quite of bit of money. Go the to port and you'll find a green rat named Lumpy. He's going to Dry Dry Desert to prospect for oil and wants Mario to invest. He wants 100 coins. It's a good idea to give him money. Try to give him 300 coins in total.

Go the Thousand-Year Door. You can now slip past the bars and spring up to an airplane panel. Fly to the left and you'll find another entrance to the Pit of 100 Trials. Going through the grate may be a faster way to reach the Thousand-Year Door. Hold up the map on the pedestal and the map is marked with an emerald Crystal Star and a tree. Show Frankly and he'll say that the next Crystal Star is in Boggly Woods inside the Great Tree. He says that odd creatures live there. They inform Frankly of Peach's email and that others are looking for the Crystal Stars. Go into the underground city and you'll see a strange creature like Frankly mentioned. It runs off through a crack in the wall. Go past the bars to catch up to it. It freaks out because he's been cornered and thinks Mario and his party will eat him. Mario tell them they're not bullies, but they know about him. The creature thinks they work for the X-Nauts, who came to the woods and are tearing apart the Great Tree and causing trouble. He's looking for help here. Mario's partner mentions Crystal Stars, but the creature doesn't know anything about them. If Mario chases out the X-Nauts, he thinks the elder will let him have the Crystal Star. The creature introduces himself as Punio and that he is a Puni. Follow him to the right and he'll hit a button revealing a doorway in the back wall. Go east to reach a pipe to start the next chapter.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Paper Mario: The Thousdand-Year Door -- Chapter 1: Castle and Dragon -- Part 2

Mario has reached Hooktail's Castle. Go through the gate and you'll find that the bridge is broken. Drop down and have Koops get the HP Plus badge. Go back into the gate and spring up to an airplane panel. Fly east to the door. Inside the castle are many piles of Koopa Bones. Go east and you'll find a pile of bones that reminds Koops of his father. The bones are holding a letter. Read it and it says that the writer came to the castle to beat Hooktail, but can't go on. The writer did find out Hooktail's weakness, something that begins with "cr" and ends in "icket". Somewhere in the castle is an item related to this weakness. It must be found in order to defeat Hooktail. If Hooktail is faced with ultimate doom, she'll use any trick to save itself. The writer warns not to fall for it. The writer is proud of and loves his son, Kolorado. Koops is a little embarrassed that he read a letter that wasn't from his father.

There is a key behind some bars, but you can't reach it. Walk towards the east door and you'll wake up a red pile of bones. It says that they don't value their lives if they came to the castle to disturb them. Many Dull Bones rush the area. Clear them out with your hammer to make a path back to Red Bones to battle. Red Bones has 5 HP, 3 attack power, and 1 defense power. He might revive after you drop his HP to zero and create more allies. Get rid of the Dull Bones first. The Dull Bones have 1 HP, 2 attack power, and 1 defense power. They throw bones at Mario and his party and can assemble reinforcements. You'll want to hit them all at once. Power Shell works well here. Once you defeat them, the other Dull Bones clear out. Go east.

On the back wall is a Shine Sprite. Go up the stairs on the right side and drop down towards the front wall. There are some small switches that control blocks of the same color. Hit the purple switch to make the purple block drop. Hold the shell in the path of the purple switch and stand on the purple block. It rises to a doorway with a Star Piece. Drop down to the stone blocks below. While standing on them, break the yellow block. Hit the yellow switch near the purple switch to move the yellow block out of the way, then hit the red switch with Koops. This will make the staircase flip. Go up the stairs to get the Castle Key, then flip them again so you can reach and unlock the east door.

In this room, you'll find a Save Block and a giant green block. Go east. This room looks like a dungeon. There's a badge in one of the cells. On the right side is a red switch. Hold Koops's shell in the path of the switch and stand in front of the right cell. Release the cell to hit the switch, which makes the bars temporarily rise. Go into the cell, then go east. There's a Black Chest in the room. Check it out and whoever's inside admits that it enjoys zinging people with the "If you can me, you must be a legendary hero" line. He wants out and says he won't curse Mario, but help him. Go east into a room filled with holes for spikes. Memorize the layout of where there aren't spikes and the path between the chest and the door. There's a crack in the east wall. Open the chest for the Black Key. Spikes appear from the floor and the ceiling lowers, also filled with spikes. You have 50 seconds to leave the room. The path to the door involves walking a little to the right, then the front, then right, to the back, far to the left, to the front, then left to the door. After the party member says they're thankful to still be alive, open the chest. Whoever's inside calls Mario a fool and says that the castle's traps prevent anyone from leaving. He places a curse on Mario. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. When [R] is pressed, he flips sideways and appears paper thin.

Go west and used the new curse to easily slip past vertical bars. Use it to get the Attack FX R badge in the cell. Go west three times to get the Castle Key behind bars. Go back to the Save Block and have Koops hit the green switch while standing on the giant green block to make it go up. This will take you to some stairs up to a locked door. Go west. This will take you to a Heal Block and a blue switch. Hit it to make the floor appear in the gap. Walk to the left and have Koops hit the next switch. There's an open window nearby. Jump through it and walk to the right for a Star Piece, then all the way to the left for another open window. This is the only way to cross the left gap. Go west and up the stairs.

Hit the green switch while standing on the giant green block. Go through the west door, which leads to the armory, and you'll meet a mouse wearing red heels and a mask. She calls Mario a handsome piece of cheese and can't believe there are other thieves here. Her name is Ms. Mowz, a globe-trotting thief who's here to steal a rare, valuable badge. Mario's party member mentions the Crystal Stars, which Ms. Mowz didn't know about. She sounds interested, but will let them have it. Apparently, she's a thief with some honor. She found what she wanted, so she kisses Mario and leaves, saying there's a badge in the castle that will help them defeat Hooktail. In the room, get the Shine Sprite and open the chests for a Castle Key, Honey Syrup, and a Mushroom.

Go east and across the bridge to unlock the door. Walk to the right and go down the stairs. Hold the shell out and stand on the yellow block, then let the shell hit the switch. The block rises to a narrow ledge. Walk to the left, flip to become paper thin, pass through the bars to the other narrow ledge, and go right for a Star Piece. Go back to the airplane panel and fly right to the door. This leads to a staircase. Go downstairs and cross the yellow block to get the Castle Key. Hit the switch to make the block drop down to the Last Stand P badge. Badges marked with the letter "P" mean that they affect Mario's partner. Return to the higher staircase and go upstairs. You'll find a Shine Sprite and a locked door. Go west. This leads you outside. Cross the bridge to the west to a spiral tower. Climb the tower and beware the Spike Goomba at the top. Equip the Attack FX R badge, heal and save.

Go through the door and someone asks who dares approach. It's a large red dragon who asks if Mario is friends with the strange-garbed one who came earlier. She didn't expect more people to come steal the treasure she protects. She thinks Mario and party may make a good snack, so she'll gobble them up. You can attack her head or her food. I recommend the foot because you'll be onscreen at all times and all party members can attack it. Attack her and she'll feel woozy. The Attack FX R badge makes each of Mario's attacks sound like a cricket (more like a frog). She had a bad case of food poisoning after eating a cricket and she hates them. She has 20 HP, 5 attack power, and 1 defense power, which drops to zero when she hears a cricket. She'll stomp and chew for her attacks, and sometimes breathe fire. The Power Bounce attack can be effective here. Once you get her HP down to zero, she'll say she's sorry and she gives up. She asks for forgiveness, and offers 1000 coins. Reject the offer and she'll offer a rare badge. Turn her down and she'll offer to let Mario smell the bottom of her feet. Reject that offer and she'll eat some members of the audience while the rest flee in terror. It restores some HP. If you attack her head, some Toads will escape and run away. Defeat her and she says she wanted to do more with her life and that there are many more meals she wanted to eat. She goes belly up and gives 30 SP.

After the battle, Hooktail is still twitching a little. The party member says to look for the Crystal Star. Hooktail spits up a shell. The Koopa is thankful to finally be out. Koop recognizes him as his father. Koops has grown so much since his father last saw him. He came to deal with Hooktail, but she played a trick and gobbled him. He hid in his shell for 10 years in her stomach, which was disgusting. Koops tells him they were worried and he came to defeat Hooktail and get the Crystal Star. His father has one. He found it in Hooktail's stomach and kept it as a souvenir. It's the diamond Crystal Star. Take it and Mario learns a new move: Earth Tremor. Press (A) with good timing as the star icons light up.

End of Chapter
Mario and friends finally got a Crystal Star in the castle after defeating Hooktail. Koops even reunited with his long-lost father, whom he thought was dead. Yet they were unable to learn anything about the whereabouts of the princess. Where could Princess Peach be? Yes... Mario's adventure has only just begun.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door -- Chapter 1: Castle and Dragon -- Part 1

The pipe from the underground ruins takes Mario and Goombella to Petal Meadows, a grassy area with pleasant music. Hit the trees to the left for a Star Piece and a Mushroom. Walk down the hill and something giant flies overhead towards the castle. Goombella notes that there's already intrigue, even though their adventure just started. The item block in the area has a Mushroom. Go east. The red item block has the Close Call badge. Hit the brick block for some coins. Go east and check the shrubs for coins and a pipe. The pipe takes you to the background. Hit the switch to make a bridge assemble over the river. Walk to the far right for a Star Piece. There's a Fire Flower in the item block on the other side of the bridge.

Walk east to enter Petalburg. A Koopa welcomes Mario and Goombella, saying that they get few visitors, due to their remoteness, and Hooktail, the dragon. Hooktail flies overhead periodically, which scares everyone. This Koopa doesn't know about the Crystal Stars, but says the mayor, who lives in the pink house, might. On the west side of Petalburg, you'll find a white Bob-omb, named General White. He lost his hopes and dreams and wants to be left alone. He's standing in front of a house belonging to a Koopa who's a huge Peach fan. He has many pictures of her. He says that Hooktail lives in the castle nearby and may have some treasure. No one has returned from the castle. Go east and you'll see many Bub-ulbs. There's a Toad here, who says there's a monster in the fortress outside of town. Attacks don't affect it, not even fire. The mayor's pink house is here. Mayor Kroop is at home and thinks Mario and Goombella are thieves. He says there's nothing to steal and to leave his photos alone. Mario explains that they're looking for the Crystal Stars and Mayor Kroop says that Hooktail has one and that the dragon eats people. If Mario beats Hooktail, he'll receive gratitude and rewards. He asks Mario's name and calls him Murphy. He tells Murphy that he needs to find the secret pipe to reach the castle and, to find the pipe, he'll need the Stone Keys. The Stone Keys are in Shhwonk Fortress. He'll give permission for Mario to leave through the east gate.

Go outside and you'll receive an email from Professor Frankly. You can read it on the Mailbox SP. Mario will receive lots of information this way. At the bottom is a picture of Frankly near the trash can, which has something in it. Go back to check the trashcan for parts of the Tattle Log. The Koopa guarding the east gate will open it for you. Before you can leave, a Koopa appears. His name is Koops and he heard that Mario was going to Hooktail Castle. He wants to ask a favor of Mario, but chickens out and says to forget it. Go east.

Check the shrubs in the area. One of them has a Star Piece. There are Koopas here. They have 4 HP, 2 attack power, and 1 defense power. Flip them over with a jump attack to reduce their defense to zero. One of the shrubs has a POW Block. Hold onto it and go east into the fortress. Inside, the door is locked. Check the pedestals and the enemies on the pedestals come to life. They are Bald Clefts. They have 2 HP, 1 attack power, and 2 defense power, rendering your attacks usesless. Fire attacks are also ineffective. Use the POW Block to defeat them. The door unlocks. Go east, which leads outside. There's a shrub near the entrance to the next part of the fortress with another POW Block. Go inside and check the pedestals. The enemies, Bristles, will attack. They have 2 HP, 1 attack power, and 4 defense power. Fire attacks don't work and their spikes will hurt Mario if he tries to use a hammer attack. Use the POW Block. The door unlocks and you can go east to the outside. The item block in the area has a Fire Flower and there's an Inn Coupon on the ground. It makes a stay at any inn free. There's a Heal Block at the entrance to the next building. You'll have to pay the coins posted on top of the block to get a full heal.

Go inside and save. Check out the Thwomp Statue and it says it's been a while since it had contestants. If Mario wants the Stone Keys, he'll need to win at the Thwomp's game. Otherwise, he'll suffer a terrible fate. The challenge is the 65th Super Fun Quirk Quiz. Answer 5 questions correctly to win. Get three wrong and you'll suffer the terrible fate. The questions are as follows:
1. What is hidden in Shhwonk Fortress? Stone Keys
2. What is the cost of a Mr. Softener and a Fire Flower, total? 16 coins
3. What is the name of the mayor of Petalburg? Kroop
4. What is located in Hooktail Castle? Crystal Star
5. How do you get from Petal Meadows to Rogueport? By a pipe

When you win, the Thwomp is angry about losing. He lets them through, revealing a pipe. Save and go through the pipe. It leads to an underground tunnel that has some water in it. In the item block is the Multibounce badge. Be sure to equip it. You can go either east or west and you'll need to go in both directions. Try to stay out of the water to move a little faster You'll find Fuzzies here. They have 3 HP and 1 attack power. They'll drain your HP to restore their own. To guard, press (A) the moment the Fuzzy releases you. The timing can be tricky. Go to the far east and you'll find the Sun Stone. Once you get it, a Fuzzy attacks and you'll have to battle four of them simultaneously. To the far west is the Moon Stone. Once again, you'll have to battle four Fuzzies. Be sure to heal. Return to the part of the tunnel with the pipe and a Gold Fuzzy appears. It says that this is their place and Mario's rude for coming here. It attacks. It has 10 HP and 1 attack power, but it doesn't drain HP. It summons a swarm of Fuzzies which collectively have 20 HP. A few of them will attack one at a time. Focus your attacks on the Gold Fuzzy to win the battle. Leave through the pipe and save.

Go back to Petalburg and leave the town to the west. Koops is there, wanting to talk. He begs Mario to take him to fight Hooktail. He says his dad tried to, but never came back. He wants to finish what his dad started and get revenge. He's been called a crybaby and a weakling and he'll be strong if he defeats Hooktail. Let him come along. Use (X) to shoot his shell to pick up or hit distant objects. Hold (X) to hold the shell in place after shooting, then release to fire the shell past Mario. Mario can move while the shell is being held. In battle, he can use Shell Toss and Power Shell. Press (START) to change party members. A Koopa named Koopie Koo appears, saying she doesn't want Koops to go. Koops wants to be tough for her. She doesn't care that he's timid; she just wants him to be himself. He says his mind's made up and she hits both him and Mario with her shell, calling him a stubborn Koopa.

Go west and take the pipe up to a tall pipe. Use Koops to get the Happy Heart badge. Walk west back to where you can see the castle. Place the Stone Keys in the stones and the ground shakes. Two switches are revealed, as well as some writing on the center stone. The switches must be hit at the same time. Hold Koops's shell out in line with one switch, walk to the other one, and release the shell as you jump on or hit the other switch. The ground shakes again and rocks fall off the center stone, revealing a pipe. Go through it to reach the background and walk into the castle. Go east to see Hooktail Castle.