Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door -- Chapter 3: Of Glitz and Glory -- Part 2

Mario's attempts at reaching the major leagues in the Glitz Pit were thwarted by the seemingly invincible Armored Harriers. Jolene will still give you one coin for fighting. Mario's partner notices that the egg is missing. A small Yoshi appears, calling Mario "Gonzales". It explains that it hatched from the egg Mario rescued from the hot dog stand and that he knows what's going on about trying to get the Crystal Star on the champion's belt. He says he'll fight alongside Mario. The color of the Yoshi is based on the time between rescuing the egg and hatching it. Mine's orange. The Yoshi doesn't have a name yet, so you get to choose it. I call mine "Antigrav". Press (X) to ride it and it will move faster than Mario can. Press (X) to dismount. Press (A) to float briefly so you can cross gaps. In battle, he can repeatedly bounce on enemies with Ground Pound or inhale and spit out enemies with Gulp.

11. Now that you have Yoshi on your side, you can take on the Armored Harriers again. Have Yoshi use Gulp to inhale one Iron Cleft and spit him onto his brother. The only thing strong enough to penetrate their defenses is each other's spikes. Just use Gulp twice to win. Once you win, you are officially part of the major leagues. You'll get 7 coins and your rank will rise to 10.

Inside his office, Mr. Grubba is checking out something in his left desk drawer. He closes it quickly when Mario and Jolene enter. He says he felt that Mario was going places and is happy to be right. He gives Mario 30 coins. He'll talk to Mario later about changing his costume. Jolene takes him to one of the major league locker rooms. Now that you're in the major leagues, the fights will be harder, but you can earn much more SP from battles. Rawk Hawk enters the locker room, saying he heard about a rising star. Yoshi checks out the champion's belt and calls the Crystal Star on it fake. Rawk Hawk is upset that his belt has been insulted. Yoshi asks where the real one is and Mario gets an email with a different ringtone. It's a note written in alternating upper- and lowercase letters. It's from someone calling themselves "X", and the email says to follow their instructions if Mario wants the Crystal Star. How such a mysterious person has Mario's email address and knows what he's up to is unknown. There are no instructions for now, so grab the Ice Storm behind the lockers and start battling major league competitors.

12. The Tiny Spinies are up. They are Red Spike Tops with 5 HP, 3 attack, and 5 defense. Fire doesn't work, but you can flip them to eliminate their defense. My condition was to appeal at least 3 times. If you can't flip them, Gulp works. You'll get 11 coins and your rank will rise to 9.

13. Next up are the Poker Faces. These are Bristles, like you saw in Shhwonk Fortress. My condition was to not jump, which isn't an issue. Use a POW Block if you have one or Earth Tremor. Do not use Gulp. You'll get 12 coins and your rank will rise to 8.

After the battle, X will contact you, telling you to go to the water hole outside the pit. Leave the locker room and go past the locked door. A guard tells Jolene that he heard a noise inside the room, but didn't find anybody in there. At the entrance, Mario has a poster hanging on the wall. Ms. Mowz says to be careful and that something isn't right here. Go to the juice shop and talk to the guy tending the shop. Someone left a package for Mario with a note. The package contains the Super Hammer, specifically, the Hammawhack 2005, which apparently chooses its owner. Toadette appears and explains that the hammer's attack power has increased and he can do a new technique. Hold (B) and rotate the Control Stick to twist your body to wind up, then release to spin around with the hammer. This allows you to destroy the large yellow blocks with angry eyebrows. The Super Hammer move can also be used in battle. X will contact you again, saying to break the blockage in the minor league locker room. Go back to the locker room you were in. Break the large yellow block to the left to reveal a hidden office. Climb up the desk, then use Yoshi to cross the gap to the bookshelf. The Dubious Paper is here, a scientific paper on the Crystal Stars with pictures. Mario's partner wonders who would leave it lying around. Go back into the locker room and Jolene will walk in and confiscate it, saying Mario shouldn't be in this locker room now that he's in the major leagues. She also scolds him for breaking a wall.

14. The Shell Shockers are your next opponents. They are Shady Koopas and Shady Paratroopas. Both have 8 HP, 3 attack, and 1 defense. They can attack if knocked on their backs and their attack is boosted when they get back up. This attack can hit both Mario and his partner. My condition was to not attack for the first 3 turns. Keep your health up, because after the battle, the Armored Harriers want a rematch. Use Gulp twice to defeat them as quickly as possible. You'll get 12 coins and rise to rank 7.

After the battle, you'll get an email. The ringtone is the same as X's, but the note was written normally and says that those who stick their noses where they don't belong are dead meat.

15. Your next opponent is the Fuzz, made up of a Fuzzy, Green Fuzzy, and Flower Fuzzy. The Green Fuzzy has 5 HP and 3 attack, and can multiply. The Flower Fuzzy has 6 HP and 3 attack, and drains FP. If it drains enough, it can use magical attacks. Get rid of it before you find out what it can do. My condition was to not use special moves. You'll get 13 coins and rise to rank 6.

After that battle, I ranked up to B-list Star, which increases the stage and the audience. There's a piece of cake waiting in the locker room. Jolene brought it in from a fan. Eat it to restore your health and other stats.

16. Up next are the Magikoopa Masters. They are a Red Magikoopa (7 HP, 4 attack power, can boost attack and defense), a White Magikoopa (7 HP, 4 attack, can heal), and a Green Magikoopa (7 HP, 4 attack, can electrify allies or make them transparent). All of them can make copies of themselves. My condition was to use at least one special move. Keep yourself healed, because after the battle, Bowser barges in. He heard Mario was here and wants to fight, especially because he's going to beat Mario with witnesses. He has 30 HP, 3 attack, and 1 defense. His bite can poison you and you can lose a command if he ground pounds you. Use your best attacks. When you win, you'll get about 14 Star Points. You'll also get 13 coins for winning and rise to rank 5.

Super Princess Peach: Bowser's Villa -- 8-7

The first area has many fire bars. The purple claws make a reappearance here, so stay out of their way when they line up. Fly up at the coin arrow to reach the pipe.

The pipe leads to a dark area. Use the Rage vibe if you like. There are Thwomps ahead. You can get past them with the Rage vibe if you keep moving.

The pipe at the end leads to an area with Bullet Bills and spiked platforms. Ahead are spiked ball and chains, a Flying Hammer Bro, and Spike Tops. Level 10 of Toad Jump is just in front of the goal.

Super Princess Peach: Wavy Beach -- 5-7

The first area has Banzai Bills, Spike Tops, and Ravens. The pipe to the right is blocked by blocks. Hit the blocks with Perry to reach the pipe.

The pipe leads to a Subrella course. There are Blurps, Torpedo Teds, and Bloopers. The pipe at the end takes you to dry land.

Here, there is a spring you can't reach. Repeatedly pound the ground to make it drop. Jump up to the quicksand to find some coins. Spring up to the right and drop down. You'll find an arrow of coins. Fly straight up and you'll find a platform with a Walking Piranha Plant. Past it are many blocks. Pound them to reach the puzzle piece. Drop down and go to the right for the goal.

Super Princess Peach: Fury Volcano -- 4-9

To reach the pipe on the right, cross over the lava using the platforms. There are Podoboos and Rexes.

The next area is a rope course. There are lots of the bats flying around. The pipe leads to an area with a weight to stomp. This leads to a puzzle piece. There are Spike Tops and Hotheads. Past the small blocks overhead is the goal.

Super Princess Peach: Giddy Sky -- 7-4

Cross the balloons and you'll come to a ladder near a Lakitu. In the sky are some coins above some donut lifts. Go past the Hammer Bro on the ground to reach the pipe.

Go past the Spinies and Spike Tops, then use the cyclone on the yellow fluff to reach a Toad. The pipe is just ahead, at the top of two ladders.

Early in the area, water the sprout. The vine leads to a pipe. The pipe leads to a giant spring leads to coins. Drop down to reach a hot-air balloon. High above is another pipe.

The pipe drops you near another sprout in a different area. It leads to some coins. Go through the pipe on the far left. Drop down, then use the hot-air balloon to reach a Toad. Go through the pipe at the bottom, on the left. Go up the slopes of Goombas, then left. To the left, save the Toad guarded by the yellow fluff. Return to the area with the second vine, the one that only leads to coins. Past it are a few giant springs. One of them is below pink bouncy clouds. Above them is a puzzle piece. Go right for the pipe.

The pipe leads to a lot of springs and a Flying Hammer Bro. The goal is just ahead.

Super Princess Peach: Giddy Sky -- 7-2

In the first area, run between the moving Chomps to reach the wooden platforms. There are more Chomps at the top. Just in front of the pipe are falling Chomps. Time your jump.

There's a thunderstorm going on in the background, but that does not affect you. Use the vines to go across the gaps. Bounce across the series of Paratroopas to reach a Toad. Drop down and go past the Spike Tops to reach the pipe.

The pipe leads to a automatically vertically scrolling area. Use the green platforms and the balloons. The balloons will disappear after a while so move quickly. If you jump on them repeatedly, they'll rise. The pipe at the top takes you to another area with vines.

Use the vines to cross the gaps, then use the cyclone on the yellow fluff. This will allow you to save a Toad. There's a Hammer Bro in front of the pipe.

There are Banzai Bills in this area. Fly up near the pipe to find another pipe that leads to a rope course. Go through the pipe at the end.

Drop down and go through the pipe. It leads directly to a Toad. Return and keep going. There are Para-Bob-ombs dropping in. Use the Ferris wheel to reach the wooden platforms with Ravens. They lead to a puzzle piece. Drop down and you'll find the goal just ahead.

Super Princess Peach: Gleam Glacier -- 6-4

In the first area are lots of snow-covered platforms with Spike Tops. Drop down and run past the spikes to find a snowman and a puzzle piece. Use fire to get the puzzle piece. Go up to the platforms and to the right. Get rid of this snowman to reveal a door.

Take the moving platforms up to the top and melt some icicles for a Toad. Drop back down and go to the right, taking either the high or low road to a pipe on the right.

This leads to an automatically scrolling area. Many of the platforms are made of ice. Go past the Hammer Bro and the blue bag to reach the door.

There are Bullet Bills and snowmen here. One snowman conceals a door. Go through it. Freeze the floor and hit the pink block. Take the moving platforms to the top. Use the Koopa shell to free the Toad. Go through the door at the top.

The door takes you to the area where you were previously. The pipe at the end takes you to an area with a sleeping Hammer Bro. Go past the Chomps and Sad Cheep-Cheep to a pipe.

Use the giant spring to reach a Toad and a ! Switch. The small spring allows you to reach some coins. Go up the platforms, then slide down to the pipe.

The Starfish may appear here. To hit him, you'll need to run quickly using the Gloom Vibe. Once you hit him three times in total, one for each time you see him, you'll defeat him and he appears in the Glossary. The goal is just over the hill.

Super Princess Peach: Gleam Glacier -- 6-3

Use the floating ice platforms to cross the water that has Sad Cheep-Cheep and icicles. Go up and over to the left, dealing with more icicles and Angry Paratroopas. Go up and to the right, then use fire on the snowman to reveal a door.

It is snowing in this area. Go past the walking cannon and you'll see a floor you can freeze. There is  a door above. Go past the door and take the door at the end. Use fire on the three icicles to find the Toad. Return and go through the door over the frozen floor. Drop down and to the left to find a Toad guarded by three snowmen. Go through the nearby pipe, then go through the door on the right. Drop down to the left, then jump up. Go past the Spike Tops, then jump up to the left to find a Toad. Go through the door to the lower left.

This leads to an automatically scrolling area with Banzai Bills. The door at the end leads to a puzzle piece. Ahead is the goal, past the Bob-ombs.

Super Princess Peach: Wavy Beach -- 5-4

There's a Lakitu in this area. On the ground are Angry Goombas. At the end is an area with beach balls. This will lead you to a puzzle piece. Go through the pipe above.

There are Sad Spinies running around, some on the quicksand. Go through the pipe above before you reach the Chomps.

This takes you to an automatically scrolling area. There are Paratroopas, Pokeys, and a Hammer Bro here. Take the pipe at the end.

The pipe takes you to the previous area, but where you can reach the Toad. Go to the right and drop into the alcoves to dodge the Chomps.

The pipe at the end takes you to an area with a beach ball. Break the blocks to reach a Toad. Jump up and climb the ladder to reach the pipe.

Hit the ! Switches to get rid of the waterfalls. One of them is up the ladder and to the right. Between the waterfalls is a Toad. There are Bob-ombs and Spike Tops in the area. Take the pipe at the end.

Go up and over the rock formation, then drop down and go left for a pipe. It will take you to an area with many Piranha Plants going up some steps. There's a pipe at the top. This leads to an area with some walking cannonball launchers. You can defeat them with Perry. Burn the bridge for some coins. Ahead is the goal.

Super Princess Peach: Fury Volcano -- 4-4

Climb up the wooden platforms, then drop down to the ! Switch. Hit it so you can move forward. There are Sad Rexes here. Use the green platforms to reach a pipe high in the air. This leads to an automatically vertically scrolling area. There are many coins to collect, but be aware of the Angry Paratroopas. The pipe at the top takes you back to the first area. Drop down and go through the pipe.

Fly up following the coin arrow, then run across the blue donut lifts. This leads to a Toad. Below are platforms crawling with Angry Spike Tops. They'll stop, then extend their spike. Go through the door at the end.

Hit the ! Switch past the pipe spewing Goombas so you can reach the puzzle piece below. Go down the ladder, then place the large block over the lava vent. This will allow you to go over the wall. Fly up over the nearby lava to a pipe.

The pipe leads to a rope course that takes you back to where you were. You can collect coins on the course. When you're done, go up the ladder to another pipe. Hit the ! Switch so you can reach the Toad on the other side of a statue and lava vents. Drop down and cross more lava vents to reach a door at the end.

The door leads to an area with a rock wall that has projections that appear and disappear periodically. Nearby is a Toad. Drop down the ladder and climb up the platforms with Angry Spike Tops to reach the goal.

New Super Mario Bros. U: Rock-Candy Mines-7 -- Shifting-Floor Cave

This level has more of the orange platforms you can hit from below. Use them to reach the pipe to an underground area with Spike Tops and bats. Ahead are the shifting floors- walls and floors that appear from central pillars. You'll have to time your jumps because some pillars make walls to block you off and make you fall into the void. The first Star Coin is in a set of three pillars. Drop down when there's a floor below it. Be aware of the giant piranha plants on the ceiling. Past them is the midpoint. Past the midpoint are Spike Tops on some orange platforms. After that are more shifting floors. One part of the floor moves straight up. Jump up as Super Mario to break the brick blocks overhead, then run over the ceiling for the second Star Coin. Next is a Koopa and giant Piranhas on a moving floor with no gaps. Use the shell to kill the Piranha Plants, then use it to get the third Star Coin, which is under the pipe at the end. The pipe will take you to the flagpole. This opens the path to the castle, a Mushroom House, and loops back to the path after the first Fort, for easier navigation.

New Super Mario Bros. U: Rock-Candy Mines-6 -- Thrilling Spine Coaster

This level is pretty dark, but there are some sources of light. Ignore the mini pipe at the beginning because being Mini Mario will put you at a disadvantage. Carefully go to the right to find the bone coaster. The bone coaster travels over purple water. The first Star Coin is over the bone coaster. The bone coaster has headlights that will briefly shine on it. It's after the second dive. Soon after is a Red Coin Ring. The bone coaster won't go into the water until the 8th Red Coin. The P-Switch makes blocks below the coaster so you can reach the coins below. Be quick to return to the coaster. At the top of that hill is an item block with a Starman, which lights up everything. The coaster will then dive into the water a few times. You will then go into a tunnel with Spike Tops on the ceiling. The coaster will speed up. As soon as you get out of the tunnel with the Spike Tops, jump for the second Star Coin. The coaster will dive four times then drops at the pipe at the end. If you still have the Starman, hit the item block in front of the pipe immediately to get another Starman. Go through the pipe and quickly run and drop down to the Nippers below. The third Star Coin is above them. Run back before the power runs out. Go to the right on the rocks above the Nippers for the flagpole. This opens the path to the Fort.

New Super Mario Bros. U: Layer-Cake Desert- Fort -- Stone Slide Tower

In this fort, there are wheels to spin that move the stone blocks around. Stand on the wheel and press [ZR] to move the blocks, repeating this as necessary. Spinning the first wheel makes the first Star Coin appear on the left side. There are Spike Tops in the fort, so be careful where you jump. Climb higher in the tower and spin the wheel, then quickly move to the left and wall jump up past the stone for the second Star Coin. Near the top, spin the wheel to move steps into place so you can reach the pipe to the midpoint. In this part, there are patches of quicksand. Over the first patch is a set of stones that will allow you to platform up. It also has a giant Dry Bones on it. There's an invisible red pipe on the left wall near the second patch of quicksand. It leads to a room where infinite spike balls appear from the ceiling. The third Star Coin is blocked off in stone. Just below where the spike balls appear is a stone you can move by spinning a wheel. Time it so that the stone catches the spike ball, and lets it roll to the right, hit the wall, then roll back to the left and break the stone. You have to get the Star Coin on your own, so be careful. Once you return to the main level, keep climbing until you reach a set of pipes in the middle of the tower. You need to spin the wheel to separate the stones over the pipes, then quickly use the pipe as a cannon to the boss door before the stones come together. Kamek appears in the boss room and powers up Boom Boom so that he spins around. Other than that, the battle is the same. Stomp him as soon as he gets up to make the battle go faster. Once defeated, Mario kicks him out. In another part of the Mushroom Kingdom, Kamek circles Peach's Castle, and whips up a purple mist that covers the castle until we can't see it. The path to Layer-Cake Desert-4 and -5 opens up, through a maze with a Goomba, a Fire Bro, and an Acorn Mushroom.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star -- 5-4 Chomp Ruins

Our raft ride ends at the ruins. Go to the right, in front of the ruins, to find another raft. Hit the post to release the raft to the other side. The item block here has a Megaflash Eekhammer. The ruins have lots of pushing walls to push you off places. Go in through either door you can reach. Paperize inside the ruins to find a scrap peeling off. Replace it after it flips around so you can reach another door. Inside is a Flashy Jump over a trap door. Go to the right for a Shiny Clone Jump. Peel the Flashy Jump from the side.. Next are saw blades. Move with caution. Release the saws by hitting the stake with the hammer. There's a door drawn above. Go to the right, then down the stairs, and through the doorway for a couple of hearts and two Baahammers and a Chillhammer. Go back up the stairs and hit the three invisible blocks to the left of the Shiny POW Block. This will allow you to ride on top of the saws to the Secret Door. The Secret Door leads to a room with a breeze. Hit the back wall a few times to make the Air Conditioner drop down.

Ride the next saw to reach a doorway to the outside. Peel the Bowser tape below and get the six stickers in the two item blocks. Keep going to the right and hit the wall to knock it down so you can reach the Heart Block. To the right are more pushing walls over a pit of Spike Tops. Before going through the doorway on the other side, hit the three invisible blocks under the Big Baahammer.

Inside, drop down and peel off the Bowser tape to reveal a set of stairs. There's something missing to the left, so we head to the right. Go under the walkway and to the left for a hidden pipe. It leads to a room with Megaflash Hopslipper, Megaflash Hurlhammer, and Megaflash Baahammer. Once you return to the room, hop on top of the pushing walls to reach the other side. Beware of the trap doors  near the wall. In the next room, peel off the scrap with eyes and replace it. This will allow you to reach the doorway as the pushing wall will be higher up now. Go outside to get the Ruin Floor scrap. Hit the wall panel nearby for the D-Cell Battery.

Go back inside and replace the scrap near the saw. Hit the panel under the saws for a trap door. There are two Hammer Bros at the top of the stairs. Quickly hop on top of the pushing walls and ride the saw to the Flashy Infinijump. Through the doorway to the outside is a Save Block and two waterfalls. Approach the right waterfall and use your hammer in the gap for three invisible blocks. Go into the dark spot in the waterfall for the Teapot. Hit the stake to drop the bridge across the waterfall. Across the waterfall at the top of the stairs is a giant Chomp.

Hit its state and approach it to start the battle with a Battle Spin. The Big Chain Chomp has 99 HP and is asleep. Nothing will harm it, so just use weak stickers you don't want until it wakes up and it will run off, then knock down the wall, revealing the comet piece. This opens the path to 5-5.

New Super Mario Bros. 2: Flower-A

This level is filled with ice. Beware of Buzzy Beetles on the ceiling that will drop down. Past the arrow, the ground will start moving to the right. Early on, there's an invisible block with a Starman. You can get more from invisible blocks. The first Star Coin is over some floating ice. The ground will move under a low ledge, so climb up the ice and wall jump for lots of coins. This will also lead you to the midpoint. Use a Buzzy Beetle shell to get the second Star Coin below. The brick block you can reach can become a Gold Block. Follow the coin trail down and the ground will start moving. The P-Switch will turn coins into brick blocks and vice versa. The third Star Coin is above a floating ice platform crawling with two Spike Tops. Be careful when trying to get it. A running jump from the platform before it (which also has two Spike Tops) works. The pipe overhead leads to more moving ground, which forms a staircase when it reaches the flagpole. The path to the cannon opens up.

Coin Total: 60,908

New Super Mario Bros.: 8-Fort

This Fort has more platforming using sliding stone slabs while avoiding spikes. The first Star Coin is on the left side. Duck and let the stone slab push you under a gap. Go up and avoid the Spike Tops. The second Star Coin is on the left side. Keep climbing and you'll reach the midpoint and, eventually, the boss door. Before you go through the boss door, hit the flying item block, preferably in the middle of the room. Jump on it and hit the invisible block above, then jump off that block to reach the third Star Coin. Through the boss door, we find Bowser Jr. with his mask on, on moving stone platforms over jet engines. Use fireballs or the shell he throws for victory. He takes off with Peach to the castle.

New Super Mario Bros.: 6-Fort 2

This fort is filled will conveyor belts, many of which will send you into the spiked walls. The 1st Star Coin is over a conveyor belt to some spikes, which is to the right of two sets of spikes coming from the floor. Keep climbing and you'll reach the midpoint. There are some green pipes on the floor, which act as cannons. The left one will get you some coins. The right one will allow you to progress. You'll need to be at least Super Mario to break the bricks to the 2nd Star Coin. As you climb, you'll find a rope stretched across a gap. Use it to reach the 3rd Star Coin. The green pipe near the top of the fort is a cannon to the boss door. Bowser Jr.'s on the same kind of platform as in the last fort, but this time, he's wearing the mask. This means that you can't stomp him initially, as he'll immediately hide in his shell. He'll throw a Koopa shell at you, which you should stomp, then throw back at him. He'll flip on his back and you can stomp him then. Do this three times for victory. Fireballs work as well and are a much better way to battle him. He'll take Peach to the castle.