Chapter 7 takes Mario to the icy north of the Mushroom Kingdom. Our real destination is the Crystal Palace on Bibber Mountain, but before we are even allowed to leave the city, we get into the middle of a rather curious criminal case. Afterwards we pass through the snowy plains to the Starborn Valley, where we finally learn how to open the way to the last High Star.
Mario suspected of murder
Welcome to Shiver City. Save first and take a look around the city. You should remember the Toad House for later: After you have opened the way to the Bibber Mountain, you can get ice potatoes there by staying overnight, restore the 5 HP and also use them for various Recipes at Omle T. Then go to the western part of the city. Between the houses is a hidden floor plate near the mayor’s house. Use your whirlwind and get the first Star Pieces of this chapter.
Enter the house on the left. There, their mayor finds Penguin motionless on the ground. His wife comes in, sees Mario standing next to him and immediately draws the most obvious – albeit completely wrong – conclusion: Mario is said to have murdered the mayor. The penguin guard then blocks all exits from Shiver City. After all, Mario gets the opportunity to prove his own innocence. Examine the mayor and then talk to the residents of the city. The most important clue leads to Heringway, a famous crime writer and good friend of the mayor. His house is in the eastern part of the frozen lake, but Heringway seems to have disappeared.
Go to the frozen pond. After the investigation begins, you can finally destroy the ice: Use the vortex jump three times on the brittle spot or blow it with bombtte. Then get into the water with Sushie and dive to the key on the ground. You get the hall key, with which the warehouse can be opened to the right of the lake. Go inside, use the jump field and get to the roof. From there you can slip over to Heringway’s house and fall through the chimney.
Heringway is indeed at home and accordingly amazed when Mario suspects him of murder. Talk to him and accompany him back to the mayor’s house. There, the entire “murder case” is clarified in a very Paper Mario-typical way: Mayor Penguin is not dead at all. He had been hit by a shelf while packing a gift for Heringway and merely unconscious. His wife had prematurely interpreted the situation as murder. Mario is relieved, the city gates are reopened and you are finally allowed to head east into the snowy plains. ( mariowiki.com )
Jr. Troopa, Monstar and the Starborn Valley
Save in front of the city gate and go east. You haven’t gotten very far yet, an old acquaintance shows up: Jr. Troopa has actually followed Mario to the freezing north and has even learned magic. This is your sixth battle against him. Jr. Troopa this time has 50 HP, 8 attack and 1 defense. His previously used wings and Spike Trap he traded for a Magic Wand with which he fires magic bullets at Mario. As a result, he is again a ground-bound enemy and can easily be attacked with hammer and jump. With your Ultra Hammer, strong jump orders and Watt, the fight should no longer be a big difficulty.
| Name | Max. HP | Attack | Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jr. Troopae | 50 | 8 | 1 |
Then follow the path further east. In the area with the six snowmen you should definitely examine the large tree. Hit it four times and a letter for Mayor Penguin falls down. Just south of the snowman row is also a hidden floor plate with another Star Pieces. Remember the snowmen well – two of them look a bit incomplete and become even more important later.
In the next section, you will find frost piranhas and other ice opponents. Shortly before the end, there is also a letter to Merlow behind an ice rock. Take him, because for the later delivery on Star Hill you get a Star Piece. After that, a huge sparkling creature blocks your way. It is called Monstar and tries to intimidate Mario. The sight is much more dangerous than the actual fight: Monstar has only 20 HP, 1 attack and no defense. A few normal attacks are enough. After the victory, the supposed monster dissolves into numerous little star children. They just wanted to prevent strangers from entering Starborn Valley.
| Name | Max. HP | Attack | Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monstar | 20 | 1 | 0 |
Follow the Star Children to the right and you reach the Starborn Valley. There, Merle, Merlon’s son, greets you. Follow him into his house. He tells Mario that the seventh and last High Star Friedstar is being held captive at the Crystal Palace on the summit of Bibber Mountain. The palace was once built in honor of the stars, but the way to it is now forgotten. Merle knows at least part of the old secret and hands you a scarf. A second item is said to be in Shiver City. Remember also Merle’s note: On the way to the palace you must not always believe your eyes – even walls can lie.
If you have followed the chain of letters of our solution, you can also send a letter to Frost T. in Starborn Valley and get the next letter of the chain. If necessary, heal yourself at Toad House and then make your way back to Shiver City.
Scarf and bucket open the Bibber Mountain
Go back to the Mayor’s House and talk to Mayor Penguin. After telling him about Merle’s legend, he hands you the second item needed: a bucket. If you have collected the letter from the tree on the way, now send it with Parakarry. Mayor Penguin thanks for this with another Star Pieces.
Then return to the snowy plains and join the six snowmen. One of the snowmen has no scarf – give him Merles scarf. The Snowman at the other end of the row, on the other hand, lacks a headgear. Put the mayor’s bucket on his head. The Snowmen realize that you have found the two old objects and then open the secret passageway in their middle. The path to Bibber Mountain is finally free.
If you wish, you can now return to Shiver City for a short stay at Toad House. After opening the mountain trail, several mushrooms and an Ultra Mushroom appear there for the first time; you will also find an ice potato on the table. Later overnight stays deliver more ice potatoes. They are nice sanctuaries for the way through the mountain, but they are not absolutely necessary. ( mariowiki.net )
Over Bibber Mountain to Crystal Palace
Enter the Bibber Mountain and store at the entrance. Shortly after, drop into the depression and use the swirl jump to break the ice sheet. Perform another swirl jump underneath and activate the green switch. This raises the ground and you can continue to the right. Shortly before the exit stands a normal block of bricks. Destroy it and then use the swirl jump again in exactly the same place to create an invisible? Let the block appear. Inside is a valuable Ultra Mushroom.
In the next area you can collect a seemingly completely useless pebble below. Take it anyway – the whole thing makes sense. Go back upstairs and use cooper to hit the far-off switch. On his return, two co-opers suddenly stand in front of Mario. One of them is a duplication spirit. Pay attention to the dialogue: The cooper on the left betrays himself and should be hit with the hammer. Then you have to fight against two duplicators. These opponents each have 15 HP and can take the form of your partners and copy their abilities. ( gamefaqs.gamespot.com )
After the fight, you climb the stairs. Via a sidewalk on the left you reach the last super block of the game. If you have fully followed our solution so far, only one of your partners should wait for its final upgrade. Parakarry is a good choice for the upcoming Crystal Palace, but of course you can use the block for any not yet fully improved partner.
In the next section are three stone pedestals with useful items: Shooting Star, Snow Puppet and Thunder Rage. If you simply take away an object, an ice wall falls down and blocks the exit. That’s exactly why we collected the pebble. Exchange the desired item for another item – for example, the pebble – so that something remains on the base and the ice wall remains on top. Those who do not need any of the objects can of course just leave them.
Follow the path until you reach a huge ice staircase. It’s not going anywhere right now. Therefore, do not go up, but look for a narrow path behind the big stairs. There you find a cracked wall. Blow it up with a bomb and go into the small cave. Merle’s note becomes important here: On the right side there seems to be a normal wall, but Mario can just walk through it. Behind it lies Merlumina, an ancestor of Merlon and Merle. She tells you in detail about the history of the Crystal Palace – so in detail that Mario even falls asleep – and then gives you the important Starstone. ( mariowiki.net )
Return to the great staircase and place the starstone in the star-shaped recess. Then a huge ice staircase drives out of the mountain and opens the final path to the summit. Rise up. On one of the first levels do you find in a red? Block the strong badges mega-jump. It requires 3 OP and allows a particularly strong single jump for 6 BP. ( mariowiki.net )
On the further climb you can collect a Star Piece. Near the Save Block on a higher level, go to the left or let yourself fall from the edge to the platform below. There is the only Star Pieces of Bibber Mountain. Then work your way back up. Shortly before the summit, a heart block and a Save Block are ready – make use of both, because behind the big door awaits the most extensive and mysterious dungeon of the game so far.
In front of Mario, the Crystal Palace rises. Somewhere inside, the last High Star Friedstar is being held captive. However, the strange mirrors, false walls and duplicative spirits of the palace will make you doubt your perception a few more times.