After flying with Flutter, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario arrive at the snowy Mount Brrr. The path to Bowser’s villa leads over steep rock faces, iced platforms and numerous caves where Koopalings have entrenched. Already from the landing site you can see a part of the mountain. Flutter stays nearby and offers to take you back to the Gloomy Woods if necessary. With this you can return to the previous areas at any time, but should first explore the mountain. Right at the beginning is a Heart-Block, with which you can completely fill up the HP and BP of all three characters. Save your progress and then go northeast to the first wooden projections.
Before you take the upper path, it is worth a little exploration of the entrance area. To the right of Flatter’s landing site, there is an iced area over which Mario and Luigi automatically slide in the chosen direction. Run over the ice and collect the reachable coins. Also in the north is there? Block with 50 coins. Further southwest, you can access several small island platforms with the help of the Trio Grab. There are more coins and a hammer waiting as equipment. Take the objects now and then return to the actual mountain path. You cannot reach some higher coin rows at the moment; for this we need another trio ability later.
The first cardboard obstacles on Mount Brrr
Follow the wooden projections to the right and cross the narrow cardboard bridge. In the next area you suddenly hear several loud impacts from the summit. The plot briefly changes to King Bob-omb, who, together with some Koopalings, distributes large cardboard constructions over the mountain. With this, Koopalings want to prevent Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario from reaching the villa. Shortly after, several huge cardboard pieces fall directly in front of the three brothers and block the further path. The obstacles are too high to overcome with ordinary jumps and cannot be easily eliminated by the Trio Hammer.
Starlow points you to the unusual paper surfaces on the floor. Paper Mario realizes that his flat shape could help get under the obstacles. Together, the three develop a new field action: the Trio Drill. This turns Paper Mario into a drill bit while Mario and Luigi drive the construction. Once you select the ability, the entire group can dig into soft ground and move under low or insurmountable cardboard obstacles.
Using the Trio Drill correctly
Choose the new trio action and drill right under the first cardboard obstacle. Under the earth you can move freely as long as the ground is suitable for it. Particularly interesting are small circular markings with an X. As soon as you touch them with the trio drill, you uncover buried objects. Among them are coins and valuable beans that permanently increase individual status values. For our complete run, we therefore examine from now on all achievable X markers on the way. Your locations will be considered in the collection menu after the first collection.
On the right side of the first obstacle, you also learn the drill sprint. Hold the displayed button under the earth until the drill has charged, and then release it. Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario then shoot at high speed in the chosen direction. This way you can travel longer distances, break through brittle walls and even move up on suitable rock walls. Try the drill sprint directly on the next marked surface and dig through under the cardboard ledge in the northeast.
Heart-Boots under the cardboard
After overcoming the lead, Starlow points out a special feature: Some of the large paper surfaces have a printed question mark on their top. Under such surfaces, additional objects are hidden. Therefore, stand on the just overcome paper surface and use the trio drill there. When digging in, you uncover a pair of heart boots. Then open the equipment menu and compare their characteristics with your previous boots. We will encounter this type of site even more often later, which is why you should pay particular attention to large paper surfaces with eye-catching symbols in the future.
Then examine the round graves in the area. South of the western entrance lie three X-marks: the western contains a Heart-Bean, the eastern contains a Kraft-Bean and the middle 50 coins. A little further to the right you will find a circular arrangement of seven grave sites. Among them are other beans for different status values and an additional coin find. A third group is arranged T-shaped and contains several beans and buried coins. Collect the accessible finds now before returning to the main path. The permanently effective beans are especially valuable because they improve your characters regardless of their equipment.
After that, go back to the northern slope and open it? Block with 50 coins. Then drill back east under the cardboard ledge and lower the wooden bridge there with the Trio Hammer. Cross the new connection and enter the cave on the right.
The first ice cave
Inside the cave, several iced floors and new Enemies await you. Especially the Para-tank or Buzzy Beetles can be unpleasant if you use only ordinary jump attacks. Their hard tank protects them against certain attacks, which is why you can go to the hammer or a stronger bros if necessary. Attack should change. First run along the lower edge of the cave and collect the coins on the ice sheets. Through the smooth underground world Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario often slip further than usual. Therefore, try not to change direction immediately before an abyss, but approach the edges as controlled as possible.
Before you climb the cave, it is worth a short detour through the eastern exit. Outside you will find another ice sheet and a narrow crevice that only Paper Mario can fit through. Send it through and open the hidden sites behind it. Here are 100 coins, a super candy and two super nuts. Since the narrow passage contains several objects, you should enter it repeatedly or completely examine it until no further finds appear. There is also a gold ring on the ice. Run through to make additional coins appear and collect them on the way back. Finally, in the eastern part of the outer area is still a? Block with 50 coins.
After that, return to the cave and stand in front of the first large sandy rock face. Starlow explains to you that the Trio Drill not only works under the Earth, but can also be used on such walls. First drill into the soft spot on the ground and then perform a drill sprint upwards. The group shoots along the wall and gets stuck in the sandy area. From there, you can move laterally or upwards as long as there are contiguous areas of loose material.
Break through cracked connecting plates
On the way up, you can see several cracked stone slabs that separate two sandy sections of wall. They cannot be reached with ordinary hammers. Therefore, stand with the Trio Drill immediately in front of the cracks and perform a drill sprint against it. Some records break only after several hits. Once a passageway has been created, you can change through the opening to the next sandy area. Always look for more X-marks inside the wall, because here too are buried coins and beans.
In the middle part of the climbing route, several large saw blades move horizontally through the sand. First, watch their movement and wait until they move away from your position. Then you sprint with the drill through the free area. Especially with narrow passages, you should not try to slowly circumvent the saw blades. A targeted drill sprint through the gap is usually safer, as long as you pick the right moment.
Follow the first wall up and break the cracked plate at the end. Then jump out of the sand wall onto the projection below. Go to the left and drill into the next wall. Behind this, a longer path leads first to the east and then back to the top. Once you reach a point where the sand ends, you can catapult yourself from the wall to the next platform with another drill sprint.
In the upper part of the cave, finally, a larger wall labyrinth awaits. A red or pink color! Block changes the position of several barbed obstacles. Actuate it and observe which passages become free. Then you use the Trio Drill to sprint back and forth between the individual sand surfaces. Even smaller abysses between two pieces of wall can be overcome in this way. Just make sure that there is actually another sandy area on the opposite side so that you do not fall down uncontrollably.
Work your way through the labyrinth to the west, blowing up all the cracked connecting plates you pass. Some of these open only small secondary areas with buried coins or beans, others create permanent shortcuts between individual sections of the wall. At the western end, you can finally shoot yourself out of the wall on a fixed lead. Open the Bros.-Crystal block and take the coins with you. Then you leave the cave through the western exit.
Toadette needs a secure workplace
On the other side of the cave you reach a large outdoor area, where numerous cardboard platforms hang on the rock walls. First open it? Block near the entrance for 50 coins. Shortly afterwards you will hear a voice from a higher platform. Bowser Jr. and Papier-Bowser Jr. talk about their latest plans and another papercraft. Before Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario can intervene, however, the two disappear back towards the villa.
Soon after, Toadette appears. She has already heard about the difficulties on Mount Brrr and wants to build a Papercraft again in order to counter the two Bowser shoots. For this, however, she needs a safe place with enough paper toads. In the western part of the mountain is a Toad village, where other helpers have gathered. However, the way there is currently blocked by two large stone puzzles. We must therefore first activate the associated platforms.
The Hidden Shortcut to the Lower Mountain Region
Before solving the first stone puzzle, you should use the nearby green warp pipe. It takes you to a previously unattainable platform in one of the lower mountain areas. Is there a normal one? Block with a double 1-UP mushroom and a red exclamation point block. First open the object block and then activate the Color Switch. This gives you a jumping plate, with which you can switch between the lower mountain path and the elevated platform much faster in the future. After that, use the Warp Pipe again and return to Toadette.
The blue platform puzzle
To the right of Toadette is a large sandy wall with several stone blocks and narrow passageways. In the center is a blue crescent stone, which must be pushed onto a suitable mark. First drill yourself into the sand wall and work your way up. On the right side is a cracked section of wall that you can destroy with the drill sprint. Behind it you reach a small platform with two Bros. blocks. Open both to get 100 coins and a pair of metal gloves. Then return to the actual puzzle.
Before you move the Crescent Stone, can you have one more in the upper part of the wall? Reach block with 100 coins. First, drill further northeast, break through the corresponding stone plate and leave the wall on the small projection. Then return to the blue stone. With this we have collected all immediately accessible side finds in this section of the wall and can solve the puzzle.
The crescent stone can be displaced in the desired direction by a drilling sprint. You have to move it over several lanes until it lies on the appropriate blue surface. Always stand on the opposite side of the desired push. The simplest order is:
Top → Left → Top → Left → Bottom → Right → Top
After the last thrust, the crescent stone reaches its target position. Then numerous blue platforms with crescent symbols drive out of the rock walls. They form new bridges between the previously separated sections of the mountain. The blue platforms remain permanently deployed from now on, so you can use them on later visits.
Then leave the sand wall and drop right onto the new blue platform. Cross it west and walk past Toadette. Shortly afterwards you reach a narrow crevice, through which only Paper Mario fits. Send him in and follow the small aisle to the raised lead. There are two? blocks with 50 coins and three super fungi. Take both finds and then return to Mario and Luigi. Then the group follows the western path to the next mountain section.
About the Western projections
In the following area, you will encounter several repulsions that try to push Mario and Luigi with strong rushes from the narrow paths. Their attacks can be defended by a well-timed jump or hammer counter. If possible, defeat them on the first crossing so that you can solve the platform puzzles undisturbed afterwards. Also waiting on the southern road? Block that only Paper Mario can reach. It contains 100 coins. Send him through the appropriate opening and take the find with you.
Also examine the sandy walls in the western part of the area. Behind several cracked connecting plates are further X-markings with beans and coins. A particularly easily overlooked find is located at the upper end of the first sand wall. There is a mustache bean. Further southeast, you can dig up a Heart Bean and a Defense Bean behind the moving obstacles. Since these small grave sites are not always directly on the main path, you should search the exposed wall sections as completely as possible.
Then go west and then south. There begins a series of low projections and spring plates. Start with the sprint socks and let yourself be hurled to the higher platforms. On the way up stand two? blocks with 50 coins each. Open them and then follow the upper path to the east. With the help of the Trio Grab you can pull on several red poles over the water or rock gorges. At the end of this route you will again reach the area with the two stone puzzles, but this time on a much higher level.
The Red Platform Mystery
Right in front of you is a big red one! Block. Strike against it from below. As a result, the obstacles that have previously blocked access to the second stone puzzle disappear. At the same time, a practical shortcut between the two puzzle areas is created. Then drill into the sandy wall on the right and work your way to the red or pink stone. As with the blue crescent stone, you have to move it through the labyrinth with targeted drill sprints until it lands on its appropriate mark.
First, observe the course of the stone tracks. It is particularly important that you do not simply push the Block towards the target as quickly as possible. Some lanes lead past dead ends and force you to move the stone in a seemingly wrong direction at first. Therefore, always put yourself on the right side before you perform a drill sprint. For the fastest solution, use this order:
Top → Right → Bottom → Right → Bottom → Left → Top → Left
Once the red stone has reached its target position, the red platforms also drive out of the rock walls. This finally clears the way to the higher mountain regions. The new platforms connect the upper sand wall with the northern path to the Toad village. Therefore, leave the puzzle area to the east and continue to drill up on the long rock face.
The Paper Mario-tempo bracelet
Before you run over the red platforms to the village, it is worth a short detour. As you move up the long sand wall, a narrow path branches off on the right to one of the newly deployed platforms. Jump out of the wall and go back to the ice cave through the eastern exit. In this area you can now enter a previously unreachable upper wall section. Drill in, move past the saw blades and sprint out of the wall at the western end. Are you waiting for the firm behind it? Block with a tempo bracelet for Paper Mario.
Take this piece of equipment with you now before you return to the large sand wall. This saves you an additional way through the entire cave later. With the new bracelet, Paper Mario can further improve his speed, which is especially helpful in the following fights. Afterwards, return via the familiar route and climb again to the height of the red platforms.
At the top of the sand wall, you can open an additional shortcut through another cracked section. Then jump to the western red platform and cross the next connection. Shortly before the village there is still a narrow rock gap. Send Paper Mario through and open the two blocks on the raised lead. They contain two super-nuts. Then you return to the group, cross the last bridge and talk to the waiting Toad. Behind him lies the Toad village of the Spiegelbildberg.
Toad Village on Mount Brrr
Numerous Toads have gathered in the snowy village, fleeing Bowser’s troops on the mountain. Between the houses you will again find an item shop, an equipment shop and a Lakitu Info Center. Since the previous climbing has already brought some fights and numerous obstacles, you should first use the Heart-Block on the western side. You can then visit the shops and see which new pieces of equipment are available. Especially for Mario and Luigi, significantly stronger boots and hammers are now sold. The range of healing items has also increased, so you can fill up your stock of super mushrooms, super nuts and syrup glasses.
Before entering the Lakitu Info Center, jump onto the elevated platform above or next to the building. There are two? blocks with three super fungi and 50 coins. Another 50-coin Crystal block is located between the Western House and the Info Centre. Open the accessible blocks directly and then examine the surroundings of the houses. Some paths are initially blocked by rocks or high platforms, which we only reach with a later trio capability. Most of the village is already accessible.
After that, go to the Lakitu Info Center and talk to the right Lakitu. Shortly afterwards, Toadette arrives, who has now found a safe place to build her next cardboard colossus. However, she still lacks many helpers. As in previous areas, we must therefore save more paper toads before it can complete its new construction. In total, three new mandatory missions are available here, which do not lead you exclusively over Mount Brrr. Some tasks take place in already visited areas, so that we use our previous paths again at the same time.
Rescue mission: paper toad hate
In the first task, you have to collect ten paper toads that have spread over a large section of the Doop Doop Dunes. Residents walk freely through the area and automatically join your group as soon as you touch them. However, several large sand mouths lurk under the sand, which suddenly rise from the ground and try to devour Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario. If your group is hit by one of the Enemies, you lose an attempt. After three hits, the mission fails.
Start in the large open area and run north first. There are four paper toads that you can easily catch up with with the sprint socks. Once a resident joins your group, they automatically run after Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario. The remaining six paper toads can be found in the southern part of the area. If possible, collect them in a continuous round instead of constantly switching between north and south. As soon as all ten residents run after you, the previously blocked passageway opens in the northeast.
Particularly dangerous are the places where a red target circle appears on the floor. Shortly after, several warning signals sound and a sand mouth shoots up. Don’t stop at this moment. Run as far as possible in the sprint and jump immediately before the attack with the entire trio. By jumping together, you can also bring the paper toads running behind you over the dangerous spot. Make sure that the group is not pulled too far apart, because a single remaining toad can make the entire fleet difficult.
After collecting all ten inhabitants, follow the new path to the northeast and then to the southeast. On the last route, several sand mouths appear again. Stay as far away from the red target circles as possible and use the sprint socks to quickly traverse the dangerous area. At the end, Lakitu is waiting. Talk to him as soon as all ten paper toads have arrived safely. This concludes the first rescue mission.
Rescue Mission: Paper-Toad-Down and Over
The second task takes you back to the Twinsy Tropics. There, a total of 40 paper toads sail down from above onto a large paper area. You have to catch them before they reach the ground. The special feature is that not all paper toads move equally fast. Red specimens usually float slowly and swing from side to side during the fall. Blue paper toads, on the other hand, decline significantly faster and change their position surprisingly quickly. Therefore, observe when appearing which figures will probably reach the ground first.
First stand as centrally as possible on the large paper surface and only then move to the sailing toads when their flight direction is recognizable. Do not zigzag indiscriminately over the entire field. As a result, you lose too much time and often miss figures that appear right behind you. Instead, focus first on the rapidly falling blue paper toads and take the slower red residents with you as they approach your path. With several toads falling at the same time, you should try to collect them one after the other in a fluid movement.
A successful catch occurs automatically as soon as Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario touch the corresponding figure. You don’t have to make an additional attack for that. If you miss a paper toad, you will get a failed attempt. After the third escaped resident, the task fails, which is why you should not lose sight of too many figures at the same time. Especially in the second half of the mission, several toads appear almost simultaneously. Then, if possible, stay in the central area and run only to the specimens that have already sunk far down.
Once the fortieth paper toad has also been captured, the mission ends. Lakitu takes the rescued residents to safety and you can choose the next task in the info center.
Rescue Mission: Postered Paper Toads
The third mandatory mission will take you back to Mount Brrr. This time, 18 paper toads have settled on several sandy cave walls. Many of them have been pressed so hard into the soft material that they can no longer free themselves. Therefore, you have to use the trio drill and bump against the stuck inhabitants with targeted drill sprints. The object is achieved by a plurality of superposed wall sections, in which there are also saw blades, cracked connecting plates and movable obstacles.
Start at the bottom of the first sand wall and drill up. Already next to the first two saw blades you can recognize three paper toads that stick to different places. Align yourself as closely as possible to one resident and perform a drill sprint against it. Once you meet him, he will be released from the wall and automatically rescued. Then you move further west, where two more saw blades block the path. Wait until they move away from each other and sprint through the gap that has arisen.
At the western end of the wall you can shoot yourself on a fixed lead. Jump over the near gap and pick up another paper toad, which waits there a little away from the actual sand surface. Then you return and drill into the next section of the wall. Here, a blue paper toad moves unusually fast over the sand. He tries to dodge as soon as you approach him. Therefore, first stand at a distance in front of its trajectory and charge the drill sprint. As soon as it moves in your direction, you let the drill go and catch it.
Follow the wall upwards and avoid the next saw blades. Here are more stuck paper toads, which you also free with the drill sprint. Once you reach the upper lead, you jump east. Behind a large grey rock block is another resident. Destroy the obstacle with the Trio Hammer and talk to the Paper Toad to collect it. Then you go back to the sand wall and continue the way north.
In the middle part of the cave system, another sand path leads you first to the east and then over several projections upwards. At one turn, you should take the middle way because you can reach two additional paper toads. One sticks further east to the wall, the other floats in a bubble over a small protrusion on the left. First free the toad on the wall with the drill sprint and then jump over to the bladder to save the second one.
Then follow the jumping plates to the next larger section of the wall. Once you have dug yourself in, you will recognize a grid-shaped labyrinth through which several saw blades run on fixed tracks. Right at the beginning there is another fast paper toad, which you have to catch up with a drill sprint from a little longer distance. Then work your way west on the lowest level. There is another Toad waiting between several saw blades. Wait for the right moment and sprint through the gap to free it.
After that, climb up the wall and follow the path further west. Another paper toad is located in the middle wall section. Free him as well and then keep yourself on the left. There, a narrow path leads back down a bit. In the end, the last six paper toads stick closely together on the sand wall. Point the drill at the group and perform several fast sprints until all residents are detached. Then check the task display. It should now display 18 of 18 rescued paper toads.
If you lack a single paper toad at the end, you should check especially the fixed projections outside the sand walls. Not all residents stick directly in the sand. One is located behind the big rock block on the right platform, while another is waiting in a bubble over a lateral projection. Both are easily overlooked if you follow only the sand walls.
Unlock Trio Whirligig
After completing the third rescue mission, you will return to the Lakitu Info Center. In total, you saved 68 more paper toads in these three tasks: ten in the Doop Doop Dunes, 40 in the Twinsy Tropics and 18 on Mount Brrr. If you have completed all previous mandatory rescue missions, your total rescue level is now 168 paper toads. This will provide enough helpers to complete Toadette’s next Papercraft.
Before you leave the Infocenter, a delivery toad will appear with an additional present from Peach’s Castle. The rescued residents have developed a new Trio Attack for Paper Mario: the Trio Whirligig. The attack costs eleven BP and can hit all Enemies on the battlefield. Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario combine to form a rotating structure that rises high into the air and then swirls down through several rings.
During the attack, you control the trajectory with the sliding pad. Try to cross as many rings as possible and collect the Enemies at the same time. With Y you can increase the fall speed, which is especially useful when a ring appears immediately below you. The more rings you encounter during the descent, the stronger the final attack. Just before the floor, several platforms appear, which you have to break through with a timely pressure on A. If you succeed in the entire episode, the Trio Whirligig will cause considerable damage to all enemies hit.
After handing over the new attack, Toadette reports that she can now start building her carton colossus. Meanwhile, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario will continue to advance towards Bowser’s villa. The Lakitu, which has so far blocked the eastern exit of the Infocenter, also receives a new order and clears the way. With this we can finally reach the upper part of the Spiegelbildberg.
The Road to Bowsers Villa
Leave the Lakitu Info Center through the right exit and enter the green warp pipe. It brings you back to a raised platform of the mountain that was previously unreachable. Follow the path east and defeat the emerging para-tank and repulses. Shortly after the exit is a? Block with 50 coins. Open it and then jump over the wooden projections to the north. On the opposite side is a red wire, which you can reach with the Trio Grab. Move over to the next platform and open the Block with another 50 coins.
Now go north to the great sandy wall. Drill in and follow the path up through several cracked connecting plates. Sprint through the fragile sections and then work your way around the top corner. There you can shoot yourself out of the wall to the left and land on a fixed lead. Follow the path north first and open the next? Block for 50 coins. Then you jump over the middle platforms and climb the winding slope upwards.
The disappearing platforms
On the upper route, a Lakitu waits to warn you about the next bridge. It consists of several cardboard platforms that disappear shortly after entering. If you run slowly over it, the path collapses under Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario. Therefore, first stand at the beginning of the bridge and activate the sprint socks. Run as much as possible on the first platform and jump with the trio over the larger gaps. Try not to stop or change direction while crossing. Once you reach the other side, you can move normally again.
In the next area, more repulsions and several higher projections are waiting. Defeat the Enemies first, so they don’t hinder you in the jump. Then you use the nearby spring plate to reach the upper platform. On the right side are several grave sites that you can examine with the Trio Drill. These include additional coins and beans. There is also a nearby? Block with 50 coins. Take everything with you before climbing the stairs north.
Directly before the next output you will find a storage option. Use them and control your supplies. The goal is now not far away, but the two Bowser offspring have already prepared a particularly big surprise. Once you walk up the last stairs, the next Papercraft battle begins.
Papercraft Princess Peach
On a snowy platform in front of Bowser’s villa are Bowser Jr. and Papier-Bowser Jr., accompanied by Kamek and Paper Kamek. The two offspring proudly present their new Papercraft Bowser Jr., which is significantly larger and more agile than the previous paperboard opponents. Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario can not oppose the construction at first. At the last moment, however, Toadette appears, who has now completed a colossus of her own with the numerous rescued paper toads: the Papercraft Princess Peach.
Princess Peach has some special advantages over the previous colossi. Her large umbrella allows her to glide through the air much longer during a jump throw and thus overcome longer distances. In addition, it can repel incoming projectiles with a timely sprint attack. This ability is especially important in the upcoming battle because Bowser Jr. often hides behind other opponents and attacks with various projectiles.
The First Enemies: Mechakoopas and Barbed Launchers
Before the actual boss fight begins, you must first defeat several smaller cardboard colossuses. Among them are cardboard mechakoopas and large barbed launchers that hurl heavy barbed balls at Princess Peach. The mechakoopas are comparatively uncomplicated. Move towards them, wait for their attack preparation and then ram them with a sprint attack. Once an Enemies loses balance and falls to the ground, you can throw Papercraft Princess Peach at him with a jump. Immediately before impact, press the faded button to cause additional damage.
The barbed throwers, on the other hand, require a little more attention. As soon as one of them prepares a big spike ball, you should position yourself so that Princess Peach is exactly in the trajectory of the projectile. Wait for the bullet to approach and then make a sprint attack. Peach’s parasol strikes the bullet back and throws it directly against the attacker. This dampens the Enemies and can then be defeated by another attack or a jump throw.
During these first battles, pay particular attention to the icy surfaces and the ground sections dotted with Spike Trap. Princess Peach slips over the ice further than usual, so you should not start your attacks too close to an abyss. The barbed fields, on the other hand, cannot simply be crossed in the normal course. With a fully executed sprint, it is possible to overcome them without being damaged. If you have to pick up Princess Peach after a jump, you should choose the safest way possible to the character instead of walking directly through the barbed field.
Between fights, you recharge your energy as usual on the marked dance floors. Press the faded buttons as closely as possible in the rhythm of the music to recover as much energy as possible. If Peach’s life energy decreases, you can also use the existing healing blocks. Try to complete the first part of the fights with as little damage as possible, because a much more dangerous Enemies awaits.
Boss Fight: Papercraft Bowser Jr.
After defeating all the smaller Enemies, Bowser Jr. and Papier-Bowser Jr. enter the arena with their own Papercraft. Unlike the previous Enemies, Bowser Jr. does not try to attack you head-on immediately. Instead, he initially retreats and moves with high speed over the battlefield. You must pursue him until you get close enough to trigger his attack.
Activate a sprint and run towards the boss. As soon as you approach him, he turns and prepares a powerful blow with a large boxing glove. A short countdown appears on the screen. Don’t wait until it’s completely counted down. As soon as the boss prepares his attack, you yourself carry out a targeted sprint attack. If you meet Bowser Jr. at the right moment, his attack is interrupted and he falls to the ground.
Now Peach’s special flying ability is used. Stand in a favorable position and make a jump on the fallen Enemies. Through the umbrella Princess Peach floats through the air longer than Mario or Luigi and can also reach the boss from a greater distance. Be careful not to fly too far past him. Shortly before the impact, press the faded button again to cause additional damage to Princess Peach. After landing, return to the carrier platform, charge up energy if necessary and prepare the next attack.
The second phase: Fighting back green tanks
Once Bowser Jr. has lost about a third of his life energy, his strategy changes. The stinged fields are partially covered and the boss begins to hurl several green Koopa tanks over the battlefield. These bounce off the walls and can also hit Princess Peach from a greater distance. Do not try to escape them permanently just by evasion. Instead, you use the umbrella to fend off the tank with a timely sprint attack.
Point Princess Peach as closely as possible at an approaching tank and ram it as soon as it comes within range. The umbrella protects the colossus from the direct hit and throws the projectile back. This technique is especially helpful when Bowser Jr. is behind another barbed thrower. In this case, wait until the smaller Enemies throws a big spike ball at you. Strike her back with Peach’s Sprint so that she flies as directly as possible against Bowser Jr. If the boss is hit, he loses his balance and you get the opportunity for a jump again.
At this stage, do not try to follow Bowser Jr. directly for long periods of time. Due to the many incoming tanks, you quickly lose energy and risk unnecessary hits. Instead, watch the position of the smaller Enemies and use their bullets targeted against the boss. As soon as Bowser Jr. is dazed on the floor, you should reset a jump as quickly as possible. Especially on the smooth ice surfaces, it is important to have enough distance for a clean start-up movement.
The third phase: Bowser Jrs. Bombs
After the boss has lost another large part of his life energy, the last phase of the fight begins. Bowser Jr. now regularly drops several Bob-ombs behind him as he drives across the battlefield. The bombs are initially in a row on the ground and explode after a short time. Direct contact is dangerous, but Peach’s umbrella allows you to use the enemy shells to your advantage.
Wait until Bowser Jr. drops his bombs and point Princess Peach at one of the outside bombs. Once you have a clear view of the boss, you will carry out a targeted sprint attack against the bomb. This throws it back and flies in the direction of Bowser Jr. If you hit him with the explosion, he is stunned again and falls to the ground. Then you can hurl Princess Peach at him with a jump throw and cause significant damage.
The difficulty is selecting the right bomb and executing the sprint in time. If you wait too long, the entire row explodes and you lose your attack opportunity. On the other hand, you should not immediately rush into the bombs as long as Bowser Jr. is still right next to it. First position yourself as straight as possible to the boss and start the sprint only when the first bomb is convenient. If you miss an opportunity, you don’t have to risk touching an already detonating bomb. Wait for the next attack.
During this phase, also keep an eye on the energy indicator. Due to the repeated sprints, jump throws and evasive maneuvers, it sinks comparatively quickly. Once you get some distance from Bowser Jr., find a dance floor and recharge the energy. If a healing block is within safe reach, you can also restore Peach’s life energy if necessary. After several successful hits by repulsed bombs or barbed bullets and subsequent jump throws, Papercraft Bowser Jr. is finally defeated.
Finding the Bowser brand
After the fight, Bowser Jr. and Papier-Bowser Jr. must realize that their great Papercraft has been destroyed. They retreat together with the two Kameks to the east. Toadette and the rescued Paper Toads are delighted with the successful use of Papercraft Princess Peach, while Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario immediately take up the pursuit. Before entering the next passage, however, you should pick up an important item from the floor.
Along the way lies a striking red Bowser mark that one of the two offspring lost during the Flee. Make sure to pick it up. The emblem shows Bowser’s head and initially acts like an ordinary badge. However, Starlow immediately suspects that it could be a special key. In fact, we have already seen a similar symbol in an earlier stage of the adventure. Where exactly it is needed, we clarify after the next action scene.
Follow the two Bowser offspring east to Bowser’s Villa. Once there, you have to realize that you are again late. Bowser Jr. and Papier-Bowser Jr. have already prepared a new means of transport and bring Princess Peach and Papier-Princess Peach away. Despite all efforts on Mount Brrr, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario do not manage to free the two princesses. The kidnappers continue with their prisoners towards Bowser’s Castle.
Mario and Luigi are still trying to follow the fleeing opponents, but get dangerously close to the edge of a steep cliff. Paper Mario turns into a big paper plane in time and thus prevents his two companions from falling unabated into the depths. Instead, the group slides down to a previously inaccessible section of the lower mountain.
What is the Bowser brand about?
After landing, Starlow shows once again the found Bowser brand. She is sure that Mario and Luigi have already seen the symbol somewhere. In the following conversation you have to answer several questions. First, choose Twinsy Tropics as the place where the matching icon is located. At the next question you decide on the Rogueport Underground. Finally, you state that the emblem was seen on a strange wall.
This reminds the group of the large locked door with the Bowser symbol, which we discovered during our fleet from the Rogueport Underground. At that time, she could not open with the Trio Hammer or with the other abilities. The red Bowser mark is likely to be exactly the item needed to unlock the door. Our next goal is to return to the Twinsy Tropics rogueport underground and the previously blocked access to Bowser’s Castle.
The last finds on the lower mountain path
Before you leave Mount Brrr, you should examine the newly reached lower area. Since you landed on a previously inaccessible platform after the flee of the two Bowser offspring, you can collect several items here that we could not reach during the ascent. First go to the northern rock face and drill into the sandy surface. Behind the upper corner are other X-marks with buried coins and beans. Examine them with the trio drill before you leave the wall.
On the eastern side of the platform are also two? blocks with 50 coins each. Open both and then follow the path south. This allows you to reach an exit that leads directly into the Doop Doop Dunes. This connection is particularly convenient because we do not have to descend the entire Mount Brrr and then cross the Gloomy Woods.
Back to the Doop Doop Dunes
Leave the mountain through the southern exit and enter the Doop Doop Dunes again. This time you reach a section that was blocked by high rocks and other obstacles on the first visit. Thanks to the trio drill, you can now also examine the round X marks in the sand and collect the buried beans. Especially on the larger sandy areas hide several valuable status improvements, which you should take directly on the way to the next area.
First go south and follow the path over the higher sand platforms. In some places you can now drill under the low cardboard obstacles, which were still insurmountable on our first visit. Examine the reachable grave sites and open the? blocks that stand on the new route. Near the Lakitu Info Center, you will also find a Heart-Block that allows you to restore your HP and BP. Especially if you have consumed many supplies during the last Papercraft battle, a short break is recommended here.
Continue on the southern path until Arrow Sign, which points towards the Twinsy Tropics. Shortly before the transition, you will again meet the Papier Goomba, whom you helped during your imprisonment in the Rogueport Underground. He has now also decided to reach Bowser’s Castle and offers his support to Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario. Although Mario is not very enthusiastic at first, the unusual companion joins the group. Shortly afterwards, you will face several larger Enemies in the way, which you can defeat with your now much stronger pair and trio attacks.
After the fight, you continue your way east and enter the Twinsy Tropics again. There is now the big door with the Bowser symbol, which we had already discovered during the prison outbreak. With the red Bowser brand, we can finally open it and unlock a new path to Bowser’s Castle.
Continue with the Twinsy Tropics rogueport underground and the way to Bowser’s Castle. There we can expect new paper-toad rescue missions, more collectibles and finally the confrontation with the next Koopalings. The previously unlocked trio capabilities also allow us to fully explore several byways of the Rogueport Underground that are unreachable on the first visit.