After the fall from the suspension bridge, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario land deep under the desert in the Doop Doop Dunes Grotto. Of the two huge pokeys responsible for the crash, every trace is initially missing. A glance up shows, however, that the Enemies are still on the bridge and block the way to Bowser’s Castle. On their own, the three brothers cannot climb the high rock walls, which is why they first have to find another exit from the underground cave system. Fortunately, right at the beginning of the grotto is a Heart-Block, with which you can restore the HP and BP of your entire group. Use it and then examine the area south of the stairs. On one of the raised protrusions stand two? blocks with two syrup glasses, which you should collect before the onward journey.
Follow the route south until several large cactus block the passage. Unlike ordinary desert plants, these obstacles cannot be removed with a single hammer strike. Each cactus consists of several superimposed segments and a larger head. First knock off the lower body parts with the normal hammers. As a result, the cactus loses height, but begins to grow again after a short time. As soon as only the head is left, you immediately switch to the Trio Hammer and destroy it with a joint stroke of all three characters. Repeat this on the remaining cacti and go through the exposed passageway to the next section of the cave.
The First Warp Pipe and a New Abbreviation
In the following area, watercourses and deep abysses separate several small rock islands from each other. On the first island stands a green warp pipe that brings you back to the surface. Enter it first, instead of immediately examining the remaining ways of the grotto. Outside you can see a large cactus with a red color switch. Stand in front of it and hit the button with the hammer. A large stone platform rises from the sand and creates a connection between the previously separated desert areas. This shortcut makes it much easier for you to return later, which is why we activate it right on the first visit.
To the right of it is the suspension bridge from which Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario have fallen before. Try to cross it again. However, the two huge pokeys still wait on the other side and immediately transport the group back to the grotto. Without an additional ability, we will not get any further. After landing, run over the already known path back to the green warp pipe. This time, however, you do not enter it, but turn to the west. There begins the real path through the underground caves.
Use the cactus balls correctly
To the left of the warp pipe, several cactus block the passage again. First remove their lower segments with the normal hammer and then destroy the heads with the trio hammer. Follow the exposed passage further west until you reach a second, much larger cave. Here you will find numerous separate platforms, over which Mario and Luigi cannot simply move with an ordinary jump. Particularly striking are the small round cactus balls that grow on several protrusions. They are the key to the following puzzles, because with a targeted hammer strike you can hurl the balls over longer distances and destroy other cacti.
First go all the way south and jump on the small lead with the first cactus ball. Position Mario so that the opposite cactus lies exactly in its striking direction. Then hit the ball with the hammer. She flies over the abyss and hits the cactus on the other side, which is completely destroyed. Now you can jump to the released platform. There is a red color switch on a rock. Press it with the hammer, whereupon another stone platform rises from the water. This creates a new transition to the West.
Before you follow the new path, you should collect the accessible? blocks of this cave. On the island with the green warp pipe lies a 10-coin crystal block, another is on the immediately west island. Near the left waterfall you will also find a series of blocks with a total of 50 coins. Via the steps to the left of the waterfall you reach a 10-coin crystal block. At the very end of the bypass there is an additional 50-coin crystal block. Take these supplies with you before you dedicate yourself to the more complicated platform puzzles. The coins will later be useful for the equipment and the various rescue missions.
The mobile platforms
Now cross the previously raised stone platform and follow the way west. On the opposite side you see another cactus ball. Hit her so she meets the big cactus on the moving platform. Once the obstacle has disappeared, you can get to the platform with the team jump. Make sure that all three characters really land on the surface. The platform then starts automatically and takes you to the next lead on the left.
Jump off there and first go to the lower right area of the platform system. Here is a single advantage that you can achieve with a joint jump. Jump over the gap and enter the next moving platform. It takes you to the left to another platform that starts moving as soon as the group stands on it. During the journey, you will pass two large cactuses that block the later path. On your platform, a cactus ball grows again. Hit them with the hammer towards the two obstacles. You have to hit the ball at the right moment so that it reaches the cacti and does not fly past the abyss.
After that, drive to the end and jump on the solid rock outcrop. From there you can get back down into the central cave area. In addition, take the accessible blocks in this section: In the southern area there is a group with a total of 50 coins, in the west you will find a hammer as an item of equipment, in the north another ten coins and in the northeastern corner three mushrooms. You should not overlook the hammer. Compare it directly in the equipment menu with your previously used weapons and equip it if necessary.
The spring plate and the last cactus
Now go to the increased lead in the center of the cave. There is a striking hanging! Block. Jump against it from below and a large jumping plate appears on the floor. Stand on it with the entire trio. The Cape Feather hurls Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario onto a higher-altitude driving platform in the east. While standing on it, you pass by two more cactus. Again strike the hammer against the ready cactus ball and destroy both obstacles so that the subsequent path is clear.
After that, return to the first lead and follow the path to the east that is now open. On the way, you have to overcome even smaller gaps with the team jump. At the end you reach another red color switch on a rock. Strike it and the last stone platform needed rises from the water. This solves the great platform puzzle of the grotto. Cross the newly formed connection and enter the green warp pipe at the end of the path. It finally brings you back to the surface of the Doop Doop Dunes.
Saving Seven Paper Toads in the Desert
As soon as you have reached the surface again, an excited paper toad runs towards you. He reports that several of his friends have been captured by Fly Guys and are scattered across the desert area. The Enemies carry their prisoners through the air on long ropes and are often not reachable with normal jumps. Therefore, you have to use the scattered jumping plates and cardboard projections to get to the carriers. In total, seven paper toads are waiting for their rescue. There is only a limited time available for the entire task, which is why you should work off the locations without any major detours.
Start immediately at the starting point. The first paper toad is carried by a Fly Guy who hovers over a small lead. Use the nearby spring plate and let yourself be hurled to the elevated platform. Run to the Enemies and touch it to trigger a fight. Defeat the Fly Guy and the captured Paper Toad is freed. Then follow the elevated path to the north. There you will already discover the second Fly Guy, but a staircase of large gray blocks blocks your access to his platform.
The correct order of the block stairs
The following puzzle looks more complicated than it actually is. You must not destroy the gray blocks indiscriminately, because some of them are needed as jumping surfaces. Start on the left and use the Trio Hammer to destroy the two left blocks of the first row. Then you remove the two blocks in the middle. Finally, you only destroy the extreme right Block. This maintains a walk-in staircase, via which you can reach the required jumping plates.
Now stand on the left springboard and let yourself be catapulted onto the remaining gray blocks. From there you jump to the next jumping plate and then to the blocks on the far right. Here the second Fly Guy waits with his prisoner. Defeat him in battle and save the second paper toad. Then you can continue directly to the east via the existing platforms.
The third paper toad is on the far right in the area. Its carrier floats over another raised surface. Use the jumping plates again and jump over to the Fly Guy. After defeating him, you go back west on the upper path. Over the large rock already floats the carrier of the fourth paper toad. You can also reach it with the help of the spring plates. When bouncing, make sure that the Enemies is not too far from the platform so that you can touch it without further attempts.
The fifth paper toad can be found at the group of large stones in the northwest. Climb over the nearby diving plate on the raised rock formation and defeat the Fly Guy waiting there. You have already saved five of the seven paper toads. For the last two, you must now return to the right side of the area. There begins a large sandslide that pulls down from the top edge. Stand on the catapult platform and let yourself be hurled to the upper part of the slide. Once you land, you automatically slide down. On or next to the slide are two Fly Guys, each carrying a paper toad. Reach them over the existing projections and defeat both in separate battles.
After defeating the last Enemies, all seven paper toads are saved. The mission ends and Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario return to the Lakitu Info Centre in the nearby desert village. We have already brought another group of paper toads to safety, but for the construction that should take us up to the huge pokeys, some helpers are still missing.
Explore the Desert Village
Before you start the next mission, you should examine the small Toad village more closely. Near the Lakitu Info Center are several? blocks, the contents of which you can reach without additional skills. Right next to the blue flowers west of the building you will find ten coins. Another 10-coin crystal block stands south of the green warp pipe that leads back to the grotto. In the house to the left of the Info Centre are blocks with a total of 50 coins. To the right of the info centre you will receive four ghost cookies in another house. Also in front of this right house are blocks with together 50 coins. Collect all items directly before taking care of the rescue missions.
If necessary, also use the Heart-Block and check your supplies. In the grotto you have met some new Enemies, including Stachis, Papier-Stachis and Sandmaargh. Especially against the spiky Enemies you should continue to do without ordinary jump attacks and instead use hammer, pair or trio attacks. Paper Mario’s copies are also helpful because you can use them to catch several enemy hits. If you have collected the hammer from the western grotto area, it is worth taking a quick look at the equipment menu to compare its values with your previous equipment.
Rescue Mission: The Stone Prison
Speak to the right Lakitu at the Lakitu Info Center and start the Mission The Stone Prison. This time you have to free three paper toads that have been trapped between large stone blocks. Unlike the previous task, it depends less on speed than on the right order. The heavy blocks can be destroyed by your hammer strikes, but if you remove a stone inadvertently, the remaining blocks can fall down and crush a paper toad.
Therefore, first examine the arrangement of the stones and pay attention to where the three prisoners stand. First, remove the blocks that block direct access to one of the paper toads without simultaneously destroying a load-bearing support for the stones above. Work from the free sides slowly inwards. If a rock block is immediately above a toad, you should first open another side of the prison and take the resident out of the danger zone. Especially the lower blocks must not be removed ill-considered, because the stones lying on them can otherwise slip.
For the big gray obstacles, use the Trio Hammer and destroy smaller stones with the normal hammers. After each stroke, you should briefly check whether the rest of the construction has changed. As soon as a paper toad is free, talk to him so that he disappears from prison. Repeat the procedure with the other two residents. Once all three paper toads are uninjured, the rescue mission is successfully completed and you return to the Lakitu Info Center.
Rescue mission: recovery from quicksand
Next, the mission starts salvage from the quicksand. Five paper toads were thrown into a sandy slope and can no longer free themselves on their own. As you move across the terrain, larger obstacles slide down the slope again and again. In addition to heavy blocks, this also includes bob-ombs, which can explode when touched or after a short time. The task is therefore to collect the five paper toads as quickly as possible and at the same time avoid the falling obstacles.
First, observe from which side the first blocks and bob-ombs come. Then move as close as possible to the paper toads and avoid larger obstacles laterally. You can destroy the stone blocks with the hammer if necessary, provided you have enough time. For Bob-ombs, distance is the better choice. Do not try to stop a bomb with a rash blow when it is already immediately before the explosion. The five paper toads are distributed along the slope. Work your way from side to side so you don’t have to run through the same danger zone several times.
Once you have collected all five paper toads, the mission is complete and you return to the Lakitu Info Center. A total of 15 paper toads were saved in this chapter: seven in the first Fly Guy mission, three in the stone prison and five from the quicksand. Together with the 50 paper toads from the previous chapters, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario have now brought 65 inhabitants of the paper world to safety.
The Papertrampoline and Trio Kite
After the last rescue mission, a delivery toad appears in the Lakitu Info Center. He has a box from Peach’s Castle with him. Toadette and the rescued paper toads have now found a solution to our problem with the giant pokeys: a large cardboard rampoline strong enough to hurl Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario onto the higher platform below the suspension bridge. Take the trampoline. This gives us another item that can also be used in some other places in the Mushroom Kingdom in the future.
In addition, the delivery toad presents you with a new Trio Attack for Paper Mario: Trio Kite. This particularly effective technique requires 8 BP and is excellent against single strong Enemies. In the attack, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario raise a big dragon. Press the keys A, B and Y one after the other as quickly as possible so that the kite continues to rise. The faster the key inputs succeed, the greater the flight altitude and thus the later damage.
During the attack, Paper Mario climbs up the dragon string. Once he has reached the correct position, his copies begin to stack on top of each other. Then press Y at the moment displayed so that Paper Mario crashes down on the Enemies with his copies. When clean, Trio Kite does a lot of damage. The attack will be useful to us against the two huge pokeys because it can attack their heads directly.
With the paper rampoline back to the bridge
Leave the Lakitu Info Center and head to the green Warp Pipe, through which you previously came from the grotto. Enter it and follow the famous cave path back to the starting point below the suspension bridge. Thanks to the open stone platforms and removed cactus, you don’t have to solve most puzzles again. Stick to the paths already exposed and return to the Heart-Block, which was accessible immediately after the crash.
Next to the Heart-Block you can see a large grey marked floor area. This is where the new cardboard rampoline can be used. Place Mario on the marked spot and select the appropriate item. The trio builds the trampoline and can now jump on it. Due to the strong spring action Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario are thrown high into the air. Press the faded button at the right moment to continue the jump and hold onto the higher platform. After the successful jump, the three finally face the two pokeys, which they have pushed several times from the bridge.
Before you start the fight, you should completely replenish your life energy and restore paper Mario’s copies. The two pokeys attack simultaneously and can reach all characters with their long bodies. Sufficient BP for Trio Kite and Marios and Luigis Bros. Attacks are therefore particularly important.
Big Pokey and Tower Power Pokey
On the upper platform are Big Pokey and Tower Power Pokey. Both Enemies consist of several large, spiky body segments and a moving head. The Tower Power Pokey comes from the paper world and carries a striking orange crystal on its head. Although both Enemies have different attacks, they follow a similar strategy in combat: They try to hit Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario with their long bodies, while their heads remain out of the reach of ordinary attacks.
At first, you should focus on their body segments. Ordinary jumps are dangerous against the spiky bodies, which is why you prefer with the hammer or suitable bros. Attacking attacks. Each destroyed body ball shortens the respective pokey and thus reduces its range. However, removing all body parts alone is not enough to defeat the Enemies. The vital energy of the head is crucial. Once a pokey has lost enough segments, its head is easier to reach and can be hit directly with stronger attacks.
Destroying the body segments
First, use attacks that can hit as many body segments as possible. Especially Luigi’s Fire Flower is effective against the two cacti because fire attacks cause them considerable damage. The previously obtained Trio Kite, on the other hand, can be aimed directly at a head. Use it especially if you want to significantly reduce the life energy of one of the two bosses. However, make sure that both pokeys remain approximately the same height. If one of them has considerably more body segments than the other, the Enemies can regenerate their lost parts again. It is therefore worthwhile to remove the segments as evenly as possible, instead of just beating a pokey always shorter.
Big Pokey rolls sideways across the battlefield during one of his attacks and tries to hit the entire group. Watch his movement closely. The fewer body segments he has, the shorter his attack. The Tower Power Pokey can also curl up and race towards individual characters. Here you often need a well-timed hammer counter to fight back the attack. In addition, the paper pokey can fling individual body balls of its partner in your direction. These bullets can also be defended with the hammer if you take the right moment.
Joint persecution attack
The fight becomes particularly dangerous when both Pokeys start a joint rush. Mario and Luigi must run away from the opponents and jump over the rolling bodies at the same time. Watch the distance closely and press the jump buttons only when the pokeys approach immediately. Paper Mario transforms into a paper flyer during part of this sequence. Once Big Pokey rushes towards one of the brothers, the affected character can hold on to the plane and thus avoid the attack. The Tower Power Pokey, on the other hand, folds before its attack and can be overcome with a normal jump.
If you manage to avoid several attacks in a row, the two bosses finally get out of balance and fall to the ground. Use this moment for the strongest possible attacks on their heads. Especially the Trio Kite is suitable for this, if you still have enough BP. Alternatively, you can use Mario’s Rocket Blast or Luigis Drill Shell. Just be careful not to use up your healing and BP supplies completely, because the last phase of the struggle can become challenging once again.
Defeat both pokeys
Once you have finally defeated one of the two pokeys, the remaining Enemies gets into a rage. His attacks become faster and stronger, so you should get the second boss done as quickly as possible. For a safe strategy, it is therefore recommended to bring both heads to a low HP level beforehand. Distribute your stronger attacks so that the second pokey needs only a few hits after the death of his partner. If your characters are already battered, heal them in time with mushrooms or nuts. You should also renew Maria’s paper copies so that he does not become incapacitated by a single failed counterattack.
After several successful hits, both pokeys are finally defeated. You will receive Experience Point and coins as well as additional equipment as a possible combat reward. Especially the now learned attack patterns will help you with later Pokey opponents. The path over the bridge is finally clear.
The upper blocks of the grotto
Before you finally leave the grotto, you should examine the now accessible upper area. After defeating the two pokeys, you can move across the platforms east of the battlefield and reach more? blocks. Two of them each contain ten coins. Also waiting in the northeastern corner is a candy who can restore a character’s HP and BP.
In this area there is also a narrow passage, which only Paper Mario can pass through. Send it through alone and open the Block behind it. Inside is a pair of HP gloves that you can use to improve their equipment. Be sure to take these items with you before using the upper exit. The grotto does not have to be entered again only because of the blocks left behind.
Then follow the upper path back to the surface. Cross the now free suspension bridge and open the still accessible 50-coin crystal block on the other side. After that, the action continues towards Bowser’s Castle.
Kamek and Paper Kamek block the way
As soon as Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario have crossed the bridge, Kamek and Paper Kamek appear again. The two wizards have been commissioned to finally stop you and proudly present their latest construction: the Papercraft Kamek. This large cardboard opponent floats above the ground and is protected by several magic rings. With the ordinary attacks of the three brothers nothing can be done against him. Fortunately, Toadette arrives shortly after. With the help of the rescued Paper Toads, she has completed another colossus of her own: the Papercraft Luigi.
Unlike Papercraft Mario, Luigi has a large hammer. With it, he can also attack spiky Enemies from the air, which you would have better not touched with the previous colossus. Before the actual fight against Kamek begins, you must first defeat several smaller box colossuses. These are ordinary cardboard goombas and larger cardboard pokeys. Use the Goombas to get used to the controls again and collect as much energy as possible on the dance floors.
Papercraft Luigi against Kamek’s army
You can ram the small cardboard goombas with a sprint attack as in the first colossal fight. Take enough time and align Luigi directly on the Enemies. Once the Goomba is hit, it flies back and loses some of its life energy. The cardboard pokeys, on the other hand, are covered with numerous spike traps. Do not ram her head-on, because Luigi is hurting herself. Instead, use his special ability and perform a jump throw or hammer attack from above. This way you can also damage the spiky Enemies safely.
During battles, watch for the energy indicator of your colossus. As soon as it sinks too far, you should visit one of the marked dance floors and press the faded buttons in the right rhythm. With every successful input, Luigi receives new energy. Try to fill up the display as much as possible before attacking the next larger Enemies. In addition, there are some? blocks on the battlefield from which you can receive healing objects. Use it if your life energy has already dropped significantly.
Once the smaller cardboard colossuses have been defeated, the real boss finally appears.
Boss Fight: Papercraft Kamek
The Papercraft Kamek hovers over the battlefield and is surrounded by two large blue rings. These rings form a magic protective barrier that injures Luigi when touched directly. Therefore, do not try to just run into the boss at full speed. Unlike the Papercraft Goomba, this strategy does not work here. You must attack Kamek from above so that Luigi overcomes the rings and lands directly on the Enemies.
First, move into a safe area of the arena and watch Kamek move his rings. As soon as he is in a favorable position, Du Luigi point at him and make a jump. Make sure you meet the boss as closely as possible. A hit from above does significant damage, while a missed jump can get you into the middle of the dangerous rings.
The Red Rings
After a few hits, Kamek’s protective rings regularly begin to glow red. This is a clear warning signal: shortly afterwards, the rings expand and capture a much larger area of the combat field. Keep enough distance at this moment and do not try to land another hit quickly. First, move back and wait until the rings have returned to their normal size. Only then do you approach again and set off for another jump.
Meanwhile, Kamek moves continuously across the arena. Therefore, do not try to follow him with a permanently activated sprint. This only unnecessarily consumes energy and risks getting directly into the protective barrier. Instead, move in short sections, watch the boss’s position and attack as soon as a safe opportunity arises.
Magic bullets in the second phase
Once Kamek has lost about half of his life energy, his attack pattern changes. In addition to the two protective rings, he now shoots magic bullets that can fly over the battlefield and hit Luigi. Therefore, not only keep an eye on the boss himself, but also on the flight direction of his projectiles. Dodge the floors sideways and find a dance floor if necessary to replenish your energy.
The attack from above remains your most important way to harm Kamek. Wait for a break between his shells and watch the protective rings. As soon as they no longer shine red and Kamek is in a favorable position, you jump over the barrier with Luigi and land as exactly as possible on the boss. Repeat this strategy until Papercraft Kamek is completely destroyed.
With the victory Kamek and Paper Kamek flee again. Toadette and her helpers are delighted about the successful use of Papercraft Luigi. The road to Bowser’s Castle seems to be finally free.
The Road to Bowser’s Castle
After the Colossian battle, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario can continue their way east. Follow the uncovered track and remove any remaining Enemies along the way. In front of the next bridge there are several? blocks and small sideways that you should examine before moving on. Also take the opportunity to replenish your HP and BP. Even if the previous Enemies have been defeated, the three brothers are immediately before Bowser’s Castle and must expect another attack at any time.
As soon as they enter the next suspension bridge, the group is stopped again. A massive cannonball breaks into the bridge and destroys a large part of the construction. A second bullet hits Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario immediately and throws them to the ground. All three lose consciousness and can no longer defend themselves against the approaching Enemies.
Shortly after, Roy, Wendy, Larry and Ludwig appear together with a group of football chucks. The Koopalings recognize the unconscious brothers and decide to capture them. While Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario are being transported away, Luigi falls unnoticed from the mysterious book from Peach’s Castle. A little later, Bowser Jr. and Papier-Bowser Jr. discover the book and take it for themselves. This puts not only the two princesses, but also the entire paper world in even greater danger.
When the three heroes reunite, they find themselves in a locked prison far from the desert. Their equipment and several important blocks of action were taken from them. Before they can continue the search for the princesses, they must first find a way out of captivity.
Continue into the Twinsy Tropics rogueport underground, where Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario must escape from their dungeon, retrieve their stolen gear and compete against the first Koopalings.