Welcome to the heart of this guide, the walkthrough of course! Whether you decide to read straight through or jump straight to the area you're having problems with, you should be able to find the answers to all your questions. There is more than enough here to get you through the game, and then some.

This walkthrough is very detailed so that any player ought to be able to complete the game by using this, regardless of their playing ability or the lack thereof. As long as you understand the directions north, south, east, and west, you should be fine. North means to press up on the control stick, south means to press down, west means to press left, and east means to press right. I have used these commands rather than up, down, left, and right because up and down could also mean climbing or descending, not just going towards or away from the screen.

Admittedly, while this guide is written for the brain-dead, it is not written for the blind. You will need to have some powers of observation to get through this game. For example, when I refer to the "bush to the north", the bush may not be directly north of you, but it is in that general direction. In order to have made it exact, I would have had to write exactly how many footsteps to walk in each direction. Um, sorry, I didn't do that. This walkthrough is also not intended for those who cannot click on links. For example, when a boss is mentioned, this walkthrough will not tell you how to defeat it, but will instead provide a link to that boss via the boss guide. If you can't click links, the information you receive will be limited.

Without further ado, I present to you, my Paper Mario walkthrough.

Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight

Prologue: A Plea From the Stars

Peach's Castle
Goomba Village
Jr. Troopa's Playground
Goomba Village (2)
Goomba Road

Peach's Castle

After the introduction sequence, you'll find yourself in Peach's Castle. Luigi won't let you leave, so you'd better go find Peach. You can talk to the people along the way if you like, but you won't hear anything important. Most of the doors are locked, but the one just to the right of the first flight of stairs is unlocked, and of course so are the large doors at the top of both flights of stairs. Make your way through the castle and you'll find Peach.

Things won't remain peachy for long as Bowser's Castle will lift out of the ground, with Peach's on top of it. Soon after, Bowser and Kammy Koopa will smash through the window, and after some big talk from Bowser, it will be time for your first fight of the game, against Bowser!

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Goomba Village

After your battle record sinks to a pathetic 0-1, you'll be blasted out of Peach's Castle. The prologue will officially be announced, and you'll end up unconscious in a clearing near Goomba Village. After some stuff happens, you'll wake up in a Toad House and be able to move around again. Speak to the Goomba neighbors if you wish, but especially be sure to talk to the Goomba closest to the gate on the right. After he laments about his gate, Kammy will turn up and show off her amazing powers by dropping a Yellow Block right on top of it. That's enough to cause a halt to your progress, and to send Goompapa into hysterics.

Goompapa will tell you to find Goompa, who is supposedly on the veranda in back of the house with a Hammer that may come in handy. So, go into the house east of the Toad House, find the door in the north wall, and be ready to take your second fall of the game.

Mario had better start shaping up if he wants to have any chance of defeating Bowser this time. He has already lost to Bowser, has taken two falls, and has yet to win a battle. Not a very good start! Oh well.

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Jr. Troopa's Playground
Enemies: Goomba, Paragoomba, Spiked Goomba
Boss: Jr. Troopa
Items: Dolly, Fire Flower, Hammer, Mushroom

After you stand up, walk to the right and you'll find Goompa, who will tell you some useless things. Well, maybe not, but at least it is if you're reading this walkthough, cuz I'll tell you everything you need to know. After he joins you, take the west exit and search for the Hammer.

You'll be in a clearing with some trees, bushes, and blocks. The Hammer is hidden behind one of the bushes, and you'll need to hunt for it by inspecting each bush. Just walk up to one and press A when a ! appears over your head. Now, I could tell you which bush is hiding the Hammer, but then you wouldn't get into the practice of always inspecting every bush. (Pss! It's the bush farthest to the left!)

After you get your Hammer, you can use it on the blocks and the trees in this area. Some of the trees may be holding coins, and the tree nearest the right has a Dolly stuck in it. Also, the wooden block on the ground closest to the right has some coins in it. The faster you hit the block, the more coins you'll get, so keep Hammering it until no more coins come out.

Once you've milked this area for everything it's got, leave through the path you came in... if you can. First you'll have to deal with the local bully, Jr. Troopa. After you defeat him, make a second attempt to leave and you'll find yourself back in the area you fell into. Hammer the ? Block just south of where you entered this time, and Hammer the tree just north of the Yellow Block for a Mushroom. Oh yeah, and Hammer the Yellow Block too. Once past, make use of the Heart Box, and use the Spring in the back to pick up some coins and a Fire Flower. Finally, use the east exit to start your journey back to Goomba Village.

You'll need to travel a short path before you make it back there. You'll meet Goombas (evil ones this time), Spiked Goombas, and Paragoombas. Your biggest concern is to make sure that you do not Jump on the Spiked Goombas... it hurts. Other than that, remember to keep attacking the same enemy until it is defeated, so that you quickly eliminate some of the forces causing damage to you. Also, remember that you can get a First Strike by Hammering or Jumping on an enemy before it hits you. These enemies will not try to attack you in Field Mode, but it would be a good idea to practice taking enemies by surprise, as making the First Strike, and avoiding the enemy's, will become increasing important. By the way, jumping on a Spiked Goomba in Field Mode counts as a bad thing, as your First Strike will come in the form of a Jump attack.

You can find your first Star Piece in this area. When you see a Paragoomba, you'll be able to head west up a little cliff just above the path where you had previously been. You'll see a Goomba, a tree, and then a Star Piece. These are good things to collect, so try to reach them whenever you spot one.

Take the east exit and you'll find yourself back in Goomba Village.

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Goomba Village (2)
Item: Goomnut
Badge: Power Jump

When you return to the town of the Goombas, Goompa will go into his house in search of something. Goombario and Goombaria will rap with you for a while, and if you found the Dolly you can give it back to Goombaria in exchange for a Star Piece and, um, a kiss. Well, you should give it to her anyway. When Goompa comes back, he'll give you your first Badge, the Power Jump Badge. You should put it on, since there's no reason not to. Goompa will also let you keep the Hammer, as if you were going to give it back anyway. Oh, and Goombario will join your party. Greeeaaat.

Well, you've done enough damage here. After you Hammer the Yellow Block Kammy left, and also the tree just north of it for a Goomnut, you'll be ready to split. Well, a rest at the Toad House might be nice, but then you can go. Maybe.

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Goomba Road
Enemies: Goomba, Paragoomba, Spiked Goomba
Bosses: Red Goomba and Blue Goomba, Goomba King with Red Goomba and Blue Goomba
Items: Mushroom, Super Mushroom
Badge: Close Call

Some Goombas and their buddies will try to stop you from reaching Toad Town, but you won't let them, will you? Stubborn.

The sign right near the entrance shows a Goomba, and if you inspect it a Goomba will jump off the sign and chase you. Make your way east and exit to the next area. You'll find a second sign, this time with a picture of a Mushroom on it. Inspect this sign and you will be able to pick up that Mushroom. Continue moving east, and be sure to hit the red block for a Close Call Badge. You have the BP for it, so you may as well put it on. Just before the exit to the next area, there will be a Heart Box. Hit it and move on.

The next area contains a Spring. Approach it and you'll be stopped by Red Goomba and Blue Goomba. Defeat them, then backtrack to the Heart Box, and then go southeast of the Spring to find a Save Box.

And now, it's time for a break in the action. I broke this guide into so many parts so that the walkthrough could run smoothly, but I need to say something about level ups. You may have earned one by now, or else you should get one very soon. You should be thinking about what level up bonus to pick, HP, FP, or BP. My advice is that you take HP for the first two or so level ups, because with only 10 HP you're never far from losing. After that, you might want to take FP for a level or two so that you can use your special attacks. After that, you may want to start concentrating most of your level ups into BP, as you'll start collecting a slew of useful Badges, and you'll want to wear them all. So, basically, take some HP first, then a little FP, then a lot of BP with some HP mixed in, and then finish off with HP and FP near the end of the game. That's my sagely advice. Now get back to playing!

You can use the Spring and continue heading east. You'll find yourself on another stretch of path. The sign shows a picture of a Mushroom, but this time it's really a Goomba which will again pop off the sign and chase you. Continue east.

When you enter the next area you'll be treated to a cut scene, after which it will be time to battle Goomba King with Red Goomba and Blue Goomba. After you beat them up, they'll run into their little fortress, which is barely tall enough to hold the king. Hammer the tree to the north for a Star Piece, and examine the light green bush just south of the fort to find a blue Switch. Jump on it or Hammer it, and then Goomba King will have some words with you. It won't help him, though, as the fort will break up and reform the missing bridge. Cross the bridge, but before you use the east exit, check southwest after the white fence ends and you should find a wooden block on the ground. Hammer it and a ? Block will appear nearby. Hit it and collect the Super Mushroom inside, and save it as it is a very good item at this stage of the game. Now you can use the east exit.

Kammy Koopa will fly off, probably to tattle on you to Bowser, but don't worry about her. You've completed the Prologue, so congratulations! Chapter One is next, so let's get to it.

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