Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
- This article is about the game for the Nintendo 3DS. For the level from Super Mario Maker of the same name, see Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (level).
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam | |||||||||||||
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For alternate box art, see the game's gallery. | |||||||||||||
Developer | AlphaDream Switch Entertainment Inc. Digital Works Entertainment Will Co., Ltd. Sound Racer Ltd. | ||||||||||||
Publisher | Nintendo | ||||||||||||
Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS | ||||||||||||
Release date | December 3, 2015 December 3, 2015 December 3, 2015 December 4, 2015 December 10, 2015 January 22, 2016 May 26, 2016 | ||||||||||||
Language(s) | English (United Kingdom) English (United States) French (France) French (Canada) German Spanish (Spain) Spanish (Latin America) Italian Dutch Portuguese (Portugal) Russian Japanese Korean | ||||||||||||
Genre | Role-playing | ||||||||||||
Rating(s) |
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Mode(s) | Single-player | ||||||||||||
Format | Nintendo 3DS: Game Card Digital download
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Input | Nintendo 3DS:
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Serial code(s) | CTR-AYNJ-JPN CTR-AYNE-USA |
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (known as Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. in European languages) is an RPG for the Nintendo 3DS. The fifth game in the Mario & Luigi series, it features a crossover with the Paper Mario series. As such, the game uses the same engine and some of the same graphics as its predecessor and contains elements from Paper Mario: Sticker Star. The plot revolves around Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario trying to stop Bowser and Paper Bowser from taking over the Mushroom Kingdom using their combined armies. It is the second Mario & Luigi game for the Nintendo 3DS, as well as the final original game in the series to be developed by AlphaDream. The game required 3,444 blocks (440.8 MB) if downloaded from the Nintendo eShop; however, the game was removed from the service after its discontinuation on March 27, 2023, making it no longer possible for players to purchase the game, although players who purchased the title before this date can still play it as long as it is on their Nintendo 3DS system. The name comes from the phrase "paper jam", a malfunction in a computer's printer or a photocopier or similar device occurring when sheets of paper become jammed inside, and "jam", an informal word for an issue or predicament.
Story
The story begins with Luigi and a Toad entering the attic of Peach's Castle, looking for the source of a draft. Luigi is spooked by a Scaredy Rat and ends up bumping a bookshelf when he sneezes, opening a mysterious book that contains the Paper Mario world. The Paper characters are released into the Mario & Luigi world, spreading across the Mushroom Kingdom. Paper Toads are seen landing near Toad Villages, while Bowser's minions begin to meet with their paper counterparts. Paper Peach remains at Peach's Castle with Princess Peach, while Paper Bowser, Paper Bowser Jr. and Paper Kamek meet and decide to team up with Bowser, Bowser Jr. and Kamek. Mario, Luigi and Starlow decide to help Paper Peach to find the Paper Toads spread across the Kingdom, as well as Paper Mario. They also meet up with Nabbit, who steals most of the Bros. Attacks that the Toads had prepared, and Toadette, who has taken interest in papercrafting and is inspired to make giant papercrafts with the help of the Paper Toads.
Mario and Luigi head to Sunbeam Plains, where they come across two Paper Goombas, whom they defeat and leave one with a crease. This Goomba returns with reinforcements, and form a Goomba Wheel that defeats the Bros. Shortly afterwards, Paper Mario arrives, defeats the Paper Goombas and saves Mario and Luigi, who team up with Paper Mario to rescue the Paper Toads. However, the Bowser duo arrive at Peach's Castle and kidnap Princess Peach and Paper Peach, leaving behind Petey Piranha to stop them. After his defeat, the Mario trio head to Bowser's Castle to rescue the Princesses, but the way to Doop Doop Dunes is blocked by a Papercraft Goomba. Toadette arrives with Papercraft Mario, which she built with the Paper Toads the Mario Trio rescued, to destroy the Papercraft Megacrinkle Goomba blockade, allowing the trio to access Doop Doop Dunes. As they approach Bowser's Castle beyond the dunes, the Big Pokey Duo knock them off a bridge into the Doop Doop Dunes Grotto. After rescuing some more Paper Toads, they build a trampoline to reach the Pokeys and fight them to escape the grotto. The trio are blocked yet again by the Kamek duo and their Papercraft Kamek, at which point the trio are given Papercraft Luigi to destroy it with. However, right as they are about to reach the castle, they are knocked out by cannonballs that also take down the bridge to the castle. Wendy, Roy, Larry, and Ludwig arrive and order the Chargin' Chuck Corps to take them away to the Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, and the Bowser Jr. duo arrive to collect the book that contained Paper Mario's world, which Luigi dropped after being hauled away.
The trio escape their cell, and battle their Hammer Bro wardens to retrieve their items and Command Blocks. The creased Goomba from earlier returns locked in a cell, and he gives the trio Battle Cards in exchange for freeing him. The trio find out the arrested Toads are being forced to mine Fire Ore by Bowser and Paper Bowser in order to make an "ultimate papercraft," and soon run into a gate with a round-shaped indent in the center, before proceeding to fight against Roy and Wendy to escape the dungeon. Meanwhile, the Bowser Jr. duo annoy the Kameks into giving them a vacation to Bowser's Villa on Mount Brrr and take the Princesses with them. They also try to tell the Bowser duo about the book containing the Paper Mario universe, but are ignored.
The Mario trio, alongside the freed Toads find themselves stranded at Twinsy Tropics. The Paper Toads build a boat for everyone to return to Sunbeam Plains, and the trio returns to Peach's Castle, where a Toad tells them the Princesses were taken to Mount Brrr, which can be accessed through Gloomy Woods. Getting to the woods, the trio find new papercraft terrain that covers and changes the landscape, and even fight a paper version of Petey Piranha. Arriving at the woods, they meet a starving Wiggler who claims to be the guardian of the forest. Paper Kamek soon appears to block the path with junk, which Wiggler considers littering. Feeding the Wiggler eleven berries and a Melon they win from a Yellow Yoshi in a race, the Mario trio use him to break the blockades. The Kamek duo tries to hinder them, with Paper Kamek cursing Wiggler and forcing him to battle the team. After he is defeated and Wiggler is freed, Wiggler turns into a Flutter and flies them to Mount Brrr. At Mount Brrr, the source of paper terrain is revealed to be a summit base, where King Bob-omb, Iggy, Lemmy, and Morton use the cannons to blast the land with papercraft. With the help of Toadette, the Mario trio make it to a Toad Village, where they prepare to build Papercraft Peach to combat Papercraft Bowser Jr. and save the princesses. However, after destroying Papercraft Bowser Jr., the Bowser Jr duo manage to escape with the Princesses and the book unharmed. They accidentally leave behind a Red Medallion, which opens the gate in Twinsy Tropics Dungeon. In order to go there, they cross Doop Doop Dunes again.
While crossing Doop Doop Dunes, they meet up with the Creased Goomba again and travel to the dungeon with him. Along the way, the Mario Trio are ambushed by the Chargin' Chuck Corps and defeat them. Upon reaching the dungeon, the Goomba betrays Mario and Co. to the Fire Bros, who have taken over as wardens; taking the Red Medallion with him. After getting the medallion back, they open the gate which leads to Bowser's Castle, and fight Larry and Ludwig, who try to stop them. Inside Bowser's Castle, the trio encounter the Kamek Duo and their new Papercraft King Boo, which Morton and Lemmy pilot. Luckily, Toadette arrives on time with Papercraft Yoshi. After the trio's Papercraft is victorious, Kamek kidnaps Toadette to prevent the production of more Papercrafts, and prepares to build his own ultimate Papercraft Bowser with the help of his paper form. The group begin searching for Toadette and rescue her shortly afterward. Meanwhile, the Princesses escape and greet the team, but are shortly caught by the Bowser Jr. duo. They initially mean to fight, but after showing the book to them, they realize that the trio had no idea they had the book, so they flee instead. The Mario trio chases them down, but are fooled with a fake book the Bowser Jr. duo uses to escape. After deciding to fight the trio, they are promptly beaten. The Bowser duo come in and, enraged by this, lift the castle into the sky, turning the castle into Neo Bowser Castle. Mario and co. escape the castle, leaving the book behind. As they head back to Peach's Castle the Bowser duo take their revenge by destroying Peach's Castle with cannonballs. Toadette realizes she can build a staircase with the Paper Toads from the summit of Mount Brrr to reach Neo Bowser Castle.
The team begins to make their way through Gloomy Woods to get to Mount Brrr, but due to paper terrain blocking certain paths, end up on the haunted west side. Both Mario and Paper Mario are promptly kidnapped by King Boo and his minions, leaving Luigi alone to find them. Luigi manages to find them, but he and Mario soon realize that "Paper Mario" is King Boo in disguise. Paper Mario is rescued and King Boo is defeated, and the trio meet up with Flutter once again, who flies the trio back to Mount Brrr. At Mount Brrr, the group rescues all the remaining Paper Toads to build the staircase, and proceed to venture to the summit of the mountain. At the Papercraft Base, King Bob-omb appears and proceeds to start a self destruction sequence, whom the trio defeat before the timer runs out. Lakitus then arrive at the summit with a large delivery of Paper Toads to build a staircase to Neo Bowser Castle.
At the castle, they find Toadette, who is defending Papercraft Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi. However, the Kameks release their new Papercraft Bowser, which burns them all to a crisp. Toadette mourns the loss of her work, but then realizes that she could build a Papercraft out of the same material, Fire Ore, which she asks the trio to collect around the castle. The collected ore is used to assemble Papercraft Fire Mario, which then defeats Papercraft Bowser. The Bowsers and Kameks try to stall the Mario trio by dissassembling the bridge to the rest of the castle. As the Mario trio reassembles it, Lemmy, Iggy, and Morton activate a timer that charges up the castle's main cannon for a final blow to destroy any remains of Peach's Castle. The Mario trio manages to break the cannon before proceeding to the final area.
Before they can face the Bowsers, the Kamek Duo fights them, but are defeated. In the final corridor, the Bowser duo sends multiple waves of troops, including Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Spinies, Ninjis, Hammer Bros., Spikes, Shy Guys, Broozers, and finally the Koopalings to finish off the trio. They defeat them all and proceed to challenge Bowser and Paper Bowser themselves, who reveal they plan to trap the Bros. in the now empty book and burn it, both of them subtly hinting that they each wish to trap the other one in as well. After the Bowsers take enough damage, Paper Bowser merges with his entire paper army to create a suit of armor for Bowser; creating Shiny RoboBowser. However, this is not enough, and the trio successfully defeat them. Bowser is sent flying off of Neo Bowser Castle, and plummets to the ground. Paper Bowser makes one last attempt to grab the book, but Paper Mario makes it there first, and the trio seal him in it once more.
Back at Peach's Castle, with the Princesses and Toads gathered at the entrance, the group reunites with their friends. Toadette orchestrates a Papercraft parade, where they tour the lands bringing the terrain and enemies back to the paper world. Afterward, Peach, Mario and Luigi say goodbye to Paper Mario, Paper Peach and the Paper Toads who return to their world. The game ends with Mario and Luigi going off to stop Bowser's plans once again.
Gameplay
The overall gameplay is mostly similar to the previous Mario & Luigi games, though with the addition of a new party member alongside Mario and Luigi: Paper Mario. Players control Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario simultaneously (Paper Mario using ). Because the player now has two characters following after Mario, all three characters can be made to jump simultaneously with the button, which also causes the three to flutter in the air briefly when held. By continuing to hold the button after jumping simultaneously, players can charge up a dash. All three characters also possess hammers. By using all three hammers in quick succession (, , and then ), the trio unleashes a Trio Hammer, or powerful shockwave, that can destroy large blocks. Other moves include the Trio Drill, a reworked version of the Drill Bros.; the Trio Glider, that acts like Mario's Plane Mode from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and the Trio Grab, which can reach far distanced things and throw them.
In battle, players control all three members of the group. Paper Mario, in a first for the series, fights alongside but independently from Mario and Luigi, unlike the Baby Bros. in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, the only other installment to feature characters fighting alongside the Mario Bros. This allows the trio to take three actions in one turn. While Mario and Luigi control similarly to the way they did in Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Paper Mario's abilities set him apart from the other two. Paper Mario is able to create copies of himself as a battle command, which increase the damage he can do in his attacks: He can land as many jumps as he has copies, and when he uses his hammer, the copies split and target all enemies on the field. Paper Mario loses a copy for each hit he takes, but can replenish them on his turn before using another battle command. His jump dodge allows him to flutter, letting him briefly stay in the air longer than Mario and Luigi can.
Players are able to use Bros. Attacks with Mario and Luigi, working like they did in the previous games. In addition, a new variation of special attacks called Trio Attacks can be performed with Paper Mario. These attacks have all three members attack enemies with the Trio Attack Hammer to paperize them before executing the attacks.
At certain points, the trio take part in Papercraft battles, which are the equivalent to the giant battles from the previous two games. Each time, they control different Papercraft characters, each with their own unique abilities, and each of the five battles end with a Papercraft Boss.
Another new addition are Battle Cards, replacing the badge system, also from the previous two games. The player creates a deck of 10 Battle Cards, one of which is played each turn. These range from boosting stats, dealing damage, or lowering an enemies stats or level. Each one needs a different amount of Star Points to use. amiibo are compatible with the game, each giving the player a special set of support cards to use in battle. The cards reset once they all have been played.
Locations
The game is set in an iteration of the Mushroom Kingdom. In the original Japanese version, as well as in the Dutch, Korean and Portuguese localizations, all locations other than Peach's and Bowser's castles have names reflecting the theme of doubleness. This is mostly ignored in the English versions.
- Peach's Castle
- Sunbeam Plains
- Doop Doop Dunes
- Twinsy Tropics
- Gloomy Woods
- Mount Brrr
- Bowser's Castle
- Neo Bowser Castle
Special attacks
Bros. Attacks
- Mario
- Luigi
Trio Attacks
Ranks
- Mushroom Rank - Levels 1 to 5
- Shell Rank - Levels 6 to 11
- Boomerang Rank - Levels 12 to 18
- Flower Rank - Levels 19 to 26
- Leaf Rank - Levels 27 to 35
- Star Rank - Levels 36 to 45
- Rainbow Rank - Levels 46 to 100
Characters
Playable
Papercrafts
- Papercraft Mario - Normal Papercraft with no advantages and middle range.
- Papercraft Fire Mario - Allows the player to shoot fireballs.
- Papercraft Luigi - Allows the player to use a Flying Hammer Attack, that can damage spiky enemies, such as Papercraft Pokeys.
- Papercraft Peach - Allows for a long hover in the air, and ground pound on other papercraft, with a long range of attack. Dashing blocks enemy projectiles.
- Papercraft Yoshi - Allows the player to use its tongue to grab poles, coins, and floating enemies. The ground pound made by Papercraft Yoshi can stun enemies nearby and push buttons, but has a short range of attacking.
Supporting
Antagonists
Cameos on Battle Cards
- Baby Mario
- Baby Luigi
- Luiginoids
- Baby Peach
- Princess Daisy
- Rosalina
- Luma
- Captain Toad
- Yellow Toad
- Blue Toad
- Bubble Baby Yoshi
- Tail Bowser
- Antasma
- Blooper
Enemies
- Main article: Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam bestiary
Mario & Luigi series
Image | Name | Level | HP | EXP | Coins | Item Drop(s) | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goomba | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | Mushroom, 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains, Paper Toad Rescue, Final Smash, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Biddybud (1) | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1-Up Mushroom, So-so Boots | Sunbeam Plains, Paper Toad Rescue | |
Spiny | 5 | 18 | 9 | 6 | Nut | Doop Doop Dunes, Doop Doop Dunes Grotto, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Sandmaargh | 6 | 39 | 20 | 11 | Candy, Stache Gloves | Doop Doop Dunes, Doop Doop Dunes Grotto, Desert Rescue Party | |
Fly Guy (1) | 7 | 23 | 8 | 5 | Mushroom, 1-Up Mushroom | Desert Rescue Party | |
Hammer Bro (1) | 8 | 32 | 16 | 13 | Super Mushroom, Steady Boots | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Stuff Retrieval, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Cheep Cheep (1) | 11 | 49 | 27 | 20 | 1-Up Mushroom, POW Gloves | Twinsy Tropics, Tropical Paper Toad Hunt | |
Urchin (1) | 12 | 25 | 85 | 165 | Candy, LV 1 Character Card | Twinsy Tropics, Tropical Paper Toad Hunt | |
Koopa Troopa | 10 | 49 | 26 | 18 | Super Mushroom | Twinsy Tropics, Tropical Paper Toad Hunt, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Monty Mole (1) | 12 | 55 | 37 | 26 | Super Nut, LV 1 Character Card | Sunbeam Plains | |
Ninji | 13 | 70 | 44 | 30 | Refreshing Herb, 1-Up Mushroom | Gloomy Woods, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Fire Piranha Plant | 15 | 104 | 60 | 40 | Super Mushroom, Flame Hammer | Gloomy Woods | |
Bully | 17 | 131 | 80 | 50 | Super Mushroom, POW Scarf | Mount Brrr | |
Buzzy Beetle | 16 | 53 | 72 | 38 | Supersyrup Jar, Shiny Battle Card | Mount Brrr | |
Spike | 18 | 119 | 76 | 42 | 1-Up Mushroom, SPEED Scarf | Doop Doop Dunes, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Pokey | 19 | 99 | 88 | 50 | Super Candy, LV 1 Character Card | Doop Doop Dunes | |
Cheep Cheep (2) | 20 | 131 | 86 | 50 | Ultra Mushroom, Shocking Hammer | Twinsy Tropics | |
Urchin (2) | 21 | 57 | 320 | 275 | Super Candy, LV 2 Character Card | Twinsy Tropics | |
Fire Bro | 21 | 152 | 92 | 40 | Ultra Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Hunt for the Medallion | |
Horned Ant Trooper | 22 | 88 | 46 | 20 | Ultra Nut, 1-Up DX | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Final Smash | |
Boomerang Bro | 24 | 180 | 116 | 55 | Ultra Nut, LV 2 Character Card | Bowser's Castle, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Big Tail Goomba | 26 | 277 | 300 | 77 | Ultra Candy, Filler Brooch DX | Bowser's Castle, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Fly Guy (2) | 31 | 158 | 175 | 40 | Ultra Mushroom, 1-Up Mushroom | Toadette in Trouble, Fly Guy Flyby, Paper Toad Shuffle | |
Hammer Bro (2) | 27 | 169 | 122 | 60 | Refreshing Herb, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains | |
Monty Mole (2) | 28 | 195 | 140 | 62 | Max Syrup Jar, Shiny Battle Card | Gloomy Woods, Fly Guy Flyby | |
Shy Guy (1) | 30 | 200 | 96 | 45 | Ultra Candy, Mushroom Amutlet | Mount Brrr, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Biddybud (2) | 31 | 79 | 38 | 15 | Max Mushroom, LV 2 Character Card | Mount Brrr | |
Broozer | 33 | 280 | 280 | 100 | Max Nut, Crystal Boots | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit | |
Mechakoopa (1) | 34 | 176 | 190 | 70 | Max Mushroom, Dark Hammer | Neo Bowser Castle | |
Shy Guy (2) | 35 | 327 | 550 | 120 | Ultra Candy, Shiny Battle Card | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit, Final Smash | |
Chain Chomp | 35 | 484 | 600 | 150 | Max Syrup Jar, 1-Up Gloves DX | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit, Final Smash | |
Nabbit | 36 | 9999 | 0 | 0 | None | Bad Nabbit | |
Mechakoopa (2) | 35 | 182 | 0 | 0 | None | Bad Nabbit | |
Fly Guy (3) | 34 | 187 | 200 | 50 | Max Candy, 1-Up DX | Final Smash |
Paper Mario series
S Indicates enemies which appear in stacks.
Regular
Image | Name | Level | HP | EXP | Coins | Item Drop(s) | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper Goomba | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | Syrup Jar, 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains, Paper Toad Rescue, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper ParatroopaS | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Nut, 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains, Paper Toad Rescue | |
Paper Spiny | 5 | 18 | 10 | 6 | Syrup Jar, LV 1 Character Card | Doop Doop Dunes, Doop Doop Dunes Grotto, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Bob-omb (1)S | 7 | 7 | 15 | 9 | Mushroom, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Doop Doop Dunes, Desert Rescue Party | |
Paper Hammer Bro (1) | 8 | 29 | 16 | 13 | Supersyrup Jar, LV 1 Character Card | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Stuff Retrieval, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Scaredy RatS | 9 | 10 | 17 | 20 | Refreshing Herb, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon | |
Paper Koopa Troopa | 10 | 49 | 29 | 18 | Super Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Twinsy Tropics, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Bob-omb (2)S | 12 | 14 | 32 | 25 | Super Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Sunbeam Plains, Final Smash | |
Paper Ninji | 13 | 70 | 49 | 30 | Candy, LV 1 Character Card | Gloomy Woods, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Spear GuyS | 14 | 25 | 48 | 40 | Super Nut, Shiny Character Card | Gloomy Woods, Fly Guy Flyby | |
Paper Sombrero Guy (1)S | 17 | 35 | 68 | 46 | Super Candy, LV 1 Character Card | Mount Brrr | |
Paper Spike | 18 | 119 | 82 | 42 | Boo Biscuit, LV 2 Character Card | Doop Doop Dunes, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Fire Piranha PlantS | 21 | 46 | 96 | 55 | Ultra Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Twinsy Tropics | |
Paper Fire Bro | 21 | 89 | 94 | 40 | Super Candy, LV 2 Character Card | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Hunt for the Medallion | |
Paper SwoopS | 23 | 29 | 85 | 60 | Ultrasyrup Jar, POW Scarf | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon | |
Paper Boomerang Bro | 24 | 120 | 120 | 55 | Ultrasyrup Jar, Shocking Boots | Bowser's Castle, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Dry BonesS | 25 | 57 | 105 | 68 | Ultra Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Bowser's Castle, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Paragoomba (1) | 27 | 196 | 110 | 60 | Ultrasyrup Jar, Shiny Battle Card | Sunbeam Plains | |
Paper Hammer Bro (2) | 27 | 169 | 126 | 60 | Refreshing Herb, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains | |
Paper Boo (1)S | 28 | 68 | 150 | 80 | Boo Biscuit, LV 2 Character Card | Gloomy Woods, Fly Guy Flyby | |
Paper Fuzzy (1) | 18 | 194 | 150 | 80 | Supersyrup Jar, 1-Up Mushroom | Paper Toad Freeze-Out | |
Paper Shy Guy | 30 | 158 | 102 | 45 | 1-Up Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Mount Brrr, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Broozer | 33 | 258 | 290 | 100 | Ultra Candy, Shiny Battle Card | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit | |
Paper Sombrero Guy (2)S | 33 | 78 | 175 | 90 | Max Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit | |
Paper Chain Chomp | 35 | 557 | 600 | 150 | Max Syrup Jar, Counter Wear DX | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit, Final Smash | |
Paper Boo (2)S | 33 | 78 | 0 | 0 | None | Bad Nabbit | |
Paper Paragoomba (2) | 34 | 257 | 0 | 0 | None | Bad Nabbit | |
Paper Fuzzy (2) | 35 | 436 | 155 | 100 | Max Nut, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Final Smash |
Shiny
Image | Name | Level | HP | EXP | Coins | Item Drop(s) | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper Goomba | 6 | 11 | 9 | 12 | Syrup Jar, 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains, Paper Toad Rescue, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper ParatroopaS | 7 | 2 | 12 | 20 | Nut, 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains, Paper Toad Rescue | |
Paper Spiny | 10 | 25 | 30 | 24 | Syrup Jar, LV 1 Character Card | Doop Doop Dunes, Doop Doop Dunes Grotto, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Bob-omb (1)S | 13 | 8 | 45 | 36 | Mushroom, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Doop Doop Dunes, Desert Rescue Party | |
Paper Hammer Bro (1) | 14 | 40 | 56 | 52 | Supersyrup Jar, LV 1 Character Card | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Stuff Retrieval, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Scaredy RatS | 15 | 12 | 51 | 80 | Refreshing Herb, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon | |
Paper Koopa Troopa | 17 | 68 | 87 | 72 | Super Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Twinsy Tropics, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Bob-omb (2)S | 19 | 16 | 96 | 100 | Super Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Sunbeam Plains, Final Smash | |
Paper Ninji | 20 | 98 | 147 | 120 | Candy, Shiny Battle Card | Gloomy Woods, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Spear GuyS | 22 | 30 | 144 | 160 | Super Nut, LV 1 Character Card | Gloomy Woods, Fly Guy Flyby | |
Paper Sombrero Guy (1)S | 26 | 42 | 204 | 184 | Super Candy, LV 1 Character Card | Mount Brrr | |
Paper Spike | 27 | 166 | 246 | 168 | Boo Biscuit, LV 2 Character Card | Doop Doop Dunes, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Fire Piranha PlantS | 31 | 55 | 288 | 220 | Ultra Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Twinsy Tropics | |
Paper Fire Bro | 31 | 133 | 282 | 160 | Super Candy, LV 2 Character Card | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Hunt for the Medallion | |
Paper SwoopS | 33 | 34 | 255 | 240 | Ultrasyrup Jar, POW Scarf | Twinsy Tropics Dungeon | |
Paper Boomerang Bro | 35 | 168 | 240 | 220 | Ultrasyrup Jar, Shocking Boots | Bowser's Castle, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Dry BonesS | 36 | 68 | 315 | 272 | Ultra Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Bowser's Castle, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Paragoomba | 39 | 274 | 330 | 240 | Ultrasyrup Jar, Shiny Battle Card | Sunbeam Plains | |
Paper Hammer Bro (2) | 39 | 236 | 378 | 240 | Refreshing Herb, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Sunbeam Plains | |
Paper BooS | 40 | 81 | 450 | 320 | Boo Biscuit, LV 2 Character Card | Gloomy Woods, Fly Guy Flyby | |
Paper Fuzzy (1) | 27 | 271 | 150 | 80 | Supersyrup Jar, 1-Up Mushroom | Paper Toad Freeze-Out | |
Paper Shy Guy | 43 | 221 | 306 | 200 | 1-Up Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Mount Brrr, Neo Bowser Castle | |
Paper Broozer | 46 | 361 | 870 | 400 | Ultra Candy, Shiny Battle Card | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit | |
Paper Sombrero Guy (2)S | 46 | 93 | 525 | 360 | Max Mushroom, Shiny Battle Card | Neo Bowser Castle, Bad Nabbit | |
Paper Fuzzy (2) | 49 | 610 | 465 | 200 | Max Nut, Double 1-Up Mushroom | Final Smash |
Papercraft
- Goomba
- Pokey
- Spike
- Mechakoopa
- Spiked Ball
- Koopa Shell
- Bob-omb
- Dry Bones
- Boo
- Bullet Bill
- Whomp
- Airship
Bosses
Normal Bosses
Image | Name | Level | HP | EXP | Coins | Item Drop(s) | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Petey Piranha | 4 | 143 | 70 | 100 | Picnic Boots | Sunbeam Plains | |
Big Pokey Duo | 8 | Main Both-144 Body segments Both-16 |
250 | 170 | Big Pokey-Mix Badge Paper Tower Power Pokey-Thin Wear |
Doop Doop Dunes Grotto | |
Roy & Wendy (1) | 10 | Roy-343 Wendy-294 |
350 | 220 | Roy-Fighter Hammer Wendy-Charge Wear |
Twinsy Tropics Dungeon | |
Paper Petey Piranha | 13 | Main-384 Copy-34 |
650 | 330 | Collector Wear | Sunbeam Plains | |
Rampaging Wiggler | 16 | Wiggler-660 Paper Kamek-440 |
900 | 440 | POW Gloves | Gloomy Woods | |
Chargin' Chuck Corps | 20 | 105 each | 1600 | 550 | Blunt Hammer | Doop Doop Dunes | |
Ludwig & Larry (1) | 24 | Ludwig-975 Larry-825 |
2140 | 660 | Ludwig-Shocking Boots Larry-Shiny Battle Card |
Twinsy Tropics Dungeon | |
Bowser Jr. Duo | 27 | Bowser Jr.-979 Paper Bowser Jr.-1068 |
2760 | 770 | Bowser Jr.-Iron-Ball Hammer DX Paper Bowser Jr.-Knockout Draw Gloves |
Bowser's Castle | |
King Boo | 29 | 1421 | 3250 | 880 | Guard Wear DX | Gloomy Woods | |
King Bob-omb | 32 | 1744 | 5500 | 990 | Ironclad Wear | Mount Brrr | |
Kamek Duo | 36 | Both-1853 | 6000 | 1100 | Kamek-Shiny Battle Card Paper Kamek-Shocking Boots DX |
Neo Bowser Castle | |
Roy & Wendy (2) | 35 | Roy-1573 Wendy-1452 |
2950 | 900 | Roy-Max Mushroom Wendy-Max Nut |
Neo Bowser Castle | |
Ludwig & Larry (2) | 36 | Ludwig-1482 Larry-1359 |
3150 | 900 | Ludwig-Max Syrup Jar Larry-Max Mushroom |
Neo Bowser Castle | |
Lemmy, Morton, & Iggy | 36 | Lemmy-692 Morton-865 Iggy-790 |
6300 | 1350 | Lemmy-Shiny Battle Card Morton-Golden Hammer Iggy-LV2 Character Card |
Neo Bowser Castle | |
Bowser Duo | 38 | Both-9999 | 0 | 0 | None | Neo Bowser Castle | |
Shiny RoboBowser | 40 | Main-2145 Armor-650 |
0 | 0 | None | Neo Bowser Castle |
Boss Battle Ring Bosses
Image | Name | Level | HP | Expert Challenge points | S-Rank Expert Challenge points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Petey Piranha | 15 | 920 | 15 | 60 | |
Big Pokey Duo | 18 | Main Both-648 Body segments Big Pokey-76 Paper Tower Power Pokey-70 |
15 | 60 | |
Paper Petey Piranha | 23 | Main-858 Copy-100 |
45 | 180 | |
Rampaging Wiggler | 26 | Wiggler-1471 Paper Kamek-1038 |
45 | 180 | |
Chargin' Chuck Corps | 30 | 189 each | 90 | 360 | |
Bowser Jr. Duo | 37 | Bowser Jr.-1638 Paper Bowser Jr.-1764 |
90 | 360 | |
King Boo | 39 | 1890 | 90 | 360 | |
King Bob-omb | 42 | 2312 | 90 | 360 | |
Kamek Duo | 46 | Both-2318 | 90 | 360 | |
Dry Bowser | 48 | 2880 | 100 | 400 |
Papercraft Bosses
- Papercraft Megacrinkle Goomba
- Papercraft Kamek
- Papercraft Bowser Jr.
- Papercraft King Boo
- Papercraft Bowser
Items
Blocks and coins
Image | Name | Description
|
---|---|---|
? Blocks | When struck, ? Blocks give out Coins and items. Sometimes they might have several Coins in them. | |
Special ? Blocks, Bros. Blocks and Rally Blocks | Similiar to ? Blocks, but have multiple Coins in them every time. | |
M Blocks, L Blocks and P Blocks | Red, green, and orange blocks that can only be struck with Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario respectively. | |
Coins | Found throughout the world, they serve as currency to allow Mario and Luigi to purchase things from shops. | |
! Blocks | Blocks that cause events to happen and unlock new paths when struck. |
Usable items
Name | Image | Description | Effects |
---|---|---|---|
Mushroom | Restores 30 HP (to a single bro). | ||
Super Mushroom | Restores 60 HP (to a single bro). | ||
Ultra Mushroom | Restores 100 HP (to a single bro). | ||
Max Mushroom | Restores 160 HP (to a single bro). | ||
Nut | Restores 15 HP to all bros. | ||
Super Nut | Restores 30 HP to all bros. | ||
Ultra Nut | Restores 50 HP to all bros. | ||
Max Nut | Restores 80 HP to all bros. | ||
Syrup Jar | Restores 20 BP (to a single bro). | ||
Supersyrup Jar | Restores 40 BP (to a single bro). | ||
Ultrasyrup Jar | Restores 60 BP (to a single bro). | ||
Max Syrup Jar | Restores 80 BP (to a single bro). | ||
Candy | Restores a little bit of HP and BP (to a single bro). | Restores 40% of a single bro's HP and BP. | |
Super Candy | Restores a decent amount of HP and BP (to a single bro). | Restores 60% of a single bro's HP and BP. | |
Ultra Candy | Restores a solid chunk of HP and BP (to a single bro). | Restores 80% of a single bro's HP and BP. | |
Max Candy | Completely restores both HP and BP (of a single bro). | ||
1-Up Mushroom | Revives a fallen party member with full HP. | ||
1-Up DX | Revives a fallen party member with full HP. | ||
Double 1-Up Mushroom | Revives two bros. at once with a limited amount of HP. | ||
Refreshing Herb | Cures statuses like Char, Crumple and Trip. | ||
Boo Biscuit | Grants damage immunity. Helps with dodge training! | Temporarily turns Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario invisible for a short time. |
Beans
- Main article: List of drill spots in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
Beans return in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, acting the same way they did in both Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. Like in the previous two games, the number of beans collected in each area can be viewed in the menu, this time from the Collection screen. Beans are dug up from X-marked circular spots on the ground and walls, and can be collected with the Trio Drill ability on the overworld. Beans can also be obtained after passing the Know-it-all Toad quizzes. In addition to this, the Wellington Boots return and cause enemies to drop beans when defeated. Finally, countering Petey Piranha's chase attack may give a bean.
DX Beans also return. The Bad Nabbit mission gives the player these beans after each battle with Nabbit, and the Paper Broozers' barrel-throwing attack may sometimes cause one or more of these beans to appear when countered.
- Heart Beans: Pink beans that increase a bro's HP.
- Bros. Beans: Green beans that increase a bro's BP.
- Power Beans: Orange beans that increase a bro's POW.
- Defense Beans: Silver beans that increase a bro's DEF.
- Speed Beans: Blue beans that increase a bro's SPEED.
- Stache Beans: Brown beans that increase a bro's STACHE.
Objects
- ? Block
- Bomb Bud
- Burner
- Coin Block
- Command Block
- Copy Block
- Dash Panel
- Empty Block
- Fire Bar
- Fire Ore
- Koopa Clown Car
- L Block
- M Block
- P Block
- Paper Mario book
- Paper trampoline
- Papercraft
- Recovery Block
- Red medallion
- Rock Block
- Spinny Flower
- Warp Pipe
Status ailments
- Trip
- Poison
- Dizzy
- Burn/Char
- POW-Up
- POW-Down
- DEF-Up
- DEF-Down
- SPD-Up
- SPD-Down
- Fury (Bosses only)
- Crumpled (Paper characters only)
- Creased (Paper Mario only)
Sidequests
Lakitu Info Center
- Main article: Lakitu Info Center
The Lakitu Info Center plays an important role in this game. It is a cloud-shaped building found in the various Toad Towns. The player can talk to two Lakitus: the one on the right offers to play new missions whose goals are catching Paper Toads. The player must obtain a certain number of them to progress through the story. The one on the left lets the player replay already cleared missions (but also minigames like Toad Quizzes) and also try Hard Mode of some of them (which make a mission harder by doing things like adding or reducing timers). By clearing a mission for the first time (Hard Mode included) the player can earn Medals. Obtaining a set number of Medals gives an exclusive Battle Card. A pipe on the left of each building, which passage is freed once the player reaches the second Lakitu Center in Sunbeam Plains, leads to the Arcade. Here, the player can buy Lakitea for 20 Coins (which fully heals the party) and play in the Boss Battle Ring, the Papercraft Battle Ring and the Attackathlon, which, respectively, lets the player face harder variants of the game's bosses, replay Papercraft battles and play extended, more complex versions of the Trio Attack, and also get rated by their performance.
Toad Quiz
Five Toad scholars, found in Sunbeam Plains, Doop Doop Dunes, Twinsy Tropics, Gloomy Woods, and Mount Brrr, host quizzes with trivial questions mainly about the game's story and characters. To earn a one-time prize (3 Beans of a certain kind), the player must answer 3 questions out of 5 correctly—however, there is not a time limit. If the player keeps giving right answers, they also gain some Coins. The questions are picked randomly from a pool and their wrong answers may vary. From the aforementioned Lakitu Center the player can also play Hard Mode versions of the Toad Quizzes. While the answers are unchanged, the player must correctly answer to all 8 asked questions. To further increase the difficulty, the player must also face a 10-second timer for each question.
Differences from other Mario & Luigi games
- The battle ring is different: there are no turn limits, bosses do not have a different color palette, and there is no fee to play. However, the bosses are still stronger than they are in the main game.
- The first battle in the game is not against a boss and Luigi is also playable. Usually, for various contrived reasons (such as Luigi being asleep in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story), he is unplayable until later on. Additionally in the first battle, Mario and Luigi can use Bros. Attacks and Hammers. Previously, they were unavailable until a scripted event later in the game.
- Badges are replaced by Battle Cards.
- Luigi is the first playable character in this game.
- Hammers are available at the start.
- This game keeps the same graphics as its predecessor.
- Bonus points can no longer be applied to stats upon leveling up.
- Lakitu's role is changed in this game. Instead of adding bonus points to stats (upon leveling up), he now gives the trio quests where the Bros. can help rescue the Paper Toads when needed.
- The tutorials are optional, whereas in previous games, they are mandatory. This carries over into the later remakes.
- No new characters or enemies are introduced to the franchise (with the sole possible exception of Shiny RoboBowser, although he is a fusion of two characters rather than a completely new character). Most of them originate from the mainline Super Mario series.
- Toadsworth is completely absent from the game.
- Bros. Attacks are obtained from Nabbit instead of Attack Pieces.
- There are seven ranks, more than Bowser's Inside Story's six and Dream Team's five. New ranks include the Boomerang Rank and the Leaf Rank.
- There are optional crosshairs under the Bros. when an enemy is attacking, as well as a peculiar animation of the character to be attacked preparing to defend himself. This is most likely due to three characters being on the battlefield at once and the fact that usual enemy indicators (such as kicking a certain way or flashing an eye) would not work against three heroes.
- This is the first game in the series to have Items under categories in the player's bag. It also does not list key items or provide descriptions for them.
- This is the first game in the series to have the three main playable characters all take a turn in battle.
- Players can block attacks by pressing before the enemy hits them in an Emergency Block, similarly to the Paper Mario series. This carries over into the later remakes.
- In addition to jumping on enemies or pounding them with a hammer to deal early damage at the start of a battle like in past games, Mario and co. can also dash into battle due to the effects of the Dash Socks.
- The game's Japanese title is not followed by a number.
- Mario and Luigi do not gain the Spin Jump ability outside of battle.
- This is the first and only game to have items other than beans underground.
- Unlike the previous two installments, in this game, the Bros. perform a fancy spin before landing the second jump in battle. Previously, they only landed straight down before backflipping off of the enemy.
- Luigi is not referred to as Green Stache due to Bowser finally learning his name at the end of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.
- This is the only game in the series which does not feature the Beanish species at all.
- There are no Save Blocks or Save Albums of any kind. The only way to save the game is by tapping the SAVE button in the lower left of the touch screen.
- There are no special locations where the Bros. can go depending on their rank as there were in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.
- Command Blocks are slightly larger than the previous game, and the Bros. stand slightly more apart.
Staff
- Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam staff
The game was directed by Shunsuke Kobayashi and co-directed by Hiroyuki Kubota. Kobayashi worked as the field designer for Bowser's Inside Story and Dream Team while Kubota directed the former. The music for this game was composed by Yoko Shimomura who also worked on previous Mario & Luigi titles. The papercraft battles were developed by Will Co., Ltd. The game's producers were Akira Otani, Toshiharu Izuno, and Yoshihiko Maekawa.
Development
In the past, the Mario & Luigi games primarily used two buttons, but the developers wanted to break new ground by making a third button active in combat. Characters were brainstormed until the developers thought of a second Mario, where the Paper Mario character would fit the third character role neatly. This implementation has then turn the idea of a crossover.[1] Though Paper Luigi was considered to be the fourth character, the developers thought that adding a fourth button for a fourth character would be too difficult and complicated to enjoy the game.[1] According to Kobayashi, the trickiest thing to implement in a crossover was to make Paper Mario, a main character, stand out.
Though the first draft of the story involved the characters going back and forth between the Mushroom Kingdom and the paper world with many twists to the narrative, the developers thought it was too complex and that no one would enjoy it, so that it was rewritten many times to be simplified, where greater emphasis was placed on the character interactions between each other.[1] Though emphasis has been placed on Paper Mario to make him stand out, the developers wanted equal attention to all characters, where they mention that it was a "big job" to balance everything. The developers also mentioned interest in adding original characters to the plot, but decided against it since they already have many characters to work with, and it would be too challenging to fit them at an appropriate appearance in the story.[1]
When asked about the gameplay, battle designer Jun Iwasaki emphasized on narrowing the focus. His first thought was making use of three buttons, which were promptly brainstormed with lots of ideas on paper, until the developers chose the one that looked the best and tested them with a prototype.[1] Hiroshi Ohata, the battle programmer, explained that battles are first created without animations and other visual effects. He has stated that they always make sure the gameplay is very responsive at a basic level, so they perform many experiments to test the gameplay elements. What works and what doesn't is based on people who playtest the game during development.
Yoko Shimomura, the composer for the game's music, felt that since Paper Mario is joining the battle, she opted for a lighter, more upbeat tune to the game's soundtrack. When asked which music is her favorite, she stated that her songs are "like her children" and is unable to choose one, though she did say that Mountaintop Secrets, the background music for Mount Brrr, "has a certain fantastical atmosphere that isn't usually found in the Mario world, and having the opportunity to put a song with that kind of feel into a Super Mario game is something that's quite unique to the Mario & Luigi series, I think."[1]
Natsuko Kemi, the game's graphics designer, emphasized on the details of the animations and graphics on the characters. For example, Luigi's walk cycles is based off his walk cycles in Luigi's Mansion.[1]
Profiles
Nintendo 3DS eShop
- American English version
Paper Mario™ is jumping off the page and into the quirky adventures of Mario™ and Luigi™! Become a superstar team of Mario Bros. to take on quests, take down enemies, and untangle these two classic universes in this playful new entry in the Mario and Luigi RPG series. The Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam game is the newest entry in the wild and popular Mario and Luigi RPG series. The denizens of Paper Mario are spilling out of the pages of a mysterious book and making mischief in the Mushroom Kingdom. You'll call on the talents of Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario to solve puzzles, track Toads, chase Nabbit, race Yoshi™, and more in a variety of quests to separate and save the two worlds. Looking for a change of pace?...er, tempo? Challenge giant bosses using a combo of rhythm-based micro-games and an equally giant papercraft.
- British English version
Two Marios are better than one in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros., a comical RPG mash-up for Nintendo 3DS family systems! When two unique universes collide, Paper Mario jumps off the page and joins a super team of Mario Bros. Together, Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario must save the Mushroom Kingdom from the only thing more threatening than one Bowser: two Bowsers!
Reception
Critical reception
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam has received generally positive reviews from professional critics, scoring a 76 based on 65 critics on Metacritic[2] and a 76.70% based on 44 reviews in GameRankings.[3] General praise has been given out to the battle system, gameplay, and the humor, as well as removing the amount of tutorials present in the game's predecessor, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, though it has been criticized for the simple story and playing too safe for the franchise, as critics felt that the game lacked in originality in comparison to its predecessors, such as the lack of original characters outside of the paper characters, and that it didn't make enough use of its premise as a crossover with Paper Mario. Lee Garbutt from God is a Geek, writer of one of the more positive reviews, giving the game a 9/10, praised the game's battle combat and the humor though stated that the game was too simple for hardcore JRPG fans and the amiibo implementation was superfluous.[4] Daan Koopman of Nintendo World report gave the game a 7.5/10. He called the game "cute" and praised the interactions between the characters, but criticized the pacing in the review, highlighting the Toad Rescue missions being the primary problem of being too excessive.[5] On a more critical note, Mark Brown of Pocket Gamer UK gave the game a 6/10, criticizing the game for being too safe and also lamenting the lack of a diverse cast of characters, and failing to live up to the standards set by preceding games, though he notes how some charm is left and that the gameplay is fun.[6]
Reviews | |||
---|---|---|---|
Release | Reviewer, Publication | Score | Comment |
Nintendo 3DS | Daan Koopman, Nintendo World Report | 7.5/10 | "A very cute game, but pacing problems prevent the game from achieving excellence." |
Nintendo 3DS | Jared Petty, IGN | 5.9/10 | "Creases mar what should have been a beautiful origami of a game." |
Nintendo 3DS | Miguel Concepcion, GameSpot | 6/10 | "As a crossover that is already intriguing based on concept alone, it's hard to blame Nintendo for playing it safe and predictable in its execution: undeniably adorable but bereft of genuine surprises or innovation." |
Nintendo 3DS | José Manuel Bringas, IGN Spain (Spanish) | 8/10 | "One of the craziest crossovers ever seen in a videogame. Constantly changing the rhythm and showing new gameplay methods and with a hilarious plot. One of the best in their series." |
Nintendo 3DS | Lee Garbutt, God is a Geek | 9/10 | "This game is in no way a revolution of what's come before, but that doesn't matter one bit – the mechanics are still as solid as they always were, the humour still makes my face ache from smiling, and not once did it ever outstay its welcome." |
Nintendo 3DS | Alex Seedhouse, Nintendo Insider | 9/10 | "With unwavering charm, this resoundingly action-packed quest for the superstar trio succeeds on all fronts. There's little to criticise in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros., an epic collision that results in a Mushroom Kingdom mash-up of near perfection." |
Nintendo 3DS | Conor McMahon, Nintendo Life | 8/10 | "Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. totally succeeds as an accessible, entertaining and lengthy crossover for fans and newcomers alike. It introduces a solid list of worthy new mechanics, particularly building upon the battle system in some exciting new ways, and breaking exploration up with random quests. It's more of a mini RPG than ever, but doesn't quite nail it when it comes to environmental design and storytelling. In the end it's Paper Jam's simplicity that makes it a great starting point and an easy recommendation, but also holds it back from taking full advantage of more dimensions than ever before." |
Nintendo 3DS | Mark Brown, Pocket Gamer UK | 6/10 | "When you're in battle, Paper Jam Bros reminds us why we've spent countless hours with both Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi games. But everything else feels like a pale imitation of two, once great games." |
Nintendo 3DS | Dave Irwin, TheSixthAxis | 7/10 | "Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. sadly falls flat on its face at the final hurdle, but is a light-hearted and hugely enjoyable romp up until that point. There are great nods to both Mario & Luigi RPG and Paper Mario franchises, and the three protagonists make a great team in this 3DS RPG. Questionable decisions around the use of Amiibo and the mini-game side-quests can't be ignored, but the charm of Paper Jam Bros. can't be understated." |
Nintendo 3DS | Alex Jones, GamesRadar+ | 4/5 | "If you've never played a Mario & Luigi game, this is the perfect on-boarding point. It's got a hilarious script, near-flawless battling, and bucketfuls of charm." |
Aggregators | |||
Compiler | Platform / Score | ||
Metacritic | 76 | ||
GameRankings | 76.70% |
Quotes
- Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam quotes
- "Oh, puh-lease! YOU'RE the knockoff!" - Paper Bowser
- "One last thing: Be sure to save often, won't you?" - Lakitu
- ""I AM NOT A BEE!!" - Starlow
- "I can't lose to these puny brats! I'm a king! I...I have a mustache! Oh. Right. So do they." - King Bob-omb
Glitches
- Main article: List of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam glitches
Explore as Paper Mario alone
Warning! Performing this action may corrupt your game's save file.
By moving down and left into the wall in the Sunbeam Plains Paper Mario only area at the right angle, the player can clip into the wall and take Paper Mario out of bounds. If he walks back to the main map, he is then able to wander off his own.
In this state, he can fight enemies, use/collect items, buy items, and access various areas via Warp Pipes, but cannot get through cutscenes or use Trio abilities. If the player talks to the Toad who sells them ? cards, after buying one, the game softlocks, as Mario is not there to say "Oh yeah!"
Note that certain parts of the game world cannot be entered or escaped by Paper Mario on his own. As a result, the player should not save the game while in one of these areas, since it makes the file unusable.
Stuck Papercraft Bowser
If Papercraft Bowser is knocked over too near the edge of his arena, his body can get stuck in the wall. This makes him unable to move and his followers unable to pick him up. This lets the trio attack him without any fear of taking damage.
Pre-release and unused content
In the footage of the game shown at E3 2015, Battle Cards are shown to be available to the player as soon as Petey Piranha's battle as opposed to the battle with Wendy and Roy in the final game. The number graphics on the cards are also different, being orange instead of yellow.
Gallery
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam.
The two versions of Princess Peach
The two versions of Bowser
The two versions of Bowser Jr.
The two versions of Kamek
Media
- For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam media. For this subject's sound test, see Music Player.
Mixed-Up Scramble - The game's main battle theme | File info 0:29 |
Steel Yourself/Prepare Yourself - Plays during tutorials | File info 0:29 |
Peach's Castle Theme - Plays in Peach's Castle | File info 0:29 |
Springtime Breeze - Plays in Sunbeam Plains | File info 0:29 |
References to other media
- Donkey Kong: One of the Rank-Up bonuses is called "Jump Man".
- Super Mario Bros.: After it is revealed that the Princess Peach duo are on Mount Brrr, the story text reads "Our princess is in another...prison?"
- Super Mario Bros. 3: A portion of the music for the battle against Bowser and Paper Bowser is taken from the Airship Theme from this game.
- Super Mario Adventures: How Roy summons the Charging Chucks is a reference to the same thing Wendy does in this comic.
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars: The game ends with a parade of the characters going through the Mushroom Kingdom. Parts of the title and credits theme sound similar to the first eight notes of "Happy Adventure, Delightful Adventure". A Battle Card has the effect of possibly turning enemies into mushrooms, similarly to how some enemies could do the same thing in this game, although they turn into consumable items rather than being afflicted with a status effect. The song "Mixed-Up Scramble" has a brief rearrangement of "Goodbye Geno" in the middle of the track.
- Paper Mario: The block ability originated from this game can be used as a "last resort" when counter-attacking in battles. The game utilizes Star Points for the Battle Card system, and these are similar in design to the ones found in Paper Mario. A melon is given to the bros. and Paper Mario by a Yellow Yoshi, which is a reference to what happens in Lavalava Island. Whenever a paper enemy gets defeated, it spins around and then explodes, like the enemies did in this game. One of the Expert Challenges is called "Lucky Star" which is a reference to this game's item of the same name. Bowser's Castle rising out of the lava because of a platform underneath is very similar to when Bowser's Castle lifts Peach's Castle into the sky in this game. The record player that Paper Luigi listens to in the Music Player looks similar to the one found in Boo's Mansion, and the music notes it produces are similar to the ones Paper Luigi produces when he sings at Mario's House.
- Luigi's Mansion: Luigi's walk cycles are based on his walk cycles from this game.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga: A cover of the battle theme from this game is used before Paper Mario joins the party. When Mario is about to talk to the two Peaches at the start of the game, Luigi occasionally jumps and can be talked to, referencing him in Toad Town Square. HP recovery blocks from the Japanese version return. One of the attacks used by the Kamek duo is similar to the Border Jump minigame.
- Super Mario Sunshine: During the chase sequence with Petey Piranha, he uses an attack featuring the Goop from this game. Some of Wiggler's voice clips from this game are re-used during Petey Piranha's boss battle.
- Super Mario sports games: At one point, Paper Peach thinks about changing her hair into a pony tail, with Peach stating it is more fitting for sports, referencing her design in most sports games after Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour.
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door: Both the Paper Airplane and Paper abilities return from this game. The first time Paper Mario meets Mario, he performs a Spring Jump. Paper Mario's blocking and KO'd animations are the same as from this game. The way the trio gains Star Points by performing the attacks as good as possible is similar to how Paper Mario and his partners has to "appeal" to the audience to refill the special meter, by also performing the moves as good as possible and by posing stylishly. The stage where the characters stand when they gain EXP after a battle is similar to the one from the battles in this game, down to the yellow stripes on the border of the curtains when they level up.
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: A cover of the tutorial theme from this game can be heard, which in turn is an arrangement of the Ground Theme from Super Mario Bros. The energy beams which unlocks pipes return. The cloud platforms return as well. In Twinsy Tropics Dungeon, Starlow breaks the fourth wall saying to the player, "Back to the adventure", referencing Stuffwell's catchphrase. The puzzle involving the three pearl statues in Twinsy Tropics is similar to the puzzle involving the four Dry Bones statues in the Gritzy Desert.
- Super Paper Mario: Paper Bowser's artwork seen at the end is from this game. Additionally, one of the Expert Challenges is called "Super Paper Mario!", referencing the title of this game.
- Super Smash Bros. series: There is a mission in Neo Bowser Castle that goes under the name Final Smash.
- Mario Kart Wii: Some of Toadette and King Boo's voice clips are reused.
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: A cover of "Inside the Castle Walls" from this game can be heard, which in turn is an arrangement of the same theme from Super Mario 64. Some of King Boo's attacks resemble those from the Dark Star. His multiplying move resembles that of the Dark Star and his fire breathing attack resembles the Dark Satellmite's beam attack.[7] When Roy and Wendy are fought, one of the moves they perform resembles the Koopa Corps special attack from this game.[8] In addition, Goombas attack in an identical manner to Goombules and the Big Pokey has a similar attack to Calorites, the latter of which can even be dodged in the exact same way if enough of its segments are missing. The smaller balloons in Luigi's Balloon Blast Bros. Attack resemble the special enzymes that appear inside the Giga-carrot, complete with red, yellow, and blue variations.
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Iggy's pet Chain Chomp returns when fighting the Koopalings. The Super Star theme is reused in the Papercraft Yoshi segment.
- Super Mario 3D Land: A rank appears based on the Boomerang Flower, as well as one based off of the Super Leaf's redesign from this game.
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star: Many of the elements from this game return. Thus, many graphics and enemies from this game and most of this game's background system is reused. When Paper Mario shows up for the first time, he jumps in the air and gets a yellow and white background, along with everything around him stopping for a second, similar to how characters are introduced in this game. One of the Toads in the Toad Village of Sunbeam Plains talks about wanting to become a traveling Toad, similarly to the disaster-prone one encountered in this game. Whenever a paper enemy is defeated, it turns gray, similar to how the enemies do if Paper Mario keeps attacking them after their HP has reached 0 in this game. Cardboard coins return from the Paper Mario universe as they are dropped from defeated paper enemies. Moving the system around whenever a shiny Battle Card is present on the lower screen causes the sparkle effect to move, depending on the angle the 3DS is held, the same exact thing that can be done with shiny stickers in this game.
- The Year of Luigi: To encourage Luigi while he is alone in the Gloomy Woods, Starlow mentions he had a year named after him.
- Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: The game runs on the same engine used in this game. As such, some of the game's graphics are reused, although most character sprites have been remade from scratch to match the new camera angle and have received new animations.[9][10] All of Mario and Luigi's battle animations are reused with the exception of new jumping in battle animations. One of the new Bros. Attacks, known as Mega Thwonk, features Luigi as a giant, using the same model from the Giant Battles in this game. There are also two returning Bros. Attacks originally from Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. Similar to giant battles, Papercraft battles allow players to win 4 items. The name Neo Bowser Castle is re-used. Bowser's theme in Paper Jam is a cover of his theme from this game, which in turn is an arrangement of the same theme from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
- Super Mario 3D World: Bullies and Chargin' Chucks retain their design from this game.
- Mario Kart series: Character emblems from these games are used for Papercraft characters and Toads. Some of the Koopalings' voice clips are reused from Mario Kart 8.
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: Toadette often references her adventures in this game in her dialogue, even outright saying the game's title - "I've tracked a few treasures in my day, sirs." Also, some of her quotes have been reused.
References in later games
- Paper Mario: Color Splash: The Koopalings get paper counterparts as foreshadowed by Roy Koopa. The characters retain their paper outlines in this game, and stacked enemies appear like in this game.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions: This game's minigame music for Star 'Stache Smash is an arrangement of "Do It Now!". The Emergency Guard, Assist, and Easy Mode all return in this game each functioning the same.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The songs "Time's Running Out!", "Mixed-Up Scramble", and "Attack and Run!" appear in this game. Papercraft Mario makes an appearance as a spirit. During Palutena's Guidance for Piranha Plant, Viridi mentions Paper Fire Piranha Plant and Paper Petey Piranha.
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey: One of Bowser Jr.'s artwork is reused from this game.
Trivia
- This is the first game where dialogue between the Koopalings can be seen, the first Super Mario game published by Nintendo since the Mario Discovery series to give spoken dialogue to the Koopalings and the first one since Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga to call them "Koopalings" instead of "Bowser's Minions" in the British English version of the game.
- The top of the North American box art has a Paper Goomba in place of the fourth Paper Toad shown on the other international box art.
- If Bowser's Castle and Neo Bowser Castle are considered the same location, then every major location is visited at least twice in the story.
- In the world moves section of Guide, despite "Action Icons" and "Hammer" being listed as two separate tutorials, they are both the same tutorial, with some minor differences in Starlow's dialogue.
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Japanese | マリオ&ルイージRPG ペーパーマリオMIX[?] Mario ando Ruīji Ārupījī Pēpā Mario MIX |
Mario & Luigi RPG Paper Mario MIX | |
Chinese (traditional) | 瑪利歐&路易吉RPG 紙片瑪利歐MIX[11] Mǎlì'ōu & Lùyìjí RPG Zhǐpiàn Mǎlì'ōu Mix |
Mario & Luigi RPG: Paper Mario MIX | |
Dutch | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - | |
French (NOA) | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[?] | - | |
French (NOE) | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - | |
German | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - | |
Italian | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - | |
Korean | 마리오&루이지 RPG 페이퍼 마리오 MIX[?] Mario aendeu Ruiji Areupiji Peipeo Mario Mikseu |
Mario & Luigi RPG: Paper Mario MIX | |
Portuguese (NOE) | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - | |
Russian | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - | |
Spanish (NOA) | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam[?] | - | |
Spanish (NOE) | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros.[?] | - |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g マリチャン. Hello, and welcome to this Miiting, in which we interview game developers on Miiverse! I'm MariChan, and I'll be your host today! I'll be putting questions directly to the developers of the Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam game, based on the questions that you kindly submitted to us. Today, I have with me Akira Otani, a producer from Nintendo, and from AlphaDream, we have director Shunsuke Kobayashi, composer Yoko Shimomura, battle designer Jun Iwazaki, co-director Hiroyuki Kubota, 3D designer... There really are a lot of you here today!. Miiverse (English). Archived March 20, 2016, 15:06:32 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. Metacritic (English). Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. GameRankings (English). Archived September 6, 2015, 12:24:50 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Garbutt, Lee (November 30, 2015)). Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. Review. God is a Geek (English). Archived December 1, 2015, 17:20:39 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Koopman, Daan (November 30, 2015). Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. (3DS) Review. Nintendo World Report. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Brown, Mark (November 30, 2015). Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Review. Pocket Gamer (English). Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ BeardBear (December 3, 2015). Mario & Luigi Paper Jam Walkthrough Part 20 |Gloomy Woods #3 & Boss King Boo (17:51). YouTube. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Tealgamemaster (December 4, 2015). Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Bros. - Part 15: Roy & Wendy Boss Fight!. YouTube (English). Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Blue Toad sprite
- ^ Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam Blue Toad sprite
- ^ 瑪利歐歷史|超級瑪利歐兄弟 35週年|任天堂. Nintendo of HK (Traditional Chinese). Retrieved October 23, 2020.