This article displays the characters from the Paper Mario series of video games, a spinoff of the Mario franchise in which the characters are, or can become 2D paper cutouts.[1]
Development
The first two Paper Mario games were noted as introducing unique, original companions that were either existing Mario races or had something to do with the Mario universe, some well-regarded examples of which being Goombella, a student Goomba, Madame Flurrie, and Vivian. However, after Thousand-Year Door, the series largely moved away from this in order to either feature existing characters or have new characters unrelated to the Mario universe entirely.[2] This new restriction was dubbed the "Mario mandate" by fans and critics. As giving the Mario races their own distinct members was popular, this mandate was seen as controversial. In the 2024 remake of Thousand-Year Door, a newly designed purple Toad was noted, which would seem to contradict such a mandate and was therefore cited as evidence the restrictions could be loosening.[3]
These are the four playable characters from the Paper Mario series: Mario, Princess Peach, Bowser, and Luigi.[4] Matt Casamassina of IGN notes the main characters are "all fun to play for different reasons" and that the ease of moving between playable characters "is a plus since there are some well-designed puzzles that require you to use two or more of the heroes to continue forward."[5]
Party members
In his adventures, Mario is assisted by various partners.
Paper Mario
Goombario, the Goomba, takes his father's advice and accompanies Mario to save the Star Spirits. He is a big fan of Mario and even wears a blue hat similar to Mario's (his name is even a combination of Goomba and Mario). Goombario can use his tattle to find out where Mario is, tell him about the people they meet, and the enemies they battle.
Kooper, the Koopa Troopa, joins Mario's party to follow in the footsteps of his childhood hero, the archaeologist Kolorado. He can retreat into his shell and Mario can shoot him out short distances, allowing him to flip switches, grab items and attack enemies.
Bombette, the Bob-omb, is an unwilling minion of the Koopa Bros.; when her temper got the better of her, she literally exploded on them, resulting in her being sent to the dungeon. She joins Mario to rebel against her captors. She can explode, allowing Mario to destroy cracked walls, destroy boulders, flip switches and attack enemies. She's one of the characters featured by Nintendo in their 2015 Women's History Month celebration.[6]
Parakarry is a Paratroopa mailman. Parakarry joins Mario's party after they help him recover the letters he's lost in Dry Dry Desert as well as other parts of the Mushroom Kingdom. He can carry Mario for a short amount of time, flying over gaps Mario cannot jump over.
Lady Bow is a member of Boo royalty; she holds the Star Spirit Skolar as part of a bargain until Mario takes down the Boo-eating Tubba Blubba and save her subjects. She can makes Mario invisible from enemy attacks and not get attacked by an enemy.
Watt is a baby electric spark. She was imprisoned in a lantern by the Big Lantern Ghost of Shy Guy's Toybox, and joins Mario after he frees her. Mario can hold her like a lantern to light up dark areas and allowing him to find invisible blocks and items.
Sushie is a Cheep-Cheep and the babysitter of five Yoshi children on Lavalava Island. Her name is a pun on sushi. She joins Mario to find the missing Yoshis. After Mario reaches a dock, he can hop on Sushie and swim on the surface of water and dive.
Lakilester, the Lakitu, introduces himself as "Michael", before settling on his nickname "Spike", then attacks. After he is defeated, his girlfriend asks Mario not to finish him. Lakilester then joins his party. Mario can hop on his cloud and hover over certain surfaces, such as spikes and lava, without getting hurt.
The Thousand-Year Door
Goombella is a student of archaeology.[7] She was one of Prof. Frankly's students and she is the first to join Mario to find the Crystal Stars after he saves her from Lord Crump.
Koops is a timid Koopa. He lives in Petal Meadows, which is being besieged by the dragon Hooktail. He joins Mario to save his town, avenge his father, and prove himself to his girlfriend, Koopie Koo.
Madame Flurrie is a wind spirit and a former actress. She can attack enemies with powerful gusts.[8]
Yoshi is a baby Yoshi that the player can name in the game. Mario rescues his egg from a hotdog vendor in the Glitz Pit, and he follows Mario after he hatches. His colors vary depending on how long it takes for the egg to hatch.
Vivian is the youngest of the Shadow Siren sisters. Vivian is constantly put down by her oldest sister, Beldam, and blamed for anything that goes wrong. Mario helps her recover her sisters' missing Superbobomb, although Vivian is unaware of who he is. When she discovers his true identity, she is at first hurt, but then joins him. Vivian is male in the original Japanese version of the game, and female in the international version.
Admiral Bobbery is a Bob-omb sailor.[7] Bobbery retired from the seas after his wife Scarlette died, blaming himself for her death. When Mario shows him an old letter written on Scarlette's deathbed, he once again sets out towards Keelhaul Key.
Ms. Mowz, a Squeek, is the only optional partner and has the ability to steal items.[9] She helps run the Lovely Howz of Badges but in actuality, she is a world-famous badge thief. She joins the team when Mario completes her quest by finding the secret badge in Hooktail Castle.
Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, Mario is assisted by digital fairy-like beings known as Pixls. These include Tippi,[10] a main character, as well as others including Thoreau, Boomer, Slim, Thudley, Carrie, Fleep, Cudge, Dottie, Barry, Dashell, Piccolo, and Tiptron.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2023)
Other characters
Paper Mario
Twink is young Star Kid. At the beginning of Paper Mario, he is a newly risen Star Kid and is summoned by Peach when she wishes for help against Bowser.
Goombario's Family is Goombario's family that lives in Goomba village.
Tayce T. is a female toad that lives in Toad Town.
Professor Kolorado is a Koopa archaeologist from Koopa Village.
Koopa Koot is an elder Koopa Troopa that lives in Koopa Village.
Moustafa is a mouse who lives in Dry Dry Outpost.
Bootler is a Boo butler and loyal servant of Lady Bow.
Yoshi Kids are the children of the Yoshi's of Lavalava Island.
Raphael the Raven is the guardian of Lavalava Island and the Yoshis sometimes visit him for advice.
Wise Wisterwood: The Wise Wisterwood is a talking tree that lives in Flower Fields.
Lakilulu is Lakilester's girlfriend that he tries to impress. When Mario defeats Lakilester, Lakilulu begs for Mario to forgive him. After Lakilester joins Mario's group, Lakilulu promises to wait for his return.
The Star Spirits
The Star Spirits are a group of deity-like beings that reside in Star Haven in the heavens and watch over the Mushroom Kingdom, granting the wishes of the good people using the Star Rod. They also possess the power to neutralize the Star Rod's power should it fall into the wrong hands. In Paper Mario, Bowser stole the Star Rod and captured the Star Spirits,[11] turning them into cards and placing his most powerful followers to guard them. These characters also appear in Mario Party 5.
Professor Frankly is a Goomba professor and Goombella's archaeology teacher at the University of Goom.
The Punis are a species of small gray creatures that live in the Great Boggely Tree.
Super Paper Mario
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2009)
Bestovius is a wizard living in Lineland, Bestovius gives Mario the power to flip into 3D to bypass various obstacles and partake of secrets that could not be seen in 2D. Also, he helps later on, with a side-quest to obtain Piccolo.
Francis is a lizard that lives in the Bitlands. He kidnaps Tippi in chapter 3-1.
Squirps
Flint Cragley
King Sammer
Queen Jaydes is the queen of the Underwhere and Luvbi's mother.
Luvbi is a Nimbi of the Overthere. She turned out to be the eighth Pure Heart disguised as a Nimbi, and sacrificed herself to help Mario save the universe.
Nolrem
Paper Mario: The Origami King
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2023)
Merlon Family
In the first three Paper Mario games, Mario and his friends are assisted by a character named Merlon, as well as his similarly named family.
Villains
Paper Mario
Jr. Troopa is a young Koopa Troopa.
Kent C. Koopa is an enormous Koopa Troopa that used to live in Koopa Village.
Bowser's forces
Kammy Koopa is an old female Magikoopa, and head advisor to Bowser.
Guardians of the Star Spirits: After Bowser and Kammy Koopa raided Star Haven, stole the Star Rod and captured the Star Spirits, Bowser placed several of his highest ranking and strongest minions in charge of guarding the Star Spirits all across the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Koopa Bros. are four Ninja Koopa brothers. They come in the colors of red, yellow, black and green.
Tutankoopa is a Koopa Pharaoh that Mario encountered in Dry Dry Ruins.
Tubba Blubba is a reluctant ally of Bowser.
General Guy is the general of the Shy Guy army.
Lava Piranha is a giant species of Piranha plant that is able to survive in lava.
Huff N. Puff is a giant cloud monster that commands Puffs and squads of Lakitus, including Lakilester before he decides to join Mario instead.
The Crystal King is a monster made of crystal ice that took over the Crystal Palace in the Shiver Region.
Sir Grodus is the leader of the X-Nauts, the invading aliens who seek to conquer the world; he uses a potent mixture of magic and technology to achieve his dark desires.
Lord Crump is one of the higher-ranking X-Nauts (he is also known as X-Naut Black).
TEC is a highly-advanced computer created by the X-Nauts.
The Shadow Queen was an ancient demon who was sealed for a thousand years.[12]
The Shadow Sirens are a trio of shadowy sisters that have allied themselves with the X-Nauts. Vivian is a former member of the trio.
Beldam is he oldest of the three sisters, she resembles a stereotypical witch with a long nose and pointed hat. Her element is ice.
Marilyn is Beldam's younger sister, she is the strongest of the three. Her element is electricity.
The Dragon Siblings: During her reign, the Shadow Queen had three dragons as pets that spread terror throughout the world, they were Hooktail, Gloomtail, and Bonetail.
Glitz Pit characters
Rawk Hawk is a boss character, who is based on Hulk Hogan, that can be fought at the Glitz Pit.[13]
Super Paper Mario
Count Bleck's forces
Count Bleck, or Lord Blumiere, is the presumed main antagonist of Super Paper Mario. He tried to use the Chaos Heart to destroy the dimensions.[10]
Nastasia is Count Bleck's loyal assistant.
Mimi is one of Count Bleck's minions that has the ability to shapeshift.
O'Chunks is a former general who lost his world and army after being stabbed in the back by his adviser.
Dimentio is the true villain of Super Paper Mario. Dimentio dresses like a jester but is actually a magic user.[12]
Paper Mario: The Origami King
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2023)
King Olly is a creature given sentience by a Toad. He aimed to conquer all Toads due to a misunderstanding.[12]
Reception
GameAxis Unwired praised the characters as "colorful".[14]
References
^Steven E. Jones, The Meaning of Video Games (2008), 139.
^Erik Hoftun, Jorgen Kirksaeter, Morten A. Osterholt, and Bendik Stang, "Super Paper Mario," The Book of Games Volume 2: The Ultimate Reference on PC & Video Games (2007), 182.
