Super Paper Mario 2: Journey Into Darkness

Super Paper Mario 2: Journey Into Darkness
Super Paper Mario 2: Journey Into Darkness is a puzzle and story-filled platformer game for the Nintendo Switch.  This game is the sequel to Super Paper Mario and has many typical Paper Mario ingredients, such as a riveting story, challenging puzzles, and unlockable characters.  The game also maintains much of the memorable gameplay from Super Paper Mario, such as Mario’s ability to flip between 2D and 3D, as well the important lack of RPG in the battles.
The story focuses on Mario being forced to collect Ancient Tomes to rescue his friends after they were scattered by the dark power of the evil Shadoo.  After Shadoo steals all of Mario’s old Pixls for itself, Mario is left alone until he befriends a new Pixl named Illuma who acts as his primary helper for the game.  Eventually, you will be able to unlock other playable characters, such as Luigi, Mimi, or Rushmore.  With their powers, as well as the fancy relic--the Combo Crystal-- you can solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and ultimately defeat Shadoo.  But all is not as it seems…
Story:
Prologue:  The Unleashing
The story begins immediately after escaping the Flopside Pit of 100 Trials in Super Paper Mario.  After defeating Shadoo, the final boss of the pit, Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Luigi meet in Merlon’s home on Flipside to discuss what happened.
During this discussion, a loud rumbling takes place in Flipside.  The Heroes move to investigate and meet up with O’Chunks, Mimi, and Nastasia who have taken up residence in Flipside.  While they try to figure out what has happened, Shadoo appears in their midst and explains to them that it's recent defeat in the pit was a trick and that the Heroes had unknowingly opened up the way out of the pit.  Now it had come to enact its revenge on the ancients.  With this, it steals Mario’s Pixls and releases a blast of power that scatters the residents of Flipside.
Mario is woken up by a lightbulb-shaped Pixl named Illuma in a place called the Mystic District.  Here he meets a member of the Tribe of Ancients named Merri who is the owner of Illuma and also the bearer of a book called the Ancient Tome.  Merri reveals that there are Gateways scattered throughout the Mystic District that can be opened with different Ancient Tomes.  She gives the book to you in hope that you will find your friends.  While you are traveling to the first Gateway, you come across a shadow-corrupted Flipside resident and you use Illuma’s ability to free them from the corruption.  After this, Illuma chooses to go with you to stop Shadoo, even though this saddens Merri.
Chapter 1:  Sky-High Summit
The Gateway opens at the peak of the Sky High Summit where a shadow-corrupted Merluvlee throws you off the top and you plummet to the very bottom but not before you notice a castle at the top of the mountain.  Near the base, you meet a citizen of the Cliffside Village who informs you that an Ancient is being held in the castle at the top of the mountain and also directs you as to where you find Luigi.  Eventually, you come across Luigi and he joins your party after you defeat the enemies harassing him.  With his help, you reach the top.  Here begins the first boss battle as you take on Corrupted Merluvlee and defeat her.  Unfortunately, she escapes before you can free her from the corruption.
You enter the High King’s castle on the top of the Sky-High Summit after being directed to do so by one of the mountain residents.  Here you rescue the massively mustachioed Ancient Merblum from the High King’s dungeon.  The second boss fight commences when the High King realizes that you’ve freed someone from his dungeons and decides to stop you.  After you defeat the High King, Merblum gives you the book and Chapter 1 ends with you being transported back to the Mystic District.
Memory 1:
Here you learn of two siblings named Soye and Lilla.  Not much information is given, but you learn that Lilla is trying to stop her brother Soye from repeatedly stealing a dangerous book from their father’s study to read for himself.  Eventually, Soye returns the book to his father.
Interlude:
Mario, Luigi, and Merri discuss why some people are corrupted and Merri speculates that it could be from Shadoo's release of dark power, since only those from Flipside are being corrupted. Afterward, Mario and Luigi open the next Gateway in the Mystic District and proceed on their journey.
Chapter 2: Quicksand City
The Gateway opens in a very flat desert.  After solving a couple puzzles, you find a massive quicksand pit.  A clue somewhere in the level will tell you to enter it, so you do.  The quicksand feeds into an eerily empty underground city surrounded by quicksand waterfalls.  This is Quicksand City.  
Eventually, you come across two legs sticking out of a sand trap.  If you pull on these legs, it will reveal Corrupted Mimi and she attacks you.  After you free her from the shadow corruption, she joins your party.  
As you continue, you will find Bestovius in the only comfortable home in the Quicksand City.  He agrees to give you the Ancient Tome that you need, but before you can take it, the Sand Bandit, a mole-like creature, steals the book and escapes with it.  Before you chase him down, however, Bestovius gives you an important relic called the Combo Crystal which allows you to instantly toggle between two members of your party regardless of the circumstances and also carries over a bit of the previous person’s power.  You chase down the Sand Bandit and defeat him in his cave, taking the Ancient Tome and ending Chapter 2.  With this, you are transported back to the Mystic District.
Interlude:
Using Mimi's ability, you unlock a new area of the Mystic District. In search of the next Gateway, you find a deep black pit. Merri hustles to you and warns you that unmentionable evil lives in the pit, which she calls the Abyss. She tells you to never enter it, even though at the moment it is impossible. You find the third Gateway by using Mimi’s power.
Chapter 3:  The Mushroom Kingdom
Coming as a surprise to Mario and Luigi, the next Gateway leads to the Mushroom Kingdom.  Here, you see the land in turmoil.  Because Princess Peach was absent, a Corrupted Bowser had taken over the Mushroom Kingdom when transported here and now wreaked havoc across the kingdom.  
The Gateway opens near Toad Town.  After making their way to Toad Town, Mario, Luigi, and Mimi find Toads in chains being guarded by Koopa Troopas.  While in Toad Town, Corrupted Merluvlee appears before you again and you fight and defeat her, freeing her from the corruption.  However, the battle draws the Koopas attention and they capture you to take you to Corrupted Bowser.  
Corrupted Bowser is delighted that he has become ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and because Mario, Luigi, and Mimi are without Peach, he throws you into the dungeons with several Toads.  Here you meet, Rushmore, a Blue Toad with sunglasses who seems to be the only one unphased by being in the dungeon.  He joins your party after a brief discussion and you can use his and Mimi’s power to break out of the prison.  You confront Bowser again to find where he is keeping Merluvlee.  After you send Bowser packing, you find Merluvlee, who gives you the Ancient Tome and you are transported back to the Mystic District.
Memory 2:
This conversation is between Lilla and her father.  She has grown fatally ill and her father can’t bear to watch her die, especially after it is revealed that Soye and their mother had died in an unknown accident a while back.  Lilla tries to comfort her father as she lies dying.
Interlude:
Using Rushmore's ability, you find the next Gateway and use the Ancient Tome to unlock it. Before you can step through, however, the floor drops out from beneath you, and you plunge into the Abyss.  You use Illuma’s ability to light up the darkness, and it reveals Dimentio, sitting comfortably on a throne waiting for you.   Dimentio explains that he’s not here to fight you.  He says that he has heard of the Shadoo that you’re fighting and desires to learn more about it.  Somewhat reluctantly, you allow him to join your party.  With his abilities, you can escape the Abyss.  Now, you go through the next Gateway.
Chapter 4:  A Flattened Flipside
The Gateway appears on Flipside, which is in shambles after what Shadoo did to it.  The Gateway opens inside the Hall of Mirrors.  The mirror windows are cracked and completely shattered in someplace.  You make your way into Flipside, although there are many enemies and obstacles standing in your way.  The elevators are broken, so you’ll have to use each hero’s individual powers to reach other floors.  
Eventually, you reach Merlon’s house.  He tells you that he needs two powerful relics which were buried in Flipside and Flopside.  Using these relics, he could restore Flipside.  Each relic is protected by a creature which serves as a sort of mini boss.  After collecting both, you return to Merlon.  Shadoo, however, appears.  It notices and also seems to recognize Illuma.  It says that Merlon must be powerful to have been unaffected by his corruption and scattering.  With this Shadoo consumes Merlon with darkness.  
After the Puppet Merlon battle, Dimentio quickly uses his magic to grow a sprout out of Shadoo’s head.  Shadoo frees itself easily, but not before Dimentio has been able to see into Shadoo’s memories.  Shadoo vanishes.  Dimentio then reveals to Mario that he has been searching for someone strong enough to conquer Mario.  After seeing Shadoo’s memories he is confident that he has found the one.  Because of this, Dimentio proceeds to trap Mario and co. in Dimension Z, a place he designed specifically for Mario’s destruction.  In Dimension Z, Mario, Luigi, Mimi, and Rushmore search for a way to get out.  Eventually, they find Dimentio and beat him on his own turf.  Dimentio vanishes.  
When they are freed, they find Merlon, still very frightened over their disappearance, waiting for them.  He gives you the Ancient Tome you need and you are transported back to the Mystic District.
Interlude:
Merlon uses his powers to create a pathway into the Abyss.  Here you find the next Gateway and go through.
Chapter 5:  The Tuneful Tundra
The Gateway opens in an icy world.  Mario and co. begin searching for their friend and the Ancient.  Eventually, they come across a small, guitar-shaped being named Chord.  She agrees to help you and warns you of Chillizard, the ice dragon who controls the Tuneful Tundra.  With the power of her music, she can shatter ice walls.  You continue along until you find a single house in the middle of the frozen wasteland.  Here you find Bozzo, an Ancient caring for a Corrupted Peach who is unconscious.  Illuma makes a comparison between Bozzo and Peach to how Merri cared for her after her injury.  Bozzo tries to press about the injury, but Illuma doesn’t give any more information.  You search for items to help Bozzo wake her up.  When you do, however, she becomes angry and fights you.  After you free her, she joins your party.  
Bozzo tells you that Chillizard is in possession of the Ancient Tome that belongs to him.  You begin searching for Chillizard’s ice palace, but first, you run into a Corrupted Merlee who happens to have been transported to the Tuneful Tundra as well.  You free her from the corruption.  However, she is still disoriented and warps away from you.  After this, you infiltrate Chillizard’s palace and recover the book.  However, this alerts Chillizard and you battle him.  Chord frees the book from its icy protection.  After this, the book is yours and you are transported back to the Mystic District, leaving Chord behind.
Memory 3
Lilla’s father turns to his book and uses its knowledge to create a vessel for Lilla’s soul before she dies.  He then dubs this creation as the first Pixl.  Lilla, in her anger at her father keeping her alive, steals the book and vanishes.
Interlude:
Dimentio appears before Shadoo in the Shadowlands and offers to help it.  Shadoo is cautious of Dimentio, but agrees to let him help.  Meanwhile, using a combination of Peach and Luigi’s abilities, you find the next Gateway and go through.
Chapter 6:  Shipwreck Isle
The Gateway opens on the boat in the middle of the sea.  The captain of the ship tasks you with fixing a motor engine in the hull of their sloop to go faster.  A pirate ship attacks you.  You can defeat them in an interesting boss battle.  
After you escape, a tentacle rises from the water and drags your ship into the water.  You continue on in an underwater level.  You meet a diver who agrees to trade his submarine for a piece of gold.  You find the gold in another underwater shipwreck and trade this for the submarine.  This allows him to travel to a new island.  
At this island, Mario meets O’Chunks, who agrees to join Mario’s party.  Using O’Chunks’s ability you unveil another island.  After exploring the island, Sir Kraken the Tentacled reveals himself to you.  You attack him once you realize that Merlyle, the Ancient you are looking for, is trapped in pieces of shipwreck that Sir Kraken uses for armor.  Once you defeat Sir Kraken, Merlyle is free and gives you the Ancient Tome.  Unfortunately, the book is soggy and unusable.  Regardless, you are transported back to the Mystic District.
Interlude:
Dimentio finds Shadoo swapping between forms and wonders what is happening. Shadoo explains that it is trying to find the ultimate form. Dimentio confidently tells Shadoo that he has found Mario's form to be the ultimate form and that after a bit of investigation, he is positive that Shadoo will think the same. He then ends with telling Shadoo that his surprise for the Heroes is ready and that he only awaited the Heroes' arrival to the Shadowlands. Meanwhile,you take the soggy book to someone in the Mystic District who agrees to dry it for a price.  After this, you can find and open the next Gateway.
Chapter 7:  The Land of the Lost
This place is dismal.  The Gateway opens in the very gray Land of the Lost.  You begin to wander until you meet Vinny, a dry bones wearing sunglasses who agrees to lead them to the next Ancient.  However, this enemy leads you into a trap and also turns out to be Corrupted Nastasia in control of the enemy.  You battle Corrupted Nastasia.  Once Nastasia is freed, she says that she faintly remembers an Ancient being at the top of the Wandering Wall which you have to scale.  You reach the top to find Merlee, sitting gloomily.  Shadoo, tipped off again by Merri, takes control of Merlee and the Puppet Merlee battle commences.  When you free Merlee, Shadoo leaves, frustrated with its defeat.  Merlee gives you the Ancient Tome and you are transported back to the Mystic District.
Memory 4:
1,500 years had passed.  Soye, still alive, is speaking to someone who remains unnamed until near the end of the memory.  This person asks about the mask Soye wears and Soye explains that his face was horribly disfigured in an accident, even though that accident also allowed him to become immortal. Soye proceeds to introduce himself to Count Bleck as the master of dimensions and pleaser of crowds.
Otherwise known as Dimentio.
Interlude:
You arrive in the Mystic District, where all of the Ancients that you have rescued thus far are gathered. Merlee joins them. Suddenly Shadoo in Dimentio's form appears in the air above Mario and proclaims the doom of the Ancients. It then forms boxes around every Ancient and all of Mario's party members except for himself. Shadoo then snaps his fingers, similar to Dimentio and black flames ignite within each box. Inside each box, Merri, Merblum, Merluvlee, Merlon, Bozzo, Merlyle, Merlee, Luigi, Mimi, Rushmore, Peach, O'Chunks, and Nastasia vanish. Shadoo asks if Mario can truly prove himself as the greatest of the Heroes and then vanishes as well. Only Mario and Illuma remain and they open the final Gateway.
Chapter 8:  The Shadowlands
Mario steps through the Gateway.  Both Shadoo and Dimentio appear side-by-side in the air next to you.  Dimentio explains to the heroes that they have made their last mistake.  With that, both Shadoo and Dimentio simultaneously raise their hands and the dark world of the Shadowlands flashes white and the screen begins to warp.  You see flashes of both the Shadowlands and Dimension Z until both of them combine into one place.  Here, both Dimentio and Shadoo are more powerful.  With this accomplished, both Dimentio and Shadoo vanish.
Mario is left alone with Illuma to sort out what to do next.  Eventually you go ahead and proceed throughout the Shadow Dimension on your own.  You will come across a chamber in which Corrupted Luigi waits for you.  This begins the Boss Rush.  Every fighter that you defeat joins your party until you have your entire party back.  The Ancients are not part of the boss rush.
After you have freed everyone, you will find Dimentio waiting for you once again.  Furious with how far you’ve made it, Dimentio plays his final card.  Snapping his finger, he reveals the Dark Prognosticus which he recovered from Count Bleck's castle after he joined Shadoo.  He recounts all the times that he has read the Dark Prognosticus in his past, saying that he even used to take the book from his father, the Master Magician.  Now, you battle him, although Dimentio becomes more powerful by using the knowledge from the book to become almost completely unpredictable.  However, you still beat him and he falls to the ground in shame, wondering why he cannot best you.  Before he vanishes, he mentions that despite his defeat, Mario is still no match for his sister.  
Finally, you come across Shadoo, who is waiting for you, surrounded by your Pixls.  Every Corrupted Ancient hangs from the ceiling in cages. Shadoo decides that since you have rescued your friends and defeated Dimentio, Mario is the ultimate form of power.  Shadoo becomes Mario, able to flip between 2D and 3D and attacks you with the full force of the Pixls.  Using Illuma’s and your ability, you banish Shadoo’s shadow clones, freeing the Pixls and revealing Shadoo’s true form.
The Pixl Queen.
The Ancients are freed from the corruption and the cages break, dropping them to the ground. Illuma immediately recognizes the Pixl Queen as the one who she had fought and helped defeat during the Pixl Uprising 1,500 years ago.  Illuma continues to say that she had become injured and everyone had presumed her dead, but Merri had nursed her back to health and had kept her hidden.  
The Pixl Queen says that she too was thought to be dead, but by creating the alter ego of Shadoo, she had given herself time to heal.  Now, she would be able to enact her revenge on the Ancients for misusing the Pixls and for their study of the Prognosticuses.  With that, she uses her power to consume all of the Pixls, including Illuma, and the real final battle begins.  Near invincible from the power of the Pixls and Dimension Z, you attack fruitlessly.  
The Pixl Queen pauses to scoff at you. Just then, the Ancients, led by Merri, use their powers to destroy Dimention Z, taking away the Pixl Queen's invincibility, leaving her vulnerable to the heroes’ attacks.  
Now, you fight and eventually beat the Pixl Queen.  While she lies dying, you hear the other Pixls’ voices congratulating Mario for his victory.  Then Illuma takes over and tells Mario that she and the other Pixls will die with the Pixl Queen.  She says a sad goodbye, and then the Pixl Queen whispers that she is finally free.  After this, they die.
Ending:
Mario, Luigi, Mimi, Rushmore, Peach, O’Chunks, and Nastasia are warped back to the Mystic District, along with all the other Ancients.  Everyone is saddened at the death of the Pixls.  Everyone but Peach and Merri wander off screen.  
Peach stays behind and wonders aloud what the Pixl Queen had meant by freedom.  Merri responds that according to the tale of the Pixl Queen, she hadn’t wanted to become immortal, yet her father, the Master Magician had chosen to make her so.  By dying, she had become free from the Pixl vessel.  Peach smiles, and the two follow after the others.
Credits:
Much like the previous Super Paper Mario credits, you see silhouettes at the end of them.  These depict the twelve Pixls, with Illuma at their center in their human forms. Many thanks to Super Paper Mario 2: Craft Champion, Super Paper Mario 2: Dimentio's Revenge, as well as Garson and Carson for inspiration for this story.
Party Members:
Mario: 
The hero of the story, Mario has the ability to flip between 2D and 3D at will. Press ZR or ZL to activate this ability.
Luigi:
Mario's faithful brother, Luigi has the ability to launch into a super jump. To do this, press down on the d-pad.
Mimi:
Once a servant of Count Bleck, Mimi can create a rubee shield around herself by pressing ZR or ZL. The rubee shield can harm enemies and destroy certain blocks.
Rushmore:
A calm and speedy toad, Rushmore can dash by holding ZR or ZL.
Dimentio:
While he's only a party member for a short time, Dimentio can float across spiked pathways and conjure magical blasts by pressing ZR or ZL.
Princess Peach:
Though she is constantly being rescued, Peach's ability to float with her parasol and crouch underneath it by pressing down on the d-pad will definitely come in handy.
O'Chunks:
Though not the brightest of the bunch, O'Chunks makes up for that with his ability to ground pound on enemies by pressing down on the d-pad as well as being able to pick up and throw enemies and other objects by pressing ZR or ZL.
Nastasia:
While she might seem lost without Count Bleck with her, Nastasia can take over and control enemy minds by pressing ZR or ZL, making her great for infiltration.
Illuma:
Though she isn't a playable party member, Illuma's ability to create flashes of light by pressing X or Y can light up dark areas as well as free enemies from Shadoo's shadow corruption.
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Category:Paper Mario Games
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