Paper Mario: The Stellar Solstice

Paper Mario: The Stellar Solstice is an RPG developed by Un-Intelligent Systems and is the seventh installment in the Paper Mario franchise. Its plot revolves around Mario's journey to gather the 6 Magic Cores to repair the damage caused by the evil 7th Core. The 3D world uses a leveling and turned-based battle system and sees the return of Heart-Points and Flower-Points, as well as Badges and Badge-Points. 
Paper Mario: The Stellar Solstice was released on the Nintendo Switch during holiday 2022 on December 14 for North American players, and December 9 for Japanese and European ones. 
==Synopsis==
The world is on the line in Paper Mario: The Stellar Solstice as Sir Shadoman is threatening to replace all light with shadows! With the help of unique and unlikely allies, Mario will face countless new and returning enemies along with his biggest threat yet. Will Mario and his crew be able to save the universe from eternal darkness?
==Story==
====Prologue====
The story opens with Mario and Luigi receiving a letter inviting them to the Stellar Solstice Festival at Toad Town, which will be emceed by Princess Peach. The Stellar Solstice is an event that happens every century and is the one day where all of the stars shine brightest. The two brothers arrive at the festival and are greeted by Princess Peach and several different toads. 
The festival begins, and Peach walks up to the stage. However, she is interrupted when Bowser stomps into the festival with Kammy Koopa at his side. In an attempt to kidnap the princess, Bowser sends two Koopa guards towards the stage. However, these are blocked by a strange black force field that appears around the stage, keeping the Koopas out while keeping Peach in. Just then, a mysterious figure named Sir Shadoman appears, who briefly explains his plan to rid the world of all light and replace it with shadows. He then reveals the Shadow Core, a black crystal, and uses it to pull down the starlight and turn it into shadows. Those attending the festival start to flee, including Luigi, but Mario jumps up and tries to defeat Sir Shadoman, only to result in him using his power to make Mario fall unconscious. Bowser also tries to protest and attempts to attack Shadoman, who also knocks Bowser out, leaving Kammy Koopa to flee. Shadoman then teleports Bowser somewhere else.
Once everyone has fled from the area, Shadoman turns to Peach and uses his shadow powers to brainwash her into working for him, making her hair dark and clothes dark.
Elsewhere, Mario awakens in an unfamiliar land. He is awakened by Merlon, who tells Mario that he is in Lightport, a city in the sky that is responsible for overlooking the world. He then goes on to explain that there are 7 Magic Cores that each correspond to an element of the world. Cores for Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Life, Light, and Darkness. He explains that the cores allow those who possess them to control their element and that the creators of the city would use them to create balance in the world. However, the Dark Core was deemed too unstable and dangerous and was sealed away. That very Dark Core was the one Sir Shadoman was using to create shadows, and that he must be stopped. Mario agrees to help Merlon and the rest of Lightport to save the world and Peach and must collect the remaining 6 cores to do so. He introduces Mario to Pyxi, a Fairite who will aide Mario on his adventure by offering insight and her knowledge along the way. According to legend, Fairites helped to maintain the city of lightport and assist those who possessed one of the Magic Cores.
Elsewhere, Sir Shadoman returns to his castle where his assistants Emmy and Vi are. Following him is Peach. Shadoman explains to the sisters, Emmy and Vi, that his plan is in motion and that they must send foes to slow Mario until his plan is complete.
====Chapter 1: Behind the Walls of the Bone Cave====
Merlon tells Mario that the first core, the Earth Core, is West of Toad Town. He leads Mario there and gives him a Return Pipe which leads to Lightport
Once back at Toad Town, Mario heads West until he reaches the Koopa town of Koopsburg on the Koopsburg Road . There, he meets Goombetta, a friendly Goomba who is an aspiring explorer, and staying at Koopa Village to study the history and landmarks there. Goombetta is in panic, though, as her journal was stolen by a Cleft while she was taking notes on fossils that were found near a cave called Bone Cave, an archeology site. In an attempt to help Goombetta, Mario travels to Bone Cave. There, he finds a team of archaeologists working with Bob-ombs at an archeology site who are working to uncover a large fossil. The scientists seem troubled, though, and they soon explain that recently the Clefts have started ruining their work. He says that they have begun covering up spots that the archaeologists have uncovered and are ruining the site. Concerned, Mario finds Goombetta's journal and returns it, earning her gratitude. She decides to join Mario's party.
Goombetta and Mario return to Bone Cave where the archaeologists are having some trouble. They ask Mario to hammer the clefts that pop up while they're working to prevent the clefts from undoing any more of the scientists' fossil-finding, prompting the Whack-A-Cleft minigame. As a reward, one of the Koopas gives Mario an extra shovel which he can use to dig up marked spots on the overworld. The archaeologists then go on to ask Mario to help them figure out why the Clefts are acting so strangely. On his journey through the Cave, Mario meets Bombroy, a Bob-omb working with the Archaeologists. Determined to help eradicate the Clefts from the cave, he follows Mario around. 
Eventually, Mario and his party reach a secluded alcove in the cave which has been seemingly untouched. Upon further investigation, Mario finds a group of Clefts huddling around the Earth Core. Before he can get to it, however, the Cleft King bursts out of the ground, challenging Mario to a fight. 
After defeating the Cleft King, Vi appears next to the Earth Core and uses a wand to bring the large fossil to life. The fossil forms Bonetail, a powerful dragon made of bone. Bonetail snatches the Earth Core from the cave and summons pieces of stone and the remaining fossils, and forms Bone Tower to keep Mario from collecting the Core. Mario must now travel to the top of Bone Tower to defeat Bonetail and retrieve the Earth Core, allowing him to use the Earth Crumble ability in the overworld when prompted, along with Earth Core Power in battle.
Back in Shadoman's castle, Peach is commanded to several chores for Sir Shadoman, Vi, and Emmy. She first must do the three's laundry in the castle, as well as many other dirty chores.
====Chapter 2: The Pride of the Airborne City====
====Chapter 3: The Mystery of Bloomor Isle====
====Chapter 4: Mario, King and Champion====
====Chapter 5: The Miracle of the Above====
====Chapter 6: Countdown to Destruction====
====Chapter 7: It's Dark Outside====
==Post-Game==
====Chapter 7.5: Great Lengths for Love====
==Battle==
Paper Mario: The Stellar Solstice features a battle system similar to the first two games. When Mario encounters an enemy, a turn-based battle will ensue with Mario, Mario's active partner, and the enemies taking turns to attack.
Mario can use:
*Standard Attacks
*Special Move
*Items
*Stickers
*Flee
Mario's partner can use:
*Standard Attacks
*Special Move
*Items
*Switch Partner
*Turn Relay
===Mario's Moves===
====Standard Attacks====
Standard attacks are attacks that take up one turn and can be used without the use of Flower Points. Mario's standard attacks include:
*Jump
*Hammer
*Super Jump (With "Super Jump" Badge)
*Heavy Hammer (With "Heavy Hammer" Badge)
Mario's Jump and Hammer attacks also get stronger over time.
Damage of Standard Attacks over time
 	Base Damage	First Upgrade	Second Upgrade	"Easy Mode" Badge	"Hard Mode" Badge
Jump 	1 	2 	3 	5 	2
Hammer 	1 	2 	3 	4 	2
Super Jump 	2 	3 	5 	6 	3
Heavy Hammer	3 	4 	4 	6 	3
====Special Moves====
Special moves are moves that take up one turn but require a specific amount of Flower Points to use. These attacks are often more effective or powerful than standard ones. Mario's special moves include:
*Power Bounce
*Mega Boots (With "MegaBoots" Badge"
*Heavy Strike
*Slam Hammer (With "Slam Hammer" Badge)
*Charge Up (With "Charge Up" Badge)
*Hammer Charge (With "Hammer Charge" Badge)
*Stash ​​​{| border="2" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" style="width:500px;" class="article-table"
|-
! scope="col"|
! scope="col"|Stats/Effects
! scope="col"|Damage
! scope="col"|HP
! scope="col"|FP
! scope="col"|Other
|-
|Power Bounce
|Allows Mario to Bounce up to 7 times and Increases Mario's Jump Power
|4-1 (Standard)
6-1 (Upgraded)
|N/A
|3
|When the "Love Bounce" badge is equipped, each bounce deals 1 less damage than normal but heals Mario by 1
|-
|Mega Boots
|Increases Mario's Jump Attack Power
| +3
|N/A
|2
|N/A
|-
|Heavy Strike
|Increases Mario's Hammer attack power
|
+3
|N/A
|2
|N/A
|-
|Slam Hammer
|Increases Mario's Hammer Power and Allows him to Hammer up to 3 Times
|3, 4, 6
(Standard)
4, 5, 7
(Slam Hammer+)
|N/A
|3, 4(Slam Hammer+)
|N/A
|-
|Charge Up
|Increases Mario's Jump Power by 2 for the next 3 rounds.
| +2
|N/A
|2
|Can Stack
|-
|Hammer Charge
|Increases Mario's Hammer Power by 2 for the next 2 rounds.
| +2
|N/A
|2
|Can Stack
|-
|Stash
|Increases Mario or a Partner's health by a random amount between 2 and 7.
|N/A
|2-7
|3
|The range of numbers will shorten to 4-7 with the "Made With Love" badge.
|}
 
====Items====
Items are collectible objects Mario finds on his journey. They can be used to recover FP, HP, or damage enemies, but disappear after one use. Some can be cooked in the kitchen to make special dishes.
====Stickers====
Stickers are collectible items that can be collected by Mario to use in battle. These stickers can be applied to Mario's hammer or boots to increase or change the effects of them. There are several different stickers to try in battle, but be careful, as once you use it once, it will no longer stick!
 	Effect 	
Shiny Hammer 	+2 Damage to Hammer 	
Shiny Boots 	+2 Damage to Jump 	
Hopslipper 	Allows Mario to use action commands 3 more times when using Jump 	
Shiny Hopslipper	Allows Mario to use action commands 5 more times when using Jump 	
Hurlhammer 	Lets Mario throw his hammer at his opponent, increasing damage by 2 while also letting him hit airborne opponents	
Shiny Hurlhammer	Lets Mario throw his hammer at his opponent, increasing damage by 3 while also letting him hit airborne opponents	
Eekhammer 	Allows Mario to use his hammer 3 times on an opponent, but reduces attack power by 3 	
Shiny Eekhammer 	Allows Mario to use his hammer 5 times on an opponent, but reduces attack power by 3 	
Baahammer 	Makes those who get hit by this hammer fall asleep for 2 rounds 	
Line Jump 	Allows Mario to hit a row of enemies in one turn. 	
Shiny Line Jump 	Increases Mario's jump attack power by 2 and allows Mario to hit a row of enemies in one turn 	
Infinijump 	Allows Mario to use action commands 15 more times when using Jump 	
Iron Jump 	Allows Mario to jump on spiked opponents and deal +2 Damage 	
Blazehammer 	Sets fire to all enemies used on for 3 rounds 	
Chillhammer 	Freezes all enemies used on for 2 rounds. 	
KO Hammer 	Doubles Mario's damage if timed perfectly, but will deal no damage if timed incorrectly. 	
Shiny KO Hammer 	Doubles Mario's damage if timed perfectly, but will reduce damage by half if timed incorrectly. 	
Spin Jump 	Spin Jumps enemies, spiked or not, with a powerful attack which increases power by +3 	
Superboot 	Allows Mario to jump over enemy attacks for 1 round 	
Category:Paper Mario Games
Category:Paper Mario (series)
Category:Fan Games
Category:Role-Playing Games
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