Paper Mario is one of Mario's most beloved spinoff franchises, one of two RPG series the plumber has. In the modern era, it's known for its more adventure-game-esque antics, but thin Mario has had tons of adventures over the years. They all started in 2000's Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64, which is set to return on Nintendo Switch Online.

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Paper Mario was meant as a successor to the Super Nintendo's Super Mario RPG, even being its direct sequel in beta. It featured plenty of returning mechanics from SMRPG but brought plenty of new charm. The paper craft graphics and storybook motif helped it remain one of the better looking games on the N64. Fitting that storybook motif, the arcs of the story were divided into chapters. But which of these chapters was the best?

Prologue

Toad calls for Mario on the Paper Mario 64 Prologue

The prologue "A Plea from the Stars" is the tone setter. Technically, it isn't exactly a prologue as there is a playable opening before it, but both together set the plot in motion. Unlike some of the later Mario RPGs which would shy away from this plot, Bowser has kidnapped the Princess. With the wish-granting star rod, he defeats Mario and sends him careening into Goomba village.

Mario then goes on a short journey defeating the Goomba King and befriends a fanboy Goomba. This Mario adventure is very Goomba-themed. The beginning of the game is charming and cute, but it isn't terribly exciting. Despite the fact the the plot isn't complex, this intro takes a while. Also, this prologue prevents Mario from using certain abilities he has in the rest of the game and its sequel. This makes it annoying on replays.

Chapter 6

Split image showing Mario talking to flowers in Paper Mario 64

"Dark Days in Flower Fields" takes place in a lovely field of flowers. It's accessed in an interesting way, by collecting seeds to plant in the hub area's garden. It's visually striking from the beginning, emerging from a giant oak tree with eyes. It also introduces the last party member of the game, the greaser Lakitu Lakilester.

However, the structure of Chapter 6 has problems. The hub area splits off into six paths with tough enemies that have to be backtracked through several times. Also, the music isn't as catchy as other chapters. Plus, most of the NPC flowers are rude to Mario, despite him risking his life for them. Every rose has its thorns, apparently.

Chapter 2

Mario with two Toads and a Koopa in Paper Mario 64

Deserts are one of the less popular stock locations in games. "The Mystery of Dry, Dry Ruins" is unfortunately no exception. The early parts of the chapter involve lots of backtracking, and it features a treacherous desert full of similar-looking environments. Progression through the desert is cryptic, and the boss of the chapter appears with no foreshadowing.

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But there's still positives in Chapter 2, such as the mailman party member, Parakarry. This character is one of the most reoccurring across the Paper Mario series. And despite being difficult to traverse, the desert hides many secrets, some of which weren't found for years. The Dry Dry Outpost is also one of the deeper towns of the game, containing unique backstory and lore.

Chapter 1

Mario and a pink bomb in Paper Mario 64

"Storming Koopa Bros. Fortress" is the grass world and castle that most Mario games began with. But Chapter 1 was also full of a charm and magic, with upbeat music, fun puzzles, and a few cool twists. At this point in the series, friendly types of Koopas in Super Mario were a rarity, so Koopa Village was surprising. It also was the only chapter to introduce two party members.

But by far the biggest plus to the chapter was the villains. The Koopa Bros. were a group of four Koopas that were parodies of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They had the totally radical slang and teamwork, but were comically incompetent. Their most hilarious moment was trying to scare Mario away with an obviously fake Bowser disguise.

Chapter 5

Mario traveling through Lavalva Island in Paper Mario 64

One of the most complex chapters, "Hot, Hot Times on Lavalava Island" was an island adventure. It had a dangerous jungle full of bizarre enemies, and ended with a trek through an active volcano. It takes heavy inspiration from things in Yoshi's Island, tasking Mario with finding baby yoshis, instead of the other way around. The boss of the chapter even looks like Naval Piranha, a boss from Yoshi's Island.

The tropical environment is also very prevalent, beginning with a ride on the back of a whale. It also expanded on the character of Kolorado, a explorer introduced in Chapter 2. The character became the main source of comic relief in the chapter. His dogged pursuit of treasure and lack of awareness made him great foil to Mario and the more serious problems in the chapter.

Chapter 3

Tubba Blubba in his castle in Paper Mario 64

"The 'Invincible' Tubba Blubba" is the horror-influenced chapter in the game. It began with a maze-like spooky forest, and then puzzles in a ghost house. But then it pivots from spooky aesthetic to stealth segments in a run down gulch. The boss of the chapter is literally invincible, and Mario must hide from him and his guards until he can find his weak point.

The party member of the chapter is Lady Bow, a Boo noblewomen that's one of the series more popular characters. She actually kidnaps the Star Spirit Mario is looking for and shrewdly holds it hostage. The ghost enemies in Super Mario games are quite tricky, after all. The chapter's twist is also dark: the boss' secrets turns out to be that he is severed from his heart. His heart is a separate entity that controls his body remotely, and you must fight it.

Chapter 8

Mario with a pink bomb in Star Haven in Paper Mario 64

Chapter 8 "A Star-Powered Showdown" is the finale of the game. As fitting of the finale, it's mostly a tough dungeon crawl through Bowser's castle. Like any good final level, it tests everything you've learned up to this point. It remixes puzzles and mechanics from earlier in the game. Enemies and characters from every chapter show up, preparing a final challenge for you.

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And the final fight with Bowser is also incredibly satisfying. Paper Bowser is as funny as ever, and provides two incredibly tough boss fights. Also, Peach and her star sidekick Twink get to contribute, empowering Mario and letting him bypass Bowser's defenses. Finally, the chapter ends with a parade of all the characters you've met throughout the game.

Chapter 4

Split image showing Mario in Shy Guy's toy box in Paper Mario 64

"Trials in the Toy Box" is pretty similar to Chapter 6 in that it is tightly linked to the hub area of Toad Town. But Chapter 4 does a lot more with the concept, directly invading Toad Town with Shy Guys. As you return from Chapter 3, they've invaded what you thought was a safe space. Their chaos throughout the town also unlocks new features, and gets you to learn more about the town's citizens.

As for the toy box the Shy Guys are from, it's pretty exciting. It's full of puzzles of variety of kinds, including one that involves you putting objects in the box from outside. The varieties of Shy Guys on display are really creative, including one of the game's optional superbosses, Anti Guy. The chapter ends with an exciting battle against an army of Shy Guys, lead by a funny general character.

Chapter 7

Mario inside the Crystal Palace in Paper Mario 64

Chapter 7 "A Star Spirit on Ice" is the epitome of a great Paper Mario chapter. It's split into two halves: a funny an interesting town segment and a dark dungeon crawl. The town segment, a winter hamlet full of adorable penguins, is great from the jump. Things get dire when a murder occurs, and Mario is tasked with clearing his name in a penguin murder mystery. Another town called Starborn Valley also brings new lore to the stars seen throughout the game.

After a climb up a treacherous winter mountain, Mario reaches the Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace is a dungeon that would fit just as well in Zelda. It's atmospheric, using crystals and mirrors to pull off interesting puzzles. It featured illusions as well that would keep players on their toes. The enemy type Duplighost, which could mimic Mario's party members, would also debut here. These two halves came together beautifully, making Chapter 7 the best chapter in Paper Mario.

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