History VideoGame / PaperMario

* DropTheHammer: One of Mario's two main attacks in the series, the other being jumping.

''Paper Mario'' is a MascotRPG SpinOff series of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' developed by Creator/IntelligentSystems (who also developed the ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' series and ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series) following the general idea of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' (its working title was ''Super Mario RPG 2''), but with an art-style where everyone is as thin and two-dimensional as paper (hence the name). [[VideoGame/PaperMario64 The original game]] debuted on the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 in 2000, later being one of only ten games released for the system[[labelnote:note]]''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay, VideoGame/Bomberman64, VideoGame/DrMario 64, VideoGame/AnimalCrossing, VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater 2,'' and some others[[/labelnote]] in North America in 2001, a year that saw twice as many [=GameCube=] games released despite that system not debuting until November.

* HubWorld: All games except the fourth and fifth have one that connects to each world in each game. ''Sticker Star'' and ''Color Splash'' use a world map instead.

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: If Mario (or whichever character you happen to be playing as in the case of ''Super'') falls in battle, the game ends. If any of the partners fall, it doesn't, and they can be revived afterwards or during battle. However, all damage will go towards Mario and if there are Life Shrooms they will be used on your partner first.

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: If Mario falls in battle, the game ends. If any of the partners fall, it doesn't, and they can be revived afterwards or during battle. However, all damage will go towards Mario and if there are Life Shrooms they will be used on your partner first.

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Peaceful Koopas are almost all wearing green shells and have visible eyes, while the Bowser-affiliated Koopas all have red shells, SinisterShades ([[SunglassesAtNight even in dark, poorly-lit fortresses]]), and [[SpikesOfVillainy studded bling in Bowser's style]]. The Shades n' Studs style generally indicates villainy in Koopas, with the [[SubvertedTrope lone exception]] of KP Koopa and his crew from the Glitz Pit (who [[JustifiedTrope has the excuse]] of deliberately looking tough for the hyped fighting matches).

The whole series is known for its witty dialogue and writing, giving many comedic moments of LeaningOnTheFourthWall and SelfParody.

* GameGourmet: From the first game to Super, starting with basic items like berries, apples, lemons, cake mix, coconuts, and of course, mushrooms. Each game has a cook who can combine items together to make more complex things like spaghetti, soup, and cakes (or even non-food items such as Dizzy Dials and Sleepy Sheep).

* BlockingStopsAllDamage: You can Super Guard against almost anything that causes damage in battle, regardless of whether that means physical attacks, projectiles, lightning strikes, falling walls, fire or explosions. All with no harm done to Mario.

* MascotRPG: Its use ActionCommands carries over from the main series, demonstrating that common trend of spin-off games in this genre deriving gameplay mechanics from their parent series.

''Paper Mario'' is a RolePlayingGame SpinOff series of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' developed by Creator/IntelligentSystems (who also developed the ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' series and ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series) following the general idea of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' (its working title was ''Super Mario RPG 2''), but with an art-style where everyone is as thin and two-dimensional as paper (hence the name). [[VideoGame/PaperMario64 The original game]] debuted on the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 in 2000, later being one of only ten games released for the system[[labelnote:note]]''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay, VideoGame/Bomberman64, VideoGame/DrMario 64, VideoGame/AnimalCrossing, VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater 2,'' and some others[[/labelnote]] in North America in 2001, a year that saw twice as many [=GameCube=] games released despite that system not debuting until November.

* EndangeredSpecies: Throughout the first 3 games, there exists a creature known as a Whacka, which his species is heavily implied in the series' lore to having been poached into near-extinction because the Whacka's bumps they drop are extremely valuable healing items in battle. Russ T. even speculates that the Whacka you meet at Mt. Rugged is TheLastOfHisKind, assuming that the Whackas found in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''[='s=] Keelhaul Key and ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario''[='s=] Downtown of Crag aren't different members of the species. Unfortunately, VideoGameCrueltyPotential is rife in the early Paper Mario games and you can actually accelerate their extinction by whacking them for Whacka's bumps as well.