History VideoGame / PaperMarioStickerStar

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Many of the ''Paper Mario''-original cast were excised for this game. [[spoiler:Although you can find some research notes left by [[VideoGame/PaperMario64 Parakarry]] and [[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor Goombella]] among the trash in Shy Guy Jungle.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Many of the ''Paper Mario''-original cast were excised for this game. [[spoiler:Although you can find some research notes left by [[VideoGame/PaperMario64 Parakarry]] and [[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor Goombella]] among the trash in Shy Guy Jungle.[[note]]Only in the American version, though.[[/note]]]]

In this game, Bowser attempts to seize the power of the wish-granting Sticker Comet, but the Sticker Comet shatters and scatters across the land.

With the help of the sticker fairy Kersti, Mario sets out to recover the 5 Royal Stickers and rescue Princess Peach, who has been once again kidnapped by a more powerful Bowser. He must also use stickers he finds throughout the environment for battles and puzzle solving, which are stored on the bottom screen. Real-world objects, called Things, can be found and turned into stickers as well.

* AffablyEvil: Kamek[[note]]Who, in the Japanese version, as with all Mario games is merely "a" Kamek (the magic using {{Mook}}s known as "Magikoopas" in the American English and British English versions).[[/note]] is always sure to congratulate Mario and Kersti on their progress before each fight with them. By their final battle, he's developed enough respect for them to suggest skipping their taunting banter and get on to the fight.
* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:All Mizzter Blizzard really wanted was a body that couldn't melt. He even apologizes after you beat him!]]

* AntiVillain: [[spoiler:Can we really call Mizzter Blizzard a villain? All he wanted was a body that couldn't melt...]]

** A mild case. The environments seem to be even more paper-y than usual. The characters look the same, though, although several enemies have been updated to resemble their designs from ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' and onwards.
** The paper-y parts extend to gameplay: one of Mario's special attacks is ''Scissors''.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: So many characters, from mainstays [[note]]the Merlon family, Kammy Koopa[[/note]] to Paper Mario series exclusive enemies [[note]]Spiked Goomba, Koopatrol[[/note]], neglect to make an appearance. [[spoiler:Although you can find some research notes left by [[VideoGame/PaperMario64 Parakarry]] and [[VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor Goombella]] among the trash in Shy Guy Jungle.[[note]]Only in the American version, though.[[/note]]]]

* DiscOneNuke: Paperization Blocks, which are [[GuideDangIt hidden and can only be uncovered by Paperization]], can give you some really powerful stickers as early as World 1-1. What you need to do is Paperize when you see a stump or a ring of 6 flowers, then stick a sticker on the red square containing the Paperization Block, then hit the block to give you either a different sticker than the one you paste, or ''an upgraded version of that sticker''. With enough patience, getting flashy stickers to trounce the first few levels isn't too hard.

* DisneyVillainDeath: [[spoiler:Using a Tail to reflect the Chain Chomp back at Bowser in the last phase of the first battle leads to it knocking him off a cliff]].

* EasyLevelsHardBosses: In contrast to it's predecessor ''Super Paper Mario'', which was the [[HardLevelsEasyBosses inverse,]] ''Sticker Star'' has fairly large areas without many dangers or difficult places [[GuideDangIt (confusing puzzles notwithstanding),]] and the lack of ExperiencePoints means that normal battles can be easily skipped without any consequences. Most of the difficulty actually comes from the boss fights themselves, but the difficulty is mostly about finding out which sticker or [[LimitBreak Thing]] is the most effective and exploiting the boss' weakness by using the correct one. However, this means that if you're using a walkthrough [[GuideDangIt (which is very common given the game's nature),]] even the bosses will become a cakewalk since you'll know how to beat them, making this a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]].

* ExcusePlot: Bizarrely, [[SerialEscalation by Paper Mario standards]], this game isn't plot-driven, with all of the story delivered in cutscenes at the start and end of the game.
** This was done at the request of Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto himself, presumably in response to complaints that Super had too much dialogue.

* FakeLongevity: Although, in this case, it's only if you're trying to get all the Super Flags, which are {{Cosmetic Award}}s that act as de facto "achievements" in this game. On the other hand, [[spoiler:they make prominent appearances in both the ending scene, and the credits during the parade, including the ones you didn't get.]] While most of them can acquired prior to completing the game (including the "50 Battle Spinner Jackpots" Super Flag), at least three may require both farming (the "Spend 10,000 coins" Super Flag), and grinding (the "1000 Excellent Attacks", and "500 Perfect Bonuses" Super Flags).

* GratuitousDiscoSequence: Upon discovering the Boos [[spoiler:hidden in the frame]] in the Enigmansion, both the Boos and Mario start disco dancing for no reason. [[BackgroundMusicOverride The disco music persists throughout the following battle.]]

** Bowser: [[spoiler:In order of the phases: stapler or tape, Eekhammer (or two regular hammers) with any scissor Things, freezing Things plus Fan Things, and...a Raccoon Tail.]]

* HereWeGoAgain: [[spoiler:Subverted. Bowser tries to snatch the Royal Stickers again at the second festival, but Kersti chastises him for trying to pull the same stunt as he did at the beginning.]]

* IllFatedFlowerbed: A hapless Toad can be seen in Bouquet Gardens [[OcularGushers bawling]] over the loss of his precious flower parterre, courtesy of heavy winds. Fortunately, Mario can restore them with Fire- and Ice Flower stickers.

** This also needs to be done with the giant Cheep Chomp at the beginning of the 2nd visit to World 5-3 onwards, or Mario will be defeated in one gulp, and even then, there's still the raft...

* LighterAndSofter: Compared to ''The Thousand-Year Door'' and ''Super Paper Mario''. Heck, compared even to the ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' games, and those tend to be pretty wacky.

* LongSongShortScene: Can be either PlayedStraight or [[AvertedTrope Averted]] depending on how you handle the final boss. [[spoiler:If played normally you'll only get to hear the Phase Two theme for a little under a minute - though it does segue into the [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic best song in the game]] - but if you do as alluded to in OffTheRails, you'll find it's both a good tune and a good mood-setter for doing it the hard way.]]

* OffTheRails: It's actually possible to defeat the final boss without [[spoiler:using Kersti. Granted you have to do enough ScratchDamage to wear down that monstrous 500 HP, [[DeathOfAThousandCuts but it can be done]]. Sadly it doesn't change anything, although you can check to see that Kersti is indeed in the sticker album before triggering the ending. She even has a (vague) description.]]

* PointAndClickMap: Instead of being one giant world to trek across, much like the other ''Paper Mario'' games, this game uses a world map system that is like a mix of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', because of the fact that each level has tons of exploration, secret exits, and some levels could be entered early (although you cannot progress any further if you do not have certain moves/items).

* PuzzleBoss: Each boss has a weakness, and not using it will result in a very long fight, so many bosses fall into this. There's even one that you have to do "correctly", or Kersti [[ThisLoserIsYou will start questioning your methods]].

* ThisLoserIsYou. Possibly unintentional example.[[note]]It's meant to be a hint, but only comes after the fact.[[/note]] If you don't beat a boss [[PuzzleBoss a certain way]], Kersti calls you out on it.
-->'''[[ExpositionFairy Kersti]]:''' [[TheLoad You used a lot of stickers. Wasn't there a more effective item you could have used?]]

* ViewersAreMorons: On the other side of the coin, the developers claimed in the Iwata Asks interview that players could recognize the generic Toads by their speech alone. In the actual game, however, several Toads often state that they "are the Toad that Mario met at X location", signifying the developers didn't believe in their characterization abilities or the player's attention. The issue continues into ''Paper Jam'' and ''Color Splash'', [[UpToEleven sometimes even with characters who do have physical differences]].
* WakeUpCallBoss: Tower Power Pokey. 300 HP, 10 Defense, can deal 5 to 10 damage per turn (sometimes stunning the player and DOUBLING THE DAMAGE THEY TAKE for at least a turn), and can heal. Unless you're well-prepared, he will wreck you. He also introduces the fact that unless you use the bosses' weaknesses, you're not going to get far.

* WishUponAShootingStar: The annual Sticker Fest in Decalburg revolves around making a wish upon the passing of the Sticker Comet. Unusually, it will make a brief stop right on the festival stage, allowing Bowser to touch it and inadventantly wreak havoc in the Mushroom Kingdom. [[spoiler:The endgame proves that this the Sticker Comet's wish granting powers are very real.]]

* AffablyEvil: Kamek[[note]]Who, in the Japanese version, as with all Mario games is merely "a" Kamek (the magic using {{Mook}}s known as "Magikoopas" in the North American and European versions).[[/note]] is always sure to congratulate Mario and Kersti on their progress before each fight with them. By their final battle, he's developed enough respect for them to suggest skipping their taunting banter and get on to the fight.

* JungleJapes: Shy Guy Jungle.
* KingMook: Every World Boss, though technically Mizzter Blizzard doesn't count due to there being no Mr. Blizzards in-game except him.
* KillItWithFire: The only way to do any significant damage to Mizzter Blizzard.

* LethalLavaLand: Rumble Volcano.

* TheLostWoods: The Bafflewood.

* MinecartMadness: Bowser's Snow Fort has one of these right before the boss fight.

* NoodleImplements: The varied assortment of Thing Stickers you can find may lead to this. Although alternatives are available, commonly used Things in the final battle with Bowser include a fan, a refrigerator, a roll of sticky tape, a pair of tailor's scissors and a boom box.

* ThirdIs3D: Depending on whether you consider ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' part of the main series or a SpinOff.

* UndergroundLevel: The caverns between Warp Pipes.

* AnIcePerson: The Ice Flower and Chillhammer stickers, as well as the Refrigerator, Shaved Ice, and Air Conditioner.

* AnvilOnHead: The Basin, Square Can, and Drum stickers.
* ArtEvolution: A mild case. The environments seem to be even more paper-y than usual. The characters look the same, though, although several enemies have been updated to resemble their designs from ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'' and onwards.

* ArtifactOfDoom: The Royal Stickers bestow both power and insanity upon their wearers, as Mario finds out the hard way.

* BatterUp: Both baseball bat Things (the Toy Bat, and the standard wooden Bat) and the Newspaper Thing.

* BlowYouAway: The Fan.
* BombWhistle: The drop hammer, the Square Can and the Basin make such sound when they are falling on Mario's enemies.

%%* BreakingTheFourthWall: [[IncrediblyLamePun Literally]].

* CaveBehindTheFalls: In Water's Edge Way, the hidden Comet Piece opening the path to Whammimo Mountain is hidden in a cave hidden behind a waterfall.

* CoolCrown: The Royal Stickers.

** All of the bosses will make you use Things and stickers like crazy in hopes of discovering their weakness. Luckily, Kersti's rambles always have a hint, but sometimes you won't figure out what she wants you to ''have'':
*** First Boss: [[spoiler:Use either the Scissors or the Fan when he starts to split.]]
*** Second Boss: [[spoiler:Wait for the boss to reach its maximum height, then use the Bat. Hell, the environment is a baseball field if you didn't notice ([[FiveSecondForeshadowing although you only see this seconds before the actual battle]]). The beginning of the fight even ''says'' PLAY BALL!]]
*** Third Boss: [[spoiler:Equip the sponge before the boss uses his poison spit. The sponge will absorb the poison and then shoot it back for a lot of damage, in addition to blinding the boss, making all of his attacks miss.]]
*** Fourth Boss: [[spoiler:Fire-related Things or/and fire stickers. Especially the Burnhammer.]]
*** Fifth Boss: [[spoiler:Wait for the boss to use its spin attack, knock it over, and AttackItsWeakPoint with jumps. Alternatively, use a POW Block, and if the boss gets crumpled, his weak point is revealed, allowing you to attack it.]]
*** Final Boss: [[spoiler:In order of the phases: stapler or tape, Eekhammer (or two regular hammers) with any scissor Things, freezing Things plus Fan Things, and...a Raccoon Tail.]]

*** The Big Chain Chomps cannot be harmed. To beat the first one, you need to [[spoiler:go around it, hammer the stake before fighting it, then let it wake up in the fight. But this won't work for the second one, who's already awake. For this one, you need to use a Baahammer sticker, run away, hammer the stake, then fight it and wait for it to wake up.]]

* MakeAWish: The Sticker Comet grants whoever touches it a wish. [[spoiler:At the end of the game, Mario wishes on the royal stickers to revive Kersti and return everything to as it was before.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Whomps were going to be normal enemies but got degraded to one appearance in the final fight with Bowser. Fish Bones and Lakitus were also going to be fought, but got degraded to level hazards. Other enemies like the Crowber, Monty Mole, Inky Piranha Plant, Ptooie, Fishin' Lakitu, Deep Cheep, Bullet Bill, Bill Blaster, & Banzai Bill were going to be fought but were cut from the game. Even Sticker Star original enemies like Shiny Dry Bones & Shiny Spiny were cut from the game. [[https://tcrf.net/Paper_Mario:_Sticker_Star#Enemies_2]]
** Thankfully, Shiny Dry Bones and Shiny Spiny reappeared in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'' with the Ptooie reappearing in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash''.

* TheBusCameBack: The Ninjis from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' came back after their last appearance being in ''[[VideoGame/MarioParty Mario Party Advance]]''.

* ViewersAreGeniuses: Barring a few exceptions, the game attempts to teach by example, rather than explicit tutorials or throwaway text. Also, the solutions to some puzzles often lie in obscure non-Mario trivia & myths, such as [[spoiler:goats eating paper]]. However, the game also withholds even basic knowledge, such as bosses having timed weaknesses, or the full scope of your jump and hammer field moves.

* LongSongShortScene: Can be either PlayedStraight or [[AvertedTrope Averted]] depending on how you handle the final boss. [[spoiler:If played normally you'll only get to hear the Phase Two theme for a little under a minute - though it does segue into the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome best song in the game]] - but if you do as alluded to in OffTheRails, you'll find it's both a good tune and a good mood-setter for doing it the hard way.]]

* LighterAndSofter: Compared to ''The Thousand Year Door'' and ''Super Paper Mario''. Heck, compared even to the ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' games, and those tend to be pretty wacky.

* EasyLevelsHardBosses: In contrast to it's predecessor ''Super Paper Mario'', which was the [[HardLevelsEasyBosses inverse,]] ''Sticker Star'' has fairly large areas without many dangers or difficult places [[GuideDangIt (confusing puzzles notwithstanding),]] and the lack of ExperiencePoints means that normal battles can be easily skipped without any consequences. Most of the difficulty actually comes from the boss fights themselves, but the difficulty is mostly about finding out which sticker or [[LimitBreak Thing]] is the most effective and exploiting the boss' weakness by using the correct one. However, this means that if you're using a walkthrough [[GuideDangIt (which is very common given the game's nature),]] even the bosses will become a cakewalk since you'll know how to beat them, making this a [[SubvertedTrope subversion.]]
* EleventhHourSuperpower: [[spoiler:During the final battle, Kersti has Mario use her as a sticker for a massive powerup, which involves breaking through Bowser's defense and giving him '''5''' sticker slots if the wheel results in a jackpot...but it also involves sacrificing Kersti in the process]].

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Paper_Mario_Sticker_Star_6044.jpg]]

->''"Time to...'' '''''PAPERIZE!'''"''