Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door/Chapter 3: Of Glitz and Glory

Do You Smell What the Rawk is Cookin’?
Glitzville:

''The Main Attraction in the floating city of Glitzville is the Glitz Pit, a battle arena where the world’s greatest fighters compete for love and country. Or fame and personal fortune-whatever floats your boat''

This is Glitzville. As you’ve read, a lot of people come here to fight in the Glitz Pit, but is there something more going on behind the scenes?

Enemies (all of the enemies on this list are fought in the glitz pit):


 * Bandit - 5 HP, 2 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Big Bandit - 8 HP, 3 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Bob-omb - 4 HP, 2 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Boomerang Bro - 7 HP, 2 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Bristle - 2 HP, 1 ATK, 4 DEF
 * Dark Craw - 20 HP, 6 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Dark Koopatrol - 25 HP, 5 ATK, 2 DEF
 * Dark Puff - 3 HP, 2 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Dull Bones - 1 HP, 2 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Fire Bro - 7 HP, 3 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Flower Fuzzy - 6 HP, 3 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Fuzzy - 3 HP, 1 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Goomba - 2 HP, 1 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Green Fuzzy - 5 HP, 3 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Green Magikoopa - 7 HP, 4 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Hammer Bro - 7 HP, 4 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Hyper Bald Cleft - 3 HP, 3 ATK, 2 DEF
 * K.P. Koopa - 4 HP, 2 ATK, 1 DEF
 * K.P. Paratroopa - 4 HP, 2 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Lakitu - 5 HP, 2 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Pale Piranha - 4 HP, 2 ATK,0 DEF
 * Pider - 5 HP, 2 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Pokey - 4 HP, 3 ATK, 0 DEF
 * R.S. Buzzy - 5 HP, 3 ATK, 5 DEF
 * Red Chomp - 6 HP, 5 ATK, 3 DEF
 * Red Magikoopa - 7 HP, 4 ATK, 0 DEF
 * Shady Koopa - 8 HP, 3 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Shady Paratroopa - 8 HP, 3 ATK, 1 DEF
 * Spiny - 3 HP, 3 ATK, 3 DEF
 * White Magikoopa - 7 HP, 4 ATK, 0 DEF

As soon as the scene ends, go south and uncover the hidden star piece. There’s a hidden block below the shine sprite to the right of the main building, so hit the space where the shine spite’s box’s shadow is and hop on the block and get it. Go behind the bush on the right side of the stairs for another star piece. There’s yet another star piece behind the phone booth to the left side of Glitzville. Go into the juice shop (right side) and get yet ANOTHER star piece behind the counter. Outside the shop, go down until you see a big blue switch. You can’t hit it with your hammer so hop on top of the boxes next to it and spin jump on the switch to reveal some stairs. At the top of the stairs, use Koop’s shell to get the star piece under the billboard. Also, get the Power Plus P form inside the nearby treasure chest and the Inn Coupon behind the  sign of the juice bar (that red thing hanging on the ground). When you’re finally done getting all the items here, go inside the big building in the  front. Go through the double doors on the ground or on the second floor and watch the champion kick ass! After wards, talk to one of the security guys near the back doors to go backstage.

Working your way up the ladder
There’s only one item to get backstage. Jump into the open crate next to the double doors with the blue symbol. You’ll get the Last Stand badge. Go to Grubba’s office, which is to the right (from your view) of the locked door. Talk to the security guard and go inside. After the scene, you’ll be known as The Great Gonzales! Afterwards, walk up to the GBA-like screen and pick Reserve a Match. You must win your fight, as well as do the stipulation that Grubba tells you in order to move up the ranks. Talk to the security guard when he comes in to start your match. During a pre-match interview, one of the goombas will attack before you're even ready.

Rank 19th: The Goomba Bros. (5 goombas)
They’re just a bunch of goombas. Guard against their sneak attack and destroy them all (while doing whatever Grubba told you to do, which is to appeal at least once to the crowd).

After meeting some of the fighters in the minor league, you can reserve the next match. You should always heal if your HP and/or FP are low, and you will be able to do it for free in the locker room.

Rank 18th: The KP Koopas (2 K.P. Koopas & one K.P. Paratroopa)
Starting with this match, you will receive a random instruction on how to complete the match. Some of these state that you might not be able to use certain attacks, thus you will want to ensure you have sufficient attack items just in case you are left with ineffective attacks. The requirement can be any of the following:
 * Use a special move at least once.
 * Don't use any special moves.
 * Don't jump.
 * Don't use the hammer.
 * Don't use items.
 * Appeal to the crowd at least once.
 * Appeal to the crowd at least three times.
 * Only Mario can attack.
 * Only Mario's partner(s) can attack.
 * Take damage at least three times.
 * Take damage at least five times.
 * Wait three turns before attacking.
 * Don't swap partners.
 * Defeat your foe in 5 turns or less.
 * Win before taking 20 HP of damage.
 * Don't use Flower Points.

Be sure to follow whichever stipulation is given.

These guys are just regular koopas of a different color. Beat them down, and go to the next match!

Rank 17th: The Pokey Triplets (3 Pokeys)
Just use your hammer, preferably the quake hammer to save time, and use Koops to defeat them. If Grubba's instruction interferes, you can still use Earth Tremor, or attack items.

Next Match.

Rank 16th: The Dead Bones (3 Dull Bones)
Accomplish the stipulation and take care of these weaklings. Any multi-target attack works best on them.

Next match.

Rank 15th: Spike Storm (2 Spinys & a Lakitu)
Lakitus create more Spinys, so take care of him first. The Spinys have a strong defense, but can be flipped over using an quake attack.

This time, go out to the lobby. Work your way through the crowd (you can bash them with your hammer for a few laughs) and go outside. Watch the scene and chase the egg until it hops on the roof of the stand. Go to the top of the juice bar, pounding the blue switch if you haven't already, and use the spring to get up to the airplane panel. Use it to fly to the egg. Talk to it and agree to have it follow you (he will be needed later). Afterwards, go back to your locker room and reserve the next match.

Rank 14th: The Hand-It-Overs (2 Bandits & 2 Big Bandits)
These guys can steal your coins AND items, so be ready to block their attacks. Attack them before they run off if they steal anything from you. Other than that, there’s nothing special about them.

Get ready for your next match.

Rank 13th: The Mind-Bogglers (1 Pale Piranha, 1 Pider, & 1 Dark Puff)
You fought all three of these guys before, so it should be easy.

Rank 12th: The Punk Rocks (3 Hyper Bald Clefts)
These guys have high defense, so use powerful attacks, like the piercing blow badge, or items.

Rank 11th: The Bob-omb Squad (4 Bob-ombs)
Watch out for when their fuse is lit. Don’t use jump and be sure to guard against its attack if the fuse is lit.

Mini-Boss: The Great Gonzales vs. The Armored Harriers (Rank 10th)
Goombella’s Tattle: That’s an Iron Cleft. That guy is SCARY. Period! What’s WITH this book? It says no attack will work against Iron Clefts! It says nothing in the world is as hard as an Iron Cleft, so its Defense is impenetrable. If that’s true, the only way to beat one is to whack it with the other one... Running away may not be a bad idea at this point.

(2 Iron Clefts)


 * HP: 6
 * ATK: 4
 * DEF: Unknown (almost invincible)
 * Difficulty:**
 * Attacks:
 * Iron Rush

NOTHING you do will damage either of them at this point (not even Earth Tremor or a Superguard). So, you have no choice but to take a deep breath, and RUN AWAY!

After returning from your first loss, your egg will have already hatched and a mini-Yoshi will be in its place (the colour depends on how many minutes it took you to hatch the egg). After naming him and looking at the short tutorial, you’ll be ready for your revenge against those stinkwads!

Mini-Boss: The Great Gonzales vs. The Armored Harriers (Round II) (Rank 10th)

 * HP: 6
 * ATK: 4
 * DEF: Unknown (almost invincible)
 * Difficulty:**
 * Attacks: Iron Rush

Now that you have Yoshi, you can use his gulp to actually damage them. Do it again to teach these two not to mess with the Great Gonzales.

Major Leaguer
Watch the series of scenes and you’ll find yourself in the MUCH cleaner major league locker room. After getting the weird e-mail from X, heal yourself by sleeping in the bed in the corner and reserve the next match (There’s an Ice Storm behind the left most group of lockers).

Rank 9th: The Tiny Spinies (2 Spinies)
Their defense is very high, so use quake hammer to flip them over, or use Piercing blow if you have it. Fire and explosions don’t work on them, so use Earth Tremor or any item that doesn’t fit that description.

Rank 8th: The Poker Faces (2 Bristles)
Use some kind of long-range attack against them. Neither jump, nor hammer will work.

You’ll get another e-mail from X, telling you to go to the watering hole. Go outside to the juice shop. Talk to the green guy inside and he’ll give you the super hammer. After the scene, X will give you another e-mail telling you to smash the big block in the minor-league locker room. Talk to the security guard in front of the minor league room and he’ll let you in. Smash the big block with your new super hammer technique and go through. Climb to the top of the computer desk and use Yoshi to float to the other side (press X to hop on him  and then hold a to float). Grab the dubious paper and leave, but Jolene will intercept you. After the paper is confiscated, go back to the major league locker room and get ready for your next match.

Rank 7th: The Shellshockers (2 Shady Koopas & 1 Shady Paratroopa)
If you flip them on their backs, their attack gets raised (and are able to attack both you and your partner), so be careful.

After the scene, the Armored Harriers will come back for a rematch. It IS 1-1 anyway.

Mini-Boss: The Great Gonzales vs. The Armored Harriers (Round III)

 * HP: 6
 * ATK: 4
 * DEF: Unknown (almost invincible)
 * Difficulty:**
 * Attacks:
 * Iron Rush

(Note: This series of events could also happen at an earlier rank)

Nothing different here. Just use Yoshi’s Gulp twice and end this feud once and for all!

After an anonymous e-mail (that isn’t from X), rest in the bed to refill you HP and FP and get ready for your next match.

Rank 6th: The Fuzz (1 Fuzzy, 1 Green Fuzzy, & 1 Flower Fuzzy)
The green fuzzy is more powerful and it multiplies. The flower fuzzy drains your FP instead of HP. Just beat them before they start doing any real damage.

After the battle, You’ll find a cake in the locker room. Eat it and you’ll be completely healed.

Rank 5th: Hamma, Bamma, and Flare (Hammer Bro., Boomerang Bro., & Fire Bro.)
The Boomerang Bro is the most dangerous one, so take him out first (if you can still use jump). Next would be the Hammer Bro, then, the Fire Bro.

(Note: The following series of events could also happen at an earlier rank)

After the fight, an old friend will come in and challenge you.

Boss Fight: Bowser
Goombella’s Tattle: That’s Bowser! But what’s he doing here?!? My mind just blew a fuse! He’s uglier than I expected. He’s got a poisonous bite, so watch out! It’ll make your HP decrease gradually. Also, If he ground-pounds you, you won’t be able to use one of your commands! Just focus your attention on beating him down, Mario!''


 * HP: 30
 * ATK: 3
 * ATK: 1
 * Difficulty:***
 * Attacks:
 * Poison Bite (can poison you)
 * Bowser’s Jump (makes one of your commands unusable)
 * Flame Breath

You KNEW you wouldn’t go through this game without fighting Bowser at least once. His Poison Bite can be dangerous, but his ground pound is even more annoying. Make sure to guard against these attacks, as well as his famous flame breath. Anyway, Use your most powerful attacks to send Bowser down (once again).

Rank 4th: The Magikoopa Masters (1 Red, Green, and White Magikoopa)
The Red one can raise their attack power. The White one can heal the others. The Green one can make them either electrified (which damages YOU and not them, BTW) or Invisible. Use your hammer or items if one of them is electrified. When only one is left, it’ll make several copies of itself. There's no way to tell the real from the fakes, so either try your luck until you find the real one or use an attack that hits multiple enemies, such as Quake Hammer or Koops' Power Shell, to flush out the real enemy and eliminate the fakes.

After getting more mail from X. Go outside to the phone booth next to the item shop to get the storage key. X will e-mail you again, telling you to go to the storage room next to Grubba’s office. Go back to the backstage area, go towards the locked door, and watch the scene. Unlock the locked door and go inside. Watch yet another scene with Ms. Mowz and switch to Flurrie. Have her blow out the crates to reveal regular blocks. The set on the right contains a Charge P badge. The ones on the left contain the staircase switch X mentioned. Use your Super Jump to uncover an underground star piece in the center of the room. Then, go up the stairs and get the shine sprite. Hop on top of the crates to your left and use Yoshi to glide to the crates to the left. Drop down and use the super hammer technique to get rid of the big block. You can use Yoshi again to glide to the HP Plus P Badge on the crates in the corner. Now, drop down the hole and go right until you see some speech bubbles appear. Go towards the hole and press A when the ! appears. Listen in on Grubba’s conversation and use your paper mode to slip though the vent to the left. Leave out the door and go back to your locker room.

Rank 3rd: Craw-Daddy (1 Dark Craw)
This guy fights similar to Gus. Don’t use jump or something similar. The only thing to watch for is his high attack, so try to win quickly.

You’ll get another hate mail. Just ignore it. When you prepare for your next match, someone will give you another piece of cake. DO NOT EAT IT! If you do, your partner will not be able to fight with you in your next match.

Rank 2nd: Chomp Country (2 Red Chomps)
These two have high defense and attack, so use powerful attacks to defeat them fast.

Rank 1st: The Koopinator (1 Dark Koopatrol)
This guy’s tough. He can charge up his attack to do devastating damage, so watch out. He also has a spike on his head, so jump isn’t effective unless you flip him over with Quake Hammer. If you can guard well, it should be somewhat easy.

Gonzales vs. Hawk
After your match, X will send another message telling you to remove the Gonzales posters. Use Flurrie to take all of them out until you find the one that has the key (or you could just blow off the one to the left of the double  doors upstairs). X will then tell you to go to the second floor of the storage room. Go there, and unlock the door. Once inside, hop up the crates to the left and use Yoshi to float across to the other set of crates. Destroy the big block to find out where some of the fighters have gone. There’s a star piece hidden behind the lower right crates. Go back to your locker room and prepare for your Championship match. When you register, the security guard will take you to the opposing minor league locker room. After a few scenes, you will find out that you were tricked into going in there and are now trapped. What to do now? Well, use Flurrie to blow down the Peach poster at the lower right corner. You’ll appear in the opposing major league locker room. The door in there is locked too so go into the bathroom at the lower right corner (which isn’t locked) and  flush yourself down the toilet (it works the same as a pipe). You’ll find yourself in your regular major league locker room. Go out and go through the nearby double doors. You’ll fight Rawk Hawk after another scene.

Boss Fight: The Great Gonzales vs. Rawk Hawk (Championship Match)
Goombella’s Tattle: That’s Rawk Hawk! He flips, flaps, and slaps! ...That’s what the book says. He’s really good at aerial maneuvers, but other than that, he’s pretty...meh. One thing you should know is that Rawk Hawk NEVER fights above the board. Carelessness leads to lifelessness, y’know!''


 * HP: 40
 * ATK: 3
 * DEF: 0
 * Difficulty:****
 * Attacks:
 * Rawking ball (Attacks both you and your partner)
 * Baseball Slide
 * Suicide Plancha
 * Rafter Shake (random objects fall from rafter when he hangs on it)

Rawk Hawk is not as hard as you might think him to be. His attacks are powerful, but he won’t be able to do much if you keep hitting him with your strongest attacks. After he gets down to below 10 HP, he’ll hang on the rafters. Use Quake hammer or Flurrie’s body slam to take him down and finish him off to  become the NEW champion!

You will be given the champ’s belt and now are able to use the champ’s room. After the scene, sleep in the bed to heal yourself (and buy any items if you used any), then hop onto the stack of presents and use Yoshi to float to the  top of the doorframe and then to the vent. Use your super hammer move to open it. Go through the air duct and listen to Grubba again. Afterward, open the other vent and go through. Get the star pieces behind the plant on the lower left corner and in the upper desk drawer (press A when ! appears near the GBA  SP). Go to the other side of the desk and do the same. After finding out about Grubba’s real intention, he’ll walk in and instantly run to the ring. Follow him (save first, then use the double doors with the red sign on it) and watch  the scene.

Boss Fight: Macho Grubba
Goombella’s Tattle: ''That’s Macho Grubba. He’s Grubba all souped-up on Crystal Star power. His attack pattern is simple: first he increases the number of times he can attack... Then he powers himself up with all sorts of crazy power- uppy moves. So, it’s pretty important to pay close attention to how he’s powered himself up. The craziest thing about this meathead is that he used to be that chubby Grubba. I guess the crystal Stars really ARE powerful!


 * HP: 60
 * ATK: 4
 * DEF: 0
 * Difficulty:****
 * Attacks:
 * Seein' Double (makes him attack twice for 3 turns)
 * Stat Boost (raises Attack, Defense, or Evasion for 1 turn)
 * Running Senton
 * Enlarge (grows and raises attack)
 * Grubba-sault
 * Clothesline from Hell

Grubba will gain the ability to attack twice. He’ll reuse this ability when it runs out. His first attack will be to raise one of his stats. It will be Attack, Defense, or Evasion. Save some of your stronger attacks for later. When he gets beat down to around half health, he will grow. That’s when you use the heavy artillery. This is also when he starts using more dangerous attacks. Don’t be surprised if you find your party in danger. Use items if your health is low and finish this fight as fast as possible.

Watch the scene and another chapter comes to a close.

Interlude:
Watch the scene and go to TEC’s room when the doors open. After another scene with the computer, go back outside and use the nearby elevator. When the elevator doors open go right and go in the very first door. Look in the lockers until you find a soldier’s uniform. Go to the changing room to the right and press A near the curtains. After putting on a disguise, go right and enter the door at the end of the hallway. Talk to Grodus inside and then you will find yourself in the locker room. Change back into your regular clothes and go out the door.

After the scene, you can look in the bushes for some funny dialog, but go inspect the bush at the end for an even funnier scene.

Intermission
Now you can go back to Rogueport.

Rogueport:

The news today...

Rookie `The Great Gonzales’ takes Glitz Pit by storm! An upset on the way?

Anyway, go back into the sewers first.

Rogueport Sewers:

Go back into the pipe to the right. Before going down the next pipe, go into the door to the left. Destroy the big block and go up the platform. Get the shine sprite and jump on to the blue switches. Use your super jump to activate them to get shortcuts to Petalburg and the Great Tree. Go back and into the pipe you passed by earlier. Destroy the big block to have an easier route to the thousand-year door. Go on to the pedestal and watch the scenes. Now’s a good time to upgrade your character(s). After your done, all 4 of them should be leveled up. Looks like they have an update on Glitzville.

The Great Gonzales crowned champion of the Glitz Pit! But he turned down the belt!

Next, on to the trouble center:


 * Client: Jolene (Glitz Pit)
 * Title: Help wanted!
 * Reward: 30 coins

Go back on the blimp to Glitzville and go to Jolene’s office (it used to be Grubba’s office). After getting reinstated into the Glitz Pit, talk to her again and she’ll tell you to get all of the battle trunks in the storeroom. It’s quite a lot so it could take a minute. After getting all 20 of them, go back to Jolene and she’ll tell you to give them to Goomfrey. Go back to Rogueport. Goomfrey will be waiting near Frankly’s house. Give him all of the trunks. Now go back to Glitzville and talk to Jolene for your reward (and buy two hot dogs while your at it).

Go back into the sewers and go into the right-most pipe (behind the gate near the airplane panel). Go forward into the house. Talk to Merlee (make sure you’re next to her and not across from her). Go to Petalburg and talk to Toce T. in her home closest to the gate to Shhwonk Fortress. Go back to Rogueport and get the Cake Mix you stored earlier (or buy one from the Pianta Parlor if  you didn’t). Give the Cake Mix to Merlee and get your reward.
 * Client: Merlee (Rogueport Sewers)
 * Title: Heartful Cake recipe...
 * Reward: 30 Coins


 * Client: Bub-ulber (Petalburg)
 * Title: The food I want.
 * Reward: Dried Flowers

First off, go back to Glitzville and buy two hotdogs (if you haven’t done so earlier). Now, get another cake mix from the Pianta Parlor back in Western Rogueport. Now go back to the plaza and give Zess T. the cake mix to have her make a Mousse Cake. Go back to Petalburg and talk to the person standing in the flower garden on the West Side of Petalburg. Give the items to her and she’ll give you dried flowers. These aren’t very useful alone, so store them in your nearest item shop for now.

Now, go to Western Rogueport and go skinny to slip through the metal grate in the center. Use Yoshi to float to the ledge to the left. Grab the Shine Sprite and go into the door and try to go down the pipe. You will be rejected by it. Now, go out the door and go down the nearby pipe. Go across the moving platforms to the star piece and go back. Use Yoshi to float back to the ledge to your right. Quickly jump across the two platforms and go to the next screen. Go behind the pillar for yet another star piece. Go down into the shallow water and open the chest for a Soft Stomp badge. Go right until you see a bunch of broken pillars. Go behind them and keep looking until you find another star piece. Go back to the previous screen and jump down. Defeat the Spanias and get the star piece behind top right corner of the central platform. Use the pipe going up to get back to Western Rogueport. Go back to Frankly’s house and talk to him. Go around the secret wall next to Merlon’s house and talk to Darkly (the guy with the yellow eyes). You’ll then be able to access Twilight Town. Stock up on items and go back to the brown pipe that rejected you earlier. You’ll go through this time.