By Matthew Rorie
Design by Marty Smith

Following in the footsteps of the first Paper Mario game for the Nintendo 64, and last year’s Mario & Luigi: Superstars for the Game Boy Advance, Paper Mario 2: The Thousand-Year Door has been a hotly anticipated title for Gamecube owners. Not only does it feature the most famous character in the history of videogames, but it’s also an RPG on a console that features all-too-few quality titles in that genre. It also offers a lengthy 30 to 40-hour campaign in which Mario attempts to - what else? - save Princess Peach.

Which isn’t to say that that’s all he’s trying to do; far from it. In addition to the standard Princess-rescuing duties, Mario will have to travel all around the world, assemble the seven Crystal Stars, and explore what lies behind a door that only opens once a millenia. In his travels, he’ll encounter numerous friends and even more numerous enemies; he’ll ply his trade as a professional wrestler; he’ll learn how to turn his body into a plane, a boat, and a tube; and, most importantly, he’ll woo all the ladies with the most impressive mustache in video games. And he’ll do it all without saying a word - what a classy guy!

So, if you want to get through a game with insults even whackier than the infamous "Spoony Bard" of old, this is the place to be, since Gamespot’s unofficial guide to Paper Mario 2 features a complete walk-through, including tips and stats for each boss monster you’ll find and details on how to unlock the game’s secret character. In addition, we’ll let you know how to get the most out of your teammates in combat, what Badges you should look out for, where to find all of the game’s Shine Sprites, and much more. Enjoy!

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