Chibi-Robo
18th August 2007, 01:12 AM
Someone on GFAQS Asked this I I want to know your opinion
#1: What exactly are the Power Stars?
The game gives us very little explanation on what they really are, except that when Bowser took over the castle, he stole the castle's Stars (except the Secret ones) and used them to perform his magic on the Princess and the Mushroom Retainers. Okay, that's reasonable I suppose, but since when did Stars exist in the castle? As far as I know, they were never mentioned again in the series (just another inconsistency between the games).
Are Power Stars only the castle's Starmen, or do they just resemble Starmen? Why does everyone say they give Mario (and the gang) strength, when they clearly don't? All they do is open doors that have been sealed, they don't amplify Mario's power or anything. Only Bowser seems to be able to know how to use the powers of the Stars, which is interesting because Bowser originally wanted to kidnap the Princess to prevent her from using her magic on him... Maybe, just maybe, the Power Stars are the unspoken source of the Princess' power since the original Super Mario Bros.? But then again, maybe the Power Stars represent the strength of the castle since they return to it... Or both?
On a somewhat related note, the only time Mario really powers up in the game is in the Nintendo 64 version. After getting 120 Stars and speaking with Yoshi, Yoshi gives him a present (and promptly leaps into the waterfall for no reason, putting even Luigi's jumping skills to shame). The present in 100 lives and an invincible, Starman-like Triple Jump. So did Yoshi somehow activate the power of the Stars, or was the power of the stars only used to gain access to the supreme all-knowing being that is Yoshi?
Here's something I just don't understand... If Bowser used the Power Stars to seals doors and stuff, why didn't he seal the door with the painting of Bob-omb Battlefield? Each regular required 1-3 Stars anyway, couldn't he spare a few Stars to seal this critical area? He would have been invincible if he did that. What, did he require the extra 30/15 Secret Stars to lock it? And why does he taunt the heroes? Saying stuff like, "Mario's too chicken to come to me personally" when getting to a Star Door, or "No one's home, now go away?"
#2: What exactly is Bowser's plan?
This one is slightly easier to answer. In this game, Bowser invades Mushroom Castle and uses the Power Stars to seal the Princess and her Mushroom Retainers inside the castle's structure (hence why the Mushroom Retainers disappear in the distance, they're trapped in place in pseudo-spiritual form). Which brings us to the Courses existing within the castle. Are they a part of the castle, or are they merely portals to another land outside of the castle? It seems to be the former, and the castle itself harnesses this magic.
There seem to be two slightly different versions of this story. In the Nintendo 64 manual, Bowser is said to be breeding the monsters in these lands inside the castle so that they overflow into the real world and become a part of Bowser's army. In the Nintendo DS version, Toad says that Bowser actually created the "land of monsters" using the Power Stars, probably for the same reasons as the Nintendo 64 manual. But that doesn't completely make sense, because if that were true, then Bowser really did know about the castle's Secret Stars (he would have created the Princess' Secret Slide, for instance), unless Toad was referring to the actual Courses (and the three major boss domains) rather than all the levels and secret areas. However, his quote could also be referring to the fact that the worlds were peaceful until Bowser shows up and tainted them, which makes much more sense. Wiggler even says that since the Star appeared that it's been addicted to it, but that means that Wiggler must have lived for some time before the Star was stolen by Bowser and given to Wiggler's home, so the worlds probably weren't literally created by Bowser, just the monsters consuming them.
So, to sum it up, Bowser's using the power of the Stars to build monsters in the castle walls for his army. However, some areas in the castle lead to places outside the castle! For instance, Metal Cavern leads to the waterfall, Dire Dire Docks' cave leads to the lake/moat. and the Rainbow Ride-like area leads to the skies above the castle! So, do these areas also lead to places outside of the castle and in the real world (these areas are also not paintings, so that could be a clue)? Also, if Bowser did create the actual worlds (though I'm sure that Mushroom Retainer meant the monsters, I must consider all possibilities), what happens to them after the Power Stars return? Do those worlds end? Are they wiped out of existence? What are the Bob-omb Buddies fighting for, the right to be part of an inanimate, ordinary painting?
#3: Who are the Bob-omb Buddies?
Inside the Courses live Bob-omb Buddies. In Bob-om Battlefield, they are peace-loving, and are forced to fight against black Bob-ombs and their king, Big Bob-omb (though we never actually see the fighting, just two surviving pink Bob-ombs seemingly cornered from the enemy). If we're to believe the statement of Bowser's plan from the Nintendo 64 manual, then these Bob-ombs are likely renegade models that are rebelling against the idea of helping Bowser. So where the Courses created by Bowser, or the enemies as well? If the enemies were created, then Bowser gave them some level of free will, and even though they are so young to the world, they fight against Bowser anyway. They also have contacts in other Courses that are willing to help find Red Coins, Caps, or activate cannons for their allies. How did this group spread so far between the Courses, and what made them dislike Bowser in the first place, especially since he might have created them?
#4: Why are the Mushroom Retainers and the Princess in different states?
The Mushroom Retainers are also trapped in the castle walls, judging from their dialogue. Yet they seem perfectly fine and even talk to you, whereas the Princess to reduced to communication through writing signs (how?). This is probably explained by the Mushroom Retainers not moving at all and staying still the whole time, and how they turn transparent when no one is nearby. Why is the Princess treated any differently? Why is the Princess sealed inside the portrait of her hanging above the castle entrance? Unlike the Mushroom Retainers, she's actually inside the castle paintings. The Mushroom Retainers seem to be projections at first, but how would three of them hold Secret Stars if they're not really standing there? Another thing, if the Princess could write a sign or two even after being captured, did she write the letter to Mario before or after Bowser took over?
#5: What is the nature of Bowser's Star?
The giant Star that Bowser leaves behind is not a regular Power Star. If all of them are collected, Bowser indicates that Mario has found them all, so there wouldn't be 121 / 151 Power Stars. This Star gives Mario wings on his cap to fly out of the area and to unseal the Princess. That appears to be all, but I also noticed that the statue in the courtyard is a similar size, perhaps based on it. So is this a "Master" Star, or merely a physical manifestation of the key to free Peach (and apparently, the Mushroom Retainers)?
#6: What is the importance of the sun-shaped signal near the stairs in the first area of the castle?
It leads to the Rainbow Tower, where the "? Switch" is. It's much more important than that, though. When exiting a Course or secret area, the character ends up here. Why is it such an important place? Is it the "connecting point" (for lack of better word) of the castle?
#7: What do the Boos have anything to do with this?
So there are Boos in the courtyard. Why? They only appear after a certain amount of Power Stars have been collected (in the DS version, I'm pretty sure they're always there, but they can only be fought after Mario joins). One of the Boos even holds a tiny toy house, and Mario must defeat it to shrink down and enter it. This is Big Boo's Haunt, and it's obviously much more intimidating up close. Why is Big Boo's Haunt so small, and why is it that makes the characters shrink and dive into when touching it? Can only the Boos touch them? And would that mean the Boos and everything in that level are really supposed to be miniature, meaning the Big Boos aren't really Big Boos? Or am I misunderstanding that the house is really something else like a cage (fence) or a portal? I'm guessing that those miniature Boos are only small sue to the properties of the Course, not because they're really small (because King Boo is in Luigi's Painting here, and Mario isn't really that small either).
This complicates things, though. If no one can touch it without shrinking and entering, does that mean the Boos are protecting it? Maybe, in their own way, they're not really evil creatures on Bowser's side, but actually testing him in their own way (or possibly a third side)? But if Bowser didn't know, then they would be Secret Stars, so they must be affiliated with Bowser. That still doesn't explain Big Boo's Haunt. It's clearly a part of the castle (or subsidiary of some kind) since the Stars are there, and it's marked as a Course rather than a secret way. Maybe the Boos stole it from the Rec Room (as seen in the DS version)?
#8: How were Mario, Luigi, and Wario captured?
According to the Mushroom Retainer in Bob-om Battlefield's room, they all jumped into the painting any never came out. That seems to be impossible, however. There is no warp to the three bosses or the switching room from Bob-omb Battlefield. Most likely, they arrived as Bowser was still collecting Stars, before he had 120 and locked up most of the castle. That way, they ventured into their own paintings (which were either there to begin with or Bowser made them since, come on, why would Peach have a painting of Wario, even if it is in the mirror, and two paintings of Luigi, and only one of Mario in that tiny little room?). That still doesn't explain how they were captured. Perhaps they were ambushed by Bowser? It's also interesting how Peach's sign in the DS version is also in the same place where Mario, Luigi, and Wario are locked, so maybe Peach was also free at the time?
At the very least, Wario had to have gone to Chief Chilly's Challenge since he mentions that he found Wario in his lair and had him locked up, which is almost impossible since it's in the mirror (unless he did the phantom mirror glitch). Goomboss had a vendetta against Mario, so he held the key and probably was the one to capture him (he is the same Goomba King of Paper Mario as well, but why does he split off into multiple Goombas, is he like a Boo where multiple Boos form a bigger one together?). King Boo (AKA Big Boo) locked Luigi at Big Boo's Haunt, and may or may not have been king at the time. What's interesting is that Yoshi cannot enter Big Boo's Haunt. Mario had to do it, meaning that this set up King Boo's grudge against Mario and his vengeance in Luigi's Mansion.
#9: How did Yoshi get from Point A to Point B?
Yoshi was sleeping on top of the castle when Mario, Luigi, and Wario arrived, as homage to the original Super Mario 64. After they enter, when Lakitu wakes Yoshi up, Yoshi is where Mario started, in front of the castle. How did Yoshi get there? Did he sleepwalk off the castle? Or did Lakitu decide to carry him?
#10: Since when is Luigi a party crasher?
I can understand Wario crashing the party, but why is Luigi described as a party crasher? He's not the type to ruin things. Was it because of Luigi's little accident with Wario at the beginning he he jumps on his head? Did Mario invite them? Why'd they come in separate Warp Pipes? Did Peach send out separate letters that we didn't see?
#1: What exactly are the Power Stars?
The game gives us very little explanation on what they really are, except that when Bowser took over the castle, he stole the castle's Stars (except the Secret ones) and used them to perform his magic on the Princess and the Mushroom Retainers. Okay, that's reasonable I suppose, but since when did Stars exist in the castle? As far as I know, they were never mentioned again in the series (just another inconsistency between the games).
Are Power Stars only the castle's Starmen, or do they just resemble Starmen? Why does everyone say they give Mario (and the gang) strength, when they clearly don't? All they do is open doors that have been sealed, they don't amplify Mario's power or anything. Only Bowser seems to be able to know how to use the powers of the Stars, which is interesting because Bowser originally wanted to kidnap the Princess to prevent her from using her magic on him... Maybe, just maybe, the Power Stars are the unspoken source of the Princess' power since the original Super Mario Bros.? But then again, maybe the Power Stars represent the strength of the castle since they return to it... Or both?
On a somewhat related note, the only time Mario really powers up in the game is in the Nintendo 64 version. After getting 120 Stars and speaking with Yoshi, Yoshi gives him a present (and promptly leaps into the waterfall for no reason, putting even Luigi's jumping skills to shame). The present in 100 lives and an invincible, Starman-like Triple Jump. So did Yoshi somehow activate the power of the Stars, or was the power of the stars only used to gain access to the supreme all-knowing being that is Yoshi?
Here's something I just don't understand... If Bowser used the Power Stars to seals doors and stuff, why didn't he seal the door with the painting of Bob-omb Battlefield? Each regular required 1-3 Stars anyway, couldn't he spare a few Stars to seal this critical area? He would have been invincible if he did that. What, did he require the extra 30/15 Secret Stars to lock it? And why does he taunt the heroes? Saying stuff like, "Mario's too chicken to come to me personally" when getting to a Star Door, or "No one's home, now go away?"
#2: What exactly is Bowser's plan?
This one is slightly easier to answer. In this game, Bowser invades Mushroom Castle and uses the Power Stars to seal the Princess and her Mushroom Retainers inside the castle's structure (hence why the Mushroom Retainers disappear in the distance, they're trapped in place in pseudo-spiritual form). Which brings us to the Courses existing within the castle. Are they a part of the castle, or are they merely portals to another land outside of the castle? It seems to be the former, and the castle itself harnesses this magic.
There seem to be two slightly different versions of this story. In the Nintendo 64 manual, Bowser is said to be breeding the monsters in these lands inside the castle so that they overflow into the real world and become a part of Bowser's army. In the Nintendo DS version, Toad says that Bowser actually created the "land of monsters" using the Power Stars, probably for the same reasons as the Nintendo 64 manual. But that doesn't completely make sense, because if that were true, then Bowser really did know about the castle's Secret Stars (he would have created the Princess' Secret Slide, for instance), unless Toad was referring to the actual Courses (and the three major boss domains) rather than all the levels and secret areas. However, his quote could also be referring to the fact that the worlds were peaceful until Bowser shows up and tainted them, which makes much more sense. Wiggler even says that since the Star appeared that it's been addicted to it, but that means that Wiggler must have lived for some time before the Star was stolen by Bowser and given to Wiggler's home, so the worlds probably weren't literally created by Bowser, just the monsters consuming them.
So, to sum it up, Bowser's using the power of the Stars to build monsters in the castle walls for his army. However, some areas in the castle lead to places outside the castle! For instance, Metal Cavern leads to the waterfall, Dire Dire Docks' cave leads to the lake/moat. and the Rainbow Ride-like area leads to the skies above the castle! So, do these areas also lead to places outside of the castle and in the real world (these areas are also not paintings, so that could be a clue)? Also, if Bowser did create the actual worlds (though I'm sure that Mushroom Retainer meant the monsters, I must consider all possibilities), what happens to them after the Power Stars return? Do those worlds end? Are they wiped out of existence? What are the Bob-omb Buddies fighting for, the right to be part of an inanimate, ordinary painting?
#3: Who are the Bob-omb Buddies?
Inside the Courses live Bob-omb Buddies. In Bob-om Battlefield, they are peace-loving, and are forced to fight against black Bob-ombs and their king, Big Bob-omb (though we never actually see the fighting, just two surviving pink Bob-ombs seemingly cornered from the enemy). If we're to believe the statement of Bowser's plan from the Nintendo 64 manual, then these Bob-ombs are likely renegade models that are rebelling against the idea of helping Bowser. So where the Courses created by Bowser, or the enemies as well? If the enemies were created, then Bowser gave them some level of free will, and even though they are so young to the world, they fight against Bowser anyway. They also have contacts in other Courses that are willing to help find Red Coins, Caps, or activate cannons for their allies. How did this group spread so far between the Courses, and what made them dislike Bowser in the first place, especially since he might have created them?
#4: Why are the Mushroom Retainers and the Princess in different states?
The Mushroom Retainers are also trapped in the castle walls, judging from their dialogue. Yet they seem perfectly fine and even talk to you, whereas the Princess to reduced to communication through writing signs (how?). This is probably explained by the Mushroom Retainers not moving at all and staying still the whole time, and how they turn transparent when no one is nearby. Why is the Princess treated any differently? Why is the Princess sealed inside the portrait of her hanging above the castle entrance? Unlike the Mushroom Retainers, she's actually inside the castle paintings. The Mushroom Retainers seem to be projections at first, but how would three of them hold Secret Stars if they're not really standing there? Another thing, if the Princess could write a sign or two even after being captured, did she write the letter to Mario before or after Bowser took over?
#5: What is the nature of Bowser's Star?
The giant Star that Bowser leaves behind is not a regular Power Star. If all of them are collected, Bowser indicates that Mario has found them all, so there wouldn't be 121 / 151 Power Stars. This Star gives Mario wings on his cap to fly out of the area and to unseal the Princess. That appears to be all, but I also noticed that the statue in the courtyard is a similar size, perhaps based on it. So is this a "Master" Star, or merely a physical manifestation of the key to free Peach (and apparently, the Mushroom Retainers)?
#6: What is the importance of the sun-shaped signal near the stairs in the first area of the castle?
It leads to the Rainbow Tower, where the "? Switch" is. It's much more important than that, though. When exiting a Course or secret area, the character ends up here. Why is it such an important place? Is it the "connecting point" (for lack of better word) of the castle?
#7: What do the Boos have anything to do with this?
So there are Boos in the courtyard. Why? They only appear after a certain amount of Power Stars have been collected (in the DS version, I'm pretty sure they're always there, but they can only be fought after Mario joins). One of the Boos even holds a tiny toy house, and Mario must defeat it to shrink down and enter it. This is Big Boo's Haunt, and it's obviously much more intimidating up close. Why is Big Boo's Haunt so small, and why is it that makes the characters shrink and dive into when touching it? Can only the Boos touch them? And would that mean the Boos and everything in that level are really supposed to be miniature, meaning the Big Boos aren't really Big Boos? Or am I misunderstanding that the house is really something else like a cage (fence) or a portal? I'm guessing that those miniature Boos are only small sue to the properties of the Course, not because they're really small (because King Boo is in Luigi's Painting here, and Mario isn't really that small either).
This complicates things, though. If no one can touch it without shrinking and entering, does that mean the Boos are protecting it? Maybe, in their own way, they're not really evil creatures on Bowser's side, but actually testing him in their own way (or possibly a third side)? But if Bowser didn't know, then they would be Secret Stars, so they must be affiliated with Bowser. That still doesn't explain Big Boo's Haunt. It's clearly a part of the castle (or subsidiary of some kind) since the Stars are there, and it's marked as a Course rather than a secret way. Maybe the Boos stole it from the Rec Room (as seen in the DS version)?
#8: How were Mario, Luigi, and Wario captured?
According to the Mushroom Retainer in Bob-om Battlefield's room, they all jumped into the painting any never came out. That seems to be impossible, however. There is no warp to the three bosses or the switching room from Bob-omb Battlefield. Most likely, they arrived as Bowser was still collecting Stars, before he had 120 and locked up most of the castle. That way, they ventured into their own paintings (which were either there to begin with or Bowser made them since, come on, why would Peach have a painting of Wario, even if it is in the mirror, and two paintings of Luigi, and only one of Mario in that tiny little room?). That still doesn't explain how they were captured. Perhaps they were ambushed by Bowser? It's also interesting how Peach's sign in the DS version is also in the same place where Mario, Luigi, and Wario are locked, so maybe Peach was also free at the time?
At the very least, Wario had to have gone to Chief Chilly's Challenge since he mentions that he found Wario in his lair and had him locked up, which is almost impossible since it's in the mirror (unless he did the phantom mirror glitch). Goomboss had a vendetta against Mario, so he held the key and probably was the one to capture him (he is the same Goomba King of Paper Mario as well, but why does he split off into multiple Goombas, is he like a Boo where multiple Boos form a bigger one together?). King Boo (AKA Big Boo) locked Luigi at Big Boo's Haunt, and may or may not have been king at the time. What's interesting is that Yoshi cannot enter Big Boo's Haunt. Mario had to do it, meaning that this set up King Boo's grudge against Mario and his vengeance in Luigi's Mansion.
#9: How did Yoshi get from Point A to Point B?
Yoshi was sleeping on top of the castle when Mario, Luigi, and Wario arrived, as homage to the original Super Mario 64. After they enter, when Lakitu wakes Yoshi up, Yoshi is where Mario started, in front of the castle. How did Yoshi get there? Did he sleepwalk off the castle? Or did Lakitu decide to carry him?
#10: Since when is Luigi a party crasher?
I can understand Wario crashing the party, but why is Luigi described as a party crasher? He's not the type to ruin things. Was it because of Luigi's little accident with Wario at the beginning he he jumps on his head? Did Mario invite them? Why'd they come in separate Warp Pipes? Did Peach send out separate letters that we didn't see?