Heartwarming / Paper Mario: The Origami King

• There's a Koopa Troopa inside the Earth Vellumental Temple who's sad because he doesn't have enough coins to pay for the info display so he can see the colored lights. If you spend the coins to activate the display, said Koopa will be incredibly happy and thank Mario.
• Olivia's excitement at seeing the outside world, especially Shogun Studios, is utterly adorable and sweet. When watching the performances she cheers Mario on and also exclaims she loves Birdo.
• Olivia imploring Bobby to stay with her and Mario after he's gotten his memory back, saying that he's still a part of the team even with his own problems solved.
• What's the first thing you see in Toad Town's sewer after the lights are turned on? A graffiti of Mario and Peach.
  Twitter user: Find someone who looks at you like Paper Mario looks at Paper Peach.
• Bowser is cordial towards Olivia and they get along very well, with her being impressed at his power and minions and him liking her attitude and cuteness. Before the final battle, when Olivia is scared of facing her brother, Bowser tells her he's not scared of Olly at all and encourages her to do her best.
  • Bowser is also portrayed as a decent and even good parent to Junior, regaining his fireball ability when his son is in danger and generally spoiling him. It's really sweet to see that extend to be nice to all children.
• After Bobby sacrifices himself to destroy the boulder trapping Olivia and save her life, Olivia races into the darkest corner of the mines, collapsing into mournful sobbing. Mario tries to comfort her, but is unable to help. Upon inspecting the rubble from the boulder, Bobby appears to Mario one last time as a spirit, encouraging him to help Olivia by making her laugh. Using the Goomba mask he found in Shogun Studios, Mario cheers Olivia up and gives her the encouragement she needs to keep going.
  • There's an option to stop near the rubble where you see Bobby and Mario will look at it for a moment. Olivia doesn't know why, but we know.
  • A smaller but meaningful example occurs when Mario realizes that Bobby is about to sacrifice himself. Mario, knowing the danger the oncoming explosion entails, frantically charges towards Bobby in an attempt to stop him from detonating. Though his efforts are ultimately for naught, it goes to show that Mario cares deeply for his Bob-omb buddy.
• If you head to the Dress-Up Photo Studio in Shogun Studios after Bobby's demise and get a picture taken, Bobby's ghost will appear in the final photo, serving as a reminder that he'll always be with Mario and Olivia in spirit.
  • Plus, if you return to Bowser's Castle after finishing it and decide to chat with Olivia, she'll relay the following words...
  Olivia: Oh, Bobby... I hope you're watching over us from wherever you are...
  • If you go back to Autumn Mountain or Shogun Studios and sit on the benches, Olivia will have new dialog reminiscing about her time with Bobby.
• When we first visit Shroom City, it had been taken over by Snifits and renamed to Snif City, as the space was apparently vacant when they moved in. When the abducted population of Shroom City is rescued from Hole Punch, they decide to share the city with the Snifits instead of kicking them out.
  Toad: This guy was here when I came back, so...we live together now.
  • This seems to be a cultural thing between Toads. In Toad Town, a Toad is living with the Stack of Goombas you saved on the way to Toad Town. The Toad doesn't seem bothered at all by his new roommates.
• Kamek's Rousing Speech to gather all the minions together and take back the castle.
• Bit of Fridge Heartwarming, but the fact that there's a bench in Olly's Origami Castle before the throne room. If he's been watching us throughout the adventure, then he must know Olivia likes benches. And if he made the Origami Castle, then...he put that bench there for Olivia.
• Upon confronting Olly, Bowser asks where Peach is and if she's okay, comfortable, and has a book to read, claiming he's asking for a friend. Whether he means himself or genuinely considers Mario a friend, his concern for Peach is sweet to see, especially after he drained her color while Not Himself in Color Splash.
• Olly's redemption was a bit cheesy, but still a rather sweet way to wrap up his character.
• The ending is one gigantic bittersweet moment. Seeing everyone, including Bowser and his minions, having a great time in the festival, but with the sad acknowledgement that not all of Mario's comrades lived to see the celebration.
  • Bowser laughing with his son, who is playing with a Goomba.
  • If you get 100%, the Origami Craftsman places miniature Olly and Olivia replicas after everyone went home, happily sitting side by side on their replica Origami Castle.
• One of the end credits photos shows Bowser, Bowser Jr., and several Koopa Troop members happily lounging in the Shangri-Spa springs, while Kamek and the Shy Guy that manned the Koopa Clown Car earlier oversee work on the castle.
• Mario and Luigi drive throughout the credits sequence, but they briefly stop to watch the sunrise together.
• The Goomba in the Water Vellumental Temple's café is really, really proud of being a Goomba and interprets his race always being on the front lines against Mario as a sign of deep trust from Bowser.
• It's a small moment, but when you find Luigi in the castle ruins at the beginning of the game, he'll say that Mario is always doing things for him, so he tries to help out however he can, such as trying to find the castle key.

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