Before Smithy smashed the Star Road, he used it to have his wish granted: that he could conquer the Mushroom World. His wish transformed the Mushroom World into an RPG World, suited for him to take over. When the Star Road was rebuilt, it created two branching reality: one negating the events of the game and branching into the 3D/Platform games, where Bowser remains agressively evil, and another where the events of Mario RPG did happen, which branches off into the rest of the RPG games, where Bowser is seen more as an annoyance than an outright king of evil.
Either Bowser would stop kidnapping Peach out of gratitude for her help in retaking his castle, or more likely, would be smart enough to realize that both Mario AND Peach are strong enough to take out villains much more powerful than him.
- Bowser is Princess Kidnapping junky. Regardless of whatever gratitude he might have, he still relapses.
- It could even be Rosalina.
- That is an AWESOME idea!
- The only problem is that Mallow and most of the enemies are copyrighted to Square and not Nintendo.
- Nothing else from this game would have to appear in a future game for Geno to come back.
- And then there was Super Mario Odyssey.
Geno's true form is Luma-shaped, and he says he was sent to Mushroom World by "a higher authority." (Rosalina) Also, the Luma language (that Luma speaks at the end of Super Mario Galaxy 2) seems to be written in the same alphabet as Geno's real name, ??!?
- Given that he refers to himself as a Star Spirit, it follows that all the Star Spirits of Star Road (seen in Paper Mario) are Lumas. Their special powers are due to extended exposure to the Star Rod.
- The Seven Star Spirits are the gods of Mario. The are charged with creating and destroying great things and protecting the universe as well as overseeing and granting wishes/prayers. The Star Children are born to become Star Spirits. The Lumas are part of the cosmos themselves. They are born from dust from old galaxies, become new galaxies, and die into dust (eg. Star Bits).
- That and Geno is from the Star Road which is the plane that leads to the Star Spirits.
- Well, in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years; we know that the Fiends were all sent by "the Creator" to ally with villains to affect the evolution of different Final Fantasy worlds with Crystals in them. "Vanda" was one of those worlds. Given how the success of the "Smithy Incident" lead to the creation of the Paper Mario universe, he had a profound effect.
- Princess Toadstool: Princess Peach (obviously)
- Confirmed
- Chancellor: Toad Minister (same as in Paper Mario 64)
- Jossed. Still Chancellor.
- Grandma: Chambermaid (from the Player's Guide, and she's really not as anyone's grandmother in particular)
- Jossed. Peach now calls her Granny.
- Hiponio: Fire Toad
- Jossed. He's been renamed to Cinder Toad.
- Belome: Slurpulp...? (a corruption of slurp and gulp...could be improved)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Bundt: Strawberry (restoring the naming theme with Raspberry, and also really a wedding cake anyway)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it, though the game does lampshade the Non-Indicative Name.
- Count Down: Stopwatch or Punch Clock
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Czar Dragon: Blargg (clearly what it actually is)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Earth Link: Stone Adder (something to make it match names with Mad Adder again)
- Jossed, but the new name does match with Mad Adder. It's Bad Adder.
- Jinx: Jackie (restoring the original inspiration)
- Jossed. He retains Woolsey's name for him.
- Magikoopa: Kamek (clearly meant to be, judging by his Psychopath message)
- Jossed. It's been renamed Wizakoopa instead.
- Megasmilax: Piranha Queen (the German name, which is more accurate)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Mokura: Dizzy Puff (a play on both Ruff Puff and the meaning of its Japanese name)
- Jossed. It's now Gassox.
- Punchinello: James Bomb (Woolsey's original planned dub name for him)
- Jossed. He retains Woolsey's revised name for him.
- Bahamutt: Dorrie (they both have the same Japanese name)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Bodyguard: Guard Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Helio: Volcanic debris (they both have the same Japanese name, and Helio is also an unrelated enemy in Wario Land 3)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- King Bomb: Possibly retconned into King Bob-omb?
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Kinklink: Chandelier Chomp
- Jossed. It has been renamed to Chaindelier
- Mezzo Bomb: Big Bob-omb
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Microbomb: Mini Bob-omb (just as Microgoombas were renamed Mini Goombas)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Shyper: Fresh Pogo Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Smilax: Naval Bud (what it appears to be)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Torte: Koopa Cook (the species, not the specific character)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Amanita: Ramblin' Mushroom (Because.)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Ameboid: Goomoeba (Goomba amoeba)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Arachne: Scuttlebug
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Big Bertha: Banzai Bill Cannon
- Jossed. It's now Big Blaster.
- Blaster: Bill Blaster
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Bloober: Blooper
- Confirmed.
- Bloober Baby: Blooper Baby
- Bloober with Kids: Blooper Nanny
- Chompweed: Nipper Plant
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Fireball: Lava Ball
- Jossed. It's now Lava Blubble.
- Frogog: Buff Frog
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Glum Reaper: Elite Grim Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Goby: Cheep Cheep
- Confirmed.
- Goombette: Mini Goomba
- Confirmed.
- Greaper: Grim Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Gu Goomba: Hyper Goomba
- Heavy Troopa and Tub-O-Troopa: Colossal Koopa Paratroopa
- Jossed. They're now Big Troopa and Grand Troopa, respectively.
- Magmite: Magma Beetle
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Magmus: Elite Magma Beetle
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Sky Troopa and Malakoopa: Koopa Paratroopa
- Close. It's just Paratroopa for the first; the second retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Mr. Kipper: Chargin' Cheep
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Mukumuku: Ratooey (they look practically identical)
- Jossed. It's now Thropher.
- Pyrosphere: Lava Bobble
- Close. Lava Babble.
- Ribbite: Tuff Frog
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Shy Away: Beezo
- Confirmed
- Shy Ranger: Spy Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Shyster: Pogo Guy
- Jossed. It has been renamed to Shymore.
- Sling Shy: Sling Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Snifit: Black Snifit
- Jossed. It's now Snifster.
- Sparky: Lava Bubble
- Confirmed.
- Spinthra: Shufflebug
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Spookum: Snifit
- Confirmed.
- Springer: Elite Pogo Guy
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Terra Cotta: Red Koopa Troopa
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Terrapin: Koopa Troopa
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- The Big Boo: Boo
- Confirmed.
- Vomer: Elite Dry Bones
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Forest Maze: Forever Forest
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Kero Sewers: Frog Sewers
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Monstro Town: Monster Town
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Mushroom Kingdom: Toad Town
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Mushroom Way: Mushroom Road
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Yo'ster Isle: Yoshi's Island
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Bad Mushroom: Poison Mushroom
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Earlier Times: Retry Button
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Goodie Bag: Moneybag
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Kerokero Cola: Croaka Cola
- Confirmed
- Max Mushroom: Ultra Mushroom
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Mid Mushroom: Super Mushroom
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Moldy Mush: Moldy Mushroom
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Muku Cookie: Ratooey Cookie (if Mukumukus get renamed Ratooeys)
- Jossed. Along with Mukumukus (noted above) being renamed Throphers, the cookies re renamed Thropher Cookie.
- Pick Me Up: Life Syrup (like Life Mushroom)
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Rotten Mush: Stale Mushroom
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Royal Syrup: Jammin' Jelly
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Wilt Shroom: Dried Mushroom
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- Big Boo Flag: Boo Flag
- Confirmed.
- Lazy Shell: Koopa Paratroopa Shell
- Jossed. It retains Woolsey's name for it.
- NokNok Shell: Koopa Troopa Shell
- Confirmed
- Spiked Link: Spike Chomp
- Close. Spiked Chomp.
- Heal Hell: Heel Shell
- Confirmed.
- Well, good news! The game is getting remade, so a majority of these may come true!
- Confirmed; many enemies will indeed get their name updated.
- The one kink in this theory is Geno's claim to serve a "higher authority". The honorable Star Spirits of Paper Mario appear to be the highest authority of Star Haven, making it more likely that Geno (the Star) is subservient to the seven than one of the seven.
- Maybe he was promoted to Star Spirit for his part in recovering the Star Pieces.
- Jossed. While the gameplay has recieved changes, the final boss has no new phase added onto it.
- Confirmed; he uses his original sprites in the battle. For the first fight against him that is.
- Jossed. The Axem Rangers keep the same boss theme they had in the original.
- Culex might appear in the remake or he'll be replaced with a different boss (such as Antasma) who could fulfil a similar gimmick. If Culex returns, his characterization will be based on the JP version rather than the US version.
- Luigi's role will be expanded from a cameo to full on party member. Defeating Smithy with Luigi in the party instead of Mario nets you an alternate ending.
- Wario and Waluigi will get cameos, and Wario will not be replacing Booster despite their similar designs.
- There will be a boss rematch mode similar to Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story where you can refight stronger versions of story mode bosses withnew colour schemes and a secret boss at the end of the unlockable Boss Rush (by defeating all other bosses first)
- There may also be an option to refight all optional bosses complete with its own Boss Rush and potential secret boss.
- Confirmed with the post-game bosses against Belome, Punchinello, Booster, Bundt, Jonathan, and Jinx, with the secret boss being 3D Culex.
- A new Bonus Dungeon will be added, requiring you to be at max level (the level cap has now been raised to Lv.99) and enemies that went unused in the original game and a Superboss who surpasses Culex in terms of difficulty. Culex himself will be made far more difficult than the SNES version to compensate for the redesigned level system.
- All characters now have several alternate costumes referencing other characters or palettes from other Nintendo games. These costumes are unlockable by engaging in optional side content.
- In addition each character will gain a new set of weapons and equipment that serves as an Infinity +1 Sword for each party member.
- A New Game Plus feature will be available after beating the game once or by defeating Culex.
- If not that, then a possible "Hard Mode" that increases enemy stats to make them stronger while giving bosses new attacks.
- So far, a few things appear to be confirmed such as the possibility that Culex might still be there since the 14/09/23 Nintendo Direct trailer for Super Mario RPG does briefly show Mario using the Shiny Stone to open the sealed door in Monstro Town. In addition, post-game rematches are confirmed for some bosses (with footage shown for Booster, Punchinello and Johnny being shown) though their colours are unchanged, and Booster hasn't been replaced by Wario. Everything else is still up in the air.
- Culex is still a part of the remake, and he even keeps his original sprites as well, in addition his characerization being a blend of his US and JP versions. In addition, he even gets a second fight where he's now 3D. Wario doesn't replace Booster, and while a Boss Rush doesn't exist, a few post-game rematches are unlocked after beating the game. There is no new Bonus Dungeon or alternate costume, and it's likely that New Game Plus and Hard mode are jossed as well.
- Mario: Classic Suit,Doctor Mario, Wario Colours,Metal Mario, Sunshine Outfit, wedding suit, Elephant Mario and SNES Sprites.
- Luigi: Mario Bros., Waluigi Colours, Mr L, Gooigi and SNES Sprites.
- Peach NES Colours, Princess Daisy, Shadow Queen,Princess Rosalina, Pink Gold Peach, musketeer and SNES Sprites.
- Bowser: Classic Colours, Bowser's Brother, Dry Bowser, Dark Bowser, Wedding Suit, Fury Bowser, and SNES Sprites
- Geno: Super Cape, Millennium Star,Fawful, Dark Fawful,Antasma and SNES Sprites
- Mallow: Huff 'N' Puff, Lakithunder, Thunder Cloud, Stonk, Sunset Cloud and SNES Sprites.
- Sadly jossed, none of the characters get alternate unlockable costumes.
- Sephiroth (due to his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate connecting him to the Mario Bros.)
- Dark Star (due to Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story mentioning him being sealed away by the Star Sprites, which could be related to the higher authority that Geno follows)
- Millennium Star (An esoteric choice due to him appearing in only one Mario Party game.)
- Donkey Kong (The oldest rival of Mario's and again, an esoteric and unexpected choice).
- Evil versions of each party member such as Shadow Mario, Shadow Queen , Dark Bowser and evil versions of Geno (referencing this concept art◊) and Mallow (resembling Mokura). (Unlikely but if they did, could guard new weapons and equipment for each character.
- A prototype version of Smithy that resembles his final form or might be just a Palette Swap who uses the strongest skills in the game.
- Seems to be confirmed, as a new "Extra-Shiny Stone" counterpart to the Shiny Stone used to open the door to Culex has been added. However, it only unlocks a rematch with Culex who is now 3D and is much stronger. The other guesses have all been jossed.
- Jossed; it still uses his 8-bit sprite.
- These cutscenes are based on scenes that didn't have dialogue, so these may very well be mime and music only. Besides, Wonder only had the Talking Flowers be fully voiced and no one else. Voice acting for any other characters might still be a stretch. However, it isn't off the table that we'll hear what RPG's original characters sound like via Voice Grunting since Bowser audibly laughed in a Japanese overview trailer.
- Jonathan Jones: To fit with the J theme. The Triple Move would be called "The J-team"
- Culex: The other optional superboss in Monstro Town.