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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door/Regional Differences

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English • ‎español • ‎français • ‎português do Brasil • ‎русский

This is a sub-page of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.

Hmmm...
To do:
some corrections

Title Theme

Japan International

The Japanese version has a slightly different melody for the first part of the title screen music. The drum roll is also more noticeable during the fade out. The rest of the theme is the same.

Technical Changes

  • There is no health warning screen when starting up the game in the Japanese version.
  • In the Japanese version, Mario and his partners are fully healed at the end of Chapter 1, but at the end of all the other chapters, they do not get healed at all. In the international versions​, Mario and his partners are fully healed at the end of each chapter except Chapter 8.
  • In the Pit of 100 Trials, when you defeat an enemy, the pipes show up faster in the Japanese version.
  • At the end of Bowser's levels, fireworks are fired in the Japanese version but not in the international versions.
  • There's a Ratooey named Lumpy that hangs around at the east side of the Rogueport docks, and you can give your money to him so that he gives you more money later in the game. In the Japanese version, giving him 200 coins means you'll only end up getting back 500 coins. However, in the international versions, giving him 200 coins means you'll end up getting back 600 instead.
  • In the Japanese version, the "Can't flee from this fight!" text at the beginning of mandatory fights is unskippable.
  • All Fuzzies have horrible vision in the Japanese version, as they often don't even notice you when you go by them. In the international versions, the Fuzzies have better vision and thus notice you more quickly. In addition, the Fuzzies move slower in the international versions.
  • The international versions have more Stylish moves than the Japanese version. For example, there is no second Stylish after a normal jump in the Japanese version.
  • In the Japanese version if you charge a Spring Jump or Hammer Swing while Mario is in the background, Mario will be in his angry expression position. In the international versions he will stay in his neutral expression position.
  • You can start spinning the stick in the air to charge a Spring Jump in the Japanese version, while in the international versions you have to land before doing so.
  • In the Japanese version, when you are spinning the stick for any action that requires it, doing a jump will cause the stored spins to be reset back to 0.
  • When entering or leaving Paper Mode while falling off of something, Mario will move downwards in the Japanese version, while in the international versions Mario will move left.
  • There is no slowdown when moving up slopes on rooftops with Yoshi in the Japanese version.
  • In the Japanese version, if you switch to a different partner in a battle and then leave the battle, the partner will always spawn directly behind Mario, even if there is no solid ground there and/or if that would spawn the partner out of bounds.
  • Holding A when you don't have the Ultra Boots prevents Mario from moving in the Japanese version.
    • Similarly, holding B when you don't have the Super Hammer prevents Mario from moving in the Japanese version.
  • When performing the Flurrie Superslide glitch, Mario will move slightly up before going fully downwards in the Japanese version, while in the international versions you will go either left or right.
  • When entering and leaving Paper Mode in the Japanese version, your direction and speed are locked until the animation is finished.
  • In the Japanese version, failing certain Action Commands cause significantly less damage to be dealt compared to the international versions.
Japan International
  • In the Japanese version, some item combinations that are given to Zess T. give different recipe results.
Item Combination Japan International
Poison Shroom + Turtley Leaf Mistake Shroom Broth
Mushroom + Keel Mango Mistake Zess Dinner
[Mushroom/Life Shroom] + Peachy Peach Mistake Zess Dinner
Ultra Shroom + Peachy Peach Zess Dinner Zess Special
[Dried Shroom/Mushroom/Super Shroom/Life Shroom] + Fresh Pasta Zess Dinner Zess Special
Ultra Shroom + Fresh Pasta Zess Special Zess Deluxe
Poison Shroom + Point Swap Ultra Shroom Mushroom
Slow Shroom + Jammin' Jelly Maple Super Jelly Super
Mushroom + [Turtley Leaf/Golden Leaf] Life Shroom Shroom Fry
Super Shroom + [Turtley Leaf/Golden Leaf] Life Shroom Shroom Roast
[Life Shroom/Ultra Shroom] + [Turtley Leaf/Golden Leaf] Life Shroom Shroom Steak
Thunder Bolt + Thunder Rage Trial Stew Mistake
  • In the Japanese version, some items sell for different prices (in coins).
Item Name Shop It's Sold At Japan International
Couple's Cake All shops 30 10
Gradual Syrup Toad Bros. Bazaar 7 8
Healthy Salad All Shops 10 5
Koopasta All shops 25 60
Meteor Meal All shops 20 40
Shroom Broth All shops 33 20
Shroom Crepe All shops 50 100
Spicy Soup All shops except Northwinds Mart 10 5
Zess Dinner All shops except Souvenir Shop 10 7
Zess Dynamite All shops except Deepdown Depot 30 20
Zess Tea All shops 10 6
  • Many attacks cannot be Superguarded in the Japanese version:
    • All attacks from Crazee and Amazy Dayzee.
    • Putrid Piranha's poison breath.
    • Ember's multitarget fire breath.
    • Flower Fuzzy's magic attack.
    • X-Naut PhD's multi-target potion attack.
    • The laser attacks from Wizzerd clones, though not Wizzerds themselves.
    • Blooper's ink attacks.
    • All of Beldam's attacks except her basic punch.
    • Magnus von Grapple's earthquake attack.
    • The Iron Cleft's charge.
    • Rawk Hawk's prop drop attack.
    • Bowser's fire breath.
    • All of Atomic Boo's attacks except its body slam.
    • All of Cortez's attacks in Phase 1, and his charge attack from Phase 2.
    • All of the X-Naut Platoon's attacks during the Keelhaul Key battle against Lord Crump.
    • All of Smorg's attacks.
    • All of Magnus von Grapple 2.0's attacks except its X-Punches.
    • All of Grodus's attacks (though not those of his Grodus Xes).

Change of Positions

Many things are positioned differently between the Japanese and international versions:

  • On the Level Up screen, the cursor is set to FP by default in the Japanese version, while in the international versions you have to manually move the cursor to either HP or BP.
  • In the sewers, to the right of the Plane Panel leading towards Blooper, the platform extends 25 units further to the left in the international versions.
  • During pre-Chapter 5, Swindell the Bandit is moved to the far side of East Rogueport near the barrels. In the international versions, there is one less barrel, and Swindell's position is slightly altered.
  • Koopook is moved to a different position (further to the left) in Hooktail Castle during his trouble in the Japanese version.
  • The Wedding Ring for Frankie's trouble in Rogueport is in a different position in the Japanese version as opposed to the international versions. In the Japanese version, it is on top of the archway that Gus blocks in East Rogueport. In the international versions, it is instead located near a set of crates at the very east end of East Rogueport.
Japan International
TTYD-frankiering-JP.png TTYD-frankiering-US.png
  • One of the plane panels in Hooktail's castle is 97 units further to the left in the Japanese version.
  • Many of the items at the Pianta Parlor have different positioning in the menu in the Japanese version.

Area Changes

Several areas had some changes made between the Japanese and international versions.

Prologue

  • The X-Nauts who jump on you in the Prologue move faster in the Japanese version.
  • In the Japanese version, the moving platforms in the Rogueport Underground (the one in the first area and the two in the room with the pipe to Petal Meadows) do not move as far to the left and right as the ones in the international versions.

Chapter 2

  • In the Japanese version, the right Pale Piranha on the screen where you fight the Shadow Sirens in Boggly Woods acts differently from the one in the international versions.
  • In the Japanese version, when unlocking the blue cage door in the Great Tree, the game checks for and removes the Strange Sack from your inventory if you have it (which will permanently prevent it from being obtained again as there is only one in the game). If the player has more than 10 items in their inventory when they lose the Strange Sack, they can get the normally unused Debug Badge to appear in their inventory. This doesn't happen in the international versions.
    • Also in the Japanese version, after unlocking the blue cage door, there are several frames where you are able to move around freely.
  • In the Japanese version, Punio's textbox when he thinks about how to reveal the secret entrance does not pause in the Japanese version.
  • In the room where you have to hammer the switches to gain access to the Super Boots room, in the Japanese version the 4 statues all have Punis on them before hitting the switches, but in the international versions the 4 statues have the following (left to right) on them before hitting the switches: Puni, Star, Moon, Sun.

Chapter 3

  • In the Glitz Pit, all fights (excluding ones that start with special cutscenes, such as The Goomba Bros. and The Armored Harriers) start about 2 seconds faster in the Japanese version when compared to the international versions.
  • In the Japanese version, when returning to Rogueport from Glitzville, the entire cutscene is about 7 seconds longer than in the international versions.
  • During Peach's section right after Chapter 3, when leaving the dressing room to return to TEC after talking to Grodus, the player can move while the door is opening in the Japanese version.

Chapter 5

  • In the Japanese version, you can get the Keel Mango from the trees at Keelhaul Key at any time. In the international versions, you must complete the chapter first. This was most likely changed to ensure that Flavio ends up getting the Coconut rather than the Keel Mango as both items are tropical food and giving Flavio any food item that's not a Coconut will result in him asking for something more tropical.
  • One Flower Fuzzy on the screen with the blue pipe in Keelhaul Key was removed in the international versions.
  • The Flower Fuzzy on the screen with the 2 Putrid Piranhas will continue to move around if it falls down in the Japanese version, while it will stay still in the international versions.
  • In Pirate's Grotto, the chest behind the waterfall contains a Damage Dodge P badge in the Japanese version. In the international versions, this is a Defend Plus P badge, despite the official player guide claiming that the Damage Dodge P badge is found in that chest.
  • In the black chest room in Pirate's Grotto, when you defeat the Embers, the key will randomly fall to the left or right in the Japanese version. In the international versions, it simply falls straight down.

Chapter 6

  • On Day 3 of the Excess Express, you get an email in the dining car in the Japanese version. In the international versions, you get this email to the right of Mario's room.
  • When the Smorgs appear when talking to the Engineer, they will not cover the right part of the window in the Japanese version.
  • In the outside room at Riverside Station with the Poison Pokeys and Ruff Puffs, there is a block that can be jumped on to hit a hidden block that contains a Thunder Rage. In the Japanese version, this block is a breakable block, and breaking it will cause it to stay broken until you leave Riverside Station. The international versions made this block unbreakable.

Chapter 7

  • The "safe path" in X-Naut Fortress's third puzzle room was lengthened from two to three squares long in the international versions.
  • On the moon, on the screen with the pipe, blowing up the rock containing the pipe causes a small cutscene to play in the Japanese version. This cutscene does not occur in the international versions.

Chapter 8

  • During the first phase of the Shadow Queen fight, you need to do at least 39 damage to her in the Japanese version. In the international versions, you need to do at least 61 damage.

Graphical Changes

Hmmm...
To do:
Additional info from Zephiles on Mario's animation when he agrees to become the Shadow Queen's servant
  • In Glitzville, the sign above the main entrance says "Oolongtown" in the Japanese version rather than "Glitzville" in the English version. Each foreign localization of the game changes this sign appropriately.
  • The sign above the Pianta Parlor says "Monte Game" in the Japanese version rather than "Pianta Parlor" in the English version. Like with Glitzville, each foreign localization of the game edits this sign appropriately.
  • In the Japanese and American versions, Mario has two different talking animations, one involving him raising his hand and one involving him moving his mouth, and each one is used in different scenarios. Only the "mouth moving" one is used in the European version, however, to avoid an unintentional resemblance to the Nazi salute.
  • In the Japanese version, upon agreeing to become the Shadow Queen's servant, Mario will do the animation that Doopliss uses when he has taken Mario's form. In international versions, he instead continues to have an angry expression, possibly because Doopliss's animation doesn't take into account the effects of the L and W Emblem badges. The flash of light that hides the models being swapped was left in.

Luigi's Book

Japan International
PMTTYDBook5JP.png Well, that was an pointless change

The cover was re-colored from orange-yellow to red-orange, and the outline was made a bit thicker.

Wrestling Magazine

Japan International
PMTTYDMagazineJP.png PMTTYDMagazineINT.png

The Wrestling Magazine has some barely-visible japanese text that got changed to scribbles in the international version. Also, the Japanese version has "プロレス" (Pro Wrestling) while the international version has "wrestle".

Power Rush Badge

Japanese English
PMTTYDPowerJP.png PMTTYDPowerNA.png

The Power Rush badge has a different letter for every language. The discrepancy is likely because of the regional names of the Danger effect; it is obviously called Danger in English, but is referred to as Pinch in Japanese. The U.S. ROM also contains the original P version, as well as K, A, and C versions, presumably for other languages (another example of this in the U.S. ROM is the Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German versions of the "Good" message that appears when you successfully execute a timed attack in battle).

Peeka and Lahla

Japan International
PMTTYDShopBooJP.png PMTTYDShopBooINT.png

Peeka and Lahla, the Boo sisters who run the Westside Goods store and Pianta Parlor, respectively, have bunny ears in the Japanese version. They instead wear cat ears in the international versions, likely to tone down the resemblance to the Playboy bunny. The Playboy bunny outfit is actually copyrighted, so this might have been for legal reasons rather than censorship.

Chuckola Cola

Japan International
PMTTYDWineJP.png PMTTYDWineINT.png

The Chuckola Cola, known as the Vintage Red in the Japanese version, was renamed and recolored from red to purple, probably to make it look and sound less like wine while also turning it into a Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga reference.

TEC

Japan International
Tec JP.PNG Tec NA.PNG

TEC's "camera eye" is red in the Japanese version, but was changed to blue in the international versions​, possibly to avoid resemblance to HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It does however make TEC resemble SAL 9000 from 2001's sequel, 2010: The Year We Make Contact.

Notably, the announcement trailer for Thousand-Year Door's 2024 remaster features TEC's original red eye.

(Source: Mario Wiki)

Messy Shed

Japan International
Now Mario finally gets his chance to be Phoenix Wright! Nope, no evidence here.

The messy shed in the back alley of Rogueport's central plaza (behind Podley's juice bar) has a Toad-shaped chalk outline with a puddle of blood lying nearby in the Japanese version, implying it to be a murder scene. These details were removed from all subsequent versions.

Added Texts

There are some texts that were added in the international versions:

  • There is no "Thank you" message after buying something from a shop in the Japanese version.
  • On the Level Up Screen, the "Select one to upgrade!" text isn't present in the Japanese version.
  • The Shadow Sirens in Boggly Woods do not say anything when Mario is at 1 HP in the Japanese version.

Added Graphics/Animations

There are some graphics/animations that were added in the international versions:

  • In the Japanese version, after Bowser's swimming level in post-chapter 4, Bowser does not do some animations during the cutscene with Kammy: He doesn't do the animation of crossing his arms and closing his eyes, and he also doesn't do the animation of looking angry before blowing fire at Kammy.
  • Peeka doesn't talk to the door during the part when she lets you into into the Pianta Syndicate's room in the Japanese version.
  • In the Japanese version, there is no animation for giving the autograph to Bub in the Excess Express.
  • When you are selling badges to the badge shop, the badges that you currently have equipped do not have a symbol next to them in the Japanese version.
  • The Japanese version is missing the number of obtained badges/recipes and total badges/recipes on the Badges and Recipes screen.

Flashing Lights

A few cutscenes involving flashing lights were edited down in the international versions, probably to reduce the chance of players getting epileptic seizures:

  • The flashing lights during the first Shadow Queen cutscene was reduced.
  • The flashing lights during the cutscene in the room that makes the Emerald Star appear was reduced.

Weirdly enough, the animation for Showstopper, despite arguably being worse than any of these, wasn't changed at all.

Character Differences

Vivian

Hmmm...
To do:
Info from one of the Italian localisers. Also, add the other relevant dialogue and update the summary accordingly.
Cacti may speak Japanese, but do they speak it well?
...But does it make sense?
The translations on this page need to be proofread. If you are fluent enough in this language, please make any corrections necessary!

Vivian's gender identity is inconsistent between different language translations. In the Japanese version, Vivian identifies and presents as female, but is described as actually being an effeminate-looking boy, aligning with common media depictions of transgender characters at the time while not explicitly referring to her as such. The French and Spanish versions directly carry this over, with the former additionally describing her as a boy pretending to be a girl.

The Italian version, meanwhile, explicitly describes Vivian as a trans girl; the localization additionally reconfigures her relationship with her gender identity and with her sisters, depicting Vivian as being openly proud of her identity and transition, with Marilyn and Bedlam's bullying of her being rooted in jealousy, traits which are absent in the Japanese script. The English and German versions remove any references to being transgender or gender nonconforming, implicitly portraying Vivian as a cisgender girl; instead of being bullied over her biological sex, her sisters instead belittle her for her appearance.

  • Excerpt from party member description (msg_menu_party_vivi):
Original Translation
Japanese
カゲ三人組の一人だった
オンナのコのようで ホントは オトコのコ
A former member of the Shadow Trio.
He may look like a girl, but he's actually a boy.
English
One of the Shadow Sirens,
Vivian suffers from a bit
of an inferiority complex.
French
Viviane faisait partie
de l'Obscur Trio.
Il se fait passer pour une fille
mais en fait, c'est un garçon.


Vivian was once part of
the Obscure Trio.
He pretends to be a girl,
but is actually a boy.


German
Ex-Mitglied des Schatten-
trios.
An ex-member of the Shadow
Trio.
Spanish
Este antiguo miembro del
Trío de las Sombras
parece una chica, pero
en realidad es un chico.


This former member of the
Shadow Trio
looks like a girl, but
is actually a boy.


Italian
Ex membro del Trisdombra.
Originariamente era un uomo,
ma ora è donna ed è fiera di
esserlo.


An ex-member of the Shadow Trio.
She used to be a man,
but now she's a woman and
proud of it.


  • Excerpt from Goombella's tattle (btl_hlp_vivian):
Original Translation
Japanese
『ビビアン』よ
カゲ三人組の一人で いちばん下の妹
・・・じゃなくて 弟ね
It's Vivian,
a member of the Shadow Trio and the youngest sister
...no, wait, brother.
English
That's Vivian.
She's the youngest of the
three Shadow Sirens.
French
C'est Viviane.
La plus jeune sœur...
je veux dire frère.
It's Vivian.
The youngest sister...
I mean, brother.
German
Das ist Barbara.
Sie ist das jüngste Mit-
glied des Schattentrios.
That's Vivian.
She's the youngest member
of the Shadow Trio.
Spanish
¡Es Bibiana!
La más pequeña del trío...
Bueno... EL más pequeño.
That's Vivian!
She's the smallest of the trio...
Well... HE'S the smallest.
Italian
È Ombretta!
È la più piccola delle
sorelle del Trisdombra.
That's Vivian!
She's the youngest sister
of the Shadow Trio.
  • Excerpt from the Sirens' introduction to Mario and his party in Chapter 2 (win_00.txt):
Japanese Translation English
Beldam
stg2_win_e07_02_02
われらは・・・

stg2_win_e07_02_02
We are...

Marilyn
stg2_win_e07_02_03
カゲ・・・

stg2_win_e07_02_03
The Three...

Vivian
stg2_win_e07_02_04
三姉妹っ!!

stg2_win_e07_02_04
Shadow Sisters!!

stg2_win_e07_02_04
Shadow Beauties!

Goombella/
Koops
stg2_win_e07_02_05_kur
stg2_win_e07_02_05_nok
カゲ三姉妹っ!?

stg2_win_e07_02_05_kur
stg2_win_e07_02_05_nok
The Three Shadow Sisters!?

stg2_win_e07_02_05_kur
stg2_win_e07_02_05_nok
The Three Shadow Beauties?

Beldam
stg2_win_e07_02_06
コラッ! ビビアン!!
なに いってんだよ あんた!
カゲ三人組だろ! 三人組!!
stg2_win_e07_02_07
どこが 三姉妹だよ!
あんた オトコじゃないかい!!!!!!
stg2_win_e07_02_06
What?! Vivian!!
What did you just say?!
We're the Shadow TRIO! TRIO!!
stg2_win_e07_02_07
Where are these three sisters?!
Aren't you a MAN??????
stg2_win_e07_02_06
Vivian! You nincompoop!
What are you babbling about?
It's Shadow SIRENS!
stg2_win_e07_02_07
I don't see three beauties!
I see two, but then there's
you, and you're PLUG-UGLY!!!
Vivian
stg2_win_e07_02_08
ゴメンナサイ~ お姉さま
つい・・・
stg2_win_e07_02_08
Ohh, I'm sorry, Sis...
It was an accident...
stg2_win_e07_02_08
Aw, right, Sis, I'm sorry...
It's just, you always call
us "lovelies," and...
Beldam
stg2_win_e07_02_09
つい・・・ じゃないよ
あとで きっちり
オシオキしてやるからね!!
stg2_win_e07_02_09
That... was NO accident!
After this, you're in for
a proper punishing!!
stg2_win_e07_02_09
It's just a figure of speech!
Ooh, you've got some FIERCE
punishment coming your way!
Vivian
stg2_win_e07_02_10
うぅっ・・・

stg2_win_e07_02_10
Ohhh...

stg2_win_e07_02_10
Aw, gee whiz... I hate being
punished...


Hooktail

Hooktail's gender is inconsistent between different language translations. The English version refers to Hooktail as a female, but in some other translations, like the Spanish version, Hooktail is referred to as a male.

Also in the Japanese version, Hooktail's weakness is actually frogs and not crickets like in the international versions. However, in the US Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door demo included in the Demo Disc Version 18 for the Gamecube, Hooktail is weak to frogs like in the Japanese version.

Bonetail

Bonetail's gender is inconsistent between language translations as well. In most languages, Bonetail is referred to as a male. However, he is referred to as a female in the Japanese and German versions of the game, and his Italian name (Ossandra) comes from the Italian word for bone (osso) and the name Cassandra.

(Source: Mario Wiki)

Shadow Queen

The Shadow Queen is more informal and down-to-earth in the Japanese version. She was rewritten to be more formal and condescending in the English script, possibly to play her up as more of a threat.

English Dialogue Difference

Hmmm...
To do:
European version of stg1_nok_78 (likely the same as the US's, but I can't verify).
Japan U.S. Europe
stg1_nok_78
ノコタロウ・・・
ぼうけんに むちゅうで
あたしのことを わすれてないかしら・・・
あぁ オトコなんて シャボンだま
でも きっと あえない時間が
二人の ラブを そだてるのよね
stg1_nok_78_01
ノコタロウったら さいきん
ちょっと オトナっぽく なったみたい
けっこう ステキだわ
・・・でも 前の いくじなしの
ノコタロウも ちょっと なつかしいかも
stg1_nok_78
Oh, my sweet Koops...
I wonder if he's forgotten
me on his big adventure?
Men are so unpredictable...
Still, I'm sure our love grows
stronger with distance. ♥
stg1_nok_78_01
Oh, my sweet Koops...
I wonder if he's forgotten
me on his big adventure?
Men are so unpredictable...
Still, I'm sure our love grows
stronger with distance. ♥
stg1_nok_78_01
Koops looked kinda mature
lately.
Pretty cool.
...but I kinda miss that ol'
timid Koops.

In the U.S. script, one of Koopie Koo's messages was accidentally made a duplicate of the one before it. The European version properly translated it.

Aside from this, the U.S. and European English scripts are exactly the same, bar some punctuation and enemy stat changes.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Errors

Enemy Stat Errors

Every enemy's stats stayed the same between all versions. However, the American version mistakenly claims that the Red Spike Top has 5 defense instead of 4, and that Rawk Hawk has 3 attack and 1 defense rather than 4 and 0, respectively. These mistakes were not present in the Japanese version and were corrected in the European version.

Zess T.'s Recipes

  • The English text mistakenly says that the Zess Frappe and Icicle Pop recover 20 and 10 HP when in fact they recover 20 and 15 FP in all versions.
  • The Japanese text mistakenly says in the Recipe page that the Snow Bunny, Koopa Bun, and Icicle Pop recover 30 HP, 20 FP, and 10 FP when in fact they recover 15 HP, 15 FP, and 15 FP in all versions.

Toadette

In the German and Spanish versions, Toadette is erroneously referred to as Vanna T., a character from the previous Paper Mario game. This error occurred due to Toadette and Vanna T. sharing the same Japanese name.

Sky-Blue Spiny Eggs

In the English version, Goombella's tattles for Dark Lakitu and Sky-Blue Spiny mistakenly state that Dark Lakitus throw "pipes" which spawn Sky-Blue Spinies. This is due to the Japanese name for Spiny Eggs, パイポ (paipo), being misinterpreted as "pipe", even though all other instances of Spiny Eggs are translated correctly.

(Source: Legends of Localization)

Lost in Translation

Elementary, my dear Cactus.
This needs some investigation.
Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page.
Specifically:
  • MarioWiki says the other European translations caught and fixed the Crystal Palace thing. Is this true?
  • Also check the European translations for the rest of the errors in this section (a few of them restored the Quizmo email, for instance).

Being a sequel, The Thousand-Year Door has its share of callbacks to the original Paper Mario. While many of them remained intact, a few slipped past Treehouse's notice:

  • After completing his trouble, Koopook sends an email to Mario and Koops telling them he's hiding in the Crystal Palace (クリスターしんでん, "Crystar Temple"). Unfortunately, the "Kuri" part of the area's name was misinterpreted as standing for "Goomba" (Kuribō) rather than "Crystal" (Kurisutaru), and so it was rendered as "Goomstar Temple" in the English version.
  • Similarly, Pine T. states his dad has a new job taking care of "Bubu" in Toad Town. Būbū-san (ブーブーさん) is the Japanese name of the Li'l Oinks.
  • The Chestnut King has the same name as the Goomba King (クリキング, "Kuri King"). Assuming this is meant to be the same character, it adds an extra layer of humor to Luigi's adventure, as he's essentially embarking on an epic quest to conquer the first game's tutorial boss.
  • One of the crows in Twilight Town mentions chatting with a friend in "Mushroom Town". This is a literal translation of Kinoko Town (キノコタウン), or Toad Town. Most other mentions of Toad Town in the script were translated correctly, so this stands out as particularly odd.
    • Another one that wasn't was "Mushville" in one of the quiz questions at Shhwonk Fortress ("Where is the Crystal Star?"), which was also "Kinoko Town" in the Japanese version.
  • Speaking of the quiz, question 3 ("What is the name of the mayor of Petalburg?") has "Nokojirō" (ノコジロウ) as the first answer, which is the Japanese name of Koopa Koot. It was translated as "Kooskoos" in the English version.
Japanese English
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
 G・D・M はっこう・へんしゅう
 『ゴロツキタウンふっこういいん』
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆















みつかっちゃった!






☆さいしゅうかい!
 まだまだ おわらないG・D・M
 スペシャル ひみつコーナー!!


☆ヒミツニュースコーナー!
ここで きんきゅう ニュースです
ハテナむしさん(44)の
じょうほうが はいってきました!
こんかい とうじょうできなかった
ハテナむしさんですが・・・
じつは!
『しょうじきものは ダレだ!?』
という あたらしい クイズを
じゅんび していたことが
はんめいしました!!
しかし じゅんびに じかんが
かかりすぎて・・・
とうじょうすることすら
できなくなって しまったもよう
じかいの かつやくに
きたいが かかる

☆ヒミツおりょうりコーナー
『イレカエール』という
アイテムを くみあわせて
りょうりすると こうかを
いれかえたものが
できあがります
ということは・・・
こうかの ひくい アイテムを
イレカエールと・・・
うふふ! ためしてみてね!




こんどこそ ほんとうに オシマイ!
さいごまで みてくれて
どうも ありがとうー!
またあえる・・・? かもね!
****************************
Published by Rogueport
Restoration Committee
****************************
Translation









You’ve found it!






            FINALE!
    The not-quite-over-yet 
  RDM Special Secret Corner!!


      SECRET NEWS CORNER!
We’ve just received breaking 
info on Chuck Quizmo (age 44)!
While he didn't get to appear 
this time...
it’s been confirmed that he 
had in fact been working on 
a new quiz show titled 
"Who’s the Honest One!?"!!
However, it appears that the 
show spent so long in the 
planning stages, it never 
actually came to fruition 
in the end.
We’ll be waiting eagerly for 
whatever Quizmo comes up 
with next!

     SECRET COOKING CORNER
If you cook a Point Swap 
with another item, 
you’ll be able to switch 
that item’s effect.
If you try it with a lousy 
item...
Hehe! You’ll have to see 
for yourself!





And now, this is definitely goodbye!
Thank you for sticking with us
‘til the very end!
Will we meet again? ...Maybe!
  • In all languages except for English, the final RDM email contains a special "secret" addendum that can be read by scrolling down long past the email's supposed end point. It contains a reference to Chuck Quizmo, the wandering quiz show host from the original game, and makes mention of the Point Swap's effect in recipes. Judging by the fact that the game's internal map list contains an orphaned entry for a Chuck Quizmo map, it can be assumed that Quizmo was going to make a reappearance in The Thousand-Year Door (hosting a slightly different type of quiz show from the one in Paper Mario), and that the content of the email is a sly allusion to this. It's unknown why this section was removed from the English version, but it's possible the translators just didn't catch it.


Japanese Literal Translation English Localization
Paper Mario
いわゆる ザコの中のザコ
キング・オブ・ザコって かんじ
・・・って オイラも クリボーだったっけ
Goombas seem like what you'd call
"small fries among small fries", or
"The King of the Small Fries".
...Wait, aren't I one of them?
Goombas are what you'd call
"small fries." Actually, they're
pretty much the smallest fries.
...Hey, wait! I'm one of 'em!
The Thousand-Year Door
『ザコの中のザコ キング・オブ・ザコ』って
この本に かかれているわ

・・・しつれいな話よね
It says in this book that Goombas
are "small fries among small fries,
the King of the Small Fries."

...What a rude remark, huh?
Ahem... It says here: "Goombas
are underlings of underlings."
...That is totally rude!
  • Goombella's "underlings of underlings" comment in her Goomba Tattle is a direct reference to what Goombario said about them in the previous game. This was lost in the English version, since the phrase was translated differently.


Japanese Translation
それいがいに これといった
とくちょうは ないわ
やっぱり ザコなのかしら・・・
Other than that, they have
no distinguishing characteristics.
Does that really make them "underlings", though...?
  • Additionally, she has an extra comment following the stats that was left out of the English version. This in turn would be brought up by Tippi in Super Paper Mario (along with the saying above, which yet again got translated into something else).

Glitches

Many glitches that were found in the Japanese version were fixed in the international versions.

Frankie's Ring Doesn't Despawn

In the Japanese version, if Frankie's trouble is cancelled while the ring is currently spawned, it will not be despawned. If another trouble is taken and then the ring is collected, the ring will set a flag that is used by other troubles. This allows some troubles to be progressed simply by collecting the ring.

Vivian Softlock

In the Japanese version, while in the ground with Vivian you are able to open the pause menu at any time, even when in a cutscene. If you do this during Vivian's tutorial, the game will softlock after the tutorial.

Clipping through doors with Bobbery

In the Japanese version, by flipping into Paper mode with R while activating Bobbery's ability with X and then pressing A to open a door as soon as he explodes, you can clip outside the door.

Bubble Room Freeze

In the Japanese version, it's possible for the game to actually freeze in the Bubble Room when blowing most/all of the 101 Punies over. This can be avoided by allowing the Punies to exit the bubbles before going to the right side of the area by the pipe.

Minor League Room Freeze

In the Japanese version, breaking the large yellow block in the Minor League room with the Super Hammer can sometimes crash the game. This can be avoided by charging up a full hammer spin before releasing it, as opposed to releasing the spin immediately.

Sort Glitch

In the Japanese version, the pause menu allows you to sort a list while closing the menu at the same time, which will cause the game to think you are still in the sort menu the next time you open the menu, but the normal cursor will still be available to use (although invisible). This allows you to sort any of those categories within the start menu every time the A button is pressed.

Storage Room Glitch

In the Japanese version, it is possible to clip out of bounds in the Storage Room in Glitzville.

Invisible Shadow Queen Hands

In the Japanese version of the game, the Shadow Queen’s hands sometimes fail to appear. This can occur in both phases of the fight. This is purely a graphical bug, so the hands still function as normal.

Partner/Follower Physics Glitch

In the Japanese version, some function(s) that normally reset value(s) relating to partners don't work correctly, which leads to partners doing buggy things such as moon jumps and glitching out when Mario goes up and down stairs.

Partners Missing Animations When Upgrading

In the Japanese version, when upgrading partners and a partner is chosen that is not currently out (so the game has to manually bring them out before continuing), all of the animations that the partner does during the cutscene will fail to play.

Localization Name Changes

This game features many localization name changes, including puns & references. Some notable name changes include:

English Version

  • One of the Toads at Petalburg says he likes playing Fire Emblem on his GBA. In all other versions, he instead says that he likes playing Super Mario Bros. on his Famicom/NES.
  • Question #1 of the Thwomp quiz in Shhwonk's Fortress has "Pickle Stone" as the fourth option in the English version. In all other versions, the fourth option of this question is "Luigi's underwear".
  • Question #2 of the Thwomp quiz in Shhwonk's Fortress asks for the price of a Mr. Softener and a Fire Flower in the English version as opposed to the price of a Mushroom and a Fire Flower in all other versions. However, in the English Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door demo in GameCube Demo Disc Version 18, this question asked for the price of a Mushroom and a Fire Flower like in the other versions.

Spanish Version

  • Chapter 3's title name "Of Glitz & Glory" was changed to "El Rey de Los Luchadores" which translates to "The King of Fighters", a reference to The King of Fighters series.
  • Rawk Hawk's name was changed to Hawk Hogan, a reference to the famous WWF wrestler Hulk Hogan.
  • After defeating The Koopinator, Rawk Hawk says "The weaklings should stay home playing Super Smash Bros. Melee!". In all other versions of the game, "Super Smash Bros. Melee" is simply replaced with "video games".

German Version

  • Chapter 7's Fahr Outpost is called Großfrostheim, a pun on Großostheim, the former residence of Nintendo of Europe, and "frost".

Italian Version

  • The two lovers, Frankie and Franchesca, are called Giuliano and Romoletta, a reference to Romeo and Juliet.

French Version

  • Vanna T. is referenced instead of Chuck Quizmo in the hidden part of the final RDM e-mail removed from the English version.


(Source: A special thanks to Zephiles for a majority of this page.)