[2] This restriction was dubbed the "Mario mandate" by fans and critics and was controversial due to causing characters to lack uniqueness.
However, the 2024 remake of The Thousand-Year Door featured a purple Toad with a unique design, which seemed to contradict such a mandate and was cited as evidence that the restrictions could be loosening.
[4] Matt Casamassina of IGN notes that the main characters are "all fun to play for different reasons" and that the ease of moving between playable characters "is a plus since there are some well-designed puzzles that require you to use two or more of the heroes to continue forward.
Rawk Hawk is a boss based on Hulk Hogan who can be fought at the Glitz Pit.
[14] Count Bleck, originally known as Lord Blumiere, is the presumed main antagonist of Super Paper Mario, who seeks to use the Chaos Heart to destroy all dimensions.