Shy Guy's Toy Box
Shy Guy's Toy Box is the home of the Shy Guys and the location of the fourth Star Spirit, Muskular in Paper Mario. It is found in an empty house in southwestern Toad Town. It is the base for General Guy's army. After Chapter 3 is cleared, Mario finds Shy Guys causing mayhem in Toad Town, and is hinted by Twink to search it for his next Star Spirit. To find the toy box, the player must use Lady Bow in the empty house to become invisible, and then a Shy Guy will uncover a secret wall, revealing the entrance to Mario. Shy Guy's Toy Box makes up most of Chapter 4, where Mario shuttles between the Toy Box and Toad Town, solving puzzles and making progress. Watt lives here and after Mario, Goombario, Kooper, Bombette, Parakarry and Lady Bow defeat the Big Lantern Ghost, she joins their team. The Toy Box consists of several miniature areas linked by a circular railroad. Characters shrink upon entering the toy box and return to normal upon exit. It is, however, possible to throw a Toy Train into the miniature box, which will then become a normal-sized, functioning train for the characters inside it.
Areas
Shy Guy's Toy Box consists of four areas that link to each other via train stations. Each station is associated with a color (blue, pink, green, red in the order they're visited) and has a Save Block and a map signboard. Hidden blocks can be found all over the toy box. Toad workers can be found at each train station. There is no train initially.
Blue Station area
The area with the Blue Station serves as the entrance/exit of the Toy Box. When Mario enters the Toy Box via the Springboard outside it, he will become small and land on the Springboard in the clearing in front of the Blue Station. Mario can use the latter springboard to get out of the toy box and return to normal size.
To the left of the Blue Station is a hallway to a playground. A yellow Shy Guy and a Groove Guy can be found on the hallway, as well as an Anti Guy guarding a chest containing one of the Power Plus badges available in the game. Mario can fight the Anti Guy or bribe him with a Lemon Candy to get the badge. The playground on the far left is inhabited by Shy Guys of various colors that hold items including the Calculator, Cake Mixes, Mushrooms and Fire Flowers. They will drop the item they hold after defeated by Mario.
To the right of the Blue Station is a hallway with jack-in-the-boxes to get over large objects. Then comes some buildings to climb to get over a wall. At the end of the hallway is a treasure chest containing the Storeroom Key and guarded by either a Goomba, a Clubba or "guarded" by a Mushroom item depending on Princess Peach's choice at the end of Chapter 3. By returning the Storeroom Key to Harry, Mario will be able to get the Toy Train in his storeroom, which can bring the train system to life when thrown straight into the toy box for a relative large size.
Pink Station area
After the Toy Train is put to work, Mario can only stop at the Pink Station in Chapter 4. A treasure chest holding the Mailbag can be found near the station; Mario can optionally return the Mailbag to the Toad Town Post Office for a reward.
The area to the left of the Pink Station is blocked by Gourmet Guy, so Mario can only go right at first. There are treasure chests containing the Defend Plus and the Ice Power badges on the way, and Mario has to use Jack-in-the-boxes and the rotatable doors to proceed. At the end of the area is a treasure chest containing the Frying Pan, guarded by either a Fuzzy, a Hammer Bro or "guarded" by a Thunder Rage item. After Mario returns the pan to Tayce T. of Toad Town, the cook will make a Cake for Mario, which is Gourmet Guy's favorite food. (Additional Cakes can be made from Cake Mixes held by Shy Guys in the Blue Station area playground, after the pan is returned.)
After Gourmet Guy is given a cake, he will drop a Cookbook and go away, allowing Mario to go to the back side of the area to the left of the station. By going back in the same direction, Mario can find a lever and use it to fix the train track. This allows Mario to go to the Green Station.
Green Station area
The Green Station area can be cleared by hitting the four boxes near the station in the correct order. The player can go to the area to the right of the station to learn it, or if they know the sequence they can do it directly. The area to the right has some conveyor belt and nets which Mario must use Lady Bow's Outta Sight to pass through. One of the enemies in this area, a yellow Shy Guy, holds the Mystery Note and Russ T. of Toad Town can decipher it. However, his Dictionary is stolen. Mario must get the Dictionary from the treasure chest at the end of this area, which is guarded by either a Pokey, a Koopatrol or a Super Soda item.
Russ T., equipped with the Dictionary, will translate the note which reveals the order: yellow, green, red, then blue. Hitting the boxes near the train station in this order (2nd, 1st, 3rd, 4th from left to right) causes the boxes to explode and the train track fixed, which allows Mario to get to the final area: the Red Station.
There is a slot machine in the area to the right of the Green Station, which Mario can play for free. It has three slots which can be a coin, a star (denoting Mushrooms) or a Shy Guy panel. Getting all three slots the same gives Mario 10 Coins, 10 Mushrooms or 5 Shy Guys depending on the panel type. Getting two the same gives Mario 1 coin, 1 Mushroom or 2 Shy Guys. Getting all the three different gives Mario nothing. The slot machine can also be used during a battle if one takes place near it. There is no area to the left of the station.
Red Station area
The Red Station area is where two boss fights occur. There is a Heart Block near the Save Block by the station. The area to the left is where the Big Lantern Ghost is. Mario must first pass through a chunk with elevators and a Super Block. There is also a Deep Focus badge in a hidden block. Then there's a dark room where the Big Lantern Ghost is. After defeating the ghost, Mario frees Watt and she joins Mario's party. In the area to the right of the station, Mario must first use Bombette to blow up a toy wall, which causes a herd of Shy Guys to flee. After arriving at the lair of these Shy Guys, which is also dark, Mario uses Watt to light up the room, which causes the Shy Guys to break the wall to General Guy's room. Defeating General Guy sets the fourth Star Spirit Muskular free and ends Chapter 4. It is possible to go from the Red Station to the Blue Station, but Mario must pull another switch to make the whole track unobstructed.
? Blocks and hidden blocks containing items and coins can be found all over the toy box. There are 7 Star Pieces in total. Four are found underground in front of stations, two are found near buildings to the right of the blue station, and the other one is located under the final platform with the Dictionary in the Green Station.
Characters found
| Character | Description | Goombario's Tattle |
|---|---|---|
 Toad workers |
Toad workers found in front of train stations: For each station, there is a Toad worker in black uniforms and whose spots match the color of the station. There is also a single yellow-spotted Toad running the train. |
|
 Anti Guy |
The black Shy Guy guarding the chest holding a Power Plus badge in the area to the left of the Blue Station. |
|
 Gourmet Guy |
The food-loving Shy Guy blocking the way in the left of the Pink Station. Mario has to give him a Cake to move him. |
|
 Watt in the lantern |
The lantern dropped by the Big Lantern Ghost after he is defeated. Mario hammers the lantern and saves a Li'l Sparky named Watt, who then joins Mario's party. |
|
Enemies found
- For enemy formations in Shy Guy's Toy Box, see here.
Shy Guy (pink)
Shy Guy (yellow)
Shy Guy (green)
Shy Guy (cyan)
Shy Guy (red)
Anti Guy (optional boss; only 1)
Big Lantern Ghost (boss)
General Guy (Chapter 4 Boss)
Shy Squad (Chapter 4 Boss)
Stilt Guy (Chapter 4 Boss)
Shy Stack (Chapter 4 Boss)
Enemies assigned to guard Treasure Chests
They are available through Princess Peach's answers to Bowser's question in Chapter 3.
Goomba (Blue Station area)
Clubba × 2 (Blue Station area)
Fuzzy × 4 (Pink Station area)
Hammer Bro (Pink Station area)
Pokey × 2 (Green Station area)
Koopatrol × 2 (Green Station area)
Items found
| Item | Icon | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Star Piece | 
|
Under a hidden panel in front of the Blue Station. |
| Behind a regular hexagonal prism one scene east of the Blue Station. | ||
| On the roof of the first "building" one scene east of the Blue Station. | ||
| Under a hidden panel in front of the Pink Station. | ||
| Under a hidden panel in front of the Green Station. | ||
| Below the platform at the very east of the Green Station area. | ||
| Under a hidden panel in front of the Red Station. | ||
| Power Plus | 
|
In a treasure chest guarded by an Anti Guy in the Blue Station area. Mario can fight him or bribe him with a Lemon Candy to get it. |
| Calculator | 
|
Held by a Shy Guy in the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| Storeroom Key | 
|
In a treasure chest in the very east of the Blue Station area. |
| Mailbag | 
|
In the treasure chest to the east of the Pink Station. |
| Cookbook | 
|
Dropped by Gourmet Guy after giving him a Cake in the Pink Station area. |
| Defend Plus | 
|
In a treasure chest on the high platform in the northwestern corner of the east scene in the Pink Station area. |
| Ice Power | 
|
In a treasure chest at the east of the Pink Station area. |
| Frying Pan | 
|
In a treasure chest in the east corner of the Pink Station area. |
| Mystery Note | 
|
Held by a Shy Guy in the Green Station area. |
| Dictionary | 
|
In a treasure chest on the platform at the very east of the Green Station area. |
| Deep Focus | 
|
In a hidden block between the two ? blocks in the west of the Red Station area. |
| Stone Cap | 
|
In a hidden block in the northeastern corner of the Blue Station area. |
| Maple Syrup | 
|
In a hidden block in the northeastern area of the scene to the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| Fire Flower | 
|
Held by a Shy Guy in the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| In a hidden block at the northeastern area of the Green Station scene. | ||
| Mushroom | 
|
Held by a Shy Guy in the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| Cake Mix | 
|
Held by a Shy Guy in the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| Held by another Shy Guy in the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. | ||
| Fright Jar | 
|
In a hidden block in the north area of the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| Mystery? | 
|
In a hidden block in the north area of the playground in the west of the Blue Station area. |
| Thunder Bolt | 
|
In a ? block in the very east of the Blue Station area. |
| Super Soda | 
|
In a hidden block in the northwestern corner of the Gourmet Guy scene in the west of the Pink Station area. |
| Dizzy Dial | 
|
In the hidden block between the two ? blocks in the Gourmet Guy scene in the west of the Pink Station area. |
| Thunder Rage | 
|
In a hidden block near the Pink Station lever. |
| Super Shroom | 
|
In a hidden block at the northwestern area of the Red Station scene. |
| Volt Shroom | 
|
In a hidden block at the northeastern corner of the west scene in the Red Station area. |
| Snowman Doll | 
|
In a hidden block at the northwestern corner of the west scene in the Red Station area. |
| Shooting Star | 
|
On a high brick one scene east to the Red Station area (can be gotten by hitting a hidden coin block then tossing Kooper on it, or executing a Tornado Jump). |
| Sleepy Sheep | 
|
In a ? Block in the northwestern area of the scene to the east of the Red Station scene. |
In addition, Mushrooms can be obtained from the slot machine in the Green Station area, and the following items are available as Peach's choices:
| Item | Icon | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mushroom |
|
Will appear in front of the Storeroom Key chest in the Blue Station area. |
| Thunder Rage |
|
Will appear in front of the Frying Pan chest in the Pink Station area. |
| Super Soda |
|
Will appear in front of the Dictionary chest in the Green Station area. |
Hidden ? blocks
There are thirteen hidden ? blocks in Shy Guy's Toy Box.
| Item | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
Stone Cap |
By the Blue Station, the hidden ? Block is slightly east of the station itself. | 
|
Maple Syrup |
One screen west of the Blue Station, the hidden ? Block is three tiles east of the large toy block. | 
|
Mystery? |
Two screens west of the Blue Station, at the Shy Guy Playground, the hidden ? Block is two beige tiles southwest of the large jack-in-the-box in the north. | 
|
Fright Jar |
In the same area, the hidden ? Block is two tiles south of the large jack-in-the-box, slightly east of the last hidden block. | 
|
Super Soda |
Two screens west of the Pink Station, past the gate where Gourmet Guy sits going northwest, the hidden ? Block is at the beige tile west of the large toy block. | 
|
Dizzy Dial |
In the same area, in the northern path going east, the hidden ? Block in the center of the gap between the two visible ? Blocks, at the beige tile. | 
|
Thunder Rage |
From the same area, going two screens east to the northwestern region of the Pink Station, the hidden ? Block is at the beige tile northeast of the pink switch. | 
|
Fire Flower |
By the Green Station, the hidden ? Block is three tiles north of the eastern passageway, on the northern corners. | 
|
Super Shroom |
By the Red Station, the hidden ? Block is five tiles west of the Red Station itself, in line with the Save and Heart Blocks in the east. | 
|
Volt Shroom |
One screen west of the Red Station, the hidden ? Block is to the east of the first brown block near the passageway. | 
|
Deep Focus Badge |
In the same area, going west by taking the elevator and Ferris wheel into the shaded region, the hidden ? Block is in the gap between to the two visible blocks. | 
|
Snowman Doll |
Also in the same area, the hidden ? Block is all the way to the west, between the last brown block and the passageway to Big Lantern Ghost's room. | 
|
| 1 Coin | In the area east of the Red Station, past the block wall, this hidden ? Block is two blocks east of the large green block. | 
|
Area Tattles
- "Say...are we actually inside the Toy Box right now? How could all this be inside that little box? Best not to think about it too much... Looks like this is Blue Station. It's a train station. I think if we use that jump pad we can get back to Toad Town whenever we want."
- "I wonder who made this Toy Box. I assume Shy Guys made it. They have such cool toys... I wish I could befriend 'em, but I guess they're too mischievous."
- "This seems to be a playroom for Shy Guys. They don't have to answer to anybody down here. I envy these guys..."
- "Look at all the doodles on the walls! Did Shy Guys draw all these? They're kind of cute. I didn't know that Shy Guys had a cute side."
- "Pink Station! Pink Station! There's the switch to change the tracks. I have to admit, this Toy Box is a pretty cool place. If I told Goombaria about this, I'm sure she would be so jealous."
- "Over, around, up and back... It's like a maze in here. Still, since we're inside a Toy Box, I'm enjoying myself."
- "The walls here are so fancy and fun to look at. What a cool place!"
- "Look! There are moving panels on the walls and even a railroad crossing. What a fun room! I wish I could play here!"
- "Hey, it's Green Station! This train takes us to all the stations. Boy, if we could go anywhere by just pushing a button, traveling would be a dream, don't you think?"
- "Somebody told me... Bow can easily avoid all kinds of enemy attacks. What a cool skill! I wish I had that kind of useful talent."
- "It's Red Station. First Blue, then Pink, then Green and finally Red. It's a pretty cute touch, naming stations after colors. By the looks of this place, I'd say that Shy Guys like cuteness. They even look like cute kids!"
- "The walls here are made of gigantic colored blocks. Luckily, there also seem to be several elevators. What do you think we'll see if we ride them? I say we find out."
- "Uh... I do believe it's dark. Isn't there a light switch in this place? I can't see anything at all."
- "Wow! Just like a real toy box. Look! There are building blocks lying around everywhere."
- "It's really dark in here. I can't see a thing. I feel like somebody could be right next to me and I wouldn't even know it. Yikes!"
- "This is quite an open space. It kind of resembles a toy arena, don't you think? Remember those Shy Guys we fought here? They were tough. Of course, they weren't as tough as us."
In-game map description
- There are Shy Guys inside. It's their hideout and base.
- After Chapter 4
- Shy Guys are inside the box. It's their hideout and base. A Star Spirit was held here by Bowser's General Guy.
Gallery
Shy Guy's Toy Box from the outside
Watt after she is freed
A Star Piece in the Blue Station area
A Star Piece in the Blue Station area
A Star Piece in the Pink Station area
A Star Piece in the Green Station area
A Star Piece in the Green Station area
A Star Piece in the Red Station area
The Super Block in the toy box
The Shy Squad flees after losing many members
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヘイホーのおもちゃばこ[?] Heihō no Omochabako |
Shy Guy's Toy Box (Heihō is the Shy Guy's Japanese name). | |
| Chinese | 嘿虎的玩具盒[?] Hēihǔ de Wánjùhé |
Shy Guy's Toy Box | |
| German | Shy Guys Spielzeugkiste[?] | - | |
| Spanish | Caja de Juguetes de Shy Guy[?] | - |
Trivia
- In the room full of item-carrying Shy Guys, if a Shy Guy other than the one holding the Calculator is defeated and the player leaves and re-enters the room, the Calculator will be laying on the ground.
- A texture commonly seen on the walls within Shy Guy's Toy Box goes can be found within the data for Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, but goes unused.[1]
