Rumpel (Doopliss) : le fantôme voleur d'identité

Rumpel (Doopliss): The Identity-Stealing Ghost

1134 mots | Temps de lecture : 5 minute(s)

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, a mischievous ghost takes appearance theft to the extreme by stealing Mario's body and name. This troublemaker is named Rumpel in French (Doopliss in the original English version).

As the Chapter 4 boss, he orchestrates one of the game's most memorable puzzles: to defeat this identity thief, you must first uncover his secret name.

Summary

A Duplighost Like No Other

Rumpel belongs to the Duplighost species, shroud-draped ghosts capable of imitating the appearance and combat techniques of their opponents. Other Duplighosts are encountered elsewhere in the adventure as simple enemies, but Rumpel is of a completely different caliber.

  • Where an ordinary Duplighost simply copies the appearance of a target for the duration of a battle, Rumpel pushes the power to its paroxysm.
  • He steals the victim's body, appearance, AND entire identity, to the point that even their loved ones no longer recognize them.
  • He is an excellent actor, an inveterate prankster, who takes mischievous pleasure in playing tricks through his metamorphoses.

Visually, this small white ghost sports red eyes and orange shoes, a blue bow, and a blue star-studded party hat—a jovial look that contrasts with his sneaky nature.

Chapter 4 Boss and the Cursed Bell

Rumpel makes his debut in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, released in 2004 on Nintendo GameCube, then re-released in a remake on Nintendo Switch in 2024. He remains one of the most striking adversaries.

The ghost has established his lair in the Creepy Steeple, a gloomy building nestled in the woods, just outside the village of Twilight Town, a hamlet plunged into perpetual night.

Its curse is as cruel as it is absurd: each time the enchanted bell of the church rings, a resident of Twilight Town turns into a pig. It is this sinister mystery that puts Mario on the trail of the steeple, where the Ruby Star, one of the Star Gems he must collect, awaits him.

Mario's Identity Theft

In the heart of the Creepy Steeple, the confrontation takes an unexpected turn: Rumpel accomplishes the unthinkable by stealing Mario's body to take his place and impersonate the hero.

  • The plumber finds himself reduced to a nameless black shadow, a mute silhouette that no one is able to recognize anymore.
  • His own partners are fooled by the deception and follow the fake Mario without suspecting a thing.
  • The player must then explore the premises as this anonymous shadow to find a way to turn the situation around.

This reversal, where the protagonist is literally erased from his own body, is one of the great plot twists of the scenario and one of the most commented moments of the entire game.

The Secret Name and the Rumpelstiltskin Nod

The only way to break Rumpel's magic is to guess his true name. As long as this name remains unknown, the ghost is invincible and keeps the stolen body.

In the church, a talkative parrot eventually lets out the ghost's name, but a letter is missing: the famous "P", hidden in the basement of the Creepy Steeple. It is therefore necessary to search the premises to complete the word.

Once the name "Rumpel" is reconstituted and pronounced, the magic dissipates and the ghost becomes vulnerable in combat. This plot device is no coincidence: the French name pays homage to Rumpelstiltskin, the fairy tale imp known in France as Nain Tracassin, who can only be defeated by guessing his name.

Entry into the Shadow Sirens

Defeated at the belfry, Rumpel does not leave the adventure entirely: he resurfaces later alongside Mario's enemies.

He joins the Shadow Sirens, the group of witches formed by Marilyn and Beldam, where he replaces Vivian after her defection to Mario's side.

True to his identity-thieving nature, he even usurps the appearance of Professor Goomstein to trick the hero and push him towards opening the Thousand-Year Door. From a simple Star guardian to a member of the witch trio, Rumpel establishes himself as one of the most cunning and endearing recurring antagonists of the title.

Doopliss (Rumpel) Fact Sheet

French Name (Europe) Rumpel
English Name Doopliss
Species Duplighost
Role Chapter 4 Boss
Original Game Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004, GameCube)
Remake Nintendo Switch (2024)
Lair Creepy Steeple, near Twilight Town
Group Joined Shadow Sirens (in Vivian's place)

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FAQ

  • Who is Doopliss in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door?
    Doopliss (Rumpel in French) is a Duplighost and the Chapter 4 boss. This mischievous ghost can steal the body, appearance, and identity of his targets, even Mario's.
  • Why is he called Rumpel in French?
    His European name is a nod to Rumpelstiltskin, the fairy tale imp who can only be defeated by guessing his name, just like in the game.
  • How do you get Mario's identity back from Doopliss?
    You need to discover the ghost's secret name. A parrot reveals part of it, but the letter P is hidden in the Creepy Steeple's basement. Once the name Doopliss (Rumpel) is completed, his magic breaks.
  • Where do you confront Doopliss?
    In the Creepy Steeple, a gloomy bell tower located in the woods near Twilight Town, which is shrouded in perpetual night. Its enchanted bell turns residents into pigs.
  • Does Doopliss join the Shadow Sirens?
    Yes. After his defeat, he joins the Shadow Sirens alongside Beldam and Marilyn, replacing Vivian, who rallies to Mario's side.
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