Video Game RPG Review: Paper Mario
Dear Readers, I know I am late to the party, so to speak, as this game’s been out for quite a bit, but I just had to do a review. That and it’s one of two games I had access to on my Switch while in quarantine.
Paper Mario, for the uninitiated, is an interesting take on the Mario world, where just about everyone is a 2 Dimensional (2D) paper cut out. The plotline of the various renditions of the game vary, as is the “schtick” that each game introduces to make that particular rendition unique. The series also tends to poke fun at itself, sometimes breaking the fourth wall, to make the occasional joke, relating to their paper state. Lastly, the game is usually set up as an RPG where you get upgraded weapons and health as you progress in the game.
The newest rendition of this series is called Paper Mario: The Origami King. The premise is that an origami being has seized control of the Mushroom Kingdom. The Origami King begins transforming Bowser’s 2D minions into “folded soldiers” which are 3D origami versions (and sometimes oversized paper mache versions) of themselves.
As you may be able to tell, the “schtick” in this rendition is the idea of things being folded, particularly into other origami things.
An example of this revolves around the side-quest of saving toads (the little mushroom people) that have been affected by the Origami King or his minions. These toads can be crumpled up “wads of paper,” origami bugs, rolled up in a hole, etc…
The other unique feature of this game is the combat system which revolves around a literal wheel, specifically, a disk that has concentric rings that are then broken up into sections. The idea is that, using the rings and segments, one must “line up” the enemies on the disk, giving a bonus to damage from your attacks. This is done by rotating the concentric rings and sliding the segments, all with a limited number of moves and within a limited amount of time.
Attacks are based on range and weapon type, with long range being jumps with boots or “hurl hammers” or with a regular hammer, like so.
Additionally, you learn special attacks based on some story related fights/events (trying for no spoilers here!).
A word on the primary bosses (minor spoiler): they are absolutely hilarious. The primary area bosses are all paper related in their natures. For example, one is a stapler, another a scotch tape dispenser! And their dialogue is something else, funny to read.
All in all, I give this game a solid 10 out of 10. I’ve always been a fan of the Paper Mario franchise series but this one is easily my favorite so far. I highly recommend this game to anybody who is a fan of the Mario universe.
What do you think? Have you played any of the Paper Mario games, and did you like them? Let me know in the comment section below!
Until next time, Dear Readers…
