So the original Paper Mario for the N64 was a masterpiece. It was followed up by an even greater masterpiece for the Gamecube with Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door. These were both traditional role playing games. With Super Paper Mario on the Wii they went with a very different approach and although the gameplay was more of a puzzle platformer, it was still an okay game. But then came Paper Mario Sticker Star for the 3ds, and Paper Mario Color Splash for the Wii U. These games were apparently supposed to be “experiments” to try and keep things fresh, but they got rid of everything that made Paper Mario games good in the first place. Stickers and paint were consumable items but the game threw them at you constantly making it pointless that they were even disposable ... MoreSo the original Paper Mario for the N64 was a masterpiece. It was followed up by an even greater masterpiece for the Gamecube with Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door. These were both traditional role playing games. With Super Paper Mario on the Wii they went with a very different approach and although the gameplay was more of a puzzle platformer, it was still an okay game. But then came Paper Mario Sticker Star for the 3ds, and Paper Mario Color Splash for the Wii U. These games were apparently supposed to be “experiments” to try and keep things fresh, but they got rid of everything that made Paper Mario games good in the first place. Stickers and paint were consumable items but the game threw them at you constantly making it pointless that they were even disposable in the first place. There was absolutely no reason to battle because you got no experience points for fighting, defeating the entire purpose of an RPG. Sadly, The Origami King continues this now sad tradition of dumbing the game down so a wider audience of little kids can play it without needing any skill. Battles are still pointless, and only offer coins and confetti as a reward. You can get coins and confetti just from exploring the overworld so there is literally no reason to battle. If you do decide to battle, it’s tedious and unrewarding. The graphics are good as to be expected and the dialogue is well written. The game does a lot of things right. But there’s simply no incentive to play it when it’s this mind-numbingly dumbed down. You will never die. You’ll never run out of coins. And if you somehow are bad enough to actually need help, you can spend a few coins and the game practically hands you the answers. The game isn’t even listed as an RPG on the eshop, it’s listed as an action/adventure. If you want some cheeky dialogue and something pretty to look at, it’ll pass some time. But don’t go in expecting an actual Paper Mario game.

Addicting and Challenging

I was never really a fan of playing games until I got my Nintendo Switch about two years ago. I have bought several games where I can just relax and not think about what I need to do to "win". Not so long ago, I started playing Super Mario Deluxe and it was so fun that I decided to buy another Mario game. I decided to buy Paper Mario because of the videos that I have watched. I made the right decision in getting this game because it is so fun and very addicting. There are many mini-games within the game where you can defeat a lot of enemies and earn coins and health points. There are times when I feel frustrated because I do not know how to solve the puzzles, but I think that is what makes the game not boring because you encounter different enemies solving slightly ... MoreI was never really a fan of playing games until I got my Nintendo Switch about two years ago. I have bought several games where I can just relax and not think about what I need to do to "win". Not so long ago, I started playing Super Mario Deluxe and it was so fun that I decided to buy another Mario game. I decided to buy Paper Mario because of the videos that I have watched. I made the right decision in getting this game because it is so fun and very addicting. There are many mini-games within the game where you can defeat a lot of enemies and earn coins and health points. There are times when I feel frustrated because I do not know how to solve the puzzles, but I think that is what makes the game not boring because you encounter different enemies solving slightly simliar puzzles, using different weapons. I would highly recommend playing this game, that is if you don't have school work. I started playing this game last week and I haven't been sleeping well because I just cannot put the game down. I must defeat the bad guys!

Hannah's review of Paper Mario

Pros: I enjoyed playing this game. The sound and visuals were beautiful throughout the game and I found the story highly entertaining. I also liked the backtracking you could do (both out of necessity and want) because it added length to the gameplay, which is something I'm always looking for in the longevity of a game. Finding all the toads was a fun addition as well, and appealed to the completionist in me. Overall, this Paper Mario adventure was a very good game and I will play it again at some point!Cons: As many other reviewers have said, the new battle system was a bit tedious (and stressful during boss battles in the early stages!) especially once you've encountered the same enemies many, many times. Luckily, once Mario is stronger he can defeat the weaker ... MorePros: I enjoyed playing this game. The sound and visuals were beautiful throughout the game and I found the story highly entertaining. I also liked the backtracking you could do (both out of necessity and want) because it added length to the gameplay, which is something I'm always looking for in the longevity of a game. Finding all the toads was a fun addition as well, and appealed to the completionist in me. Overall, this Paper Mario adventure was a very good game and I will play it again at some point!Cons: As many other reviewers have said, the new battle system was a bit tedious (and stressful during boss battles in the early stages!) especially once you've encountered the same enemies many, many times. Luckily, once Mario is stronger he can defeat the weaker enemies without going into the battle system. It would be useful for Nintendo to have a function for this feature to be enabled/disabled as I found it engaging at first (reminiscent of Pokemon, which was a huge part of my childhood) but it did become frustrating at times when you just want to get going with the story.

Huge disappointment

(TL;DR): there is almost nothing satisfying about this game and I am only playing it to the end because I bought it for myself, it was expensive, and I'm not a quitter. Having played the N64 game (paper Mario) at least 3 times (it was so fun) I wanted to give this a go. I expected similar game play, story, mini quests and battling bosses, leveling up after beating bosses, and so on. just with better graphics and updated controls. But it's so bland and annoying to play. You get one "partner," an adorable origami character named Olivia. but she doesn't fight alongside you. She just talks a lot and sometimes prevents you from walking backwards on a path if you're "supposed to" find something in your current scene. she does come in handy in some boss battles and in ... More(TL;DR): there is almost nothing satisfying about this game and I am only playing it to the end because I bought it for myself, it was expensive, and I'm not a quitter. Having played the N64 game (paper Mario) at least 3 times (it was so fun) I wanted to give this a go. I expected similar game play, story, mini quests and battling bosses, leveling up after beating bosses, and so on. just with better graphics and updated controls. But it's so bland and annoying to play. You get one "partner," an adorable origami character named Olivia. but she doesn't fight alongside you. She just talks a lot and sometimes prevents you from walking backwards on a path if you're "supposed to" find something in your current scene. she does come in handy in some boss battles and in certain parts of the map where you have to use "magic circles" you need her for. The whole map is filled with "not so bottomless holes" which you have to throw confetti on until they are sealed. (if it's in the ground and still a hole, you can fall in and suffer damage.) Filling a hole earns you some coins. You can only hold so much confetti. you get confetti from hitting trees, bushes etc with your hammer, or by beating your enemies in battles. But the only other real reward for battles is coins. On to the battles and bosses. So as someone said first, your attacks mostly just consist of pressing A. You fight solo, so all you pick is a weapon (different varieties of boots or hammers) or an item (very little variety). The whole battle layout is annoying especially for bosses who can make it almost impossible for you to attack them, or even increase their own HP if you can't solve the maze fast enough on your turn. the boss battles will just drag on and on forever, both parties able to increase HP anytime, I eventually just turn the game off mid battle because it is just pointless, frustrating and unrewarding. There is no level up system in this game when you beat a boss. instead your "confetti capacity" increases. So you can cover up more holes with confetti and collect more coins. Besides more boots, hammers or limited items, there's not much to buy. this makes the coins a very weak incentive. I recently purchased this game and it's been a time suck, as I expected (again, I played the 64 version multiple times- I know the game is long) but the actual game has only been enjoyable a very small percentage of the time. Much of the game is just absolute nonsense and frustration. There is always a pointless, boring battle. Finding a treasure chest is no longer exciting because they only contain "collectible" items that serve no purpose. Some chapters' riddles are so ridiculously hard that I, an adult, resorted to using game cheats on occasion, a last resort just to move on in the game. I don't understand how a child is supposed to get through this game without cheating. Overall, very very disappointed with this game. End rant.

It's just. Such a good game.

I'd never played a Paper Mario title before this but got inspired to try after seeing the release trailer for this same coupled with the quick-to-praise post-release reviews. I've watched Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door speedruns done on GDQ for a few years which made the series look fun and compelling story-wise, but I was delighted to find that the gameplay is so enjoyable as well. The entire region and environments are bright and colorful, full of imagination and crafts. I previously played Yoshi's Crafted World and adored it, so anyone who played that will likely love this for the same aesthetic. I really can't praise it enough.

John's review of Paper Mario

Pros: Like all Mario games, this is colourful and fun. Whilst it has yet to attain the RPG heights of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (a tough title to beat), it is so far very enjoyable and silly. Just what you expect from a Paper Mario game. The battle system is unique, if a little repetitive at times. The boss battles are probably the most challenging as they require a bit more thought. The story is suitably daft (Peach's castle abducted and surrounded in paper streamers whilst most of the Mushroom kingdom's residents have been turned into origami figures), and the dialogue very funny at times. Hunting for toads is amusing, and the Theme Park Shogun town has been a highlight for me thus far.I'm only about a third of the way through the game, but so far it is ... MorePros: Like all Mario games, this is colourful and fun. Whilst it has yet to attain the RPG heights of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (a tough title to beat), it is so far very enjoyable and silly. Just what you expect from a Paper Mario game. The battle system is unique, if a little repetitive at times. The boss battles are probably the most challenging as they require a bit more thought. The story is suitably daft (Peach's castle abducted and surrounded in paper streamers whilst most of the Mushroom kingdom's residents have been turned into origami figures), and the dialogue very funny at times. Hunting for toads is amusing, and the Theme Park Shogun town has been a highlight for me thus far.I'm only about a third of the way through the game, but so far it is a fun colourful distraction from all the doom and gloom in the real world.Cons: The battle system is a little too repetitive and so far there is not enough variation in enemies, attack options and attack styles.It is a shame that the various buddy characters I've met on the journey are not utilised in an effective way, especially during battles (you have no control over what they do). Again, Paper Mario Thousand Year Door still rules the roost in the series, but Origami King is a solid effort and a lot more enjoyable than Super Paper Mario or Paper Mario Colour Splash.

Love the Paper Mario games. They can be very tricky, in a good way!

This game is no exception to the tricky rule of Paper Mario games. They test your skills in battle with strategic ways of defeating enemies. The story line is pretty good too, interesting take on the word "Paper" was definitely expecting an Origami game eventually haha. Anyway, good game thank you seller for allowing me to add this to my ever-growing Switch collection!

Still not Paper Mario (Digital Review)

If you're wondering if it's time to get back into the Paper Mario series on this game... i would say no.However, if you decide to bite the bullet and buy it, you wont be dissapointed. The old wacky humor is back, but the thing that got this 3 stars for me, is the battle system. Series fans, i can feel the eye rolls... and it indeed is not surprising. Once again, Nintendo is trying another battle gimmick with rotating line up puzzles. Yes, finally the stickers are gone... In exchange for durability. Wait, don't groan yet! You still have your base weapons to fall back on! Not as effective, mind you.And you can always pay off your audience to help you. Yep, make it rain, and the toads (you have to rescue) will do half your job for you. They even shout out helpful ... MoreIf you're wondering if it's time to get back into the Paper Mario series on this game... i would say no.However, if you decide to bite the bullet and buy it, you wont be dissapointed. The old wacky humor is back, but the thing that got this 3 stars for me, is the battle system. Series fans, i can feel the eye rolls... and it indeed is not surprising. Once again, Nintendo is trying another battle gimmick with rotating line up puzzles. Yes, finally the stickers are gone... In exchange for durability. Wait, don't groan yet! You still have your base weapons to fall back on! Not as effective, mind you.And you can always pay off your audience to help you. Yep, make it rain, and the toads (you have to rescue) will do half your job for you. They even shout out helpful hints....Also, once again, there's a floating Navi with you and she's mostly comic relief. She does give you hints on where to go, but they're too obscure to make any sense. So if your stuck, be prepared for a vauge hint.All in all though, it's a good buy. -looks at Nintendo- Still not what we want though.

Superb - an absolute joy

This latest instalment in the Paper Mario series from Nintendo is, honestly, an absolute joy. It's cute, it's entertaining, it's beautifully put together, and it's incredibly well thought out. Like the other games in the Paper Mario series, this is a funny and often self-deprecating take on the Super Mario universe - it's chock full of in-jokes and it takes every opportunity to poke fun both at itself and at the standard Mario tropes that players will be familiar with. The origami theme is exceptionally well realised and makes this game a unique and memorable entry in the series. It's clear that a lot of love and care went into the production of this game, and this really shines through in both the story and in the variety and scale of the locations you get to play ... MoreThis latest instalment in the Paper Mario series from Nintendo is, honestly, an absolute joy. It's cute, it's entertaining, it's beautifully put together, and it's incredibly well thought out. Like the other games in the Paper Mario series, this is a funny and often self-deprecating take on the Super Mario universe - it's chock full of in-jokes and it takes every opportunity to poke fun both at itself and at the standard Mario tropes that players will be familiar with. The origami theme is exceptionally well realised and makes this game a unique and memorable entry in the series. It's clear that a lot of love and care went into the production of this game, and this really shines through in both the story and in the variety and scale of the locations you get to play through. There's a brand new battle mechanic, and while this can become a little samey when fighting regular enemies, it comes into its own during the various boss fights and poses a decent challenge. Overall, there's really something for everyone here - from casual Mario fans to serious completionists who won't rest until they've found every trophy and secret item. A genuine delight.

Tedious ring-style battles

I picked up this game from the store yesterday. I didn’t realize it wasn’t released yet and neither did the cashier so I was able to purchase it.I have played and completed all the paper mario games and really enjoyed them. I do not like this one. The “ring style” battle mode is not enjoyable for me. Especially at the big bosses. Not only is it a puzzle, but you have to solve said puzzle while the clock ticks down.I found myself avoiding battling goombas and koopa troopas, when normally I would go for the points and coins. Unfortunately you can’t bypass the main boss fights.My point for this review is- wait a week or two before spending $50-60 on this game until more videos of in-game play are online to watch. This game might not appeal to all Mario fans.The ... MoreI picked up this game from the store yesterday. I didn’t realize it wasn’t released yet and neither did the cashier so I was able to purchase it.I have played and completed all the paper mario games and really enjoyed them. I do not like this one. The “ring style” battle mode is not enjoyable for me. Especially at the big bosses. Not only is it a puzzle, but you have to solve said puzzle while the clock ticks down.I found myself avoiding battling goombas and koopa troopas, when normally I would go for the points and coins. Unfortunately you can’t bypass the main boss fights.My point for this review is- wait a week or two before spending $50-60 on this game until more videos of in-game play are online to watch. This game might not appeal to all Mario fans.The rest of the game is great. I like the characters and animation. It’s a pretty standard game where Mario gets a small sidekick who can pop up and give guidance as you go. I just wish I had a choice to avoid the ring battles.