Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Switch Review

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a beloved entry in the Mario RPG series, originally released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. The game’s Switch remake preserves the essence of the classic, combining vibrant visuals, engaging storytelling, and a dynamic combat system. This review explores the game’s strengths, minor drawbacks, and overall impact on both new players and returning fans.

Key Features:

Release Date: May 23, 2024
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Role-playing, Adventure

1. Enhanced Visuals and Sound:
   • The game features revamped graphics that bring more detail and vibrancy to the paper-crafted world. Additionally, it includes a newly arranged soundtrack and an option to listen to both the new and original music in the game’s Art and Sound Galleries​.
2. Gameplay Additions:
   • New Bosses: The game introduces new bosses, such as Prince Mush and Whacka, offering fresh challenges for players.
   • Updated Mechanics: The battle system retains its turn-based nature but adds new strategic elements with badges that enhance Mario’s abilities and partner attacks.
   • Quality of Life Improvements: Features like an improved hint system and quick-travel pipes have been added to streamline the gameplay experience. There’s also a new ‘pipe room’ under Rogueport for faster navigation to previously visited areas.
3. Classic Paper Abilities:
   • Mario gains special paper-based abilities, like turning into a paper aeroplane or boat, which are crucial for solving puzzles and exploring the game’s diverse environments.
4. New Content:
   • The remake includes additional content such as new Tattle Log entries, recipes, and collectible trophies. Players can also revisit locations and uncover hidden secrets with the help of new fast-travel options.

Gameplay and Mechanics

At its core, “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” offers a turn-based combat system that stands out due to its interactive “action command” mechanic. This feature requires players to time their button presses to enhance attacks and defences, adding a layer of skill and engagement uncommon in traditional turn-based RPGs. The game also incorporates a badge system, allowing players to customise Mario’s abilities and strategies, enhancing replayability and depth.

Partners play a crucial role in both combat and exploration. Characters like Goombella, Koops, and Madame Flurrie each bring unique abilities that can be used to overcome obstacles and solve puzzles, providing a well-rounded and varied gameplay experience. The game’s design encourages players to switch between partners, ensuring that no character feels underutilised.

Visuals and Presentation

The Switch version of “The Thousand-Year Door” benefits from significant visual enhancements. The game’s unique art style, which mixes 2D and 3D elements, has been polished with cleaner sprites and more vibrant colours, making the world feel fresh and lively. The upgraded graphics enhance the visual appeal and bring a new level of detail to the environments and characters, enriching the overall experience.

The soundtrack complements the visual style, offering a dynamic range of music that enhances the mood and tone of the various settings and encounters throughout the game​.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite the positive reception, there are some criticisms. The game’s “Trouble Center,” which manages side quests, is considered relatively outdated. Players can only accept one quest at a time and must return to the Trouble Center to pick up another, which can be cumbersome and disrupt the flow of gameplay. Additionally, the lack of substantial new content or post-game challenges may disappoint long-time fans seeking fresh experiences.

Conclusion

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” on the Nintendo Switch is a masterful revival of a classic RPG, maintaining the original’s charm while enhancing it with modern visuals and minor quality-of-life improvements. The game’s engaging combat system, memorable characters, and humour make it a must-play for both newcomers and fans of the original. Despite some minor drawbacks, such as limited new content and outdated side quest mechanics, it stands out as a stellar RPG experience.

Overall Rating: 9/10

This remake reaffirms why “The Thousand-Year Door” is considered one of the best Mario RPGs. Its blend of humour, strategic depth, and engaging gameplay ensures that it remains a beloved entry in the Mario franchise. Whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or revisiting it, this game offers a timeless adventure that’s worth every moment.

For some different perspectives on this game, why not try Nintendo Official​, Super Mario Wiki​, Nintendo Life or​​ Pocket Tactics​.