Review of: Paper Mario

Reviewer:         Amy Pistone

Title:               Paper Mario

System:           Nintendo 64

Genre:             RPG

            Hey guys! I thought for my first review I’d choose my personal favorite, Paper Mario. This game was so good that it yielded two sequels, but neither of them are as good as the original.  Even though Super Mario 64 is all “hey I’m three-dimensional and all that jazz”, Paper Mario is the true gem of the N64, and is all the more charming with its papery graphics. While the game certainly does have a few flaws (which will be addressed later), this game stands out to me as my favorite because of its addictive gameplay that has been missing in the latest Mario games. Bring back the RPGs, Nintendo! Paper Mario is truly a classic that can stand up to the test of time, as I still would rather play it today than some of the newer games (I’m looking at you, “Super” Paper Mario!) But that is something for another review… Alright, here’s the breakdown:

Oh no! Princess Peach has been kidnapped! Whatever will we do? *Yawn* Paper Mario starts off like any Mario game, and at this point, this underdeveloped storyline has gotten rather crusty. In this one, Bowser has stolen a Star Rod, making him unbeatable. Bowser utilizes the Star Rod to grow stronger, using the power of the stars to try and take over the world, as well as kidnap Princess Peach. In order to save her (and the Mushroom Kingdom), Mario must save the Seven Star Spirits to weaken the Star Rod and lessen Bowser’s power. Each Star Spirit is located in a different, unique world (kind of like levels), and along the way Mario gets the strength to eventually conquer Bowser. Overall, it is a pretty standard Mario storyline with very little “pep” or uniqueness. The one aspect of the storyline that is memorable is the character Twink, a young star who helps Peach and Mario along the game. Isn’t he so darn cute? As much as Twink is loveable and charismatic, this is not enough to make the storyline original, which is the game’s fatal flaw. Personally I would have liked to learn more about the star spirits as well as be introduced to a plot twist or two. The sad part is that Paper Mario’s storyline had the potential to be a refreshing and hearty buttery croissant but instead ended up as a piece of stale and moldy white bread.

Paper Mario is one of those rare Nintendo games that utilizes turn-based fighting, exploring, and puzzle solving all at once. Mario explores many different lands, which range from a cheerful toy box to a lush flower field. He encounters many obstacles throughout his quest, such as a mirror-maze type puzzle in the Ice Palace -intelligence and logic must be used to proceed. Most important, he must fight other enemies to advance in the game. Fighting in Paper Mario consists of turn-based attacks, a style that is not very common nowadays. Mario starts out with a very simplistic attack: jumping. It’s what Mario does best in all his games, right? Soon enough, however, he’ll get himself a hammer (a very un-spiffy wooden one…). Over time, he’ll also gain himself some buddies to assist in the fighting, all with varying special attacks like Bombette’s handy “Power Bomb”. Along with these, Mario can utilize items (such as the Fire Flower) and special powers (my favorite is the healing “Smooch”) as he moves on in the game. All of the basic moves will evolve, such as his hammer attacks as well as his friends’ attacks. As the game progresses, Mario will level up in strength, defense, and health. Timing plays a huge role in this game, as it can be the difference between death and a little bruise. This fighting style becomes addictive and engaging in a way that is inconceivable.  One complaint though – in the end (no spoilers, I promise), there is no way to save right after you have “completed” the game, so Mario cannot go and explore as well as finish side quests!

For a Nintendo 64 game, these graphics are incredible and crisp. Comparing it to today, yeah, the game is a little bit blurry and flat, but once you get into the game it becomes rather unnoticeable. Plus, the game is SUPPOSED to be flat. The style of graphics is somewhat ingenious, as it makes the game stand out. Everything is two dimensional, and it is as colorful as a candy store. Mario has cute little dots for eyes, and Twink is just the most adorable tiny star anyone’s ever seen. Overall, the game has a cartoony, retro vibe to it that can appeal to any player, even one who spends their time with graphic gods like Final Fantasy.

Paper Mario honestly is my favorite game out there. The storyline is the game’s downfall, as it is very flat (no pun intended) and unoriginal. However, the game makes up for this with its outstanding gameplay as well as eye-catching graphics. This game has true longevity, as I would still rather play this than most modern games. My Nintendo 64 has seen better days (well, it was a hand-me-down from my brother after all) and has become pretty much useless along with the controllers. Fear not, there is a solution! I highly suggest that anyone who wants to play Paper Mario, does so by downloading it via the Virtual Console. It saves to a memory disk or the hard drive of the Wii, so you’ll have it forever, and you can buy the snazzy controller that has better handling than ancient controllers anyway. Personally I found the Virtual Console to be a lifesaver in this regard, as now my Paper Mario game can be enjoyed in the years to come – and trust me, it will be!

Grade:            4/5. I deducted a point because I’m probably biased and the storyline IS really unoriginal. But everything else is amazing so still pick it up, because it can and has truly stood the test of time.