Review of: Paper Mario 2

Reviewer:         Amy Pistone

Title:               Paper Mario 2: The Thousand Year-Old Door

System:           Gamecube

Genre:             RPG

            Paper Mario 2 took a great concept and went wild with it, bringing depth and creativity to an already amazing title. While the original had its strong points (Twink!), Paper Mario 2 is a standout of the Gamecube generation as well as the Mario series in general.

            The graphics in Paper Mario are phenomenal. Settings are innovative and interesting, like the original, but this sequel uses graphics to create mood and effects that were not present in the original. Boggly Woods, for instance, is a dark, twilight of a setting, with ebony trees with white leaves. It looks like a fantasy land and it is somewhat hard to pay attention to actual enemies because  the detail in the scenery is mind-blowing. Another particularly inventive setting is on a train, where Mario must stay to get to another area. An entire level is pretty much based on this train, and while it would have been easy to make the train boring and simple, the designers created depth and interest within the setting. True creativity is shown through the settings of Paper Mario and all artists involved with this project deserve a pat on the backs.
            In terms of gameplay this game is very similar to the original, sticking to turn-based fighting. This style is spruced up with new features such as Star Power and the introduction of the Audience within the game. In addition to this, when not fighting Mario can transform into papery tools at designated spots – one minute he’s a boat, the next, a paper airplane! This is a great addition to the game. With this sequel, developers added a feature I so desperately wanted from the first game – the ability to play after defeating the final boss. This allows the player to go back and collect whatever has been missed, and have another opportunity to play through the Pit of 100 Trials.

            The storyline in this game has its highs and lows. A major high is the actual plotline, which goes far beyond the whole “Peach gets kidnapped because she’s a stupid woman” stereotype often seen in Mario games. Basically Peach finds a map and wants to go on an adventure but is intercepted by a villain (muahahaha) before Mario can meet up with her. While this seems like it is hurriedly on its way to Mario cliché territory, the story deepens as the game progresses, with a history of the Thousand-Year-Door and evil reign of Lord Crump. Overall the actual story of the game is pretty decent for a Mario game. However, the characters in the game are somewhat of a tossup. Some characters are pretty awesome – such as the Punis that Mario must save. However, his sidekicks are often blatant rip-offs of the original game (Goombella, Koops, and Admiral Bobbery are the most noticeable). This shows a lack of creativity on the developers part and it can get somewhat repetitive.

            Overall, Paper Mario 2 is a solid game with many new features and excitements to offer the gameplayer. Major highs are found within its graphics, settings, and gameplay, with some minor flaws in storyline/character development. This game is a must-have for any Paper Mario fan, so don’t hesitate to pick it up when you can.

Grade: A. This is a truly magnificent game. The only thing getting in the way of its A+ is the storyline.