Paper Mario

"Imagine all the trees that had to die to make this game..."

Introduction
Role-playing games is a genre that first party Nintendo seems to avoid most of the time, but when they do attempt it, something great is created. This is true with Paper Mario, one of the very few RPGs to be played on the N64. Serious turned-based RPG fans will discard this game without a second thought, mainly because it is much, much different than games like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. However, if you put away all the differences and just look at this game the way it is, you'll see that it is truly remarkable.

Story- 8/10
Well, it's a Mario game, and you know what that means. Mario and Luigi are attending a party at Peach's castle when, quite suddenly, the castle begins to rumble and, somehow, they are lifted into the sky! Bowser crashes through a window and explains that he managed to build his castle underground directly underneath Peach's, and now they're both up in the sky. Well, Mario of course leaps into action in an attempt to save the princess, but Bowser wields the Star Rod, a mythical device used by the Star Spirits to grant wishes. For centuries, people have been making wishes to the stars, and the mighty Star Spirits of Star Haven have been granting them. But Bowser, caught up in his own power-hungry and Peach-hungry ambition, has stolen the Star Rod and decided to kidnap the seven Star Spirits for good measure. With his new Star Rod in tow, Bowser easily defeats Mario and sends him out of the castle, where the game truly starts. From there, you'll land in a Goomba village, and soon you will learn more of the Star Spirits, how to rescue them, and how to get back Peach's castle and save the princess.

Now, while it may be pretty much the same as every other Mario, it does add some new elements. For example, the Star Rod makes Bowser invincible, something we've never seen before. This adds an entirely new urgent tone to the game, which really improves the story. While still revolving around the basis of the “Mario saves Peach” storyline which is used numerous times, this game does attempt to add some fresh and interesting ideas to the plot.

Gameplay- 10/10
Paper Mario offers a fun and immersive gameplay that will keep you entertained for hours on end. It is done in RPG format, which means you'll be fighting enemies you encounter for Star Points (experience points). You start off with a basic jump move, but then you'll learn to use a hammer as well. These attacks weaken the enemy and eventually destroy it, which results in a few Star Points to add to your collection. Once you've collected 100 Star Points, you'll level up and be able to increase either Hit Points, Flower Points, or Badge Points. Hit points represent your level of health; so, in other words, how many hits you can sustain. Flower points are helpful when you want to use a special move that either does more damage or has an extra side-effect. For example, the move power jump adds 2 power to your original attack, but it requires 2 flower points. Badge points are used to equip badges, useful little devices that really add to the variety and fun of this game.

Like its predecessor, Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario incorporates a timed hits concept, or the Action Command. Basically, it gives the game more variety and the gamer more control. All it does is increases the number of attack power of your move by pressing a certain button at a certain time. For example, in order to increase your jump power, you have press the A button right before landing on the foe. This will cause you to instead jump twice, doubling your attack power. You can also decrease the number of damage you taken when your foe attacks. This concept really adds to the immersion of the game.

This game uses a clever badge system to enhance your fighting ability. There is a wide assortment of badges that you will find throughout the game, each with its own power. Some badges, like Power Smash, will simply increase the attack power of a certain move. However, using those moves require Flower Points. Other badges, like Pretty Lucky and Lucky Day, increase your evade power, so you won't get hit as often. Some badges, however, don't have anything to do with the battle system. Money Money, for example, is a badge that simply doubles the coin value you earn when you defeat an enemy. In fact, there is one badge that just increases how fast you can run. The badge system opens up an entirely customized system that adds layers and layers of depth to the game.

Paper Mario is an RPG that is completely different from most of the popular games of its genre. For example, stats are nearly nonexistent, the only ones being power and defense. Speed is not a factor, simply because Mario and partner always strike first. There are no critical hits, moves do the same amount every time (with the exception of Action Commands, which I'll get into later). Also, your partners have no HP, meaning they can't take damage. Sometimes they will anyway, though, but they just lie on the ground, immobile, unable to attack for a few turns. The closest thing to magic in this game is Star Power, which allows you to do many things, such as refill health, attack the foes, or raise your attack. Attack and HP are in very small numbers. For example, the first move you have takes away only one of the foe's HP at a time until you get stronger boots. The only other way to raise attack and defense is through badge-wearing. For these reasons, hardcore RPG players automatically are turned off by this game. However, those kind of people need to learn that different does not mean worse. And in this case, different means better.

The gameplay of this game is immersive, unique, has extreme variety, and, most importantly, is fun. It boasts numerous features that really add to the depth and ways to customize. While not like other RPGs, it still delivers superb gameplay. However, there is one down point: the difficulty. This game offers little or no challenge to the gamer. While incredibly fun, you won't find yourself extremely satisfied when you have defeated a boss, mainly because it only took five minutes and you did it on your first try.

Music and Sound- 9/10
This game has fresh and interesting tunes that are very well done and fit the time and place of where you are. The music is bright and perky in areas like Toad Town, but in places like Koopa Bros. Fortress, it is dark and eerie. The battle theme is done just well enough so that you won't be sick to death of it by the third chapter. Each boss has his or her own unique music, each of which are engaging and exciting. Like I said, the tunes fit the game well. In one area called Gusty Gulch, the game provides a truly excellent piece that resembles some sort of Mexican theme. You'll also hear a jungle theme that sounds amazingly realistic.

As for the sound, there really isn't much to say here other than it works and that it's well done. Mario has lost all of his famous catchphrases, and they've been replaced with little bloops and bleeps he makes when he jumps. Some moves can have sound changes if you have the right badges, but those get repetitive after a while. The sound fits well, especially in the little things like the shooting of a cannon or the opening of a door.

Graphics- 10/10
Yes! The graphics of Paper Mario is probably what it is best known for. If you couldn't guess from the title, all sprites are flat and move in a paper-like fashion. The background is all done in 2-D, but the rest of the world, such as the buildings, are still in 3-D. So, this game is pretty much a 3-D game with some 2-D elements thrown in. And boy does it ever come off well. The designs are bright and colorful and wonderful to look at. Nintendo really took a step in a different direction when designing this game, and I sure am glad they did. Everything looks great, from Mario's potbelly to the floating castle, this game's graphics shine.

Replay Value- 10/10
Paper Mario has some of the best replay value I've ever seen. After your first play through, playing the game over again with different badges adds for a totally new kind of gameplay. You could even try varying the way you level up, such as leaving HP and FP alone and only upgrading BP. Not only is replaying the main adventure again exhilarating and fun, but there are tons of sidequests that could keep you busy for a long time. For example, in this game, there is a master chef who can create useful items if you give her the right ingredients. There are at least 50 recipes in the game, and the challenge of collecting them all is extremely entertaining. You could also help out Koopa Koot, an old Koopa who always is asking for favors. In short, this game offers hours of extras that keep the game alive even months after you've beaten it.

Conclusion
Paper Mario is a perfect example of a beautiful game overlooked by those who are set in with the standard RPG style. Sure, this game is different, but it offers numerous new features and styles of gameplay that make it a very fun game. It involves the gamer more with the Action Commands, the badges add to variety and replay ability, and it has brilliant graphics that set it apart from everything else. This was Nintendo's only shot at an RPG for the N64, and they really hit the bull's-eye.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/23/06