"A Must-Play That Improves on But Doesn't Shake Up the Formula. Thankfully."

Graphics (28/30, judged by era)- When seeing the Gamecube sequel to the Nintendo 64 game, it becomes apparent that the Gamecube version was really what the developers were after from the beginning. The Nintendo 64 did a nice job, but with the increased horsepower and resolution of the Gamecube, the game really shines, visually. The 2d characters are nice and sharp, drawn with a lot of character in an animated style. Even those enemies which are lifted from the first game and inserted here look nicer and cleaner, and it makes a big difference. Beyond that, environments are a little more interesting, bosses larger, and origami trickery even more interesting. There were a few visual tricks played during the game that really impressed. This game and series is high on visual artistry.

Added in are a few short series of 8-bit inspired stages which are welcome additions.

Sound- FX/Voice (8/10) There is a very nice selection of sounds, from environmental to battle sounds. It makes for a light-hearted and engaging sound package, with a few sounds cuing you sufficiently so as to be helpful for game play.

Sound- Music (10/10) Once again, Paper Mario scores big in the soundtrack department, with an engaging musical selection that propels you forward. It's slightly less varied than its predecessor, but easily qualifies for a 10 still, where the Nintendo 64 game might have rated a 12 out 10 for being so awesome.

Game play- Length/Replay (15/15) Clocking in at ~40 hours, it's apparent that there's lots to do and see. It should be said that this game does have a little more padding than the N64 prequel—in the last quarter of the game, particularly, there are some areas and chapters that require gratuitous backtracking.

Game play- Story: (4/5) Let's face it, the story is simplistic and even childish at its basic level. Oddly, that doesn't stop the game from being well-written, it just knows its audience. Whereas the prior game definitely had writing as its strong point, it must be said that the writing in here is even more impressive. First, the script seems to be much longer, especially when considering that most conversations are tailored to work regardless of which character is accompanying you at any given time. Also, perhaps because of the greater screen resolution, more text is allowed onscreen, which allows for more all around. It actually made the game enjoyable for someone much older than perhaps the apparent target audience.

Game play- Game Design (28/30)- Almost nothing wanders far what the prior game planted, and being the first true sequel to the original Paper Mario, that's still welcome. In all respects, Paper Mario here is the game the original would have been if it hadn't been saddled by technical limitations. The battle system is intact almost unchanged, although partners are new and so are the attacks. Added in are interesting origami-inspired moves and generally a more fleshed-out use of the paper motif, which makes for some interesting puzzles. The game seems larger, real-estate wise, and while this is good, it also adds to the backtrack headache when it comes up. Added in is a pit of trials of sorts, basically 100 floors of pure battling. It's repetitive but ends up worth doing for some really useful items that can be won by getting through it.

**Final Thoughts- Still playable on the Wii, this game still holds up in most respects and is a must play even today.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/01/12

Game Release: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (US, 10/11/04)