Gamers were given a taste of their childhood with the “Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door” (Paper Mario: TTYD) remake that was released back in May. After a decade full of additions that were lazy, lackluster, and overall repellant in comparison to the Gilded Age of the “Paper Mario” series, many long time fans were ecstatic to get their hands on the game. I was no exception. However, other gamers were less than enthused, noting that remakes are lazy money-grabs when new games are unsuccessful and executives need to bring in money, just like Disney with all of their live-action remakes! The fear was that “Paper Mario: TTYD” would just be another lazy remake to please a few fans and make a quick buck.
This begs the question: How good is the remake?
The paper pixels have been a long time favorite of mine. “Super Paper Mario,” the turn of the series and black sheep in many players’ eyes, had been my first. I played it constantly, usually passing off the controller to my dad when the game got too tough. (I wasn’t very good at five.) This bled into a love for the series and I bought the original Paper Mario port for the Wii and also set it up to play GameCube games solely for the sake of playing the original “Paper Mario: TTYD.” I was obsessed. Then came “Paper Mario: Sticker Star,” and after that, “Color Splash” and “The Origami King.” I had lost a bit of hope and respect for the series and Nintendo as a whole. They were soulless additions to the franchise, a franchise that was known for being so full of personality.
Then of course, last year they announced “Paper Mario: TTYD” and I could not wait to run to my nearest GameStop and buy it. I slid the cartridge in and booted up the game, healing my inner child in ways I couldn’t imagine.
This remake was made for me.
But, that’s enough with the sentimentality. How does the game hold up?
It’s no shock that the game is visually beautiful. The cardboard construction and pixelated paper is stunning; however, I found that “Color Splash” and “The Origami King” had the upper hand visually. The predecessors to the remake really sold the “paper” in the title. You could see the rough edges of the cardboard, and the white borders that encased Mario and his friends sold the idea that he was drawn into the world, in turn drawing the player into this papyrus landscape. In this remake, that seemed to be lessened. Regardless, it still is a stunning game visually and captures the beauty of the original in a higher resolution.
On a similar note, the remastered music is perfect. Just perfect. The orchestral composition really captures the nostalgic essence of the game, while making it even more euphonious. I am fond of the fact that they also offer a badge allowing you to listen to the old soundtrack as you play. This brings back an even greater sense of nostalgia, specifically to gamers who had played the original.
When it came to the story, it was relatively the same. Lines had been changed, alongside certain translations to make it more accurate to the original Japanese game. This, most notably, can be seen during Chapter One, when Hooktail is skeeved by the sound of frogs. In the original American release, it had been the sound of crickets that set her off.
“Paper Mario: TTYD” introduced some changes to the gameplay such as new badges, including one that changes the music named the “Nostalgic Tunes Badge,” and a new partner ring; this is likely the most impactful addition. The partner ring allows you to conveniently switch out your partners without having to enter the menu, a benefit that the original did not have. There is also a new hint system that allows players to press “ZL” to get advice on what to do next from a partner, traditionally Goombella (Mario’s first partner) or whichever partner’s ability is required for that area. Other additions, such as new secret bosses and the pipe room fast travel, were added in as well.
Let me answer your question: Is it worth it?
Yes, it is. Not only is it worth it for the nostalgic gamer looking for a taste of their childhood, but to anyone who wants a fun adventure. The game maintains its charm and warmth like a blanket knitted by Grandma. It builds upon the foundation of the original role-playing game (RPG) and while doing so highlights the strength of the original while emphasizing the upgrades. Not only is it a fantastic remake, it is a fantastic game. End of story. Whether a gamer had the chance to play the original on the GameCube or not, I find that the remake is worth the cost and worth the playthrough.
I couldn’t put it down. I found myself laughing at the humorous remarks, entwined in the turn-based battle system, adoring the characters and their unique personalities, and having a type of fun that I haven’t in quite a while.
On that note, I suggest you grab the cartridge and join Mario on his very own epic journey. This game is a “yes” from me and 10 out of 10 mushrooms.
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