Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was one of the most highly anticipated games of the 2024 release slate for Nintendo. There are two primary reasons for this. Number one: there’s almost nothing coming out this year as the company gears up for a new console. Number two, and perhaps most importantly: this game is a beloved classic from an epic era of gaming. 

After playing through some of the latest remake Nintendo has given fans, I am left with a lot of thoughts. It comes on the back of another remake: Super Mario RPG. The two games could not be more different, and playing them consecutively gives me one prevailing opinion. Thousand-Year Door does everything so much better. 

Pros for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

The pros for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door are numerous. The game places you in an unfamiliar location. When so much of the Mario franchise is in or around the Mushroom Kingdom, this game transports you somewhere else. Not only that, but it’s a darker locale that proves to be a stark contrast to most Mario locations. 

The biggest pro is in direct comparison with RPG. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door excels in its world-building. Where the world of its remake predecessor was limited and simple, the world of Rogueport and its surrounding areas are rich, vibrant, and full. They’re not hallways that take up a small portion of the possible screen but huge areas with plenty to explore. 

The level design is also immaculate. It borrows some elements from The Legend of Zelda (a personal favorite franchise of mine) in its complex design. There are times when you have to return to older areas with new knowledge or abilities to get something you previously couldn’t. That expands the level and keeps players much more engaged. 

Cons for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

The game isn’t perfect. There are some downsides. It is particularly difficult to upgrade your allies. You have useful teammates who will help you on your journey, but they eventually become far worse than Mario in health and other abilities. The allies were much more useful in RPG despite not having the ability to be out in the overworld. 

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door also suffers from the turn-based combat issue. It slows the game down a lot. You may be plugging along, exploring a level, and having a good time. Then all of a sudden, a Koopa flies into you and it all comes to a crashing halt. The battles themselves aren’t bad, but they keep the game’s pacing inconsistent. 

Changes From the Original

The original was a beloved classic. Small quality-of-life updates have added to the enjoyment. A few new characters are also in that allow players an easier time. The dedication to new graphics makes a big difference. It looks and feels new again, which is not always true of a remake. Several interface changes make things seamless.

One of the biggest and best changes, according to someone who played and beat the game multiple times in their childhood, is the ability to move to and from different worlds with much more ease and much less backtracking. All in all, the remake has captured the essence of a classic while modernizing it for a much broader audience. 

Score: 4/5 stars

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