Paper Mario: The Thousand-Yeard Door is one of my all-time favorite GameCube games and might even be in my top of best Nintendo games ever created. When I heard a Nintendo Switch remake was happening, I couldn’t be more excited! Fast forward to today where I can finally share my first thought after playing the first chapters. Is this game still as good as I remembered can it still hold its own against modern standards? Let’s-a-go!
Let the story unfold
Since the original Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was released on GameCube back in 2004, this upcoming Nintendo Switch port will be the first time a lot of gamers will see the story unfold. So what is it all about? The story starts with Princess Peach going missing again and Mario being tasked to find her. Nothing new to see here but the location certainly is new. The Princess was last seen in Rogueport, a mysterious coastal town far from the Mushroom Kingdom. Interestingly enough, this will also form the game’s central location. The shady-looking Rogueport offers a different vibe compared to the colorful and safe Mushroom Kingdom, discovering a darker central location certainly feels like a breath of fresh air. Princess Peach invited Mario over to look for a hidden treasure that is said to be located underneath Rogueport. She included a map with her letter but the moment Mario arrived, the Princess was already gone. Legends have it that seven Crystal Stars can unlock the Thousand-Year-Door, a powerful door that will transport you to a mysterious lost kingdom, a kingdom where we could maybe reconnect with the Princess.
With only a mysterious map to guide him, Mario will have to find out where Princess Peach is currently taken hostage. It’s a basic story that unfolds rather slowly, during your first hour in the game you’ll have to go through a lot of dialogue before things get going but after the first real chapter, the story will pick up pacing and will serve a couple of curveballs. The story is one of the main selling points of this game and it’s good to see that it still stands strong, even compared to the modern Paper Mario games. This might still be the best and most fun story that was ever featured in a Mario RPG. There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, your enemy isn’t Browser but a mysterious secret society called the X-Nauts, which will certainly lead to some unexpected encounters. Bowser is still featured and just like Peach even playable but I won’t go into spoiler territory about his role and motivation. Humor is the main accelerator of the story and it didn’t change from the original. This still is a very humorous take where characters will launch joke after joke to keep things entertaining and unexpected. Every time you look for a new Crystal Star, you’ll play in a different setting and meet new enemies and friends. This variation and never knowing what to expect is where the game truly shines and even with the couple of hours I spent with this game, I instantly fell in love with how good the story really is. The main story is great but be sure to follow some side-quests too if you want to play some of the more absurd Mario levels ever.
Combat takes center stage
Exploring the different locations and getting some platform action while looking for secrets is all part of this Paper Mario adventure. Since it’s the second installment in the Paper Mario franchise, this one doesn’t offer an open world to explore. If you’re expecting the same type of freedom as in the Origami King, you might be disappointed. The Thousand-Year-Door is a bit more traditional in its platforming and puzzle segments and includes some backtracking, which was all a big part of gaming back in 2004. Personally, I don’t mind this more straightforward approach because there are tons of fun things to discover, and the more you advance, the more complex and original everything becomes. Sure, it’s all a bit simpler at first sight but don’t let this deceive you, there’s a lot of challenges and surprises along the way and it’s still one of the most original Paper Mario games out there. During the first chapters, I was fully immersed in the story and loved platforming and puzzling my way towards the next big fights. Like any other RPG, combat is a big part of the game and takes center stage in The Thousand-Year-Door.
As a true RPG, combat happens in turns. Mario and his sidekick can perform attacks, special attacks, use items, and even use other tactics to win the fight. In the overworld, you’re never randomly thrown into combat but you see your enemies walking around. If you manage to hit them in the overworld, you’ll get the first attack on the combat stage which already gives you some advantage. Encounters not being random is a big plus since you won’t have to fight all enemies, you can easily avoid enemies in the overworld if you don’t feel like fighting. Once in combat, there are a couple of things to keep track of. First things first, you have your attacks and defense. Both will be more effective when you time your input correctly. Letting go of your hammer at the right time will inflict more damage while pushing the A-button at the right time when an enemy attacks will guard you against more damage. This is nothing new for those who played other Super Mario RPG games so it’s no surprise this mechanic makes a return. On top of that, combat has some deeper layers too, take badges for example. These are found everywhere in the world if you look closely enough or if you manage to solve some puzzles. Badges can give you added strength, and better defense, or they can even change the music of your attack. Experimenting with those badges is an important part of the game, finding the right set will give you some huge advantages. Talking about advantages, during combat you can also use your special attack, which will be charged with the cheers of the crowd. The better you fight, the more spectacular will enter the theatre, giving you the ability to perform your special attacks faster. Combine this with the unique abilities of your companions and you understand that the combat goes a lot deeper than what you would expect at first sight. I learned and played the basics during my time with the game in preview but I can’t wait to jump back in and get to know the combat system.
A gorgeous remake
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was an impressive game on GameCube but really takes it to the next level on Nintendo Switch. It’s one of the prettiest games I played on the console and it really nails the paper aesthetic. Everything is full of details and the developers added some nice reflections and shading to really make it pop. I loved spending some time in this gorgeously created world and I can’t wait to see more from it once the game releases next month. I’m already blown away with the first couple of hours and I know I’m in for a ride later on in the game. It seems like Nintendo is handling this fan-favorite with the care and love it deserves. It’s well on track to become a modern classic.
