Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door review: A classic remade for a modern age

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is such an interesting game - a GameCube classic, but it got a remake before the original Paper Mario on the N64. However, I’d venture to say that the GameCube game is far more popular and beloved than the original. To be completely candid though, this was my very first time playing Paper Mario at all.

I didn’t own an N64, and though I did have a GameCube briefly, it just wasn’t on my radar. Many of my friends treasure the series as one of the best RPG series, and I’m starting to see why.

I was hoping for a few things when I dove into Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door. I wanted to see the snarky, ridiculous humor that Super Mario RPG had, updated visuals, and some quality-of-life changes to make the game more approachable. Nintendo delivered all of that and much more.

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is a GameCube classic brought back to life

There's just something charming about every scene - whether comical or tragic (Image via Nintendo)

While Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door’s story wasn’t exactly complex, it’s a Mario game - it’s not supposed to be! You’re collecting a series of star pieces, in a similar manner to what you did in Super Mario RPG. However, instead of a three-person party, it’s just Mario, and whichever partner you select. There are quite a few useful ones, each bringing something special to the table.

What this game brings to the table though is pure, unfiltered charm. Most Mario games have it to some degree - usually from the colorful backdrops, and the challenging, but fun platforming. In this, there’s actual storytelling. The jokes are wacky, there’s a little fourth-wall breaking, and thanks to being paper, you can do so many things you can’t in a regular Mario game.

I haven’t laughed this much in an RPG in years! That’s a positive thing, though - too many RPGs are ultra-serious, grimdark affairs with the world at stake. The characters brood, struggle and grunt their way to victory or defeat. There are so many ridiculous, comical moments to list, but they all add to the game.

Oh no! This trap somehow... helped me! Whatever shall I do? (Image via Nintendo)

On the other hand, you’ve got Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door, where Luigi goes on his own adventure. Occasionally, you can talk to him in Rogueport, and he’ll talk about what he’s been doing in the Waffle Kingdom, and it’s brilliant, and oh-so funny. There are so many perfect comedic moments in this game.

It’s the little things - like turning sideways to get through jail bars, for example. The battle stages are always a theater performance, and you even have audience interaction - sometimes for the enemy! Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is a game that drips charm, and always leaves fans looking for more.

The gameplay of Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is mostly flawless

It's the little things - don't stomp on spikey enemies, or you'll be sorry! (Image via Nintendo)

If you played Super Mario RPG, and not Paper Mario, like me, you’ll still have zero issues getting into this game. It uses a very similar timed-hit system, and if you haven’t played either game, there are tutorials to take part in. One new quality-of-life feature shines here, for example.

In the tutorial, you can find out if you were too early, or too late on timed hits, so you can figure out the timing. From what I understand, some of the timings have changed from the original game, but I have not played that, so I cannot say for certain.

That said, there is one thing that absolutely infuriated me while playing Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door. In my estimation, the controls of Paper Mario as a Paper Airplane are absolutely miserable. For whatever reason, I simply could not get the hang of it. I’m willing to accept that I just wasn’t good at it. I was using a newer Switch controller, the QRD, which uses Hall technology, so I’m not worried about stick drift.

The puzzles aren't super complicated, but they feel satisfying to overcome (Image via Nintendo)

The gameplay feels great though. The platforming is solid, and it’s almost always clear where you’re supposed to be going, and what you’re doing. Combat’s fun and the timed hits feel like they make sense to me.

That said, even with low HP for both players and enemies compared to other games, combat can feel remarkably slow. Always doing a timed hit for everything really feels like it slows things down. I don’t really mind it, it just doesn’t feel as fast and furious as other Mario RPGs do.

One thing this combat excels at though is how unique it is. If you’re doing stylish moves in Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door, you can build hype with the crowd, and it helps build your Super Attack meter. It’s brilliant, and it makes perfect sense in the world that it’s set in.

The aesthetic and music of Paper Mario’s remake are perfect

No part of this game disappoints when it comes to the graphics or music (Image via Nintendo)

The color and style of Paper Mario is amazing. Whether you’re fighting the new optional bosses, or just exploring each area in the various chapters of the game, the colors always pop off the screen. The colors always feel so sharp and vibrant. Then there’s the music. I was really surprised how quickly I fell in love with the soundtrack.

From the sound of Mario’s hammer thwacking into someone, or jumping from platform to platform, the little sound effects just really make sense. I was so happy with how it all performed, too - no lag, slowdown, or anything.

In conclusion

It's the little things that make this game a masterpiece (Image via Nintendo)

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is exactly what I hoped the remake would be. Even the optional bosses fit perfectly into the game and are serious callbacks to the past. While this is my first experience with a Paper Mario game, it does make me wish I had played them years before. It doesn’t change how much I appreciate what it does now, but I’d have more context, and more appreciation for the nostalgia the game brings back.

Sure, it’s a straightforward, easy-to-understand story. It’s not complicated, and it’s not overwhelmingly difficult - but it can be if you don’t take the time to learn the combat system. It doesn’t have to be hard, though. It’s a Mario game, and it proves that the plumber from Brooklyn can shine in any genre and any style of game.