Overview
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a role-playing game, a remake of the 2004 GameCube game, developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo, released in 2024. I played it on Nintendo Switch.
I never played the original version: this remake was how I discovered the game.
Story and world
Peach sends Mario a treasure map found in Rogueport, a rather shady port town. When he arrives, the princess has disappeared, kidnapped by the X-Nauts. Mario then sets out in search of the seven Crystal Stars, which are said to open the Thousand-Year Door.
The characters are endearing, and they each have their own quirks. Throughout the adventure, Mario is accompanied by several partners, like Goombella, who each have their own role in combat and exploration.
Gameplay
The combat system is classic: turn-based, with a bit of dynamism. You press the right buttons at the right moment to power up your attacks or reduce the damage you take, and battles take place on a theatre stage, in front of an audience that reacts to your actions.
Badges let you customise Mario, giving him new attacks or bonuses.
Graphics and music
The remake completely redoes the graphics, with more detailed paper characters and scenery, and a rearranged soundtrack.
Verdict
I really liked this game, which let me discover the original. The characters are endearing and each have their own quirks, and the classic turn-based combat still has a bit of dynamism.