Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the same charming RPG that won over Gamecube fans back in 2004, albeit with some great quality-of-life changes. Alongside some of the best graphics we’ve seen on Nintendo Switch and the return of the series’ best battle system, all fans should take a trip inside The Thousand-Year Door.
Whether you grew up with the Gamecube original or are picking this up for the first time, Paper Mario’s juiced-up visuals will blow you away when you start this game. Fans have begged for a straight port for years, but in true Nintendo fashion, the developer has gone above and beyond with improved lighting and stunning texture updates that perfectly compliment the paper-thin characters.
The improved graphics in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door help give some of the game’s most memorable locations even more depth and beauty. From the vibrant and nature-filled Petalberg to the dark dungeons of Hooktail Castle, every area in Mario’s paper adventure stands out. Admittedly, some of that bright lighting can make grimy areas like Rogueport look a bit too colorful, but this is still a great graphical swansong for the Switch.
Story-wise, this is the same quirky title that charmed Nintendo fans two decades ago. Mario is tasked with finding the hysterical seven Crystal Stars across the game’s world to open the Thousand-Year Door. Our favorite plumber isn’t the only one looking for these macguffins, as the maniacal Sir Grodus and his X-Nauts also want them for world-threatening reasons, capturing Princess Peach in the process. Bowser’s there too and he’s mad that someone else captured Peach before him, which is classic Bowser.
Of course, what fans really remember about The-Thousand Year Door’s story is its sharp and funny writing. Luckily, this has been preserved, so fans worried about the RPG losing its personality need not panic. Fans will still see a computer fall in love with Princess Peach, Mario getting hit on by a femme fatale mouse, and Luigi talking about his epic adventure that happens entirely offscreen. Background characters are also great for a chuckle, whether they’re talking about their Princess Peach collection or giving Mario tips in battle.
Interestingly, some fans have pointed out that this localization of The Thousand-Year Door is more faithful to the Japanese original. Some of it can be pretty minor, like Hooktail being weak to frog croaks instead of cricket sounds like in the previous release. Other parts of the localization add some new context to the characters, like Vivian being transgender. These differences won’t make or break the game, but they might offer a fresher experience for Gamecube vets.
Speaking of battles, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door brings back that iconic battle system that mixes turn-based commands with precise button presses, similar to last year’s remake of Super Mario RPG. The Thousand-Year Door also includes special attacks that have long button combinations, which should keep players on their toes. Most of these are easy enough to do, despite the game’s halved framerate of 30fps, and any complications become easy to get used to over time.
Mario’s party members in The Thousand-Year Door are pretty great. Koops the Koopa is still that cowardly character trying to live up to his father’s reputation, while Madame Flurrie’s over-the-top actor persona is still fun to take part in. It’s the main reason why fans haven’t gravitated towards Sticker Star, Color Splash, or The Origami King, as they add a lot of flavor to a typical Mario plot. These characters also add some depth to the combat, while they’re abilities in the field can also be used to solve specific puzzles.
The Thousand-Year Door also has Badges, unique items that can give Mario new combos, advantages over his foes, or small things like each attack sounding like a frog. It’s a silly system that fits very well with this game’s papercraft world. Some badges even have game-changing effects such as killing all low-level enemies when you return to early-game areas.
It’s hard to find any real fault with The Thousand-Year Door. The visuals are amazing, combat is fun, and the writing is just as sharp as it ever was. One could argue that this remake doesn’t add enough new stuff to justify a return for old fans, but why would you complain about fixing something that’s already perfect?
