Good afternoon, everybody! Today I thought I'd review a retro game - so here's the latest Retro Review!
Paper Mario (2001, N64)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Overview
Paper Mario was released in 2001 for the N64 and started its own subseries (the most recent entry of which was Color Splash.) Its name was chosen for its artstyle, which boasts a papery look. (Though they never mention being made out of paper until Sticker Star, so I don't quite know what to make of it…)Plot
Paper Mario starts off with Mario and Luigi being invited to a party at Peach's Castle. The two take the pipe to Toad Town and arrive at Peach's Castle shortly after. However, when Mario finally tracks down Princess Peach herself, disaster strikes…The entire castle is lifted into the sky!
The trick is revealed to be the work of none other than Bowser - but this time, he's more powerful than before… he's stolen the Star Rod from Star Haven, granting his every wish! He effortlessly strikes Mario clear out of the castle from the edge of space…
Of course, this being a work of fiction, Mario survives the fall. He's found a short while later by Goombaria, a member of a kind family of Goombas who care for Mario until he wakes up.
It's at this point that we're introduced to Bowser's second-in-command, Kammy Koopa. She summons a huge yellow block to stop Mario from proceeding - but after a mini-adventure involving a missing balcony and a playground bully, the block is smashed and Mario moves on at last.
Back at her castle, Peach wishes for someone to help her, and as a result, Twink the Star Kid shows up to help. After assessing what he can and cannot do, Peach decides to have Twink deliver an item and a message to Mario.
Meanwhile, Mario makes it to Shooting Star Summit, where he is contacted by the seven Star Spirits who grant the wishes of those in the Mushroom Kingdom - but they've been trapped in cards by Bowser and Kammy!
Most of the rest of the game is spent journeying across the Mushroom Kingdom, saving the Star Spirits and gathering partners to assist Mario in battle. Oh, and the playground bully - Jr. Troopa - keeps showing up. Constantly.
When Mario finally makes it to Star Haven, the home of the Star Spirits, they supply a vehicle for him to travel to Bowser's Castle with. Mario rescues everyone who was trapped and then proceeds to the top of Peach's Castle to finally confront Bowser - with the power to 'ungrant' his wishes.
But Bowser has one last trick up his sleeve… a platform that super-powers him! Fortunately, in the end, he is still defeated and the Star Rod is returned to Star Haven.
So then, I give this plot:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It's an amazing and detailed plot that breathes new life into the 'Bowser kidnaps Peach' plot - brilliant!
Gameplay
Paper Mario is an RPG - though it doesn't play exactly like one would expect from one.On the overworld, there are the familiar three dimensions - the locales are all completely 3D, but their inhabitants are all flat and 2D, giving rise to the name 'Paper Mario'.
Battles seem to take place on a stage of sorts - and they play differently to most games. Mario and his partners move first, damaging the enemy and potentially using up FP (Flower Points) in the process. The enemies then attack - and if
is pressed with the correct timing, attacks can be shielded and damage reduced.Mario has a set - but increasable - amount of HP (Heart Points), which if reduced to 0, means game over. Partners, however, do not have HP and instead are 'injured' if hit by an attack, meaning they cannot move for several turns afterwards.
Battles can be entered in a few different ways - if Mario strikes the enemy on the overworld, he gets the First Strike and damages the front enemy before the battle properly begins. Conversely, Mario himself can be hurt first if the enemy strikes him.
I give the gameplay:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It might not be perfect, but Paper Mario's gameplay isn't that far off with all of its innovations and new ideas!
Replay value
…And this is where the game falters - being an RPG, Paper Mario doesn't actually offer much after the main story. You can fight the members of the Dojo in Toad Town, or you could do quests for an old Koopa Troopa in the village, or you could, uh… replay the entire game again at a higher level because of a glitch… but that's it.So I'll have to give this section:
⭐️⭐️
Being an RPG, Paper Mario just doesn't deliver in replay value. To be fair, there are few that do, but… I still have to grade them the same way.
Well, taking into account every score I gave, this game comes out at…
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Still not a bad score! If you haven't already, I highly recommend you play Paper Mario - it might be old, but it's just as good now as it's ever been!
And yes - the monthly quizzes are back! So let's kick it off right now…
Life of Lucas: February 2017 Quiz
Theme: mostly general science with one question of history
(If you can't view the quiz, click here!)
Anyway, that's all from me for today. So until next week, take care, everybody!