Nintendo’sSuper Mariofranchise has long been characterized by groundbreaking platformers, fromSuper Mario Bros.on NES tomodern 3D sandbox games likeSuper Mario Odyssey. However, many see the mascot’s RPG adventures as finer examples of the character in action. From Square’sSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Starsand Intelligent Systems’Paper Marioto AlphaDream’sMario & Luigifranchise, the dialogue-heavy genre gives Mario and friends more opportunities to build relationships.
The firstPaper Marioreleased in 2000 as a spiritual successor toSuper Mario RPG. It spawned a franchise that is still going with 2020’sThe Origami King, which can’t be said forMario & LuigiafterAlphaDream filed for bankruptcy in 2019. However, many fans lamentPaper Mario’s transition from traditional turn-based RPGs to more experimental paper craft games with less-unique casts. As older entries come back around, futurePaper Mariogames could circumvent their apparent restrictions by leaning on nostalgia.
RELATED:Paper Mario’s Small Details Make it Worth Playing Via Nintendo Switch Online
How the Paper Mario Brand Has Shifted
Paper Marioon Nintendo 64 and its GameCube sequelThe Thousand-Year Doorwere turn-based RPGs with a twist; iterating upon the active commands ofSuper Mario RPGto introduce a variety of moves powered up by timed button presses or tilted analog sticks. ThenSuper Paper Marioon Wii took things in a different direction, incorporating real-time combat into platforming across 2D and 3D spaces.
All three titles were notable for having an exotic cast of characters, from Mario’s allies being iterations on common enemies (such as Bombette the Bob-omb or Goombella the Goomba) to entirely new races likeThe Thousand-Year Door’s Shadow SirensorSuper Paper Mario’s Pixls. However, in what many consider a “dark turn,“Paper Mario: Sticker Staron 3DS scaled things back with a focus on unalteredSuper Mariocharacters - notably using all basic Toads rather than uniquely designed individuals.
The combat inSticker Starwas also simplified, returning to something like a turn-based RPG but with every attack requiring a consumable sticker alongside a focus on real-world “Things” like staplers.Color Splashon Wii U was similar in terms of combat and character design, and whileThe Origami Kingtook a step in the right direction with more memorable characters and locations, its puzzle-based combat was polarizing. Producer Kensuke Tanabe has saidinnovating the combat in every recentPaper Mariogameis purposeful.
RELATED:Paper Mario Should Finally Give The Thousand-Year Door’s Luigi His Due
Returning Characters Could Bring Personality Back to Paper Mario
The overall change in atmosphere with recent games has similarly been driven by executives, according to Tanabe. Around the time ofThe Origami King’s release, he saidPaper Mariodevelopers had strict rulesfrom Shigeru Miyamoto about introducing new characters. While brand-new entities like the titular Origami King Olly were okay, modifying traditionalSuper Mariocharacters was less permissible. He would discuss these limitations as being mostly in-place forSticker Star, with the team having more freedom later, yet “all character designs have to pass a check by our IP team, which is pretty strict.”
Though characters like Bobby fromThe Origami Kingcertainly stand out, they lack the more interesting visual quirks seen in the designs for Bombette, Admiral Bobbery, and others from the original twoPaper MarioRPGs. This was made even more obvious following the release ofPaper Mariothrough Nintendo Switch Online’s N64 librarylast December. However, it’s possible that re-popularizing the original titles could lead to more experimentation.
WithThe Origami King’s improved atmosphere and designs like Professor Toad, whatever game comes next could do even more. If Intelligent Systems finds itself chaffing against IP restrictions, perhaps the return ofPaper Mariocould convince executives to let the team bring back established variants like Mario’s partner Parakarry - or even antagonists such as theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired Koopa Bros. SincePaper Mario’s apparent restrictions center traditionalSuper Marioentities, various races and characters invented for the franchise could more easily return.
Some may see it as nostalgia pandering if the developer let Mario check in on characters like Dimentio;Super Paper Mario’s trickster antagonist who served a similar role toKirby Super Star’s Marx. However, if handled well, returning characters could bridge the gap between old and new fans while setting up interesting adventures that may not be as hard to get past Nintendo. It seems unlikely, but at least the future forPaper Mariolooks bright thanks toThe Origami Kingand Switch Online’s N64 library
MORE:Older Nintendo Games That Are Still Overdue For a Switch Port
