Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Intelligent Systems
- Full Name: Paper Mario
- Release Date: August 11, 2000 (Japan) / February 5, 2001 (North America)
- Released on: Nintendo 64
- Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
Simone at the helm and I as the observer were eager to dive into Paper Mario 64 to relive the charm of the N64 days. The game’s unique blend of RPG mechanics and Mario’s whimsical world promised an experience filled with nostalgia and fun. While it’s clear the game shows its age in some areas, its charm and creativity still shine brightly.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The game starts with Bowser once again kidnapping Princess Peach, but this time, he has stolen the Star Rod, a powerful artifact that grants wishes. Using its powers, Bowser becomes nearly invincible, forcing Mario to embark on a quest to save Peach and restore the Star Spirits, who have been imprisoned across the Mushroom Kingdom.
World building and immersion
The world of Paper Mario 64 is colorful, vibrant, and packed with personality. From the cozy streets of Toad Town to the mysterious Shy Guy’s Toy Box, each area feels distinct and filled with fun surprises. The game’s storybook-like presentation immerses you in its charming and quirky world.
Character development
The companions that join Mario on his journey are a highlight of the game. Each party member has their own unique abilities and personality, from Goombario’s encyclopedic knowledge to Bombette’s fiery determination. While the story focuses more on adventure than character depth, the cast is memorable and delightful.
Emotional impact
While the game leans more on humor and whimsy, there are moments of heartfelt storytelling, particularly in the chapters involving the Star Spirits and Princess Peach’s subtle acts of resistance. These moments balance the game’s lighthearted tone with emotional depth.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 8
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The turn-based combat system is simple yet engaging, with timed button presses adding a layer of interactivity to attacks and defenses. The ability to swap party members mid-battle and use their unique skills keeps the gameplay fresh. Exploration is equally rewarding, with hidden items, badges, and upgrades scattered throughout the world.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty curve can feel unbalanced at times, with some enemies hitting surprisingly hard. While this adds challenge, it may frustrate players who aren’t familiar with RPG mechanics. The badge system allows for customization, but some combinations can feel underwhelming.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is well done, with each chapter introducing a new area, challenges, and characters. However, backtracking can slow things down occasionally.
Innovation and uniqueness
The game’s paper aesthetic and mix of RPG and platforming mechanics were groundbreaking at the time and still feel unique today. It paved the way for the Paper Mario series’ signature style.
Controls and user interface
The controls are responsive and intuitive, making combat and exploration enjoyable. The menu system is straightforward, but inventory management can feel restrictive due to limited space.
Microtransactions
As an N64 classic, there are no microtransactions to worry about.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 8.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The game’s paper art style has aged gracefully, with vibrant colors and creative character designs that remain charming. While the visuals are simple by today’s standards, the unique aesthetic adds to the game’s storybook feel.
Technical performances
The game runs smoothly, with no noticeable performance issues. The animations, though basic, are endearing and fit the game’s tone perfectly.
Environment and design uniqueness
Each area is distinct and creatively designed, with memorable locations that make exploration a joy. The environments feel alive, with fun details that add personality to the world. They paid a lot of attention back in the day.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with an 8.5
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The music is catchy and perfectly suited to the game’s lighthearted tone. From the cheerful Toad Town theme to the epic battle music, the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere and keeps you engaged.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are charming and memorable, from the satisfying boing sound of Mario’s jump to the twinkling sound of Star Spirits.
Voice Acting
There’s no traditional voice acting, but the character gibberish and expressive animations convey plenty of personality.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with an 8
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game offers a substantial adventure, with the main story taking around 20–30 hours to complete. Which was a grand thing back in the N64 era!
Extra Content
While there isn’t a ton of post-game content, the hidden collectibles, side quests, and badges encourage thorough exploration and experimentation.
Replay value
The game’s charm and variety make it enjoyable to replay, though the story remains largely the same on subsequent playthroughs.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of this game with a 7.5.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Gonna go big here!
- A remastered version with quality-of-life improvements (such as expanded inventory space) would make this classic even better.
- Balancing enemy damage in certain areas could help ease frustration for newer players not accustomed to the old school era of RPG’s.
Comparisons
Compared to later entries like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, this game is simpler but just as endearing. It lacks the narrative complexity of later titles but makes up for it with its charm and accessibility, you can now even play it on Nintendo Online!
Personal experiences and anecdotes
One of Simone’s favorite parts of the game was the variety of party members. Each one brought something unique to the table, and their abilities made exploration feel rewarding. However, Luigi’s sidelining felt like a missed opportunity. Despite his small appearances, it would have been great to see him play a more active role in the adventure.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with this game, I give it a personal rating of 7.5
Last words
Pros
- Unique and timeless paper art style
- Engaging turn-based combat with interactive mechanics
- Memorable cast of characters with unique abilities
- Charming music and sound effects
- Fun and creative world design
- Accessible gameplay for newcomers to RPGs
- Humor and whimsy that appeal to all ages
- Plenty of hidden secrets and collectibles
Cons
- Difficulty spikes can feel unbalanced
- Backtracking can occasionally disrupt pacing
- Luigi’s role in the story feels underwhelming
Paper Mario 64 is a charming and innovative RPG that holds up remarkably well, even decades after its release. While it has its flaws, its unique style, engaging gameplay, and whimsical world make it a must-play for fans of classic Nintendo games. Whether you’re revisiting it for nostalgia or experiencing it for the first time, this game is a delightful journey worth taking.
FINAL RATING
8.2
Please let me know what you think of Paper Mario 64 in the comments!
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I really love the graphics. Brings up a spike of nostalgia!
Think this review is spot on. Especially with the role of Luigi playing the game. Personally for the me the game feels too long but that may be due to the numerous times having to return to the same place multiple times.
I love how this review captures the magic of Paper Mario 64. It really nails the fun, quirky charm of the game while being honest about its few repetitive moments. Definitely a great read for anyone feeling nostalgic for this classic.
This was a hard Screenshot of the Week to find, haha. 😆
Really interesting review! What do you mean by it can be played in Nintendo Online? 😮
Come on Nintendo, make a remake of this game. I really tried the more recent ones on Switch (when i had one) and it doesn’t hit the same, nostalgia notwithstanding
I think Luigi is somehow underrepresented in almost every Super Mario game. ^^
This is a good review!
It’s a nostalgic game, isn’t it? Back then, I loved this game so much that I did everything possible within the game, to the point where I felt sad because there was nothing left to do.
I think Luigi in the past was positioned as an unfortunate character, to the extent that his role was to experience misfortune.
I don’t think that’s the case so much these days though, lol. 🐑
I loved this game ^^
every character was cute and the animation and paper option is implemented so nice
Well this is one game that needs a remake xD played it before haha its fun!
Only a 7.5? That seems too low coming from you sven
Haven’t played any Paper Mario, most similar one was Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Cute game, hope it doesn’t give me a paper cut!
Lovely graphics style. Also overall seems like succesful game with different characters effecting gameplay. I will see now how it is gonna be when screen start moving in action 😉 (video reviews)
A definite title on my list to do a full play through of one day since the last several years ago 🙂
It seems like a simple, but still pretty neat JRPG! Thanks for the review!
This game is truly a gem! The review is really good!
Whoa, I never knew the game is turn-based. I really have to try it sometime, seems fun
This whole world was playful, they even played puns on the names of party members. Glad you scored it with a high score.
“Luigi’s role in the story feels underwhelming”—man, our green sidekick feels sad. 🙁
Sadly they stopped making games like this, this artwork and all
Every Mario game is fun to playing.
Paper Mario is definitely a fun game
the writing is genuinely funny
The Paper Mario games have the most creative, unique and charming characters & environments! I would love to play this one, I wasn’t able to! Too bad you need the Expansion version of Online Membership…
Unique game with paper mario’s gameplay. I like review! Review is good.
I think that’s probably great fun game. I’d like it at Steam, but perhaps that never gonna happen.