Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Nintendo
- Full Name: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Remake)
- Release Date: May 23, 2024
- Released on: Nintendo Switch
- Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
My wife really enjoys Mario RPGs, but she never had the chance to play the original Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on the GameCube. With the remake now available, it was finally her time to experience one of the most beloved RPGs in Nintendo history.
Before we started, I jokingly warned her: This game is not for children. At first, she thought I was messing with her. I mean, it’s a Mario game, right? Cute, funny, lighthearted? But as we played, it quickly became clear—this game goes places that most Mario games never do. Someone literally gets possessed by a demon! The tone is darker, the stakes are higher, and while the humor is still fantastic, it’s not your typical Mario story.
Story and setting
Plot overview
Mario receives a letter from Princess Peach, urging him to seek out the legendary treasure hidden beneath Rogueport—a seedy town filled with criminals and shady dealings. When he arrives, Peach is missing, and he quickly learns that an ancient power, locked behind the Thousand-Year Door, is being sought after by a mysterious group called the X-Nauts. As Mario and his allies journey through the world, they uncover a tale of betrayal, lost civilizations, and an ancient demon waiting to be unleashed.
World building and immersion
The world of Thousand-Year Door is incredibly unique for a Mario game. Instead of bright and cheerful lands, you explore a haunted town, a floating wrestling ring, an eerie train ride filled with mysteries, and even a town where Mario’s body gets stolen. (yes, really). Each chapter has its own distinct atmosphere, making the adventure feel grand and varied.
Character development
The cast is fantastic. Each of Mario’s partners has a real backstory, personal struggles, and growth throughout the game. From Goombella, the snarky but brilliant Goomba scholar, to Vivian, a shadow spirit trying to find her place, the game offers some of the best character writing in the Mario franchise. Even the villains have layers, particularly Beldam, whose manipulations add an extra layer of darkness to the story.
Emotional impact
For a Mario game, this one hits surprisingly hard. There are tragic backstories, betrayal, and legitimate horror elements. The final chapter’s reveal is downright unsettling, and the moment a certain character gets possessed by a demon is something you would never expect in a Mario game.
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 9
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
Thousand-Year Door uses the classic turn-based combat with action commands that require timed button presses to maximize attacks and defense. Battles are interactive, keeping you engaged rather than just selecting options from a menu. The audience system, where spectators react to your performance, adds another dynamic layer.
Difficulty and balance
The game is tougher than most Mario RPGs. Some bosses will absolutely wreck you if you don’t prepare properly. Items, badge loadouts, and strategy are key, making this game more RPG-heavy than later entries in the series.
Pacing of the game
Most of the chapters are well-paced, but backtracking can be a problem. Some quests force you to revisit areas multiple times, which slows the momentum. The General White side quest is still one of the most infamous sections, requiring an excessive amount of running back and forth.
Innovation and uniqueness
For its time, Thousand-Year Door was incredibly innovative with its paper-based puzzles, battle mechanics, and strong storytelling. The remake keeps this intact while making slight refinements.
Controls and user interface
Smooth and easy to navigate. The remake polishes things further, making menus and badges easier to manage.
Microtransactions
None—thankfully. This is a full game, as it should be.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with an 8.5.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The remake stays faithful to the original’s iconic paper aesthetic while updating it with modern visuals. The environments are beautiful, character animations are fluid, and the game looks fantastic on the Switch.
Technical performances
The game runs well with no major slowdowns or bugs. Load times are much faster than in the original, making backtracking a little less painful.
Environment and design uniqueness
Every area feels distinct, from the gothic atmosphere of Twilight Town to the neon-lit chaos of Glitzville. There’s a surprising amount of variety in how each location looks and plays.
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 a 9.0.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
One of the best Mario RPG soundtracks ever. Every track perfectly captures the tone of the chapter, whether it’s suspenseful, mysterious, or heart-pounding battle music.
Sound effects quality
Crisp and satisfying, with great use of comedic and atmospheric sounds.
Voice Acting
Characters speak in gibberish Mario speak, but it works well. The expressions and text boxes make up for the lack of voiceovers.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with an 8.5
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
A full playthrough takes around 30-40 hours, making it one of the longer Mario RPGs.
Extra Content
There are hidden side quests, secret badges, and extra challenges, including the Pit of 100 Trials, a brutal endurance dungeon that rewards skilled players.
Replay value
While the main story is fairly linear, replaying the game with different badge setups and strategies makes for an engaging second playthrough.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door with an 8.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
- An improved fast travel system would have made backtracking less tedious.
- General White’s quest should have been shortened.
- More QoL updates for inventory management.
Comparisons
- Compared to Paper Mario 64, this game expands the formula in every way.
- Compared to later entries (Sticker Star, Color Splash), Thousand-Year Door is objectively superior in terms of story, mechanics, and depth.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
My wife genuinely thought I was joking when I said this game is not for kids. “It’s Mario,” she said. “How bad can it be?”
Then she saw the demon possession scene.
Her reaction was priceless. “Wait… this is actually happening? In a Mario game?” Yes. Yes, it is. This game goes places most Mario games never dare to go, and I love it for that.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door Remake, I give it a personal rating of 9.0
Last words
Pros
- Incredible story with dark and mature themes
- Fantastic partner characters with real development
- Engaging turn-based combat that rewards skill
- Gorgeous updated visuals that stay true to the original
- One of the best Mario RPG soundtracks
- Tons of hidden secrets and extra content
- No microtransactions, full game as it should be
- Runs great on the Switch with smooth performance
Cons
- Not really for kids (which some parents might not realize)
- Some tedious backtracking
- General White’s quest is still annoying
- Would have been nice to have a more robust fast-travel system
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is one of the best Mario RPGs ever made, and the remake does it justice. It’s funny, dark, and genuinely one of the most engaging stories in a Mario game. Just don’t expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows—this isn’t your typical Mario adventure.
FINAL RATING
8.5
Please let me know what you think of Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door Remake in the comments!
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Love how this remake has refined a beloved classic!
Game was more entertaining then I thought it would be.
Man, I would be very inclined to play a few of these Nintendo games if I only had a Switch… or if these games came to PC… XD
Thanks for another great review! 😀
I’ve never played this game, as I have many others to play, it is always I possible to play all of the great games, I’ve never played a game made by Sony for example, but yeah great review, I will play it eventually
Wow looks like a really great game, so many positive things and graphics are super stylish and good. I will look on video now.
Great review!
I’m always waiting for new games that use this system.🐑