Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo Switch Review and Guide

Hello everyone! I'm your old friend, a game critic and seasoned player. Today, we'll be discussing the rebirth of a classic on the Nintendo Switch – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Originally released on the GameCube in 2004, this game has now arrived on the Nintendo Switch in a high-definition remaster, allowing both new and returning players to experience this charming and creative RPG. Considering everyone's anticipation for the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, we will also intersperse some reflections on the potential of the new console throughout the review.

1. Introduction to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo Switch Edition

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. It is the second installment in the "Paper Mario" series and is often considered the best in the series. The game tells the story of Mario's adventure to save Princess Peach and find the "Thousand-Year Door." The game is renowned for its unique paper style, humorous story, innovative battle system, and rich puzzle elements.

In the Nintendo Switch version, the game's visuals have been remastered in high definition, and the controls have been optimized for the Switch's features. Although the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is still some time away, we can imagine that if this game were to run on the more powerful Nintendo Switch 2, the visual effects and smoothness would be even better. News about the nintendo switch2 price has always been a hot topic, and hopefully, the new console will maintain a reasonable price while improving performance.

2. Gameplay Review: An Infinitely Creative Paper World

2.1. Unique Paper Style

The game's biggest feature is its unique paper art style. All the characters and environments in the game look like they're made of paper, full of childlike fun and creativity. Mario can use his paper body to transform in various ways, such as turning into a paper airplane to glide or rolling into a paper tube to dodge attacks. This unique visual style not only makes the game look different but also brings many interesting gameplay elements.

2.2. Innovative Battle System

The battle system in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is another highlight. The game uses turn-based combat but incorporates "Action Commands," where players need to press buttons at the right time to increase attack power or defense. This interactive combat style prevents players from passively watching battles and requires them to actively participate.

In addition, Mario can fight with various partners, each with their unique skills and abilities. Players need to choose the right partner and skills based on different enemies and situations to achieve victory. This strategic combat makes the game more challenging and fun.

2.3. Rich Puzzle Elements

In addition to combat, the game also contains a large number of puzzle elements. Players need to find clues in various scenes and use Mario's and his partners' special abilities to solve various puzzles. These puzzles are cleverly designed, neither too simple nor too difficult, allowing players to fully experience the joy of puzzle-solving.

2.4. Nintendo Switch Version Operation Optimization

The Nintendo Switch version has optimized the controls for the Joy-Con controllers, allowing players to control Mario and his partners more easily. Touch screen operation is also fully utilized, such as marking on the map or quickly switching items. These optimizations make the gaming experience more fluid and convenient.

3. Graphics and Sound Review: A Classic Reborn

3.1. Visual Enhancements from HD Remaster

One of the biggest improvements in the Nintendo Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the high-definition remaster of the graphics. The characters and scenes in the game have become clearer and more detailed, and the colors are more vibrant. This gives this classic game a new lease of life, and even veteran players can feel a completely new visual experience.

If it can run on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future, with the help of a more powerful GPU, the anti-aliasing effect will be better, and the texture details will be richer, the visual experience will reach a new level. Many players are already eagerly awaiting official news of the nintendo switch2 first look.

3.2. Perfect Reproduction of Classic Soundtrack

The game's soundtrack has also been re-arranged and recorded, retaining the classic melodies of the original soundtrack while adding new elements. The game's sound effects have also been optimized, allowing players to better immerse themselves in the world of the game.

4. Story and Character Review: Humor and Emotion Coexist

4.1. Humorous Story

The story of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is full of humor and spoof. The character dialogues in the game are very interesting and often have unexpected punchlines. The game also subverts some classic elements of the Mario series, such as Princess Peach no longer being a weak character waiting to be rescued but a brave adventurer.

4.2. Distinctive Character Images

The character images in the game are very distinctive, and each character has their own unique personality and background story. Mario's partners are also unique, such as the timid Goomba, Koops, the Tsundere Bob-omb, Bobbery, and the mysterious ghost girl, Vivian. These characters have left a deep impression on players.

5. Guides and Tips: Help You Clear the Game Easily

5.1. Beginner's Guide

For players who are new to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, here are some introductory suggestions:

• Familiarize yourself with the battle system: Mastering the skills of "Action Commands" can effectively improve combat power.
• Talk to NPCs more: NPCs will provide important clues and tasks.
• Explore the scenes: Explore each scene carefully to find hidden items and secrets.
• Make good use of partner skills: Choose the right partner and skills according to different situations.

5.2. Advanced Skills and Strategies

• Perfect Defense: Press the button at the moment the enemy attacks to perform a perfect defense and reduce the damage taken.
• Partner Skill Combinations: Different partner skill combinations can produce unexpected effects.
• Badge Combination: By combining different badges, you can enhance Mario's abilities.
• Hidden Elements: There are many hidden elements in the game, such as hidden rooms, hidden BOSSes, etc., which require players to explore carefully to discover.

5.3. Level Guides

There are some more difficult levels in the game, such as:

• "Glitz Pit": You need to continuously challenge multiple enemies, testing the player's combat skills and strategies.
• "The X-Naut Fortress": Full of dangerous traps and powerful enemies, requiring players to explore and think patiently.

For these levels, it is recommended that players make full use of partner skills and badges and choose appropriate combat strategies.

6. Game Recommendation and Purchase Advice: A Classic Not to Be Missed

6.1. Reasons for Recommendation

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a highly recommended RPG. It has a unique paper style, an innovative battle system, rich puzzle elements, and a humorous story. Whether you are a fan of the Mario series or an RPG lover, you can find fun in this game.

6.2. Purchase Advice

Currently, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo Switch Edition is already available on the Nintendo eShop. It is recommended that players purchase the digital version for easy play anytime, anywhere.

6.3. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Considering the high quality of the game and the rich game content, the cost-effectiveness of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo Switch Edition is very high. Even players who have already played the GameCube version can find new fun in this HD remake. If nintendo switch2 compatibility can be perfectly backward compatible in the future, then playing this game on the new console will be a better choice.

7. Score and Summary: Classic Eternal

Considering all aspects of the game, I give Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Nintendo Switch Edition a high score of 9.5/10.

• IGN: 9.0/10 (Need to search for IGN's score for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and insert the link)
• Metacritic: 87/100 (Need to search for Metacritic's score for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and insert the link)

Reasons for the score:

• The unique paper style and innovative battle system make the game full of creativity and fun.
• The visual enhancements brought by the HD remake give the classic game a new lease of life.
• The humorous story and distinctive character images leave a deep impression on players.
• The operation optimization of the Nintendo Switch version makes the gaming experience smoother and more convenient.

Shortcomings:

• Some puzzle designs are slightly repetitive.
• The plot flow is slightly long, and some players may feel tired.

Summary:

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a classic RPG that is worth experiencing for all players. It is not only an excellent game but also a beautiful memory. Whether you have played the GameCube version or not, you can find new fun in this Nintendo Switch version. I hope to see more similar high-quality remakes on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future.

As a classic, I believe that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door can continue to accompany players, bringing more joy and emotion. I hope my review can be helpful to everyone. See you next time!