Summary
A new survey from Nintendo related toPaper Mariosuggests that the company is considering bringing in more original characters and designs for future entries. The RPG spinoff of the iconic franchise has served as a staple ofSuper Mariogames since the first game launched on Nintendo 64.Paper Mariohas seen multiple new entries on most major Nintendo consoles, most recently debuting the highly-anticipated remake ofPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Dooron Switch. Now, Nintendo is reportedly looking to build on the spinoff’s unique identity.
The recentPaper Mariorelaunch saw one of the series' most critically acclaimed games come back into the spotlight.Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorinitially served as the franchise’s big new game on the GameCube, often seen as the pinnacle of theMarioRPG spinoffs. The recent remake included a plethora of new enhancements toThe Thousand-Year Door, with upgraded graphics, new quality-of-life features, and even some special bosses. The remake has also reportedly sparked Nintendo’s interest in exploring more unique character ideas and concepts with futurePaper Mariogames.
Nintendo Considering More Original Characters for Paper Mario
As reported by NintendoLife, Nintendo has rolled out a survey about thePaper Mariofranchise in select regions, seeking fan opinions about the spinoff’s characters. The survey reportedly asked players for their opinion on the types of characters featured inPaper Mario, specifically mentioning those with “unique appearances or personalities.” ThePaper Mariogames have typically featured a mix of recognizable characters fromMario’s main-line games and new original characters. The report comes after past claims that thePaper Marioteam was restricted from creating original designsfor newer games.
ThePaper Marioseries has typically been known for its wide variety of original characters based within the Mario universe, often iterating on past designs. Characters like Vivian and Madame Flurrie made their debut in thePaper Marioseries as entirely new cast members for theMariospinoff franchise. Other party members, likeThe Thousand-Year Door’s Goombellaand Koops, feature new twists on the appearances of classic Mario enemies like Goombas and Koopas. Recent entries have stuck closer to theMariofranchise’s standard designs, due to the previously-mentioned restrictions.
The return ofPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorhas already been a hit with both critics and fans following its debut. Just days after its launch,Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorstood as one of2024’s most highly-rated new games, up there with major names likeFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthandTekken 8. The newPaper Mario’s presentation has also been the subject of heavy praise, both for its new graphical elements and updates to individual characters like Vivian.Paper Mariolooks set up for success following the critically-acclaimed release ofThe Thousand-Year Door.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024)
WHERE TO PLAY
Join Mario and friends on an epic paper adventure: A classic story unfolds on the Nintendo Switch system.Collect the Crystal Stars before the bad guys do: The X-Nauts are after the treasure behind the Thousand-Year Door! With a map from Princess Peach—and the help of a few locals—Mario must journey through a colorful world made of paper to find it first.Surprises abound in this deep and engaging tale, where everyone’s got something to say and it’s often not what you’d expect! Here are just a few of the colorful characters you’ll encounter along the way.Master your badges and timing-based attacks to impress the audience in a theatrical twist on turn-based RPG combat. Make use of all the abilities that come with being cursed—er, conveniently made of paper—like folding into a plane to cross big gaps or turning sideways to slip through narrow openings.
