After nearly 20 years, one of the most beloved Mario RPGs is making a grand return. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is being remastered for the Nintendo Switch, giving both longtime fans and newcomers the chance to experience this classic adventure. Thanks to Nintendo of Canada, I’ve been playing this highly anticipated Nintendo Switch remake. And, I am here to share with you a little bit about the game.
Let’s jump in and take an early look at Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Nintendo Switch!
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door details
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Intelligent Systems
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Role-playing
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
A beloved classic returns
Originally released in 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube, The Thousand-Year Door was a high point for the Paper Mario series. It was praised for its charming characters, clever writing, and engaging turn-based combat. Now this fan favourite game is being given new life with updated visuals and quality-of-life improvements that make the experience more accessible than ever.
The upcoming Nintendo Switch remake of The Thousand-Year Door is a big deal for fans. It finally brings this classic adventure to a much wider audience on a modern platform. This is not just a simple port, but a remake that features updated visuals, quality-of-life improvements, and some new features.
The remake is being developed by Intelligent Systems, the studio behind the entire Paper Mario series. Nintendo has stated the goal is to make the game more accessible to new players while still preserving the core experience that fans fell in love with two decades ago. This includes maintaining the game’s distinctive papercraft art style and quirky sense of humour, while modernizing the presentation.
Bringing a cult classic into the modern era
While the core gameplay remains intact, The Thousand-Year Door has received a visual overhaul. And, it brings the papercraft world to life in stunning detail. The environments now contain warm, realistic lighting, with characters and objects casting dynamic shadows. You’ll be happy to know that the papercraft aesthetic has been preserved, but now everything looks sharper and more vibrant. Even small touches, like the visible seams add to the handcrafted feel.
Aside from the graphical upgrades, The Thousand-Year Door on Nintendo Switch includes some welcome new features. A new Battle Master NPC allows you to practice your action commands and try out different badges without having to be in the middle of a fight. There’s also a new Nostalgic Tunes badge that lets you swap between the original GameCube soundtrack and the remastered audio. Quality-of-life improvements include the ability to quickly swap between partners with a single button press, and Goombella can now provide helpful hints, even when she’s not in your active party.
While these new features are appreciated, the core of The Thousand-Year Door remains intact. This is still the same charming, humorous RPG adventure that fans fell in love with two decades ago. You’ll join Mario on a quest to collect the mysterious Crystal Stars. Battling a nefarious group called the X-Nauts along the way. The story is full of memorable characters, both allies and adversaries. And, the writing is as clever and witty as ever.
The turn-based combat also remains intact, blending traditional RPG mechanics with platforming-inspired action commands. Mastering the timing of these button presses can mean the difference between victory and defeat, adding an extra layer of challenge and skill to the battles.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door launches on Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024
With the Paper Mario series taking a more divisive turn in recent entries, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Nintendo Switch represents an opportunity for Nintendo to revisit one of the high points of the franchise. Fans have been clamouring for a re-release of this GameCube classic. And, you’ll be happy to hear, The Thousand-Year Door on Nintendo Switch is shaping up to be the definitive way to experience this beloved adventure.
The visual upgrades breathe new life into the papercraft world, while the new features and quality-of-life improvements make this the most accessible version yet. With its charming characters, engaging combat, and clever writing, The Thousand-Year Door is one of the best Mario RPG games. And, based on the time I spent with the game so far, Nintendo is set to deliver a faithful yet enhanced version that both longtime fans and newcomers alike will enjoy.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door launches for Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024. Look for my full review right here on the Best Buy Blog in the coming weeks!
Pre-order Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Nintendo Switch
