Beginning with the original Paper Mario (2000) on the N64, the quirky, alternating series of RPG spin-offs has received an exclusive entry on every major Nintendo console since. Despite the fact that every Paper Mario game released to date (including the controversial Sticker Star) has received mostly positive reviews from critics, none have come close to the popularity of the GameCube fan favorite Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004). Rumors of an HD remaster of TTYD have been floating around the internet for a while, but Nintendo greatly exceeded expectations when they officially announced late last year that a full remake for the Switch was set for a 2024 release to celebrate the original’s 20th anniversary. .
Before I delve deeper into this review, I feel like I should come clean and admit that while I’ve heard a lot about the game since I’ve been an active participant in various Nintendo communities, I’ve never actually experienced the original Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for myself. . However, having now made it through the first three chapters of the Switch remake (which confusingly has the same name as the GameCube version since Nintendo uses subtitles like “HD” and “Deluxe” for ports and remasters instead of remakes), I can confidently say that I’m finally getting around what’s all the fuss about.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door makes further sense as to why GameCube games are not included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack despite constant demand. As a fan, of course that would be a dream come true, but logistically speaking, the GameCube is just old enough for Nintendo to re-release some of the games individually at full price. This first became apparent with the recent HD remasters of Metroid Prime and Pikmin 1+2, but the amount of quality care that went into the upcoming TTYD remake has me fully convinced that this is the better decision overall. While it’s essentially the same game as it was 20 years ago, the changes that have been made make it feel like something completely new, whether you’re playing it for the first time or revisiting a classic adventure.
While the core of the game remains the same, there are a few quality of life changes and tweaks that stood out to me when comparing the remake to the original. Not only has the menu received a complete visual overhaul, there are now several additional options, including an art gallery (which features a look at concept art) and a sound gallery (functioning as a music player). The contents of these galleries are separated by chapter, and to unlock them, you must not only complete the chapter and get the Crystal Star, but also find all the star pieces (for the art gallery) and Shine Sprites (for the sound galleries) within said chapter. Outside of the menus, there’s now a handy speed dial to easily switch between party members, some badges have been renamed (ie Attack FX P is now Peach’s giggle sound instead of Attack FX G), new badges have been introduced (including one that changes the background music to the original GameCube tracks), and characters only appear on the main title screen after they join your party (only Mario is there when you first start the game).
The modern graphics of the remake really make the game fresh and new while still maintaining the charm and identity of the original. While some may not like the glossier, reflective look of the environments, the subtle white outlines around the edges of the characters make them look more like cardboard rather than paper (not to be confused with the thick white borders of the next Paper Mario games), I was thoroughly impressed with the art direction and believe that is worth replaying for fans of the original for the visuals alone. However, one notable drawback is that the game now runs at 30fps instead of the 60fps it did on the GameCube. As someone who is very frame rate sensitive (it’s all I can think about while playing 3-4 player split screen in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), I surprisingly found that it’s mostly a non-issue in this particular case.
One of the ways TTYD sets itself apart from more recent Paper Mario titles is its unique cast of characters that really make the world feel alive and alive. The witty, well-written dialogue made me actually want to interact and talk to every character I came across while exploring, which for me personally is a rarity when it comes to RPGs. Kensuke Tanabe, producer of the Paper Mario series since Super Paper Mario (2007), stated that Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto only wanted developers to use established characters as much as possible and that the frogs should not “graphically represent individual characteristics.” Since TTYD defies this, Nintendo’s remake of the game brings hope for the future of the series.
If you had told me in the early days of the Switch that The Thousand-Year Door would get a remake before the Paper Mario: Color Splash port (one of the last few Wii U exclusive games left), I would have thought you were crazy. But in a world where even Super Mario RPG got a faithful remake from Square Enix, I wouldn’t be surprised if a revival of Mario’s other RPG series, Mario & Luigi, is next in line (although series developer AlphaDream unfortunately filed for bankruptcy in 2019). As the life cycle of the current generation of consoles comes to an end, I can’t wait to see what Nintendo does next.
If the first three chapters are anything to go by, the Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the definitive way to play the beloved GameCube classic. So far, everything that people loved about the original seems to have remained true and unchanged. With updated graphics, a remastered soundtrack, quality of life changes and more, what is widely considered one of the best games in the Paper Mario series is now even better. Be sure to keep an eye out for our full review before Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door launches for Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024.
A copy of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was provided by Nintendo UK for review purposes.
