Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door released on 23rd May 2024 for Nintendo Switch. The game was initially released on Nintendo GameCube in 2004 and is one of the most-loved Paper Mario games.
The Switch version exudes the same charm and humour. It features newly-arranged music alongside rich vibrant colours and upgraded HD graphics- which might I add look great on TV as well as in handheld mode – especially if you own a Switch OLED. If you’re wondering about performance, Digital Foundry has given their verdict on whether the drop to 30fps is justified by the visual upgrades.
The game first sees Mario arrive at a town called Rogueport to begin his treasure hunt on behalf of Princess Peach. After a scuffle with Lord Crump and his troops, Mario partners up with archaelogy student, Goombella, a female Goomba who is also on the hunt for treasure. The two set off to search for the missing Princess Peach and hunt down the Crystal Stars to unfold what’s behind the ancient Thousand Year Door.
Each chapter is filled with familiar faces, quirky characters, entertaining stories and creative quests, immersing you in a lively paper-themed world. There’s also lots of places to explore and secrets to unfold. The battles and RPG elements are simple to grasp, accompanied by an easy-to-use badge system to boost your stats. There are lots of hints and tutorials to guide you throughout the game too. This game is ideal for the younger generation to dip their toes into the world of RPGs, but it’s also great if you’re looking for a less complex game to kick back with. The ‘theatre’ backdrop for the battles also conveniently ties in quite nicely following the recent theatre theme in Princess Peach Showtime.