Paper Mario: The Origami King had a lot resting on its shoulders after it was announced. Fans of the early Paper Mario games were not all satisfied with Sticker Star and Color Splash. When the first trailer dropped in 2020, fans welcomed the new game with open arms. The reception was warmer than its predecessor - which drove fans to launch a petition for its cancellation. Does the Switch installment of Paper Mario hold up as a game?
About Origami King
Paper Mario: The Origami King is a turned-based RPG. Whenever Mario approaches an enemy, he initiates a battle where he must take turns with his opponents. Unless the enemy attacks him outside of battle, Mario will have the first turn.
This game was released on July 17, 2020. Intelligent Systems developed this game in collaboration with Nintendo. Fans were disappointed that the battle system diverted from the original two. However, they were largely satisfied with the writing and exploration.
According to the Video Games Chronicle, Intelligent Systems developed this game with innovation in mind. They proclaim to be a group dedicated to expanding upon the previous iterations. They wanted to focus on origami and confetti as their defining characteristics.
Origami King boasts the fastest sales of any Paper Mario game. Three million units were sold in the three months following the release date. Nintendo Life reports that it dethroned Super Paper Mario’s two million sales in one year.
Origami King’s Story
Entering Shangri-Spa (Source: NeoGAF)
The story focuses on King Olly as he subdues the Mushroom Kingdom. He transforms Bowser’s minions and Princess Peach into origami husks. They have no will apart from what he desires.
Mario teams up with Olivia, Olly’s sister. She sides with the “unfolded” people since they shouldn’t be forced to obey him. He wraps Peach’s castle with five paper strands that stretch across the world map. Mario and Olivia then set on a quest to liberate the castle from the five strands.
The game has a similar plot to the previous Mario RPGs. Instead of Bowser being the opponent, a different force seeks to oppress both Bowser and the Mushroom Kingdom. King Olly parallels Smithey, the Shroobs, and Dimentio.
Origami King’s Gameplay
Peach's castle is wrapped in streamers. (Source: Paper Mario Wiki)
Origami King provides hours of content for both newcomers and veterans to Paper Mario. As you play, you will unlock pipes that connect the expansive worlds through a system leading to the Toad Town museum. Each of the worlds feels distinct from one another.
This game improves upon Sticker Star’s level design. Instead of generic Mario worlds, the game map feels full of energy and inspiration.
What this game lacks is an enjoyable combat system. Even though boss battles provide some challenge, normal enemy fights become a bore after you play through the opening section. You will actively avoid encounters toward the middle of the game.
The most enjoyable aspect of the game is filling out the maps. Each level has a list of hidden treasures, Toads, confetti spaces, and hidden blocks. The more you find, the more you will unlock.
Origami King’s Combat
Unlike its predecessors, this game has battles that revolve around a layered wheel. This wheel controls where Mario attacks and which enemies will get pummeled. Your hammer deals damage in a wider radius while the jump attacks have a longer path.
As you find more Toads, they will join Mario’s audience. You can fork out coins for their increased support. This is good for when you are in low health. 999 coins can give you a heart boost for when you fight bosses.
Instead of being focused on one sticker or card, your attacks come from your equipment. You find hammers and boots as you hit blocks and go to the item shop. With repeated use, they will break. Broken items cease to exist in your inventory and need to be replaced with other items.
While the game’s combat isn’t terrible, it lacks the fulfillment that the first two brought. There used to be incentives when battling enemies. - like XP and item drops. In Origami King, most of your enemy encounters will come from them running into you.
Origami King’s Extra Content
This game doesn’t have a detailed mission system like most RPGs. Instead, most of the content is centered around the museum in Toad Town. More collectibles lead to more exhibits on display. If you like collecting, this game is for you.
For dedicated players, try to collect all of the trophies when you beat King Olly. Some of the challenges require you to have an abnormal amount of grit - even for an RPG.
Origami King’s Graphics
Mario unleashes his 1000-Fold Arms. (Source: Ten More Minutes)
This game looks the best out of the entire Paper Mario series. It runs at 1080p when the Nintendo Switch is docked.
To speak of the design, the game embraces its paper aesthetic. Certain areas have wires exposed underneath a layer of construction paper. The characters look flat compared to the three-dimensional backgrounds.
Origami King’s Stability
There have been many glitches patched during the game’s initial launch. Most of the remaining glitches include clipping through walls and models turning invisible.
Some glitches prevent a full 100% completion. The Super Mario Wiki reports that the Sea Tower has a pillar that doesn’t move as the result of a glitch. More details about similar glitches can be found on the glitch list.
Buying Origami King
If you prefer to play games on your Switch digitally, then you should go to the eShop and purchase the game there. For physical releases, try to go to a place like Walmart. Gamestop can be good for finding games not sold elsewhere in your region. However, Walmart usually sells the latest AAA games for ten dollars less than their competitors.
If you are reading this article after the Switch has been discontinued, try looking for a copy at a used game store or on Amazon.
Final Verdict: 8.6/10
Pros:
- Beautiful paper design.
- Simple yet engaging story.
- Inspired map design.
- Good for collectors.
Cons:
- Combat gets boring quickly.
- Some game-breaking glitches.
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