Marking its fifth anniversary on July 17, 2025, Paper Mario: The Origami King is explored here for its role in steering the Paper Mario series back towards its foundational strengths after years of evolution.
Unlike Mario`s consistently acclaimed platformers, the Paper Mario series has seen varied reception. The initial two entries, Paper Mario (N64) and The Thousand-Year Door (GameCube), are celebrated as quintessential RPGs, beloved for their imaginative worlds and distinct humor. Subsequent titles, however, drifted from these RPG origins, losing core elements that defined their predecessors. Paper Mario: The Origami King on Switch stands out as the only recent installment to recapture some of that original brilliance.
The series` shift began with Super Paper Mario (2007). Initially a GameCube project using recycled assets from The Thousand-Year Door, it was later moved to the Wii due to the GameCube`s declining sales, becoming many players` first encounter with the franchise.
Super Paper Mario significantly altered the gameplay. While earlier titles were primarily turn-based RPGs with platforming, this entry reversed the focus, becoming a platformer with minor RPG mechanics. Although experience points still boosted stats, the game featured side-scrolling levels and replaced turn-based combat with real-time enemy stomping, reminiscent of classic Super Mario Bros.
Though a stark departure, Super Paper Mario was an enjoyable game, preserving the series` humor while innovatively twisting its mechanics. However, it also marked a new direction for the franchise, emphasizing simpler narratives and more direct gameplay over deep RPG elements.
This shift continued with Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS). While turn-based combat returned, party members were removed, forcing Mario to fight alone. Key RPG elements were simplified or removed entirely; coins served as both currency and experience, and consumable stickers replaced badges and Flower Points. This attempt to deconstruct RPGs alienated many fans, as it veered further from the series` beloved foundations.
Fan dissatisfaction also stemmed from Sticker Star`s level-based structure. Designed for handheld play, its world was segmented into discrete levels on a world map, unlike the interconnected environments of earlier titles. While more puzzle-focused than Super Paper Mario`s stages, these disjointed levels lacked the distinct sense of place and whimsical charm that made earlier Paper Mario locales so memorable.
Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U), the successor to Sticker Star, improved upon some contentious aspects and was better received. However, it retained the level-based progression and resource-dependent combat. While an improvement, it remained significantly different from the original games, solidifying the perception of a permanent change in the Paper Mario series.
Therefore, the announcement of Paper Mario: The Origami King was met with mixed feelings. Despite its promising appearance, fans questioned if it would revert to the series` roots or persist with recent divisive trends. The final product struck a balance: while embracing the action-adventure style of its predecessors, it also evoked the spirit of older games through its expansive world and eccentric characters, positioning it as the best entry in over a decade and a hopeful sign for the series` future.
This positive shift is immediately apparent in The Origami King`s game world. It abandons the segmented levels of Sticker Star and Color Splash for a vast, interconnected environment, echoing the scope and creativity of the first two Paper Mario titles. Mario explores diverse, memorable locales, from Autumn Mountain`s vibrant papercraft foliage to the extravagant Shroom City desert oasis. Each area is richly detailed and populated by amusing characters, making them feel like genuine places rather than disconnected stages.
Significantly, Mario no longer adventures alone. The Origami King introduces a rotating roster of partner characters. Though not as combat-versatile as the iconic companions from the initial games, they enrich the world and narrative. Olivia, the endearing Origami sprite, is a standout, crucial for both battles and plot progression. Other allies appear throughout, like an eager Toad archaeologist and even Bowser, humorously folded like a greeting card for most of the journey.
The most memorable companion is Bobby, an amnesic Bob-omb joining in the second chapter. Despite his plain appearance (a standard Bob-omb without a fuse), Bobby`s poignant character arc leads to a surprising and emotional climax, making him one of the series` most impactful allies, a remarkable feat for a game centered on paper characters.
The battle system has also been commendably redesigned. Eschewing the resource management of prior entries, The Origami King introduces a dynamic panel-sliding system. Players must quickly rotate sections of the arena to align enemies for maximum damage, transforming each fight into a fast-paced micro-puzzle. This innovative system stands as the series` most thrilling combat mechanic since the original turn-based system of the first two Paper Mario games.
While The Origami King doesn`t surpass every aspect of the series` peak, its strengths bring it closer to the original Paper Mario magic than other recent titles. The future direction of the series remains uncertain, especially with The Thousand-Year Door receiving a lavish Switch remake in 2024. Nevertheless, Paper Mario is currently in a much stronger position than it has been in years.