Written By: Michael K.
Do you ever remember 2020? I wish I didn’t. 2020 was a dark year for all of us, and the few times that I did find moments of happiness were compensating for an otherwise bleak experience.
But in those brief moments, I was able to rediscover some things that made me reconnect with my younger years of playing games. These games are fun, unique, and always give me that sense of adventure and joy that reminds me of what is worth preserving in this world. But there was one that I remember greater than any other, a game I hadn’t had for 19 years until I picked it up for twenty bucks: Super Paper Mario.
This game is something really special to me, especially as the pandemic began. The main reason is because of its story. Unlike most Mario games, this story is an emotional one. For a game set in a paper universe, it has a story about difficult subjects, namely about loss and dark times. I won’t spoil too much, you really need to experience it yourself, but nonetheless, I warn you: Prepare to ugly cry by the end of the story.
But for a basic synopsis, Peach and Bowser are both kidnapped and forced to get married as part of a ritual, orchestrated by the evil Count Bleck. This ritual spawns an ancient dark power called the Chaos Heart, which begins a prophesied mass destruction of the paper multiverse. Hence, Paper Mario is forced to embark on a quest to visit different worlds, and uncover the magical pure hearts to undo this calamity.
This plot sounds like something out of Tolkien or Lovecraft’s best works, all against the child-friendly art style of Mario’s world. And this, thankfully, doesn’t make the game depressing, in fact, a lot of the game is quite funny! There are jokes found everywhere, from two brothers who fanatically can’t get over each other’s favorite color, to a super-nerd chameleon with robot cats, and many, many more!
As for the gameplay, Super Paper Mario, unlike the others, is a 2D game. The levels are not entirely linear, however, as there are a lot of places where you will be forced to explore and look for different paths, find hidden keys, or rely on the Pixls, little creatures that grant Mario different abilities, from a hammer, to shrinking, to becoming slim as scrunched paper.
Tippi is your main Pixl companion, and provides Mario with his strongest ability: the ability to shift the game’s perspective from 2D to 3D! This adds so much to the game, giving us different paths, helping us find secrets, and adding a new perspective on the levels. It is an amazing upgrade!
And that’s not all! Mario ain’t the only playable character! Peach is playable, with her umbrella giving her the ability to glide and the ability to shield herself from damage. Bowser is playable too! His fire breath and heavier mass deal more damage, making him a powerhouse! And Luigi joins in the fun, with a jump higher than anyone else!
And there’s more! There are different minigames in an arcade, gauntlets of enemies in the pits of 100 trials, and all sorts of worldbuilding you can find at the coffee shop!
Super Paper Mario impressed me with how different it was. Its story, its different levels, the gameplay, and everything it has to offer is incredible. It really did remind me that there is good in this world, and it encouraged me to become closer to my family when I was in quarantine. If you can pick this up at a used game store, or find it on the WII U eshop, pick up this game! It is an experience I am glad that I could have after so many years of hoping to play it!
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