Few Nintendo properties have as much reach asSuper Mario. The mustachioed plumber first hit the gaming scene in the 1980s and has had a continuously impressive run ever since. Mario jumps on bad guys, races go-karts, and occasionally relaxes with a nice game of golf. The colorful character has even spawned multiple series ofRPG spin-offs, with one of the most notable beginning on the N64 withPaper Mario.
Receiving critical acclaim and going down as one of the best games on the console,Paper Mariospawned multiple sequels and a fanbase all its own. Recently, Nintendo announced the originalPaper Mariowill be added to Nintendo Switch Online this week, allowing newer players to discover its magical and richly detailed worlds. Hopefully this newfound attention will popularize its levels, which have been woefully underused in theSuper Mariofranchise at large. Based purely on personality and design, many of these areas would be perfect for Mario to traverse in a future 3D platformer.
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Paper Mario - Charming, Unique Levels
Paper Mariohit store shelves in 2001, just as the next generation of consoles (PS2, GameCube, Xbox) was getting set to kick off. Even with this in mind,Paper Mariopulled no punches, providing the system with a swan song worthy of its legacy. Unlike otherN64 games of the erathat have aged significantly from a visual perspective,Paper Mario’s clever art direction helped it stand the test of time.
The gamemakes great use of its “paper” aesthetic, having characters presented in a 2D format while the environments around them are 3D, like a cardboard playset (with some structures even falling apart like cardboard). Even more importantly, these locations are not just the standard environments found in anRPG adventure, such as a forest, fire, or water area. Each of them holds a unique personality, and ultimately stand apart in the best of ways.
Dry Dry Desert, as its name would suggest, is an endless sea of sand filled with ancient mysteries; Shy Guy’s Toy Box is a zany, colorful wonderland; Gusty Gulch feels like an abandoned town from an old Western film; and Shiver City has a pleasant, invitingChristmas-like atmosphere. No two locations are the same, ensuring a consistent pace that keeps things fresh. Seeing new sights keeps the quest varied and exciting, while these new landscapes and geographical layouts can also pave the way to different gameplay ideas.
Paper Mario - Translating these Levels into 3D
Bearing all of this in mind, its a mystery why Nintendo has mostly ignored these locations. Mario’s mainline 3D titles likeSuper Mario 64orSuper Mario Odysseyall thrive on crafting visually and mechanically unique environments. InSuper Mario 64,for example, Big Boo’s Haunt and Lethal Lava Land are vastly different, with the former requiring more careful exploration whereas the latter demands pitch-perfect platforming.
Even if Nintendo didn’t want to re-usePaper Mariolevels again exactly as they are, reshaping them into spiritual successors would work just as well. These areas seem ripe with possibilities for new gameplay mechanics and would truly shine from a graphical standpoint, especially considering how gorgeous many of the areas inSuper Mario Odysseylooked. Players could climb tall plants in Flower Fields to gain more vertically in the level, or use a jack-in-the-box to bounce higher into the air in Shy Guy’s Toy Box. There are plenty of opportunities that both look good on paper, and would likely translate well to the third dimension.
Paper Mariois available on N64 and will release as part of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on December 10.
