Paper Mario: The Origami King has been highly anticipated by fans of Nintendo and the Paper Mario franchise since it was announced in May. Despite leaks surrounding Paper Mario: The Origami King, there has been plenty of elements that have intrigued fans and many have wondered how the game will balance the elements of other iterations in the franchise. Early reviews are now being reported and it seems that the game largely manages to strike the right chord with players and its previous titles.
For those who are unfamiliar with the core premise of Paper Mario: The Origami King, the title places Mario and his brother in Luigi at an origami festival by the invitation of Princess Peach. Safe to say, things go wrong and players are then tasked with helping NPC's through a series of tasks and battles. The fighting in these games is turn-based and for fans of this style of gaming, the latest title seems to have some interesting elements that add to this kind of playstyle.
Questions have been raised about how the Paper Mario: The Origami King will integrate elements such as a pencil case boss battle but it seems the game has managed to do it. Reviews have largely been positive and while this addition to the series may not be groundbreaking or paper shredding, it seems to add something to the franchise. The early reviews are below.
ComicBook (Megan Peters)
"While The Origami King can feel formulaic at times, the entry does more to reimagine the franchise than not. It won't impress fans who were hoping for a larger RPG focus, but its charming characters and story will keep fans hooked. Paper Mario has never felt so fun than with The Origami King, and its lighthearted feel is the perfect thing for gamers to sit with this summer."
Rating: 5/5
Nintendo Insider (Alex Seedhouse)
"Creased and folded with meticulous care, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a cut above the rest that sees the paper-crafted series back at its best since the rightly lauded Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The moustachioed paper cut-out’s journey to liberate Peach’s Castle offers a personality-packed adventure that’s worth setting out on, and one that will be remembered for the laughter, thrills and standout moments that it delivers."
Rating: 9/10
GamesRadar+ (Sam Loveridge)
"Gripes aside though, the latest Paper Mario title is a joy to exist in. An excellent story, charming characters, and the ability to team up with your oldest foes makes The Origami King a triumph. Yes, it may not be the new Thousand-Year Door RPG, but it's something special that should be celebrated."
Rating: 4.5/5
GameSpot (Suriel Vazquez)
"With a newfound combat system that steals the show and offers a novel take on turn-based combat, its winking, nodding, and adventuring shine all the brighter. Its world and characters might not be the series' best, but it's still able to consistently throw left turns, good gags, and smart surprises at you. Each piece of The Origami King elegantly fits into its whole, taking its irreverent flair to new heights. The Paper Mario series has recently shown that being clever and being smart are two different things, but thankfully, it's once again managed to be both."
Rating: 8/10
Despite these largely positive reviews for Paper Mario: The Origami King and its combat, some reviewers have had a more middling take. Publications such as IGN and My Nintendo News have not praised the fighting mechanics and it appears to be a little decisive. The issues that have bee raised seem to be deeper than the consensus that this iteration is not as good as Paper Mario:Â Thousand-Year Door.
IGN (Cam Shea)
"The Origami King is a truly likeable game despite the shallowness of its new spin on gameplay. Its characters are winsome, its visual design is gorgeous, its world is fun to explore, and its storytelling is outside the box and playful. At the same time, however, it could be so much more. Combat is largely unfulfilling, and your journey as a whole lacks meaningful choices. For a series with RPG roots, that’s a real shame."
Rating: 7/10
My Nintendo News (Colette)
"When all is said and done, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a solid, wonderfully charming adventure-come-puzzle title. Thankfully, for series’ fans, it’s closer to Color Splash than it is to Sticker Star, but the game still doesn’t come close to The Thousand-Year Door territory. Perhaps this is down to The Origami King’s need to do everything at once, rather than focus on one core element of gameplay. Until the series can truly settle and develop an identity to call its own, Paper Mario will always be a little creased in the corners."
Rating 7/10
It seems that Paper Mario: The Origami King is still living in the shadow of the acclaimed Thousand-Year Door iteration which came out sixteen years ago. While this game will implement better graphics and better technical abilities, it appears that it is not quite having the same impact that its predecessor had. Despite this, the reviews for the title are largely positive and it seems that fans of the series and newcomers will have an enjoyable journey if they choose to invest in the title.
Paper Mario: The Origami King releases July 17 for Switch.
