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While I would probably list Metroid Prime as my favourite Gamecube game of all time, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is a close second. More charming than a Disney prince, the Mario role-playing game is head and shoulders above any other RPG featuring the plucky plumber, and far superior to other games in the Paper Mario series. Indeed, after years of disappointing Paper Mario sequels on various platforms, Nintendo has finally bit the bullet and given modern gamers a taste of a true classic. So forget the likes of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Dragon’s Dogma 2, because the best RPG of 2024 is Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door on Nintendo Switch; a 20-year-old Gamecube release that’s an absolute must-play, even if you don’t normally like role-playing games.
What I like most about The Thousand Year Door is that it tries a lot of different things and does them all really well.
The story is great, the characters are memorable, the script is funny, the combat is simple but fun, and there’s a ton of variety.
A bit of backtracking aside (but more on that later), there’s never a dull moment and no point where you feel even slightly bored.
Compared to games like Fire Emblem where there’s endless chatter and exposition, or Advance Wars where there’s too much hand holding during the early stages, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door gets stuck in from the get-go.
Not only are you constantly meeting interesting new characters and learning new abilities, but each new location offers something completely different, in terms of visuals, atmosphere and gameplay.
The interludes where you play as Princess Peach and Bowser, the murder mystery aboard the Excess Express and the chapter with the pigs in Twilight Town are just some of my favourite parts in a game that’s absolutely full of them.
It’s like the developers threw hundreds of great ideas at a board, and the director greenlit each and every one.
While the game itself is exceptional, as a port for Nintendo Switch, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is just OK. It’s not a lazy port or anything, just not the big transformation we’ve seen with other games like Super Mario RPG Remake or Link’s Awakening.
Take the visuals, for example. The Nintendo Switch version may be a bit sharper, but the original Gamecube release still looks fantastic, especially if you’ve got a decent HDMI adaptor for the console.
Also, while it doesn’t make a huge difference in a game like this, the Switch version runs at 30 frames-per-second, compared to the 60FPS of the original. It’s more consistent on the Switch, but still a bit disappointing overall.
The new lighting, however, is a noticeable upgrade. Some sections appear darker than in the original, but it’s done for the good of the atmosphere. Take the Rogueport Inn, which feels more like a seedy tavern thanks to the new shading effects. Speaking of atmosphere, new tunes and musical arrangements also add to the overall sense of place.
Ultimately, however, the main focus for the Nintendo Switch version are the wide variety of quality of life upgrades.
Chief among these are the new shortcuts and superior fast-travel system, which makes backtracking far less painful. You’ll also be able to hold more items and coins, plus there are one or two new shops and save points. Oh, and you can retry boss battles.
A lot of the tweaks are things we take for granted in 2024, and won’t seem like a big deal for newcomers. However, if you’re familiar with the original game, you’ll be thankful Nintendo identified any potential flaws and made the appropriate changes.
I’m not sure I would recommend the Switch port if you own the Gamecube original, although with prices skyrocketing for a pristine copy of the 2004 release, I would advise cashing in and upgrading to the Switch version, which feels a bit more definitive.
Having foolishly sold my copy back when I was a poor student, I’ve loved being able to revisit Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door on Nintendo Switch.
Despite launching two decades ago, this feels fresher and more interesting than most of the big-budget blockbusters releasing today, and is absolutely essential if you’re yet to experience its delights.
VERDICT: 5/5