Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

 3DS
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 76 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 76
  3. Negative: 1 out of 76
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  1. Slant Magazine
    Feb 11, 2016
    40
    Because creativity comes at the cost of cohesion, the whole adventure turns into one irritating mini-game.
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  1. Ars Technica
    Dec 9, 2015
    There's little to complain about on a technical level, but Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam Bros quickly becomes a repetitive slog.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Jan 26, 2016
    Those clever, dialogue-driven interludes are all the downtime Paper Jam needs. Yet it pads itself out with mindless chores that waste time and momentum. It’s maddening when you have to endure so much chaff just to reach that rewarding point of forward progress—and it is rewarding.

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best 3DS Game of 2016
8
#8 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2016
2
#2 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 235 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 147 out of 235
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 235
  3. Negative: 40 out of 235
  1. RobotGuy405
    Jan 30, 2016
    10
    Mario and Luigi Paper Jam is an excellant RPG for all ages fun game play amazing humor great story an overall perfect game i felt like itMario and Luigi Paper Jam is an excellant RPG for all ages fun game play amazing humor great story an overall perfect game i felt like it wasn't too hard for the younger gamers and not to easy for the hardcore gamers i recommend you pick this game up you won't regret it.… Full Review »
  2. NMFreed
    Feb 7, 2016
    6
    When Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was announced in early 2015 for the Nintendo 3DS, we were all left just a little bit confused.

    The title,    When Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was announced in early 2015 for the Nintendo 3DS, we were all left just a little bit confused.

    The title, which crosses over the two Mario role playing game series, Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, is fun, sure, but it loses its focus in trying to streamline game play with new and innovative ideas. This is where Paper Jam folds.

    The premise is simple enough: Luigi, being the not-so-smart guy he is, accidentally opens a book portal to the Paper Mario dimension, releasing Bowser, his son and plenty of goombas, koopas and shy guys into the Mario & Luigi world. Of course, this also includes paper versions of Peach, Bowser and Mario. But not any of the awesome supporting characters that make the Paper Mario games so great. More on that later.

    We’re then introduced to the central conflict of the game, and it’s sort of lame. For two game series that have prided themselves on engaging villains, lengthy story lines and nostalgic callbacks to the original Mario role playing game, Paper Jam doesn’t seem to get it. Here, paper Bowser and regular Bowser team up, kidnap Peach and attempt to rule the world. Great. Also, Bowser Jr. and his counterpart seem to lead very sad lives.

    But, as with all Mario titles, we can’t always look so closely at the story. And in this entry, the game play is where things work just a little bit better.

    The general combat is a great improvement over 2013’s Dream Team. Though we’ve lost the ability to stack tons of Luigis on top of each other, we get some great mechanics in the form of power-ups, items and more. When Paper Mario is brought into the fold, things get even more exciting, albeit a bit complicated.

    Paper Mario has the ability to copy himself and attack with them. It’s a gimmick, sure, but it works, and it makes the grinding battles go by that much faster. Speaking of fast, the game sports a fast forward button, allowing players to speed up cutscenes and text bubbles, a welcome addition. You can also skip tutorials if you’ve played a game in the series before.

    The game’s newest feature comes in the form of giant papercraft mech battles, courtesy of the displaced paper Toads. These battles have you piloting a mech in real time and taking out other giant-sized papercrafts. It’s really fun, actually, but why is it here?

    In recent years, the RPG roots of the Paper Mario series have taken a backseat to innovative ideas like this one, but it was only a matter of time before the Mario & Luigi series caved as well. It would be nice to see things like this in a wholly original title, and have these RPG series focus on great story and awesome characters like literally anyone from Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. Hey, it is kind of cool to see Nabbit from New Super Mario Bros. U, though.

    Overall, Paper Jam is a solid foundation bogged down by its own innovation. The watercolor art is stunning, Mario and Luigi are still hilarious, but we need more than a few pancake jokes and Toad-catching minigames next time, Nintendo.

    - Nicholas Friedman, Denton Record-Chronicle    … Full Review »
  3. EpicLadySponge
    Jan 22, 2016
    8
    A lovely game for you to keep in your Nintendo 3DS collection. People have been dying to get it and they finally got what they deserved. Don'tA lovely game for you to keep in your Nintendo 3DS collection. People have been dying to get it and they finally got what they deserved. Don't miss this, North America, at all!… Full Review »
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