Paper Mario: Sticker Star

 3DS
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 613 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 221 out of 613
  2. Mixed: 161 out of 613
  3. Negative: 231 out of 613
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  1. Ert0426
    Jun 11, 2023
    7
    As someone who has played quite a bit of Super Paper Mario, and has begun playing the first two Paper Marios, I can understand why many people dislike this game, as, yes, it is almost, if not totally completely lacking in a compelling story or unique characters, locales, & races. And I will admit, the combat is not as well designed as previous installments. In spite of all of this, I can'tAs someone who has played quite a bit of Super Paper Mario, and has begun playing the first two Paper Marios, I can understand why many people dislike this game, as, yes, it is almost, if not totally completely lacking in a compelling story or unique characters, locales, & races. And I will admit, the combat is not as well designed as previous installments. In spite of all of this, I can't help but admit that I do enjoy this game a bit. The visuals are quite nice, if bland in terms of uniqueness, I can get a chuckle every now and then from the dialogue, and it was quite fun to collect the stickers. While I will admit that it is far from perfect, overall, sticker star is a bit of a guilty pleasure game of mine.… Expand
  2. Morton
    Dec 20, 2020
    7
    Es ist ein gutes Spiel meiner meinung nach, weil es viele kreative Ideen hat. Ich verstehe den Hate nicht.
  3. OmegaEvolution1
    Feb 2, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm not saying this is a bad game, far from it. I just think once you beat the game, there isn't much content afterwards. Yes there is achievements and the sticker museum but after that it pretty much lacks a post-game. But besides that, this is quite satisfying and fun to play. It's mechanics is what brings me back even to this day. It's just the lack of post-game is what kills it for me.… Expand
  4. TheMarvelousMrL
    Oct 8, 2020
    1
    The game that started the unfortunate downfall of a once great series, everything that made the first three game's so special is completely erased in this game. The diverse and memorable cast of character's and playable partners, the fun and engaging gameplay and the storytelling are completely replaced by generic Toad's and other overused NSMB characters, an unfun unrewarding and poorlyThe game that started the unfortunate downfall of a once great series, everything that made the first three game's so special is completely erased in this game. The diverse and memorable cast of character's and playable partners, the fun and engaging gameplay and the storytelling are completely replaced by generic Toad's and other overused NSMB characters, an unfun unrewarding and poorly designed gameplay mechanic that relies on disposable items and gives you no leveling up or experience from defeating enemy's that make battles a complete waste of time. Instead of a new deep story with an epic adventure which was present in the original trilogy the plot in this game consists of the same boring overused Bowser kidnapped the princess plot which is literally taken from a New Super Mario Bros game. two more games in this series were released after this game and they are unfortunately just as bad or in some cases even worse than this game and with each new release it is looking less and less possible that this series will ever get a decent title that comes close to resembling the quality and creativity that was present in Paper Mario 64, Thousand Year Door and Super Paper Mario.… Expand
  5. megagamersmart1
    Sep 1, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. the game is good overall but the sticker album is either cluttered or empty but other than that the game is very interesting. the game has puzzles that take a second to think about and can be difficult at times… Expand
  6. Symplecort
    Nov 13, 2020
    5
    Is Paper Mario: Sticker Star really as bad as people say?

    Well in some ways, no. This game has some redeeming qualities that no one seems to talk about, like clever and funny dialogue, extremely good music, and fun boss fights, even though the battle system isn't that good. And that's the main problem with this game. The game revolves around these stickers, which you collect throughout    Is Paper Mario: Sticker Star really as bad as people say?

    Well in some ways, no. This game has some redeeming qualities that no one seems to talk about, like clever and funny dialogue, extremely good music, and fun boss fights, even though the battle system isn't that good. And that's the main problem with this game. The game revolves around these stickers, which you collect throughout your journey and use for battles. The attacks are really cool, but you can only use them one time then they're gone forever. You almost never have to worry about running out since each level is filled to the brim with them. But despite that, I always avoided fights whenever I could to save stickers for bosses. That's not a good thing.

    Like all Paper Mario games, you will have to solve puzzles to progress through the game. While some of the puzzles are brilliant, others are practically impossible without a guide, because they revolve around these "things." "Things" are 3D objects found within the game's 38 levels. Once you collect these "things", you can then go to Decalburg, which is the hub world, to paperize them which will allow you to use them. You can paperize as many "things" as you can, as long as your inventory has the space for them. They can also be used in battles, and some battles require the use of a specific one. But there's no real way to tell which of the 64 "things" you need to use without a guide.

    So is this game good? Well if you haven't played a Paper Mario game that was released prior to Paper Mario Sticker Star, you will enjoy this game. But longtime fans of the series will be disappointed that this game is not like its predecessors, with no exp or leveling up, no real reason to battle, and the lack of interesting characters. As for me, the perfect word to describe this game is "ok". It's not bad, but it's far from a magnum opus.    … Expand
  7. Cube6gamer
    Mar 15, 2021
    7
    This game is alright. The Story is fine, graphics are good, music is SLAPPIN, gameplay is ok, Alright game for what it is.
  8. Traumvita
    Sep 6, 2023
    2
    I CANNOT begin to describe my disappointment in this game. I remember being so hyped back in middle school to play a paper Mario on handheld. Loved the first 3. Had the preorder at GameStop went in on release day and I only ever played it on that day. No charm. Combat sucked. Gimmicky trash. I would score it lower but it’s fairly functional and still has the nice paper Mario style. Wish II CANNOT begin to describe my disappointment in this game. I remember being so hyped back in middle school to play a paper Mario on handheld. Loved the first 3. Had the preorder at GameStop went in on release day and I only ever played it on that day. No charm. Combat sucked. Gimmicky trash. I would score it lower but it’s fairly functional and still has the nice paper Mario style. Wish I could forget this ever existed.… Expand
  9. Its_Catter
    Feb 8, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In complete honesty: this is a good game, but a bad Paper Mario game. Same for the 2 games that were released after Sticker Star. It is an incredible experience but if you're looking for Paper Mario, you'll only really find that in the 3 prior entries to this series. This game should not be considered absolutely terrible for deviating from the previous Paper Mario games, nor for causing it's two succeeding games to stay in such deviation. This game certainly has it's problems, but ultimately I personally think they don't affect the overall game except for one single mistake which I will address later.

    Let's talk about the positive things about this game first:

    This game, like the prior entries, has great world design, from the castle at the end of world 1 to the mansion during world 4, all of these stages are very nice to look at (and for some reason Paper Mario is one of the only games that can make desert levels fun). And on top of that the soundtrap that goes along with these worlds is incredible, and the boss themes (especially Gooper Blooper's) are incredibly appealing to the ears.

    However the best part of this game are the bosses, every single one of the 6 bosses in this game are incredibly fun to fight, from flambéing Mizzter Blizzard to batting away Tower Power Pokey, to the entirety of Gooper Blooper, every boss is crafted masterfully and it is the best part of the game in my eyes.

    Now onto the negatives:

    There is practically no story or character development to this game, which practically turns this game into Super Mario Bros. than Paper Mario, now for me this doesn't bother me that much when paired with the positives from before, but the story has been a major sticking point for every Paper Mario game prior, so this has angered tens of thousands of fans.

    There's some minor problems I won't go in depth on, like the lack of info on puzzles, the Kamek flip-flop shenanigans, and problems with certain levels. They aren't important here, there is one big issue however that will either make or break your perception of this game. And that comes from what got many people hooked on the first two games.

    The battle system of the first two games is what made the series so beloved to gamers of all stripes and shades. I hope you liked it then because it all the good parts got stripped away here. Liked partners? Gone. Liked level-ups? Gone. Liked stupid status effects for missing one action command? No? Well it's still there. In this game you use stickers that are gone the second you use them, and what do you get when you win? Coins, coins that are given out like candy when not in battle, which practically leaves there no reason to battle enemies if you're not forced to. Maybe it can help if you're trying to empty the store in world 3 of all it's doors but still, what's the point in fighting if you get coins for practically scratching your nose.

    So yeah if you're looking for a good Paper Mario game, you've reached the wrong half of the series. But if you're looking for a good game, with great platforming and incredible bosses, you can find that in this game right here. And to be honest I think the only negative the positives can't outweigh is the effect it has had on the fanbase as a whole. I do think that this game and it's 2 successors are good games but when you compare them to the 3 real Paper Mario games, it's obvious that Sticker Star, Color Splash, and Origami King stand no chance at beating one if the 3 prior games, even when all 3 are combined.    … Expand
  10. LoL2134
    May 7, 2022
    8
    OK, I understand you all. Paper Mario lost on quality. Sticker star is actually a good game, but as a Paper Mario not.
  11. GDChrome
    Dec 31, 2022
    8
    Dont really get the hate for this game, definitley the worst Paper Mario game, but that doesn't mean it's bad. yes, the sticker mechanic is a bit annoying and the game isn't as charming as it could be, but that's where my gripes end. even though I like the regular RPG gameplay of 64 and the thousand year door better, the sticker mechanic still brings a neat sense of inventory managementDont really get the hate for this game, definitley the worst Paper Mario game, but that doesn't mean it's bad. yes, the sticker mechanic is a bit annoying and the game isn't as charming as it could be, but that's where my gripes end. even though I like the regular RPG gameplay of 64 and the thousand year door better, the sticker mechanic still brings a neat sense of inventory management into this game, the writing is still very charming and the level design is still pretty fun. it is the weakest in the series, but if you want a 3DS game, you can do a whole lot worse than Sticker Star… Expand
  12. Larxi
    Feb 3, 2023
    8
    Buena aproximación del mundo de Paper Mario a la consola 3DS, muy divertido de jugar como viene a ser habitual en todos los Paper,con un gran uso del 3D precioso que hace que te detengas en algún escenario a contemplar el paisaje y su profundidad Una historia divertida con una gran compañera, una banda sonora bastante agradable y un buen repertorio de niveles lleno de secretos y diferentesBuena aproximación del mundo de Paper Mario a la consola 3DS, muy divertido de jugar como viene a ser habitual en todos los Paper,con un gran uso del 3D precioso que hace que te detengas en algún escenario a contemplar el paisaje y su profundidad Una historia divertida con una gran compañera, una banda sonora bastante agradable y un buen repertorio de niveles lleno de secretos y diferentes rutas para ir.
    Lo peor es que la historia a pesar de divertida es muy simple (la más simple de todos los Paper) y también que sin una guía, a veces descubrir por donde tienes que ir, que objeto tienes que usar o que tienes que hacer con ese boss que no se muere porque tienes que usar un objeto determinado, puedes perderte con facilidad y estar dando vueltas sin ningún tipo de pista. Por lo demás muy recomendable y divertido.    … Expand
  13. philsom
    Jun 15, 2023
    8
    Actually the first Paper Mario i actually beat so i didnt have very high standards and i do have some good memories of it, enjoyed it very much as a kid and loved the art style. But seeing it back now some things just dont make sense for an RPG turn based game.
  14. PhoneTheo
    Sep 3, 2023
    8
    Honestly I don't think this game deserves so much hate. Yes it's not as good as the previous paper mario games but this game still manages to be fun and entertaining. The graphics are cool, the characters are good enough and the whole sticker gimick is interesting and not as annoying as people say. The only issue is the lack of EXP/Levels you really don't have a good incentive to fightHonestly I don't think this game deserves so much hate. Yes it's not as good as the previous paper mario games but this game still manages to be fun and entertaining. The graphics are cool, the characters are good enough and the whole sticker gimick is interesting and not as annoying as people say. The only issue is the lack of EXP/Levels you really don't have a good incentive to fight because you lose stickers and barely earn much coins to make them worth.

    Other than that this game is really fun and definitely is worth your time.

    P.S I played this game as my first paper mario game so maybe that's why I didn't hate is as much.    … Expand
  15. TreasureOrTrash
    Sep 8, 2023
    0
    Trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best 3DS Game of 2012
2
#2 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2012
5
#5 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 69
  3. Negative: 1 out of 69
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Feb 21, 2013
    78
    Brilliant humor and an interesting world won't save Mario's latest RPG offering. Even though the stickers add a lot of variety to the turn based battles, an RPG without any character development tends to turn repetitive eventually. Unfortunately for Mario such is the case with Sticker Star. [Feb 2013]
  2. Hyper Magazine
    Feb 10, 2013
    80
    A great reinterpretation of what makes Mario work. [March 2013, p.72]
  3. DarkStation
    Feb 7, 2013
    70
    Unfortunately for it, Paper Mario: Sticker Star has to deal with being a “pretty good” entry in a series that is usually considered amongst the best games on their respective consoles. While I did have fun with it, there were times when I felt like I was just going through the motions, and very little of the innovation or character of previous entries shone through.
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