Paper Mario: The Origami King

 Switch
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1769 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,103 out of 1769
  2. Mixed: 269 out of 1769
  3. Negative: 397 out of 1769
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  1. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    6
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! pmok
  2. Cornisreal2003
    Aug 10, 2023
    7
    definitely an improvement over color splash. the music is INSANE, the writing is still funny and the new designs are pretty good. my main problems are the continued use of generic Mario characters or completely different styles, at least something more interesting like other semi obscure Mario characters would be pretty fine with me. My other main problem is the battle system. its a dragdefinitely an improvement over color splash. the music is INSANE, the writing is still funny and the new designs are pretty good. my main problems are the continued use of generic Mario characters or completely different styles, at least something more interesting like other semi obscure Mario characters would be pretty fine with me. My other main problem is the battle system. its a drag especially earlier on, if the battles were like Super Paper Mario and played entirely without the turn based system I think that'd actually work. definitely a good time, but could use some improvements… Expand
  3. davy420
    Apr 30, 2023
    6
    I love Mario games, been playing them since I was a kid, but this game has issues. I love the story, and I love the characters, Olivia is awesome.

    But, and a huge BUT, the combat system is repetitive and boring, makes me want to rage quit. Also a lot of filler that is not needed. Like the game show, it's fine as a side quest, but not apart of the main story. But yeah, the combat    I love Mario games, been playing them since I was a kid, but this game has issues. I love the story, and I love the characters, Olivia is awesome.

    But, and a huge BUT, the combat system is repetitive and boring, makes me want to rage quit. Also a lot of filler that is not needed. Like the game show, it's fine as a side quest, but not apart of the main story.

    But yeah, the combat system get boring fast, real fast. You can't even flee half the time, you are stuck in it and you die. Not worth your money, it gets frustrating.    … Expand
  4. Jobni
    Apr 16, 2023
    7
    As many already have mentioned, it has a terrible battle mode. There is absolutely nothing entertaining about it, and I try to avoid it, whenever I can. But if you can live with the horrible battle mode, then overall it is a fun and entertaining game, which you can spend many hours on. It is easy to control and you try many things in the game.
  5. wensday
    Mar 23, 2023
    5
    Disappointed in this one, though some gameplay elements were fun. The story gets awkward and messy at times and seems like it was pieced together by different teams which makes it hard to get invested in the characters like previous Paper Marios. I wish they'd made something more cohesive. The game feels like 100 ideas slapped together and then a story was formed around those ideas, whichDisappointed in this one, though some gameplay elements were fun. The story gets awkward and messy at times and seems like it was pieced together by different teams which makes it hard to get invested in the characters like previous Paper Marios. I wish they'd made something more cohesive. The game feels like 100 ideas slapped together and then a story was formed around those ideas, which is why parts of the game are jarring or feel like an utter slog. I found the new battle system oscillated between too easy or too artificially difficult, and not a lot in between. The summoning circles interested me at first because they reminded me of Tearaway, but they ended up feeling forced and clunky instead of organic. The collectibles are pointless and seemed like a way to artificially add content for the sake of adding content. Overall, this didn't feel like a PM game and didn't have the quality I expected, and even though I went in with an open mind, I still didn't care for it. You're not missing anything if you skip this one.… Expand
  6. Niffty24
    Jan 28, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is not like the other paper mario games in that it barely leans into its rpg elements and is just puzzle. And, unfortunately, the puzzles are frustrating, where you have to memorize what order they're supposed to be solved rather than enjoying putting the puzzle together. And, we're talking all battles, with the vellumentals being the worst and everything after just getting progressively worse. Add to that Oliver or Ollie, or whatever the main secondary character's name is, is so annoying that I legitimately felt like leaving her under the rock she gets smooshed under later in the game and this is a game you'll get about 3/5 of the way through (hence the 6/10 rating) and then will probably quit, trade in, and get a game you might actually enjoy. It is very pretty though, probably the only enjoyable aspect.… Expand
  7. TitaniumDragon
    Dec 4, 2022
    5
    The Paper Mario games are always very whimsical, and Paper Mario: The Origami King is no exception. As usual, you play as Mario, in his paper form, in a world made of paper. You are going to the Origami Festival near Princess Peach’s castle, and, as happens in literally every game, something terrible happens – in this case, Princess Peach has been folded up into a horrible mind-controlledThe Paper Mario games are always very whimsical, and Paper Mario: The Origami King is no exception. As usual, you play as Mario, in his paper form, in a world made of paper. You are going to the Origami Festival near Princess Peach’s castle, and, as happens in literally every game, something terrible happens – in this case, Princess Peach has been folded up into a horrible mind-controlled origami replica of herself by the titular Origami King. You soon learn that all of Bowser’s soldiers have also been folded up, and poor Bowser himself is little more than a square with a face.

    Naturally, it falls to Mario and his origami companion, Olly’s sister Olivia, to save the world.

    You proceed through six (though actually more like fifteen or so) distinct zones, each of them capped off with a boss. As you go through the game, you learn more about the origins of Olly and Olivia, as well as recruiting a rotating set of companions, some of which are familiar faces and some of them entirely new ones.

    Well, okay, not entirely new; you’ve seen their types before, but these are original characters.

    There are some surprisingly emotional moments in the story, but mostly, it is just silly – which, while okay, rarely excels. There are some fun gags, but it’s all very light, and not tremendously memorable. The serious moments in the game ARE memorable, all the more so for how surprising they are and how much they contrast with everything else.

    Unfortunately, there’s only really two of these moments, and the second one doesn’t stick around enough to really impact the player.

    Sadly, the actual game half of the game is no better. Replacing standard TTRPG combat is a puzzle wheel system, where you rotate enemies to line them up to either smash them with your hammer or hop on their heads. You get a bunch of durability based weapons that can only be used so many times before running out, but you end up with enough of them (and they are cheap enough to buy) that you never DO run out, and basically it feels pretty much entirely pointless beyond “Do I use weapon A, B, or C against this enemy type based on the line up?”

    The bosses use the same system, but instead of you lining up enemies, instead Mario starts out on the edge of a circle and the wheels have to be aligned to create a path for him, set up with arrows that tell him to move in a particular direction, with other panels that boost his attacks, allow him to attack the boss normally, or to use special “magical” powers, the last of which have to be enabled with “on” switches that are hidden in treasure chest panels you have to run over to enable, which also drops hearts and coins onto the battlefield.

    The bosses are really the highlight of the game mechanically, and are all reasonably enjoyable; the ordinary combat encounters are honestly basically pointless, as they are fundamentally all the same and don’t really add much to the game.

    Overall, though, the core gameplay is pretty epehemeral. The bosses are really the only parts that are at all memorable, and going through the game, most of what you’re doing is not particularly interesting or exciting. They try to throw in some gags, but honestly, most of the areas are just kind of there and most of the environmental puzzles are straightforward enough that it just doesn’t sell the game to the player.

    All in all, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a game that is hard to have strong feelings about. It wasn’t bad to play, but at the same time, it was rarely actively good, with the strong parts interspersed with what was fundamentally filler levels that don’t challenge the player in a meaningful way. Only a few points did anything really clever, and the rest of it was just mildly clever at most.

    Alas, this makes it hard to recommend, though I wouldn’t say it is bad, either. It’s merely mediocre – and with so many good games out there, there’s a lot of better things you can do with your time and money.    … Expand
  8. stupidopinion
    Oct 23, 2022
    7
    I'm going to start this off with the most positive thing I can say about this game. This game has the best OST of any Mario game, better than Odyssey, Better than 3D World, better than Galaxy. Don't believe me? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXrspb-qLg Here is a concert of just a FEW of the best songs in this game, it is so fantastic I cannot recommend listening to it enough. The gameI'm going to start this off with the most positive thing I can say about this game. This game has the best OST of any Mario game, better than Odyssey, Better than 3D World, better than Galaxy. Don't believe me? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCXrspb-qLg Here is a concert of just a FEW of the best songs in this game, it is so fantastic I cannot recommend listening to it enough. The game itself is fun with lots to enjoy. It has very witty dialogue, probably the best in the series, and some truly memorable characters despite its limitations. The world is detailed and beautiful, probably one of the best looking games on the switch. The story itself is fine, with a few highlights coming from Bobby and in Bowser Castle, though I feel it would be a lot better if it took itself a tad more seriously. The gameplay itself is also fine, with fun overworld puzzles and a decent amount of exploration, but so often it feels like the developers are fighting against invisible restrictions placed onto the game for no real reason. It feels like so many areas could have been expanded and brought new life. Instead Mario assets we've seen a million times over make up most of the cast and I just can't get past that. The Ring Combat system is okay, but it does get old over time, especially on a second playthrough. I feel like this game is designed to only be played once and then to be left alone, on a second playthrough so much of the game simply doesn't have the impact it did the first time around, even if you wait over a year after its release. It's definitely a step in the right direction for the series and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a goofy RPG that isn't a major challenge.

    The game is about 20-25 hours to beat    … Expand
  9. onpaper
    Oct 2, 2022
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's just another story about a poor little yellow girl that does all the hard work, and then sacrifices herself to save a rich white blond girl.… Expand
  10. enthusiastvevo
    Jul 6, 2022
    6
    The best aspect of The Origami King is the writing with the dialogue and interractions, but outside of that, the game feels like almost nothing. This entry in the Paper Mario franchise was rumored to be channeling back to the series' RPG roots, when in reality it felt like Colour Splash felt more faithful to said roots. The game is a puzzle game with ring based combat sections sprinkled inThe best aspect of The Origami King is the writing with the dialogue and interractions, but outside of that, the game feels like almost nothing. This entry in the Paper Mario franchise was rumored to be channeling back to the series' RPG roots, when in reality it felt like Colour Splash felt more faithful to said roots. The game is a puzzle game with ring based combat sections sprinkled in there. To get it out of the way, the combat is frankly pointless, the only reward is coins, which are also almost pointless. Coins can be used to buy battle items or collectibles that feel insanely overpriced in some instances. Boss battles feel sort of repetetive besides the Sumo Bros fight in the latter half of the game. Even the final boss doesn't attempt anything new, simply rehashing ideas the player has already encountered and most likely got bored of, as I did. It didn't feel worth it upon completion, and I simply enjoyed Colour Splash more, still better than Sticker Star, however. I just hope we get a remastered trilogy of sorts on the switch.… Expand
  11. Herbalmouse1305
    May 29, 2022
    6
    this game is the apotome of modern Paper Mario
    - looks amazing
    - sounds amazing
    - great puzzles and adventuring
    - PLEASE F***ING G-D DONT RUN INTO THAT GOOMBA, THIS BATTLE SYSTEM CAN DIE IN A HOLE
    - writing is really funny
  12. slaine130177
    May 14, 2022
    6
    Pour avoir fait tous les opus Paper Mario, cet épisode Switch est vraiment le moins bon du lot. Pas très passionnant, trop facile, ou encore lent et manquant de surprises, on passe un agréable moment mais sans plus. Ce que j'en ai retenu:

    Points positifs: - l'univers paper mario qui reste magique - quelques niveaux qui sortent un peu du lot - une réalisation soignée mais pas extra    Pour avoir fait tous les opus Paper Mario, cet épisode Switch est vraiment le moins bon du lot. Pas très passionnant, trop facile, ou encore lent et manquant de surprises, on passe un agréable moment mais sans plus. Ce que j'en ai retenu:

    Points positifs:
    - l'univers paper mario qui reste magique
    - quelques niveaux qui sortent un peu du lot
    - une réalisation soignée mais pas extra ordinaire

    Points négatifs:
    - le système de combat: chiant, monotone, vite pénible
    - les boss non charismatiques
    - les dialogues insupportables (trop, trop lent, impossible de régler la vitesse de défilement)
    - beaucoup trop guidé (l'exploration réduite à sa plus simple expression)
    - quasi abandon du système RPG. 2 armes différentes uniquement, Pas d'équipe de persos, etc...
    - manque cruel de surprise

    En gros, ils ne se sont pas cassés la tête pour ce jeu. Dommage...    … Expand
  13. HildaSimp5
    Feb 12, 2022
    5
    Ok. So this is my first time playing a Paper Mario game . Ive yet to complete it yet, about 20 hours in so ill update this review should i change my opinion. First off, I really like that everything is paper, the world, characters and even water. Olivia is adorable, though talks abit too much. However, there are alot of glaring issues i have with the game. Firstly the combat, it mainlyOk. So this is my first time playing a Paper Mario game . Ive yet to complete it yet, about 20 hours in so ill update this review should i change my opinion. First off, I really like that everything is paper, the world, characters and even water. Olivia is adorable, though talks abit too much. However, there are alot of glaring issues i have with the game. Firstly the combat, it mainly sucks. I can handle it, but if i see any other game with this combat system, i will avoid that game. While the combat is not as bad as i thought, its really a chore having to line up the enemies. If i fail with the line up, not all enemies might be defeated. Its kinda annoying struggling with basic Mario enemies like Goombas or Koopas. Oh yeah and there is no level system, why? Don`t know, but what i do know is that i don`t like it. My biggest issue with this game is that i feel it lacks both originality and creativity. All enemies are just standard Mario enemies, Goombas, Koopas, Shy Guys, etc. The only difference is they are Folded, but thats like a 0,1% difference. The levels are just your average Mario levels, deserts, mountains, forests. And while i love those kinds of levels, they get boring very quickly. And the game is teeming with Toads, too many Toads. They are also all the same. Different clothes, but their faces looks exactly the same and its dull. Coming of years of playing Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time and Bowser`s Inside Story, this game dissapointed me. Its a fun Mario adventure and it looks amazing, but the lack or creativity, originality and a frustrating battle system, that also lacks a level system makes this game a most dissapointing one. I will check out previous Paper Mario games like Super Paper Mario and TTYD, but i will avoid Sticker Star and Colour Splash. I expected more uniqueness from a Mario spinoff and its not a bad one, just a very dissapointing one. You can do better Nintendo.… Expand
  14. Im_hyakkimaru
    Dec 29, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 游戏时间：30小时+
    游戏平台：Nintendo Switch

    重复的小兵遭遇战将整个游戏的乐趣消磨殆尽。

    最开始的10个小时游戏时间是很开心的，一路上乐此不疲地搜寻着蠢萌蠢萌的奇诺比奥，奥利维亚时不时插科打诨两句，每一个世界都有着符合当下世界观设定的角色，一流的美术设计搭配人物打趣的台词，太多地方能让人喜欢上这个折纸世界。以任天堂的标准，我相信游戏中的各种元素一定是现实中可以折出来的，正是凭借着这种细节上的较真，才会带来极具拟真感的游戏表现。

    但！是！一切的轻松愉快都被之后无尽的杂兵战给破坏了。首先必须承认，利用转盘进行排列组合这种机制是有不少挑战性的，初上手也有一定的新鲜感，特别是Boss战，必须配合转盘上的各个技能，逐步击破Boss们的弱点才能取得胜利，道具摆放的位置在多数情况下都会让玩家必须从回复生命和增强战力两方面进行抉择，分寸感把握得是很到位的。但问题在于，普通战斗的投入产出比太低——无非是单纯增加难度，毫无新意，即使获得了胜利，也就得到一些金币奖励而已，而金币也只能用于购买武器和蘑菇。在后期根本不缺金币和武器的情况下，杂兵战斗就变得毫无必要，在我只想推进剧情的情况下，奈何各种强行的遭遇战不断摧残着我的好奇心。正因为此，一开始略带新鲜感的战斗就慢慢变得人嫌狗厌了。

    总之，我对这作的感情是矛盾的，我喜欢里面的每一个可爱的角色，喜欢到每个隐藏的咖啡厅和奇怪的邻座角色聊一聊，喜欢考古学家见到古代人的唯一问题尽然是早餐吃什么... ...但爱之深，责之切，希望下作（如果还有）能够给我们更多惊喜。    … Expand
  15. tdebug
    Sep 20, 2021
    5
    Many puzzles are way to complex and some are just ridiculous. Not clever in any way, but just cheap complexity.
  16. ND-Bringer
    May 29, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Origami King, is it a game changer for modern Paper Mario? Looking back, RPG games have always opened up whole new worlds within the Mario universe. At the time, all of them were viewed to most as masterpieces. Whether they be Paper or Mario & Luigi games. With the original Mario RPG being such a nostalgic big hit, players could feel that same spirit within the majority of the spin-off games. Heck, even classic Mario Party gave life to even the most minor of characters. The world of Spin-off Mario is like innocent fan fiction, & if your lucky you'll actually find a brilliant story found with in one of them! The RPG games did this best by adding dark themes & clever writing in order to create one hell of an awesome adventure. I myself, have had the utmost respect for the noble Mario RPG lineage. I still remember making cut out drawings of the characters & item attacks after seeing some of those awesome boss fights. And then, came the manifestation of malice itself...STICKER STAR! With poor though game design & a focus on big effects, it let the spin-off fans down HARD. I didn't even care about studying Color Splash at the time. Thankfully, Origami King drew my attention & took the risk of not studying the game via Youtube play through, just so I could experience the game myself. I usually negative with most Switch games after being let down by Pokemon Shield, but my god...I had one heck of a ride. This time, the evil King Olly & his Origami Zombie Army have taken control of the Mushroom Kingdom, & its up to Mario & Princess Olivia to save everyone from being folded. Now let's go over my list on how to make a solid Mario Spin-off adventure. Bowser isn't the main villain...nice! The creation of Mario RPG games aren't about just opening new worlds, they had all of sorts of dark themes & great villains like Dimentio. And while in the end its revealed that King Olly was just blinded by rage...its still loads better then yet another generic "Bowser gets ultimate power" plot. And with Color Splash serving as a reminder to put in better level design. These game features a very nice variety. You've got your classic Super Mario Bros 3 world themes, a bundle of new themes, & a collection of elemental temples. Shogun Studios was one of my favorites, with its upbeat battle theme, hilarious theater mini games, Easter eggs, & a really fun boss fight at the end. That's it, these Switch graphics are beautiful! Of course this game may look & sound freakin' good let's talk about the highlights. Mario has a new "1000-Fold Arms" ability, which he can use to reveal hidden parts of the area & bust out savage attacks on his foes. And it feels really sweet to use anime-style attacks alongside Olivia's Vellumental Guardian techniques. I would say Nintendo's trying to attempting to create their own version of Pokemon, but I would prefer another Fossil Fighters sequel. These moves are also used during boss fights...THAT AREN'T GENERIC MINION FIGHTS! Thank the Star Sprites that I recover a bit after Sticker Star. The boss line this time includes the Vellumental Spirits, but this time we also get to face the Things from Sticker Star & Color Splash. And these showdowns are legitimately awesome. A simple box of colored pencils is turned into an artistic sniper assassin with some fun trash talk to go with the highlights of the battle. But that won't stop Mario from busting out his O'Chunks arms to claim victory .The writing not just for these fighters, but for all of the characters in general, hasn't been this sharp for a long time. Bowser's minions are hilarious, the endless Toads are given better designs, Olivia is naive at times, but is still a nicely designed character, & its nice to see the old society design again! Now remember Nintendo, not all of the Shy Guys, Goomba's, & Troopa's in spin-off games work for Bowser...& don't you forget it. As for the downsides, I think there's too many extreme Mario Party mini-games. The Shy Guy game show in particular was just a mess. The line-up battle system can feel stressful at times, but you can use coins to buy extra time & go practice at the battle lab. But during these tedious ring mini games you don't have that ability. And I think this game is stressful enough with the Paper Macho Chain Chomp & those **** Scissors! But dark moments also make up the greatness of classic Paper Mario, & that the Bowser Castle stage was full of all sorts of insane battles. DID YOU SEE THE PAPER MISTAKE BEETLE? Its intense, but one heck of a great level! I think my biggest gripe with this game was the King Olly battle. Your just fighting a bundle of Vellumental bosses, helping Origami Bowser knock out Super Olly, it follows up with yet ANOTHER tedious ring mini game, all within 1 level that claims to be a world. Overall, I still declaring this the new 3rd best Mario game, it has surpassed Super...barely. If the tedious puzzles were nonexistent, I would've given this game a higher score. But good show!… Expand
  17. giannis2001
    Jul 15, 2021
    7
    If the combat was different this game would be 90+ on Metacritic.

    It has undoubtedly the best world to explore with tons of things to do, beautiful theme environments and the best character design.The story is great too with a respective sense of humor. The combat for bosses was also very good. But that I didn't like was the combat when you were fighting plain enemies. It can get    If the combat was different this game would be 90+ on Metacritic.

    It has undoubtedly the best world to explore with tons of things to do, beautiful theme environments and the best character design.The story is great too with a respective sense of humor.

    The combat for bosses was also very good. But that I didn't like was the combat when you were fighting plain enemies. It can get incredibly confusing in and honestly,you don't feel like you even learn it through out your walkthrough. I was just doing random moves sometimes to continue or using the Toads to solve those weird puzzles.

    I highly recommend it though.    … Expand
  18. nusco
    Jul 4, 2021
    7
    "Paper Mario: The Origami King" is a competent entry in the Mario RPGs series, but it's saddled by a repetitive combat system that struggles to feel exciting.

    PROS: - STRONG CENTRAL IDEA: The game picks up the idea of a paper-based Mario world and really runs with it. The central story, pitting "flat paper" characters against origami and papier-mâché villains, is good fun. The idea    "Paper Mario: The Origami King" is a competent entry in the Mario RPGs series, but it's saddled by a repetitive combat system that struggles to feel exciting.

    PROS:

    - STRONG CENTRAL IDEA: The game picks up the idea of a paper-based Mario world and really runs with it. The central story, pitting "flat paper" characters against origami and papier-mâché villains, is good fun. The idea has enough steam to sustain the game throughout its long duration.

    - MEMORABLE CHARACTERS: Some of the characters and their dialogues made me smile throughout the adventure. Buoyed by its characters, PM:TOK also dares to go places that you wouldn't necessarily expect in a Mario game, and it's all the better for it.

    - GOOD BOSS BATTLES: I have my reservations on the combat system (see below), but some of the boss battles do work fine. I found myself looking forward to the next large-scale clash.

    CONS:

    - LACKLUSTER COMBAT: The puzzle-like combat system is one of those weird one-off ideas that only Nintendo could decide to use in a triple A game. It's daring, but it gets old real quick. As I went through the same process for the hundredth time, I wished for a way to skip regular combat encounters and move straight to the bosses.

    - PACING ISSUES: There is a cliche that RPGs should be long, but this one could have used some trimming, especially in the combat department. The ending tries to feel epic, but to me it felt like a Disney movie dragging on for too long. All in all, I enjoyed PM:TOK, but I wished it would end a bit sooner.

    - WEAK RPG MECHANICS: This game clearly tries to be an RPG, but the RPG-like mechanics feel mostly irrelevant, and feel like they could have been scrapped safely.    … Expand
  19. Resetto
    Sep 19, 2020
    7
    I really wish that I could give this game a 10. It has so much that it’s doing right, but the RPG system with no EXP is terrible, and the regular battles take long.
  20. LazyLenni
    Jun 23, 2021
    6
    At this point I have lost hope for Nintendo to return to the format of the classic Paper Mario games. You can see the creative restrictions, they set for the production around every corner.
    Characters are literally not even allowed to look unique or have names anymore! Furthermore they removed badges and experience points from the battles, which makes the gameplay quite boring.
    I would    At this point I have lost hope for Nintendo to return to the format of the classic Paper Mario games. You can see the creative restrictions, they set for the production around every corner.
    Characters are literally not even allowed to look unique or have names anymore! Furthermore they removed badges and experience points from the battles, which makes the gameplay quite boring.

    I would wish for them to take the criticism to heart,

    Please bring back:
    -Original characters
    -A deep/emotional story (like in Super Paper Mario)
    -Experience points and badges
    -Turnbased fighting (like in TTYD)

    Thank you for reading, have a nice day!    … Expand
  21. harpwn
    Jun 22, 2021
    6
    The battle system is trash, it also lacks meaningful depth. Levels, abilities and gear would have been objectively better.
    Otherwise the game is good but I wish they had just gone further with things.
    There are lots of areas but by the time you are near done you really want to move on, going back for collectables doesnt appeal to me. The characters are kind of interesting at times but    The battle system is trash, it also lacks meaningful depth. Levels, abilities and gear would have been objectively better.
    Otherwise the game is good but I wish they had just gone further with things.
    There are lots of areas but by the time you are near done you really want to move on, going back for collectables doesnt appeal to me.
    The characters are kind of interesting at times but they dont stick around or contribute meaningfully at any point. You dont get to choose which one is with you either so it all just feels... meh

    The fetch quest nature of the story made it feel very tedious and drawn out, but then every so often something really off-piste happens and you are left wondering why that didn't happen more often. Prime example randomly you are just in a massive open ocean area and told to explore.
    Fighting the "Vellumentals" didn't appeal at all, especially as I only got to use their powers when it was given to me in special battles.

    Please...

    RPG battle system with levels and gear
    Collect and pick companions to fight with you
    More detail in the world, side quests and humorous interactions    … Expand
  22. Jrystal
    Jul 21, 2020
    5
    Does some things right and does some things wrong. I like the visuals and I think the combat could be fun but without exp there's not much a point and the combat isn't quite fun enough to actively participate in without some kind of incentive. Honestly the game kind of shows a lack of much ambition or creativity. The bosses are the most generic 3D assets I've ever seen from Nintendo. I'dDoes some things right and does some things wrong. I like the visuals and I think the combat could be fun but without exp there's not much a point and the combat isn't quite fun enough to actively participate in without some kind of incentive. Honestly the game kind of shows a lack of much ambition or creativity. The bosses are the most generic 3D assets I've ever seen from Nintendo. I'd be surprised if they weren't bought from some asset store. All the ambition seemed to go into the combat itself but since there's not much of a reason to participate....

    Overall I think this is the best game in the "Sticker Star" trilogy but that ain't saying much. If you want a better Paper Mario experience go play the original trilogy or get Bug Fables instead. Personally I think it's time Nintendo put Paper Mario to rest maybe for good this time. We're now at the point where the number of good Paper Mario games are the same as the bad/mediocre ones and that's honestly pretty sad.    … Expand
  23. racerrex
    May 25, 2021
    6
    paper mario origami king is one of the newest switch games ive gotten. its kinda cool while iv never played any other paper mario games i have played mario and luigi superstar saga even though have not finished that game i still have a very good understanding of the mechanics and story and i have played tons of other rpgs mainly pokemon though. the only things i dont like is that thepaper mario origami king is one of the newest switch games ive gotten. its kinda cool while iv never played any other paper mario games i have played mario and luigi superstar saga even though have not finished that game i still have a very good understanding of the mechanics and story and i have played tons of other rpgs mainly pokemon though. the only things i dont like is that the talking is so annoying like with games i like to get straight into the action so the talking is annoying and like the battle system and musicand mostly everything else… Expand
  24. MaddoxWhite
    Apr 25, 2021
    6
    Everything but the gameplay is good. The visuals are amazing. Just look at the box art instead.
  25. Peimozei
    Apr 19, 2021
    6
    The game is visually appealing and the story is nice but the battles are so boring that i think i’ll never replay this game again.

    Please make an HD version of TTYD so i can play again a fun Paper Mario game !
  26. BLG
    Apr 3, 2021
    6
    As a long-time fan of the Paper Mario series, the only thing I can say is that Nintendo sure is consistent when it comes to taking creative risks. Unfortunately for The Origami King, the risks fell flat (haha). Before we dive into what went wrong, let’s talk about the undeniable strengths of the game. The most obvious quality of The Origami King is the incredible visuals. At almost everyAs a long-time fan of the Paper Mario series, the only thing I can say is that Nintendo sure is consistent when it comes to taking creative risks. Unfortunately for The Origami King, the risks fell flat (haha). Before we dive into what went wrong, let’s talk about the undeniable strengths of the game. The most obvious quality of The Origami King is the incredible visuals. At almost every scene, you can't help but pause and appreciate what you are seeing. There are points where Mario and his team rest on benches providing you a glimpse of the incredible artwork in the surrounding area. Nintendo could not have created a more interesting and satisfying world to explore for the Paper Mario franchise. The images included in this review are just a taste of what you'll get to see and if stunning and unique art styles are a priority to you, I think this game will exceed your expectations.

    Another unexpected endowment of The Origami King is the story. Paper Mario has always been known for exploring characters from different backgrounds in the Mario Universe. It really is the only Nintendo series that gives you the perspectives of Goombas, Koopas, Bomb-ombs and a plethora of other Nintendo species. In this regard, The Origami King did not disappoint. The character development was strikingly deep and well thought out. Real sacrifices were made by each individual you befriend as they desperately try to help Mario save their world. There is even a super meta moment where the villain is forced to face his origin in a very interesting way. From my perspective, this is the furthest any Mario game has gone to give you a sense of dire need for a hero. It is not just a princess you are saving, but the entire Mario universe as we know it. Other aspects worth mentioning are a hilarious script and great diversity in challenges. There were lines in the game that made us laugh out loud and showed that it did not take itself too seriously.

    With everything I have described so far you are probably wondering why I started this review the way I did. And that is exactly what you should be thinking. So much of this game was propelling this title towards legendary status that it should be clear how much friction the risks they took ultimately caused. A key feature in the Paper Mario franchise is the combat. Any fan of the series knows Nintendo is no stranger to completely changing how fights progress. But the leap they took in this game left many fans wondering, how did we get here? The mechanics employed by Nintendo are called "carousel combat". The model is comprised of puzzle-like challenges where Mario must expend most of his time and energy lining enemies up rather than strategizing with weapons and abilities. It is as dull as it sounds and after a few hours it became exhaustively boring. Not only are the combat mechanics horribly chore-like, but Nintendo decided that leveling up your abilities through experience was no longer worth it. It is almost as if Nintendo knew how bad of a decision carousel combat was. There was so much incentive to circumvent combat with enemies that I found myself sprinting and dodging entirely through the game to avoid any contact that was not absolutely necessary. I could touch on the boss battles, but they were more of the same, just with extra steps.

    Another disappointment was the uselessness of your team. I fondly remember the older titles where each character that joined your squad brought unique and exciting combat features that created more depth to strategy. But the characters this time around stand awkwardly beside Mario while he pretends to be a kindergarten teacher and lines foes up single file. Even worse, they lazily perform moves that attack singular enemies for a fair amount of damage but without any thought given to their actions at all. You have no control over who they attack or what move they perform. This aspect was extremely disappointing to me and to my friends that I had encouraged to buy this game. Perhaps our expectations were too high, but that is only because we knew what Paper Mario: The Origami King could have been.

    Combat has evolved in every Paper Mario title but this time around Nintendo has many fans wondering if the future of the series will continue along this puzzling path. With a heavy heart and a lot of confusion, we at BLG give Paper Mario: The Origami King a 6 out of 10. This game was enjoyable and we only recommend it if you genuinely love the franchise for more than the combat, or you actually somehow enjoy hours of making enemies stand at attention before you perform one of two moves on them. Nintendo has always been perfectly clear that they will prioritize reinventing game play with every title, so hopefully that means we will never see carousel combat again.

    For our full podcast review, visit https://www.buschleaguegaming.com/podcast/paper-mario-the-origami-king-review.    … Expand
  27. lalahand
    Mar 6, 2021
    6
    This game will have more fun than link’s awakening if it cancels the puzzle combat
  28. Tspeed
    Feb 21, 2021
    6
    There are some moments of pure Nintendo perfection, particularly during the first half of the game. But after a while the collecting tasks becomes a slog and you dread getting thrown into the ring for yet another tedious battle. Ultimately it doesn’t hit hard enough as either a platformer or an RPG.
  29. Odinsfury
    Feb 26, 2021
    6
    Music 10/10
    Script 9/10
    Graphics/Artwork 10/10 Boss fights 7/10 It's been awhile since I've both loved and hated a game at the same time. My main problem with the game is probably the same as many others; the regular battles. I groaned to myself every time I got into a fight. These fights are only here to pad the length of the game, in fact, they do a number of things to pad the    Music 10/10
    Script 9/10
    Graphics/Artwork 10/10
    Boss fights 7/10

    It's been awhile since I've both loved and hated a game at the same time. My main problem with the game is probably the same as many others; the regular battles. I groaned to myself every time I got into a fight. These fights are only here to pad the length of the game, in fact, they do a number of things to pad the gameplay time.

    Exploring the world is very fun and the script is funny. Nintendo proves time and time again that you don't need amazing hardware to make a beautiful game. They were on the cusp of making a great game here, but the slide puzzle system just doesn't cut it for a game of this length. Even a no-frills turn based combat system would have been better, but for some reason Nintendo doesn't want to make Paper Mario an RPG again. It's fine if they don't want to make another RPG, but the day-to-day boss fights need to be interesting.    … Expand
  30. Tris10
    Feb 20, 2021
    6
    Nintendo again doing what they want and not the fans. It’s better than the last 2 entries but that’s not saying much at all.
  31. IIIAHMIII
    Feb 16, 2021
    7
    Wonderfull story and beautifull designed worlds. The music also really lives up to the hype en i had a good couple of laughs. To bad the battle system is only fun during bosses and a drag to to against normal enemies. This was after the wii version the worst battle system i have encounterd. To bad cause this game had the potentional to stand next to the thousand year old door. And for theWonderfull story and beautifull designed worlds. The music also really lives up to the hype en i had a good couple of laughs. To bad the battle system is only fun during bosses and a drag to to against normal enemies. This was after the wii version the worst battle system i have encounterd. To bad cause this game had the potentional to stand next to the thousand year old door. And for the love of god LOSE THE TOADS.… Expand
  32. StaryKierowca
    Feb 13, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 优点：
    -令人落泪的、足够时常的剧情（炸弹彬牺牲自己炸巨石）
    -风景各异的场景
    -不断推陈出新的道具、玩法
    -融合了五行元素的战斗技能

    缺点：
    -重复的战斗流程
    -遇到怪物直接进入战斗的设定，且逃跑时经常失败。    … Expand
  33. Inorde
    Feb 3, 2021
    5
    Fantastic looking game. Quite fun and a ton of fun characters are on your path.

    Unfortunately the battle system is frustrating and very repetitive. It's based on a single type of puzzle. If you can't solve it within the time limit there is a penalty on your attacks and you are guaranteed to take a hit. It made me feel pretty stupid because in some cases I just don't see the solution,    Fantastic looking game. Quite fun and a ton of fun characters are on your path.

    Unfortunately the battle system is frustrating and very repetitive. It's based on a single type of puzzle. If you can't solve it within the time limit there is a penalty on your attacks and you are guaranteed to take a hit. It made me feel pretty stupid because in some cases I just don't see the solution, which is frustrating. Enemies return after you've left a part of the story and you'll be avoiding them just to prevent having to do another battle. Weapons break really fast and finding toads everywhere gets boring eventually.    … Expand
  34. TomasLacerda
    Jan 10, 2021
    7
    Loved everything BUT the mini game to fight enemies, is super annoying. And besides, they're totally useless to the game. Other than that, loved it.
  35. bancandrei
    Jan 1, 2021
    5
    Would have been outstanding if it were 4 times shorter. As it is the experience is so diluted that I lost interest and it becomes hard to appreciate the many good moments it has.
  36. Lassards
    Dec 26, 2020
    7
    Para mí, el momento más importante de la franquicia se alcanza con Thousand Year Old Door y este juego está muy alejado de eso. Aquellos jugadores que esperaban encontrarse con algo similar a lo visto en la versión de N64 o GCN tendrán que seguir esperando. Al inicio el sistema de combate era interesante pero conforme va avanzando la historia no cambia lo suficiente como para mantenertePara mí, el momento más importante de la franquicia se alcanza con Thousand Year Old Door y este juego está muy alejado de eso. Aquellos jugadores que esperaban encontrarse con algo similar a lo visto en la versión de N64 o GCN tendrán que seguir esperando. Al inicio el sistema de combate era interesante pero conforme va avanzando la historia no cambia lo suficiente como para mantenerte entusiasmado por las peleas. En realidad hay poco que te motive a pelear puesto que retiraron la ganancia de experiencia como mecánica para progresar y hay muchos elementos para hacerte de dinero dentro del juego que no dependen del combate. Hay demasiados números musicales y muchos momentos "cringy" dentro del juego es que a mí en lo particular me hicieron tener que tomar un par de horas para volver a jugar. El arte y la animación es espectacular. personalmente es un juego que pediría prestado a un amigo para probar y terminando lo sé lo regresaría sin sentirme que merece formar parte de mi colección. Es un juego al que difícilmente regresaré como si lo he hecho por ejemplo con TTYD.… Expand
  37. Blump
    Dec 5, 2020
    6
    The first and most obvious issue with this game is the combat. This game features a rotating ring puzzle system that allows the player to move enemies into groups before attacking. These ring puzzles seem interesting at first, but they lose their charm halfway through the game. Generally, it came down to solving the puzzle in two seconds or just spending 500 coins to automatically solveThe first and most obvious issue with this game is the combat. This game features a rotating ring puzzle system that allows the player to move enemies into groups before attacking. These ring puzzles seem interesting at first, but they lose their charm halfway through the game. Generally, it came down to solving the puzzle in two seconds or just spending 500 coins to automatically solve the puzzle. I don't mind having a puzzle element in battles but in most fights the puzzle WAS the battle. If you properly solve the puzzle enemies will generally go down with a single jump or hammer. Sometimes you need to select the iron boots for spiked enemies, but that's about as deep as it gets. Additionally, there are only two or three action commands in this game. Compared to previous entries this is extremely small and it adds to the feeling of repetition that comes with battles. Finally, there is the issue of incentive. Battles earn you coins which can be spent on collectibles, items, and puzzle hints. Coins are valuable enough that battles aren't completely worthless, but I often found that the only times I willingly engaged in battle was when I needed to grind coins for a ridiculously expensive trophy. For reasons mentioned previously, the battle system is shallow and repetitive. I never battled for the sake of battling. Though it wouldn't fix the core combat I think some sort of EXP system would've made battles feel more meaningful. Building up Mario and having him learn new abilities or something would make battling at least a bit more engaging. As it is, battling is one step above worthless and doesn't have the fun factor to keep it afloat. The only exception to this is the boss fights, which shake things up enough to be engaging and fun.

    My second issue is with the "Paper" theme. I believe the developers have taken this a bit too far. This may sound like a "purist" position, but I believe the paper should not be at the forefront of gameplay, dialogue, and world building. I think Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door handled the "Paper" aspect of Paper Mario the best. The different fold curses were cute acknowledgments of the flat character designs that didn't overstay their welcome. However, since Sticker Star, the entire world has been made from craft supplies and there is a lot of dialogue acknowledging that the characters and world are arts and crafts. It's difficult to explain why this bothers me but it just all feels so "fake." Now the first three Paper Mario games were presented in a storybook format, but the world and its characters always felt "real" enough that it was never distracting. This feeling of disconnect from the world is at its greatest when the Legion of Stationary is on screen. The members of the Legion of Stationary are all real-world objects such as scissors and colored pencils. These "characters" feel incredibly out of place and further my emotional disconnect with the world and its characters. Who are they? Where did they come from? I'm not sure, but I really wish they were replaced with someone or something that came from within the Paper Mario world rather than the real world. The first three Paper Mario games had their own original art direction that made the world feel like a place that stands on its own. Now the Paper Mario universe is loosely and needlessly tied to the real world and I have no idea why. No children are going to be drawn in by the arts and crafts aesthetic, they don't care. All this has done is make the whole Paper Mario world feel fake. As I previously stated the game is beautiful, but the paper theming seriously hampers any sort of stakes in the story and my general investment in the game.

    My final issue is the creative limitations that have been placed on this series. I'm sure someone can explain why using countless identical Toads and Bowser baddies is actually a genius business move, but I really don't care. The citizens of this world are, for the most part, nameless background characters who can be mistaken for one another. When the majority of the inhabitants of the world are cut from the same mold with little to no distinctive features it's difficult to care about any of them. I still remember side characters such as Koopa Koot from the original Paper Mario because he has a distinct look, personality, and name. Is anyone going to remember the rich Toad who lives in Toad Town in a year from now? I personally doubt it. "Rich Toad" is a stock Yellow Toad with no given name or especially memorable function. Characters like Bobby, whose name is actually Bob-omb, and Professor Toad come close to matching the quality of the older games' characters, but they all fail to meet the standards set by a side character in one way or another. Giving a few NPCs interesting outfits or different body proportions goes a long way in visual diversity.

    Okay game, but the flaws are deep. My younger brother got bored and stopped playing before the second boss.    … Expand
  38. NCL209
    Dec 3, 2020
    5
    5/10. Too many Toads.

    Nah but seriously this game would've benefitted a lot if they just had a normal RPG battle system with levelling up and partners, and if they had unique characters just like the first two games.
  39. Ethan_N
    Nov 24, 2020
    7
    An extremely mediocre game that has some enjoyable aspects but also makes some very poor decisions in direction and battle system.
  40. cyklopPL
    Nov 22, 2020
    6
    Wasted potential.

    + beautiful graphics + characters + level design + jokes + origami + length of the game - lack of character level up/exp - battle system Review of this game is so sad. This would easily be a 9/10 or 10/10. The world is beautiful, characters are lively and entertaining. Levels are great and jokes in between funny. The length of the game is also very good, 5x    Wasted potential.

    + beautiful graphics
    + characters
    + level design
    + jokes
    + origami
    + length of the game

    - lack of character level up/exp
    - battle system

    Review of this game is so sad. This would easily be a 9/10 or 10/10. The world is beautiful, characters are lively and entertaining. Levels are great and jokes in between funny. The length of the game is also very good, 5x call of duty campaign. However there are two things that are wrong with this game:
    - lack of character level up (gaining experience). There are only like 4 types of the same weapons (weak, normal, strong, the best), and thats basically it. No character development at all apart from equipping weapon and accessories (with a few better versions available)
    - the battle system. Using the rings is fine for 20 minutes, but afterwards gets repetitive and boooooring. Align the characters in a straight line for the jump attack or in a 2x2 group for the hammer attack. And that is it. Repeat this in every battler (ok, apart from boss battle). This is so boring and frustrating. Does not matter if this is a combat in your 1st playtime hour or 25th, the battle will look the same. Extremely boring.

    That is very sad, as the battle system is very important in this game. As mentioned all the other parts are great. The world looks great, levels are well designed and characters funny. However, the repetitive and shallow combat ruins the game experience, as the combat is with us from the beginning till the end of this title.

    6/10    … Expand
  41. Cacasecaxxx
    Nov 14, 2020
    7
    No es ni de lejos el mejor de la saga, pero esta entretenido y da para un ratico de diversion.
    Compralo barato y te lo pasaras bien pero a precio completo no vale la pena.
    No hay nada que se pueda decir que no se haya dicho ya.
  42. Topfpflanze
    Nov 13, 2020
    6
    The funny and childlike presentation cannot hide the fact that this is a game for juveniles and adults. It's relatively complicated to play and without any reference to children's imaginations. It's actually another mediocre RPG that the world does not need. It's strange why Nintendo, of all companies, comes up with such ideas.
  43. Mdgamer
    Nov 2, 2020
    5
    This game should have been an 8/10 experience but the stupid ring puzzles were such a slog that I can't say I had fun during any of the later boss fights. The game made me feel like I needed to be a mathematician just to beat the ice Velumental. It's too bad because the world itself and the characters and the humor and the music are delightful. They had to nintendo the game with a stupidThis game should have been an 8/10 experience but the stupid ring puzzles were such a slog that I can't say I had fun during any of the later boss fights. The game made me feel like I needed to be a mathematician just to beat the ice Velumental. It's too bad because the world itself and the characters and the humor and the music are delightful. They had to nintendo the game with a stupid gimmick. Like I said this game could have easily been an 8 but I stopped having gun so it gets a 5… Expand
  44. SnarkyReviews
    Oct 26, 2020
    7
    While the graphics are gorgeous and offers a fun take on the classic game. This cant save it from the awful game play that is the battles. This was the only thing i didn't love about this game, it could have been done differently but the route chosen was poorly executed.
  45. Manri
    Oct 15, 2020
    7
    There's simply no reason to engage in battle, besides replenishing confetti, which is plentiful most of the time. As a longtime Paper Mario player it's good to see partners are kinda back... you just can't control their actions for some reason. Graphics are on point with the paper theme and the writing is really good. I think this game is a lot better than Sticker Star and Color Splash,There's simply no reason to engage in battle, besides replenishing confetti, which is plentiful most of the time. As a longtime Paper Mario player it's good to see partners are kinda back... you just can't control their actions for some reason. Graphics are on point with the paper theme and the writing is really good. I think this game is a lot better than Sticker Star and Color Splash, but it fell short achieving the greatness of the first titles. It's disheartening to know how little Nintendo is willing to listen to their fans and limiting their creative muscles themselves by sticking with the same old characters. Toads everywhere.… Expand
  46. AuthorityBottle
    Oct 5, 2020
    5
    i don't really like the battle system in fact i hate it because its annoying and i can't solve it. i actually prefer if they made it easier because of the puzzle hard for me and not everyone is good at puzzle and this kind of puzzle is your way fight against them is frustrating. Every fan thinks something new is better but something new can be bad too. I don't find the game fun and yeahi don't really like the battle system in fact i hate it because its annoying and i can't solve it. i actually prefer if they made it easier because of the puzzle hard for me and not everyone is good at puzzle and this kind of puzzle is your way fight against them is frustrating. Every fan thinks something new is better but something new can be bad too. I don't find the game fun and yeah some the jokes makes laugh but i feel paper jokes is going to get dull. The world are just pretty and thats it. It doesn't feel adventure to me. The story is not very good, its just sucks. i don't care about olive or bombs , there isn't really something to care about them, there just annoying to have. The dialogue sucks too. The music is the only thing that is better. The boss fight isn't really cool or awesome.… Expand
  47. Dibong
    Oct 3, 2020
    6
    There is no gex in game, but game is better than chibi robo zip lash!, Its pretty good i think.
  48. TheButchersNail
    Sep 29, 2020
    5
    The exploration is fun, and the environments ooze charm, but this feels like Baby's First RPG. The combat is tedious because of it's simplicity, and your companion character pops up to explain every single thing you encounter.
  49. NathanBWrites
    Sep 29, 2020
    7
    A charming game with humour out the door. Beautiful visuals make for one of the best games on the Switch visually. However, it can be a bit boring at times, and a drag to play through. Despite a lot of the negativity this game gets, I thoroughly enjoyed myself all the way through until the end despite a clear lack of incentive in an XP system for example.
  50. SuperkenGaming
    Sep 28, 2020
    7
    Paper Mario: The Origami King
    Know when to fold
    The Origami king is a bit of a tactical rpg meets platformer that of coure takes place in the world of Mario.. and boy is this the perfect love hat relationship game. In this game the Origami king has taken Peaches castle, wrapped it up in streamers and you with the help of the kings sister set out to unravel each ribben and tke down the    Paper Mario: The Origami King
    Know when to fold
    The Origami king is a bit of a tactical rpg meets platformer that of coure takes place in the world of Mario.. and boy is this the perfect love hat relationship game.
    In this game the Origami king has taken Peaches castle, wrapped it up in streamers and you with the help of the kings sister set out to unravel each ribben and tke down the origami king..
    For the most part I absolutely loved existing in this world, its so full of color, charm, and mystery… you have a bag of confetti that you throw over rips and tears, which earns you coin, there are hundreds of toads for you to find that can help you in battle.. for a price of course.. and you set off on this 30 hour long adventure, just doing fetch quests and back tracking, solving mysteries, finding secrets, on that note paper Mario the origami king is an absolutely amazing experience… its world, its characters, its charm I loved it… however… the combat system here.. which unfortunately shares the spotlight just as much as the exploration.. I absolutely hate… literally the worst combat system ive ever experienced in a game period, let alone and rpg, here your goal is to slide and turn enemies, line them up and then jump on them or hit them with your hammer, and take turns until you defeat them, these battles are so easy, and such a slog to get through that they really have no business being here and existing… I do sortve like this system for this games boss battles, that by the way the game is full of… but I just really cant stand them and theyre ultimately what made me walk way after playing for a little over 20 hours, which is about the second to last boss battle.. I just couldn’t take the monotony anymore… these battles literally ruined the game from me…
    I maybe could’ve withstood if he origami king wasn’t such a long game.. it just never wants to end with constant convoluted area after convoluted area, running around different sections of the map,collecting items to get to the main bos battle, which is fine, but for that to be the formula for literally every ribbon, it gets exhausting…
    While paper Mario the origami king drastically suffers from pacing issues, as it never gives you a break with jus an occasional straight forward ribbon, the charm and the world will have you hooked and lost in this world, wanting to uncover all it has to hide.. that is again until you physically cant take it anymore…
    id love to see the completion stats of this game.. because I absolutely loved this game for the majority of my time with it, and even I couldn’t muster up the strength to finish
    I give Paper Mario: The Origami King
    a 7.5/10    … Expand
  51. CatsNGames
    Sep 16, 2020
    6
    Great writing, you can really tell a lot of passion was put behind this project. Absolutely ruined by ring battles, they are jst annoying and ruin the flow of the game
  52. Vostok
    Sep 2, 2020
    5
    Very polished experience. The story is brilliant, funny, and unexpectedly dark and somber at times. I do see a valid critique against the combat system, there were times where it felt tedious and unnecessary. And because there is no real experience system the intended reward system feels confused. Overall as an experience it is memorable and delightful.
  53. Chell_R
    Aug 23, 2020
    5
    This game is *LOUD* mostly boring, tedious - unengaging... *GARBAGE!!!*

    ...But, at least it's better... than, COLOR SPLASH...!!!!
  54. Barrymore45
    Aug 22, 2020
    6
    After having played this game to completion, I can say that almost every aspect of this game is perfect. Story is excellent and genuinely funny. The music is memorable, varied and emotive. The whole game shines with nintendo quality. Unfortunately, the gameplay cannot be similairly praised. The puzzle aspect is essentially trial and error, or a memory test. Zero rpg elements are present.After having played this game to completion, I can say that almost every aspect of this game is perfect. Story is excellent and genuinely funny. The music is memorable, varied and emotive. The whole game shines with nintendo quality. Unfortunately, the gameplay cannot be similairly praised. The puzzle aspect is essentially trial and error, or a memory test. Zero rpg elements are present. The frustration with the core gameplay casts such a shadow over the rest of the game, that it becomes very hard to reccomend this title. This is, frankly, a tragedy when everything outside of the core battles is so excellently crafted. Gameplay is king however, and all of the sugar coating in the world will make me think back fondly on this game.… Expand
  55. Blackdog22
    Aug 22, 2020
    7
    So the first thing ill say is this game is absolutely beautiful. The humor is right up my alley, I found it extremely enjoyable. I liked the adventure and was very open to the combat system. One concept I see that gets people caught up is the lack of EXP, and thus no need to fight, and well, this is only partially true. Gold is your EXP essentially, its your reason to fight and progressionSo the first thing ill say is this game is absolutely beautiful. The humor is right up my alley, I found it extremely enjoyable. I liked the adventure and was very open to the combat system. One concept I see that gets people caught up is the lack of EXP, and thus no need to fight, and well, this is only partially true. Gold is your EXP essentially, its your reason to fight and progression is your reason to fight. You will find in some areas that you actually need to grind the gold to get treasures, which means there is a reason to fight.

    Having said that LETS GO OVER THE NEGATIVES as I see them.

    So theres a few issues with this game. While I am very open to the puzzle concept it does become rather annoying and also feels rather pointless. Not because of the exp, but because there simply is no losing in this game. Loading up on 15 Mushrooms within the first hour of playing the game I was left with 15 Mushrooms as the game ended. In other words, the features they have they render nullified by their own systems.

    Its a very confused and unsure development and it continues for pretty much every aspect of the game. Fail a challenge? Its okay, we will make it easier after as few as 1 failed attempt sometimes! Why have any semblence of challenge to begin with then? Who knows. Heres a fun find Toad concept! Go find them! Also, we will give you this item which finds them for you and thus removing the need to actually find them. Again, a system that works against itself. It does this for pretty much every system where they feel like tacked on concepts that very quickly feel like chores, not meaningful gameplay mechanics, simply because they undermine their own game at every corner.

    As I mentioned gold is the reason to go into combat, however there is many points in the game where you can essentially just get free gold. Its not a secret or anything, its just a standard part of the experience, which does undermine its own combat system. You get the trend here. Nothing in this game remains relevant and the devs didn't have enough of a backbone to make their systems meaningful, even if that initially seemed like the intention, they too quickly flip flop on it.

    My primary gripe with the characters would actually just be... one. Olivia... I have never come across a more annoying or less likable character. If she isn't saying something completely ridiculous, then shes literally backseating you for the ENTIRE GAME. She is essentially the tutorial....that never goes away. The game doesn't ease you in and then let you go, it CONSTANTLY HOLDS YOUR HAND. It CONSTANTLY backseats you. Forget to save? Oh Olivia will let you know every step of the way. Lose your way slightly and enjoying discovering literally anything? TOO BAD OLIVIA IS THERE TO SPOIL IT! Its.... so unnecessary, and quickly feels like these are becoming confused. They harken back to the characters of Super Mario World, a nostalgic practice, yet you would think this games meant exclusively for 7 year olds or under.

    Now I realize this is Nintendo, but god man. Some of their recent practices aren't just casual, they basically play the game for you. I desperately hope this practice stops and that Zelda isn't the only game someone with a functioning brain has to play on the system.

    So why a 7? Because the overall experience is honestly extremely enjoyable. I don't always finish games and I finished this one, but only because the story and concepts, and err "some" characters are enjoyable. Bobby ftw.    … Expand
  56. Soldier_Owl
    Aug 18, 2020
    7
    The fighting system is awful. Nintendo said this game should be like the old ones (N64 & GC) , but its not.

    Besides its a Good rpg.
  57. BorjAngel88
    Aug 20, 2020
    6
    Juego precioso, buena historia pero jugabilidad penosa sobre todo a la hora de las batallas, los controles son una tortura en ese momento
  58. ptxmalca
    Aug 19, 2020
    5
    I can't believe that Nintendo continues doing this. This could have been such a great Paper Mario but no. Nintendo always neglects their audience and the fans of the franchise. Paper Mario at its core was an RPG. This element gave value to fighting and felt rewarding in a way. The origami king was a very good idea, I loved the theme but it has major drawbacks that literally made me want toI can't believe that Nintendo continues doing this. This could have been such a great Paper Mario but no. Nintendo always neglects their audience and the fans of the franchise. Paper Mario at its core was an RPG. This element gave value to fighting and felt rewarding in a way. The origami king was a very good idea, I loved the theme but it has major drawbacks that literally made me want to sell the game before finishing it. Luckily since I was skeptical I bought it physical so I could resell it if it wasn't great and well it is not great at all.

    Major negative points:
    - Lack of RPG elements
    - Fighting is useless and after a while is boring with such gimmicky features
    - Coins are not scarce at all and defeat the purpose of true reward
    - The above breaks everything since you can pay for any weapon so why not just buying the strongest one. This defeats the purpose of any other item/weapon.
    - Every time you complete a main level it rewards you with useless bags of confetti which is an unlimited material so why do you need bigger bags anyways?
    - Nintendo goes again with a useless diorama thing with collectibles that don't add anything
    - Did you like playing difficult games or at least challenging? Well Origami King is for dummies to the extent I even felt offended at how easy Nintendo makes it. And when it gets interesting in some puzzles guess what, if you did not do it in the first 2 tries then go to super easy mode...
    - Why do I care about mushrooms at all. Every corner there is additional HP so inventory management is again useless.

    Summary:
    If it weren't for the lack of elements and gimmicks this game would have been great. The story is good, jokes are okay, the theme is pretty nice. But it all falls and feels like a chore. I ended up just skipping every enemy I can because you kill enemies for coin but you need coin for items. And killing enemy is boring so why not saving yourself some time by not getting enemies and coin.

    Another thing I was extremely disappointed is the lack of personality. I mean common Nintendo, you have always dressed Toads and make them interesting. You have TOadette for instance but no. Nintendo wanted to go with this hidden agenda of not portraiting female or male traits which makes it super boring. The first games had incredible female and male secondary characters. Just a disappointment.    … Expand
  59. EverFortune
    Aug 19, 2020
    5
    I'd like to give this game a spiteful 0 score, but it does have some good qualities in its visuals and writing. The battle system seems like it could be fun, but it gets really repetitive without the rpg system of getting exp or level ups. It just makes more sense to run away from fights than go after them so you don't use up your items or coins. They probably knew this which is why someI'd like to give this game a spiteful 0 score, but it does have some good qualities in its visuals and writing. The battle system seems like it could be fun, but it gets really repetitive without the rpg system of getting exp or level ups. It just makes more sense to run away from fights than go after them so you don't use up your items or coins. They probably knew this which is why some of the boss fights abandon the battle system and function as an action type play style instead. Those surprise fights were much more fun than the usual ring combat, and are largely the reason i am giving a more fair thoughtful review

    I will say that I do like the way currency is handled in this game, it initially feels pointless because you get so much, but it turns out that you will be spending all of it if you're playing the game to its fullest. the game also has a function similar to the korok seeds in zelda breath of the wild, with the toads. it becomes a little minigame to find all the creative ways toads are hidden in the world. This started off as fun, but after maybe like 8 hours into the game, I didn't really like it anymore. It needed to provide a better benefit than it did to motivate you to find them

    All in all, i thought the game was good-ish but does not live up to the experience that is paper mario the thousand year door    … Expand
  60. storageheater
    Aug 17, 2020
    7
    It feels like it's learned from mobile games about how to dripfeed gameplay mechanics to sell back to the player for real money. As if they created a slightly less satisfying game on purpose so you'd like it more when they offer you a way to get round it.

    The way this game implements difficulty is always at odds with what I'm expecting. There's times where the game will rush so quickly    It feels like it's learned from mobile games about how to dripfeed gameplay mechanics to sell back to the player for real money. As if they created a slightly less satisfying game on purpose so you'd like it more when they offer you a way to get round it.

    The way this game implements difficulty is always at odds with what I'm expecting. There's times where the game will rush so quickly to give me a hint that it actually curtails my exploration, interaction and fun. I'll still be at the "breaking everything for goodies" stage and it'll solve the puzzle for me. Then other times it's a difficulty spike out of nowhere.

    It seems like it's always giving you ways to mitigate the actual gameplay, which kind of influences how I feel about the gameplay, as if perhaps they weren't sure it was alright on its own. Combat seems like what happens when you play the game badly, so you get the ability to evade lots of it. Failing the puzzle makes turnbased combat your punishment, but you can pay to make combat deal with itself anyway, and you'll have hundreds of powerful healing items. You get items that find hidden items for you. The hint system is almost always a clear indicator of what to do, if it hasn't already forced you to go the direction it wants you to.

    Your weapons break...occasionally. Why? You get loads through finding boxes, it's really cheap to buy more, and I don't believe anyone has ever run out. Is the purpose of this to force the player to have 20 identical boots in their inventory? While you can only carry 3 boots and 3 hammers into battle, you can change them out at any time during battle. Why have the "only carry 3" thing if you're actually carrying all of them? I don't dislike the mechanic, I just think it's bloated nonsense that thankfully never matters.

    I always dragged my heels when it came to the boss battles, they were such a low point I'd often put the Switch to sleep as they started up, to deal with later.

    That said, it's a fun game and I really enjoyed it! But even though the good stuff is enough to make it worth playing, there's not much to say about it* and the only thing I'll ever remember is how much I hated the combat and how weirdly the systems in it work against each other.

    *it looks nice, it controls well, it is often funny, you collect lots of things.    … Expand
  61. Rei_Reviews
    Aug 17, 2020
    6
    Too many coins with no reason to spend them.

    Pros: - Toads that have brilliantly written dialogue that is both witty and funny - Vast and diverse environments - Challenging and interesting boss mechanics Cons: - A battle system that is pointless, tedious and doesn't prepare you for the latter parts of the game. - Poor design decisions, especially in the latter half of the game    Too many coins with no reason to spend them.

    Pros:
    - Toads that have brilliantly written dialogue that is both witty and funny
    - Vast and diverse environments
    - Challenging and interesting boss mechanics

    Cons:
    - A battle system that is pointless, tedious and doesn't prepare you for the latter parts of the game.
    - Poor design decisions, especially in the latter half of the game that made it feel like a chore to play.
    - Bosses that have little relevance to the overall story - the bosses are understandable from a design perspective but the main bad character's motivations wouldn't lead you to believe he would use them as minions.    … Expand
  62. GoPackGo817
    Aug 15, 2020
    5
    This is the first game review I have ever written in my 20+ years of gaming. I grew up playing Paper Mario from the original to Thousand Year Door. This is a HUGE disappointment. The story of the game is good and they created a really neat world BUT the combat (if you can call it that) is horrible. The other Paper Mario games were more RPG's than anything else and thats a major reason IThis is the first game review I have ever written in my 20+ years of gaming. I grew up playing Paper Mario from the original to Thousand Year Door. This is a HUGE disappointment. The story of the game is good and they created a really neat world BUT the combat (if you can call it that) is horrible. The other Paper Mario games were more RPG's than anything else and thats a major reason I liked them. The combat in this game is not even combat, it's a puzzle. There's no XP, No skill tree, no ROG elements what do ever. Thanks Nintendo for taking a dump on this franchise with ghe combat system. It's really too bad too because I love the story and the humor is great throughout but I can't give this game anything above a 5 in good faith… Expand
  63. agarza24
    Aug 15, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pros-
    Fun Characters
    Great dialog
    Beautifully crafted worlds Cons-
    Boring,Tedious battle system
    No upgrades or skill progression
    Frustrating boss fights
    No rpg elements    … Expand
  64. Robbingrogue
    Aug 14, 2020
    7
    Having just completed the game, and as a long-standing fan of the franchise, I can now share my thoughts about Paper Mario: The Origami King with you.

    PROS -The visuals and soundtrack are absolutely incredible. -It maintains (most of) the humor Paper Mario fans have known to love, and adds some more whimsical charm to form a very pleasant mixture. -Creative locations, puzzles, hidden    Having just completed the game, and as a long-standing fan of the franchise, I can now share my thoughts about Paper Mario: The Origami King with you.

    PROS
    -The visuals and soundtrack are absolutely incredible.
    -It maintains (most of) the humor Paper Mario fans have known to love, and adds some more whimsical charm to form a very pleasant mixture.
    -Creative locations, puzzles, hidden secrets, and boss fights.

    CONS
    -The battle system is boring after about ten battles, and the fact that there is no progression system makes random encounters tedious. At some point in the game I was actively avoiding fights and disliked any forced battle I came across. When the main gameplay element of your game is not fun, that's not a good thing.
    -Because the game is a bit more whimsical than Paper Mario 64 and The Thousand-Year Door, the game lacks some of the RPG- and story-depth of those entries.
    -Lack of side-quest content and replayability.

    CONCLUSION
    Paper Mario: The Origami King takes the Paper Mario franchise to a new direction, but not a successful one. Whilst it maintains and improves on many of the elements that make the Paper Mario franchise so appealing - good humor, creative puzzles, etc. - the stripping away of the battle system of the original Paper Mario and many of the RPG elements has not made the game more fun. If Nintendo and Intelligent Systems ever decide to make a game that embraces Paper Mario's traditional gameplay roots with the visuals and charm of The Origami King, they may just have a masterpiece on their hands - But this is not it.

    FINAL GRADE: 7+ out of 10.    … Expand
  65. ManWhoGames
    Aug 13, 2020
    5
    The closest this game comes to being enjoyable is when it reminds me of the first two installments of the franchise. In every category except for nostalgia, this game is a sporadic smattering of half-assery. The combat is as fun as those small plastic maze puzzles they hand out at dentists' offices, the story is nonexistent, and the original characters are as forgettable as they areThe closest this game comes to being enjoyable is when it reminds me of the first two installments of the franchise. In every category except for nostalgia, this game is a sporadic smattering of half-assery. The combat is as fun as those small plastic maze puzzles they hand out at dentists' offices, the story is nonexistent, and the original characters are as forgettable as they are irritating; the days of the likes of Admiral Bobbery are apparently long behind us. The next time a game comes out where the boss battles amount to literally hitting a pair of scissors with a hammer, I'm going with my first instinct.… Expand
  66. Esdrubalino
    Aug 12, 2020
    5
    My dad beat my ass for even playing this s#!tty game

    It has a lil something for everyone
  67. 2bitplays
    Aug 12, 2020
    6
    I like the story. The greenstreamer is definetly my favorite.the humor is really good and the bosses arena are a good idea and its also really fun to 100% all the levels.
    I am really glad they brought back the color mechanic from color splash.
    But i like to complete games and do i hate how the game handels that. There is a secret ending if you 100% the game you dont equip badges and you    I like the story. The greenstreamer is definetly my favorite.the humor is really good and the bosses arena are a good idea and its also really fun to 100% all the levels.
    I am really glad they brought back the color mechanic from color splash.

    But i like to complete games and do i hate how the game handels that.
    There is a secret ending if you 100% the game you dont equip badges and you don't game over
    .thats **** becaus there is a point in the game where you pick a path . If you pick wrong its game over
    Or on eddy river if you lose all your harts its game over
    So basicly i have to start the hole game over to get the 102% ending and thats also anoying since there is only 1 save file    … Expand
  68. Rasid05
    Aug 10, 2020
    7
    The Game is better than Color splash and sticker star. It’s really funny and it got some good plot twists. The battle system is not horrible it got a nice mechanic but the battles are unnecessary you only get coins and confetti. The story is not good and not bad but it could be better. The Collectibles are a good thing to and are hard to find. And the most annoying thing in this game areThe Game is better than Color splash and sticker star. It’s really funny and it got some good plot twists. The battle system is not horrible it got a nice mechanic but the battles are unnecessary you only get coins and confetti. The story is not good and not bad but it could be better. The Collectibles are a good thing to and are hard to find. And the most annoying thing in this game are the toads because almost every character is a Toad. But the best thing is, the game is really entertaining and is really fun.… Expand
  69. GabFire
    Aug 9, 2020
    6
    Sério, que jogo repetitivo e sem graça, foi um dos piores ''Mario'' que eu já vi em toda a minha vida, o jogo é chato e não parece ter alma, realmente não recomendo.
  70. Apportal
    Aug 8, 2020
    6
    Paper Mario: The Origami King is a unique and colorful adventure out to shame by the lack of originality and interesting characters. Let me tell you what I mean. Let’s not beat around the bush here, The Origami King is not an RPG. If you grew up in the days of The Thousand Year Door, you’re most likely going to be disappointed with the outcome. Gone are the days of taking turns andPaper Mario: The Origami King is a unique and colorful adventure out to shame by the lack of originality and interesting characters. Let me tell you what I mean. Let’s not beat around the bush here, The Origami King is not an RPG. If you grew up in the days of The Thousand Year Door, you’re most likely going to be disappointed with the outcome. Gone are the days of taking turns and planning your attacks, Instead, you operate a ring-based arena, trying to line up the enemies in either a straight line or a square of four. It takes a while to get used to. In fact, some areas are littered with these ring-based battles it gets overwhelming and repetitive. But I think the end, the battle system is a nice puzzle, and a delightful break from the main game. Speaking of the main game, it doesn’t follow our favorite plumber Mario through the same “damsel-in-distress story. Instead, he finds Princess Peach has been completely turned into Origami by King Olly, the game’s biggest rival. The character itself doesn’t have any notable personality, besides his fierce desire to turn every piece of paper into Origami. That same storyline follows throughout the entire game, and is implemented very well. The beginning stages are very linear. And hearing Olivia, Mario’s over-zealous but sweet partner constantly hold your hand gives very little chance of being able to work things out on your own. And leaving out the very rare cases, it’s like this the whole game. Along with this idea, Mario can ask Olivia for hints anytime he likes, and usually those hints give away the answer completely. However, the stages and areas get much more appealing and larger the further you progress. With collectibles to find constantly, it barely feels like a constraint. But, aside from the mountainous treasures you find along the way, one bad habit sticks throughout the game- the hidden toads. These toads are everywhere. From a leaf on a tree, to a swan in a pool, to a flower hidden away in the dirt, it makes it almost impossible to find them all without any help, especially with how big the areas get the further you progress. And 100% an area is usually limited for this reason alone. It is definitely the games biggest restraint, and leaves much room to be desired in terms of completing the game fully. So, for all those reasons alone, I feel Paper Mario: The Origami King deserves a six. It was a fun adventure, and kept me occupied throughout the vast and expansive areas to explore, but in terms of collecting it really doesn’t hold up well. So, if you’re hungering for an original RPG, you should definitely pass and just play The Thousand Year Door for the Ump-Teenth time. If however you just want a fun little puzzler with lots of beautiful lands to explore, I highly suggest it. Happy Gaming, Fellow Gamers -Apportal… Expand
  71. sonjahtroll
    Aug 7, 2020
    7
    After finishing it, I don't regret playing it but it's not a great game, there's plenty to collect and it took me over 30 hours to just reach the end of the story without 100%ing all the collectables. It is a mega polished game and looks absolutely gorgeous but the ideas and pacing aren't hugely even throughout the game and my biggest gripe is the companion Olivia, she is written to be soAfter finishing it, I don't regret playing it but it's not a great game, there's plenty to collect and it took me over 30 hours to just reach the end of the story without 100%ing all the collectables. It is a mega polished game and looks absolutely gorgeous but the ideas and pacing aren't hugely even throughout the game and my biggest gripe is the companion Olivia, she is written to be so damn annoying.

    Boss fights are a highlight of the combat system with the minion fights being frustrating when you can't see the correct line up. The writing and localisation is top notch as usual with Nintendo in house games and the world is certainly charming enough, but the choice to point out the blindingly obvious to the player every step of the way puts a dampener on the whole thing. So nothing special but worth it at a cut down price.    … Expand
  72. AngelStarr
    Aug 6, 2020
    6
    Oh, the mediocrity hurts! I believe the target audience for this game should be marked as children ages 4 to 12.
    The story, the writing, the dialogues... They are all simply mediocre. Moreover, the lack of XP points makes most battles feel like a drag.
    Sure enough, the graphics are sweet, but something just feels... Boring as hell. I wish I'd spent that money on any other Mario title.    Oh, the mediocrity hurts! I believe the target audience for this game should be marked as children ages 4 to 12.
    The story, the writing, the dialogues... They are all simply mediocre. Moreover, the lack of XP points makes most battles feel like a drag.
    Sure enough, the graphics are sweet, but something just feels... Boring as hell.
    I wish I'd spent that money on any other Mario title. Because this game feels like a chore, like something that I have to finish only to justify the expense.    … Expand
  73. DreamCore
    Aug 2, 2020
    7
    I've never played a Paper Mario game before, but I think this one is quite nice. My main complaint is the combat system. I think it's an interesting idea but every so often there are fight where it's practically impossible to align the enemies in the short amount of time you have which is very infuriating. Also there is very little reason to fight enemies since all you get is coins whichI've never played a Paper Mario game before, but I think this one is quite nice. My main complaint is the combat system. I think it's an interesting idea but every so often there are fight where it's practically impossible to align the enemies in the short amount of time you have which is very infuriating. Also there is very little reason to fight enemies since all you get is coins which you also get in lots of different ways. It definitely lacks something and definitely drags down the score. Outside of combat the game is enjoyable and worth experiencing.… Expand
  74. WoodyPWX
    Aug 5, 2020
    6
    Beautiful game that would be fun, but horrible battle system breaks that all.
  75. mario1892
    Aug 4, 2020
    6
    I'm a huge fan of Paper Mario series, this one has an incredible soundtrack, amazing visuals, but lacks of the vibe the 1st and 2nd one had with the combat system =(
  76. PheDii
    Aug 3, 2020
    7
    I just want to start by saying this was my first Paper Mario game.

    Was it a bad game? No. Was it a perfect Game? No. Why are people giving it zero scores and negative reviews? Because they want absolutely everything and everyone to cater to their needs. The writing in the game was a solid 9/10, some of the best writing I've seen in a long time and props to the writers for how good it    I just want to start by saying this was my first Paper Mario game.

    Was it a bad game? No.

    Was it a perfect Game? No.

    Why are people giving it zero scores and negative reviews? Because they want absolutely everything and everyone to cater to their needs.

    The writing in the game was a solid 9/10, some of the best writing I've seen in a long time and props to the writers for how good it was.

    The gameplay was certainly better than I expected from looking at trailers or videos. I want to add that I find puzzles and riddles very difficult so this was a challenge for me at times.

    The graphics and art style are amazing in this game, the colours pop right off my monitor when playing the game. Also the framerate was good for the most part, when there is a lot of particles on screen (confetti is a good example) the framerate certainly dipped into the 20's.

    I'm not the greatest at reviews but if someone see's this and it helps them make their mind up about the game then my mission will be complete.

    Thank you for reading.    … Expand
  77. ElSmasher
    Aug 2, 2020
    7
    Paper Mario Origami King wants to be inventive. Artistically, this opus is close to excellence due to humor and well-balanced characters. Despite this, some aspects (although varied) of exploration or combat are not well mastered ... But don't worry TOK remains a pleasant and surprising game for young and old alike.
  78. GamErin8622
    Aug 2, 2020
    7
    A mostly fun and quirky adventure, Paper Mario: Origami King slots right into the series. The world, while nothing too special, is interesting to explore and full of decent puzzles and zany characters (not even just Toads, which is very nice), with the new exposition fairy, Olivia, being a particular standout. The graphics are aesthetically pleasing and fit the “paper” theme very well, theA mostly fun and quirky adventure, Paper Mario: Origami King slots right into the series. The world, while nothing too special, is interesting to explore and full of decent puzzles and zany characters (not even just Toads, which is very nice), with the new exposition fairy, Olivia, being a particular standout. The graphics are aesthetically pleasing and fit the “paper” theme very well, the locales you visit are fun and interesting (the samurai-themed amusement park most of all), and the music is also quite good. Even with those positives, I have my gripes with the game: the lack of EXP, the mediocre battle system, and the story, in that order. While you can find Max Hearts and purchase accessories, there was no incentive to battle enemies for almost any reason due to there being no experience. It’s better than Sticker Star, of course, but a third game with a lack of EXP is a worrying trend. The battle system is original and fairly interesting, but a lot of it is just frustrating, trying to figure out how to line up enemies. I had much more fun after getting the puzzle solver item, but even then I found myself just paying Toads to do the lining up for me. The only thing you get from battles are coins, and since those are scattered all around the world, there isn’t much of an incentive to fight anything but the mandatory battles. The plot, lastly, is a very simple stop-the-bad-guy-from-taking-over-the-world story with no frills attached. Olly isn’t an interesting antagonist, with almost no personality besides being evil, and he looks like an emo teenager. There were a lot of missed opportunities for fights; the whole thing is that Olly is turning characters into evil origami. There could’ve been an Origami Peach fight, an Origami Bowser fight, or even an Origami Luigi fight, but it’s all Bowser’s minions, these new elemental spirit creatures (who aren’t interesting enough to make up for how long you spend running around looking for them), and origami-making tools. There was even a mention of how the Captain guy you find stole the submarine from the spa area (it makes sense in context), and I was convinced there’d be a fight or at least a mention of it. Nope. While definitely better than the last two installments in the series, Paper Mario: The Origami King lacks a lot of what made the first three games so special and I feel absolutely no need to return and play to 100% completion, or even to play it again. Overall, a short but fun experience with a few flaws.… Expand
  79. Johns0405
    Jul 30, 2020
    6
    The paper mario humour and art is there, but the combat is lacking. I find myself trying to avoid enemies just to progress through the story faster. This is the type of game you would probably find more appealing watching a no-commentary play through of. Unless you really like simple and tedious puzzle mechanics, you won't get much out
    of the battle system. The story and paper mario    The paper mario humour and art is there, but the combat is lacking. I find myself trying to avoid enemies just to progress through the story faster. This is the type of game you would probably find more appealing watching a no-commentary play through of. Unless you really like simple and tedious puzzle mechanics, you won't get much out
    of the battle system. The story and paper mario humour is great though.    … Expand
  80. Pilotciab
    Jul 30, 2020
    5
    It really is not a good game. I feel like the people who were reviewing this game are lying because most of the "humor" is unfunny. I cannot stand Olivia. She is constantly talking and "singing" which I feel breaks any flow I had in the game. I generally don't care what she has to say because it is usually completely obvious. There are a lot of parts in the game that just feels like I'mIt really is not a good game. I feel like the people who were reviewing this game are lying because most of the "humor" is unfunny. I cannot stand Olivia. She is constantly talking and "singing" which I feel breaks any flow I had in the game. I generally don't care what she has to say because it is usually completely obvious. There are a lot of parts in the game that just feels like I'm doing stuff for no reason.… Expand
  81. livelovelaugh22
    Jul 28, 2020
    6
    Paper Mario: The Origami King is a game I had mediocre hopes for coming in, but still was curious. Sadly the game fell flat like I predicted, yet it was better than expected. First off, very visually appealing game and easily the prettiest Paper Mario game to look at. That goes well with the nice soundtrack. I do think the battle theme is a tad overrated, however it still accomplishes itsPaper Mario: The Origami King is a game I had mediocre hopes for coming in, but still was curious. Sadly the game fell flat like I predicted, yet it was better than expected. First off, very visually appealing game and easily the prettiest Paper Mario game to look at. That goes well with the nice soundtrack. I do think the battle theme is a tad overrated, however it still accomplishes its purpose. The bosses were cool and that is the pros aspect of the game. Look, I like the battle system ring gimmick. But battles have zero purpose whatsoever, therefore they are a waste of time. That seems to be my only big gripe of the game. Overall, an enjoyable game yet it still fails to have the soul and original characters and fun of the first two games in the series. It is worse than Color Splash yet a massive improvement from Sticker Star.… Expand
  82. Gnificent
    Jul 28, 2020
    7
    While this game may not be the complete return to form that many fans of the early installments in the series may have hoped for, I still found game mostly enjoyable. The writing is pretty good, and managed to make me laugh more then I expected. The visuals are quite nice and the environments are well done, and fun to explore. The music in this game is fantastic, easily one of the bestWhile this game may not be the complete return to form that many fans of the early installments in the series may have hoped for, I still found game mostly enjoyable. The writing is pretty good, and managed to make me laugh more then I expected. The visuals are quite nice and the environments are well done, and fun to explore. The music in this game is fantastic, easily one of the best parts of the game.

    The only big "problem" that I experienced was that the battle system in this game, for the most part, can get very old quickly. The puzzles get a bit too repetitive after a rather short time with them, and often after you solve the puzzle, and move to the combat phase, it gets a bit boring. The combat itself is rather uninvolved at this point. Except for the boss battles, all round those were my favourite fights. While the game might not be the RPG that the first installments were, this game holds its own charm and value and all in all was an enjoyable experience.
    If you're looking for TTYD 2 , this isn't it, but it also isn't sticker star/color splash all over again either.    … Expand
  83. safiredx
    Jul 27, 2020
    6
    The amount of Toads that substitute new and innovative characters is disappointing. I found myself actively avoiding battle by World 4. This game, like many switch titles, had potential but settled for OK.

    My praise is the humor and some of the writing.
  84. FrostyFeet97
    Jul 26, 2020
    7
    Paper Mario is really nice game. Well crafted but the combat is awfull and repetitive. This game is definitely not for everyone.
  85. Poohead
    Jul 25, 2020
    6
    its okay good for kids but combat is incredibly simplistic and honestly boring but it looks nice cool art style worth a buy when on sale
  86. BlackMajikMan90
    Jul 25, 2020
    5
    The battle system ruins everything.

    It's fun after the first couple tries, but gets boring extremely fast. The boss fights are even worse and after doing the same thing over and over, I started avoiding combat altogether. Especially when the combat is pointless because it only nets you coins. This game is gorgeous to look at and sports the same Paper Mario charm, but that isn't enough to    The battle system ruins everything.

    It's fun after the first couple tries, but gets boring extremely fast. The boss fights are even worse and after doing the same thing over and over, I started avoiding combat altogether.

    Especially when the combat is pointless because it only nets you coins. This game is gorgeous to look at and sports the same Paper Mario charm, but that isn't enough to make up for the atrocious battle system.    … Expand
  87. Evo2404
    Jul 25, 2020
    7
    Good game with fantastic visuals fun and exiting characters interactions and has a most better plot than ss and cs however this is not a game in the same style as the original trilogy of games a lack of exp makes late game battles fell long and pointless it was a fun and interesting battle system witch at the start of the game was fun however by the end of the game I found myself avoidingGood game with fantastic visuals fun and exiting characters interactions and has a most better plot than ss and cs however this is not a game in the same style as the original trilogy of games a lack of exp makes late game battles fell long and pointless it was a fun and interesting battle system witch at the start of the game was fun however by the end of the game I found myself avoiding battles. The world is fun to explore even if I has quite massive pacing issues with long draw out segments and most puzzles just being swing your hammer to make the magic circles a… Expand
  88. AlexKidd
    Jul 25, 2020
    7
    I love it so far, dialogue is funny, graphics are good, music is on par. As mentioned by many, the battlesystem sucks. Whoever came up with it, doesn't understand the word 'fun'. You don't get XP from the battles anyway, so i try to stay clear from battles when possible. Shame, could've been a 9 or a 10 if not for the battle system.
  89. WesleyRyan
    Jul 24, 2020
    6
    While at its best, Paper Mario: Origami King is a fun puzzle game with a lot of clever writing packed in it and a gorgeous art style; however at its worst, it has an uninspired plot, lacking any notable character designs, and subjects you to a combat system that ranges from passable, to mildly irritating. If the game had addressed these issues properly, I would be placing it beside theWhile at its best, Paper Mario: Origami King is a fun puzzle game with a lot of clever writing packed in it and a gorgeous art style; however at its worst, it has an uninspired plot, lacking any notable character designs, and subjects you to a combat system that ranges from passable, to mildly irritating. If the game had addressed these issues properly, I would be placing it beside the first two entries in the series, considering it still has a lot to offer. But it looks like Nintendo has made another half-step towards what made the original entries so captivating.

    Nintendo, it's time to find a new producer for Paper Mario, this can still be a series that attracts both new players and the already established fanbase. The recent VideoGamesChronical interview illustrates exactly what Kensuke Tanabe doesn't understand about the series, or simply chooses to ignore.

    Overall, it's worth checking out if you're not already familiar with the franchise or enjoyed the simplicity of the last two entries. However, original fans of the series may be left underwhelmed.    … Expand
  90. Deank1006
    Jul 24, 2020
    7
    Pretty good game. Very creative world. The story is okay. Music is great. My main complaint is after about half the game, the battle system is so annoying. Instead of fighting enemies you try to avoid them. The battle system needs more content to spice it up.
  91. CoinKillerL_
    Jul 19, 2020
    7
    Finally after 14 years, a good paper mario game!
    However, this game is far from perfect. I found battling very fun, but there is very little reward to do so, since there are no EXP. Also i think there is a lack of diversity in your attacks, all the attacks are pretty much identical, and partners having autobattle is really dumb in my opinion, and the enemies are way too weak, but    Finally after 14 years, a good paper mario game!
    However, this game is far from perfect. I found battling very fun, but there is very little reward to do so, since there are no EXP. Also i think there is a lack of diversity in your attacks, all the attacks are pretty much identical, and partners having autobattle is really dumb in my opinion, and the enemies are way too weak, but completing the puzzles is really satsfying. So yeah, there's quite a bit of wasted potential in the combat system, but it's still tons of fun. The bosses are extremely fun as well, but man the office supplies designs are just so bad and lazy. They could have designed an origami monster based on them, not just slap real life office supplies that look really out of place, but i gotta say, they are really creative with their attacks. The world is a ton of fun to explore, and there is so much to do and collect, and the art direction and music are just fantastic. The story could have been better, the concept is good but so much more could have been done, but it still had his great moments (that i won't spoil here, of course). However, i love the dialogues in this game, they are really entertaining and some of them really made me crack up laughing. I still really miss the diverse character design of 64/TTYD or the Mario & Luigi games, but they still did a good job on giving each character an identity. Also i love how they made the classic mario enemies into origami figures, they look fantastic. So yeah, i think this game is really fun unlike dumpsterfires like SPM, SS and CS and worth playing, however some dumb decisions really bring it down. Can't wait to know what they have in store for us in the next paper mario game!    … Expand
  92. Dr_moose
    Jul 24, 2020
    6
    Thought this game wasnt going to be as bad as everyone was saying it had the humor and the feeling of fhe god paper Mario's but then got to the first boss and just hard quit the game why do you have 60 to 70 seconds to time out all hour moves to do the most damage in a boss fight it doesnt make sense
  93. SublmnL
    Jul 24, 2020
    6
    I ignored the complaints and bought the game anyways, and boy am I disappointed. It's super repetitive fighting with no rewards and the fighting system, especially for boss fights is ridiculous!
  94. Jnbell91
    Jul 24, 2020
    6
    A beautiful disappointment. I’ve been a Paper Mario Fan since the Nintendo 64 days, so I was very excited to play this game. I loved the days of action and stylish commands. I enjoy various genres of games but leaving behind the RPG mechanics was a disservice to this series. I wouldn’t consider this game an RPG at all, but a puzzle game. Every battle is a puzzle, a simple, repetitiveA beautiful disappointment. I’ve been a Paper Mario Fan since the Nintendo 64 days, so I was very excited to play this game. I loved the days of action and stylish commands. I enjoy various genres of games but leaving behind the RPG mechanics was a disservice to this series. I wouldn’t consider this game an RPG at all, but a puzzle game. Every battle is a puzzle, a simple, repetitive puzzle. The battles are pointless at best, and annoying at worst, and running away often fails. The real reason to play this game is if you love collectathons or for the story. It’s not the best story in the series, but it’s definitely better than Sticker Star or Color Splash. If you’re looking for a role playing adventure like Paper Mario 64 or Thousand Year Door this game is unlikely to be for you. If you want a simple puzzle adventure with a light but well written story than go for it.… Expand
  95. Bonesthatrattle
    Jul 23, 2020
    7
    It was pretty and flavorful but ultimately dissatisfying, much like a cake pop.
  96. Heyyoitsmerambo
    Jul 23, 2020
    6
    It is ok, I ended up returning it. I never played the other Paper Mario’s so I didn’t know what I was in for.
  97. Bloodmouth
    Jul 23, 2020
    6
    I had to temper my emotional attachment to the first two games so that I wouldn't rate this game too harshly. In the interest of full disclosure, I absolutely love the first two Paper Mario games and detest what Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have done with the series since. If you are hoping this game will be a return to form for the series, read no further and walk away. Gone are theI had to temper my emotional attachment to the first two games so that I wouldn't rate this game too harshly. In the interest of full disclosure, I absolutely love the first two Paper Mario games and detest what Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have done with the series since. If you are hoping this game will be a return to form for the series, read no further and walk away. Gone are the days of brilliant character writing, deceptively deep combat, and beautiful storytelling. You will be disappointed. The game even seems to have amnesia about how the Paper Mario universe operates (see: Bombette's explosions). However. If, you can ignore that the game has "Paper Mario" in the title, it's a mediocre action/adventure puzzle game with a Mario paint job. Let's talk about the good in this game first. The art style is phenomenal. The world is vibrant and it certainly looks like a gorgeous, modern visual style for the series. I would love to see a Paper Mario or Thousand Year Door remake with this graphical engine. The music is great. There are some actually great songs in the game in certain cutscenes and boss battles that are some of the best in the series. The story is mediocre, but its highs are truly great and I found myself enjoying the plot despite its flaws. If you are a completionist, the game has a great tracking and hint system for the collection broken down by area. I actually found searching for Toads to be the most enjoyable part of the gameplay. Now why is this game itself mediocre? At its heart, it's a puzzle game. The game has some RPG elements, but nothing about it is really anything like an RPG. There are no level ups, no permanent weapon upgrades, or new abilities. Instead, upgrades come in the form of flat health/strength upgrades and consumable weapons. The battle system revolves (ha) around rearranging enemies on a circular grid to line them up for Mario's attacks. For the first few hours of the game, I was frustrated because of how easy these puzzles were. By the end, I was frustrated by the difficulty. Difficulty in a puzzle game is not bad at all, but artificially inflated difficulty is. The source of my frustration wasn't that the puzzles themselves had jumped in difficulty (which is a good thing), but that there is a strict timer enforcing the puzzle. You can pay coins to extend your timer or ask Toads to do the puzzle for you, but that's missing the point. By the end, the game is a puzzle game that doesn't want you to solve its puzzles. Instead, you need to buy accessories to extend your timer and pay large sums of coins just to add 60 seconds. Without that god forsaken timer, I would add a point to my score. Lastly are the controls. If you expect Mario to jump and move and spin etc... like he does in a main series entry or even just in any other paper mario game, you will be disappointed. The controls range from mildly functional to infuriating. Searching for hidden blocks will have you screaming, "but I jumped there!" even with all of the searching helpers equipped. I watched the trailer for this game and thought it might be like the first two golden titles. I had great and high hopes for this game. I wanted a deep badge system and level ups. I wanted a roster of interesting characters with unique and useful abilities, both inside and outside of battle. I wanted a deep story with interesting and emotional developments (see: TTYD). I wanted all of these things and would've been happy to get even a handful. I got none of these things. In summary, taken as it is with no association to the first two entries in the series, it's a mediocre action/adventure puzzle game with some nice highlights. However, if you're anything like me and hoped this would be a series rebirth to times of greatness past, it's a great disappointment. It made me want a true Paper Mario game more than ever, but that game is in another castle...… Expand
  98. supergoron
    Jul 23, 2020
    6
    Good presentation, the world is fun to explore, and the story isn't just another "Bowser kidnapped Peach". However just like the last two games, battles are mostly pointless since they waste resources and limited use battle weapons, customization is limited with no gear or badges, partners are useless as you can't command them or upgrade them, and the once cute paper-craft gimmick is overGood presentation, the world is fun to explore, and the story isn't just another "Bowser kidnapped Peach". However just like the last two games, battles are mostly pointless since they waste resources and limited use battle weapons, customization is limited with no gear or badges, partners are useless as you can't command them or upgrade them, and the once cute paper-craft gimmick is over played by Nintendo at this point. The new battle system is unique I'll give you that, but after awhile it just draws out battles to be longer then they need to be and it makes you wish for even the Sticker Star / Color Splash battles to return because they at least ended quickly.

    Overall it's a fine game, but the stubbornness of the developers to include a battle systems closer to the originals that was simpler to grasp and faster to use or any RPG mechanics that made you feel like battling was actually worth doing holds back what could have been a fantastic 9 or 10 out of 10 game.    … Expand
  99. SirPunk
    Jul 23, 2020
    7
    The Origami King has its ups and downs. In a year that we have no idea what Nintendo has in store for us. It feels more like an appetizer then a main course. I did have fun with it regardless of some game design choices and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.
  100. AceofClovers
    Jul 23, 2020
    7
    The game has a lot going for it, but still feels like it falls short of the mark of a great game. The graphics are great and the dialogue can get a few chuckles. Music is not to bad. The thing that really holds it back is the battle system. I don't even mind its not a rpg system, but with the way it is i wish it was. If your not great at puzzles then i can see the game getting harder andThe game has a lot going for it, but still feels like it falls short of the mark of a great game. The graphics are great and the dialogue can get a few chuckles. Music is not to bad. The thing that really holds it back is the battle system. I don't even mind its not a rpg system, but with the way it is i wish it was. If your not great at puzzles then i can see the game getting harder and harder with constant game overs to the point its no longer fun. All in all if you are looking for a fun adventure game then this is a game id recommend but if your not into puzzles or just bad at them maybe look at another game.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best Switch Game of 2020
2
#2 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 116 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 87 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 116
  3. Negative: 0 out of 116
  1. Ninty Fresh Magazine
    Dec 21, 2020
    70
    The Origami King is a game greater than the sum of its parts. It reaffirms Nintendo’s status as king of innovation, even if the folds don’t quite align. [Issue #2, p.66]
  2. Universo Nintendo
    Dec 16, 2020
    95
    Paper Mario: The Origami King arrives on Nintendo Switch with very high quality graphics, a pleasant soundtrack and a plot full of very good humor, typical of the Paper Mario series. Among countless places to visit, bosses to win, and puzzles to solve, the game can be considered one of the best in the franchise.
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  3. Hey Poor Player
    Oct 29, 2020
    70
    Paper Mario deserves better. The prestige of a Final Fantasy veteran appropriating his magic onto a handicraft world deserves better. The unforgettable wit and lovable cast expanding Mario lore deserves better. And we know that Intelligent Systems can do better than committing themselves to a misguided identity crisis.
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