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.
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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.
    Read full review
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