Paper Mario: Color Splash

 Wii U
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 475 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 291 out of 475
  2. Mixed: 84 out of 475
  3. Negative: 100 out of 475
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  1. Rob1986
    Mar 13, 2017
    5
    Sorry to say that this one was disappointing for me. I really have had fun with past paper Mario games. The battles here are too easy. I'm too deep into the game without being challenged at all. There is some nice humor, but I think the critcal reviews are more impressed with that than I was. I've obtained 3 of the paint stars, and I'm so bored that I've moved on to other games. ISorry to say that this one was disappointing for me. I really have had fun with past paper Mario games. The battles here are too easy. I'm too deep into the game without being challenged at all. There is some nice humor, but I think the critcal reviews are more impressed with that than I was. I've obtained 3 of the paint stars, and I'm so bored that I've moved on to other games. I had high hopes for this game.… Expand
  2. Fred_GameOnBatt
    Feb 12, 2017
    5
    Very funny game! But Paper Mario Color Splash might not reach the delirious highs of their previous tittles because it's not as RPG oriented as the first two games. Seems interesting but the game has almost the exact same problems as Sticker Star, and is ultimately a total bore in gameplay and story. A disappointing new step in a declining series.
  3. The_EpicGamerYT
    Aug 4, 2017
    6
    This is a good step forward for Paper Mario, but Nintendo needs to run a 100m race to catch up with what they did previously. The presentation of the game is good, which should be expected for a Paper Mario. The game doesn't really have a story and there are practically no original characters other than Huey. I didn't find the battle system that convoluted, but I get where people areThis is a good step forward for Paper Mario, but Nintendo needs to run a 100m race to catch up with what they did previously. The presentation of the game is good, which should be expected for a Paper Mario. The game doesn't really have a story and there are practically no original characters other than Huey. I didn't find the battle system that convoluted, but I get where people are coming from. I say that we wait for the Nintendo Switch to fix what happened with Sticker Star and this game.… Expand
  4. Bullish
    Jun 21, 2017
    7
    I enjoyed this game, but once again the Mario RPG series is sliding farther and farther away from its roots.

    + The best quirkiness I have ever seen in a video game / legitimately humorous at times + The colors are so vibrant and lush, you'll feel hypnotized at times + Loved the whole individual level / overworld design - The battle system is a **** mess - Needs a party system,    I enjoyed this game, but once again the Mario RPG series is sliding farther and farther away from its roots.

    + The best quirkiness I have ever seen in a video game / legitimately humorous at times
    + The colors are so vibrant and lush, you'll feel hypnotized at times
    + Loved the whole individual level / overworld design

    - The battle system is a **** mess
    - Needs a party system, just too easy when you're only one character
    - Pulling and painting cards was tedious    … Expand
  5. FinalDestinatio
    Apr 9, 2018
    7
    An improvement over Sticker Star, but still not up to the Thousand Year Door standard.
  6. Sjama
    Mar 14, 2022
    5
    All 3 of the previous paper mario games (N64, Gamecube and Wii) are in my top 10 favorite games. I played them on the consoles and replayed recently on emulators and was still impressed.

    This game is a disappointment. After forcing myself to play a few hours, I stopped and won't play it again. Positive: The graphics, color and cardboard style (as opposed to thick paper) look quite    All 3 of the previous paper mario games (N64, Gamecube and Wii) are in my top 10 favorite games. I played them on the consoles and replayed recently on emulators and was still impressed.

    This game is a disappointment. After forcing myself to play a few hours, I stopped and won't play it again.
    Positive:
    The graphics, color and cardboard style (as opposed to thick paper) look quite pleasant and suitable for this title.

    Negative:
    The story is almost inexistent, it feels more like a mario platformer game (eg. New Super Mario Bros.), but without the fun gameplay.
    The controlls and gameplay using cards is one of the most annoying and tedious I have ever experienced. Due to this, going into combat is a chore, and this is the main reason the game is ruined.
    The music is not bad, but worse than the 3 previous games.    … Expand
  7. TheWiiU
    Feb 5, 2021
    7
    To be honest there is fun to be had here. I enjoyed this game for what it's worth it is a semi-fun game. Sure it is not as good as TTYD or the original but it is still fun. The battle system is a bit of an overkill but it is okay.
  8. BaldursThones
    Apr 14, 2022
    7
    I like this game just because of the vibe. You got the train place, the circus place, and the pirate seas. However, I think the beginning of the game was too slow and I wish they didn't use the Koopalings as the bosses.
  9. Locke_VI
    Nov 20, 2016
    5
    Colourful world, creative mechanic with the paint and humourous dialogue. It would be a fantastic game if the battle system wasn't so horrid. The slow, awkward battle system undermines the entire game.
  10. pikby
    Oct 7, 2016
    7
    Paper Mario Color Splash might not reach the delerious hights of the first 3 games ,but stands on its own as a fun adventure,with alot of personality,likeable characters, and clever design,even if ,while improved over sticker star ,the battle system is a bit lackluster

    75%
  11. JRo55
    Jan 26, 2023
    5
    Overall very mediocre. While the dialog can be entertaining, it relies too much on making constant paper jokes. The combat is very tedious and worse than sticker star. That said, I did have fun with the game when not fighting regular enemies.
  12. Digibutter64
    Jun 2, 2018
    7
    Paper Mario: Color Splash is a bit more accomplished than the incredibly disappointing Sticker Star, but doesn't quite capture the magic of Super Paper Mario.

    The gameplay is quite similar to Sticker Star, but they seemed to have handled it a bit better this time around. There's also slightly more variance in characters, and Color Splash has a bit more charm. However, the still-generic    Paper Mario: Color Splash is a bit more accomplished than the incredibly disappointing Sticker Star, but doesn't quite capture the magic of Super Paper Mario.

    The gameplay is quite similar to Sticker Star, but they seemed to have handled it a bit better this time around. There's also slightly more variance in characters, and Color Splash has a bit more charm. However, the still-generic plot and still mediocre gameplay make this entry less than essential.    … Expand
  13. afraaa
    Oct 17, 2016
    6
    First of all I'm not even played those two Old great P-Mario ( I've seen and know they are great ) and I like Sticker star BUT this game have some cumbersome issues for me I cant Ignore !!! :

    1 - why we can't browse cards with stick !? this is cumbersome go back and forth between holding game pad with one hand and using stylus and again holding back game pad normally while I want to    First of all I'm not even played those two Old great P-Mario ( I've seen and know they are great ) and I like Sticker star BUT this game have some cumbersome issues for me I cant Ignore !!! :

    1 - why we can't browse cards with stick !? this is cumbersome go back and forth between holding game pad with one hand and using stylus and again holding back game pad normally while I want to complete 100 percent of levels as of my style of playing games.

    2- Why there is 4 steps for using a simple card ? they could easily made it quick with fast browsing system ( managing cards with category : hammers / jumps / Big cards / ) . we could select cards easily by category instead of boring browsing every time ( Oh man... ) then paint them and swipe them right away without boring verifying , and if I regret of my choice of cards they could put swipe down gesture to cancel selected cards , isn't it really better way !?
    3 - Why all this toads with same face . I really like toads until I played C-Splash . now I stuffed with toads and I'm not even made to 40% of the game . at least put some glasses on Professor toad for Mushroom kingdom sake ! don't fool yourself Nintendo this is copy and paste . We had old toads in Mario sunshine with mustache , What's wrong with it ?
    there are lot of characters in super Mario world beside toads .    … Expand
  14. BenneyBob
    Mar 25, 2017
    7
    Hands Down the best thing about this game is the art Because it looks Gorgeous other than that it really is just A better sticker star because it is the same concept i cant recommend this game unless you are curious
  15. cole5677
    Nov 12, 2017
    7
    Well once again Nintendo decides to screw over its fans again by completely ignoring their feedback from Sticker Star and this is what we get. Battling is pointless, there is basically no story, boringly designed characters, world map, Koopalings, illogically designed and frustrating puzzles and boss fights, etc.

    Though I can say that there are good parts to the game. Beautiful visuals,    Well once again Nintendo decides to screw over its fans again by completely ignoring their feedback from Sticker Star and this is what we get. Battling is pointless, there is basically no story, boringly designed characters, world map, Koopalings, illogically designed and frustrating puzzles and boss fights, etc.

    Though I can say that there are good parts to the game. Beautiful visuals, great and wide variety of music, witty humour, and fun level designs, to name a few.

    That being said, I was still heavily disappointed with this game and I really hope Nintendo can make a true Paper Mario game for the Switch.    … Expand
  16. CyberRobotnix
    Mar 7, 2018
    5
    Like Paper Jam and Sticker star, this game has no substance, no story and if it wasn't for the dialogues, the graphics and the ost, that crap would get around 2/10 - 4/10.

    This game also relies too much on backtracking and those stupid yu-gi-oh cards that should have been optional from the beginning. And of course, the story sucks like in Mario Odyssey, like in New Super Mario Bros    Like Paper Jam and Sticker star, this game has no substance, no story and if it wasn't for the dialogues, the graphics and the ost, that crap would get around 2/10 - 4/10.

    This game also relies too much on backtracking and those stupid yu-gi-oh cards that should have been optional from the beginning.

    And of course, the story sucks like in Mario Odyssey, like in New Super Mario Bros and so on.

    Man, this game sucks. Go play the original or TTYD.    … Expand
  17. TheSimpranos
    Mar 3, 2018
    5
    I miss old Paper Mario. Nintendo please listen to your fans. Even if Color Splash was Sticker Star done right we want characters and stories again.
  18. teamxelu
    Jul 20, 2020
    7
    not too bad but there are still glaring issues,like the battle system and no unique toads but overall a good romp
  19. EpicLadySponge
    Oct 7, 2016
    7
    Paper Mario: Color Splash brings the series' attention by making it not just another Sticker Star simulator, but at the same time, making it feel like its own thing. While it tries to return what has been done in the past, its bigger problems from the previous game are kept making this game just plain average. Not as bad people would say, but it may be worth fun for you.
  20. London_Calling
    Oct 12, 2016
    7
    Not long into it and not feeling it for that battle system but it is one of the nicest looking games on the wiiU. It's beautiful, clever and witty and a definite buy.
  21. Goo4you
    Feb 17, 2017
    6
    Vivid colors, Rich music, Surprisingly well written dialogue, with a poorly shallow (and boring) combat system and you have Paper Mario.

    This was my first foray into the series and I really found myself enjoying it, until the very light combat/card management process took hold. Combat serves nearly no purpose in this game, as well as collecting cards, not when you can buy whatever you    Vivid colors, Rich music, Surprisingly well written dialogue, with a poorly shallow (and boring) combat system and you have Paper Mario.

    This was my first foray into the series and I really found myself enjoying it, until the very light combat/card management process took hold. Combat serves nearly no purpose in this game, as well as collecting cards, not when you can buy whatever you need/want and coins are aplenty. Even then you'll find yourself using the same 2-4 kinds of cards over and over because they get the job done.

    I found the dialogue between NPC's to be surprisingly topical and somewhat mature in some places (think pixar movies peppering in jokes only the parents will get). For me, those exchanges were what kept me coming back.

    As with every in-house property, Paper Mario is a rpg housing a Puzzle game that also is a collect-a-thon. This is hit or miss. If you suffer from OCD and don't want to have that irritated, don't play this game (you might want to steer clear of anything Nintendo in that case). For completionist, this isn't all that hard, though the Roshambo temple's are just the worst (I hate you round three).

    I recommend it, but don't expect anything revolutionary; this is Nintendo we are talking about, they haven't done something new with a GAME in decades, all their focus has been on hardware and it's starting to really show.    … Expand
  22. SOLIDSNAKEN64
    Nov 10, 2016
    7
    *Story is about the same as all the other PM games
    *Dialoge is definitiv funny
    *Graphics look amazing/ best PM game I've ever seen. Played them all since 1000 year door. *Gameplay is lacking. About half way through the game and it gets very repetitive. stripped off all RPG elements :( *Music is Amazing!! *Puzzles are not that difficult *kind of a rehash of sticker star If your a    *Story is about the same as all the other PM games
    *Dialoge is definitiv funny
    *Graphics look amazing/ best PM game I've ever seen. Played them all since 1000 year door.
    *Gameplay is lacking. About half way through the game and it gets very repetitive. stripped off all RPG elements :(
    *Music is Amazing!!
    *Puzzles are not that difficult
    *kind of a rehash of sticker star
    If your a PM fan like me pick it up you will enjoy it. I would wait for it to go on sale, If N ever puts it on sale.    … Expand
  23. Lil_Caucasian
    Feb 4, 2022
    7
    This game isn't nearly as bad as most say it is. A lot of the negative response to this decent game is from those who believe this isn't the same series as the first two games.
  24. CanadianYeti
    Jul 17, 2017
    7
    If anything, Paper Mario Color Splash is guaranteed to bring you a smile or two. The lovely visuals and fantastic writing really elevate it to a higher level than the overall gameplay can take it. This would be a perfect RPG to start a young kid off on the genre, before they can handle games like Final Fantasy.
  25. BluesBrothers
    Jul 25, 2017
    7
    Paper Mario: Color Splash is definitely an enjoyable and chuckle-worthy game, but I still found myself wanting more as the game went on. The game's companion, Huey, makes the game incredibly lively and leaves you with a zinger about every 30 seconds. In fact, the entire world is full of Toads and Shy-Guys that will leave you with a funny comment here and there. But while hilarious, ToadsPaper Mario: Color Splash is definitely an enjoyable and chuckle-worthy game, but I still found myself wanting more as the game went on. The game's companion, Huey, makes the game incredibly lively and leaves you with a zinger about every 30 seconds. In fact, the entire world is full of Toads and Shy-Guys that will leave you with a funny comment here and there. But while hilarious, Toads and only toads being the only positive reinforcement Mario gets feels a little unoriginal and stale after a while. A thing this game does have going for it is it's visuals. Those vibrant colors in glorious HD makes you want to carry on through the adventure. Color Splash also has a great soundtrack, something that Paper Mario games always deliver in spades. While Nintendo tries to improve on the battle system by adding Hammer Scraps, It really makes very little difference in the long run, and I hope that they can improve on it further in the future. Painting things with your hammer is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be satisfying to see every corner of the map covered in paint, but on the other hand, it's also incredibly tedious to do and can take 5 smacks to fill in the tiniest blank space. Overall, Color Splash is a big step up from it's 3DS counterpart, but it still has more room for improvement. I recommend this to add to your WiiU or even Paper Mario collection!… Expand
  26. Parowake
    Feb 19, 2020
    7
    Es un juego con luces y sombras. Lo he jugado hasta el final intentando y deseando que me gustase, en vano. La sensación final es de que no hay historia, sino una serie de ocurrencias para ir rellenando horas de juego. A pesar de las cosas buenas, como la parte artística, o la música, el sistema de juego se hace lento y monótono.
  27. livelovelaugh22
    Jun 6, 2020
    7
    Paper Mario Color Splash is hated by many, but I kinda liked it. The story wasn't great, but it was a step-up from Sticker Star, that's for sure. Solid, unique and fun gameplay was invented in where you have to restore color to the world, and collect paint stars, and with enough you'll be able to fight Bowser. The game was also very funny, and charming. So much life, and personality was inPaper Mario Color Splash is hated by many, but I kinda liked it. The story wasn't great, but it was a step-up from Sticker Star, that's for sure. Solid, unique and fun gameplay was invented in where you have to restore color to the world, and collect paint stars, and with enough you'll be able to fight Bowser. The game was also very funny, and charming. So much life, and personality was in the game. The battle system was a wee-bit of a step up from SS, but it was pretty much the same. You fight with cards instead of stickers, blah blah blah. B O R I N G. The boss fights were fun, and the levels presented themselves with almost a sort of satisfaction after completion, though they were very easy. Overall, it was a enjoyable and solid game, especially for a console as weak as the Wii U was. Sure, it didn't compare to the God of a game Paper Mario TTYD was, but it was good in its own way. Better than SS, 64, and a bit close to the masterpiece SPM was.… Expand
  28. GameBoyAdv4002
    May 15, 2021
    5
    It's fine, but i don't recommend playing it. Enjoyed it on my first playthrough, couldn't even finish it on my second. The art design and writings good, but otherwise there's just nothing here. I'm not a big fan of RPGs, and this doesn't even do that well. Better experienced by watching a longplay than actually playing it, but, it's far from offensive.
  29. TooLateLouis
    Oct 29, 2021
    6
    In the idyllic world of Mushroom Kingdom there is rarely dialogue this dynamic is turned upside down in the Paper Mario universe. Brimming with charming interactions that bring the world and characters to life the game excels at creating a truly enjoyable world. Also aiding in creating an exceptional universe is the close attention to detail in environments which are bursting withIn the idyllic world of Mushroom Kingdom there is rarely dialogue this dynamic is turned upside down in the Paper Mario universe. Brimming with charming interactions that bring the world and characters to life the game excels at creating a truly enjoyable world. Also aiding in creating an exceptional universe is the close attention to detail in environments which are bursting with creativity. Many textiles and textures make up the landscape, it's like a warm towel from the dryer but cut up into cute flowers.
    Unfortunately, the card based system for combat encounters slows the pace of the game to an absolute crawl. In addition, managing card inventory becomes a large part of the game forcing you to return to the main area - again detracting from meaningful progress. In an attempt to alleviate this, combat encounters are few and far between ultimately taking a backseat to the narrative. While endearing the game cannot rest on it's story and characters alone.    … Expand
  30. Cabbage0642
    Jun 29, 2023
    6
    pretty alright enjoyable.

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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best Wii U Game of 2016
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2016
2
#2 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 74 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 74
  3. Negative: 1 out of 74
  1. Vooks
    Apr 8, 2017
    80
    It will be entirely up to you whether the writing and redeeming elements of the battle system suit your preferences, but I am absolutely glad I was able to give Paper Mario: Color Splash a chance.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Jan 12, 2017
    85
    Wow, so it is possible to make a genuinely funny game after all. I can’t recall another game that made me laugh so often and occasionally so hard. [13/2016, p.72]
  3. RPG Fan
    Dec 1, 2016
    70
    It's not exactly Sticker Star, but the change isn't necessarily for the better. Still, despite its flaws, there is fun to be had here.
    Read full review
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