Origami king is a great entry into the paper mario series. My favorite parts was the charming and silly characters and the tongue and cheek comedy throughout the game. Origami plays it silly and over the top, plus the look and design of the game is fantastic.

While the characters and their dialogue are the best part of the game, the overall story is pretty simple and nothing really to write about.

Some of my biggest issues with the game was the hand holding, the older paper mario games from what I remember weren't always too hard but definitely never as easy as origami king. The game constantly gave you items and health and I never really felt like I was in trouble during combat, while not a huge deal I would have liked a bit more of a challenge, also sucks that in some areas with puzzles the game just out right tells you the solution after a couple of minutes of trying it yourself.

Even with the added puzzle combat, solving the puzzles would allow you to steam roll the enemy, and failing the puzzle wouldn't give much of a punishment except for making the rounds longer. Also the puzzles repeat themselves, so you just need to remember the solution to most of them and your covered. The only interesting fights are the mini bosses and the actual bosses.

While the puzzle mechanic in combat is intresting after a while it gets tiring and tedious, I would usually just avoid enemies that weren't mandatory to fight since you don't really have to fight them and they didn't give anything else besides money, enemies mostly just slowed you down.

Another let down was the team members, while you did have friends following you, it was only one at a time and they did pretty much whatever they wanted during combat, most of their attacks miss if they attack at all. While I love the characters I hated having deceptive party members following me around. Not that you needed them I guess since you can solve most encounters in one round by solving the puzzle. Still I would have liked to have actual party members, not to mention that you leave them behind when entering a dungeon or important battle scenario.

Other than that nothing else bothered me to much, Paper mario is as charming as ever and I enjoyed seeing the silly side stories and characters. Definitely a solid paper mario experience that I enjoyed.

I enjoyed this game so much. Only ever played Super Paper Mario on the Wii and it never quite gripped me, so I have no previous attachment to this series.

It was funny the entire time, and despite the fact I typically can't stand excess dialogue in games, I enjoyed every minute in the ridiculous conversation in Origami King.

Let's get this right out of the way - the battle system. Or the "ring" system, as it's come to be known. I think it's pretty cool. It's a good idea that changes battles into little mini-puzzles. After about the halfway point of the game, I started to sigh every time I got into a random encounter, because you started to realize they are basically pointless after a while. The only real reason for them is to a) get coins, and b) get confetti, if you are deep in a dungeon and you need to fill holes in the world. But if you are flush with cash and have full confetti, they became pointless.

What I did appreciate was the adoption of the "Earthbound system" as I'll call it, where once you become too powerful, hitting an enemy in the overworld "auto-won" the battle, meaning you don't get dragged into pointlessly simple battles when you return to finish your collectibles.

Hey, speaking of collectibles - I never thought this game would be a collect-a-thon, but finding secret treasures and hitting 100% in the different areas was so satisfying. Finding secret Toads and the invisible blocks using the "alarm bell" felt very rewarding.

A small QoL improvement would have been the ability to switch between Toads/Collectibles/Hidden Block finders on the Y-menu, but overall once you get the start menu down to muscle-memory, it doesn't take much extra time.

After beating the main game, I'm not feeling a big incentive to wander aimlessly around every area, hoping to see the bell go off. There is a Toad detector, which has it's own battery, but as for finding the rest of the hidden blocks and collectibles, there isn't much drawing me back to it. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy the exploration, quite the contrary in fact, but it's hard to go back to the beginning once you've seen the end.

All in all, this took between 25-30 hours and I got 100% item collection in most areas. I loved this title and I will truly miss the good vibes that it brought!

I mean it. This is the best Paper Mario game. Anyone who thinks Thousand-Year Door is better either hasn't played it in a long time or is afraid of new things.*

Ok, let's start out by addressing the elephant in the room. Like the previous two entries in the series, this is not an RPG. You do not level up in the traditional sense. The combat is different. However, and I'll only say this once: if you are the type of person that judges a game (or anything, for that matter) for what it's not, rather than what it is, you have bad opinions. Fight me.

I'm just gonna repeat what I said about Sticker Star's combat, because the same pretty much applies:

"It's not so much that the battle system sucks. In fact, by the end of the game, I didn't mind it too much; ... to be honest I genuinely liked it during boss battles. Again, it's not so much that it sucks, it's just that it's pointless. Other than coins ... there's rarely much of a reward for going into battle. The result is a game where I'm constantly running away from battles because they're a nuisance."

The difference is that the puzzle-based system in Origami King is actually really cool. Two of the trophies required to 100% this game have you playing mini games where you're just solving the puzzles without the combat, and it makes you realize how much fun those puzzles actually are. It's just that, I don't want to be doing puzzles every time I enter combat. They're either too easy, and thus a nuisance, or too hard, and thus frustrating. However, like in Sticker Star, you can normally just run away from enemies before you enter combat, and I really didn't mind the number of mandatory battles.

Boss battles, however, are freaking awesome. I won't waste time describing it; just go watch a video if you don't know how it works by now. I'll just say that every single boss battle was a joy, and replaying them with increased difficulty for one of the trophies was challenging and entertaining.

Ok, so aside from the weird battle system. what else are we working with? Just an absolutely incredible game in every single category. Graphics? Beautiful. Music? Pure happiness. Gameplay? Out of this world.

Ok, the reason I think the old-school Paper Mario games aren't as good as they seemed when we were kids is because they are so extremely linear. Now don't get me wrong, there are times when I got frustrated at Origami King for not letting me go where I wanted, especially at the beginning, but there are so many large open areas in this game that you actually get to take at whatever pace you choose. At one point you're basically just playing The Wind Waker. In a Paper Mario game. It's incredible!

I'm actually amazed at what they packed into this game. After the first streamer, I thought each world or area or whatever was going to be pretty formulaic. Boy, was I wrong. Every streamer is loosely broken up into two parts: getting to the dungeon/temple place, and doing the dungeon/temple place. But this looks completely different for every streamer. One level has you solving ancient puzzles in a desert before navigating an underground ruin, while another has you sailing the ocean before conquering a tower. Still another takes place in a spa in the clouds before entering Bowser's castle. The variety and zaniness of the story rivals that of Thousand-Year Door, while the puzzles and exploration seem straight out of a Zelda game. And it all takes place in a world that you can easily navigate and return to through Toad Town.

Would I like to have a Paper Mario game that goes back to its RPG roots? Yes. Do I miss partners that you could control in combat? Sure do. Would Origami King be better with those things? Absolutely. Is it a bad game because it's missing those things? Heck freaking no. Absolutely take off with that idea. Don't let nostalgia blind you to a masterpiece when it's right in front of you waiting to be enjoyed. This is an incredible game.

Go. Be free of your nostalgia goggles. Try new things. Enjoy this game. If you don't, you are a bad person.*

*lol jk everyone's opinions are valid.

UPDATE: I just figured out why I think this game is the best in the series. While other games had things I like more, every other game also had things I disliked. This game really didn't. I didn't dislike anything about this game, which was a first for Paper Mario.

I originally wanted to 100% this game because I'm a big fan of this series, but ended up dropping the project as I couldn't be bothered to get a perfect score on Shy Guys finish last (damn you ring scramble!) I might do it eventually but for now I'm letting it go.

My favorite part of this game is the paper aesthetic. It is truly the prettiest paper mario I've played. While I was initially put off by the bosses being literal paper tools, now that I've played it I can see why they chose that. I loved their quirky personalities and as always the humor of this game.

In terms of the story while I did enjoy it, I didn't find it particularly groundbreaking or anything. Thousand Year Door was my entry to the series and I much prefered the darker storyline and ambiance. However the open world of Origami King was super enjoyable to explore and I can see myself going back to play around Shogun Studios.

The battle system however huh.... I did like the ring puzzle mechanic, but in terms of actual combat difficulty? Aside from the bosses, the standard enemies are quite boring to fight. Also has anyone here actually used items in this game? I barely used them aside from the occasional mushrooms. The combat items were in my opinion, pretty much useless and compared to the variety we got in some of the previous games, I found myself a bit disappointed.

I did however, loved searching for hidden toads and going back to find the ones I missed. Their lines of dialogues often made me smile.

Overall I don't regret playing this game, I really enjoyed the beautiful origami world and the attention put into details. The museum is also a nice addition for those like me who like to collect rewards. I'm looking forward to playing the other instalments I've missed!

The Paper Mario franchise has been in a downward spiral ever since Super Paper Mario for the Wii. The games started out as simple but deep turn-based RPGs with each subsequent game shedding these traditional RPG mechanics in favor of arts & crafts gimmicks. First there were stickers in “Sticker Star”, then paint in “Color Splash” and now origami with Paper Mario: The Origami King. While the game still retains the fantastic writing and humor the series is known for, it unfortunately is not a return to its beloved RPG origins. The core battle mechanic overstays its welcome and the lack of any experience gains, incentivises avoiding combat altogether. A large swath of the game feels like a pointless collectathon. And the game features a bit too many samey Toad NPCs. Origami King on paper (no pun intended) has no right being good but manages to course correct with its impressive visuals and charming presentation.

Princess Peach has been kidnapped yet again, not by Bowser, but by a mysterious origami figure named Ollie. Ollie has the ability to fold and manipulate the paper denizens into brainwashed origami beings. Mario faces off against an origami Princess Peach who urges him to be folded and transformed just like she was. Mario is able to successfully escape with the help of a friendly origami named Olivia, who also happens to be Ollie’s sister. Ollie uses his powers to move Peach’s Castle atop a mountain and envelops the castle with streamers. It’s up to Mario and Olivia to figure out how to remove the streamers and rescue Peach from Ollie.

The art in Origami King is a distinctive blend of sprite based 2D models and 3D origami figures. Mario and the other unfolded characters are displayed as sprites similar to previous Paper Mario games, while the origami figures are 3D models with proper lighting and motion. Usually this mix of styles is hard to get right since both 2D and 3D models are occupying the same space. Surprisingly the mix of styles work. It tickled my nostalgia of the old Paper Mario games, yet provides a modern flare only possible on the Switch. It’s a similar experience to playing Octopath Traveler and seeing its mix of 2D and 3D styles.

The exploration will feel quite familiar to Paper Mario fans. Mario has the ability to jump and hit things with a hammer. Instead of partner abilities, Mario can team up with Olivia and use origami magic to traverse obstacles. Olivia can enhance Mario’s arms to be the 1000-Fold Arms to peel away paper in the environment or could transform herself into a Vellumental such as the Earth Vellumental to raise the floor. In addition, Mario also has the ability to throw confetti to fill holes in the world and rescue numerous folded Toads the pair meet along the way.

The biggest problem I had with Origami King is that the entire game feels like an adventure of collecting things and ticking off boxes. Filling in the world with confetti (outside of a few main plot points) is a completely optional endeavor and only rewards you with coins. When you rescue a folded Toad, you get a brief funny line and a minute improvement when asking for their assistance in combat. Finding a hidden path in a dungeon rewards you with a chest often containing a Trophy. Trophies offer no gameplay benefit and are only viewable in the game’s museum. There is no substantial payoff doing any of these things and the only way Mario gets noticeably stronger is by defeating the bosses guarding each streamer.

The origami battles are an interesting take on combat but quickly become tedious once you realize they are completely optional. Mario starts in the center of a gridded circle and has to rearrange foes into a 1x4 line or a 2x2 square within a number of turns and a time limit. If you successfully do so, Mario gains bonus damage when jumping or hammering the origami goons. If you get stuck, you can pay coins to have the Toads assist you or to extend the timer. The novelty wears off once you start seeing the same patterns over and over. Rather than feeling clever solving a tricky puzzle, it becomes a menial task of using the same solution used in previous encounters. The only rewards in victory are confetti and coins. The problem is that you can get a bountiful amount of either thing doing other tasks without spending time through these origami fights. This is exacerbated by the fact that the use of confetti is optional and coins are almost solely used to purchase accessories and items to assist Mario in combat. You can skip most fights, mainline the game and you would be no worse for wear in the boss fights.

The boss fights are easily the highlight of the origami battles. Instead of Mario being in the center, the roles are reversed where Mario starts on the perimeter and you have to shift the tiles so that Mario can reach the boss in the center. Each boss is cleverly designed with unique attacks and hidden weak points. Ironically, repeated battles with normal origami foes do not help you prepare against the bosses and actually reinforce the idea that you are better off skipping the regular fights.

Paper Mario: The Origami King, outside of the prologue, makes for a terrible first impression. One of the biggest problems with the last Paper Mario game, Color Splash, is the use of Toads for every single NPC. It made the whole world feel homogenous and boring. Origami King is no different. For the first quarter of the game, there are mostly Toads as NPCs. Sure there are a few Bowser minions you can speak to but that is the exception to the rule.

Partner characters are back, but instead of being a member of your party, they tag along and sometimes help in battle. They are also bound to certain areas and give a pretty lame excuse why they can’t follow you once you leave their boundaries. Since Mario is mute in this franchise, this makes Olivia the only uniquely identifiable character who speaks and follows Mario throughout the journey. Like it or not, Olivia becomes a very, very talkative backseat driver.

Lastly, it sometimes feels as if the NPCs are complete automatons with no self-awareness. There is one specific level (that also happens to be filled with Toad NPCs) where the NPCs are completely ignorant that there are origami monsters roaming about. They don’t even flinch or get scared or anything even if there is an origami foe literally inches from them. It completely breaks the illusion that there is a catastrophe needing to be resolved because these NPCs seem to be fine knowing that they could be folded into monstrosities.

As odd as it sounds, I don’t think this game is abysmal. After leaping through the hurdles of the first quarter of the game, I was pleasantly entertained by the game’s charm. There are random dance numbers, singing and mini-games that are hard not to smile at. Bowser’s minions play a largely sympathetic role and engage in 3rd wall breaking conversations like asking Mario whether he thinks Goombas or Koopas are tougher. There are also scenes where it feels as if the developers are poking fun at themselves and their own design decisions. Some levels in the game feature little to no origami battles and by consequence are my favorite parts in the game. Everytime the game forces me into a series of pointless origami fights, the game delivers a wonderful unexpected surprise in the next sequence. The best way to sum up Origami King is a quote from Olivia: “For every valley fold, there is a mountain fold”.

I played a bit of The Thousand Year Door back on the GameCube but didn't get super far (excited to see it in the estore though). I've seen criticism of this game as being a departure from the formula but really don't have history with the franchise to make me be disappointed with how this game fits into it.
Mostly I loved the innovative designs and world. It made exploration fun. Seeing what new way they would use the paper was literally the best part of the game.

The combat was weird and stopped me from coming back and playing through for a long time. I got it sorted in the second run but as I read others say, there's no benefit to entering combat so you usually wind up avoiding it. Dialog was funny and another high point in the game. There's a lot of clever things happening in this game. There's even a Toad version of Captain Harlock.

The story is also fairly straightforward, simple and ultimately nothing special.

Overall, I don't regret playing it. People who need any real challenge, a deep story, combat mechanics that don't literally suck, unique or important story telling, or customization of anything at all should avoid. Anyone who is there for the jokes and the beauty of the world won't be disappointed.

Since Paper Mario: Sticker Star (2012), Paper Mario is recognized as that Mario spin-off that hasn't been good for a long time, and its sequel, Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016), went largely unnoticed. However, in 2020 Intelligent Systems released Paper Mario: The Origami King, and against all odds it received pretty good reception even by fans of the franchise.

And it's easy to understand why. Aside from the beautiful art design, full of origami and paper craft that reminds me of games like Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (2015) and Yoshi's Crafted World (2019), the writing is extremely charming, with lots of funny conversations and creative scenarios that make everything feel lively. In one moment you are Japanese-themed amusement park, then you are sailing the seas and searching for islands and treasure just like in Wind Waker (2002), and later you are a participant in a game show hosted by a Shy Guy. There's always something new to do, and you'll never know what will happen next.

The characters are also a lot more memorable and unique than the generic Toads from Sticker Star and Color Splash, and while still being a far cry from the characters in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004), here you can find Toads with actual personality and sometimes you get a partner that help you through your journey for a time, like a Bob-Omb without a fuse or an archaeologist Toad, so it doesn't feel like the only useful people in the entire world are Mario and Olivia.

However, it's important to note that the combat itself is easily the worst part of the game. While I appreciate that you don't need stickers or cards to attack, the main gimmick of being in a circle where you have to organize the enemies in specific formations gets old really quickly, and the lack of experience means that you don't get anything from battles aside of money and confetti, which you can get in almost everything you do, so the only reason to not escape is to get the trophy of winning 200 battles, which is totally optional if you don't want to get the 100% completion.

But at least the boss battles are actually fun! They are really creative and funny, as it is possibly the only game where you can fight against colored pencils, scissors and even a stapler, each one with their own gimmick and strategy, so you have to think ahead what to do, as they can do a lot of damage if you aren't prepared for their special attacks. And there are even overworld battles with papier-mâchér monsters that you have to evade and attack at the right moment, an interesting concept that adds even more variety to a game full of unique ideas.

In conclusion, even if the normal battles are still pretty lacking, the other elements in Origami King are so entertaining and charming that you'll have a lot of fun playing it, even if you disliked Sticker Star and/or Color Splash.