So yeah, it’s fair to say we like the new remake. But what did other outlets think? Well, as per the norm with major Switch releases, we’ve gathered a handful of opinions from the interwebs to hopefully give a bit of a taste of the general consensus.
So without further ado, let’s dive right in…
Firstly, VGC has given the game a full score of 5/5 starsciting the “consistently engaging RPG mechanics” and quality of life improvements, but noting that some levels feel somewhat dated:
“Thousand-Year Door is an adventure that remains as memorable and engaging as any Mario spin-off to date. It’s a consistently inventive and entertaining adventure that shines brilliantly on the Nintendo Switch and feels truly unique in the mascot’s library. I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience it again.”
Gamespot awarded the game a nice score of 9/10in which he praised the visuals and the new fast travel system, while criticizing the lack of accessibility options, which he said could make some of the fast-paced events difficult for some:
“The Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the definitive way to play the best turn-based RPG starring Mario. The Thousand-Year Door is more of an enhanced HD remaster than a full-fledged remake and has small but meaningful quality of life features that soften some of the bloat of the original GameCube version. Add to that a great cast of characters and consistently playful writing toe -Year Door has all the ingredients of an incredible turn-based RPG. Well, they were always there, but now they’re blended a little better.
IGN said ‘hold my beer’ with its own beer 9/10 review, highlighting how loyal the remake is to the original, while praising its various updates:
“Paper Mario has finally returned to its RPG roots with an incredibly loyal and visually dazzling remake of The Thousand-Year Door. Everything fans have been begging Nintendo to bring back is here, including a wonderfully varied turn-based battle system with satisfying real-time elements and unique, lovable party members that are essential to both the story and gameplay. Rogueport and the surrounding areas are bursting with personality thanks to the writing style that is as sharp and funny today as it was in 2004. It also introduces a host of modern elements. improvements that streamline (but don’t eliminate) the original’s backtracking issues, making this easily the best way to experience Mario’s quest to collect the Crystal Stars. There’s a reason why The Thousand-Year Door is considered one of the best Nintendo games of the last twenty years, and this brilliant remake ensures that reputation will continue for at least another thousand years.”
Destructoid offered a score of 8/10 and praised the originality of the game and how it stands out from the later titles, but also said that the updated visuals have a “glossy” feel that some may find a little strange:
“The weirdest thing is actually the graphical upgrades. A lot of little details have been updated, which is nice. But for some reason part of the overhaul is to make everything a bit reflective. For example, it’s still paper, but it is glossy or laminated for For some reason it looks very good. It was very pleasant for my brain to see these soft reflections on any surface Paper Mario aesthetically it is a collection of handmade dioramas. I don’t know anyone who crafts with glossy paper.”
Finally TheGamer’s 8/10 review called Thousand-Year By the ‘definitive way to play a classic’:
“Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will probably be the last Mario game to be released (exclusively) on the Switch. While Wonder will receive the plaudits, porting this cult classic means a new generation of players can experience it. New fans will. enjoy the quality of life improvements and some new additions, whether you’re a Paper Mario veteran or it’s your first time entering his origami world, this is the definitive way to experience The Thousand-Year Door.”
So all in all it was quite positive across the board and the game currently sits at a respectable 89 on Metacritic. It sounds like a must-play whether you’re a fan of the original or not, and it might be one of the last essential Mario titles for the Switch before the upcoming new hardware.