Paper Mario: The Origami King Review Roundup

Being a Nintendo Developer today must be a difficult job. It is hard to fathom the sheer pressure these guys are under when working on one of the big N's beloved franchises, especially those that have a few masterpiece predecessors. Take a sec to think about it, and then think about those poor souls that have to work on the latest Paper Mario game, The Origami King. Fans have placed Thousand Year Door as the pinnacle of the series and have long for any new iteration to at least come close in quality. So, does The Origami King succeed? Here's the review roundup: ​

GAMESRADAR+ (SCORE 4.5/5)
'Gripes aside though, the latest Paper Mario title is a joy to exist in. An excellent story, charming characters, and the ability to team up with your oldest foes makes The Origami King a triumph. Yes, it may not be the new Thousand-Year Door RPG, but it's something special that should be celebrated. '

For the full review please visit here.

GAMESPOT (SCORE 8/10)
'With a newfound combat system that steals the show and offers a novel take on turn-based combat, its winking, nodding, and adventuring shine all the brighter. Its world and characters might not be the series' best, but it's still able to consistently throw left turns, good gags, and smart surprises at you. Each piece of The Origami King elegantly fits into its whole, taking its irreverent flair to new heights. The Paper Mario series has recently shown that being clever and being smart are two different things, but thankfully, it's once again managed to be both.'

For the full review please visit here.

DESTRUCTOID (SCORE 8/10)
'Intelligent Systems and the writing squad have done a great job of keeping Paper Mario funny and fun to play. This is a world worth experiencing. There's room in my heart for both styles of Paper Mario. The old games still exist and this newer, sometimes thinner formula is fine too. That said, it's possible Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have folded this subseries every which way they can at this point. I hope the next one is a little more fresh.'

​For the full review please visit here.

GAMEINFORMER (SCORE 7.75/10) 
'As a series, Paper Mario constantly explores new concepts and mechanics, which is exciting, but that comes with plenty of risks. Origami King’s biggest chances don't pay off in a satisfying way. I enjoyed Mario’s hijinks and all the misfits he encounters, but the new ring-based action needs refinement. I hope Paper Mario’s next twist on combat can rise to the same level as its humor. '

​For the full review please visit here.

IGN (SCORE 7/10)
'The Origami King is a truly likeable game despite the shallowness of its new spin on gameplay. Its characters are winsome, its visual design is gorgeous, its world is fun to explore, and its storytelling is outside the box and playful. At the same time, however, it could be so much more. Combat is largely unfulfilling, and your journey as a whole lacks meaningful choices. For a series with RPG roots, that’s a real shame.'

​For the full review please visit here.

GAMEXPLAIN (VIDEO REVIEW)

Overall, Paper Mario: The Origami King currently sits at a Metascore of 81 from 53 reviews. We may never get another game like Thousand Year Door, and that's ok, but we want any new titles in the series to be fun, funny and a joy to experience, everything this game appears to be.   

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