Paper Mario (N64) Playthrough [1 of 2] - NintendoComplete
144A playthrough of Nintendo's 2001 role-playing game for the Nintendo 64, Paper Mario.
This is the first part of a two-part playthrough, showing through the end of the fourth chapter. The second part can be found here: https://youtu.be/S8Nsi2Xtu64
Prologue: A Plea from the Stars 17:20
Chapter 1: Storming Koopa Bros. Fortress 1:37:47
Chapter 2: The Mystery of Dry Dry Ruins 3:38:38
Chapter 3: The "Invincible" Tubba Blubba 5:43:50
Chapter 4: Trials in the Toy Box 9:12:09
Though it was originally envisioned as a sequel to the 1996 SNES game Super Mario RPG (https://youtu.be/oYDKB43TChU ), Nintendo's less-than-amicable split with Square and Square's preoccupation with their own projects meant that the Super Mario RPG 2 project would have to find a new development team. Nintendo handed the reins over to their long-trusted partners at Intelligent Systems, and four years later, Paper Mario finally appeared as one of the last major games for the Nintendo 64.
Paper Mario begins with Mario and Luigi being invited to the castle for a party bring thrown by Princess Peach. Shortly after they arrive, Bowser charges in to announce his arrival in a typically dramatic fashion: the castle is lifted straight up in the air, and after crashing through the window, the king of Koopas explains that he has kidnapped the seven star sprites that grant people's dreams. He has also stolen the star rod which grants him virtually unlimited power, and in his bid to make Princess Peach his once and for all, he straight up murders Mario.
Thankfully, the stars manage to resurrect our hero. He's found by a family of goombas and then takes off toward the Shining Star Summit where he learns what needs to be done to save the princess, rescue the stars, and bring Bowser's ambitions back down to earth, figuratively and literally. The game follows Mario's journey across the entire Mushroom Kingdom as he gathers allies and attempts to rescue the star sprites from Bowser's minions.
If this all sounds familiar, it's probably because the story and structure of Paper Mario borrow a great deal from Super Mario RPG. Despite the similarities, though, the game never feels like a empty retread of Square's SNES classic.
This Mushroom Kingdom is much larger and feels more alive than any that preceeded it. There are reams and reams of dialogue that sparkle with wit and charm. Even the smallest bit-players have their own unique personalities and quirks, and each area has its own distinct look and cultural vibe. The scope of everything here is amazing given the constraints of the cartridge format.
Just like Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario heavily leans on its distinct visual style to establish its world. This time, instead of using prerendered CG backgrounds and sprite animations, Paper Mario's graphics are fully 3D. The game was designed to look like a pop-up picture book, and the results were stunning. The colors are vibrant, the animations are smooth, and the low-poly style is a perfect match for the N64's capabilities. The style transcends the limitations of the hardware to deliver a charming, beautifully crafted world of dioramas: it actually feels like a living, breathing storybook.
The music is a fittingly complement to the visuals, too. The remixed classic Mario themes and original compositions alike share the same sense of magical whimsy that make the graphics so special, and though it's generally not as memorable as Super Mario RPG's music, the soundtrack is a real standout among N64 games.
Paper Mario's gameplay is simple, but the abilities of your party members and the depth of the badge system keeps things interesting, and the action triggers help keep you on your toes in the battle scenes.
The game is a bit on the short side for an RPG - the main quest can be cleared in a dozen hours or so if you're making a beeline for the end - but there is a ton of side content on offer for anyone that's looking to get a bit more out of the experience.
Paper Mario treads the same path as Super Mario RPG did before it, but the quality of the game far outweighs any concerns over its originality. It's a fantastic game, and it's one that no Mario fan should miss.
(It's also showing up on Switch Online today, so fingers crossed that Nintendo doesn't royally f-up the emulation again like they did last time!)
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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