'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door' worth the wait: What to know about new Switch game
Sorry, Mario, Princess Peach is in another location.
In "Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door," which is out now for Nintendo Switch, Mario is looking for Princess Peach – and also seeking a fabled treasure referenced on an old map.
Unsurprisingly, there are familiar baddies to battle, coins to collect and all the friends you make along the way.
But this is no ordinary Super Mario Bros. adventure: This installment is in RPG format and has a distinct papery style – and paper-related mechanics and puns – similar to the other games in the "Paper Mario" series.
Here's what to know about one of the biggest titles releasing for Nintendo Switch this year (so far, anyway).
What is 'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door' about?
Peach just wanted some excitement while on vacation.
The Mushroom Kingdom monarch seems to have disappeared after summoning Mario to the somewhat shady Rogueport with a demanding letter and a treasure map.
And so the adventure begins. You're quickly joined by Goombella, a junior at the University of Goom, who's in town looking for the treasure, too. Goombella's special ability is she's a "primer" and serves as a method of exposition, helping you learn about the people, places and objects around you. You'll practice action commands, find crystal stars and follow the map to hopefully catch up to Peach and find that legendary treasure.
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Like many Mario games before it, the first battles are instructional and the foundational bits of the game's story are set.
While the prologue seems a little longer than most, the game does loosen some of the hand-holding as Mario goes along. However, for the low price of a couple of coins, a character in town can take a look into Mario's future (essentially giving you some insight into what to do next if you're completely stumped.)
'Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door' is a remake
Nintendo continues to reminisce in the remake era with another top-notch take on a classic. The original "Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door" – the second game in the "Paper Mario" series – was released nearly 20 years ago for Nintendo's GameCube console.
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This version is faithful to the original but also builds on and improves that adventure. The game is funny and clever, and there's more than nostalgia to keep things interesting for longtime fans and new players, alike.
What's next for Nintendo Switch?
As one chapter ends, so begins a new one.
In case you missed it, Nintendo is likely turning the page and announcing a new console next year.
The company will "make an announcement about the successor to the Nintendo Switch within the fiscal year," Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said in a post earlier this month on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Furukawa also confirmed that Nintendo will have its next "Direct" livestream in June, giving a software lineup for the back half of 2024.
While we wait to hear more details on what's next, take a look at all the cozy and peaceful games we've been enjoying so far this year.