Many will have issues with the Nintendo Direct we got today, as there were many “trends” and “problems” that can easily be pointed out. However, as with any Nintendo Direct, some highlights can shine above anything else that was put out there. For example, The Big N knows that they need to put out a big title at the end of the presentation to showcase that there is something really good for gamers to look forward to. In this Direct’s case, that would be the return of Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door via a Switch remaster.
For those who don’t know the game’s history, this was the second title in the paper-themed RPG saga starring Mario. It came out on the Nintendo Switch and pretty much amplified everything that was done with the N64 classic. But what made Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door even more special was the story and details within the gameplay that fans couldn’t help but adore. There were new villains, and Princess Peach had an even bigger role; the companion characters were incredible, we were in new lands, etc.
Almost everything with the game hit, and that’s why many people have called it one of the greatest RPGs ever created. That’s not a thing you say lightly, but it’s absolutely true here. That, sadly, is one of the biggest ironies of the game. While it did “set the bar high” for what an RPG experience like it could be, Nintendo never even tried to top it. At the behest of Shigeru Miyamoto, the franchise went in a much different direction, starting with the Wii title that followed it. Then there were the reviled 3DS games that brought the series to new lows. The Wii U title barely sold anything at all, and the Switch game was better, but it still wasn’t what gamers wanted.
That may be why Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is returning in remastered form. Because Nintendo wants to show fans that they have heard them, and they want to see if there’s still interest in the franchise. If the game sells well, perhaps they’ll make a “return to form” with the franchise, which gamers absolutely want. Plus, with the new Nintendo system on the way, an RPG title like this would be a best-seller almost instantly.
Sadly, we’ll have to wait a while for this particular remaster to return, as it won’t be released until 2024.
