Paper Mario for Nintendo 64 was not only one of the last great titles released on Nintendo’s cartridge-based system, it was also one of the few high quality role-playing games for the console too. It packed together a simple but charming storyline, addicting gameplay and snazzy visuals, making it a sure-fire favorite for many.

But it was not the first or only Mario RPG. Before it, there was Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars, released in March of 1996. Indeed, it’s the game that started it all, introducing the Mario franchise to the role-playing genre, and engineering the series’ signature battle system, not to mention many it’s other popular trademarks. More over, it remains perhaps the most popular in the series, thanks to its at-the-time innovative concepts and design choices that rocked the Super Nintendo. And far after it – a few short years after Paper Mario N64, in fact -- came Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance, which marked the first handheld appearance of the franchise. Its smart Mario and Luigi-themed cooperative gameplay made for a successful GBA release.

And, finally, there’s the Intelligent Systems-developed Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the GameCube installment in Nintendo’s unofficial Mario RPG series. It stirs together many of the ingredients that its predecessors first pioneered, such as its simple but fun battle system, charming storyline and lighthearted presentation.

Despite the similarities that run through Thousand-Year Door’s veins and its many siblings, it manages to introduce and establish many new gameplay mechanics that are entirely refreshing for players and new to the series. Gamers will simply be satisfied and compelled by the smart design choices Intelligent Systems has executed in their development of the title.
It’s because of this, the witty presentation and rewarding gameplay that some of the game’s most noticeable problems – some excessive backtracking, repetitive gameplay and the lack of voice work for the game’s dialogue – doesn’t impact the title in a negative way as much as one might think. That’s not to say they don’t matter, as they do. The experience is in no way perfect. At times, players must backtrack a bit too much. This can irritate. Further, it’s disappointing that all of the game’s dialogue is delivered through text, with no voice work at all – a practice that feels dated. But the things that Paper Mario for GameCube does remarkably well outnumber some minor shortcomings here and there.

The Facts

• Rescue Princess Peach, hunt for treasure and try to solve the mystery of The Thousand-Year Door
  
• 30 hours of refreshing, rewarding and entertaining gameplay
  
• The familiar semi-real-time/turn-based battle system returns and is introduced to a new stage audience mechanic
  
• Fold Mario into many different shapes throughout his adventure, such as a paper airplane, a ball of paper, a paper boat and more
  
• Travel throughout the Mushroom Kingdom and experience many different cultures, such as a haunted town, snowy mountain, deserted island and much more
  
• Pro Logic II support for audiophiles
  
• Progressive Scan for HD-ready gamers
  
• Rated “E” for Everyone

The Legend of The Thousand-Year Door
It’s another bright, sunny day in the Mushroom Kingdom. The two Mario Bros, Mario and Luigi, are enjoying themselves inside their small, cozy home when their mail-delivering Koopa arrives with some mail. Luigi runs out and grabs the mail from their friendly delivery man. He doesn’t have to hassle signing those crazy clipboards they always carry with them, either. He just picks up the letter and returns to his older brother. Life in the Mushroom Kingdom is good. The two open the letter and learn that their friend Princess Peach, whom is currently vacationing throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, has com across a treasure map. And life seems to get even better for the two brothers. The suspense builds, and Mario decides to set out for Rogueport, the hub city of the game’s world.

The storyline is nothing outstanding, and it isn’t entirely different from what gamers might be expecting from a Mario game, either. In fact, once Mario arrives in Rogueport – a dirty, hoodlum-filled city – he discovers that Peach has once again been kidnapped. Indeed, though it’s less predictable than it tends to be in many Mario games, she is kidnapped, but this time around she isn’t kidnapped by the usual culprit, Bowser. Instead, a new menace takes the role of the main villain throughout Thousand-Year Door.



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Along Mario’s path to find Peach, he learns that deep underneath Rogueport lies the legendary Thousand-Year Door. As the stories goes, an ancient city and treasure lie buried under the grim town. In order to open the door to the mysterious treasure, he must travel throughout his world collecting the seven star pieces. Throughout eight chapters, making for a lengthy 30 hours of play, gamers will un-wrap the mysteries and be engrossed by some surprising storyline twists.