When Paper Mario first arrived on the Nintendo 64 in 2000 (2001 internationally), it felt like Nintendo had quietly reinvented the RPG wheel. Developed by Intelligent Systems (known for Fire Emblem and WarioWare games) and published by Nintendo, this charming adventure marked the beginning of what would become one of Mario’s most beloved spin-off series.
Set in the Mushroom Kingdom, the story kicks off with a party invitation from Princess Peach – only for the monster Bowser to crash the celebration in spectacular fashion. After stealing the powerful Star Rod and imprisoning the seven Star Spirits, Bowser literally lifts Peach’s Castle into the sky and defeats Mario with his newfound invincibility. What follows is a globe-trotting quest to rescue the Star Spirits, restore Peach’s Castle, and finally put Bowser in his place.
What made Paper Mario N64 stand out wasn’t just its humor or vibrant storybook art style – it was the gameplay. Characters looked like flat paper cutouts moving through vibrant 3D environments, giving the game a unique diorama feel. Battles used a turn-based system, but with a cool twist: “action commands” allowed players to time button presses to boost attacks or reduce incoming damage. It added a layer of skill that kept fights engaging from start to finish.
Mario didn’t travel alone, either. Along the way, the heroic Italian plumber teamed up with partners like Goombario the Goomba, Kooper the Koopa Troopa, and Parakarry the Paratroopa, each offering unique overworld abilities and battle skills. Players could also equip badges to customize Mario’s stats and abilities, upgrade partners, and use special moves powered by Flower Points and Star Energy.
The adventure spanned memorable locations – from Dry Dry Desert to the icy Crystal Palace – while other segments allowing you to play as Princess Peach added stealth-based mini-games that gave players a fresh perspective. Praised for its creativity, humor, and accessible RPG mechanics, Paper Mario earned critical acclaim and later saw re-releases on systems like the Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch Online. It laid the foundation for sequels like The Thousand-Year Door and remains a timeless classic worth revisiting today. Do you remember Paper Mario N64? How does it stack up compared to other Nintendo classics?
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