Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

I adored Paper Mario TTYD for the GameCube back in the day, and still do to this day. This is one of the few times where I would have been VERY LIVID if this remake missed more than it hit. To my surprise it hit, and it hit HARD.

Obviously having 20 years after it's initial release on the GC, you would expect there to be a graphic and appearance upgrade, and there was. The Character and Texture Models are relatively the same, but the landscape, the lighting, and soundscape got a major upgrade. It looks absolutely gorgeous on the Switch. Not only that but they added a lot more character expressions that really gave this game a ton more personality. The only small nitpick I have is that the Framerate got dropped down a bit, but it didn't hinder the actual gameplay.

As far as the actual character control, and combat system, it's relatively unchanged. The game's controls actually pair quite nicely with the Switch. They added certain shortcuts while you're controlling your character to make the gameplay flow a lot better.

Speaking of shortcuts, one thing I'd want add is that in the original game, the biggest flaw is that you have to do a lot of retreading back and fourth to certain places which really slow down your gameplay. Thankfully they fixed that problem by adding Shortcuts/Pipes in certain places to make the game flow a lot better.

As far as the Story goes it relatively unchanged. They actually added some character voices to the dialogue which is kind of fun. I will say the dialogue has changed a touch to be more akin to the Japanese dialogue. Does it enhance the story? No. But it doesn't ruin it either.

And the music...just about all the revamped music works for me. The thing I really enjoyed is that rather than playing 1 version of a certain theme throughout the game, they actually sort remix the theme based on your current location. I think this is probably the only Mario game that really leaned HARD into the Rock. (and im not complaining about it.) Thankfully I didn't have to turn back to the Nostalgic Tunes badge until I hit a certain Shadowy area. That was the only track I caved to. Other than that, not bad at all.

This game aged SO WELL. You would doing yourself a disservice not getting your hands on this. Well done NINTENDO. You might have made one of your best Mario even better. :D.

10 out of 10 - A Legendary Return Worthy of the Crown

Some games return for nostalgia. Others return to reclaim the throne. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch Remake) doesn't just come back to remind us why it was great - it sharpens every edge, polishes every corner, and solidifies its legacy as one of the greatest RPGs Nintendo has ever put out. This is a 10 out of 10 in the purest sense - a modern classic reborn for a new era, with its soul untouched and its presentation elevated.

Faithful to the Original, Sharpened for Today

Nintendo did what so many fans were begging for: they respected the source material. The remake preserves every critical moment - every joke, every twist, every detail - with care and reverence. But it doesn't just repackage the GameCube version. It enhances it.

Visuals: The updated HD art style is gorgeous, breathing new life into the papercraft aesthetic without losing any of its charm. Colors pop. Animations are smoother. Environments feel richer.

Music: The reorchestrated soundtrack elevates the tone of every chapter - from the chilling notes of the Creepy Steeple to the electric energy of Glitzville.

Quality of Life: Streamlined menus, better load times, and a smoother UI make this version more accessible than ever, without dumbing anything down.

Gameplay That Still Holds the Belt

The turn-based combat with action commands still sings. Stylish moves, timed guards, and the stage-performance dynamic all return in full force. Every battle feels like a performance - and with the new visual clarity, those mechanics are tighter and more rewarding than ever.

Exploration, puzzles, and paper transformations (like turning into a paper airplane or boat) are all retained and refined. The world is still one giant, charming puzzle box.

The Writing Hits Harder Than Ever

The script still punches with wit, sarcasm, and genuine emotion. If anything, the years have only made its themes more resonant: Power and corruption (Rogueport's criminal underbelly and the X-Nauts).

Identity and acceptance (Vivian's arc, still one of the best in Mario history).

Courage in the face of legacy and loss (Bobbery's backstory).

The dialogue sparkles, and there's a confidence in its tone that few RPGs manage. It's a storybook wrapped around a beating heart - with just the right amount of darkness to give the story real weight.

Legacy Mode: Unmatched

With the remake, Thousand-Year Door officially stands in a class of its own. For fans who grew up with it, this is the perfect homecoming. For newcomers? This is your chance to see why it's considered the gold standard of Mario RPGs.

Final Verdict

10 out of 10. No hesitation. No doubt.

This isn't just a great remake. This is a reaffirmation. A promise kept. A message that says: "Yes, we remember what made these games great. And we're bringing it back the right way."

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch Remake) is timeless. And now, it's future-proof.

This was one of my all-time favorite Mario games when I was a kid. Playing a revamped version again twenty years later was a dream come true.

For those of you new to this game, you'll control Mario on another paper-style RPG adventure to rescue Princess Peach, uncover a lost treasure, and save the world from a new enemy. At certain intervals, you'll control Peach and even King Bowser.

The game borrowed elements from Color Splash and Origami king with its polished appearance and more lifelike 3D graphics, such as improved lighting, shading and other features. The colors are brighter and more vibrant and beautiful than ever before. There are new camera angles that add a more cinematic feel during cutscenes. Even the opening story contains a pop-up book style narration instead of just pictures.

The music has been remixed in a way that is quite good. I especially liked the final boss theme. There is some new dialogue as well that differs from the original, but not in a detrimental way. The characters now emit voice blips during dialogue in a fashion similar to Banjo Kazooie which adds more life and charm to them, as do their new gestures and facial expressions.

There are plenty of new gameplay features available that expand the game from the original, such as the ability to switch partners on the spot, new items and badges, faster pipe travelling, the opportunity to unlock special galleries for art and sounds, etc. You even get to fight Prince Mush in the Glitz Pit after completing Chapter 4.

Overall, this is an excellent and beautiful remake and a must play for Mario fans, especially retrogamers who enjoyed the original version.