Over two decades later, a beloved Mario game from the Gamecube era makes a return on the Nintendo Switch: Our initial thoughts on Paper Mario The Millennium Door

In 2024, Nintendo has decided to take a look in the attic. This is evidenced by the release at the start of the year of a remake of Mario VS Donkey Kong and the upcoming arrival of a remastered version of Luigi's Mansion 2. Between these two titles? Peach shines in the spotlight and Mario storms the stage in Paper Mario: The Millennium Door, originally released in 2004 for the Nintendo Gamecube.

20 years later, writing still effective

The adventure begins when Peach, in search of a treasure hunt, mysteriously disappears in Port-Lacanaïe. Before disappearing, she sends a letter to Mario, enclosing a kind of treasure map. It is in the basement of the city that a thousand-year-old door is hidden: anyone who opens the door could get their hands on the legendary treasure it contains. Mario, determined to find Peach, must then embark on the hunt for the Star Gems. These are the keys to opening the door and the strongest clue to finding the trace of your loved one. But obviously, he is not alone in displaying such an objective and people with visibly ill intentions are ready to block his path.

This is how Mario's journey begins: a colorful adventure that takes him to the four corners of this new kingdom.

As a remaster, Paper Mario: The Millennium Door takes up the storyline of the original material. If it is agreed in broad terms, it is the finesse of his writing which still hits the mark today. It stays true to the identity of the franchise's Mario RPG games, with an assumed humor that can make young and old smile. The construction of the chapters, although identical, remains entertaining, especially since playing Peach and Bowser always brings a real plus. Peach's adventure remains modern in its themes; while playing the iconic antagonist of Mario is not an experience found in traditional games in the plumber universe.

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An adventure that remains memorable and addictive with its atmosphere and puzzles

From the first moments of the game, Paper Mario: The Millennium Door immerses us in a world of exploration and puzzles. Each universe visited by Mario is distinguished both by its design and by the challenges it offers. In this paper universe, Mario can rely on his traditional equipment. His jump and hammer, which develop throughout the adventure, help him overcome obstacles. However, it is by contorting himself that our protagonist manages to discover the world. During the first hours of the adventure, two transformations are possible. The plane is essential to fly over a region. And being as thin as a sheet of paper is especially useful for getting through tight spots.

Mario can also count on the companions he meets during his adventure. They prove to be valuable allies. Goomelia is crucial for examining areas and opponents. Koopek, thanks to his shell, can activate objects from a distance.

In short, the first hours of Paper Mario: The Millennium Door skillfully stimulate our curiosity for exploration with varied puzzles. We had forgotten to what extent this curiosity is frequently tickled by the acquisition of new powers and characters. A really pleasant feeling that really encourages us to progress in the scenario. We will still note that a narrative arc has aged remarkably poorly over time; for our part in any case, we were quite surprised to see the length of this chapter which nevertheless occupied a special place in our memories.

Intelligent and dynamic first fights

In addition to their unique exploration skills, Mario's friends are also effective in combat. In accordance with Mario RPGs, battles first begin in the play area, where it is possible to attack enemies first. In Paper Mario: The Millennium Door, turn-based battles take place on stage, where timing is crucial to optimize your moves. Pressing A at the right time allows you to absorb damage better or, on the contrary, inflict more!

The combat system is mainly based on badge mechanics. These allow Mario to acquire active and passive skills. Items can also be useful when fighting tough enemies. The audience also plays an important role in the fights. By performing actions at the right time, Mario's Star Gauge fills up, allowing him to use special powers.

In short, the combat system offered by Paper Mario: The Millennium Door remains as effective as ever. It offers a moderate challenge that requires the player to be involved and always be vigilant. The first hours of play suggest excellent customization thanks to the already numerous badges, which regularly renews the player's interest.

On paper, little new

Paper Mario: The Millennium Door does not appear as the remake that is Mario vs Donkey Kong but appears as a high quality remastered version. From the start of the game, Nintendo demonstrates its attention to detail in several ways.

The first obvious aspect is the redesign of each model with better definition, which allows you to better appreciate the characters and the different biomes of the game. The lights are more visible, which reinforces the enchantment of each universe, each having its own identity and memorable atmosphere. To fit the theatrical arena of combat, the sets also have a more collapsible look, which adds detail that is pleasing to observe.

In addition, significant work has been done on the music and soundtrack. They seem less discreet in this remastered version and are pleasant to listen to, especially the more melancholy themes. Players can therefore look forward to discovering this new soundtrack. In any case, we're really curious to hear what happens next!

However, we remain a little unsatisfied regarding the presence of modern features. It is especially at the level of the dialogues, impossible to speed up, which irritates. In the same way, the multitude of obligatory back and forths involved weighs on the rhythm. We wouldn't have said no, except for a quick trip, for the simple possibility of running. A pitfall which will, however, perhaps be corrected by the arrival of the youngest member of our team.