One of the best qualities of thePaper Mariogames was the variety of gimmicks on display, and one of the best deserves a return in a future title. ThePaper Mariogames may be even more innovative than the mainSuper Mariogames in terms of the creative mechanics that get added to each installment. From the RPG-styled gameplay that sets it apart from the platformers to the new themes that get introduced in each game, it’s one of Nintendo’s more entertaining series. For that reason, anotherPaper Mariowould have the chance to expand further on past successes.
Starting life as one of thegreat RPGs on the Nintendo 64, thePaper Mariogames are unique for introducing something new in each title that makes it feel different from the rest. The first game introduced the paper art style, whileThe Thousand-Year Doorgranted Mario various paper-themed abilities, such as folding into a paper airplane or rolling into a tube.Super Paper Mariointroduced the ability to flip between 2D and 3D, leading to plenty of interesting exploration. Later games took on more stationary-themed mechanics, such asSticker Star’s sticker mechanic, andColor Splashletting Mario paint the world with his Paint Hammer.
RELATED:Mario Kart 8 Was Smart Not to Implement a Technique From Mario Kart DS
Super Paper Mario’s 2D-To-3D Gameplay Is The Series' Best Gimmick
Even thoughPaper Mario: TTYD’s approach was adored, the best mechanic that thePaper Mariogames experimented with was flipping from 2D to 3D inSuper Paper Mario, since it created the most potential out of the series' gimmicks. InSuper Paper Mario, there were a lot of uses for the flipping gimmick. In its most basic function, Mario could use it to walk past enemies and barriers that would normally impede his process, but that only scratched the surface. There were several parts of the map that hid secrets that could only be found in 3D mode, encouraging players to flip as often as possible.
The kinds of puzzles that madeSuper Paper MarioaMariospinoff that deserves a Switch portwouldn’t have been possible in any game beforehand. There are some occasions where a problem could be solved entirely in 2D, but in most cases, flipping to 3D would reveal a vital key to the solution. A lot of the best parts of the game involve flipping from 2D to 3D repeatedly, making the most out of the mechanic. In fact, looking at both dimensions of every room can leave players with a wealth of bonuses in their possession by the game’s finale.
The nextPaper Mariogame would do well to bring back dimension-flipping while expanding upon its previous uses, andPaper Mario’s arrival on Nintendo Switch Onlinemakes a new game more likely. While it could be used in boss battles inSuper Paper Mario, a new game could feature bosses that employ entirely different tactics depending on which dimension the player is in. The dual nature of the world could also be enhanced by introducing more objects and elements that change when the player flips dimensions, allowing more intricate puzzles to be designed.
Even though thePaper Mariogames have not made a habit out of reusing elements from past titles,Super Paper Mario’s 2D-to-3D dimension-flipping mechanic is well worth a revisit, especially in light ofPaper Mario: The Origami King’s success. It’s one of the most unusual tricks that aMariotitle has employed, but even in its sole appearance, the game got plenty of mileage out of it. While many of the series' other gimmicks would be hard to recreate or justify for plot reasons, dimension-flipping could easily come back and be just as fun as ever. Out of every gimmick from thePaper Marioseries, flipping dimensions was the best of the lot.
Super Paper Mariois available now for the Nintendo Wii.
MORE:Super Mario Land 2 Would Be a Great Blueprint for a 3D Mario Game
