Paper Mario: The Origami King Reviews
The Origami King is a fantastic new page in the Paper Mario RPG playbook offering a funny story that is guaranteed to crease you up. Whenever the game threatens to get stale, it’ll have an exciting new twist waiting just around the corner.
Paper Mario: The Origami King tried to be an RPG with adventure elements, but failed and became an adventure with miserably boring combat
Review in Russian | Read full review
The genuinely thought-provoking Ring Battle system, engaging puzzle design, and care given to Olivia's characterisation all make The Origami King the best Paper Mario since the series' Wii outing, but that wasn't a high bar to begin with and the series is still struggling to come up with an engaging gameplay loop in light of the lessened RPG elements. Without experience or levelling, random battles lose their lustre fast. Likewise, Accessories don't make up for a lack of Badges or traditional equipment, keeping combat relatively static and offering little in the way of non-Toad rewards for uncovering secrets. Worse is Intelligent Systems' love affair with bloated pacing holding back otherwise well-designed dungeons and set pieces. The Origami King is an overall step in the right direction, but it's emblematic of the fact that Paper Mario has no interest in honouring its legacy or living up to its potential. If nothing else, a direct sequel could easily unfold Origami King's many creases.
Every once in awhile, Nintendo has an ace up its sleeve, an unexpected surprise that flutters from nowhere. Rewind a few months and our Kyoto based friends decided in May 2020 to unfold a brand new addition to the beloved Paper Mario series… oh and by the way it will arrive this summer! Cue the media frenzy, and excitement in the lead up to the arrival of The Origami King.
When the confetti’s done flying it might not stand with the must-haves of the Switch’s library, but Paper Mario: The Origami King is a satisfying and entertaining bibliofold of a game.
Some reviews I have seen state that the formula of Paper Mario is getting a little old, but as a lapsed Mario fan (Odyssey was the first Mario game I saw through to the end since Sunshine) I really enjoyed it. I had never seen this side of the wee red plumber before and so it was not only fresh but beautifully designed, really funny and with that signature Nintendo polish. I highly recommend checking the Origami King out.
"A great adventure is unfolding..."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Endearing visuals and storytelling can't rescue Paper Mario: The Origami King from a tedious combat system that slows the action to a crawl.
It might be made of papercraft, but Origami King has a lot of structural integrity, and unexpected depth. If you don’t fold at the tricky battle mechanics, the reward is an elevated, postmodern delight.
Paper Mario is back and ready to fight with new ring-based battle system. Mostly successfuly.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Simply put, Paper Mario: The Origami King ended up being one of this year’s biggest sleeper hits for me. It could sure do with more dynamic play-to-play gameplay when it comes to that pre-combat mechanic during normal play, and the combat itself which only really gets good during the few boss fights that there are in the game, which ironically enough are when the puzzle/fight combo really comes alive.
The Origami King might suffer from the same Achilles heel that Paper Mario: Color Splash and Sticker Star did of eschewing conventional leveling systems, but the combat here is infinitely more intuitive and less contemptible. It might not be the best Paper Mario game, but The Origami King is absolutely a true return to form and a wonderful adventure any Switch owner should consider playing.
Origami King is entirely pleasant, well written, charming and enjoyable without being essential or groundbreaking. While the battles are confusing and far too frequent, the exploration, constant unveiling of secrets, colourful environments and quirky characters will keep you hooked.
Paper Mario: The Origami King has plenty of humor and some frustrating combat, but it all comes together to create a unique experience for players of all ages.
My final thoughts on the game come down on how fun it is to play rather than watch and if you are a completionist of sorts, you will get your money’s worth.
There are elements acting as a glue-stick, keeping Paper Mario: The Origami King from completely falling apart, but it is in desperate need of a vision. If you really need a Mario fix, look to the superior Super Mario Odyssey, which is already available on the Switch.
While it may not return to the heights of The Thousand-Year Door, Paper Mario: The Origami King is by far the best entry in the series in over a decade and gives us hope for the future of the series for the first time in awhile.
“Paper Mario: The Origami King is a charming Mario adventure marred by a difficult and tedious battle system.”
The Origami King is a fun adventure game with a charming story and clever dialogue. Sadly, it suffers from an identity crisis due to an battle system that is not for everybody.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Paper Mario: The Origami King captivates with its beautiful, varied and humorous adventure. The new title of the plumber's paper franchise presents an elaborate world with a great diversity of activities and secrets that invites us to constantly explore it. The battle system, which is nothing more than a combat-looking puzzle, has some interesting ideas, although many limitations make it tiring. However, the battles against bosses are creative and exciting. The biggest highlight of the game is its great sense of humor present in unusual events, charismatic characters and sharp and fun text. Paper Mario: The Origami King may not be the role-playing game that many wanted, but it is still another creative and remarkable adventure.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review