Paper Mario: The Origami King Reviews
While Paper Mario: The Origami King makes excellent strides in terms of humor and adventure game design, it's still sorely lacking aesthetically and features a horrendous battle system that only gets more frustrating as you play. I've given up on the series returning to the style of my childhood's classics, but if the series ditches battles entirely it could make for some extremely fun adventure games.
The latest outing for Mario's most unusual guise combines inventive puzzle-combat and a gorgeous world to explore
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.
The Origami King is one of the most entertaining chapters in the long-lasting Paper Mario franchise and will surprise you with some fresh gameplay solutions.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Paper Mario: The Origami King is the best Paper Mario game I've played in over a decade, and yet I'm still feeling let down. While it's incredibly endearing and genuinely funny, it's also painfully boring and the thought of playing it again puts me straight to sleep. There will undoubtedly be massive fans of Paper Mario: The Origami King, but I can't say I'm one of them. A lovely action adventure game, but essential for no one.
There are no paper cuts in store for you here. Paper Mario: The Origami King is as smooth as butter.
Paper Mario: The Origami King is a full-fledged, large and very beautiful adventure with role-playing elements, which pleases with an abundance of gameplay mechanics, a great sense of humor, an interesting plot, a well-developed world and a huge number of entertaining puzzles. The game will give you dozens of exciting hours in the paper world and is just a must-buy for all owners of Nintendo Switch.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Despite being charming and oftentimes funny with some great set piece moments sprinkled throughout, Paper Mario: The Origami King’s repetitive combat and dull sense of progression hampers an otherwise enjoyable journey.
At the end of the day, Paper Mario: The Origami King surpassed my expectations. It isn't the RPG return to form many gamers were hoping for, but it is the best Paper Mario game since The Thousand-Year Door. The combat is unique, the writing is superb, and the world is brimming with charm.
Paper Mario's heritage still floats over The Origami King, but didn't cause writer's block with this blank page, folded upside down thanks to the fantastic imagination applied to the staging and the story, decidedly audacious. Intelligent Systems' inventiveness also deploys through the ingenious architecture of this interconnected world and the tactical dimension unrolled by the battles, that become real puzzles. Such a well hammered increase of depth doesn't give headaches though, the main quest unwrapping along the realm's spread richness, so this moustached RPG asserts itself as the undisputed lord of its very own domain.
Review in French | Read full review
It still isn't the new Thousand-Year Door fans will have been hoping for, but it's still one of the funniest games in the series and it's got a truly likeable companion character, and while the combat is far from ideal the fact that we still thoroughly recommend the game regardless speaks volumes about every other aspect of it.
Paper Mario: The Origami King once again takes the series in a completely different direction. Mushroom Kingdom is bigger and more alive than it's ever been, but it comes packaged with a combat system that quickly becomes stagnant.
An endlessly enjoyable story, a unique take on combat that fuses puzzle-solving with RPG traditions, and a beautiful world full of adventure makes Paper Mario: The Origami King yet another must-play Nintendo Switch experience.
Paper Mario: The Origami King weighs down a fun adventure with an unsatisfying, puzzle-based combat system that misses the mark.
The Origami King does not reach the excellence of its impressive predecessor, The Thousand-Year Door, precisely because it decides to overshadow the PRG component.
Review in Italian | Read full review
this new Switch exclusive reminded me of many of the feelings that that 2004 title conveyed to me at the time, especially that of being on a great journey.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Origami King — even with its imperfections — is a bold attempt at reimagining the franchise. Fans who pine for the series classic RPG mechanics will likely be disappointed in the game’s combat system. A colorful and imaginative open world, however, combined with witty dialogue and poignant storytelling, make Origami King a welcome addition to the Paper Mario fold.
Overall, the charm, colour and wit of Paper Mario: The Origami Kingdom outshines its repetitive gameplay. It’s a truly enjoyable experience.
While a lot of care has gone into refining the game's combat, there's no shortage of things to do outside of battles.