Now that I think about it, it's probably the best Mario game on the cube.
If you have played the original Paper Mario, you’ll know that this is a differing game mechanic to your usual side-scrolling workout. Instead, the action of the game resides in controlling a cursor to select options. But an aspect that sets Paper Mario apart from other turn-based RPG’s is something the game calls ‘the action command’. That is, in order to maximize the damage you deal, you’ll have to perform on-screen button commands. The original game had this feature, but the Thousand Year Door improves upon this in a big way simply by adding more variety of commands. Almost every different attack in the game has a unique action command. They’ll range from simple things from pumping a single button and slamming control sticks, to trickier things such as aiming cursors or timing buttons. In effect, the action command liven’s things up. On the whole, the gameplay is totally refined, seeming complicated on the outside, but in reality being simple enough for anyone to master.
Since you are playing a game entitled ‘PAPER Mario’, you are constantly reminded that you’re in some sort of storybook universe. This is pulled off with resounding success. Mario can turn sideways to fit into cracks or fold into origami to traverse water or air. Its subtle nuances like these that really charm you and stick with you. Above all, what this unique presentation does to the game is grant it it’s light-hearted nature and letting us know in the end not to take this game completely seriously. It’s a completely welcome spin that diverts itself from otherwise serious RPG’s.
The sound is exactly what you’d expect from a Mario game. Each attack is matched with some sort of ‘Mario-esque’ sound. The all famous ‘jumping-on-something’ sound or ‘coin collecting’ sound are all here. It does a good job of creating a universe that is strictly ‘Mario’, even though it’s a genre that he doesn’t naturally belong in. One thing to note is that the game features no speech whatsoever (although Mario does have a few catch-calls). Everything is communicated in text.
While that may be so, it shouldn’t be any reason to avoid the game. On the contrary, the text is a crucial part of what makes this game so terrific because it communicates one of the sharpest scripts written for video games. It also helps that this script runs with a story that is grossly compelling, interesting and a lot of fun. To describe any of the events you play through or any of the outrageous things that are said would be to spoil half the fun, suffice to say this is one freaking grand adventure and you will go through a variety of film genres as well as meeting and accruing some totally lovable characters. The story builds to a conclusion that is totally satisfying. It truly is a story-book adventure and one that is told damn well. For me, it was the thing I enjoyed most about the game.
The Thousand Year Door is a game that needs to be played. It succeeds on so many levels.