If you don’t believe Mario’s finest hour in the RPG genre was his original effort (Super Mario RPG, coming to Switch November 17), then you believe it was Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, originally released for the Gamecube in 2004 — and never again. Most gamers consider this to be the best title in the Paper Mario series, and it’s become nearly impossible to find an affordable copy. But have no fear….an HD remaster has finally been announced for next year!
While traveling across the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach docks into a coastal town called Rogueport and comes into possession of a mystical map that reveals the location of seven Crystal Stars. When collected, the stars will open the titular door, and behind that door is an immense treasure. But someone wants that treasure for themselves and kidnaps Peach before Mario can meet up with her. Fortunately she had the good sense to stash away the Map, and now that Mario has it, he can track down the stars himself to save her.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is full of memorable characters and witty writing — in fact it has the richest plot of any Paper Mario, due to Miyamoto’s insistence that PMs from this point de-emphasize story in favor of gameplay experimentation. But story in an RPG is kind of important.
Once Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door reaches Nintendo Switch next year, two of Mario’s best three RPGs will be available on the system in crisp HD. (The other one is Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the GBA, of course — but you can find it on Nintendo Switch Online in standard definition). More info coming as we get it.
