So, the Switch is a year old now and it's been almost 2 years since the reveal of Paper
Mario Color Splash.
We all know of the whole story with Color Splash, it was a better Sticker Star, it was
gorgeous, had funny, but not much timeless writing, the problematic battle system, you
know the drill.
While Paper Mario fans are sitting in a lull period, there's one question that's been
ringing in my mind for a bit.
And that's whether or not will Paper Mario come back.
By this, I mean will it return to its original form from it's first 2 entries with it's
in depth, multi-layered, RPG-styled battle system in this storybook-like adventure the
first 3 were well-known for?
It's really hard to tell at this point & I'll get to when later.
To start off with something good at least, Kensuke Tanabe, a producer on the Paper Mario
games from Super onward, did state in an interview with Game Informer that Color Splash reached
an end with where they were headed so it sounds like in terms of what Color Splash and Sticker
Star set with its gameplay, they're done with that so that's reassuring.
However, he seems interested with making a different system for the next Paper Mario
but the question is how far will it be different then?
Sticker Star and Color Splash were regarded as Action Adventure games, despite its basic
structure was that of an RPG game minus the core elements needed in an RPG.
Super Paper Mario had RPG elements but was a platforming game to its core so it's tricky
to know exactly where he's going with this.
The hopeful scenario is that they change the RPG style to it's former engaging self but
with Tanabe behind the door, I have my doubts.
The only reason I bring up that hopeful scenario is mainly because, well, it's the widest
demand at this point and in every Paper Mario game, there's always been some RPG elements
in each installment, to varying degrees but once was all the way to the core of its style
and genre.
How different it'll really be will most likely not stray entirely from an RPG but
whether it will be more like 64 and the Thousand-Year Door and less like Sticker Star and Color
Splash or not is as crystal clear as the fogged path the series is walking in.
Seeing its Tanabe though, I'd be unsurprised if it was something different.
Unfortunately, to create another entirely different style may make the Paper Mario series
even harder to stomach, construct and lead after what Sticker Star mostly did, and Color
Splash too.
I don't think most people would like to see Paper Mario try something new without
some decent form of engagement or incentive to keep you entertained and wanting to play.
There was no reason to battle in the last two games.
The fact they add some paint bonus system in Color Splash not only doesn't fix what
core fundamentals were not designed properly, but it does not equal the same value nor satisfaction
as experience points and boosting HP, FP, Attack, or BP, and in turn, adding extra effects
and sequences in battles providing different experiences and requirements rather than just
timing the A button.
Color Splash still locked progressing by forcing you to find certain Thing cards for bosses,
you could not move forward otherwise no matter what attack you had, linearizing the player's
way to continue the game.
Super Paper Mario had similar problems, but the platforming AND combat itself was probably
the simplest in the Paper Mario series.
It was either jumping, using Pixls, a few character's extra abilities or items.
The variety of attack patterns and functionality was heavily decreased after The Thousand-Year
Door, declining in depth while still holding a couple customization options, albeit very
minimal and circumstantial.
And while Sticker Star and Color Splash added more variety back, it was still lacking in
depth and opted almost entirely to either timed jumping or hammering, coated with certain
elements, like spike invulnerability, fire, ice, line jumping and so forth, limiting customization
as well.
And again, because battles served no real incentive, what was left of the engagement,
depth, and appeal might as well have been scrapped altogether because it was very miniscule.
So whatever style of gameplay they go for, they have to fill its core with some structure
that'll give the player reason and a bigger incentive to play, some kind of gameplay that'll
leave the player satisfied and either wanting to do more or tolerating it.
I'm talking gameplay that is engaging, that pulls you in, gameplay that has some layers
to it, letting you experiment and customize your way of playing and isn't experimental
for the sake of innovation alone.
If the next Paper Mario game uses the first two as a template for it's gameplay, it'd
not only be easier to follow and improve upon, it would meet a large fan demand as well.
The fact that the series was directly inspired off of Super Mario RPG should be common sense
at this point.
That's the main concern when it comes to the next Paper Mario game, but the secondary
issue comes with it's atmosphere.
Are they going to limit the cast of characters to Mario's main bunch of enemies and, well,
ally (because nothing but Toads support him at this point)?
I think this area has a better shot at thriving again because of Super Mario Odyssey.
When a 3D Mario game launches, they tend to have some affect on the spinoff games that
follow afterwards.
The original Paper Mario's Peach's Castle's layout was almost the exact same as Super
Mario 64's.
The Thousand-Year Door added Piantas to the mix, giant Bloopers, and Shine Sprites as
collectibles for your partners, all of which originated from Super Mario Sunshine.
The Mario Sports games during the Gamecube and Wii era took heavy influence between stages,
stadiums, courts, and characters from, again, Super Mario Sunshine.
Super Paper Mario and Sticker Star didn't really do much with mainline influences, and
neither did Color Splash, but Color Splash did pay tribute to Super Mario Bros. 3 and
Mario Kart 8 near the final parts of the game.
The reason I use Odyssey as evidence is also because of how much of a hit it's become.
At the moment, it's Nintendo's most recent first-party being out the least and ever since
the end of 2017, it outsold Breath of the Wild's units, becoming the most popular
Switch game with at least 9 million units sold in only 2 months.
Mario games do sell well obviously, but 3D Mario games don't normally do this good
this fast.
That is pretty insane.
The most successful 3D Mario game is Galaxy selling nearly 13 million units, followed
by Super Mario 64, Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 64 DS, and then Super Mario Odyssey,
but the games above Odyssey are lifetime sales.
Within the coming months, Odyssey's going to eclipse that, Odyssey is the main flagship
Switch title and Nintendo's going to market that in future games in multiple forms.
In fact, one of the most notable things about that game is the variety and amount of characters
and species.
The Shiverians, Bubblainians, Steam Gardeners, Volbonans, Bonneters, Tostarenans, there's
a treasure trove of new and old characters thanks to Odyssey and people loved the different
themes and cultures each world provided, similarly to how people appreciated the different tones
and atmospheres set in Paper Mario 64, The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario.
Even Color Splash had different locations, like a Colosseum, a train, a restaurant, an
island to a parallel dimension, a pirate island and more.
Topped off with the writing provided by Color Splash and even in Odyssey, I'm sure there
are people at Intelligent Systems that want to provide with whatever characters there
are as much personality and character as possible.
I've no doubt in my mind that the next Paper Mario game will use more different characters
and races and will give more breathing life into its worlds and tone, through its visuals
and its writing.
Visuals are another thing because the art style was one of the highlights for a lot
of Color Splash owners.
The only thing though is the paper mache look and feel makes the worlds feel like real and
more material because it takes the Paper thing seriously.
Me, personally, I would opt for the black outline look of the first 4 Paper Marios because
Paper Mario told itself like a story, hence the series original title, "Mario's Story",
particularly like a pop-up book if we were talking the Thousand-Year Door and it provides
a natural blend between it's world and subtle aesthetics.
I wouldn't mind Color Splash's art style redone either, but I prefer the black outlines
more.
I could probably address when should we expect this new Paper Mario game.
Not any time soon at least.
We should remember that its not Nintendo that makes Paper Mario, it's Intelligent Systems.
Right now, they're working on that new Fire Emblem game coming to Switch, which is presumably
releasing later this year.
Plus, Paper Mario games tend to release around 4 years or so away from each other.
The original came out in 2000 with The Thousand-Year Door releasing 4 years later in 2004.
Super Paper Mario came out almost 3 years later in 2007, but Sticker Star released in
2012 5 years later.
However, Color Splash came out in 2016, 4 years after.
Generally, there's a 4-year gap between Paper Mario titles and they're most likely
in early to mid-development stages with Paper Mario for the Switch.
I wouldn't expect an announcement of any kind until mid-2019 at the earliest or early
2020 at the latest with it releasing either late 2019 at the earliest or mid-2021 at the
latest.
And finally, potential remakes.
God knows we all want to see the original two at the very least, maybe even Super, redone
and remastered in glorious HD at 60 frames per second in 1080p with either art style.
I bring this up because of that comment Risa Tabata made, which is honestly likely to be
empty words.
I could use Mario & Luigi SuperStar Saga as an example, however that's made by a different
company, AlphaDream.
But, there was also that comment that Mario & Luigi would be the RPG half and Paper Mario
would be something else instead, despite their game play fundamentals and worlds being almost
entirely different since their first installments.
Who knows how far that ideology goes among the development teams?
They could remake the originals to test the amount of support and love for those titles
as well, so who knows?
I mean, Zelda Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey tap into the roots of their
original predecessors so Paper Mario could get the same treatment.
At the end of the day, it seems to be Tanabe's decision, or if some other brain behind production
may pull some levers.
Either way, Miyamoto wished for younger minds to develop and evolve 3D Mario and that worked
out like a charm, so maybe that could wash off on Tanabe as well and give what more people
want out of the series.
Overall, I'm going to expect a Paper Mario game with more fleshed-out characters and
worlds and good writing.
I just pray the gameplay will be good because that's my main concern with Paper Mario
games as should any video game.
Let me know what you guys think down below.
As always, thank you for watching and I'll catch you guys with more Paper Mario and Mario
content in the future.
Stay super.
For more infomation >> Can you feel the love tonight - Cover - Duration: 2:49. 
For more infomation >> CAN"T STOP OVER LIFE HINDI MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH SUCESS IN LIFE VIDEO - Duration: 1:17. 
For more infomation >> Biscuit or cake? Visitors can 'Make Your Own' shortcake at Strawberry Festival - Duration: 1:29. 
For more infomation >> Selfies Can Make Your Nose Look 30 Percent Bigger, Study Says - Duration: 0:27. 
For more infomation >> 【カラオケ】We can!!HUGっと!プリキュア（TVサイズ〜ピアノ伴奏） - Duration: 1:45. 
For more infomation >> Building Something That You Can Control | Fireside Chat at Baron Davis's Allstar Weekend - Duration: 11:17. 
For more infomation >> Creative Problem Solving | You Can't Always Be In Control (TRUE STORY: OUR MICS DIED) - Duration: 3:32. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét