What Makes Paper Mario Special - A Retrospective (Paper Mario N64 & Super Mario RPG) 

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“So we can make fat stacks of PAPER” 😂 That little cutscene was great

This game has a special place for me. One particular sunny summer day consisted of this game, hanging with my grandfather, reading a great book for school, and listening to Shaggy on CD. I felt complete as a kid.

It's always funny to me hearing someone who didn't play Super Mario RPG at the time say it looks terrible - not that I don't understand where they're coming from, but it honestly looked INCREDIBLE back then. I can't give a more telling testament to that fact than the actual reality that when I first got the game, I had no idea what "RPG" meant, so my kid brain just imagined that it stood for "Really Perfect Graphics". I can't imagine anyone thinking that today, but it was a different time; the standards and expectations were COMPLETELY different.

Before you comment about Whacka, I wanted the little guy to make an appearance, but I think I hit him a few too many times with my hammer and he didn't come back. He decided to hide from me in the one place I didn't think to check, the thumbnail. I overheard him saying he found a new resting spot on an island, so maybe we'll cross paths again in the near future. If you see him, be sure to tell him I'm sorry.

I will forever adore this first entry in the Paper Mario series. It's among the few games where I attempt challenges like 10HP and randomizers. I really wish it ran better on the NSO cause boy howdy was the volcano rough. Would love a remaster with TTYD's collection catalogues and stylish command inputs.

This video makes me really happy. I played Paper Mario 64 when it was new, and it’s an extremely special game to me. I’m glad someone who plays it more recently can also feel that there’s something unique about it, and find it worth playing even when TTYD is right there.

Paper Mario 64 is such a classic. As a kid, I did prefer Super Mario RPG for its more unique take on the Mario world, but I still played through Paper Mario 64 about a half dozen times before TTYD dropped, with several more incomplete playthroughs (we had to make our games count back in the day lol). Something I appreciated as a kid was that the game displayed your in-game time on your save files. I'd, of course, seen time trial modes that did that, but it was rare for a longer single-player game like this. I used to challenge myself to try and beat the game faster than I did the last time. Not that I could compete with the speedrunners of today, but it was still a fun little way for me to get some replayability out of the game.

Did anyone realize the goomba village theme is the slowed down super Mario world theme? I didn't realize that until now

Paper Mario 64 feels like baby's first RPG and it does an amazing job at that. Replayed it recently and it still holds up well.

The Boss themes are amazing. They are the bread and butter of the soundtrack. Tubba Blubba, Koopa Bros, and Crystal King were amazing with Angry Bowser being my absolute favorite track.

Mario Story is a better naming convention in terms of marketing. Not only does describe the core theme far better, it lines up far better with the other Mario (insert noun here) spinoff games such as Mario Kart, Mario Golf, Mario Party, Mario Tennis, as well as later additions, such as Mario Baseball/Sluggers, Mario Strikers, and Mario Sports.

55:46 actually watching his videos gave me an itch for more Paper Mario videos, which led me to look up retrospectives on them since I loved them as a kid and that's how I found your channel

Good job! I can't believe this doesn't have a ton of views already. This is seriously top-tier paper mario content, and I would put you among the ranks of the greats such as stryder7x (although admittedly not QUITE there, but stryder was a very special guy). I will be returning to watch every episode of the series and I urge you to continue making this kind of content.

Very solid video. Paper Mario 64 is a childhood favorite of mine, was my very first RPG and is a game I hold near and dear to my heart. Anything I say after this may show my bias but I can’t really let go of it given how much the game means to me. I personally think this game has a stronger soundtrack than Super Mario RPG. Yoko Shimomura is one of my favorite composers but her later work in the Mario & Luigi series and especially Kingdom Hearts outclass anything in SMRPG besides maybe Forest Maze/Beware the Forest’s Mushrooms. I love SMRPG’s soundtrack but PM64’s will always outrank it for me. Next, I’ve been playing this game since 2003, a little bit before the sequel released, so I have a bit of a perspective of what things were like before TTYD became the fan favorite and crux of many people’s childhoods. This game took what I already loved about Mario and fleshed it out to the point where it feels like a genuinely lived-in universe to me. Most people who know Mario tend to treat him and his world as just standard video game fare and think he and the cast have very little personality but this game’s story, writing and locales arguably gives it the personality and whimsy the mainline 2D games can only show in short bursts in between platforming through levels. When you break it down to its simplest form, the overall narrative is like any other Mario game but what saves it from being standard and boring is just how sharp-witted, funny and heartwarming the characters and the dialogue can all be. I concede that TTYD and especially Super kick things up a notch in that department but again, my bias towards 64 speaks for itself now. lol I also think the game is still incredibly fun to play even 20 years later. So much so, I finally 100%’d it last year. Action commands are super fun to pull off and keeps the battles from becoming monotonous and same-y, especially when you take advantage of the badge system in conjunction with the standard battle mechanics. And personally, I never really hated the backtracking in this game or the sequel. It just felt like part of the explorative experience that the games emphasized in the overworld except in this instance, it’s necessary for story progression. So while I get why it may bother you and other players, it’s never been an issue for me, personally. And I adore pretty much every chapter in this game but the standouts are Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 and Chapter 7. The little moments in each always made the game fun to replay over and over. Also also, I just wanna say that it’s a shame this game is often overshadowed by its sequel. Sure, I will concede TTYD took what worked in 64 and turned things up to 11 but I wish the same level of love was given to the original. I’m a big fan of 64, TTYD and Super but it always feels like 64 is left out of major discussions in favor of its sequels and if it is included, it’s often relegated to “yeah, it’s the first game and it’s good but the sequels are better” which is a shame. Anyway, I just wanna say as a lifelong fan of this series, thanks for making this retrospective. (and by and large, this mini retrospective series) I’ve been wanting to make my own personal retrospective for years but have been unsure about how to go about it without just regurgitating what others have said about it and the other games over the years. But after watching this, I think I’ve finally accepted that it doesn’t really matter if I say things that have already been said. A personal retrospective will just be giving my own personal experiences and share my passion and admiration for a series I’ve enjoyed since my formative years. Not sure when I’ll be able to get this out into the world but I know this is something I need to do. So thanks again. ^_^

I love a good retrospective video on Paper Mario and I feel like you are doing the series justice here with well thought out critiques and the history! Also your editing is delightful and a joy to experience! That intro was iconic. I'm watching this video on the side while I do something else but my eye keeps catching all the neat things you put in!

The most memorable part of this game as a kid was when Raphael the Raven made an unexpected cameo appearance...that moment was awesome and always makes me pop. P.S. Before Kammy Koopa, there was Kamek...the greatest of all Magikoopa!!

I dunno if the Magikoopa in the movie is generic, I believe it's Kamek who looked over Bowser when he was a baby for the Yoshi's Island game

I love the first Paper Mario. First discovered it via Wii Virtual Console. A few screenshots show that it looked different than all other Mario games I had played before. I really loved the mix between 2D sprites and a 3D environment, it was unique for a late N64 game. As a kid, I was so excited for each new chapter. I remember during Christmas 08, entering Shy Guys Toy Box and loving the theme

yahoo

A lot of things change over time. Not everything can stay the same or even keep the same energy. A lot of the things you loved as a child are going to end up changing on you and becoming something completely different. No matter how many things change on you in this world, it's good to know some things never will. It's comforting knowing every time Nintendo needs a new game they always start by asking : "Ayoooo, shiggy....."

ey, just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this and I'm amazed at the effort put into this! keep it up!

Goombario is friggin op. at ultra rank he does 6hp damage per turn w the action command, and if you use charge and multibonk you can deal some serious damage.

Great video, I'll definitely be tuning in for the rest of this series.

Based Chad Paper Mario Enjoyer. I can’t wait to binge this series

Pro tip for N64 Online players: Go to the app settings and disable the bottom bar that only shows you how to activate the suspend menu

45:41 heeeyyy don't diss my man Kamek, I mean he's been established since Yoshi's Island, he's only generic in his attire not lore Also good video

One of the best games I have ever played, the music and the charm account for this largely

15:15. "He has new enemies!" *shows bowser*

Solid video. Really happy this appeared in my suggestions. Absolutely love Paper Mario (64 and TTYD) but have respect for all game in the series in some way. Looking forward to the rest of this series. Time to check TTYD's video next.

Ooh this is really well made

This is one of the only isometric game I actually like and you do get better the more you play it. One does get used to it.

The idea of damage being very low, isn't just easier to keep track of, it's more meaningful. When you see a giant number in the hundreds or thousands pop up when dealing damage it doesn't really mean much. I suppose those bosses can have upwards of 30,000 or 40,000 HP and all but dealing a few hits of about 3,000 damage each time doesn't matter much more, in fact it feels like it matters less than when a boss has 80 HP and you're only doing about 7-8 each turn. So you really have to count and each hit they make on you counts as well.

This gane will forever be special to me, nothing meant more than getting to visit grandparents and getting to play this on my uncles wii. Call me blinded by nostalgia but there is almost nothing i dont like about this game from the music to gameplay it's all perfect to my eyes.

I want to say, before anything, this video is super well put together. Good narration, nice editing, credit to the background music which is just a nice detail, I like your avatar’s art… all good stuff. As for the game itself, I’m a Thousand Year Door fan over 64, but they are incredibly close. Like, 64 is, as you say, a warm and cozy feeling game. While I do agree the intro feels unnecessarily slow, the game also just has a great vibe at the start where I’m just enjoying the chill vibes of the early game. And the game just feels great, since the combat is real fun and feels strategic in a way unlike any other game. Add on to it the fact the story is fun and the game looks so cute and charming and it’s no wonder this game is held to near the same degree of acclaim as TTYD. It started the franchise and I can say this and TTYD are so close, I can’t fault anyone for liking this one better. Very excited to continue the retrospective here.

goombario is one of those party members that can do some obsurd dmg if you know what your doing with charge and multibonk, to give you a example of 2 turns charging up and 1 for multibonk, you can pull off 28+ if your good enough to get 7 jumps off for 5 FP, 4 turns for 45 dmg and 6 FP. someone like bow with 15 FP for 3 turns for her fan smack to do 30 dmg. but i know people would rather the other options in the game for a variety of reasons.

Paper Mario again like fine wine

Soooooooooo good! Loved the intro

I'm posting this comment having only just started watching this retrospective, and I have to say I'm excited! As someone who has a fondness for every game in this series from the OG to OK, I look forward to seeing where this 6-fold adventure goes! And I'm lucky enough to join when we're already 4 chapters in, soooo... I've got some catching up to do!

Strapped in tight, my favorite series of all time

I've been looking for someone who loved it enough to make a video essay about it. So thank you. It's definitely one of my all time favorite pieces of media ever. It goes Halo, Paper Mario 64, Republic Commando.

super good retrospective, very interested to hear your thoughts on the rest of the series, especially the later entries

This game was my first RPG and introduced me to the genre completely. Ever since then, RPGs have been my favorite video game genre (at least, in the Mario RPG style, anyway). As such, this game is also one of my favorite games of all time, and always has a special place for me. Unfortunately, I also overplayed it, which makes it a bit of a slog to replay now. But I still enjoy it a lot. I work a lot of hours at a local warehouse and mostly listen to video game music while doing so, and of course Paper Mario is one of them. One of my personal favorite video game soundtracks! If you listen to the whole thing out of context, it almost makes you feel like you're in a different realm the whole time, especially when you're listening while working nights like I do. So, this soundtrack is totally unique in that regard. I'm a video game music connoisseur, so I know! I liked your review of the game, and I agree with most aspects. Personally, I kinda think you might have missed something on the soundtrack, at least based on my experience. But art is subjective, so take that as you will. I'm just surprised that you didn't share some of the actual good tracks from the game that really bring forth what this game has going for it: Star Spirits' Request, K64 Train Ride, The Castle Crumbles, and The Master. But, that's just me. I enjoy seeing other people share their opinions on these games, especially when we agree, and this is always one of my favorite subjects to talk about!

This was a great video! RU-vid had been recommending me less viewed videos recently and I'm so happy I found this one. I want to ask, have you ever played Bug Fables? Its an indie game in the style of paper mario rpgs that I think is really really good!

Nice vid! 👍🏽

Because it had many references to Super Mario World and Yoshi's Island.

As a Lover of paper Mario I can’t wait for the next ones!

The switch online version is a lot easier tbh. Mostly because you can exploit save states. For example, the gambling house. With save states you can get more coins than you could ever possibly need once you unlock it.

49:58 - In this case it's not actually a "performance" issue. For whatever reason, Nintendo _added_ that "lag" in, intentionally. It's literally a couple lines of code in the emulator, and removing/hiding them has it run fine. Though, to be fair, it actually makes sense to add "lag" in _some_ scenarios for these n64 games. Like, a certain scene near the end of Majora's Mask or the intro to Banjo-Tooie come to mind. ...what _doesn't_ make sense is why they chose to add it into these _specific_ spots. Unlike the infamous Game Over crashing on NSO, it doesn't seem like this code was there to "fix" anything. (Also, there apparently IS a fix for that crash... but it's not in the North American version. 🤡) 54:59 - Luckily, the Thousand-Year Door remake figured something out for that.

Im gonna have to watch the other videos and see where this whole egg thing started

All of bowsers theme are amazing

When I was little, the only games that reliably attracted my attention were ones related to Mario. Super Mario RPG was the first exposure to the genre, followed many years later by the Paper Mario series. It wasn't until I got to high school that I discovered the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series and learned they were made by the same developers. The premiere GBA titles were the ones that really pulled me into both series, as each one has one of the most thorough and well-implemented tutorials in any game I've played. These games acted as lead-ins to the eventual Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn and Advance Wars: Dual Strike, which each serve as the equivalent of Thousand-Year Door for those respective series in my experience as a fan.

Paper mario ttyd my favorite single player game of all time ❤

My favorite game of the series.

I love small numbers, because hitting a 12 means the same as hitting 12,245 in the grand scheme it's just decimal places.

I like that King Koopa is bad guy in Paper Mario games

This game has so many good memories, and even though TTYD was definitely better overall, I always tear up at the original's parade remembering all the memories.

I got this game as a kid not knowing it was an rpg or even knowing what an rpg was but I fell in love with it! Ive watched stryders stuff & am having a difficult time downloading a decent rom to my pc to play master quest… Could you help me out? Great vid bud!

Great video. I'm starting to bingewatch this series.y opinion on Chapter 4 is the following. While I can see why some people would be annoyed with it, if it didn't have all that backtracking to Toad Town, it would be the shortest chapter, possibly even shorter than the Prologue and definitely shorter than Chapter 1

Bro koopa bros theme slaps!!

I think the texture pack looks nice, but I personally don't use it. While I am a fan of the new look of paper mario, I much prefer the style of the original n64 game. I much preferred the storybook aesthetic over the comicbook look of thousand year door or the paper styling of the modern games.

My fav is soup pap maro

Tbh i know i'm late to the party in terms of video but i just wanted to say great vid going through SMRPG on my vita lol and first time play through of PM64 on the wii u lol.

My only big criticism of Paper Mario is how long it takes to get to Action Commands. RPG definitely got that right the first time. First battle, right there to experiment with. Paper takes until the end of the prologue, after you’ve had to sit through tons of dialogue and gone as far as to battle your first boss if you count the Goomba King. It’s pretty ridiculous.

The highest damage in PM64 is 20 HP. Amazee Dayzees do 20 HP of damage.

I agree the DKC style of graphics in SMRPG don’t fit the more zany world of mainstream Mario. Rare’s DK was always going for a darker, 80s adventure movie tone and Mario is meant to have a lighter, fairytale feel. Paper Mario, on the other hand, hues closer to the storybook aesthetic of Yoshi’s Island and looks a million times more “Mario” for it.

45:42 it isn't any magikoopa it is kamek specifically

Only 300 views... you're lucky a decently popular youtuber posted this link on his twitter

Big yoshi ❤

As some one who played ttyd on disc (Still own that disc) and loved only ttyd when i tried to get into the n64 original spark to the series it was hard. So amny mechanics were either not in the game or were later on and even then my rom or what ever was on a delay it didnt seem to work with action commands. An the action commands are even worth on the switch not just boss battles.. but in general 9/10 when i KNOW i did it it says nope you didnt gg wastinge 3 fp on power bounce. Both joycon and my turbo controller both fair at the action commands.

Honestly the new paper mario isn’t bad but different, it’s more Paper than mario while the first two was paper but a Mario game first besides super paper mario that one went different from both but feel like bridge the gap I honestly just want a fun rpg that makes you strategize, not find the best power up and wait till the boss to use it

Otherwise yeah, Paper Mario 64 is my favorite Mario RPG so far. I need to beat Thousand Year Door now

Does the game allow me to deal a lot of damage like Mario and Luigi or south stick of truth?

33:30 how dare you forget the name chuck quizmo

Were there 2 intros within the first 5 minutes saying the same thing in both?

Mario's Story is amazing and beautiful. Pretty tragic Nintendo consoles can emulate it properly missing graphical details with each new attempt 🤦‍♂️ So the superior version is still on N64🤷‍♂️

This was fun, but I really wanna limit spoilers for TTYD, so I won't watch that one. Unless Nintendo makes it possible for me to play, OR I get a better computer *wink*. C'mon Nintendo! I'm begging you to take my money here!

Wasn’t kammy koopa in yoshis story

I'm one of the few people that see TTYD as the start of the downward trend for Paper Mario.

ok ive played this game a ton of times over my life but I swear I have no memory at all of refighting bowser in the same hallway that you do at the beginning. Am I going insane?

You do realize you can remove that stuff on the bottom right?

Am I the only one who heard a lot of audio interference in this video? It sounds like there's music or chattering in the background that isn't supposed to be there.

It fell off after Thousand Year Door

"need to care for this cracked egg" (that was LITERALLY cracked by a Blahaj) "I won't be the same person when we're done" girl just SAY you're trans, I don't think you could be more blatant if you tried

I miss Stryder7x :(

Why would people want to destroy the artstyle of the game by making it look exactly like the bad games of the series..... Why not talk about a texture pack that makes it look like ttyd... That way it would be a good artstyle change

That texture pack looks like dog

Wow you really went far out of your way to make this as cringe as possible huh.

cringe dislike