Entertainment

DPP’s Video Game Review: Paper Mario The Origami King

Chairshot Video Game aficionado DPP is back with his next video game review, Nintendo’s newest Paper Mario! Is this a puzzle you’ll get tired of solving?

Published

5 years ago

July 29, 2020

Dan Phelan

Paper Mario The Origami King - Featured Image

Chairshot Video Game aficionado DPP is back with his next video game review, Nintendo’s 2020 release of Paper Mario! Is this a puzzle you’ll get tired of solving?

A Puzzle You’ll Get Tired of Solving

REVIEWED BY: Dan Phelan

SYSTEMS: Nintendo Switch
RELEASE: July 17th, 2020
STYLE: Adventure, turn based, Role-playing game; Single player; Offline
RATING: E
DEVELOPER: Intelligent Systems
PUBLISHER: Nintendo

CONCEPT / STORY

The Mushroom Kingdom is in disarray. Bowser’s paper minions have become folded like origami and slaves to the evil King Olly. Bowser has been folded into a square and hung from a clothes pin. Worst of all, Princess Peach has been turned into origami herself, and is being held by the king. Olly has wrapped the castle up in five streamers making it impossible to ent

er. Mario’s job…find the ends of those streamers, unwrap the castle, and take down King Olly to return the world back to the flat paper we know and love. There is nothing too special to this story, its classic Mario save the princess stuff. You are accompanied on your journey by Olivia, who is revealed immediately to be Olly’s sister. She is not happy with Olly for what he is doing to the world, and helps you along your path with hints and additional powers you acquire throughout the game.

ENTERTAINMENT / PLAYABILITY

Get ready for a lot of reading. There is a lot of dialogue boxes during this game. Some further the story. Many are just incredibly unnecessary, filled with tacky jokes and boring discussion of what to do next that I found myself just clicking to get through rather than enjoying the conversation. While I understand this is designed more as a kid’s game, they really go over the top with many themes. Each level of the game has some type of dancing that you have to sit through, some of which goes on for far too long. There is a game show portion of the game that requires memory skills to complete. However, with the time between loading screens and the dialogue boxes you read, you can completely forget what you had to remember. These issues caused the mini-games to be more tedious than fun.

The battle mechanics for this game are unlike any you may have seen in a turn based fighting game. Standard battles find you in the middle of a grid ring, with enemies in different sections of the ring. Your job is to rotate and shift the rings in order to line up the enemies so that you can take them out in the least amount of moves. You are only allowed a certain amount of ring moves each turn, so you have to observe the field to find the right moves. Oh, and you only have a certain amount of time to solve the puzzle before your turn to attack is forced upon you. Throughout the game, you can obtain items that allow for extra time during your turns, and as you rescue Toads during the game, you can use coins to have them give you extra time, and as you progress further in the game, line up enemies, attack a few enemies, and toss you a few hearts or weapons. Olivia is also with you, and you can ask her for hints. Unfortunately her hints are very limited, and you’ll receive the same hints at the beginning of the game as you will at the end. For example, in one of the very last battles, Olivia’s hint was to avoid jumping on the spiked enemies unless you have the iron boots, which you learn very early on in the game. The boss fights reverse the playing field, and you have to use arrows and attack circles to walk a path to the enemy in the middle to attack. Again, the hints only get you so far, and you’ll find yourself having to guess on what will work on the bosses until you find the right attack, which will cost you HP and time. These Rubik’s Cube like puzzle battles become very old very quick. What’s worse is that they have no bearing on leveling up Mario. Increasing your HP and power occur at different points of the story when you receive a heart giving you and upgrade. This basically renders all battles a useless waste of time, and I found myself trying to avoid them where I could as I progressed, or using the Toads so I didn’t have to solve the puzzle. The rest of the overworld will find you using confetti to fill holes, giving you coins to use for more weapons, pulling Toads lodged in various objects, and treasure hunting for collectables.

GRAPHICS / SOUND

The graphics are very pleasuring for a switch game. Everything is very colorful from the confetti thrown to the many different landscapes you encounter. It keeps to its roots with cartoonish style starburst in battles showing HP lost during attacks. The emphasis around the flat characters with white outlines and the attempt to show folds in the origami characters give you the ability to tell the good guys from the bad. And boss characters are oversized versions of everyday objects, like a roll of tape, rubber bands, hole punch, and scissors. There is no voice overs, as you would expect from a Mario game. The sound is well done, but nothing to get excited about. Fun music will play when you are exploring the world, and battles bring you a more intense, upbeat theme.

OVERALL

This is far from your ordinary Paper Mario game. The 3D world, Mario characters, look, and design are all very familiar. However, they took a radical approach with the battle section by going with puzzle based battles over the standard turn based RPG style. I will give the game credit for creativity in this sense. However, since these battles don’t give you any XP to increase your level, they become more of a nuisance and time waster as you try to figure out how to line up the enemies so you can eliminate them faster and move on your way. There was also a lot of dialogue in the game with excess and unnecessary cut scenes. I enjoyed the beginning of the game and the variety of level types. But the game became repetitive very fast, and once I realized the battles meant nothing, it took a lot of fun out of the game. If you enjoy the Paper Mario franchise, you’ll find very familiar themes and some entertainment…if you’re willing to battle through it.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Up Next

VIDEO: The #Miranda Show: Deadly Game–err…Draw

Don't Miss

Five Rounds Podcast: UFC Fight Night 174

Bandwagon Nerds

Bandwagon Nerds #284: Mission Unlikely

The Nerds break down a tremendous Episode 8 of Daredevil: Born Again. Plus, the Sweet 16 of Villain Madness and the return of the Trailer Park!

Published

6 days ago

April 14, 2025

PC Tunney

This week, the NERDS are back in full force, and there is no shortage of topics to discuss. Episode 8 of Daredevil: Born Again was filled with drama, surprises, and a stunning ending that left all the Nerds wondering what will happen next. After a few weeks’ absence, the Trailer Park returns to look at upcoming releases such as F1, a wild-looking sequel for M.E.G.A.N., another great-looking series on Apple TV (Murderbot), and the finale of the Mission Impossible series. Plus, we get to the Sweet 16 of Villain Madness! Which ultimate bad guys/gals punched their tickets to the Elite 8? All that and, of course Whatcha Watchin”?

@AttitudeAgg
@WrestlngRealist
@itsReyCash
@PCTunney
@itsmedpp
@ViolentAesop
@TheMindlessPod
@therealcplatt
@ChairshotMedia
@BandwagonNerds

PROWRESTLINGTEES.COM/TheChairshot – Makes a GREAT GIFT!!!

About Bandwagon Nerds

Join Patrick O’Dowd, David Ungar, PC Tunney, Rey Cash, and DPP as they keep everyone up on all things nerd, and maybe add some new nerds along the way. It’s the Bandwagon Nerds Podcast!

About Chairshot Radio Network

Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY – POD is WAR

FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

http://TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Chairshot Radio Network
Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts… Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Listen on your favorite platform!

iTunes | iHeart Radio | Google Play | Spotify
Listen, like, subscribe, and share!

Bandwagon Nerds

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Entertainment

Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/10/25)

It’s gonna be May!

Published

1 week ago

April 10, 2025

Steven Mitchell

There’s been a slight change in the forecast…

There may not be a storm on the horizon, but when Wrestling Is Life, every day is unpredictable! What does HPW have planned for May Day?

HPW prepares for the storm ahead…

Blood & Thunder still beckons, and the Faces of Evil need to defend their HPW World Trios Championships. Therefore, Wrestling Is Life will see two qualifying trios matches! After the controversial nature of losing the titles at HyruleMania, Arrow Club is given a spot in these qualifiers. And they will be facing familiar foes in TSDQ! The Studly Don’t Quit, but will they make it through to ThunderStruck? As for the second qualifier, Los Taros Locos will return in hopes of stampeding up to the top of HPW, but they’ll be up against quite the mysterious team. Cia represents the OG Dark Forces expelled from the group, and she’ll bring her sister, Lana, with her!

But who is their third partner? They didn’t name them, so who could it be? Volga? Kevin Gibdo? Or even Wizzro? Will keeping it an unknown be the key to winning?

Igos du Ikana speaks.

From inside his shadowy throne room, The Ruler of Ruin looks at the HPW Death Mountain Championship on a pedestal. “The HPW Death Mountain Championship. A championship created not just to commemorate one of Hyrule’s greatest landmarks, but also to commemorate one of Hyrule’s greatest wrestling promotions. Death Mountain Wrestling was a vital part of wrestling history, where legends would pave the way for a new generation, and inspire many more. Not unlike Termina Championship Wrestling.”

Igos walks past the pedestal to look to a trophy case. Igos looks to his copy of the classic TCW Championship, and even of the High Noon Championship. There are also poster sized pictures of Igos’ greatest moments, such as the first time he won the TCW title, and the last time he held it while TCW was still active. Igos continues by saying, “I say this not because you don’t know. Of course you know this. I say this so that you might understand. I say this because I need you to understand. You have great aspirations, and strong ambition, but I don’t think you understand what you’re attempting to achieve.

“You stand at the foot of a mountain, it’s shadow upon you. That mountain’s name is legacy. You want to climb the mountain. You want to reach the top and plant your own flag at the summit. You want everyone to see you, to look up to you, to acknowledge you. But this climb is more challenging than you know. This climb is more challenging than you can handle. These belts may only be ten pounds, but they weigh so much more once you put them on. You are not ready for the climb. You are not ready to carry that weight. You are not ready to push yourself, step after step, inch after inch, as the mountain only grows steeper and steeper. And you never will be.

“So I tell you this not because you do not know. I tell you this so that you may understand. You must turn back now, find another path forward, before it is too late. Before you fall… to ruin.” It is clear who this message is for, but will young Yunobo heed this grizzled warrior’s warning?

HPW Deep Dive: Wisdom VS Power.

The Princess of Hyrule visits Hero of Hyrule, Link, now that he’s home from the hospital. He still needs bed rest, given everything Ganon did to him. He has bandages around his head, and his sister, Aryll, checks his stitches. 13 stitches all along the hairline. They’re holding well, no bleeding. Zelda sits with Link and holds his hand. She apologizes for what happened, but Link shakes his head. Aryll agrees, Zelda’s not to blame, Ganon and his Dark Forces are. They ruined her moment, they beat Link down, so they they have to be stopped. Ganon’s coming after the title anyway, so Zelda can get payback at the same time.

Ganon says, “Like I give a damn.” The Gerudo Ace lounges in his manor, The Dark Forces all around him. That now includes Shabonne & Tali, sporting new ensembles to reflect joining up. The Faces of Evil have their HPW World Trios Championships while Ganon has the Triforce Tournament trophy in hand. Ganon then mockingly says, “YoU dEsErVe It~! YoU dEsErVe It~!” Audio from the Triforce Anniversary event is interspliced here, as well as flashes of Zelda being emotional as she has the title belt put on.

“Isn’t it strange that Zelda takes the fall at HyruleMania, but I’m the one relegated to the tournament? And she clearly has that pointy eared little simp wrapped around her finger, or else he wouldn’t have even agreed to the match. But hey, what do I know? I only beat Link one-on-one in his first defense, then beat Zelda one-on-one in my first defense. I’m the Triple Crown Champion, I beat legends of TCW, and I’m this year’s Triforce Tournament winner. No one is more deserving of that title, of whatever title there is, than me! Isn’t that right?” The group all say, “Yeah!”

Ganon says, “The Dark Forces will be golden!” The group again shouts, “Yeah!” Ganon says, “The Dark Forces RUNS HPW!” The group again shouts, “YEAH!!” The Dark Forces all raise a glass to drink it up, while Link rests his head on Zelda’s shoulder and she rests her head on his. The Princess of Hyrule may reign, but will she fail to trump the Gerudo Ace? The countdown is on until May 1st, when Wrestling is Life!