Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

 

The fifth entry into a solid sub RPG series in general, I never expected it to have so many titles in the long run. Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is a good continuation that fixes some tedious parts from Dream Team, adds Paper Mario into the mix as guest, and has creative battles.

By now, Paper Mario as a franchise is getting more stretched out so to speak, because starting from Super Paper Mario, the quality has gone downwards ever since, and I better not get reminded of Sticker Star's shortcomings.

Let's hope that his status in here will retaliate interest and polished design in his next potential entry. As for Mario & Luigi in this 3DS adventure however, consider the story to be very basic, but even then, where has the creativity gone too after developing Superstar Saga's unique world as a good example?

Paper Jam, like Sticker Star, suffers heavily for not creating unique NPC's or for the most part even enemies. It's sad to see this happen because it's welcoming to add in original characters for RPG's, unlike Mario platformers where I wouldn't care as much as seeing the umpteenth goomba or koopa troopa.

The paper world gets absorbed into AlphaDream's world, and with it, paper variants of Mario characters come along with it, without Luigi for some vague reason. Bowser will now be twice as dangerous and sends his Koopalings alongside Bowser Jr. to keep you busy.

Replacing giant battles from Bowser's Inside Story and Dream Team are the papercraft battles where you will fight in 3D environments against other papercrafts. More paper mechanics are to be found on the field where Paper Mario can form into a plane or squeeze through holes.

Or, Trio Attacks involve all three "brothers" resulting into generally the most destructive attacks. The highlight of this game however are the boss battles, which despite featuring very familiar foes, has creative enemy attacks that keep you quite challenged as you get further.

Musically it's not as good as the previous entries, but it's not bad either. The tedious parts which are fixed include being able to skip cutscenes and being able to fast forwards text, as well as lessening onto tutorials and rather making them more of a background idea to delve into by reading more upon them in the menu.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam  plays it safe and improves in some areas, and yet it's also not inventive with ideas. However, crossing over both Mario RPG worlds is an exception and I think that AlphaDream pulled a fine job with blending them.

Just, for crying out loud, lessen on those Paper Toad Quests next time!

Rating: 8.1