One of the best Mario RPGs now in full HD and widescreen! This was a really faithful remake and I thoroughly enjoyed replaying TTYD again.

I've never had too much of an issue with the backtracking, but I noticed that they did make some changes to reduce the amount. I've played the original a number of times, and this is the definitive way to experience TTYD for new players!

The new OST was great, and the graphics are stunning. I wish we got to keep 60 FPS, but the downgrade didn't have as big of an impact as I thought it would. Superguards and general quick inputs still feel snappy and responsive!

This remake makes me miss the classic Paper Mario formula that much more, and I wish Alpha Dream was still making Mario & Luigi as well. Intelligent Systems did a phenominal job on this remake and capturing the magic of the original!

Also, the localization was updated and now trans vivian is canon outside Japan!!

Wow, the average score on this game is low. I realize that I’m going to be a bit controversial with some of the things I say here, but I do believe that this game in general takes an unfairly harsh criticism from the community for simply being the first to majorly screw up the paper Mario formula; I think it’s a genuinely better game than color splash, which tends to see at least slightly less scathing reviews.

For one, I think the sticker mechanic is far more fun and engaging than the color card mechanic from that game. Peeling unique attack stickers from the overworld is just such a satisfying thing! And I think the graphics look good on the smaller screen, whereas I find color splash to be far more bland visually. Obviously, this game is entirely lacking story. It’s simply a ‘collect all the pieces’ game without nearly anything else going in. Even so, there are some interesting set piece moments to enjoy even if they’re kind of moot without a story, such as losing Kersti (stupid name) and your hammer to the poison big forest and wiggler’s antics that ensue, or climbing an ancient desert tower, or the haunted mansion. I also think that the ‘Things’ have the best implementation in this game compared to any other paper Mario game that has used them. A lot of the game is lacking though, in intrigue and variance compared to paper Mario games past. The bosses are generally uninspired, typically being a regular Mario enemy enhanced with the power of one of the sticker crowns.

Though, I think if you can get past how much of a step back it is from the other predecessor games, you can actually find a decently fun time in this game! Don’t let all those hate reviews bring your perception down; and that’s coming from a diehard Super Paper Mario fan.

Super paper mario is such a weirdo.

In a war between the N64 and Gamecube duo, and the Sticker-Splash-Origam trinity, Super is just there in the middle doing its own thing.

It's technically and RPG since the characters "Level up" but it's also a regular 2d platformer.... except is not just that because the ability to switch between the 2D and 3D world makes for 3D exploration / puzzle solving that makes for a bizzarre mix.
THe aesthetic is also weird: a weird combinatio of the older PC interface, classic MS paint, classic computer and technology assets, and PAPER.... it's absolutely dated but also feel timeless... somehow.... it's neat.

All of these bizzarre decisions don't even stop here: you know how this game was sold as a clasic mario journey with nothing important in terms of the story?
Well, the commercials were kinda right..... except for the part where you witness Peach's and Bowser's wedding, a brainwashed evil luigi, bizzarre species and character designs, a manor FULL OF SLAVES, THE END OF THE WORLD, aliens pooping in space, HELL, THE OTHER HELL, some of the most tragic and complex mario characters ever created and legit some of the best Nintendo villains.

SUper Paper Mario is the third unsong hero of the Paper Mario series, an absolutely phenomenal experiemnt that feels as both a acid trip, and an incredible experience.

Oh man, this game was a BLAST. Simple plot, satisfying controls, wacky art, extreme speed and a humorous attitude to top it off! Pizza Tower may be a little short with 20 levels and 5 bosses but every inch of the world is stuffed full with details, secrets and sweet mechanics. There are TONS of achievements that I'm excited to try so there's still plenty for your average completionist. Wario-likes have proven there's still a lot of potential in this formula, so definitely give Pizza Tower a go!

EDIT: I have obtained all achievements and P-ranks. While the elusive Ps were a 'P'ain in the ass it was extremely satisfying to pull them off. I find myself keep wanting to come back to this game even though there is nothing left to do, and I think that speaks volumes for Pizza Tower's addicting mach speed gameplay!

Beat it last year, came back recently to finish off 100%. Wario Land 4 is a fantastic little platformer, and has a lot to offer on the GBA. The secrets are well hidden and the platforming is solid. Fun level designs too! I really wish they would revive this series, Wario Land has so many fun experimental gimmicks and mechanics that Mario is missing! (pun not intended). It's a must play title for any Nintendo fan.

...And yeah, I might still have rose tinted glasses for Shake It. Wario Land 4 is my personal close second in the series! However, this game really does have some fantastic platforming and satisfying puzzles. It lives up to all the talk surrounding it and has aged nicely.

I hadn't played this since it came out, and with a remaster on the horizon I decided to return to Dark Moon and complete the game. Dark Moon does a lot of things right. It's a mansion-crawling puzzle game with a focus on small missions unlike the original Luigi's Mansion. Dark Moon has a lot of slapstick humor (for better or worse) and the environments are brighter, more colorful, and cartoony. These tweaks really changed the vibe from the original. At the time I did not like the tone shift, but after giving the game some time (and another series entry) I gotta say that Dark Moon aged really well. The new control scheme works great on the 3DS and the mission oriented gameplay lends itself well to short handheld sessions. However, the missions make me wonder how well Dark Moon will hold up on switch since the game seems so handheld oriented.
Completing the game was straightforward enough, lots of the gem puzzles were clever and well thought out. The mission structure made it easier to go gem hunting than in Luigi's Mansion 3, but the boos scattered in each mission were a little lackluster. It's difficult these days to get every scarescraper ghost too so that was the one thing I skipped. It isn't hard to view a list online and I didn't want to waste 50 hours of my life grinding for them.
Personally, this is still the weakest entry in the Luigi's Mansion series. I still prefer the darker tone of the original and I am not alone in saying that. However, revisiting this game a decade after it's release allowed me to have a fresh set of eyes and see that this game is better than I remember. It was a good time!

Extremely faithful to the original. The quality of life improvements were numerous and especially noticeable after I went back to the SNES version to beat Culex. I thought the new postgame was kinda lacking, it was essentially just a boss rush with a few new gimmicks. I would've liked to see some more unique content added, but I totally get the vibe that they were trying to be as faithful as possible with this remake.
This is the best way to play this SNES classic today, hands down! It's an easier RPG but is a great choice for someone who may be new to the genre. I can't wait to see the TTYD remake later this year, since Mario RPG is so well done I am expecting great things from Paper Mario!

Despite how awkward it feels to control at times, as well as the length and weirdness of the game, the original Super Mario Land was still a decent enough game, and it proved that a Mario game could work just as well on a smaller system as it does on a console. So, as one would expect, a sequel was going to be made, and for this sequel, the development team wanted to create something much more unique compared to the other Mario games that have been made so far………… only to then go back on this decision to create a game very similar to that of Super Mario World. However, some of this uniqueness would carry over, not just with the game itself, but also with the plot being changed from what players were used to seeing from these games. So, after almost a year of development, they then released the sequel to the original Mario Land known as Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins.

In terms of mainline handheld Mario games, this entry in particular is usually held in pretty high regards, not just with delivering the same timeless and fun gameplay that we have all grown to love, but also with implementing worlds and elements never seen in any other Mario game before or since then. And I am gonna have to agree with that general consensus, because taking inspiration from Super Mario World was definitely the right choice, rather then whatever it was that they originally had intended. As a followup to Super Mario Land, this is a MASSIVE improvement over what we were given in that game, and as a game on its own, it is fantastic. Is it anything too special compared to other titles in the series, and it is absolutely flawless? No, but for being a simple handheld Mario game, it is pretty damn impressive, especially for 1992, and it holds up very well to this day.

The story is NOT about saving any damsel in distress, but instead taking back your castle from a mysterious new foe, which is probably more important to Mario then saving a princess for the millionth time, the graphics are Game Boy graphics, with the artstyle and sprites being much better and more detailed then what we got in Super Mario Land, the music is very catchy, bouncy, and enjoyable, with some very replayable tracks out of the bunch, the control is what you would expect for a Mario game, and it is as tight and seamless as ever, and the gameplay is, again, what you would expect from a Mario game, but in comparison to the last game, it is a significant step in the right direction.

The game is yet another 2D platformer, where you go through many different side-scrolling levels, defeat many of the enemies that stand in your way, avoid dangerous platforming hazards, gather many different powerups, coins, and extra lives along the way, and take on easy, yet creative and enjoyable bosses. It is what you would expect from a 2D Mario title, but it still remains pretty fun and imaginative to this day. In terms of new features to this game, there aren’t really that many new powerups, except for one known as the Magic Carrot, which turns you into Bunny Mario, who can… flutter down very slowly when you push the button. So basically, it’s just like the Tanooki Leaf from Mario 3, except you can’t fly upwards or attack enemies. That’s kind of lame, but hey, it is still fun to use. Not to mention, this game takes plenty of inspiration from, like I said, Super Mario World, where there is an overworld map, you can tackle levels in any order you want (for the most part), and there are several secret levels that you can find by reaching alternate exits in specific levels. These levels aren’t really all that spectacular, and they don’t last long at all, but they are a nice bonus for those who are wanting more out of the game.

One of the best aspects that this game has going for it, like I mentioned earlier, is the amount of creativity that was put into this game. Sure, the main gameplay mechanics aren’t changed up significantly whatsoever, but everything around the gameplay does stand out as being unique to this day, such as with the worlds and the enemies in levels. I’m sure we are all familiar with the types of worlds Mario games have you go through: Grass World, Desert World, Beach World, Forest World, Snow World, Cliff World, Sky World, and Hell World. These world themes aren’t bad by any means, but we have seen them so many times in Mario games, you tend to get sick of the lack of variety.

However, in Mario Land 2, there are plenty of interesting world themes, with some pretty unique levels to go along with them. We have the usual shit, like your regular grass levels and a world inside of a tree, but then we have a world in space, a world inside a spooky Jack-O-Lantern, a world where you get shrunken down and have to traverse through a regular house, and even one where you climb through a giant mechanical Mario robot! Sure, most of these themes aren’t too creative, but they are ones that we have never seen in any other Mario game before and since this one, and they are very memorable and fun to traverse through. And in terms of the enemies, there is a great variety of old and new ones, like ants, moles, angry stars, Cow-Fish things, Goombas wearing hockey masks like Jason Vorhees, and even a tiny little Dracula that is adorable. Again, like with the worlds, you don’t see these types of enemies in most other Mario games, making this one stand out much more, and in turn, being even more fun and memorable.

Of course, how could I forget about one of the defining features of this game, that being the brand new villain of the game. This villain was created specifically out of spite for working on a game that the developers didn’t primarily create, which is ironic, considering this character would come to be one of the best characters in the entire franchise, as well as one of the greatest and most iconic characters in video game history. I am, of course, talking about Wario. He may just be a bad version of Mario (quite literally), but he has become so much more than that over the years. He is fat, he is rude, he is insanely greedy, and he cares about nobody other than himself, stomping anyone down in his path to get whatever the hell he wants…….. and I absolutely love him for all of those reasons. There is a reason why he has gotten multiple series of his own games, even all the way to this day.

I know I have been raving on and on about this game for this entire review, but honestly, there aren’t really that many complaints that I have with the game overall. It is an immensely solid title that I had an absolute blast replaying for this review, and it does still hold up very well. I guess if I did have some complaints I could give, I would say that the game is kind of short, as well as kind of easy, but considering all of the levels you can play through, with some being pretty challenging, I don’t really see this as much of an issue. This could also be said for the fact that, if you get a Game Over, any of the 6 golden coins you have gathered at that point are taken away from you, and you have to get it back. That does kind of suck, but again, the game is somewhat easy, as it gives you lives a plenty, so even then, you probably won’t get a Game Over in the first place.

Overall, despite there being some very minor issues that I can see with it, Super Mario Land 2 is an almost perfect follow-up to the original Super Mario Land, one with a great amount of creativity for a Mario game, and one that is still very fun to blast through even to this day. I would definitely recommend it for anybody, as well as Mario fans in general, even if you didn’t like the original Mario Land at all. Trust me, it is definitely worth it. Now I just can’t wait to see what Super Mario Land 3 has in store next! someone whispers into my ear....... Whassat? Oh… well… that didn’t take long at all.

Game #302