July 17th sees the launch of Paper Mario: The Origami King, the latest instalment in the long-running series that’s coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch. The new game sees Paper Mario taking on King Olly, the titular Origami King who leads his evil Folded Soldiers against the citizens of Toad Town. Check out the trailer below.
The embargo for reviews has dropped today for the game, and critics appear to enjoy the most recent addition to the series, though it’s not with its faults. It’s also not the return to the series’ RPG roots that many might have been hoping for. Here’s what the critics had to say about Paper Mario: The Origami King, which currently sits at a 79/100 on Metacritic.
Nintendo Life – Chris Scullion – 8/10
Paper Mario: The Origami King tries to do something different with its combat system and, to be honest, we aren’t feeling it. That doesn’t mean the rest of the game isn’t thoroughly entertaining, however, and while the puzzle-based battles aren’t quite what a new Paper Mario game needed, they aren’t so awful that everything else shouldn’t be experienced as a result. It still isn’t the new Thousand-Year Door fans will have been hoping for, but it’s still one of the funniest games in the series and it’s got a truly likeable companion character, and while the combat is far from ideal the fact that we still thoroughly recommend the game regardless speaks volumes about every other aspect of it.
GAMINGBible – Ewan Moore – 8/10
Had Intelligent Systems found some way to make fights more interesting or worthwhile, this might have been the best Paper Mario game to date. As it stands, it’s easily the best adventure with the paper plumber I’ve had in years. Even if it doesn’t quite reach the delirious highs of those first two entries, this is a game that kept a genuine smile on my face for almost its entire duration – and I don’t know that we can underestimate the value of that right now.
Eurogamer – Tom Phillips – No Score
There’s plenty I’d recommend about The Origami King, a journey generous with its humour, its spread of locations, its continual sense of adventure in Mario’s bid to defeat the evil Origami King (a clever conceit which lets Mario befriend regular paper Goombas and Koopas while also letting him battle evil origami Goombas and Koopas). Its final section especially, while brief, is thrilling to watch unfold. But each time the game changed settings, every time it swapped in a new party member, whenever I cleared another boss, I expected it to grow the shoots it had begun to set out and dig in a little deeper. For all of the game’s sense of personality and place, it never grows into anything weightier.
VG24/7 – Alex Donaldson – 4/5
[Paper Mario: The Origami King’s] simplicity is overridden by originality and vigor, then – but I also know all too well that some fans of the older Paper Mario games will once again walk away a little disappointed. This is still undoubtedly no Thousand Year Door. Perhaps the next outing can bring back a little of that RPG depth – but regardless of that, this is still the best Paper Mario game in years.
Game Informer – Ben Reeves – 7.75/10
As a series, Paper Mario constantly explores new concepts and mechanics, which is exciting, but that comes with plenty of risks. Origami King’s biggest chances don’t pay off in a satisfying way. I enjoyed Mario’s hijinks and all the misfits he encounters, but the new ring-based action needs refinement. I hope Paper Mario’s next twist on combat can rise to the same level as its humor.
GamesRadar+ – Sam Loveridge – 4.5/5
Gripes aside though, the latest Paper Mario title is a joy to exist in. An excellent story, charming characters, and the ability to team up with your oldest foes makes The Origami King a triumph. Yes, it may not be the new Thousand-Year Door RPG, but it’s something special that should be celebrated.
VGC – Andy Robinson – 3/5
The Origami King contains some of the series’ absolute standout moments – almost all of them related to its enjoyable script and wonderful, varied environments – but it also frustrates with some disappointing new features and all-too-familiar missteps.
Paper Mario: The Origami King releases July 17th on Switch. Will you be picking it up following these reviews?
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