Paper Mario: TTYD is Poised to Stay Relevant For Another 20 Years

Paper Mario: TTYD is Poised to Stay Relevant For Another 20 Years

As a gamer with over three decades of gaming experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is not just a game, it’s a nostalgic time capsule. I remember playing it back on the GameCube, feeling the weight of that iconic red controller in my hands as I embarked on an adventure that would leave an indelible mark on my gaming journey.


As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,” which originally graced the Nintendo GameCube in 2004. Today, October 11, marks this special occasion in North America. This beloved game has found a new lease on life as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch last year, catching many of us long-term fans off guard with its incredibly faithful remake. It’s a dream come true for retro gamers like myself!

It’s incredible that this memorable turn-based Mario RPG gets to celebrate its second decade since release as a Switch title because it spent its tenth and fifteenth anniversaries lost to the GameCube era, only playable though the original GameCube and Wii through backwards compatibility. That’s only if players managed to somehow either keep their original copy working or purchase it at the high retro gaming scalping prices TTYD was known for, but now, all kinds of players can easily get Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door to experience its greatness, with it feeling familiar yet completely new at the same time.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Absolutely Deserves its Renewal

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Has Remained in Players’ Hearts For 20 Years

It’s not surprising that fans of Nintendo have been asking for a port of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for decades, given its exceptional qualities. As a sequel, it builds upon key ideas from Paper Mario 64 and offers an expansive world to explore, new companions, a complex narrative, and numerous other elements that significantly enhance the gaming experience. The game’s unique blend of whimsy and lightheartedness, while still delivering a proper adventure, explains why players might long to revisit it over the years.

Fans have long hoped that the Paper Mario series would revert back to its original style, or that the first two games, Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, could either be remade or ported for easier playability. This desire stems from Nintendo’s missed opportunities in porting over the last 20 years and the significant changes in the treatment of the series with each subsequent game.

The Switch Version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Improves Everything Players Could Ask For

Initially, when the Switch remake of “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” emerged, fans had almost lost faith that a potential rerelease wouldn’t authentically be “TTYD”. Today, with the Switch version available on shelves, boasting updated high-definition graphics, dynamic lighting, and several user-friendly enhancements, many players find it hard to believe that such a detailed remake would materialize in an unexpected situation. Notably, the representation of Vivian’s transgender character was corrected in the Switch release, something fans had long hoped for and were delighted to see addressed after so much time had passed.

Personally, as a die-hard fan of “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,” I must admit that its remake isn’t without its imperfections. For instance, some Action Commands have been tweaked with new timings, and adjustments to item prices necessitate a learning curve for those who are well-versed in the GameCube original.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Won’t Be Forgotten For a While Yet

Due to the release of the Switch version, the original 20-year-old edition of “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” can now justify its high price as a collector’s item. Meanwhile, new fans looking to experience it can and arguably should opt for the upgraded version from their preferred store. Although the original holds a special place in players’ hearts, the remake significantly enhances every aspect of its whimsy, wonder, and more. With rumors of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console having backward compatibility, it’s likely that the Switch version will stay accessible for a long time, keeping fans entertained for years to come. After being overlooked for so long, this newfound relevance is truly the best anniversary gift dedicated “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” enthusiasts could hope for.

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2024-10-11 20:23