Mario and Luigi are back with another adventure on the Nintendo 3DS, but this time the plumbers will need more fire power -- or I should say paper power -- to take down Bowser. Paper Mario joins the gang for the first time in a crossover unlike any other in Mario and Luigi Paper Jam.
Paper Jam is an RPG very similar to the previous Paper Mario games and Mario RPG game that allows for players to control the familiar faces of the Mushroom Kingdom and traverse the many lands while defeating enemies in turn-based combat while completing minor tasks to progress the story.
Nintendo is looking to start 2016 on a high note with Paper Jam and they achieve that in many ways. A simple yet enjoyable story with crisp controls and a difficulty level that will definitely surprise you.
Prepare to be challenged.
STORY
What happens when the world of Super Mario and Paper Mario meet for the first time? That’s what players have to look forward to as they follow Mario and Luigi on this brand new adventure.
Luigi stumbles upon a book that is home for Paper Mario and his world. When it’s accidentally opened the Mushroom Kingdom is overrun by Paper Goombas, Paper Troopas and the like so Mario and Luigi are sent to find Paper Mario and put a stop to both Bowser and Paper Bowser.
It’s a simple yet fun way to get these two universes together and establish how they are connected.
The dialogue is fun and light-hearted especially when the characters meet their paper counterparts. The best interactions are between Peach and Paper Peach and Bowser Jr. and Paper Bowser Jr., and by the end you’ll want to see games with them teamed-up (come on, Nintendo, make it happen!)
My only gripe is the way Luigi is treated in-game. Sure, recent games have Luigi as the bumbling younger brother but sheesh does Paper Jam really beat a dead horse. Luigi’s always coming off as incompetent and a cry baby, and where everyone shifts the blame when something doesn’t go according to plan.
Come on guys, Luigi is better than that.
CONTROLS/BATTLE
If you’re familiar with the controls and battle system of Paper Mario and Mario RPG then you’ll feel right at home with Paper Jam. But if you aren’t, don’t worry the game does an amazing job of easing you into the controls and how everything works.
You’re always accompanied by your helper that gives you hints as to what to do and how to get around certain obstacles. In the beginning hours of Paper Jam this may become tedious but once you start to pick up how to battle and traverse the overworld the training wheels are taken off and you’re left (albeit unless new abilities or obstacles are implemented) to your own devices and pace.
Players are sent through a detailed tutorial during your first battles and the Battle Guide is always available to peruse and brush up on secrets and techniques during battle (not to mention practice some of your moves mid-battle). And you’ll want to learn everything you can about the battles because there is a lot going on. In Paper Jam, you’ll either be attacking, using items on your turn or using battle cards and when it’s the enemy’s turn you’ll be doing a lot of dodging techniques.
It seems daunting but once you get into your own battle groove, it becomes second nature.
Each enemy in Paper Jam has their own little ways to attack that will have you focused to try and understand their patterns of attack. Sometimes you’ll have to jump and dodge, others you’ll have to use your hammer to deflect attacks using precise timing.
A problem with the battle system are the little nuances that aren’t told/taught. While Paper Jam does a great job of explaining the basics, nowhere does it explain how paper enemies can be “crumpled” by a hammer attack or how the number of paper mario copies you have gives you more range with your hammer when deflecting attacks.
It’s all learned on the fly with more experience in battle, which is great that Nintendo gives its players some credit to figure some stuff out on their own -- you probably shouldn’t stomp on an enemy with a spiked shell -- but a little insight couldn’t hurt.
GAMEPLAY
The gameplay in Paper Jam is standard fare with your team traveling the overworld using jumps and a dash (when you learn it). You’ll pick up some cool tricks to use in the overworld as your adventure goes on and you’ll have some puzzles to figure out to get through certain areas.
Like any good RPG, Paper Jam allows players to buy/receive items that can boost or give their team special qualities. You can even tailor your individual characters’ roles like making Mario the attacker but the way the already existing stats are your three characters are pretty much stuck to their individual roles on the team. There’s not much room for variety.
And like a good RPG, you go at your own pace where you can explore some of the areas or do some grinding to level up your heroes and you’ll need to when you get to the boss battles.
The boss battles of Paper Jam are some of the more challenging battles in any 3DS game. Each boss has their own attack patterns and little mini-games that will test your hand-eye coordination and patience because the bosses hit really hard and you’ll be going through your inventory of items to survive.
It’s a great challenge, and one that I definitely wasn’t expecting. Each boss has its own unique way to defeat it and you’ll have to learn what they are during battle. The only thing I wish Nintendo added was a health meter on the boss to show your progress because you will easily be sitting there for minutes on end trying to defeat a boss.
And if you find yourself having a hard time and having to retry over and over, Paper Jam gives you the option to retry on Easy Mode.
VERDICT
Mario and Luigi Paper Jam is the first great Nintendo 3DS game of 2016. With a simple premise and controls, RPG fans old and new can appreciate and have fun with it.
The battle systems are fun and challenging, especially the bosses, and you won’t even feel the hours slip away. Coming in at close to 20 hours, you’ll have plenty to do with Paper Jam.
Some minor tweaks in dialogue, poor Luigi, and some battle quirks that could be better explained better don’t detract from this great game.
