Review Standards for Videogames: Out of 100 points
I typically play the entire Paper Mario series before any new game comes out. Since I’ll be getting Color Splash tomorrow, I have re-beaten the first game and am currently going through TTYD as we speak.
Originality: The original Paper Mario is an amazing blend of very unique rpg elements with a richly explored world that we’ve all been wanting to go deeper into. How many years prior to this game did people imagine what this world would look like if it was all connected and not just done so on a map with circles? My goodness did the realization of that dream turn into a beautiful thing in this hilarious, fun, beautiful game with a great story line, back story, and an amazing soundtrack (probably my favorite of the series). This game was incredibly original in how it combined so many concepts into one game.
18/20
Graphics: It definitely doesn’t hold up too well today (I played it on my massively blown up 1080p projector and let’s just say you could see a lot lol), but still, at the time and on the right tv size for that time, this game looked great. In my mind, it looks better than Super Mario 64.
7/10
Art Style: The best part about this series is its art style. This whole Papery concept has gotten all the more spectacular with more recent entries (especially with the combination with more real life-like things), and it all started out with this glorious game. My favorite art style for the N64, with Banjo Tooie second.
15/15
Story: What a fantastic story! It is so much deeper than the traditional “let’s save Peach from Bowser again” storylines. I love the side stories, the mini bosses with their own perspectives, all the side characters, the different regions, and the inclusion of so many new species and new characters. This game totally rocked my socks off with what I’d expect out of a game with the word Mario in it in terms of story. It’s a shame that Sticker Star’s story was so bad compared to its predecessor.
25/30
Game Interface: All good!
5/5
Controls easy and fluid or difficult and rigid? On the N64? Maybe slightly, but not on the Wii U gamepad from the eshop J
5/5
Is it fun? More than almost any game ever (I’m looking at you, TTYD). This game doesn’t get stale because it isn’t long enough to do so and keeps changing gameplay mechanics on you in various battles.
15/15
Total –
90 / 100 +10 charm = 100/100
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition – 100 + 5 = 105
Shovel Knight – 95 + 10 = 105
Paper Mario – 90 +10 = 100
Shadow of Mordor = 95 + 5 = 100
Zelda Skyward Sword-98
Hyrule Warriors – 93 + 5 = 98
Overwatch – 90 + 5 = 95
Batman: Arkham Asylum - 93
Zelda Minish Cap – 92
Portal 2 – 87 + 5 = 92
Portal – 87 + 5 = 92
Assassin’s Creed 4 Wii U – 86 +5 = 91
Zelda Windwaker HD – 86 + 5 = 91
Bayonetta 2 = 91 NR
Bayonetta (Wii U) – 91 NR
Zelda Oracle of Ages – 91
Metroid Fusion – 91
Mario and Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story – 86 + 5 = 91
Zelda Twilight Princess – 90
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon - 90
Guildwars 2 – 89
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team – 89
Animal Crossing New Leaf – 84 + 5 = 89
Pokemon X – 88
Zelda: A Link to the Past – 78 + 10 = 88
Kid Icarus Uprising – 88
Darksiders 2 - 88
Fire Emblem Awakening – 88
Super Mario Maker = 84*
Dishonored - 84
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark - 84
Paper Mario Sticker Star – 83
Rome 2: Total War - 83
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds-83
Mario and Luigi Paper Jam - 82
Super Mario 3d land – 72 + 10 = 82
Diablo 3 – 72 + 10 = 82
Batman Arkham Knight - 81
Batman: Arkham Origins – 81
Mario and Luigi: Super Star Saga – 80
Trine – 80
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze* - 68 + 10 = 78
Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D – 74
Black Ops 2 - 74
Rome: Total War-74
Yoshie’s Wolly World – 73*
Just Cause - 71
Paper Monster Uncut (Wii U) - 70
Red Alert 3 - 70
New Super Mario Bros. U – 66
New Super Mario Bros.Wii – 57 *
Assassins Creed 3 – 57 NR
Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition – 53*
Puzzles and Dragons Z: Mario Edition - 46
Kirby Squeak Squad – 43
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3d – 42
Project X Zone - 18
* Means it was more fun than the score indicates. Scores judge the overall quality of the game (how fun it is only counts for 15% in my reviews)
NR means Not Recommended based on inappropriateness.
^Charm is rewarded to games that have an undefinable quality to them that makes them amazing and have high replayability value.
