Summary

• Nintendo should bring back the RPG mechanics from Paper Mario: TTYD for a true sequel.
• Adding new mechanics like combination attacks can enhance battles and increase difficulty.
• Embracing unique locations and characters will provide charm and delight in future Paper Mario games.

A true sequel to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been desired for almost two decades now. The game recently got a Switch remake that further highlighted its greatness while also stoking hopes that a true sequel will be made. If Nintendo is wise, it will look at two key elements of the RPG for inspiration on what to do next.

Controversially, Nintendo didn't make a true sequel to the GameCube title after its success. Instead, it started a chain of events that featured shifts in genre, tone, and uniqueness. For example, in Super Paper Mario, the genre was turned from an RPG to a classic 2D-style platformer, where players could shift the camera to give it a more 3D viewpoint. Then, in Sticker Star, Nintendo returned to the turn-based combat system but forced players to use stickers that they collected as attacks. Subsequent games followed this pattern of changing the gameplay, and each received a more tepid response than TTYD and the original Paper Mario.

Why Things Changed In The Paper Mario Franchise

Being Similar Isn't A Bad Thing

Paper Mario seemingly deviated from the original two games' RPG stylings in line with Nintendo's tendency to iterate on gameplay mechanics with each successive series entry, instead of letting sequels remain entirely similar to their predecessor. This flies in the face of numerous franchises Nintendo built over the years that have used similar gameplay styles and merely built them with new mechanics. That includes the Super Mario franchise, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Pikmin, and more. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door can serve as the ultimate baseplate for the series going forward, starting with its turn-based combat.

The RPG mechanics of the game are not just solid, they're incredibly fun. First, Mario isn't alone, as he has a set of companions with numerous talents that aid him in various ways during battle. Some can help him dodge attacks or give information on enemies, and many can attack numerous foes at once. The companions players use the most depends on their strategy, but the fact that the strategy is there is part of the fun and deserves to be expanded upon. Companions were taken away in all subsequent entries, and that left the game hollow in many respects.

How To Improve Paper Mario's RPG Combat System

New Mechanics Can Lead To New Strategies & Difficulty

Aside from bringing back companions, one of the biggest ways to improve the RPG battles of Paper Mario: TTYD is to add new mechanics for Mario and his companions to use. For example, in the series' first two games, Mario and his partner characters can only attack separately. They each have one move per turn. However, an easy way to shake things up is to give them combination attacks, ones that are unique to Mario and the companion at his side.

They could use a special attack that does more damage but is also harder to hit properly via quick-time events and takes up both of their turns in the process. By adding this simple new mechanic, the flow of battle changes, especially during a boss fight. Plus, the dev team will likely have fun coming up with combos for the duos. Pitching an idea for this with the Paper Mario: TTYD characters, there could've been an attack with Vivian where she summons giant fireballs, and Mario whacks them into enemies with his hammer.

This kind of attack could also work with boss characters should they have followers, increasing the difficulty of each boss battle. To that end, another way to make the RPG combat even more engaging would be to increase the game's difficulty, even if only slightly, a contrast to the changes made to TTYD's Pit of 100 Trials, where a significant amount of challenge was removed in the remake. With that increased challenge, people would be forced to be even more careful with how they power up Mario and his companions throughout their journey. A journey that absolutely needs to be replicated in a new way, with a true sequel.

The Beautiful & Varied World of Paper Mario: TTYD

Unique Locations & Characters Provide Charm & Flavor

What helped set Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door apart from the original N64 title was that Mario and his friends went to all new areas and lands to get the Crystal Stars. That included incredibly unique areas like the Glitz Pit, Twilight Town, and the Great Boggly Tree. Through areas like these, players not only got a greater view into Mario's world, but also saw brand-new species of characters like the Twilighters or the Punies. Subsequent games removed those fresh places and resorted to sticking to familiar characters like Toads, instead of making fresh faces with fun designs.

That is the wrong way to approach it, though, as these new places provide exciting venues for clever storylines and unique encounters, such as getting a customizable Yoshi via the Glitz Pit or getting shipwrecked on Keyhaul Key. Even in the N64 game, a fresh-faced villain named Jr. Troopa provided both fun and challenge as he continued to haunt Mario throughout the title. The next game, whatever it is called, needs to both embrace new locations and fill them with characters that'll delight those who play it and make them wonder who else they'll meet next.

In truth, it is up to Nintendo to decide whether it wants to replicate the stylings and structure of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The sales of the Switch remake will likely push the company in one direction or another. What should be clear, though, is that it doesn't have to reinvent the wheel; Nintendo can simply see how the classic RPG plays, looks, and how people react to it all and then build it up. Should it do this, the company could easily have another hit RPG that people buy in droves.