Nintendo have announced Paper Mario: The Origami King for Nintendo Switch.
As stated in the press release (via Business Wire), King Olly of the Origami Kingdom is attempting to take over the world, seemingly by folding everone into brain-washed origami followers!
After wrapping up Peach’s Castle, taking it to a distant castle, and converting Bowser’s minions to his side, Mario is on the case to stop him with his new powers. This time Mario has “1000-Fold Arms”, letting him stretch his arms to incredible lengths to solve puzzles and peel back the environment.
King Olly’s sister Olivia will also aid Mario, and even a folded up Bowser! The game’s battle system takes place on rings, where players must rotate the rings to line up foes for maximum damage that combines puzzles solving with battles. This also comes alongside “off-the-wall mini-game events and countless mysteries waiting to be solved.”
We had previously reported on rumors that a new Paper Mario game was in the works. However, those rumors claimed the game “represents a return to that franchise’s roots. This means something closer to the Nintendo 64 and Gamecube games.”
While it is true this game appears to resemble a turn-based RPG (unlike Super Paper Mario), we wonder how this new ring based combat system will play out. Paper Mario: Stick Star and Paper Mario: Color Splash were also turn-based, but their systems did not win over fans as much as the first two games.
The rumors also claimed we would be seeing remasters of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy as a collection, and Nintendo’s unannounced June Nintendo Direct had been cancelled. The announcement of Paper Mario: The Origami King at this time may add weight to those claims.
“Paper Mario: The Origami King delivers a grand new adventure on Nintendo Switch for players to wrap themselves up in,” said Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Nick Chavez. “This game marks the debut of the Paper Mario series on Nintendo Switch, expanding the vast library of games with another standout entry in a beloved franchise.”
You can find the announcement trailer and screenshots (via Business Wire and the official website) below.
You can find the full rundown (via the official website) below.
A NEW PAPER-CRAFTED MARIO ADVENTURE UNFOLDS ON NINTENDO SWITCH
The kingdom has been ravaged by an origami menace! Join Mario and his new partner, Olivia, as they team up with unlikely allies like Bowser and the Toads to battle evil Folded Soldiers.
Try to free Princess Peach’s castle from the clutches of King Olly in this comedy-filled adventure, only on the Nintendo Switch system.
NEW ABILITIES… AND NEW BATTLES!
Use the 1,000-Fold Arms ability to extend your arms to interact with the environment and solve puzzles. In battle, line up scattered enemies and plan your attack to maximize damage with the new, ring-based battle system that requires both puzzle-solving skills and a quick wit.
Paper Mario: The Origami King launches July 17th on Nintendo Switch.
