One of my earliest experiences with the role-playing game genre was Paper Mario on the Nintendo 64 and it has left a lasting impact.

An aspect that made me fall in love with it, and subsequent games in the genre, was the party system. I loved the fact that you could add eight new friends to your combat, each with unique abilities.

Paper Mario hits you with multiple new characters early in the game as you have four by the early stages of the quest for the second star spirit. These first four become the ones you are most familiar though the last four are just as helpful.

So which is the best?

I was always a big fan of Parakarry, the dedicated mailman Koopa Paratroopa. You come across Parakarry on Mt. Rugged and you help him track down missing mail he dropped on the mountain. Once you find them, he’ll join your party.

I was always a fan of Parakarry because he is your first airborne companion in the game. This makes attacking airborne enemies easier, especially in the Dry Dry Ruins where pesky bats loved hanging out on the roof. He also made attacking spiked enemies a lot easier.

As far as his abilities, I loved his Shell Shot attack that required some skill to successfully land the attack. Landing the attack successfully is so satisfying because it’s all about timing and I’m a sucker for timing mechanics.

Outside of battle, he can carry you over small gaps. As useful as this skill is, my favorite was the side quest that he accompanies you on throughout the game.

Parakarry claims to have dropped letters all over the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario can find these letters during his journey but when he delivers them to the right person, Parakarry needs to be out.

I’m always a fan of world-building and expansion on lore. These letters side quest was what I needed as it helped you learn more about the characters throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. All that’s possible thanks to Parakarry.

I fully recognize this is a subjective conversation. Paper Mario does a great job at making each companion feel worthwhile and useful. Besides Parakarry, I also liked Kooper, Watt, and Bow.

All that said, Parakarry always felt comfortable and fun to use. He was a character that resonated with me and I always look forward to utilizing him whenever I play Paper Mario.

But what about you? Which Paper Mario companion is your favorite? Why do you enjoy utilizing this character? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Nintendo (via The Gamer)

Nintendo Pow Block: The Nintendo Podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network

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