It’s not easy to pull off comedy in writing, but the writers of the first two Paper Mario games somehow caught lightning in a bottle twice.
For many, including myself, the comedic and witty writing in both Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is what makes these games so memorable. Without it, I’m not sure these games are so endearing.
What makes it so memorable is the stark contrast it is from other Mario games. I’ve always seen mainline games as a “gee, golly” type humor that seems to resonate well with the younger audience.
There’s nothing wrong with this approach but comparing it to the Paper Mario games helps the latter to stand out more.
Now, I’m not saying Paper Mario games are the only funny games out there. Plenty of games have some fantastically comedic moments or tones that make them endearing in their own right.
To me, Paper Mario games are a step above the rest because they do so much with so little.
Unlock many other games, both Paper Mario games rely almost entirely on written text to communicate. Outside of a few grunts, the characters do not have voice actors.
This makes the games have to take an extra step to communicate their jokes to the audience.
Sure, facial expressions and body language do help in this case, but it is the written dialogue that make it stand out. Again, conveying humor through writing is not an easy task.
Furthermore, the tone is sarcastic and dry, which adds to the uniqueness of it all.
This pairs well with the theater play format of each game and the idea that Mario is a big celebrity in the Mushroom Kingdom. This sort of meta humor is something that resonates with many fans.
I think what impresses me the most is how well the humor has held up over the years. Paper Mario released in 2000 while Paper Mario: TTYD debuted in 2004 and both have made comebacks thanks to either Nintendo Switch Online or a remake.
Games are often created for the time when they came out and references or comedy doesn’t always carry over. Still, both of these games feel right at home with the comedy of today (with the exception of a few dated references).
Paper Mario is such a unique franchise that has changed drastically over the years. Its RPG origins are, however, what many of a certain age will associate with the franchise.
It’s great to see both titles return to the public square and enjoy time with an entirely new audience. I don’t see many complaints about the games so they seem to have the same effect that they did over two decades ago.
A big part of that is the comedy and how well it was done. To me, it just shows how much care was put into these games originally and how that effort resonates today.
It all started with a uniquely comedic endeavor in a way that is not easy to do.
What do you think about Paper Mario‘s comedy? How does it hold up to other games? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Nintendo (via Wired)
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