Fold Them!
Latest entry in the Paper Mario-series and first time on Switch. I got every game in series besides Paper Jam, the crossover with the Mario & Luigi-game series. Story is that as the Mushroom kingdom prepares an Origami festival all toads and Bowser's Minions are folded into figures, trapped in walls etc. by King Olly, the titular Origami King. Together with Olivia, Olly's sister Mario sets out on an adventure to unfold all trapped paper characters and find the 5 streamers that puts out a protective "shield" around Princess Peach's castle that was taken to the top of a volcano.
The story is fun and even dramatic at places. I mean, how often do I feel sorry for a bob-bomb that explodes, sacrificing itself just so that he at least made an impact? Kamek is always a joy to listen to about his troubles in fighting Mario on Bowser's orders. It's really well written and the graphics looks fantastic and it is all followed by a fantastic soundtrack. Now, the gameplay... and for the most part it works fine. The gimmick of this game is that you are supposed to solve puzzles in aligning enemies in formations to either take out with the hammer or jump on them. With the main enemies it can be fun and addictive with the puzzle solving. But then we have the bosses. Instead of standing in the middle you stand on the side and creates a path with arrows to gather treasure, activate switches to unleash attack, either standard attacks or summons. And I hate it. The stress of the timed puzzles with the fact I clearly ain't that bright when it comes to seeing patterns here. Mostly because the bastards cheats and upset the game board so i can't figure out how to move. Worst were the Vellumental bosses and guess what? The final boss is using all of them, but you gotta hurry, since he also heals if you ain't quick enough. Thanks, makes me really appreciating the Ice Vellumental since it apparently could be much more frustrating.
So bosses really frustrating. But boss characters where fun. The disco dancing Hole Punch that taken over the Tomb of the Shroom where the DJ plays some funky tunes, the Rubber Band boss that enacts several plays in Shogun Theater and a mobster Tape roll. Really fun. There is a section when you travel the sea and I wonder if they just did a simplified Wind Waker and as you fly one of Bowser's airships you bomb paper airplanes out of the sky as they dive bomb against you. I liked collecting trophies and treasures, finding all the toad and hidden blocks (thanks to the developers giving you all the tools you needed). So, as most Paper Mario games, there are moments that you just have to experience, but sadly the boss fights ain't one of them. Maybe a second playthrough in the future when I don't get blindsided by each boss gimmick. Or maybe just finish off the last 4 trophies to get 100 % and never play the game again. Sill got a large back catalog of games, but the summer vacation is on its last leg so we shall see if if I can get one game in before that (I know it's December when this goes up, but that makes it just more fun).
One thing that bothers me in the story is Olly's motivation. He hates toads because his creator scribbled on him so he wants to eradicate all toads. Now, we ain't discussing that he went the whole game without reading it and took it for nonsense, but the story proves him right. The toads are bastards. Early thing we encounter is that toads cut down the great tree of the woods... and are sentient. Later on we rescue the toad responsible and he intends to cut down the tree again so he can build a veranda. The toads in the Spa area is slave drivers and what do we make of the house of ninjas which is in itself a death trap? Maybe they actually deserve whats coming to them?
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