The rumor mill is buzzing, and this time it's about a possible remake of the popular 2004 GameCube title, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. A user named PikminSnezkov on Famiboards claims to have been in contact with three sources via LinkedIn, allegedly employees of Intelligent Systems. These sources have hinted at the remaster and two of them have provided release dates, which have not yet been confirmed. After the success of Paper Mario: The Origami King, it is very likely that the Paper Mario team is working on this remaster.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the second installment in the Paper Mario series and shares several RPG elements with the original game. The game includes turn-based battles, puzzles, platform challenges, and a group of friendly characters known as partners. The story follows Mario's quest for the seven Crystal Stars and the rescue of Princess Peach from the evil X-Nauts.
The Battle System and New Features
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door introduced numerous improvements to the battle system, including more in-depth partners with their own health pools and the ability to block all damage through superguarding. Battles now take place in front of an audience, whose reactions can either help or harm the player. Additionally, Mario can fold into different paper forms to explore the world and solve puzzles. Between chapters, there are intermissions where players control Peach and Bowser, whose stories are intertwined with the main storyline.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Compared to the Series
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the only game in the series to use the same battle system as the original Paper Mario, as later titles shifted their focus to other gameplay mechanics. Fans of the franchise particularly appreciate this title for its classic RPG elements and nostalgic gameplay experience.
The Chances of a Remaster
With rumors still unconfirmed, the question remains of how likely it is that we will actually get a remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Given the game's popularity and the success of The Origami King, Nintendo could certainly have an interest in a remaster. It wouldn't be the first time a popular game from the past was remade - think of the remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening or Metroid: Samus Returns.
Possible New Features and Improvements
A remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door would likely bring some improvements and new features. These could include updated graphics, adapted controls for modern consoles, and possibly even new content or additional game modes.
Conclusion: Wait and See
Until there is an official confirmation or announcement from Nintendo, we should take the rumors of a possible remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door with caution. But as fans of the game, we can hope and dream. After all, it would be a great opportunity to bring this classic to new life and make it accessible to a new generation of players.
