Anyone else out there besides me who thinks they completely mutilated the Paper Mario franchise? After the 3rd installment of Super Paper Mario (which wasn't that bad of a game, just not what we expected from the PM series), I can't believe they broke the game completely to the point where it's so hard to have fun with it.
Pros
- The humor and art style is still the same and what we've known and love since the first on N64
- The graphics are very good and even the 3D in a papery game works very well (though I've never been one to care for graphics)
- The sound effects and music are all great; the battle theme is among my favorite battle themes of all time. It's really catchy! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-pZuITaGiU if you haven't heard it yet) It also distorts the song if you're low on health, something I've enjoyed throughout my time with video games (though personally, it still sounds too happy)
- Finding HP-UP collectables are fun and an interesting way to increase your HP in an RPG (similar to that of Zelda and finding Heart Pieces/Containers). It also feels good to finally find some sort of optional collectable/power up (as it's the ONLY one of its kind in this game...)
- Some of the stickers do some really cool effects
- I like how some of the stickers are holographic on the touch screen and flash when you turn your 3DS towards/away from you (you can tell I'm really grasping at things to say that are positive about this game)
Cons
- All incentive to battle has been completely eliminated. There are no level ups (incentive) and... v
- All stickers (your only method of attacking) are ONE TIME USE. This further bolsters the point that there's no incentive to battle.
- Both of the above two points combined completely break the game's core mechanics. You really can't have both in one game or it breaks everything. If they kept normal attacks like in the original PM games, then I would find myself battling more. If they kept level ups, I'd obviously battle to level up, but without EITHER, I find myself running from 95% of battles because there's no point. The game is broken, plain and simple.
- No customization outside of stickers. This means no partners, badges/equipment, level ups (and choosing which stat as a result of leveling up), or anything.
- No upgrades to your attacks, boots, or hammer. Your damage automatically goes up every time you beat a World boss, and you're given a new sticker page that holds up to 15 additional 1x1 stickers.
- Some stickers take up ridiculous amounts of space in your sticker album.
- Some puzzles are so cryptic that you'll never figure them out without a walkthrough. (Who ever heard of sucking up a whirlwind of sand with a vacuum?)
- Having to paperize every area to make sure you didn't miss something is annoying when it takes 3 seconds to go in, and 3 seconds to go out every time (it's annoyance factor is on the same level as Castlevania II's Day/Night transition. It's THAT bad)
- Bosses are ridiculously easy if you know what thing sticker to use on them. Otherwise, they're ridiculously difficult!
- Running out of stickers and forcing you to flee from a battle (especially a boss battle) is the most stupid game mechanic I've ever heard of. Also, running from a BOSS fight? I've never heard of something so ridiculous. Know any other game where you can run from a boss? No? Oh, that's right, because there aren't any to do something so stupid.
- You'll find yourself sitting on your flashy or really "high-level" stickers because you're afraid you'll need them in the future.
- Coins have little to no use because every thing sticker can be obtained at its original point where you found it after you use it.
- Timed hits have no tutorial and are very confusing sometimes; Jump stickers are easy while Hammer stickers are hard. Also, Thing stickers are next to impossible to figure out your first time.
- The story is crap. It's just garbage. It also feels rushed once you start the game (hell the start is roughly 30s long) and not really mentioned again outside of Kersti (your annoying sidekick who is also a floating crown sticker) reminding you over and over to get the Royal Stickers)
I mean just look at this long list of cons!
The saddest part was buying the 3DS originally for the sole purpose to play this game and then being so disappointed that you continue to regret ever buying the system. But, that's just borderline off-topic.
Anyone else share my view on this what-could-have-been-amazing-yet-turned-out-AWFUL game?