Paper Mario 64

Paper Mario 64
North American box art
Developer(s)	Intelligent Systems
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Series	Mario role-playing games
Platform(s)
Release date(s)	JP August 11, 2000 NA February 5, 2001 Virtual Console JP July 10, 2007 NA July 16, 2007
Genre(s)	Console role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single-player
Input methods	Gamecube Controller, Classic Controller
Compatibility	Template:Ratings/Paper Mario 64 Unknown
See also...	Search Dolphin Forums Open Issues Search Google Search Wikipedia

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Paper Mario, known in Japan as Template:Nihongo, is a role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 game console. It was first released in Japan on August 11, 2000, in North America on February 5, 2001, and in Europe and Australia on October 5, 2001. Paper Mario was re-released for Nintendo's Virtual Console in 2007.

Paper Mario is set in the Mushroom Kingdom as the protagonist Mario tries to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. To do so, he must locate seven "Star Spirits" to negate the effects of the captured Star Rod, which grants invincibility to Bowser. The player controls Mario and a number of partners to solve puzzles in the game's overworld and defeat enemies in a turn-based battle system. The battles are unique in that the player can influence the effectiveness of attacks by performing required controller inputs known as "action commands."

Paper Mario is the first installment for the Paper Mario series and is the predecessor to the GameCube game Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and the Wii game Super Paper Mario. The game received a positive reaction from the media, attaining an aggregate score of 88% from Game Rankings and 93% from Metacritic.<ref name="Gamerankings"/><ref name="Metacritic"/> It was rated the 63rd best game made on a Nintendo system in Nintendo PowerTemplate:'s "Top 200 Games" list in 2006.<ref name="NP Top 200"/>

Gameplay

File:Peach'sCastle.jpg

The game's visuals feature two-dimensional character cut-out designs contained within three-dimensional backgrounds.

Paper Mario combines traditional role-playing game (RPG) elements with concepts and features from the Mario series.<ref name="Eurogamer"/><ref name="GameSpot"/> For the majority of the games, the player controls Mario, who can jump and use his hammer to overcome physical obstacles placed in the game's overworld. Many of the game's puzzles and boundaries are based upon the abilities of Mario's partners, who each have a specialised skill required for progression in the game.<ref name="RPGamer"/> The player accumulates partners as they advance into different locations; only one partner can accompany Mario in the overworld, although the player can interchange between them at any time. These characters also assist Mario in the game's turn-based battles, where damage inflicted against them results in temporary paralysis as the characters do not have individual HP statistics.<ref name="RPGFan"/> Attacks in the game are similar to those in traditional RPGs, although the player can influence the power of a move when attacking or defending by timing a button-press accurately or performing some other action command as required.<ref name="IGN"/> Mario and his partners have a finite capacity to perform special moves, with each of these consuming a particular number of flower points (FP) when performed. Such statistics can be increased by earning Star Points (experience points) in combat to level up.<ref name="GameSpot"/> There is also an on-screen gauge to display Star Energy, which is required to perform another type of move that accumulate in number as the player advances through the game. The player can locate hidden battle upgrades in the game's overworld, which promotes one partner character to a new rank at a time.<ref name="RPGFan"/>

Progression through Paper Mario depends upon interaction with the game's non-player characters (NPCs), who will often offer clues or detail the next event in the storyline. As in other RPGs, the player can find or purchase items from NPCs to help in and outside of combat.<ref name="GameSpot"/> Badges can also be obtained that yield bonuses ranging from added moves to gradual health restoration during combat; each consumes a set number of Badge Points (BP), meaning Mario can only equip a limited number of badges at a time.<ref name="IGN"/> Princess Peach is playable at particular points in the game as a recurring side quest.<ref name="GameSpot"/> The objectives and actions of each transition to Peach vary, although most are stealth-based.

Configuration

No configuration changes are known to affect compatibility for this title.