This 15 minute gameplay preview for Paper Mario: Color Splash confirms that Paper Mario is still amazing.
The Paper Mario series' sterling reputation is based largely on its incredible environments, innovative combat, and trademark sense of humor. All of these qualities, and many more, are on display in this new preview for the upcoming Paper Mario: Color Splash.
Check it out:
This trailer centers around the Dark Bloo Inn, which apparently has a bit of a ghost problem (which, given the inn's surroundings, perhaps the owner should have seen coming). Nevertheless, it's up to Mario to charge in and perform a little hammer-assisted exorcism.
Aside from some rather bizarre moments where the screen cuts to a static splash that informs us to look at our screens (these sections will require players to use the game's card system to participate in mini-battles), this 15-minute video does a pretty good job of informing series fans that everything they love about these games is making a glorious comeback in the final version. That's especially true of the game's script, which is loaded with wit, drama, and a few moments of genuine sadness.
As for the gameplay we can see, it confirms that the timing-based main combat of the Paper Mario titles seems to be making a return, and will be complemented by Mario's new painting abilities. Several times throughout the video, Mario must use his paint hammer to color in various splotches throughout the hotel to earn coins and solve puzzles. The instances of this mechanic seem rather simple in this demonstration, though the trademark complexity of the game's other puzzles does suggest that there is far more to this system yet to come.
Ultimately, however, the trailer is all about a breakdancing pig that Mario summons at the end of the video to finish off a boss. We do not currently know why this game is not titled Paper Mario and the Breakdancing Pig, but we expect that Nintendo will clear up this oversight by the time that Paper Mario: Color Splash releases for the Wii U on October 7.
Don't forget to read Den of Geek's SDCC special edition magazine. Get a print copy on the show floor or read the digital version below:
