Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Two worlds collide in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, resulting in a vibrant and hilarious adventure full of strategy and comedy. When the iconic plumber duo Mario and Luigi accidentally unleash a legion of paper-crafted characters into their world, they must complete another wacky adventure full of hilarious hijinks. To save Princess Peach and recapture the world of paper, Mario and Luigi will need to improve their strategy and welcome a new companion into the party. This RPG mash-up offers a joyful quest that's great for longtime fans and completely new Mario & Luigi fans!

Main Game Features

• Play as Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario
• Collect cards and fight in turn-based battles
• Complete mini-games and save Princess Peach

Story

Taking place after Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam begins with our heroic brothers enjoying a nice day in the Mushroom Kingdom. While investigating the source of a bothersome breeze in Princess Peach's castle, Luigi accidentally knocks over a magical book, causing the characters within to spill out into the real world. Hailing from the world of Paper Mario, dozens of characters enter the 3D Mushroom Kingdom, including Paper Mario himself, Paper Princess Peach, and more.

As the dust settles, Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario all meet up and try to calm the chaos. However, when Paper Bowser meets regular Bowser, the two decide to join forces and kidnap both of the princesses. Seemingly stuck in an endless cycle of rescuing Princess Peach, the three brothers make their way to Bowser's Castle, fixing problems and rescuing paper-craft pals along the way.

Gameplay

Like the rest of the Mario & Luigi franchise, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is a turn-based RPG with a lot of personality, constantly hitting the player with jokes, surprises, and fun diversions. While playing, you control all three brothers at once, exploring the world as you work toward Bowser's Castle. Paper Mario can reach some areas that Mario and Luigi cannot, by flattening himself and squeezing through tight spaces or floating down dangerous drops. Likewise, Mario and Luigi can learn special movies that Paper Mario cannot, making further progress past obstacles and puzzles.

When it comes time to battle, there are many strategic avenues you can take in combat. Characters can use their basic attack, spend points to pull off special attacks, or use items and cards to enhance their abilities. You can actively improve your damage and bolster your defense by pressing key buttons at the right time, so it's smart to practice your timing at every opportunity. There are also special trio attacks that can be pulled off with the power of all three brothers, which are especially helpful during boss fights. Overall, the battles in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam aren't as complex as say, Final Fantasy VII, but they still provide a fun and rewarding way to defeat enemies.

Conclusion

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is another excellent game in this comedic RPG series, and the crossover between the Paper Mario franchise adds an extra note of fun. Although the story is very similar to other Mario games in the past, it's told in a fun and silly way, leading to an exciting trip through the Mushroom Kingdom.

Pros

• Funny dialogue
• Smart crossover concepts
• Strategic but forgiving battles

Cons

• Lots of mini-games
• Predictable puzzles
• Some repetitive bosses