Product Description: Paper Mario is jumping off the page and into the quirky adventures of Mario and Luigi! Become a superstar team of Mario Bros. to take on quests, take down enemies, and untangle these two classic universes in this playful new entry in the Mario and Luigi RPG series.

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Mario & Luigi Paper Jam
When Worlds Collide
by Kyle Hilliard

Concept:
Combine the similar Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario franchises into one cohesive experience

Graphics:
Every animation, no matter how small, is full of charm. The juxtaposition of Mario & Luigi's and Paper Mario's aesthetics go together well

Sound:
Mario themes and sound effects play on your nostalgic sensibilities. The unfamiliar music does little to stand out

Playability:
Controlling three characters rarely feels overwhelming. Getting the hang of the timed button-press combat, special moves, and light platforming is easy

Entertainment:
Mario & Luigi continues to have the best sense of humor of Nintendo's assorted franchises, and a quicker pace in the tutorial and storytelling departments make this one of the best entries yet

Replay:
Moderately low

The Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario franchises have existed side by side for more than a decade, separate branches of Super Mario RPG's family tree. Despite their similarities in humor and the way combat plays out with timed button-presses in a turn-based setting, Paper Jam marks the first time the two franchises have merged. The combination works so well that I can't believe it took so long for the worlds to overlap.

The premise for how these two Mario worlds meet is unsurprisingly silly and can all be blamed on Luigi. The moment-to-moment plot isn't particularly compelling, but the paper-thin conceit is welcome as an excuse to have two different Marios, two different Peaches, and more familiar faces interact with each other. Bowser stands out as being particularly funny as he struggles to get along with himself; both Bowsers have to discipline their Bowser Juniors and they try to double-cross each other with literally the same secretive plans. The dialogue is consistently funny no matter what characters are on screen.

Combat has always felt similar between the two franchises, so combining them instantly feels comfortable. Battle plays it safe without going too crazy with bizarre timing or impossible dodging. This accessibility is welcome, since you are managing three characters on the battlefield with the addition of Paper Mario. The Mario & Luigi series (the lead source of combat mechanics in this mash-up) blurs the turn-based/real-time combat line, with each fighter controlled by a separate button for both selecting attacks from menus, and dodging and countering attacks in real time. With three characters, fights can get confusing, but it never feels unfair.

A new system adds an additional layer to the core Mario & Luigi combat as you have a deck of cards on the lower screen that can be redeemed without sacrificing a turn for assorted bonuses. I didn't get excited about collecting new cards since their bonuses are small, but I eagerly took advantage of them during fights. Having a collectible with true gameplay value, even if I rarely went out of my way to find them, is nice.

See more of the review at Game Informer Opens a New Window.


The Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam game is the newest entry in the wild and popular Mario and Luigi RPG series. The denizens of Paper Mario are spilling out of the pages of a mysterious book and making mischief in the Mushroom Kingdom. You'll call on the talents of Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario to solve puzzles, track Toads, chase Nabbit, race Yoshi, and more in a variety of quests to separate and save the two worlds. Looking for a change of pace?...er, tempo? Challenge giant bosses using a combo of rhythm-based micro-games and an equally giant papercraft robot.

Wham, Bam, Paper Jam!
Our trio of heroes must go on quests, solve puzzles, and battle a multitude of meanies to restore order to the Mushroom Kingdom. Will their combined might be enough to overcome a pair of evil Bowser armies?

Out and About
In Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam game, you'll be exploring grassy plains, dry deserts, deep jungles, icy mountains, and more. In order to get through these treacherous terrains, you'll need to rely on teamwork. Use Trio Moves to overcome obstacles and discover hidden treasures! As you adventure through the Mushroom Kingdom, your team will gain experience, letting you learn even more cool moves. The more enemies you battle, the faster you'll level up!

Paper Cuts
Winning battles in Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam often comes down to one thing: timing. When you attack an enemy, you must time your hits just right to maximize your power, otherwise your attack might land with a thud!

Bros. vs. Foes
When your opponents are too tough for regular tactics, you can team up for more powerful Bros. Attacks to unleash more power. You can team up outside of battle too, using Bros. Moves to overcome obstacles.

Triple Trouble
With the addition of Paper Mario, you can perform Trio Attacks with all 3 heroes for an extra-powerful attack. You can also combine forces when traveling with Trio Moves, using the power of paper to get you where you need to go.

The Power of Papercraft
Uh-oh. Bowser's baddies have come up with a towering weapon to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom. Luckily, Toadette has crafted a king-sized creation of her own to help the heroes fight back! In order to power up your Papercraft, you'll need to unleash some deadly dance moves. Move to the beat in a rhythm microgame to charge up, then charge into battle!