A remake of my Dark Aspects of Paper Mario: The Origami King analysis! I knew this game was going to push boundaries, but I wasn't expecting a contender for darkest Mario game in existence (that title still goes to Super Paper Mario IMO)! I look at the recent trilogy's horror inspirations--along with the cultist undertones that make up this game's opening. I also discuss the deadliest bosses in the franchise's history (in the context of this papercraft world), how this game's sacrificial characters compare to others of the same series, and the apparent ephemeral nature of mass-produced Bob-ombs. As per series tradition, we'll also look at the non-conventional game-overs this game adds to its lineage!

⍟ Dark Aspects of Paper Mario: Color Splash
https://youtu.be/J0rQGuV4_2o

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Music used (in order):

♫ Today's Contestant
♫ Water Vellumental Shrine - The Origami King
♫ Jungle King Mask
♫ Water Vellumental Shrine
♫ Holli Jolli Village - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
♫ Straw of Doom - Color Splash
♫ Temple of Shrooms - The Origami King
♫ The Princess Peach (Nobody's Home)
♫ Offering Box
♫ The Elastic Entertainer Enters
♫ Birdo
♫ The Dual-Bladed Duelist
♫ Paper Mistake Buzzy Beetle
♫ Origami Workshop
♫ The Underwhere - Super Paper Mario
♫ Cheer Up, Olivia! - TOK
♫ Sweetpaper Valley
♫ Exploring the Great Sea
♫ Bob-omb's Memories
♫ Memory 1
♫ Sad Olivia
♫ Bob-omb's Encouragement
♫ King Olly, Lord of Origami
♫ Nervous Olivia
♫ The Fold of Life
♫ Tell'em How it Works
♫ Snif City
♫ Excess Express at Dusk
♫ Snif City Royal Hotel Pool

Sources & further reading

Additional video clips:

⍟ French version Color Splash footage is by YouTube channel Les Omégax.
Watch this episode of his let's play series here: youtu.be/e7qgrQpHKBc
⍟ Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time and The Thousand Year Door footage is by YouTube channel SullyPwnz. Watch the first episodes of his let's play series on the games here: youtu.be/HteCRkgV_Uc (PiT) and youtu.be/Z2AtyMZD-2Y (TTYD)
⍟ Clip of Color Splash's 100% ending is by YouTube channel Skawo.

Images:

⍟ Thumbnail sprites/art ripped by fawfulthegreat64 and PenkyYT
https://www.spriters-resource.com/nintendo_switch/papermariotheorigamiking/
⍟ Paper Macho Shy Guy promotional photo uploaded by Blhte (from Nintendo Co., Ltd.'s Instagram)
https://mario.wiki.gallery/images/e/e4/NI_PMTOK_Paper_Macho_Shy_Guy_Andon_Photo_1.jpg
⍟ Mario holding cards (Color Splash) sprite ripped by Random Talking Bush
https://www.spriters-resource.com/wii_u/papermariocolorsplash/sheet/84182/

Articles referenced:

⍟ GameXplain interview with Risa Tabata: youtu.be/dlcNubU6bYA
⍟ Mario Wiki article for Shunned Guy: mariowiki.com/Shunned_Guy
⍟ Sticker Star Iwata Asks interview: iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/papermario
⍟ TOK interview: videogameschronicle.com/features/interviews/paper-mario-origami-king

Sound effects:

⍟ Koopa Kid Voice Clips uploaded by Cristeve
https://youtu.be/eRyx0aZa2ck?si=U4Bi5K31maGfc4jv

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0:00 - Introduction
0:32 - Horror homages
2:55 - Monetary fraud
3:40 - Body horror
9:47 - Separating art from the artist
10:39 - Character deaths
22:58 - Game Overs
24:14 - Extras
24:59 - Closing out
25:43 - Patrons
26:00 - End card

#PaperMario #TheOrigamiKing #Nintendo

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