With nearly every other RPG series out there going for elaborate story cutscenes, twisting narratives, and darker visuals, Paper Mario 2 manages to stand out as something a bit different. Sure, The Thousand-Year Door doesn't stray far from the formula, but it oozes fun, polish, and, strangely enough, originality. But before you shrug off Paper Mario 2 as an uninspired repeat not worthy of your attention, consider for a moment what really makes a great Mario game. The cutesy presentation starring flat sprite characters, the turn-based combat system with action elements, the simple "someone kidnapped the princess" narrative, the humorous text-based conversations, the memorable soundtrack - it's all back for an encore presentation. Since not much was broken in the N64 predecessor, Nintendo went for evolution over revolution with The Thousand-Year Door. There is no radical switch in style and presentation like between Majora's Mask and Wind Waker, or from Super Mario RPG to the original Paper Mario. Like recent Nintendo sequels like Pikmin 2 and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door doesn't break any new grounds in terms of originality.
It's been more than three years since Nintendo radically changed the presentation of its Mario-themed RPG franchise with the release of Paper Mario.