13 Important Observations From the New Paper Mario Trailer

Peach Is Super-Evil

So we see from the trailer that Princess Peach does not look like her normal paper self. Instead, she’s been folded into Origami and seems to be mind-controlled by the dangerous King Olly or whatever. She even asks Mario if he can “crease himself” to become reborn like her –what a freak.

Rescue Mission

In that scene above, when Peach is talking to Mario, Mario ends up falling in a trap hole which more than likely leads to a dungeon where prisoners are kept (listen, the Mushroom Kingdom has its secrets).

We see here that Bowser has been folded up and clipped like a shirt waiting to dry after a good wash. Once Mario gets out of his cell, he’ll probably be rescuing Bowser and teaming up with him (despite their toxic relationship), as we see in later sections of the trailer.

Mario is such a good man.

It Was an Inside Job

Turns out that King Olly was actually impersonating a lowly Shy Guy grunt at the castle. How did the other residents not notice this going on right underneath their noses!?

Giant Goombas?

This scene right here was very odd to me as it shows a gigantic Goomba… chewing on a building? Not sure if Goombas just like to eat cardboard and other building materials in this Paper Mario world, but hey, that’s cool, we don’t judge.

Bob-Omb Companion?

In a previous Paper Mario title, specifically The Thousand-Year Door, there was a Bob-omb companion that could help Mario uncover secrets by blowing up cracks in the wall.

We see later in the trailer that it appears near Mario on several occasions in cutscenes, but who knows what kind of abilities it’ll bring into the mix.

Hot Springs Party

Remember how we mentioned that Bowser will be teaming up with Mario to stop King Olly, well, it actually looks like you’ll be partnering up with even more of the Mushroom Kingdom baddies, like Bowser Jr. and Kamek.

Not sure why they’re just chilling in some water but heroes need relaxation time too.

Toad Ancestors

These ancient tombs that Mario and Toad are exploring are definitely inspired by the Egyptian culture, but you can clearly see a drawing of Toad’s people (?) on the wall over there, which makes them look very tall, or more human-looking.

It freaks me out a little bit and I don’t like looking at it for too long but it was worth sharing, for sure.

Huge, Open Areas

Remember the huge open area that was part of the Desert Kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey? This scene from the Paper Mario trailer totally gave me those vibes and you can also traverse the land quickly by using a little vehicle it seems.

The Audience Is Back

The battle system in Paper Mario: The Origami King seems to be taking the best parts of old Paper Mario and the new and combining it with this tactical, lining up mechanic. Also, as you can see in the background on the sidelines, the audience members are back!

Not sure if these NPC’s will involve themselves in the combat as they did in The Thousand-Year Door but you can see them cheering on Mario with words of encouragement, which is always nice to see.

Boat Traversal and… Diving?

Another quick examination of the Paper Mario trailer and you can spot a boat traversal sequence which might be a way that Mario moves around various locations on the world map.

If you see on the bottom, there’s even a sea chart, a boost mode, and you dive underwater. Is this going to be the Breath of the Wild of Paper Mario games? Woah.

Lots of Nintendo References

The last bit in the trailer gives us a Metroid reference as Mario runs around a room sporting Samus‘ iconic helmet. You can also spot a Donkey Kong construction project in the corner, as well as a Goomba.

Luigi Looks Cool

So. Luigi has a race car. Does he think that he’s racing in a Mario Kart tournament right now? Anyways, Luigi looks very cool in this shot, and let’s hope he plays a big role in this origami-centered narrative because we love the green dude.

Shy Guy Ballerina’s

I thought the Honeybee Inn scene from Final Fantasy VII Remake would be my favorite thing in gaming this year but this Shy Guy ballerina dance party thing might take the cake. It’s not often that we get to see Mario performing on a stage, so let’s hope that he shows off his moves.