2000 | Nintendo 64 | Spiritual Successor to Mario RPG
Paper Mario (2000) was spiritual successor to Mario RPG. Square moved to PlayStation - Intelligent Systems filled void. Paper aesthetic - 2D characters in 3D world. Badge system for customization. Star Spirits. Koopa Koot quests. Turn-based combat with timing mechanics.
At 19 years old, I appreciated the charm. Not trying to be Mario RPG 2. Different aesthetic, different partners, different vibe. Spawned entire Paper Mario series. Thousand Year Door considered masterpiece. This started it all.
Yoshi changed everything. Eat enemies, spit fireballs, flutter jump. Cape Feather gave flight. Spin jump broke blocks. P-Switch transformed coins into blocks. Every level had secrets worth finding.
96 exits total - many levels had secret exits leading to new paths. Star Road shortcuts. Special World with remixed levels. Chocolate Island, Vanilla Dome, Forest of Illusion. Perfect controls. Zero frustration. Pure joy.
Defined 2D platforming for 16-bit era. Game Boy Advance port in 2001. Virtual Console releases on Wii, Wii U, Nintendo Switch. Every 2D Mario since measured against this standard.
"At 19, Paper Mario taught me about succession planning. Square left Nintendo for PlayStation. Could've been disaster for Mario RPG fans. Intelligent Systems stepped in. Different but excellent. That's what good organizations do - gaps become opportunities. In IT management, same principle applies."