Topic: Is it time to end the Paper Mario series and bring back Mario RPG?

When I first saw Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on Wii U, I could only think of one game: Super Mario RPG for SNES. It's basically the same art style but only in full 3D. Super Mario 3D World is similar, but Captain Toad feels even more like the real deal because it has less open space and has more content fit on smaller space. It's reminiscent of the tight and crowded levels of SMRPG.

Playing Treasure Tracker, I almost feel like walking through Square's interpretation of Mushroom Kingdom again. All the assets needed to recreate the original experience are there. Including the mine carts. Is this really a coincidence?

I hope that the smaller-scaled Captain Toad, which was more of a side project for Nintendo, is only the preparation for something bigger to come. Of course, I doubt we would see a remake of the original SNES game, even though Nintendo and Square-Enix seem to get along better now. I am expecting more of a transition from Paper Mario back to the old-school experience but with Nintendo characters only.

Some issues I see Nintendo having:

• The title. They can't use "Super Mario RPG".
• The music. SMRPG's tunes are still very catchy but I don't think Nintendo has the rights for them. It would feel weird to revisit Booster Tower and not have the original music. Even more so for the battle music.
• None of Square's original characters like Geno or Mallow.

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if the Switch would not see a Paper Mario this generation but instead turn back to full 3D. Am I daydreaming too hard here?

Sorry, but I REALLY don't see the resemblance between the 2 games. Captain Toad is blocky and was designed as a puzzle game. Super Mario RPG looks nothing like it whatsoever.
Character models also look more like the generic Mario art style from the main games. SMRPG had a unique art style.

I think OP's main comparison point is how the isometric maps in SMRPG were similar to the self-contained blocky levels in Captain Toad.

As in... Tile based and seemingly floating in the void.

the whole paper/cardboard thing is well....a thing in Japan. Look at LABO, yoshi and kirby games with the style too. Very child focused. I think the art style doesn't matter so much as making a good game is the real issue. But yes, doing a refresh and going back to a more average looking 3D game for a mario RPG style game would help them create a new image after paper mario fell off a cliff for its core fans.

I have never played a paper mario game, and I wouldn't because of its bad press. If they refreshed it with a new look, new gameplay and new name, it could entice a populace like myself and get more sales if they do it right.

I mean the Toad games are just normal mario characters, I wouldn't call it really stylized in anyway outside the nintendo standard look.

Ah, like Q*Bert. In that case..... Apples and Bananas are both fruits.

The movement speed of the characters, the design of the characters (exactly @ReaderRagfish, I'm sorry you can't see it because there's over 20 years in technical advancement in between), the use of camera angles, the size of the "maps", the way they have clear levels of height (in contrast to a more organic elevation), the color palette, the music in its core tunes (well, it's more that SMRPG is clearly distinct from other RPG titles), ...

Well, I guess nobody wants to agree. For me, Captain Toad looks like how I saw (and remember) SMRPG. Of course back then we had a lot more room for interpretation and imagination.

Nintendo doesn't even consider Paper Mario an RPG series anymore and said that there's only room for one Mario RPG series and that is to be Mario & Luigi, so there isn't even any point in attacking Paper Mario here.

With that said, I was never a huge fan of SMRPG and would much rather them bring back Paper Mario as an RPG series. I found the first two Paper Mario games much more appealing than SMRPG.

@Switchcraft Two games using an isometric view does not mean the games are a sign of a 3rd specific game. Unless you consider Diablo (any of them) to be a brother to Super Mario RPG. They both have top down isometric views after all.

And the art design aspect isn't indicative either. It's Super Mario. There isn't going to be that much variation in how Mario, Toad, and the others look.

Nintendo has a working relationship with Square Enix right now. I don't see why they cannot approach SE and talk them into even just an HD remaster or direct sequel. Especially after Octopath Traveler did so well.

Guys, I’m telling you, it all points to Q*Bert!! Consider the facts:
-Q*Bert was isometric
-SMRPG was isometric
-Captain Toad was isometric
-Q*Bert starred in Pixels
-Q*Bert starred in Wreck-It-Ralph
-Q*Bert is orange, which is a color
-Q*Bert is a video game character

I’m tellin ya, all the signs are there.

Okay, while everyone's picking on the Isometric thing, I have a different issue. Who says they can't use Super Mario RPG?

We know that Squeenix has established a dedicated team for making Switch exclusives, the team is heavily dedicated to RPGs, Nintendo is getting more comfortable with lending out it's IPs again, Geno is in the spotlight more than he ever was before after the Smash Ballot, and Squeenix let Smash 4 use Geno as a Mii Fighter outfit.

The conditions are the best they've been for a Super Mario RPG sequel since 1996.

Well, that's true Link3710... Except Nintendo wants the Mario & Luigi games to be the only RPG series based on Mario. Speaking of which, will Switch get one of those? I'm greatly enjoying Dream Team. Well, other then the dream world touch pad controlled boss fights. Those get tedious and annoying.

While Paper Mario is a given, don't forget there's another Mario RPG that, once Nintendo is done with the 3DS and has no more dedicated handheld plans, will probably find a home on Switch and thats the Mario and Luigi series.

So it'll be interesting, as you potentially have 3 different Mario RPGs on the same system. Whether Nintendo would want to do that, I'm not sure. If they were to resurrect SMRPG, I could see one of the other 2 either be retired or given that "rest" they tend to give franchises.

Then again, the 3DS had many M+L games, including 2 remakes. Maybe they won't consider having 3 Mario RPG series as overkill.....

@FaeKnight Nintendo also has done a massive change in direction as of late. It's entirely possible they'll stand their ground on the Mario RPG issue, but it's also possible the massive blow back against the Paper Mario games and M&L Paper Jam might make them reconsider their stance. We don't have proof either way.

Yeah, I think ending the Paper Mario series where it is, is a great idea. It's become stale and not really my cup of tea like it used to be way back when. I played Super Mario RPG for the first time a few months ago and I fell in love with it. We should be porting old games, that deserve a new life on the shelf, to Switch. I guess my question to you @Switchcraft (and everyone reading this): What older titles, even if it is a part of the Paper Mario series, do you think should get a reset button (if you will)?

Paper Mario hasn't been an RPG type game for years, I believe.

Also, I'm kind of hoping there's Luigi's Mansion game released for the Switch. Those games are incredibly fun.

What?

No.

That's dumb.

Just make Paper Mario an RPG again.

@SladeWatkins I'd absolutely adore a Super Paper Mario sequel, but I doubt they'd get permission to make anything quite that weird ever again with how things have been lately.

@link3710 This is Nintendo & 2018 we're talking about here. Weird makes money...just look at Fortnite. Haha.

@SladeWatkins Yeah, I'm just feeling depressed after how bland Paper Jam was I guess. I want to hope they've changed but... That game was one of the worst RPGs I've ever played.