To those who want more RPG elements in this Paper Mario: why do you think that will sell? When was the last time an RPG sold well on the Wii U? TMS/#FE bombed. XCX bombed. Maybe Nintendo knows something about their market, that there really isn't much of an RPG audience left on the Wii U. All the RPG players seem to be on the 3DS. On the Wii U, well, I don't really seen any evidence that there is a substantial number of RPG players. There are a few loud fans, yes. But not enough to make a lot of sales.
Hmm. I have this preordered but I might cancel. I can't really tell if I'd like the gameplay. I LOVE 3D and 2D Mario games but I really don't like RPG.
This is an RPG that just focuses more on the overworld exploration and puzzle-solving than combat. The downside is that replay value is not as high. But the upside is that younger players are more likely to be able to enjoy the game without accidentally brick-walling themselves levelling up, because let's face it, even if the first two games were not as complex as typical RPGs, you could still build yourself up in an awkward way that made it very difficult to proceed while being very costly to fix. But in Sticker Star and Colour Splash, it is relatively simple to shift strategies simply by adjusting your inventory. Granted, the former did miss it's mark by making solutions more obtuse than they should have been, but Colour Splash has shown plenty of signs towards amending that, and, contrary to what a certain interview implies, seeking a healthier balance between puzzles and combat (but still maintaining it's focus on the former).
As for the simpler story (not conclusive yet, of course), it could be the result of a lot of things, an unwillingness to splurge on the ailing Wii U, appealing more to the younger audience again, but what I see it as is an attempt to avert spectacle creep; that is, the seeming obligation to escalate conflict in every sequel until it collapses upon itself in either complexity or cost. You can see it in both Mario RPGs: Paper goes from save the Mushroom Kingdom, save the world to save the universe, M&L goes from a petty kingdom-conquering witch, an alien invasion to a sealed demon. Where exactly do you go following either of these if you feel the need outdo the scope of the previous? Even Super Paper Mario was beginning to push it; criticisms of excessive exposition are not exactly unheard of for that game.
Challenge need not come from conflict, else the point-and-click and other puzzle games would not have their niche. But you also have to consider the other JRPGs the Wii U has, Xenoblade Chronicles (X) and Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Would it really be wise for Nintendo to shoot themselves in the foot by forcing these already-niche franchises in direct competition with Mario for the RPG position?
It's more than just Mario & Luigi that's shaped Paper Mario the way it is now. But that said, Paper Jam probably has the most in-depth customization of any Mario RPG to date, so Nintendo certainly isn't skimping in that regard. Colour Splash may not be the kind of game you enjoy, but that doesn't make it's direction bad.
You'd have to ignore that this game was originally going to be more like the original 2 Paper Marios and was changed specifically because of Nintendo considering 2 Mario RPG franchises was redundant and because the sticker system made a lot of the game redundant.
I tend to like discussions on why "X thing people don't like in video game" was a logical decision by the developers, but I'm calling bs. We've been directly told the direction they went and why. I'm sure demographic was relevant certainly but I beat the original Paper Mario when I was AWFUL at any JRPG that isn't Pokemon. Paper Mario is to me, without any doubt, the best introduction to the genre possible. It is simple enough that almost anyone can get it but complex enough that it isn't bad to more experienced games. I would've given up with Sticker Star so easily with some of the obscure sticker nonsense you have to do. If this was an attempt to appeal to a younger audience, MISSION FAIL.
Really, this whole thing is so *** backwards. It's abundantly clear they could've just had AlphaDream not make the same games forever and let them make a new game for once in their lives. There! One Mario RPG series! AND A NEW IP! OR SOMETHING!
Is this really so hard? Will Mario fall into obscurity without the Mario and Luigi series?
irony is that Color Splash could be a very fun game but everything surrounding this is just...stupid.
"in planning and design, about 90% were participating for the first time."
How can we expect a new team made of people who only worked on Sticker Star to make the same game as another team who had already made 3 Paper Mario games?
"in planning and design, about 90% were participating for the first time."
How can we expect a new team made of people who only worked on Sticker Star to make the same game as another team who had already made 3 Paper Mario games?
The same way Double Helix figured out how to make Killer Instinct and Strider? The same way Next Level figured out how to make Punch Out and Luigi's Mansion?
"in planning and design, about 90% were participating for the first time."
How can we expect a new team made of people who only worked on Sticker Star to make the same game as another team who had already made 3 Paper Mario games?
The same way Double Helix figured out how to make Killer Instinct and Strider? The same way Next Level figured out how to make Punch Out and Luigi's Mansion?
Those weren't development teams composed mainly by inexperienced people, though. Here it seems that they were new to making games too, although this might not be true (we should check the credits).
"in planning and design, about 90% were participating for the first time."
How can we expect a new team made of people who only worked on Sticker Star to make the same game as another team who had already made 3 Paper Mario games?
The same way Double Helix figured out how to make Killer Instinct and Strider? The same way Next Level figured out how to make Punch Out and Luigi's Mansion?
Those weren't development teams composed mainly by inexperienced people, though. Here it seems that they were new to making games too, although this might not be true (we should check the credits).
Honestly, I don't think it matters. I don't think this point matters much. It's not about the people in development. It's about the bizarre decisions higher ups made. And I'm not even blaming Miyamoto for most of it, this is clearly just a bizarre decision in the company in general that didn't understand the interesting niche audience it had with the series (and that the changes it made had nothing to do with its sales success). I think it's probably the same people who decided the direction Mario Party 10 would go in, considering that was also a Mario spinoff whose previous game was highly disliked but because it still sold well they arbitrarily used that to try to improve a terrible idea instead of seeing what worked in the past. Which I almost respect in a way, but it's at the cost of a better game so...
I don't call these decisions bizarre, but rational. As I said before, there's no evidence of an RPG market for the Wii U. In fact, I would go so far as to say the market for RPG games on Nintendo home consoles has disappeared. Evaporated. Gone. Died. Extinct.
True, not all Wii U games have prospered, but there have been a bunch that sold millions, or at least over a million. Look at the various game genres: we know they can sell platformers (Super Mario Bros, Mario Maker), 3D platformers (Super Mario 3D World), shooters (Splatoon), party games (Nintendo Land, Mario Party), hack and slash (Hyrule Warriors), fighters (Pokken Tournament), action adventures (Wind Waker, Twilight Princess), real time strategy (Pikmin) and racers (Mario Kart). Guess what's missing from the list? RPGs.
Over 103 Wii games have sold over 1 mil. Guess which genre is missing from that list? RPGs.
Those of you who want another classic Paper Mario will have to convince Nintendo that there is still an RPG market for Nintendo home consoles. I say that's a hopeless case. There's absolutely no evidence of demand for RPGs. Looks like Nintendo's RPG players are mostly on the 3DS, home of the Mario&Luigi series. On the Wii U, there's no point trying to sell RPGs. They're better off going for the action-adventure genre.
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Topic: Paper Mario: Color Splash - OT
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