GAMES
Return of the origami king…
★★★★★ OUT NOW SWITCH
This GameCube-era RPG has been attracting calls for a remake or remaster seemingly since the day it came out. As it approaches its 20th anniversary, Nintendo has finally caved in to fan demand – albeit, you suspect, for pragmatic reasons, as it seeks ways to sustain interest in the Switch while preparing to launch its successor. Playing it again now, you can understand the stance of both parties: Nintendo’s reluctance to revive the game is precisely the reason its popularity has endured, as this irreverent adventure takes Mario to places we’re not accustomed to seeing him.
The seedy town of Rogueport, where the plumber’s quest begins, is a case in point: the first thing you see as you walk into the square is a gallows pole, while a side quest has you pulling favours for a mob boss. A buxom opera singer and amorous thief, both tagging along for the ride, make their intentions towards our hero clear: outside the family-friendly confines of the Mushroom Kingdom, it seems Mario is something of a heartthrob. There are a few risqué moments besides, not least when Princess Peach – kidnapped as usual, though not by Bowser this time – is invited to disrobe, her modesty preserved by an invisibility potion. The game’s subversive humour extends to the way Mario gains new powers: demonic hexes afford him the ability to fold up into various forms, such as a paper plane or boat, abilities that prove more blessing than curse.
Elsewhere, battles lean into the theatricality of turn-based combat. Each encounter takes place on a stage, with audience participation helping or hindering our heroes, while Shy Guy stagehands add drama, fixing malfunctioning rigs or using dry ice to boost evasiveness. Crowd-pleasing techniques are rewarded with points that power special moves, encouraging you to showboat. These are lent extra flavour by their narrative context, particularly during a chapter which see
