Summary
With old-schoolPaper Mariogames having a better chance than ever at a comeback, there are a lot of potential party members in Mario’s future. ThePaper Mariogames have sent Mario on several adventures that are far different from his usual platforming journeys. These adventures have each featured their own casts, which have often included mainstays like Peach and Bowser. However, the companions that would join Mario in the original game andThe Thousand-Year Doorbecame some ofPaper Mario’s most iconic characters. If the formula is repeated, then more characters will be able to follow in their footsteps.
Thewell-regardedPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorremakewas an effective reintroduction to the successful format of the first twoPaper Mariotitles, including Mario’s party members. In the first twoPaper Mariogames, Mario’s partners would assist him in battle as well as in the overworld with their abilities. Generally, these partners have come in the form of members of classicMarioenemy types, such as Goombas and Koopas. There have also been a few more unique designs, such as Vivian. It’s fun to see how these enemy types translate into partners, with a few solid options having not yet done so.
Mario’s Enemy Roster Holds Several Possible Party Members For Paper Mario’s Future
A Magikoopa Could Assist Mario With an Arsenal of Spells
Players saw how versatile Magikoopas can be inGlitzville inPaper Mario: TTYD, but the series has yet to feature a Magikoopa as a partner. Bowser has been accompanied by Kammy Koopa and Kamek in different games, so it might be fun to see Mario with a Magikoopa buddy as well. The biggest strength of a Magikoopa partner would be their variety of spells. It’s easy to imagine one wielding buffs, debuffs, and powerful magical attacks in their moveset. A Magikoopa partner’s spells can even go beyond what was seen in pastPaper Mariogames to create a strong utility party member.
Hammer Bros Would Be Strong Allies For Mario
Ever since debuting as one of the many enemies in theoriginalSuper Mario Bros., Hammer Bros have been a staple of Bowser’s forces. They have been playable in a few spin-offs, but Mario hasn’t been able to team up with one in aPaper Marioadventure yet. As a partner, a Hammer Bro would almost certainly be focused on offense, fittingly for one of the series' more challenging foes. Even better, their inevitable hammer-based moveset would surely offer plenty of contrasts with Mario’s own hammer abilities. Hammer Bros are iconic enemies, and having one fight alongside Mario would be a great sight.
The Hammer Bro Variants, such as Boomerang Bro, Fire Bro, and Ice Bro, also have potential asPaper Marioallies.
A Shy Guy Partner in Paper Mario Could Bring Unexpected Skills
One interesting option comes from an enemy that was skipped inThe Thousand-Year Door.Shy Guys didn’t start asMarioenemies, but they have become a common sight since their debut. A Shy Guy ally would have the advantage of being incredibly unpredictable. Both in and out of thePaper Marioseries, Shy Guys have come in many forms, with a variety of props and powers. These options include stilts, balloons, spears, slingshots, and more, making for what could be a remarkably diverse set of potential abilities. With so many possibilities, a Shy Guy could be an exciting ally inPaper Mario.
Paper Mario’s partners are memorable for a reason, and future games can add to their ranks. With more peopleplayingPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, either again or for the first time, they’re being reminded of what made the game a classic. Mario’s partners are a big part of that, which is why they were sorely missed in later installments. There is still a lot of ground that the series can cover with new partners, so if anotherPaper Mariogame releases sometime down the line, then there’s a world of possibilities available to Nintendo when choosing Mario’s party members.
Paper Mario
The Paper Mario series is a spin-off from the main platforming adventure that sees Mario engaging enemies in turn-based combat using an array of abilities and special attacks. There have been multiple Paper Mario releases with Paper Mario: The Origami King being the most recent.
