Paper Mario: Sticker Star
| Paper Mario: Sticker Star | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Intelligent Systems |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| System | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release Date | US November 111, 2012 JP December 6, 2012 EU December 7, 2012 AU December 7, 2012 |
| Rating | ESRB: E |
'Paper Mario: Sticker Star is a Super Mario RPG game that was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. It is the fourth game in the Paper Mario subseries and the first one on the 3DS, as well as being the first handheld Paper Mario game in general. This installment acts as a retooling of the series in response to criticism from Shigeru Miyamoto. There is no longer a partner system, and the storyline and gameplay are all simplified in nature to appeal to younger audiences, with a focus on a new gameplay mechanic involving stickers.
Story
The Sticker Comet is a wish-granting comet covered in six Royal Stickers that passes by the Mushroom Kingdom once annually. This year, Bowser touches the comet in an attempt to force his own wish to come true, resulting in the comet exploding and its six Royal Stickers to be scattered across the kingdom. One Royal Sticker manages to land on Bowser and empowers him. With this newfound power, Bowser kidnaps Peach, and Mario ends up teaming up with a Sticker Fairy named Kersti on a quest to retrieve the Royal Stickers and defeat Bowser.
Gameplay
Some of the gameplay of Sticker Star is similar to the gameplay of the first few Paper Mario games, except that there are no longer partner characters, and instead there is a sticker system. The player can collect and purchase many different kinds of stickers which can be used both in and out of battle to help Mario in a number of ways, including granting him new abilities. In battle, Mario's moves are determined by which stickers he has equipped. There are also no experience points or leveling up, and instead special HP-Up Hearts must be collecting to increase Mario's HP and the power of his first strikes.
Legacy
This game is noteable as defining the new direction of the Paper Mario games.
Sequels
In 2015, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam was released. This acts as a crossover of sorts between the two Mario RPG series: Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario. Sticker Star would later receive an actual sequel in the form of Paper Mario: Color Splash in 2016.