The Eternal Heart of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door -- Designing for Storytelling

[@TheDukeofDorks]

God I know we've talked about the Flavio glitch before, but just seeing him CONSTANTLY around is so stupidly, hilariously charming. That might actually be the best glitch that's ever existed in any video game.

[@CR1MSONACE]

There's multiple AGDQ Runs where Flavio glitch is done just because.

[@rainpooper7088]

The Flavio glitch being removed in the remake will hurt my soul.

[@Andyblarg]

@@CR1MSONACE It's the "save the animals" of Paper Mario.

[@Markm8]

I love him and i don’t remember what he even dose

[@icya152]

@@Markm8 he’s a big part of chapter 5 iirc

[@bakireggie7795]

Imagine being a middle age man in a snitchy town governed by the mafia, with a job that is not able to make you accomplish what you want in life, a wife that gambles all day and doesn't care for her family and 2 kids that are going through tough times and are not able to express what they feel to you. Your desperation grows stronger day by day.... and then freaking Mario shows up, bring his wierd dinosaur wrestler baby with him, listens to you, doesn't elaborate, leaves, and somehow that interaction lets you rethink about your family and how much you care for them......... man that is indeed a story to tell. Incredible video as always! I feel the intro is so good it should be put into a Koopa Museum!

[@jadaw644]

Some people just need someone to listen. 💛

[@andre_601]

Sometimes, having someone just listen to your stuff can be enough to help. I once listened to a friends rant. I didn't give any answers, or asked any questions or alike. I just let them rant about their current struggles in life. The next day, they came to me, thanked me for listening and told me that it helped them getting out of a really depressing mood they were in (Like the hard kind of depressing mood). So yeah... If you can, listen to the troubles your friends may have. It can help them getting it off their chest.

[@MUGENanaya]

@@andre_601 Remember folks - and I mean this in the most genuine way I can muster - you can be someone's Mario.

[@Andyblarg]

"wierd dinosaur wrestler baby" is the greatest description for Yoshi I've ever heard.

[@GoldenSon18]

Never noticed that Luigi was actually really well known this time around because of his stories. Both Pennington and the toad from the side quest know about him but not Mario. Compared to say in the M&L series where nobody even remembers Luigi's name.

[@DuskCrystal]

I had been a Mario fan my entire life, and while the Mario cartoons and earlier games helped me like Mario as a character, I ended up in a deep depression. This game came out at the lowest point of my life. Thanks to Nintendo Power, I was following the game's development until release. It gave me something to look forward to, and to live for. I wanted to try this game no matter what, it sounded so good... And when I got the game and played it for myself? Mario, his determination, his heroism, his kindness and strength... It did for me what it does for the NPCs of this game. To some people this is just another video game in a sea of games. For me it was a life-saver and an inspiration. That's why I not only love TTYD, but I love Mario as a character. This funny little wahoo man made it through one of the darkest and tragic moments of his life, his love being turned into a vessel for evil and turned against him, the very world itself darkening and falling to that same evil. Yet, he didn't give up. Every heart he'd touched on his adventure stood beside him. And if he could make it through that? Then I could make it through my own trials. Sorry for the ramble, but this video really inspired me to share my own story.

[@lellmajar]

Hi amazing human, your story has brightened my day thank u que la Fuerza te acompañe y todas las energías buenas del universo, buenos abrazosss 🩵, yo inicié con Mario en 2020, fue cok Super Mario Galaxy kwkwks

[@radzzi01]

This game surprisingly themes around the term “hope”. From Koops reuniting with his father whom he thought died 10 years ago to bobbery suffering from depression because of his wife died without having him besides her, at the time he was busy sailing outside and after receiving the letter of his deceased wife he was able to regain his motivation to do what he loves: sailing the seas. At last, everyone cheering at Mario when everything became hopeless after shadow queen became invincible. Most importantly: after sticker star and color splash everyone thought paper mario will never be like it was used to be, until Nintendo dropped the trailer of TTYD remake which nobody thought was possible just a short while ago. Honestly TTYD perfectly empathizes hope, whether intentionally or accidentally. Everytime I felt hopeless, this game always comes across my mind. It’s a major reason why TTYD is still one of my favorite game of all time. Like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption said: hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies

[@mspeter97]

What TTYD does best in its writing is that it embraces how much of a blank slate Mario is & they manage to tell their own story with that small base.

[@GatorOne-in7hk]

This game made quite an impact on me and my older sisters. I remember playing it with them back when we were kids and voicing the characters, I remember how much I struggled to defeat the Shadow Queen for years and how happy I was when I finally did it back in middle school. The day the remake was announced, I was so shocked and excited that I actually injured my back and weakly laughed on my bed for a few minutes before going downstairs to show one of my sisters. This was the easiest preorder I’ve ever made in my life, in fact I ordered two so I can give one to my sister as an early birthday gift, and my other sister is interested in getting the game too! The characters in this game mean a lot to me, from Koops and his journey to find his courage and make his dad and girlfriend proud, to Bobbery and his coming to terms with his wife’s passing to become a valuable ally in Mario’s quest, and Vivian rising above her sister’s cruelty and fighting against the very demon she was meant to serve. It’s my hope that the remake sells well and that many more people can experience the wonderful stories and fun gameplay it has to offer.

[@thatdarkdeceptionfanboy3162]

Hello! I'm one of those people who never played TTYD until the remake came out. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I loved it dearly, and it made me cry multiple times. I love this game and I am so glad to have played it! :D

[@KilogramHours]

"IS THAT A NOOSE?" You love to see a WoolieVersus reference

[@TJ-Henry-Yoshi]

Sadness and happiness is such a masterfully produced piece that it can make my eyes water decades after i heard it for the first time, even when its accompanying visuals involve Flavio interupting Mario and Peach's intimate boat ride back to the mushroom kingdom. The fact that the remake is going out if its way to remix the battle theme for every single area in the game is exactly the kind if detail that only a remake dedicated to delivering with love could ever do and it really is exactly the kind of thing that will nake me buy a game twice despite me owning the original game after all these years and knowing the remake will never give us something as wonderful as the flavio glitch. Im just incredibly eager to experience the game again even if there are no suprises left for me to encounter

[@enlongjones2394]

I am so excited to hear all the music in the remake. This is gonna be so good.

[@TheNuts1225]

Yeah, but can you finish the remake in just a one half a press?

[@diegovargasdiego]

TJ-Henry-Yoshi

[@holap2104]

An A press is an A press, you can't say it's only half

[@SuperGoomba10]

Perfect summation of just what makes this game so beautiful to me; there's even a few things I appreciate more now than I had before (I always loved all the little stories the different minor NPCs have throughout the game, but I never really thought about how it ties in with the broader theme of storytelling). Real slick editing, too. Also, I love that like 90% of the gameplay footage just has the Flavio glitch active without it ever being directly acknowledged.

[@alexanderkane7586]

Wait, there's a Flavio glitch in Thousand Year Door?

[@GatorOne-in7hk]

@@alexanderkane7586 Yeah if you use hacks or exploits to access the shortcut pipe to Keelhaul Key before intended you can trigger that chapter early and take him back with you to the previous chapters. It’s honestly pretty funny.

[@alexanderkane7586]

@@GatorOne-in7hk Neat. I didn't know that before.

[@phictionofgrandeur2387]

@@GatorOne-in7hk Because the shortcut pipes work differently in the remake, the glitch might not be possible.

[@ParmMannREBORN]

Man, even just the little storybook opening did so much to get a young me's imagination racing. Excited for so many to experience TTYD for the first time this month

[@andre_601]

Truth be told... I'm not too excited for that remake... It looks a little too "shiny". Like a lot of reflections on what is meant to be a world of paper and cardboard. Worst of all does it give me sticker star vibes.... Makes me shiver.

[@kirtusselleck8927]

I hope you enjoy my all time favourite game when it comes out. I hope it gives you that magic that it has given me. Enjoy your first play-through of this masterpiece :)

[@Rediscool9]

@@andre_601 What do you people gain out of bringing other people who are just excited over something down? You could’ve just commented this normally without replying it to some other person who’s just excited for it. Do you want them to hate it or what? It’s alright to not like something and have a different opinion, but don’t reply to people who are excited for it by saying why you think it sucks like you’re trying to bring those people who are excited for it down.

[@joshshrum2764]

I mainly experienced it through Chuggaconroy, and I have played Mario rpg is still the best Mario rpg.

[@joshshrum2764]

@@Rediscool9 it’s kind of upsetting, and honestly i am just glad we got a rerelease no matter.

[@Telcontar86]

I really liked the detail that the Shadow Queen was specifically stated to be weak during her intro, and would need time to regain her true power. Definitely hammers the "do or die" feeling in the fight for me; have to stop her _now_ or it's "The End"

[@Poyostar]

Honestly? This has gotta be the most heartfelt video I've ever seen for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and it doesn't take a dump on any of the other Paper Mario games at any point (except Sticker Star)! This is definitely up there among my favorite videos you've put out, Pyrr. Nice work as always!

[@zigazav1]

Wow... that conclusion in this video...starting with the Shadow Queen boss fight and onwards... was super deep... brought a few tears to my eyes... been a very long time since I've cried not by sadness, nor by laughter... this video made me cry abit by the beauty of how you spoke in conjunction with the visuals...thank you... I will now finally Subscribe to you...

[@lanalewis6982]

No one: Not a soul: Goombella: Eggie-weggie. Thanks to this game, I call eggs that now.

[@Stioli]

I got a lot of crap from classmates and friends in high school for enjoying this game as much as I do, and I can say that you truly captured the essence of what they failed to understand. Very nice video, for all my nostalgia.

[@tamagonbagel6569]

Great tribute. I normally had zero patience for turn-based RPGs as a kid. But the storytelling and world design of Thousand Year Door really grabbed me. Lot of fond memories here.

[@Loner098]

Then, how did the Active Time Battle (ATB) system (from the Final Fantasy series and in Chrono Trigger) feel for you as a combat system?

[@holap2104]

good to know u had a bunch of patience for the annoying af back-tracking

[@andre_601]

One thing I love about the game is, how you can see and pretty much feel how powerfull the crystal stars are... Some of them give you reality breaking powers (Like literally braking through the screen, tearing a hole into the background) and whenever you go to the door to get to the next location, the glash shattering effect always gives me the feeling that another part of the barrier has been broken.... Like they ooze power. Something that the pure hearts in Super Paper Mario do not... They are weak... Also, I really love how the game breaks the 4th wall at times by having lines adressing "You behind the screen" with Mario and his friends not understanding anything... Especially on the island when the bad guy says he knows that you know his true identity, but asks you to be kind and not blow his cover... It's fun any kinda destroys the cliche bad guy disguise thing by aknowledging that it's silly you wouldn't recognize them...

[@CR1MSONACE]

Goombella will casually break the fourth wall for a tattle.

[@Andyblarg]

@@CR1MSONACE Goombella will break the fourth wall in a tattle and then break the fourth wall again by SAYING SHE BROKE THE FOURTH WALL!

[@BearofLightness]

Very nicely done. So many great little details, like the _eriod where you _ointedly did not _reserve instances of a certain letter, the random Gonzales Jr. color you ended up with, and Flavio.

[@dylansmith9317]

I’m planning to write my own stories that are all part of an original, interconnected universe. This video has pretty much convinced me to pick up the remake (if it rates high enough, which I’m positive it will, given how faithful to the original it seems, with the customary polish thrown in) and search for all these stories in the game, keep track of them, and study what makes each of them tick in the hopes that I can understand the different aspects of a story enough to make my stories at least a fraction as compelling, enjoyable, and impactful as these ones are.

[@kagekaiser9270]

I forgot that Flavio could follow you everywhere.

[@Andyblarg]

It's not a glitch. It's a feature.

[@uroskesic6117]

It s kindof ironic that when I finished 8th grade my first paper mario was origami king and now when I am finishing high school ttyd remake comes out which will be the second paper mario game I will play

[@autobotstarscream765]

That's the Switch for you! 😇

[@Haquize]

You’re in for a treat!

[@crocketlawnchair259]

I’m hype for that remake. Bing bing wahoo doodley deet doot!

[@TarvouldsQuest]

Koops made me cry. This game is genuinely heartfelt and you made that apparent beautifully. Question for anyone reading this. Would Flavio be voiced by Kelsey Grammer or David Hyde Pierce?

[@extremekiwi101]

Neither. Martin Short.

[@ivanbluecool]

Game was fantastic and I can't wait to play it again. The style the characters and the fun of the world. Seeing the trailer was probably one of the few times I went back to being a kid in hype of a game

[@Kip2k]

Beautifully made video, ttyd stands alone at the absolute peak of video games for me, nothing has, or ever will, come close to it. Every memory I have of it is pure bliss as it was one of the first games I actually played and always had my siblings, cousins, and me glued to the screen watching and cheering on whoever was playing it at the time. I will never forget the first time my brother beat the whole game, or the absolute hype we all had when we got a colored yoshi that we’d never seen. The glitz pit remains my favorite chapter and yoshi is easily the character I love the most. Keelhaul key still is the most memorable chapter for me through its build up with getting the crew and bobbery’s past, the colorful, tropic setting and one of the coolest (and in my opinion most unexpected and “out there” styled villains in all of Mario) bosses. The most important thing this game gave me though, was a sense of camaraderie. Me and my brothers struggled to get through the whole game, it wasn’t just one persons file on a memory card, it was all of our file together. We scoured every bit of the internet and game for info, we talked to cousins who had beaten chapters before us and we kept playing and adjusting through all the game overs until we beat the chapter. Even now I fondly remember all the moments I had with my brothers because of this game, and recently I’ve been completely resubmerged into the game by complete coincidence (I didn’t even know a remake was happening). And it makes me smile watching people play through the game with certain rulesets cause it reminds me of how me and my brothers were basically playing with a limited ruleset because even 4 kid brains never thought that items and badges should maybe be considered while re attempting fights. I doubt many will read this but regardless, I just stumbled upon your video in my recommended tab and I’m so glad I did, beautifully written and edited this maybe me so happy for the remake!

[@Three_kids_in_atrenchcoat]

Peak has returned, people, rejoice!

[@Joeman875]

Saying the GameCube smiled through its pain is the perfect way to describe that era

[@isaacjuarez361]

Well written, well narrated, well edited, and that's an understatement. Truly a superlative video game essay on a superlative game. And I'm only 8 minutes in. Thanks for this amazing work.

[@LucastheEnby]

Thanks! - Lucas the editor

[@Christoph8]

The intro was beautiful.

[@Hisho30]

After hearing how much Paper Mario TTYD is meant for storytelling, it really touch my heartstrings so much that I legit cried at the end of the video. I never realize how much this means so much. As a self-taught writer, I never realize how much this game means a whole lot to me in a new perspective now. I should really go back to my stories once I realize how much I miss this game a whole lot. I am so ready for the remake as a Day One Buy

[@itsmeike]

I am a lover of all Paper Mario. 64 is just a true classic, exuding charm and fun. Super Paper Mario has uniquely fun gameplay, a surprisingly riveting plot, and a lot of memorable locations and moments. Color Splash had fantastic level design, wonderfully witty writing, an incredible soundtrack, and an overall fun premise. Origami King had much of the same positives as Color Splash, as well as a highly unique combat system. I never played Sticker Star, so even though it's universally unloved, I can't pass an opinion on it. I will never say modern Paper Mario is bad, because I feel that that's just straight up wrong. However, The Thousand Year Door is still just the pinnacle of all of these things. A unique setting, fantastic soundtrack, great story, fun and interesting characters, memorable locations, quality writing, a highly refined combat system, and so much more. I love all Paper Mario, but I do still firmly believe that TTYD is the best in the series, as well as possibly the best game in the Mario franchise

[@toffeecoffee5392]

I have never played TTYD before (will absolutely get the remake though), my first Paper Mario game was Super, so it still holds a special place in my heart :)

[@DarkKingsKing]

I can't wait for the remake. Only 16 days left.

[@swordheartstudios]

It's amazing to see how much Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door's legacy has lived on throughout the years with the game's story being about finding the crystal stars to unlock what's behind the thousand year door. While also sharing several other stories through different story genres in each chapter that differed greatly from the first game's story that was major for the partners and other characters involved that offered a lot diversity in the world building.

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

I feel like the title of this video should be reserved for Super Paper Mario, since it has literal hearts as the main collectibles and love as the central theme (and it’s story is the best imo)

[@Squaredasher]

Gosh, what an INCREDIBLE game. I was very young when I was first introduced to it- still learning how to read- but I still remembered a lot of the story when replaying it over a decade later as a teen. The game is just so memorable with its stories that transport you to a place of happiness every single second of the way

[@MatthewWeinberg-lr6kv]

This is, without a doubt, the most well-told and fascinating analysis of Thousand-Year Door, and perhaps of ANY game, that I’ve ever seen. Not that I’m surprised-I haven’t seen too much of your content, but the few video essays of yours that I have seen always impress me with the sheer depth of your analysis-you are clearly extremely passionate about the games you play, and an all-around deep thinker. I’m definitely interested in checking out more of your content and would love to see more people engaging in such deep dives and critical analyses of gaming’s greatest stories. As someone who knows OF TTYD-it’s hard not to if you’re a Mario fan, or even just a gaming fan-but will be playing it myself for the first time with the remake, I’ve been struggling these last few weeks to understand exactly why it holds such powerful meaning for so many fans-like, yeah, I can already tell it looks like a great game, and it’s large-scale for a Mario game, but still-it’s a MARIO game-it’s still gotta be fairly small in scope compared to more traditional JRPGs. I didn’t grasp why so many consider it not just a great Mario game, but one of the greatest games of all time. Now, after watching this video essay, I feel like I finally understand what I couldn’t perceive before-especially as an outsider up till now-about the true heart of this game. I suppose I still can’t truly grasp the half of it until I experience it myself-but now that I have an understanding of what it means to its fans, I feel ready to do just that. So thank you for helping me get into the mindset to enjoy this legendary game to the fullest-now wish me luck as I dive in for the first time! PS: this isn’t really relevant to everything else I said, but…it was also VERY refreshing to hear a perspective from someone who is passionate about the older games, but ALSO loves and appreciates the newer games for what they are.

[@questionmarkquestionmarkques]

fantastic video also you should make it a habit to put the music you used in the description of your videos 0:00 intro story (thousand year door, gamecube) 1:48 title screen (thousand year door, gamecube) 3:18 rogueport (thousand year door, gamecube) 4:12 we're counting on you, mario![?] (thousand year door, gamecube) 4:43 spinning door game (color splash, wii u) 6:00 still, the road is full of dangers (mario rpg, switch) 6:20 title screen (paper mario, n64) 7:07 [???] (paper mario, n64) 8:00 tutorial battle (thousand year door, gamecube) 9:00 [???] (thousand year door, gamecube) 9:25 petal meadows (thousand year door, gamecube) 10:05 battle time (thousand year door, gamecube) 11:03 twilight trail (thousand year door, gamecube) 11:11 battle time (thousand year door, gamecube) 11:36 hooktail battle (thousand year door, gamecube) 12:33 pirates grotto (thousand year door, gamecube) 12:46 detective pennington (thousand year door, gamecube) 13:21 reunion (thousand year door, gamecube) 14:18 the punies (thousand year door, gamecube) 14:28 reunion (thousand year door, gamecube) 14:53 [???] (thousand year door, gamecube) 16:18 [???] (???) 16:31 violet isles (color splash, wii u) 17:49 soft light (super paper mario, wii) 18:05 exploring the great sea (origami king, switch) 19:06 all aboard to rogueport (thousand year door, gamecube) 20:08 brobot L-type (super paper mario, wii) 21:40 rawk hawk (thousand year door, gamecube) 23:00 excess express at dusk (thousand year door, gamecube) 23:50 mario and peach [?] (paper mario, n64?) 24:46 ruins of the thousand year door (thousand year door, gamecube) 25:33 shadow queen's theme (thousand year door, gamecube) 26:45 we're counting on you, mario! (thousand year door, gamecube) 27:43 olivia transforms - finale (origami king, switch) 28:40 return to mushroom kingdom (thousand year door, gamecube) 31:36 sadness and happiness (thousand year door, gamecube) 32:50 [???] (paper mario, 64?)

[@DesigningFor]

Okay actually could you clear up a myth for me? I've always been nervous to do this in case KZbin would decide to auto-detect the music during a copyright pass and Nintendo felt particularly claim-happy in a certain month, so I usually just respond to comments asking what a certain track is to be safe rather than consolidating them all. Is that not a thing?

[@questionmarkquestionmarkques]

@@DesigningFor dont know but i havent heard of that, only them using an algorithm to detect tracks in the video rather than checking the description. if that is something they do then my bad, i didnt know

[@DesigningFor]

@@questionmarkquestionmarkques Oh it's no problem! It's some knowledge I've held for years, no idea if it's still true in the modern ecosystem. Just to complete the list of what's missing (I'm not gonna put timestamps so it doesn't override chapter titles, just assume every big number has a colon before the last two digits) 412 - Adventure Begins (Paper Mario TTYD, GCN) 707 - Sanctuary (Paper Mario, N64) 744 - Bowser Defeated (Paper Mario, N64) 855 - Grubba's Office (Paper Mario TTYD, GCN) 1454 - TEC's Waltz (Paper Mario TTYD, GCN) 1618 - Pirates of the Carburetor - Winning (Crash Tag Team Racing) 2348 - The Princess Is Fine, She Isn't Even Hurt (TTYD, GCN) 3250 - End Credits (Paper Mario TTYD, GCN)

[@Sharpteeth32]

This video brought a tear to my eye, not even gonna lie. TTYD is my favorite video game of all time and I discovered it during the darkest time of my childhood. You perfectly summed up everything that makes this game a masterpiece. It's everything typical Mario games aren't allowed to be and delivers such a rich and immersive world with timeless characters and stellar writing. Not to mention the battle system, which is just peak. And at the heart of it all, at the very core, is that wonderful, whimsical and oh so loveable Italian plumber that everyone knows and loves, Super freaking Mario. Thank you, sir.

[@Andyblarg]

This is my FAVORITE game of all time. I have so much love for the combat system and wacky characters. When I saw that trailer for the Switch I literally freaked out and shook all day. Also so happy you did the Flavio glitch for this

[@Iamverylazy]

Bobbery was the first time a game made me cry too. It still gets me every time.

[@WishhMonger]

I LOVE the passion in your voice throughout this entire video

[@thatisall155]

This video really did put into perspective how many different genres TTYD was able to use without changing the core gameplay much ... this was the first Video Game I ever played by myself as a child, and while I loved art and stories before it, nothing quite inspired me like it did ... While I really enjoy the battle system of both this game and the OG Paper Mario, like you said about yourself -- it's the characters and story I come back for . I just loved talking to every npc over focusing on "progressing" ... Still do! I love games where the NPCs have their own lives and such that you can glimpse at, over just simply existing for the sake of filling out a town . So many characters from TTYD really captured my heart and its still my favorite game of all time -- rough edges and all. I never really considered how it melded all these various concepts into one story though -- the world is so wacky it's able to mix demons and flying fighting pits and high tech moon bases all into one package, and well, at least I never questioned it. It just...worked for me. So yeah, cool video! Especially fun to listen to while drawing TTYD characters haha . (sorry for a bit of an Incomprehensible Ramble here, not usually a Commenter on videos)

[@fishy_fish1003]

You fucking KNOW how to tell a story holy shit, that flavio story actually was so well put together. Bravo

[@sanddry738]

Paper Mario TTYD and Super Paper Mario has some of the best stories in Mario history. Every chapter has so much heart and the characters are so good. Really happy more people can play this game now and experience it again or for the first time

[@planetnydro]

Chaper 4 feels so short in comparison to all the othet chapters, it's mostly backtracking with some hard to avoid enemies, it takes away all the parners and their abilities that you've gained on your journey, and its the first chapter that locks you in without letting you go back to Rougeport if you want to do something. Gameplay wise, it has almost nothing going for it when compared to even the prologue. Despite all this, its my favorite chapter by a long shot, BECAUSE of the story. The end of chapter fake-out. The way you have to go back to town to figure out what to do, only to find the smuck who stole your body and the endless stalemate between you. Neither of you can leave Twilight Town through the pipe because it requires a name, yet he will never reveal his own or even consider returning your own. Neither one of you can hurt the other, yet both refuse to give up. The way you can see Mario's appearance puppeteered arround yet still slightly off, reflected in even his differing idle animation. The story of Vivian coming to a head as she puts her own problems asside to help the person who was willing to drop everything to help her, despite his own problems. The way the two of you have to go back to investigate the villain's lair and learn his name to break his power over you. The way she reacts to learning the person who was so nice to her was the one person she was supposed to destroy, yet after a moment of deliberation, decides to stand against her absusive sisters and alongside the one person who's ever truly supported her. The way she seems to always wish things could have turned out different with her sisters yet never takes back her choice. The whole chapter is amazing, and I love it for it, even if the backtracking is kinda terrible on subsequent playthroughs

[@maxwassermann3171]

Amazing video. You absolutely did this masterpiece if a game justice. ...also great use of the Flavio glitch.

[@Ribbonnanza]

Amazing video, phenomenal editing.

[@DerDustige]

This is one of the best Videos i have ever seen. Ngl the work in here is crazy. Your Intro is also amazing

[@LucastheEnby]

FLAVIO!

[@Readingeye]

This vid only came out today and I'm rewatching it a third time already because of all the emotions it gives me! Flavio indeed!

[@aliceangel03]

Thanks, this genuinely made me happy cry

[@Nerdywolf18]

Dude, the writing team for all of the Mario RPG's need to hire this guy ASAP. This guy has a passion for storytelling that rivals this game, and the writing skills to help make a game that has a chance of rivaling this game as well. Nintendo, hire him NOW

[@EchoL0C0]

Thank you for making this, and helping me to understand more tangibly why I love this game so much.

[@bandicootsauce4569]

Gotta love that intro. (:

[@hgmd3284]

A game so legendary, it’s untouchable. The legacy of paper mario will always be and has been defined by TTYD But I never played it. I’ve played the ones people want to cut to paperscraps, and I like them all. Paper jam, sticker star, and especially the origami king. Yes I like sticker star. Yes, I wanna play TTYD switch No I won’t forget those stories carved of cardboard and paint.

[@ReikuYin]

Good. Don't let anyone tell you how to feel about a story. If you enjoyed those stories, it meant something to you and that should be cherished.

[@XenoX]

Bang on summary of why I've love this series! Thank you so much for this beautiful love letter of a video

[@daniellelondon439]

Absolutely wonderful video! You absolutely nailed why this game is beloved by so many people, myself included. A joy to watch as I eagerly count down the days until I can play this game again.

[@starlord8739]

I love being the fan that loves all 6 games bc I’m getting fed no matter what type of paper Mario they decide to put out next

[@jacketofdiamonds]

I love how the footage in the video is from a run with the Keep Flavio glitch. As it should be

[@Ableth]

Your gonna make it man keep up the good work.

[@tylergodbey4830]

I haven’t even watched the full video yet, but I can already tell that this is gonna be GOOD! Love your work as always btw! :)

[@DoubliceAA]

Great video! An excellent overview on the unique feel of the game, honestly puts to words how I feel about the game, even if I don't personally consider it the pinacle of the series. The final closing sentiments of "I come back to this game for Mario" very much rings true for me, and my relationship to the entire series. Just absolutely wonderful.

[@dextra_24703]

I don't know what it is, but just the way you tell things in these videos, it always brings some tears to my eyes with how beautifully and enthusiastic you talk about all of this.

[@vgmarkis]

Loved the editing style for this video! Genuinely can't stop thinking about the day we can all play TTYD on Switch in a couple weeks ;-;

[@LucastheEnby]

Thank you - me the editor I cant wait to play the game for the first time!

[@Mockingdragon]

This is great, I love this analysis. I don't think I ever consciously registered how many different genres this goes through. It really is different from the first game. I always loved Twilight Town...I know it was supposed to be creepy but I always found the colors and music calm and comforting, plus Vivian was always my favorite.

[@dracotias]

TTYD is still one of my favourite games of all time because of what it did for young me's love of good RPG story telling. They didn't have to flesh out the world so much but they did and it was wonderful. I will always respect that.

[@ak47dragunov]

Watching this and re-experiencing my love for this game and this series I grew up with only makes it all the more infuriating that Nintendo really thought that this was worth tossing in the trash and not important

[@TheWorldBelowDnD]

Love the video! It may not be as relevant, but I hope you do one for Super Paper Mario, one day 😊

[@shadowwwwwwwwwww]

64 is my all-time favorite paper mario, but i'm still excited for the remake.

[@benox50]

phenomenal video, as said, even the game begin with a book, a story, its great because it works hand in hand with the game still being a game, with great gameplay and depth, to me this is one of the perfect example of a story in a game medium, as I said often, to the details of even the dialogues having trembling animations etc., those are not simply text to read anymore. I def also love the variety out of classic Mario characters, and man, the shadow queen design is so inhuman feeling, serious and out of place in a good way, I love the way you mentioned her in that sense .

[@miespies]

Absolutely adore this video. Captures the appeal of the paper mario so many have come to love.

[@TheSgtLolrus]

MAN this video was good. I’ve always called it the greatest story in Mario but you put it into words perfectly. Liked and subscribed!

[@DansGameZone.]

Hey man, this is the first I've heard of your channel but this was a really great video!

[@theadmiral4625]

Once I realized it’s more of a play thru pop-up book than hardcore RPG, I began to LOVE ❤️ this game……

[@bubbles46853-ep9if]

Beautifully done as always, my guy. Glad I was- Wait, you say it as “CROSS-nauts”?! Bleh, never mind!

[@Fritzafella]

I just gotta appreaciate you used "The Adventures of Flavio!"tm glitch throughout the video. Ending with a shout of his name to the wind got a hearty chuckle from me.

[@companioncube4180]

One of the greatest moments of gaming for me was the final boss fight with the shadow queen. It was something just so out there from anything thing we had ever seen. This world we spent hours growing to love in gets covered in darkness. Peach, the one we spent this entire game trying to save becomes our greatest foe. Right when everything seems hopeless, the crystal stars appear and rally all of the people we have befriended in this strange country to turn the tide in the final hour. Yes other games will go on to do this kind of thing as well. But for me this was the first time I had ever witnessed such a thing and that moment will be one I shall never forget

[@ivanbluecool]

Hope you can play bug fable next. It's a great game that rebalanced the ttyd gameplay in good and bad ways. But it's worth the play and it has high replay value in how you use the main unit differently

[@YARGGG_GG]

this was a great video, thank you for your insights. :) you have a good voice for storytelling. having side characters with stories that progress across chapters was such a great touch in pm1, 2 and spm. really makes the world feel so alive. i'm happy that the remake exists, but (and yeah, i know the usual suspects are gonna boo me for this) i'm not that happy that they censored some stuff in the script. i hope it maintains the heart of all of these (side) stories but that sort of thing does worry me. should've just released it without touching the script at all.

[@LucastheEnby]

From what I've seen, other than changing a few, really dated jokes, they've translated the game to be more faithful to the original Japanese text, which I'm quite happy with

[@YARGGG_GG]

@@LucastheEnbychanging stuff to be more accurate to the jp is well and good but i don't believe in "dated jokes" and i certainly don't think there were any in pmttyd. it's timeless for a reason.

[@Loner098]

There were also some story sections that I felt needed to be handled better in some way. (SPOILERS DOWN BELOW) Now, I know this game was intended for children, but let's be honest; Grodus should've died. It kind of takes away from the whole final battle, in my opinion. It would've been a stronger scene showing that the game's main villain was wiped from existence in a split second by the Shadow Queen, who is clearly much stronger than him. That right there would set Shadow Queen up just a little bit better (even though she was kinda one-dimensional as a villain). Like, Hooktail and Gloomtail were killed off for real, and it seemed likely that Grubba was too, so why was Grodus getting the axe too dark to make the cut? Along with the ridiculous reveal, what also didn't sit right with me about the epilogue was Beldam suddenly becoming a good person just because the Shadow Queen was destroyed when resurrecting the Shadow Queen was Beldam's master plan from the very beginning. Unless they were implying that she was being influenced or mind-controlled in some fashion, they should've done a better job at explaining it. Otherwise, it just comes across as bizarre at best and mind-fumblingly dumb at worst because you have to remember that Beldam had still verbally abused and tormented Vivian, that you seriously trust she'll never do anything to Vivian again? If you ask me, having a family abuse victim join back with their abusers... doesn't feel like a good lesson to teach to children, especially children who are victims of abuse (maybe even by their own family members) like Vivian. Like, Beldam, Marilyn, and Doopliss, pretty much get away with no consequences for their actions. So, instead, what I would like to do is have Goombella tell Mario that Vivian has been trying to socialize with more people now (her being a transgender female could also work well, too) and also have Vivian helping out others who feel like they're unwanted. As for Beldam and Marilyn, why not have a post-game side quest where you choose to help them seek redemption when they (mostly Beldam) feel like there's nothing left for them in the world now that they're plan has failed? Maybe it could even involve the Palace of Shadow again where they even talk about their own lives as well and you could help them see that there's more to a world than just following orders and/or taking it over. Actually, they should be punished for their crimes somehow. I know they probably don't deserve to be redeemed, and it's pretty cheesy, too, but, honestly, anything could've worked better than that part of the epilogue we got in the base game.

[@sorendipitous]

Just curious, what exactly do you mean by Origami King committing to its battle system more than TTYD? I’ve always felt that game is very conflicted on what it wants to be, not content to eschew its RPG turn-based elements completely and go full action-adventure. Its battle system screams underdeveloped in a lot of ways. And this is coming from someone who likes the game.

[@nunyabiddeness6544]

Origami King makes the reward for most of its optional content coins, the currency who's most impactful use case is... instant solving ring puzzles and bypassing its combat gameplay all together. On the other hand, TTYD's optional content (exploration, sidequests, postgame dungeon, superboss, etc) all reward items, badges, or a new partner. These optional components ENHANCE TTYD's combat by giving you more options and strategies to play with. Obviously that line in the video is wrong, and was written as a segueway to discussing how TTYD commits more to its story and thematic elements. The problem is, the line was written to contract with Origami King, showing that TTYD is more story focused while Origami King is more combat focused. But Origami King ISNT more combat focused. TTYD is more story focused AND more combat focused. It was an attempt to say something nice about Origami King, but it was still observably incorrect. I wonder why its so hard to praise that game...

[@DesigningFor]

More in a sense that Origami King's identity is more closely tied to its combat system than anything else. This is especially evident in its boss battles, which attempt to remix and play with the battle system in far more focused ways than TTYD did. And whilst the actual 'upper end' of Origami King is perhaps a bit more shallow than TTYD's level of flexibility (though i'd argue that Superguard and Danger Mario kind of reduce TTYD to a lower peak than it otherwise could achieve just by their very existence), I do think a major focus of Origami King's development WAS its battle system. It is meant neither as a compliment nor an insult, more as a way of saying "I do not think TTYD's battle system is as important to its overall feel than would usually be posited online".

[@Tree_-wp5zn]

14:25 Thanks for mentioning me!!

[@aaronrowell6943]

TTYD makes you care for a supercomputer who falls in love with Peach after watching her shower, great writing lol XD

[@Getlucky12]

Great video!

[@slenderfoxx3797]

Brilliant video sir. Loved your in depth analysis paired with the fun visual style you made in post production. To me Paper Mario was all about the story and characters...its why the first 3 games are my absolute favourite. The series will never be the same to me until it focuses more on story and worldbuilding and less on "paper gimmicks". Of course I also miss solid RPG gameplay with a solid battle system and levelling up...Sticker Star and onward...the gameplay is just so spotty and uneven quality. Anyways cheers to a great video sir. And heres hoping the remake saves the Paper Mario series!

[@Look_Over_There]

I really hope it does well so we get a super paper Mario remake too. I missed my chance to get it on the Wii so never played.

[@MrGuy271]

Probably the best tribute to my favorite game of all time. Only 10 days to go before this miraculous remake comes out 😊 can’t wait

[@KirbyCoder]

If each capter is a different type of fiction, chapter 8 has to be lovecraftian horror, which is pretty much the opposite of a Mario story: something dark, demonic, and traumatizing, something that leaves a negative impact instead of a positive one.

[@Victini862]

Oh man where to begin. Thousand year doos is one of those games that enamored me as a kid. I got my copy at a flea market some 15 years ago or so. I didn't have a memory card for the game at the time, but I still loved the game even if I could only get to chapter 1 for a good 6 months to a year. I loved the game enough that I kept playing from the start over and over. When I finally got a memory card (one of those crappy MadCatz ones lol) I started playing the game. Got lost trying to go to glitzville, but I managed eventually. The game's characters and world meant everything to me then and even more so today. I replayed the original just a few short weeks ago, and I fell in love with the game all over again.

[@mrhappy0627]

Wow everything i would want to say 😊great job and thank you

[@SuperBlueGamer9000]

Not the symdrome edit 😭 that is me with this game

[@DJBaphomet]

While I didn't grow up with TTYD (though I did grow up with Super Paper Mario), there's definitely a telling of how amazing this game's storytelling and worldbuilding is with the acclaim it's received, and still continues to receive, over the years. I can't talk much on it, having never played or really experienced it, but I'll admit I did nearly tear up at the speech about all the stories that Mario helped coming back to help *him* take on the Shadow Queen. Even without my experience, I think it's safe to say this game is amazing, and definitely deserves being called The Number One of the Paper Mario franchise, and this video is an amazing way to showcase *why* it's Number One Though, my mind does wander a little, as mentioned at the start, I grew up with SPM, it holds a strong place in my mind and heart, and while it's got its flaws (Mediocre gameplay and, compared to its predecessors, underwhelming sidekicks who are never really expanded on past their initial meetings), I think it's another game with an amazing world and story, and one that's ultimately very underrated at that. If TTYD is "Designing for Storytelling", then I think Super Paper Mario would be "Designing for Worldbuilding" (Or maybe "Designing for Prophecy"?) It's got so many fun, unique, wacky characters and environments, and the story it tells is a beautiful one, even if it's not as great as TTYD's. Hell, SPM has what is probably the best, most unique Mario villain ever made, that being Dimentio. If not a video on SPM as a whole, I think a video focused entirely on him could be an extremely interesting talk, especially since he doesn't get nearly the spotlight he should due to the game he's in. Every little move of his is planned and it's just such a well-written character when you look at his big picture, and I think he deserves such a bigger spotlight because of that (And honestly, same goes for Count Bleck, his story is such an interesting one and I think it's even more overlooked than Dimentio's villainy)

[@DesigningFor]

Fun story actually, the original scope of this video was to go through the first three games - Paper Mario, TTYD, and SPM - as the "Storybook Trilogy" of Paper Mario. Ultimately I shied away from that idea, as I felt it was a bit too antagonistic to the later Paper Mario titles via exclusion, I ended up not having a terrible amount to say about Paper Mario 64 outside of what was already said in-video (MAYBE I could gush about how Koopa Bros Fortress is an RPG translation of Mario 3 Grass Land a bit more), and because I didn't want to slight Super Paper Mario, as I haven't played it... since launch, actually. It's an incredibly resonant game that defined a period of my life - my first online forum was a Super Paper Mario fan forum, actually! - but I'd like the time to properly mull it over and do it justice, and the TTYD remake was just too good of timing and I had the most developed thoughts on that game, so I decided to push it forward. I definitely do have a strong appreciation for Super Paper Mario. Juggling a lot of ideas right now, but there's something truly special with that game. My friend Skyehoppers actually did a vid on the game a little while ago on their channel that I really liked as well if you didn't already catch it! But yeah, it may be a bit, but know I am thinking about Super Paper Mario and recognize all the different ways it tackles love, manipulation, forgiveness and more, and how cool and unique that really is!

[@OrbitalFrog_]

As someone who’s first paper Mario game was the origami king, and I absolutely adore that game, the thousand year door is the best game I have ever played

[@victzegopterix2]

2:59 Is that a Juno Songs reference!? O_o

[@littlevirus3562]

Eeeey fellow Juno songs fan!

[@thatcanadianguy7699]

I think Chapter 2 might be about Nature vs. Technology/Harmony vs. Industrialization... maybe?

[@pokeperson1000]

+ prison break and the cooperation and retaking of the captive’s homeland? Maybe. Dunno.

[@stubrutv]

4 minute cold open goes hard

[@Robin280497]

2:58 No, I only hail the Origami Korigami.

[@voltron77]

Ttyd is one of the most legendary RPGs to exist. Sure, it may not be my favorite rpg, (or favorite paper Mario game for that matter), but it contains so many creative ideas that I cannot just brush aside. Paper Mario 64 still has more heart, but the uniqueness and personality of ttyd make it stand out even among Mario games.

[@EGRJ]

I liked the Flavio-r of this game.

[@StoryTeller796]

2:48 might as well leave it in the Public Domain with how much it switched up its identity.