Review Information
Game Reviewed Paper Mario 3D Land, by DJ Coco
Review Author Willsaber
Created Sep 29 2014, 4:18 AM

General Commentary and Game Overview
After following this project on the forums for so long, it's great to see it's completion! Most fangames are of the quality Nintendo would've done twenty to thirty years ago. Midas Machine could've been made five years ago, and this could've been made ten years ago (That's pretty close!).
 
Pros - Excellent merging of the two franchises
- A lot of creative license
- Excellent music choice
- Great variety in levels
- A very good map
- Fun and creative bosses
- New powerups
 
Cons - Some graphics clash
- Quite a bit of difficulty (although the latest version is a lot easier)
- Forces the gamepad on you
- I have NO idea what the story is
 
Impressions
Gameplay
8 / 10
Oh jeez, where to begin? Well, it feels like the original Paper Mario, where you would be running around on the overworld. However the combat is identical to Super Paper Mario, and the level design compliments that of Super Mario 3D Land and 3D World (ironically leaning more towards world).

There are three powerups, the Fireflower, the Mole suit (which allows you to move through the earth, albeit not a very useful suit, especially once you have practice with the regular gameplay), and the Dandelion Suit, which is comparable to the Tanooki.

The enemies are all from 3D Land and World, albeit with a few exceptions, and some with re-worked or "nostalgic" battle strategies. (such as the Monty Moles). It does feel weird working with simulated depth and 2D sprites, but once you get the hang of it, you can fight pretty much any enemy. Except the Shroobs. They are broken.

The level design is, admittedly, quite difficult, but once you beat it once or twice you kind of get the feel for it. Compared to DJCoco's other games, this is easier than filling a glass of water!
 
Graphics
7 / 10
Most of the sprites are Paper Mario styled, but the environment and scenery is pretty much all HD or pure solids. This leads to some graphics clash, but it's not an eye-sore. There are plenty of custom sprites, so it feels very fresh!
 
Sound
8 / 10
Almost all the music is from various Paper Mario games. There are a few tracks from Super Mario 3D World, but those are still quite fitting. The music selection adds a great aesthetic value to the game, and it all fits VERY well with the level's theme (and very few levels are alike, there are tons of songs in here). I think some custom music MIGHT make the game feel a bit more solid, but it might break a bit of the Paper Mario charm.
 
Replay
8 / 10
I've played this game every day since it first came out. It's that awesome!

Plus, there are three green stars in every level (they function exactly like green stars in 3D World, or Star Coins in 3D Land)!
 
Final Words
8 / 10
It's a few steps away from feeling official, but if fangames keep the growth pace they are having right now, they'll catch up to within 5 years of Nintendo quality very soon!

And might I just say, it would be awesome if DJ Coco made an engine for Paper Mario style platforming.

Comments
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Ryan Silberman
Sep 29 2014, 7:57 PM
But if she made an engine, then people will just "make" no-effort clones with it. If they can even work around the whole 3D thing.
 
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DJ Coco
Sep 30 2014, 1:04 PM
I released a bunch of helpful scripts for working in 3D, but I won't release an open-source engine as it would only lead to no-effort clones as stated above and those who would actually be able to use it are most likely capable of creating an engine like this themselves.
 
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Willsaber
Oct 1 2014, 4:09 AM
I was being sarcastic, but those are still all good points. XD
 
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Mors
Oct 2 2014, 5:46 PM
"And might I just say, it would be awesome if DJ Coco made an engine for Paper Mario style platforming."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc
 
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