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Happy 13th birthday to Super Paper Mario, a game I can't thank enough. This will be a thread with some of my thoughts and art from over the years.
There's nothing else out there quite like SPM. From its 2D/3D puzzle platforming, its occasional daringly weird level structures, its deceptively detailed and colorful "simplistic" art style. I like and would defend all these things, but most important is that...
It's a game in a vast, goofy, extremely successful and often "playing it safe" series like Super Mario which really desperately wants to say something, to mean something. To connect with its players. It has no qualms or hesitation about mixing humor with genuine sincerity.
Super Paper Mario is a game about fighting nihilism with love. That's not even symbolic, that's literally the plot. The central thesis is that suffering and heartbreak do not invalidate the worth of our broken universe and that our relationships give it that worth.
Although the plot hinges on a romantic relationship, the game explores friendship, biological families, found/adopted families, and just a generalized love of the world as all equally important to saving it. (Again: THIS IS A MARIO GAME!! And none of this is subtle at all!)
13 years on, SPM holds a weird spot in the fandom. Not quite what most people want the PM series to be, many people nevertheless respect its plot/characters. But others think the story was too weird, serious, "fanficcy", over-the-top for the Mario franchise. And you know what...
They're not wrong! It kind of is all those things! And that's why I love it! I'm so glad this game exists and was allowed to be itself. For any flaws it may have, for as corny as some might find it, it does not hold back its earnestness and I respect it immensely for that.
I was in high school when this game came out, in the midst of a crushing depression, hopelessness and even misanthropy, where video games were one of my only joys. This game busted my heart wide open and made me feel things.
I was also (as part of being a teenager) selfish and narcissistic, looking back. SPM aimed a light directly at my soul and said "Hey, try caring about something besides yourself. Try loving someone. It'll make you feel better."
AND SO! 13 years later, this game has never been too far from my heart or mind. I'm happy it has been with me all this time as
I grew and matured. It has inspired me in so many ways (my comic would definitely not exist without it) and reflects what I value in stories.
I grew and matured. It has inspired me in so many ways (my comic would definitely not exist without it) and reflects what I value in stories.
And now that I have exposed myself as just as painfully sappy as this game is, thanks for reading.
Happy birthday always, you beautiful misfit.
Happy birthday always, you beautiful misfit.
