It finally happened. After years of fans begging, wondering if the series was buried alongside the developer AlphaDream, we got a brand-new entry in the Mario & Luigi saga. But here is the thing: whenever a new one drops, the internet immediately starts bickering about Paper Mario and Luigi. It’s this weird, persistent comparison that won't go away. People treat them like bitter rivals. They aren't. Honestly, they’re two sides of the same coin that somehow ended up in completely different universes despite sharing the same mustache.
Nintendo’s RPG history is messy. It's beautiful, sure, but messy. You have the turn-based precision of the Mario & Luigi series and the paper-thin aesthetic of Paper Mario. Then, in 2015, Nintendo decided to smash them together in Paper Mario: Paper Jam. Some people loved it. Most people felt like it was a missed opportunity. Why? Because it felt less like a crossover and more like a collision where nobody quite knew who was in charge of the steering wheel.
Why the Paper Mario and Luigi Crossover Split the Fanbase
If you ask a hardcore fan about Paper Jam, you’ll probably get a sigh. It’s a good game! The combat is actually some of the best in either series. But it lacked the "soul" people expected. You had two Marios. Two Peaches. Two Bowsers. It was safe. Too safe.
Fans wanted the weird stuff. They wanted the bizarre original characters from The Thousand-Year Door to meet the eccentric beans and block people from the Beanbean Kingdom. Instead, we got Toads. Millions of generic, red-spotted Toads. It felt like a corporate mandate rather than a creative explosion.
The mechanics, though? That’s where things got interesting. Managing three characters—Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario—meant your thumbs were basically doing gymnastics. You had to time jumps for three different entities simultaneously. It was hectic. It was loud. It was quintessentially Nintendo. But it also highlighted a growing divide in how Nintendo views these two franchises. One is an RPG; the other is... well, an "Action-Adventure" with light stats.
The Identity Crisis of Paper Mario
We have to talk about the "Sticker Star" era. For a long time, Paper Mario was the gold standard for RPG writing in the Mario universe. Then, things changed. Kensuke Tanabe, a longtime producer at Nintendo, famously mentioned in interviews that since Super Paper Mario, the team was encouraged to use only established characters from the Mario universe. No more unique NPCs. No more complex stat leveling.
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This shifted the burden of "True Mario RPG" onto the shoulders of the Mario & Luigi series. While Paper Mario was experimenting with stickers, paint, and origami, Paper Mario and Luigi (the duo from the handheld games) were still doing the classic thing: leveling up, choosing stats, and wearing gear.
The Core Differences That Matter
You’d think a flat Mario and a 3D Mario would play the same. They don't.
In the Mario & Luigi games, the brothers are a unit. You cannot have one without the other. Luigi isn't just a sidekick; he’s half of the input lag. If you mess up Luigi’s dodge, the whole team suffers. It’s a game about synergy. It’s about two brothers who actually like each other, which is a refreshing change from the "Luigi is a coward" trope that often gets overplayed.
Paper Mario, especially in the modern era, is more of a solo journey with "guests." Even when you have partners like in The Origami King, they aren't fully playable in the same way Luigi is. You aren't controlling their every jump. This fundamental difference in control is why the crossover felt so jarring to some. Adding a third button for "Paper Mario" broke the muscle memory of a decade of Mario & Luigi fans.
A Quick Look at the Evolution
- Super Mario RPG (1996): The blueprint. Square Enix showed everyone that Mario could work in a world of numbers and menus.
- Paper Mario (2000): Originally "Super Mario RPG 2," it pivoted to the art style we know. It was charming. It was simple.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003): This changed everything. It added the "A" and "B" button synchronicity. It was funny—genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny.
- The Drought: After AlphaDream went bankrupt in 2019, many thought the Mario & Luigi style was dead. Paper Mario was the only one left standing, carrying the RPG torch, albeit a very differently shaped torch.
Does the Art Style Actually Change the Gameplay?
Yes. Absolutely.
In Paper Mario and Luigi discussions, people often overlook how the "paper" aspect isn't just an aesthetic—it's a mechanic. In Paper Jam, Paper Mario could fold himself, slip through cracks, and make copies of himself. He played by different physics rules than the "real" brothers.
The "real" Mario and Luigi are heavy. They have weight. Their jumps feel intentional. Paper Mario is floaty. Integrating those two different physics engines into one battle system was a technical nightmare that Nintendo actually pulled off quite well. It’s just a shame the story didn’t have the same level of ambition.
The Return of the King: Mario & Luigi: Brothership
When Brothership was announced for the Switch, the collective gasp from the community was audible. It looks vibrant. It looks high-def. But most importantly, it looks like it’s returning to the roots that made the series great.
There’s a specific kind of magic in seeing the brothers interact. The way Luigi hides behind Mario, or how they combine for a "Bros. Attack." It’s expressive in a way that the 2D sprites of the past hinted at, but the 3D models can finally fully realize.
Is there room for Paper Mario here? Probably not. And honestly? That’s for the best.
The lesson Nintendo seems to have learned—or at least, the lesson we hope they learned—is that these franchises thrive when they have their own space. Paper Mario can be the experimental, arts-and-crafts adventure. Mario & Luigi can be the traditional, turn-based RPG with the weird humor.
What You Should Actually Play Right Now
If you're looking to scratch that itch, don't just wait for the next big release. Go back.
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: Frequently cited as the peak of the series. You play as Mario and Luigi inside Bowser’s body while also controlling Bowser himself. It’s brilliant.
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Remake): If you want to see what the "Paper" side looks like when it’s firing on all cylinders, this is it. The writing is top-tier.
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions: A great way to see where the brotherly dynamic started, with modern conveniences.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Player
Stop comparing them. Seriously.
If you go into a Paper Mario game expecting Superstar Saga, you’re going to be disappointed. If you go into Mario & Luigi expecting the deep lore and partner system of The Thousand-Year Door, you’re missing the point of the "Bros." mechanic.
Understand the inputs: In Mario & Luigi, your left hand and right hand need to be in sync (A for Mario, B for Luigi). In Paper Mario, it’s usually more about singular timing and menu navigation.
Embrace the humor: Both series are known for being funnier than the mainline Mario platformers. Read the dialogue. Don't skip it. The NPCs in these games are where the writers really get to have fun.
Check your hardware: Most of the Mario & Luigi library is stuck on the DS and 3DS. If you don't have one, keep an eye on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. They’ve started adding GBA titles, which is currently the only official way to play the original Superstar Saga on modern hardware.
The reality of Paper Mario and Luigi is that they represent two different philosophies of Nintendo’s design. One is about the "feel" of the world, and the other is about the "bond" between the characters. Both are valid. Both are great. And now that both series are active again on the Switch, it’s a great time to be a fan of the mustache.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Audit your collection: If you haven't played Bowser's Inside Story, track down a copy. It is arguably the most creative RPG Nintendo has ever published.
- Watch the trailers for Brothership closely: Notice the "Battle Plug" system. It’s a new way to customize your playstyle that feels like a blend of the old "Badge" systems from both series.
- Support the developers: Sales numbers matter. If you want more Mario & Luigi and less "generic Toad" era Paper Mario, vote with your wallet when these RPGs hit the shelves.