Paper Mario on Nintendo 64 Is a Testament to Strong Art Direction

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It has already been over 20 years since the Nintendo 64 was the latest offering from the company. In 2001, the N64 was on its way out while its successor, the GameCube, prepped for launch. Just before hanging its hat, the N64 got out one final swan song in the form of Paper Mario. Originally created as a follow-up to the Super Nintendo's Super Mario RPG, it morphed into its own thing and launched an entirely new sub-franchise.

The game is often applauded for its charming story and enjoyable gameplay, but what is arguably the true star of the show is the art design in the original Paper Mario. While other games from the era have shown their age visually, Paper Mario has aged gracefully thanks to its commitment to a specific aesthetic. For a game that is over 20 years old to still look good, even in the wake of new systems, proves why it's as important to have strong art direction as it is to push the amount of polygons on screen.

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While the Nintendo 64 may have been cutting edge at the time, games that were once graphical stunners like Perfect Dark have been overshadowed by those that followed over the years. Naturally, with each new console generation the power inside each machine makes way for more impressive technical capabilities. However, as beautiful as these games can be when they first hit shelves, it's a superficial strength that will likely become a victim to the passage of time.

While something like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune in 2007 has since been overshadowed in terms of pushing realistic graphics, Paper Mario maintains an authentic style all its own. The choice to commit to a storybook appearance with all its characters and locations having a paper or cardboard look