Developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo, was first released in 2000 for the Nintendo 64. The game introduced players to a charming world where Mario and his friends were reimagined in a papercraft-inspired setting. With its innovative gameplay mechanics, engaging storyline, and lovable characters, Paper Mario 64 quickly became a fan favorite.
Speedrunners and purists argue that the Wii Virtual Console’s N64 emulator is superior to Project64 or Mupen64Plus on weaker PCs. The Wii’s fixed hardware guarantees consistent frame rates—critical for the game’s timed blocks, where a single missed guard against the Master of the Dojo can mean a game over.
The Wii Virtual Console version is highly regarded for its accuracy, though it contains minor technical differences from the N64 original:
The Wii outputs N64 Virtual Console games at their native resolution (usually 640x480 interlaced) but can be forced to 480p via component cables or the Wii’s progressive scan setting. On a CRT, it looks phenomenal. On an HDTV, expect soft edges—but the game’s papercraft art style ages gracefully, unlike early 3D titles that rely on texture fidelity.
While the Wii WAD version is highly regarded, it has a few drawbacks compared to the original N64 hardware or modern emulation:
: The Wii U version is notorious for a dark, muddy filter that affects visibility. The Wii WAD version preserves the original vibrant colors of the N64 game.