I’m a big fan of 2D platforming games especially those on the Nintendo platform. With no drought of 2D platformers within the Nintendo eShop, this one finds itself at home. Paper Monsters Recut is a 2D platformer developed by Mobot Studios Inc. When I saw the title for the first time, I absolutely loved the concept and graphics which made me excited to play it. One question that I had in my head was; how does it stand up to all the other platforming games on the eShop? So, I set out on an adventure to see how Paper Monsters Recut holds up.
I did a little bit of research and found that Paper Monsters began its life in the iOS and Android market being mainly a mobile game. Mobot Studios Inc, ported this game to the PC market and now finally it’s made its way over to the Wii U eShop. You play as a cardboard cutout robot who is trying to save Paper Land. While the story is pretty generic it’s still quite fun. The game holds true to its genre, you start off in an over world that is similar to the Mario series as of recently. I was presently surprised to see this and it’s quite fun to navigate that world and unlock different levels.
This game pretty much feels like Mario, there are a lot of similarities. One thing I noticed right off the bat like any other if hold down the Y button that will cause you to run. And pushing the B button will have you jump, and if you hit it twice you will double jump. So, the controls are pretty basic overall. There are secret pipes that are located all around the maps and it does have a very Mario vibe but they’re fun to discover and find the hidden spots located within levels. It’s also pretty awesome that there are boss fights at the end of each area which adds fun to the whole experience.
Each level is designed in a way where you can collect three golden paperclips and one gold button. The object really is to collect as many things as possible and make it through the levels alive. These items are later on use to unlock mini games and to get a high score. Some of these collectible items are extremely easy to find while others almost feel impossible. Feeling like a semi-pro platforming gamer I was shocked at the abundance of secrets that I was able to find, which I very much liked. While all of this is awesome and the graphics are shiny and unique the gameplay that’s offered was still a bit generic and bland which was a little disappointing. There wasn’t anything that made it stand out from any other platforming games that I’ve played as of recently.
The best part about Paper Monsters Recut is its graphical style. I absolutely love the 3D/2D paper cut out feel. It almost remind me of Paper Mario in a way with all the cardboard cutouts and cotton balls, popsicle sticks just things that look like they’re all handmade and put together. When I see a studio do this I understand the amount of work that goes into it and I very much value it. It’s ultimately one of my most favorite things to see within the vide ogame. The music was also done pretty well. It’s poppy, cheerful and will keep you playing not even really noticing it’s there, which is definitely a good thing.
The Recommendation
I really wanted to have Paper Monsters Recut be one of my recent favorite games, however I feel like it fell a little flat. Maybe I had to high expectations for it. The graphics are beautiful and unique, the music’s done very well and it is fun. The game has a lot of content, a bunch of levels and secrets to discover. For $7.99 you can’t go wrong and if you’re platforming fan it’s definitely worth checking out.