A Visual Masterpiece with a Mixed Core
Color Splash is one of those games that's hard to pin down. On the surface, it's absolutely gorgeous-easily one of the most visually stunning titles on the Wii U. But once you peel back the layers, it's clear this entry walks a fine line between charm and frustration. It's not a bad game by any means-it just doesn't quite hit the heights we know Paper Mario can reach.
The Good: Visuals and Writing That Shine
This game looks phenomenal. The paper textures, paint effects, and handcrafted environments make the whole world feel alive in a way that few other games in the series ever matched. Each level is vibrant and unique, and the animation work is top-tier.
And the writing? Genuinely hilarious. Nintendo let the localization team have fun, and it shows. The jokes land, the characters are quirky in the best way, and it captures that classic Paper Mario humor almost effortlessly.
The Not-So-Great: Combat and Repetition
Where Color Splash stumbles is in the same area Sticker Star did: the combat. The card-based battle system is interesting in theory, but in practice it becomes repetitive and tedious. When every attack uses consumable cards and there's not much strategy outside of "pick the right card," battles lose their weight.
There's also a fair bit of backtracking and "guess what the game wants" moments that can slow the pacing down. It can feel like a chore instead of a joy, especially when compared to earlier entries like The Thousand-Year Door or even Super Paper Mario.
Huey Deserves Some Love
Huey, your paint-can companion, is actually a solid character. He's witty, loyal, and his arc gives the story more emotional punch than you'd expect. For a sidekick, he holds it down well.
Final Verdict - 7 out of 10
Paper Mario: Color Splash isn't bad. It's funny, it's gorgeous, and it has heart. But the mechanics don't always support the charm. If you're a Paper Mario fan, it's worth experiencing-but it's hard not to wish it had more of that classic RPG soul. A good game, just not a great Paper Mario.
