Episode 234: Paper Or Plastic?

We play Paper Mario: The Origami King, Carrion, and Pokken Tournament DX, examine the evolution of game lifespans, discuss the latest Nintendo Direct Mini, and assess the "gigaleak."

Fake it till you make it or embrace your unexpected change in direction? That’s ultimately the question with Paper Mario: The Origami King, and in this episode, we share impressions of how it fares. We also check out reverse horror game Carrion and revisit Pokken Tournament (now in DX form on Switch). Plus, we discuss how this summer’s many in-game events signal the extension of game shelf lives, the first-ever Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, and the moral dilemma of the recent Nintendo “gigaleak.”

What do you think of the new Paper Mario? Let us know in the comments. If you enjoyed the show, be sure to subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. You can also follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo.

As always, we’ve included links below for more on the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp to locate the segments that most interest you. Enjoy!

News

[0:07] Paper Mario’s producer elaborates on the ‘challenge’ of NPC restrictions (VGC)
[0:40] Pokken Tournament DX is free on Nintendo Switch Online until August 4 (GamesRadar+)
[0:48] Tetris 99 ‘Paper Mario: The Origami King’ Maximus Cup announced for July 31st, 2020 (GoNintendo)
[0:56] 8-Bit Dr. Mario Joins Dr. Mario World, And He’s Free (GameSpot)
[1:03] Rocket League is going free-to-play (The Verge)
[1:09] Splatoon 2 Celebrates 3rd Anniversary With Bonus Splatfests (GameRant)
[1:11] Animal Crossing’s Second Summer Update Adds Fireworks, Dreaming, And Cloud Backups (Kotaku)
[1:15] Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase | July 2020 (Nintendo.com)
[1:16] Shin Megami Tensei III Is Coming To Nintendo Switch Alongside The Fifth Game (Nintendo Life)
[1:23] Cadence of Hyrule adds five characters, songs and story to come (Polygon)
[1:31] Balan Wonderworld Is A New Game From Sonic The Hedgehog Creators (GameSpot)
[1:37] Huge apparent leak unearths Nintendo’s prototype history (Ars Technica)
[1:48] Beloved Nintendo president Satoru Iwata’s tribute book is finally coming out in English (The Verge)

Games

[0:07] Paper Mario: The Origami King (Official Site)
[0:29] Carrion (Official Site)
[0:40] Pokken Tournament DX (Nintendo.com Game Page)
[0:48] Tetris 99 (Official Site)
[0:56] Dr. Mario World (Official Site)
[1:03] Rocket League (Official Site)
[1:09] Splatoon 2 (Official Site)
[1:11] Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Official Site)
[1:17] Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster (Official Site)
[1:17] Shin Megami Tensei V (Official Site)
[1:23] Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda (Official Site)
[1:31] Balan Wonderworld (Official Site)