You can also equip more powerful hammers and shoes to improve your attack power or change the attack radius. Both hammer and jump have a default attack that can be performed as many times as you want and is often enough to defeat weaker enemies. You also have a time limit to solve the puzzles, which can be upgraded by finding accessories throughout the game or spending cash to add extra time.Īttacking is done by choosing either items, jump, or hammer. It's not too complex, but it adds a touch of complexity to the puzzles to keep them feeling somewhat fresh. Spiked enemies can't be jumped on without special boots, Boos turns invisible before the ring-spinning phase so you have to memorize their positions, and so on.
Goombas can be stomped on, but Flying Goombas can only be jumped on. Origami King has a relatively small collection of enemies, but each one responds to a different tactic. You level up by finding hidden hearts in the world, so there is no EXP in the game and cash is your primary reward for fighting.
Fail, and you'll be vulnerable to enemy counterattacks, which drain HP and lose your cash bonuses. If you can line them up in either formation, you'll gain a 1.5x boost to attack strength and can theoretically take out the entire group of enemies in a single attack. The former can be hit by hammer attacks, and the latter can be hit by jump attacks. You can rotate the rings a set number of times - the number changes depending on the battle - and your goal is to line up all enemies in either a 2x2 square formation or a 1x4 straight line. Combat takes place in a circular arena that's divided into multiple rings, and Mario and his allies are smack dab in the middle.
The story has some serious moments, but you're mostly going to be laughing your way through.īattles in Origami King also have a puzzle component. The writing is witty and funny, and even when the jokes don't hit, they're cute enough to earn a smile. The game even manages to give a Bob-omb some degree of pathos, which is frankly bewildering. Even the bosses, who are stationary supplies like rubber bands and a box of colored pencils, are somehow charming. You have the usual casts of Goombas, Koopas and Toads, but the game goes out of its way to give them personality. The Origami King has a delightfully charming cast of characters, somehow made all the more endearing by their simplicity.