But these are minor complaints in an otherwise excellent package. I wasn’t expecting to be so surprised by Color Splash, and it’s turned out to be one of my favorite games this year.

Click to expand...

Ultimately, Color Splash is the sequel to Sticker Star I never knew I wanted. It largely fixes the biggest problems of the original, while adding in the one thing it was missing completely: Heart. Color Splash is a whimsical and enchanting experience from beginning to end that, despite its obvious differences, brought back memories of the Thousand Year Door more than just a time or two, in terms of scope, charm, and sense of adventure.

Click to expand...

I need to apologize in advance for what you're about to read. I'm about to gush about a game. I'm going to gush hard. I'm going to gush about its graphics, about its music, about its humor and about all the improvements it made over Paper Mario: Sticker Star. I don't like to be the reviewer who just adulates games, but it's hard not to when you have an experience that consistently puts a smile on your face.

Click to expand...

"Such a well crafted game entertains for many hours thanks to its aesthetic charisma and its great dialuges, and could be even more near to the masterpiece aura if more brave in offering a true adventure experience, getting rid of the rpg elements of the past, being its true self"

Click to expand...

Color Splash makes a solid case for a Paper Mario sequel that doesn’t need to rely on shtick like stickers or paint, though I won't be surprised if Nintendo’s considering using crayons in the future.

Click to expand...

Paper Mario: Color Splash’s unimpressive gameplay is wrapped in a beautiful package. Aesthetically pleasing and chock full of laughs, the design and writing will keep you engaged long after the disorganized menuing of the card-based battle system has grown tiresome. The levels can prove a grab bag in terms of difficulty and fun factor, but a handful of areas shine. Though not an enthusiastic final hurrah for the Wii U, Color Splash’s beauty outweighs its flaws in the end.

Click to expand...

Conclusion

Paper Mario: Color Splash isn't just painting by the numbers. The series still straddles that awkward middle ground between pure RPG and adventure title, but this most recent entry has successfully found a comfortable niche that has silenced many of our prior gripes. Almost everything has been polished to a papery sheen - showcasing some of the series' best writing and presentation to date. Both the battle system and the overall plot are still some of the weaker aspects of the experience unfortunately, though they're moving slowly in the right direction.

Simply put, even when we were left unsatisfied by enemy encounters, Prism Island was always a joy to explore, with diverse environments and an endless amount of catchy tunes to keep you engaged from start to finish. It's a game of memorable moments that we would love to share but wouldn't dream of spoiling on you. Take Color Splash for what it is, and you might just find it to be a messy work of art.

Click to expand...

NotLiquid said:

IGN: 7.3
http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/10/05/paper-mario-color-splash-review

Gamespot: 7
http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/paper-mario-color-splash-review/1900-6416536/

GameInformer: 8.5
https://www.gameinformer.com/games/...-mario-color-splash-game-informer-review.aspx

EGM: 8
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/paper-mario-color-splash-review/

Cheat Code Central: 4/5
http://www.cheatcc.com/wiiu/rev/papermariocolorsplashreview.html

NintendoWorldReport: 9
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/43515/paper-mario-color-splash-wii-u-review

XGN: 8
http://www.xgn.nl/review/paper-mario-color-splash-review

NintendoLife: 8
http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu/paper_mario_color_splash

God Is A Geek: 8.5
http://www.godisageek.com/reviews/paper-mario-color-splash-review/

Meristation: 8.7
http://www.meristation.com/nintendo-wii-u/paper-mario-color-splash/analisis-juego/2112904

Destructoid: 8.5
https://www.destructoid.com/review-paper-mario-color-splash-390128.phtml

Click to expand...

Sendou said:

Nintendo Life 8/10

Click to expand...

revyb said:

My review over at App Trigger, giving it a 7/10:

Click to expand...

metalslimer said:

I would say that I hope they somehow get the message that they need to go in a different direction, but I don't even think they care

Click to expand...

udivision said:

I think it should review decently enough. Curious about the sales though.

Click to expand...

Paper Mario: Color Splash isn't the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door successor that many still resolutely hold out for, but that may never come. But, the adventure that unfolds is a remarkable one, and memorable for all the right reasons.

Click to expand...

metalslimer said:

I would say that I hope they somehow get the message that they need to go in a different direction, but I don't even think they care

Click to expand...

MigueelDnd said:

So, the characters and story are the only bad parts of this game. It's sad to see the directiom this series is heading towards.

Click to expand...

Destructoid said:

That's right, I said "rich" storytelling. In one of the many improvements over the previous title, Color Splash tells an interesting story, with interesting characters doing interesting things. The overall plot of the game is pretty basic and quickly turns into your standard Mario story of the mustached man trying to save a princess from the big evil turtle. At this point, that plot is to be expected, but it wasn't what kept me glued to the game. I was far more interested in the little things, the individual stories and vignettes found throughout. Whether I was helping ghosts at a haunted hotel, cooking a steak until I got it just right, setting sail with a bunch of pirates looking for fame and fortune, or answering questions in an underwater game show, I was completely enchanted with each of these little acts found in each level of the game.

I was also laughing for most of it because the script here is hilarious. Nearly every NPC present has a one-liner that cracked me up and the personalities of these characters are so diverse. Sure, they look the same because they're all just toads and Shy Guys, who I am happy to see play such a major role here, but when the writing is as on point as it is here, it doesn't matter what you look like. You could look like a paint can and still be the best character in the game. In fact, a paint can is the best character in the game. Huey, your Kersti-esque companion for this adventure, is amazing. He's overflowing with charisma, always quick with a joke, and not afraid to berate Mario, but when he does it's priceless. You can tell the folks at the Nintendo Treehouse had fun with this one, especially when you consider the 30 years worth of Mario material they call upon in the many references characters make.

Click to expand...

Paper Mario: Color Splash is a hell of a good time. If you are able to look past a gimmicky battle system and a couple of shoehorned mechanics, Color Splash oozes with both charm and humor. Sporting a great aesthetic, it is a title that should be in every Wii U owner’s library.

Click to expand...

Retrobox said:

So what sales number does Color Splash need to achieve to be considered a success?

This IS Wii U we are talking about so I honestly have no idea.

Click to expand...

Robin64 said:

How are you coming to that conclusion?

Click to expand...

GWX said:

I'm considering buying this, but not for 80 canadian dollars. Nintendo, c'mon, be reasonable.

Click to expand...

Laevateinn said:

I hated Sticker Star so much I can't decide if I want to get this. It looks beautiful and I'm happy that they added character to it but with a similar pointless battle style I don't know if I'd be able to sit through the whole thing.

Click to expand...

Plinko said:

Fantastic.

Click to expand...

Tom Nook Sawyer said:

Gamexplain's review is based almost entirely around how much he hated Sticker Star, and yet he ended up liking Color Splash. So I might actually give it a chance now, even though I hated the original too

Click to expand...