Paper Mario: The Origami King arrives on Nintendo Switch this July

More good news to celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary: the Paper Mario series continues to unfold with its latest iteration, Paper Mario: The Origami King on the Nintendo Switch this summer.

The trailer opens with an eerie sequence involving an origami Princess Peach striding in macabre fashion from the front doors of her castle to let Paper Mario inside. Upon entering, she asks him an ominous, enigmatic question: “Will you crease yourself and be reborn like me?” When Mario says no, the creepy music intensifies and Peach says, “Wrong answer. Right answer. It matters not. Your replies are all paper thin,” before sending Mario tumbling down a trap door that opens beneath his feet.

Has Peach finally snapped? Is this yet another insidious Bowser plot? Apparently not. The trailer goes on to reveal Mario and Bowser trying to make a hasty escape in the latter’s infamous propeller-driven, flying clown car; underground tombs with Egyptian-looking architecture; Mario launching down a waterfall in a boat with a Bob-Omb; a squadron of paper plane fighter jets; and what looks to be a brand-new villain behind it all in the form of the game’s eponymous King Olly.

According to the description from the official Paper Mario website:

The kingdom has been ravaged by an origami menace! Join Mario and his new partner, Olivia, as they team up with unlikely allies like Bowser and the Toads to battle evil Folded Soldiers.

Try to free Princess Peach’s castle from the clutches of King Olly in this comedy-filled adventure, only on the Nintendo Switch system.

Paper Mario: The Origami King will feature a brand-new game mechanic called the 1,000-Fold Arms ability, which will allow the paper plumber to extend his arms like Mr. Fantastic to “interact with the environment and solve puzzles.” The 1,000-Fold Arms ability will also be usable in combat, where Mario will have to line-up scattered enemies and unleash attacks on them in the “new, ring-based battle system that requires both puzzle-solving skills and a quick wit.”

Take a look at some of the new combat system in action:

Paper Mario: The Origami King will be developed by Intelligent Systems, who has handled every game in the series thus far, including the game’s first appearance, the original Paper Mario for the N64 in 2000. The game will be available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch on July 17, 2020.