Super Paper Mario

[Watch the Video Review]

Since the start of the Wii console, gamers would wonder when the first Mario game for the platform would come out. In about 5-6 months, fans were rewarded with what they had wished for: Super Paper Mario. Super Paper Mario is the third in the Paper Mario series with the original "Paper Mario" on the Nintendo 64, "Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door" on the Gamecube and finally this on the Wii. Unlike the other games in the series though, instead of being an RPG, Super Paper Mario is a Side-scrolling Platformer.

The game starts with Mario and Luigi hanging out at his house one day. They suddenly get interrupted when Toad barges in and tells them that Princess Peach has been captured. Mario and Luigi rush to Bowser's Castle only to find out that Bowser wasn't responsible for kidnapping her this time. They soon find out that a mysterious man in white, named Count Bleck, was the one behind the whole scheme. It shows that he posses the Dark Prognosticus. Count Bleck also captures Luigi and Bowser. Apparently his whole plan was for Princess Peach and Bowser to marry each other in order to obtain the Chaos Heart. Count Bleck sends his assistant, Nastasia, to hypnotize Princess Peach into going through with this. Count Bleck is successful and obtains the Chaos Heart. He then uses it to create a Void that will eventually grow large enough to vacuum in the whole universe. Mario then meets a Pixl named Tippi, who guides him to a Wizard named Merlon. Merlon informs Mario that he matches the description of the hero as described by another book called the Light Prognosticus. It is said that the hero can stop the void, thus starting Mario's adventure. Mario's objective is to collect all 8 Pure Hearts in order to stop Count Bleck from banishing the whole universe to nothing. Interlaced throughout the story, there is actually a pretty touchy love story that will form a huge twist within the end of the game.

When you first look at the cover you can sense this game has a very cartoony feel to it. It's not going to have a Grand Theft Auto IV type of visuals mainly because this game is aimed at kids. There usually won't be any kind of blur or pixelation, but the graphics seem very dated. It was fine on the Nintendo 64 and even better on the GameCube, but now it just seems that we've seen a bit too much of these graphics. Honestly, these graphics look too much like the Gamecube predecessor and it doesn't look like it has changed much either. The characters, however, look very cute; almost like a chibi-version of them. the levels look nice, especially with many different types of environments, such as underwater and in space. The most impressive thing though, is the switch from 2D-3D Transitions. In 2D the game looks great, but in 3D it looks fantastic.

The music in Super Paper Mario is one of the most elegantly composed selection in any game I have ever heard. The soundtrack is basically a remixed version of some old tunes, a risk Nintendo took, but it seemed to work out fine. The best thing about the music is that it seems to go perfectly into the level design. The music is pretty much and usually the type of fun, overly happy kind of music that you would expect from Paper Mario. Honestly, you love the music but sometimes the music can get a little annoying, especially in the main town (Flipside). The music is excellent, but sometimes just seems a bit too childish.

What separated this game from the rest of the series is the change in genres. The past two Paper Mario games were RPGs, whereas Super Paper Mario is a Side-Scrolling Platformer. The greatest change is the use of being able to g from 2D to 3D. When you are in 2D, the game should look like a regular Paper Mario game, however, if you change to 3D, you basically see the same place, but on from the side. Some enemies that were in 2D may turn into just a thin line of paper in 3D mode. This change of how you can look at the levels play very well with level design and the such. Usually if you are stuck, try using 3D. You may find this may be a "way to cheat" by using 3D all of the time, but there is only a set time limit of how long you can stay 3D. A meter on the top left corner of your screen should start depleting whenever you go 3D. To recharge the meter,just step back into 2D, until it recharges on its own. Also, if you go past the time limit given, your meter will return full but at the cost of some HP. There is also a new idea of Pixls that help you around. At a time, you can have up to two Pixls out with you. You can choose one Pixl from the menu and the other Pixl is Tippi, who can help you with a description of your enemy or by making hidden objects/doors appear. You can acquire new Pixls by finding them throughout the story. One Pixl can turn into a bomb and another can become a platform that you ride on. The Pixls act almost as weapons or a special ability in the game. Another great thing about this game is that you can play as multiple characters, including Princess Peach and Bowser, but to try and keep this review spoiler free, I will say no more.

The game is played with the Wiimote turned to its side, as if playing Super Mario Bros. on the Virtual console. Players can shake the Wii Remote to pull off stylish moves that give you more points. You also shake the Wii Remote if you want to break out of ice. There are also, almost, microgames when you use certain items, usually the offensive items. If you point the Wii Remote towards your screen, you can get advice from Tippi, as mentioned above. The only beef I really have with the controls is that it could have used more motion controls instead of just to pull off combos and items.

Now since this is an Adventure game, you may think that once you beat the story you beat the game. While that is usually true for most games, Super Paper Mario begs to differ. With the idea of collecting trading cards in the game, most will try to collect them all just to beat the game 100%. Even after that though, you may come back to Super Paper Mario to replay some of your favorite levels. Super Paper Mario is a fun, quirky game with level designs incredibly entertaining, but the graphics gives this game a childish reputation.