I See the Super But Where’s the Paper?
That’s right kiddies Super Mario is back! No Super Mario Galaxy is still a long way off but Mario fans recently got their beaks wet with a new addition to the Paper Mario series which debuted way back during the N64’s heyday.
I can’t talk about Super Paper Mario without first mentioning that the game was originally supposed to show up on the GameCube much like Zelda: Twilight Princess. I blame this on Nintendo’s commitment to quality which often results in long development times. This time around the GameCube was six feet under even before the Wii was picked from Nintendo’s secret underground console farm. Seeing as how both titles were given extra functionality and 0 to -10 load times I’m hardly complaining here.
If you jump into this one hoping for that pseudo-RPG feel that has made the series a blast to play especially for those like me who don’t particularly like RPGs you will find those elements missing this time. Sure you level up as you progress through the game but you don’t get to choose what advantages you would like. You’re simply given more hit points and a slightly stronger attack.
Like puzzles? I do and you will find plenty of them in SPM. In fact just getting around most stages requires some sort of abstract thought. I did find the ability to switch from 2D to 3D perspectives fun but early on I did kind of forget I had the ability to do so. Therine lies the challenge; you must think in both dimensions to progress and find all the little secrets this game has to hide.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like platform games but to be honest all the previous Super Mario titles did it better that this. Sure it improved the pace of the game not having to switch screens to enter a “battle mode” but I found it really redundant to have to jump on the same enemy over and over. I just wanted to squish them and be done with it.
Now we get to the good stuff; the story. Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door had me in stitches. Yes this cynical gamer was actually laughing out loud while playing those two. Which was something I found absent from this latest iteration. Sure there were a couple bits that made me giggle. Like when Bowser quipped “I’m 100% grade A prim-cut final boss”. Those snappy bits were really bogged down by long nonsensical ramblings from most of the games characters. The story was OK but not as good as I had hoped.
I doubt you could get through this one during a regular 3 day rental but if you have no problem abusing Blockbuster’s “No late fees” policy than sure give this a rent. If you have gamers around who can’t match your feverish pace than give this one a buy it’s one of the better Wii titles out there………For now.
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:11 am
I am in much agreement with your review. Its a good game, but not a great game. Im glad I rented it, sadly though, its hardly holding my attention enough anymore where I probably am not going to finish it off. It is all puzzle and text. I have a little gamer in my family (11 years old), he is loving it, I think he is the target audience. I notice for him, the puzzles really do get harder as he progresses, so that is cool. I know I am really hanging on to the past here, but id like another Super Mario RPG
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:48 am
I think we’d all love another Super Mario RPG. The game was great even now i still love it and play it. It keeps up with games today. Now it all depends on if it’s good or not. Everyone always just goes oh ya Mario, i wish they’d bring out Mario RPG again, what if they mess it up? What if they try new things and it flops? Granted Nintendo, like Tim said, isn’t one to just throw out a game taht’s not good. Their first party stuff takes forever to come out but there’s usually a good reason for it.