Originally planned for the Gamecube, this third game in the Paper Mario series is a little different from its predecessors. Whereas the previous two games were more or less straight turn-based RPGs (albeit with a few odd quirks), Super Paper Mario is instead a platformer where gameplay is in real time. Despite the genre change however, this game is not entirely different from the first two games- it still has an experience system where you level up, and you do gain other party members with unique abilities. There are eight levels (chapters) to explore, each divided into four sub-chapters.
The most obvious change, and the game's main gimmick, is the ability to switch between two and three dimensions. While in the third dimension, you are able to see and do things that would be impossible otherwise. For example, a large pipe may block the path in front of you, but switching into 3D, it may be possible to simply walk around it. Fortunately, the puzzles in the game get a lot cleverer than that, so it doesn't get tired quickly. To prevent you overusing this power, a bar counts down, and if you don't switch back to 2D you'll start losing health. This is not the only power at your disposal though- as mentioned previously, other characters have other abilities. It feels like the rest of the party is a little redundant though, as for the most part you can progress through a level using Mario alone (as he is the only one who can switch dimensions). On top of that, throughout the game you acquire little creatures known as Pixls, each of which enables you to use some ability (like throwing objects, use bombs, etc.).
The plot is typically off the rails, in true Paper Mario style. A mysterious Count Bleck, guided by an ancient prophecy, plans to destroy the universe by having Peach and Bowser married together. So of course, Mario sets off to find the Pure Hearts, place them in various pillars and return the world to normal (Hold on, isn't this
exactly like the Star Pieces and the Crystal Stars in the previous games?). Bleck's minions set out to stop you, and eventually you're joined by other party members such as Peach and Bowser. It's a decent enough story, but unfortunately every plot detail is hammered down to you through excessive amounts of dialogue, as if the developers think we're stupid. And often there's long scenes which aren't even relevant to the story, which also go on for far too long (extremely annoying if you lose a boss battle and have to go through a five minute scene again).
As stated previously, this game was originally designed with the Gamecube in mind, so as you might expect it doesn't make much use of the Wiimote's capabilities. Normally it is held horizontally, like how you can play NES and TG-16 games for the Virtual Console. Pointing it at the screen allows one of the Pixls to give a brief description about an object, enemy, or character. However, the lack of Wiimote gestures is probably better than having tacked-on gestures implemented into the game as an afterthought by the developers.
The graphics in Super Paper Mario are top notch... in 2D. Everything is stylish and full of colour, and the backgrounds are superb. Unfortunately, when you switch to 3D it doesn't look so great, with the level looking sort of barren and not as pretty. It's not a serious problem though, and overall the game looks quite nice, in a cartoon sort of way. The music for this game (which is composed in MIDI form) is adequate, although it's somewhat lacking in terms of quality. It's not terrible by any means, but rather it's simply just forgettable as it doesn't attempt to be lively or interesting. It's kind of like the music played in lifts.
Super Paper Mario is an excellent game, but one held back by a few flaws, namely a mediocre soundtrack, a handful of boring levels, and far, far too much text. It should not take 20 minutes just to start the first chapter! The game should take about 20 hours, plus a few minigames to enjoy, giving it a respectable lifespan, although it lacks replay value. Another complaint is rather specific- Chapter 2-3, where you have to perform a series of tedious, repetitive tasks to earn money. It's no fun at all, and I don't know what gave the developers the idea that anyone would like it. However, the actual gameplay is fun enough to overcome these problems, making this one of the best games currently available for the Wii.
Linear Mode
