Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

40 to 100 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Underappreciated"

Super Paper Mario is the third installment in the RPG franchise, Paper Mario, as well as one of the most intense in terms of storyline. The game drops the turn-based battle system and several of the 3D elements of its predecessors in favor of a more two-dimensional platforming setup, while still maintaining the plot depth the series has always had. The game also contains a pretty neat soundtrack that varies from jazzy, cheery, plaintive, and often intense that combines well with the game's atmosphere.

The story introduces the antagonist Count Bleck, who kidnaps Princess Peach, along with Bowser and his underlings, to activate the key to the destruction of all worlds, the "Chaos Heart", which has now formed an ever-growing void in the sky. Mario then meets a "pixl" named Tippi, who helps guide Mario on his journey to find the eight "Pure Hearts", as well as several other pixls. The objects, once combined, would help demise the power of the Chaos Heart and inevitably prevent Bleck from unleashing total mayhem. As the game progresses, however, so does the story, as it becomes more complex and sinister in nature, so Bleck as a villain isn't just a cliché archetype. As a result, the story successfully manages to impact its players emotionally.

Due to the introduction of this new conflict, Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser join forces with Mario, which means players get to control them as well. As mentioned, many of the gameplay mechanics visible in the previous installments aren't present in this game, but the story and character development more than make up for it. Others may find the use of dialogue throughout the game tedious to click through, but I find these types of games captivating in their own right.

Players no longer take turns striking an opponent in battles, but instead are open to more versatile attack methods, simply by jumping onto an enemy's head to subdue them or by choosing items and using the abilities of pixls. While the turn-based battle system proved more of a unique and innovating challenge, some may find that this newer system proves less frustrating. (Though SPM has its share of puzzles and challenges as well.) I also enjoy how the game is less dependent on constant backtracking and the addition of doors that transport the player to new worlds, instead of having to travel there by foot.

I believe one of the notable flaws, however, is the whole "3D flip" feature. While this is unique, it does get tiresome and overly-simplifies several of the challenges in the game. The landscape in this mode also appears very barren and there's nothing much to do, especially considering how there's an annoying time limit that must recharge itself constantly.

Despite that, however, I believe Super Paper Mario is truly a worthwhile experience and a great successor to the "Thousand-Year Door", also one of the more diverse games for the Wii.