The Video Game Critic

Without getting too much into it at this late hour, I want to say that my wife picked up a copy of Super Paper Mario for the Wii tonight, when I was expecting to have to wait till Tuesday when my copy would arrive at GameCrazy.  And after having spent a good 2 hours on the game, let me tell you that, aside from some slightly lengthy text and a rather subdued musical score, I honestly think this may be the ultimate Mario experience.  The game is played in both 2d and 3d, at your command.  It opens up a whole new mess of things to be done in the game.  And quite frankly, I remember as a kid, wondering what Mario games looked like from Mario's point of view, so it is nice to see different familiar objects from a first-person view for the first time.  (Mario 64 doesn't count because it is fully 3d)  Just get this game.  It is a MUST HAVE for any Wii owner.

Paul -

I too am excited about this game, and am glad to hear it is really good. I have one concern, though, and no review really addressed it:

My understanding is the 'a' button is jump and the 'b' button is an action button that utilizes whatever pixel power you are using. Does it also double as a run button? Is there a commited run button?

Basicly, is the platforming more like an PPM1000YD, or like classic Super Mario?

So far I have not been able to run any faster, but i have already acquired two different abilities that I didn't start with, so I'm not sure if it's something I'll get later or not.  There has not been a time in the game yet where I needed to run, though.  Any time there was a jump I couldn't make, I either had to switch to 3d to find my way across, or go in a pipe that leads to the background of the level where you talk to or rescue a bridgekeeper who takes care of it for you.  Just talking about it, I can't wait to play some more after work today.

The platforming is all classic Super Mario, but all the characters, effects, levels, dialog, etc are Paper Mario.  The two just seem to mesh together so well it is brilliant that someone thought it would be good to combine the two.

Yeah, oh yeah, I'm almost done with my day job..... and I can finally rip into my preordered copy of this gem.....


two more hours....

-Rob

[QUOTE=feilong80]Yeah, oh yeah, I'm almost done with my day job..... and I can finally rip into my preordered copy of this gem.....


two more hours....
[/QUOTE]

Yep.  I get mine today too.  I can't wait.

Does everyone on this board own a Wii minus the Critic?  I still get a chuckle out of that. 

It's funny but a few years ago I swore off the Mario games as being too kiddy, now, I love them for the fact that they're just plain fun.  I might have to give this one a whirl as well.

I was going to pass on Super Paper Mario. I tend to become contrarian when there is lots of hype over any particular title. Is it worth buying? I have a few free rentals where I was planning to just rent the game, beat it, and save myself $50.

I am kind of bummed there is no run button, but I suppose with the 3-D/2-D switch, it may not be even relevant. I imagine it is just something to play to understand.

Mario is fun.

Got home and put a couple of hours in the game last night. Good times.

They are probably going to be some people who get irritated at the dialogue. Not the quality of it, mind you (it's quite well written and funny), but the fact that it's there at all bothers some gamers (kinda depressing, when you think about it...).

Nonetheless, after a lengthy intro, the game starts to really show what it can do. Smart implementation of Wii mote stuff. No forced motion controls! Shaking the controller to get "style points" while stomping is simple and fun, and pointing with it to reveal things is a smart, inobtrusive use.

Point being: if there is no reason to use the motion controls, don't use em'. That simply can't be a litmus test for Wii greatness.

Otherwise, the art direction is phenomenal and I love the 2D 3D switching. There are already a number of delightful surprises, such as the "mini marios" that help you out or the super sized mode where you become a HUGE 8 bit Mario!

But here's the sign of a great game: All I can think about today at work is getting back home to play it more (-:

-Rob

I'm glad you mentioned the "style points" thing, because I accidentally skipped past the little teaching bubble when it first told me about that, so I knew I had missed something good.  I think the implementation of the Wii remote is as balanced as it possible can be.  It isn't cumbersome in any way, and you don't feel like you are using it to do something that would be easier done with the d-pad.

I am actually already stuck.  In the first castle there is a big door about halfway up the wall that I cannot figure out how to get into.  My wife and I tried EVERYTHING last night, even letting myself sink into the quicksand in other areas of the castle (ala SMB3), and nothing worked.

Which reminds me, another sign of a truly GREAT game, my wife likes to sit and watch me play it, the whole while blurting out little tips and suggestions.  The only other games, besides puzzle games of any kind, that she got into like this were Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Ocarina of Time.