Super Paper Mario

What would you do if you had the chance to revisit a forgotten land? What if you could hop into a time machine, jump back to the 80s, and explore an old dimension in way you never thought possible? Would you expect a bit of nostalgia? Or would the land you’re exploring be so different that it completely changes the way you view 2D games?

Super Paper Mario is an exquisite operation and miraculous orchestration that shows a new side of the neglected second dimension. For the first time in any game, players are able to step into Mario’s world and see things as he sees them. From one side the world appears to be a cluster of flat paper cutouts. They are thin, stacked together, and have no apparent depth.

Then, with the press of the A button, the world flips 90 degrees. The environment widens – everything you see becomes three-dimensional. Blocks that appeared to be stacked side-by-side are really several feet apart. Mountainous 2D backdrops – used for eye candy since 1985 – are interactive. They appear flat and useless from the 2D side. But when flipped over, anything you see may become a 3D object or platform that can be used to reach the next level.

On The Flip Side

The basic idea of Super Paper Mario’s game worlds does not sound that different from the original NES version, Mario World on the SNES, or NEW Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS. You start at the beginning and work toward finding the star icon, which is located at the end of each level/chapter.

That’s the old content – the rest is new. Goombas and Koopa Troopas are back, while several new enemies have come to flatten the heroic plumber. He won’t be fighting alone and he won’t do it as expected. Players can switch between the 2D and 3D views at any time.

If you switch when a Goomba approaches, the game is likely to reveal several baddies that could not be seen from the side-scrolling view. Enemies could be too thin or too far back to be seen without thoroughly examining the area. They might hide behind a pipe or platform that, while navigating the second dimension, has only one surface. You can either walk in front of or behind the object (and jump over it in some areas).

Change the camera angle and you’ll see what’s really there. Retro Mario transforms into a linear version of Mario 64. That’s why I will never be able to play another 2D Mario game without wondering what I’m missing. I know the backdrops are just backdrops, but my mind keeps thinking, “If I could turn the camera, then maybe…”

Super Paper Mario’s controls fall somewhere between Paper Mario 2 and NEW Super Mario Bros. The game is played solely with the Wii remote – no nunchuck attachment necessary. You hold the remote sideways like an NES controller. Running is automatic but the jumping height still depends on Mario’s running speed and how long the number 2 button is held.

Point the remote at your TV to blur the screen and launch a large scope that highlights anything of importance. Click on a highlighted item to learn more about its contents. The introductory batch of “important” items (NPC details) isn’t likely to intrigue you. But the scope can also be used to solve puzzles. Almost anything I say could classify as a spoiler, so I’ll only mention the one used to demonstrate how the game works. Mario enters a vacant room and, expecting there to be some hidden item, switches to the third dimension. Neither dimension proved to be useful. That’s when you point the remote at the vacant wall. Ah-ha! A hidden door! How very Zelda of the game – and executed in a unique way.

Puzzles. Action! RPG

Paper Mario’s roots lie with the world of console role-playing games. This stems from the Square classic Mario RPG, a game that has yet to receive a direct sequel. Its spirit lives on in this series, which is why it was surprising to learn that Paper Mario’s first Wii outing would not contain any turn-based battles. The news was followed by a trailer that revealed an impressive real-time combat engine.

Despite the many changes and gameplay innovations, Super Paper Mario is still an RPG – an action/RPG with several story segments. Once the intro is finished, the majority of your adventure will be spent fighting enemies while searching for a solution to the current puzzle. Mario, Peach and Bowser are on the playable roster. Each character retains at least one of their special elements featured in a previous Nintendo game (Peach uses her parasol to float, Bowser can breathe fire, etc.).

Story advancements occur in between game worlds, but they aren’t as joyous this time around. The lengthy dialogue sequences do not have on-the-floor laughs provided by Paper Mario 2 and Mario & Luigi 2. I found the comical situations and ironic scenarios to be much more humorous. Think back to the biggest, most dangerous enemy or world hazard Mario has encountered in his career. In the past, they couldn’t be avoided. The only option was to run. In Paper Mario, all you have to do is change dimensions and sidestep the hazard. In 2D every problem looks enormous – in 3D most enemies are paper-thin! It’s hilarious.

 
If only you could walk around this menace. Oh that’s right, you can.

 There has never been a better time to be a Mario fan. NEW Super Mario Bros. last May, Super Paper Mario is in stores, and we’ll be playing Super Mario Galaxy by Christmas.

Super Paper Mario ushers in a new era of 2D/3D gaming. It’s a surreal adventure you’ll get lost in – in the best way possible. The gameplay is remarkable, the innovations are superbly executed, and the graphic techniques and effects are amazing. Whatever you do, don’t leave the house immediately after playing this game. People will be tempted to ask why you can’t stop smiling.

Gameplay: 9.0
Whether fighting a dozen paper-thin enemies or trying to find the solution to a clever puzzle, Super Paper Mario’s gameplay is an all-around blast. New worlds and a wholly unique world structure bring the series back to innovation. Among the new combat options are a bomb that lets you destroy block walls and open hidden passages, as well as a floating hand that lets you grab, retrieve and throw enemies, Klonoa-style.

Graphics: 9.2
Brilliant artistic designs. You’ve seen Mario and you’ve seen platformers, but you’ve never seen a game quite like this.

Sound: 8.5
An inspired collection of songs pulled from…where? Super Paper Mario doesn’t sound like other Mario games. But its whimsical, dream-like score is everything a Mario soundtrack should be – captivating, unforgettable, and infused with the underlying essence of an epic RPG.

Difficulty: Medium
Some games are good. Some games are challenging. Super Paper Mario is creatively challenging. There are portions of it that are a little too easy, but I think that’s how they get us. Make us question the content, then introduce puzzles that truly stand apart from other games.

Concept: 9.5
A vast, unprecedented land of puzzles have been created through this 2D to 3D world, forever changing the way we view 2D environments. An amazing accomplishment. An incredible innovation.

Overall: 9.0
NEW Super Mario Bros. meets Paper Mario 2 meets Mario 64 (with a little Klonoa and Zelda on the side). The idea of bringing 2D Mario into the third dimension was not only an original design decision, but also an impeccable choice for a new and unique take on a series that’s more than 20 years old.