I have been wondering about my purchase of Nintendo’s latest system the Wii for some time. I find it very hard to find a game worth the price tag. Yes, Zelda is a great game and its found a place in my library of titles but as any gamer you long for something different. I find myself time and time again standing in Blockbuster humming and hawing about trying something new and inevitably renting something I find hours later a let down.
Searching the next to be released titles for the Nintendo Wii, Super Paper Mario seemed interesting. Now I haven’t purchased a Mario or related title since the N64. I just haven’t had the interest or desire to play a 3D Mario game. Something about the side scroll just has to stay with the Mario I know and love.

Paper Mario brings the side scrolling game I love and injects a 3D world that I didn’t think would work out as well as it has. Super Paper Mario is making its debut on the Wii as the third installment of the series. The later being the N64 (Paper Mario) as well as the Game Cube (Paper Mario - The Thousand Year Door). Having avoided both of these thinking they were simply a 3D game, I’m rather disappointed in my lack of vision and faith in Nintendo’s ability to bring a great game to the plate.

The first chapter of Nintendo’s Super Paper Mario for the Wii starts you off in need of collecting heart pieces (ala Zelda?) to stop Count Bleck from erasing all of the worlds. Count Bleck and his gathering of henchmen/women are some of Nintendo’s least imaginative enemies but I will get back to that in a moment. Rather that a Mushroom based system of powers and heath the Paper Mario series is an RPG. From what I have played of the game this makes it unbelievably easy. You still rely on collecting the fireball, Mushroom, Flower and Star but these are items to be equipped rather than a growth factor per instance ala the original Mario series. Each of the separate items once equipped becomes a single use or timed approach from what I experienced. However the few enemy characters I encountered were simply dispatched with the tried and true head stomp method. The boss characters however took advantage of a “Pixl” companion. The Pixl companions which I obtained 2 of during the first chapter enable Mario to complete special moves unlocked by each “Pixl”.  To avoid spoilers I will stop at that for the “Pixls”.

The game play itself is very reminiscent of any Mario game I have ever played. The Wiimote becomes the standard remote by holding it lengthwise in your hand. Movement is done with the D-pad and the 1, 2 and A buttons become your main interface with the game. At times you are required however to point the Wiimote at the screen to highlight areas for assistance.  For any gamer looking for a new innovation from the Wii in game play during a Mario game this is not the one. Unless they unlock the unbelievable, trend setting, ground breaking method in later chapters I’m afraid this is standard fare. Again this is not a bad thing, this is still a great Mario game.

Graphically the 2D game is very colorful as you would expect from a Nintendo title. Bubbly backgrounds and block based map builds guide your thin Mario and his party during the quest for 8 heart pieces. The levels are very reminiscent of the first 3 Super Mario releases. Castles, Desert and over the top plant life are abundant. The 3D part of the game however as feared was rather confusing and disorienting at times. The graphics take an immediate drop in detail and creativity. It appears that the empty voids and areas are intentional, this however gave the game a unfinished look during the 3D areas of each level.

The sound is typical MIDI and rises and falls with the tempo of the game. In relation to other Next-Gen games this seems rather 1980’s and leaves allot to be desired. All and all in comparison to the other titles I have played on the Wii this is one of the better looking and sounding of the bunch.

The character creation is something I wanted to leave for the closing statements. Nintendo has made a career and a solid fan base on being able to consecutively bring great hero’s and enemies to games with a solid story. Super Paper Mario is relying again on the tried and true. Bowser, Princess Peach, Luigi and Toad are all seen in the opening moments of the game. This is the saving grace of this title. If not for these characters the game itself is very bland, the new bosses are very unimaginative and hard to describe. The main boss whom kidnaps all of Mario’s friends in the beginning is nothing more than a cloak with eyes. What happened to the fear and fire breathing originality of Bowser? Even Wario seems to cast a darker shadow than that of Count Bleck. 

In the end I had a great time playing the first chapter. I sit typing this watching my wife play through the same levels I just completed and find myself wanting to continue further into the story. The RPG element of the game in all is well done if at times a little too detailed. Some of the cut sequences are very long. If you have the Nintendo Wii and you’re having trouble finding a game as I was, Super Paper Mario fits the bill. Although the graphics and game play when in the 3D realm are something left to be desired over all this is another great side scrolling Mario with a RPG twist.