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Paper Mario
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| Description:
Nintendo 64 owners have been patiently waiting for a decent role-playing game and, at long last, one has arrived in the form of the perplexing Paper Mario. World-famous video game icon Mario dons his familiar red overalls and unkempt moustache once more to star in this unconventional RPG. However, the catch is that Mario now stubbornly appears as a two-dimensional character--despite the largely 3-D exterior gaming environments that surround him. When our flat-headed friend turns around, his paper-thin presence becomes immediately apparent. It's a cool gimmick but fortunately Paper Mario is far from a cut-and-paste cartoon caper. As with most RPG titles, players must battle with several menacing enemies as they travel from place to place on their quest. Each encounter requires gamers to strategically choose between various modes of attack. As the adventure progresses, additional characters will join your quest. Your ever-growing posse gives you more fighting power as each team member brings new attack moves and powers worth mastering. To advance within the game, you'll need to pay close attention to your health metre, enemy hit points and your ever-expanding attack options. The game starts with enemies that are easy to defeat but it quickly becomes quite difficult to survive subsequent attacks without careful planning. Unlike most RPG games, each attack sequence is enhanced by a special action function. Instead of passively sitting back and watching each attack move occur, the player can enhance their attack by pressing a button or moving the directional controller at precisely the right time. Fans of the traditional Mario games will appreciate the return of familiar characters, such as Princess Peach and Luigi. Perpetual baddie Bowser even plays a key role in this addictive adventure. Best of all, there are plenty of hidden areas and extras to uncover. Paper Mario may boast elements of the classic platform-gaming genre, as well as the traditional RPG but it ultimately cuts through all expectations to deliver an experience that appeals to both casual and hardcore gamers. --Brett Atwood
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5/5 |
Charming, fun, long lasting, and way ahead of its time
(April 10, 2008) |
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Paper Mario is one of those games that ultimately, if you've never played it, looks quite ridiculous. You may not buy it for the fear of it being a cheap-knock out, and simply looks like it doesn't have depth. I had the same attitude with Super Smash Bros. - the similar cartoonish cover and cheap presentation left me wondering if it was worth getting. Cut long story short, I bought both when they came out, and they are un-undoubtedly two of the finest N64 games to date!
As suggested by the game's title, Mario, like all the other characters in the game, are paper thin in a 3-D world. Sounds quite ridiculous doesn't it? I can assure you that after it took me weeks to complete it first time round, I was by no means put off it's odd appeal. Its the complete opposite - it's genius, ans handles like a dream.
Using the analog stick, you move Mario around the environments in a bright, charming, and very fun way. Turn left from right, and you see him swivel around... rest in a bed to regain your energy, and watch him jump up and float into bed... get the idea?
Perhaps the games attraction evolves around its fantastic story that, as suggested by the opening menu, gives the game a 'Theatre Performance' like feel. The story is strong with plenty of cut scenes and talking, not to mention a beautiful 16-Bit sounding soundtrack, with remnants from all the old Mario games from the NES to the SNES.
I won't give the story away (as if you haven't seen the formula so far...) but as far as the set-up goes, it's like a combination between Super Mario 64, Pokemon for GameBoy, and Super Mario Bros. for the NES rolled into one... You have the 3-D environments for some scenes, followed by flat-scrolled scenes for others... and then you have the familiar "closed scene" Pokemon style battles, in which Mario takes on enemies in a closed environment where you and your opponent knock Health Points out of each other through various snazzy moves.
On top of this, Mario gains special moves that require different types of points, as well as finding 'Badges' that provide other little treats for in battles. Top this off with Level Up's and an array of characters which you take 'with you' along the way, and you have your self a finely tuned, but very addictive game!
It's unique appeal and very quaint, relaxed atmosphere is almost certainly a winner; something which Nintendo have always endeavoured in - Character. Now that this is available to download on the Wii's Virtual Console, I defy anyone who doesn't even take a look at it.
So Mario may not be titled as 'Super' this time round, but his journey is about as Super as it gets. |
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5/5 |
They've still got it! Amazing!
(October 22, 2001) |
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Nintendo still have it in them to produce another quite astounding Mario game. It may have been out since Feb in the US, but I have to admit that I'm glad they delayed for the UK as at least we all have something to play this winter. Ok, its almost a year old but it doesn't show as pretty much all recent N64 games have been in the works for a while and look dated compared to games like MGS2. It is the gameplay that matters though, and this has it in spades. It looks a little childish but the complexity and emotion of the gameplay and story rival even serious rpgs such as FFV.
All in all this is an absolute must have, whatever game platforms you may now own, as the gameplay knocks any next gen game into a cocked hat, although admittedly only until MGS2 comes out. Its the N64s last game. Go out with a bang and buy this! |
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4/5 |
Mario returns
(June 29, 2001) |
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Nintendo may now have their sites set on the Gamecube but still has the time to provide for me a new Mario game. If your a fan like me of all the Marios you'll love this game and its a must buy. However it does appeal toward children rather than older gamers, but its still a good laugh in the twilight years of the N64, before you push this console aside add another excellent Mario title to your collection. |
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