Super Paper Mario Unfolds This April

[Shifty]

Super Paper Mario Unfolds on Wii
US release slated for April 9.
by Rob Burman, IGN UK

UK, February 12, 2007 - First it was coming out on GameCube, then it moved to Wii before going missing in action somewhere along the line. Finally though, Nintendo has announced that Super Paper Mario will heading to American Wii systems on April 9.

In a bizarre stroke of potential PR fancy, Nintendo sent out a press release saying: "Nintendo of America requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of Peach to Bowser on the 9th day of April 2007.

"The nuptials will take place at the beginning of Super Paper Mario, which will be available for Nintendo's hot new Wii home video game system. Those who wish to attend - or thwart - the ceremony will need to switch between 2-D and 3-D."

We guess it's more exciting than just saying, "Oh, by the way, Super Paper Mario's out on April 9, y'know."

 

[Spidey-Bat]

About time this came out.

 

[Kipobe]

Already bought my copy. Can't wait.

 

[Shifty]

This is the second of four games to feature Mario on the Wii this year. MP8 is out in March right? Galaxy is looking like fall and Smash Brothers in summer?

 

[Spidey-Bat]

More likely Galaxy in summer and Brawl in fall.

 

[Kipobe]

Brawl is gonna be at Christmas guys, you heard it here first. That's assuming it's a foregone conclusion that it is this year.

Even if it's done, they're gonna keep delaying it until they really need a Wii-booster. Right now, they don't need it. Next christmas might be a good time though... that thing will sell Wii's like hotcakes.

 

[Shifty]

Brawl is gonna be at Christmas guys, you heard it here first. That's assuming it's a foregone conclusion that it is this year.

Even if it's done, they're gonna keep delaying it until they really need a Wii-booster. Right now, they don't need it. Next christmas might be a good time though... that thing will sell Wii's like hotcakes.

Booster yes, but what about the current Wii owners waiting to play something online besides Pokemon? The Wii is going to need some Wi-Fi multiplayer games so I don't see Brawl being pushed back to 2008.

 

[Shifty]

Bits of Super Paper Mario info
February 18th, 2007

I had heard that the guys over at 1up discussed Super Paper Mario in their most recent podcast. I was planning on listening today to see if any new info came out of it. Thanks to reader Zenman, I can hang back. He gave a very nice summary of the discussion! I will list some bulletpoints below.

- Game starts off like the rest of the Paper Mario series. You begin in a town with an Inn, shop, NPC’s…the regular Paper Mario fodder.

- Stages are numbered 1-1, 1-2 just like the old Mario games

- You cannot run or throw turtle shells at the beginning of the game. You learn these moves are you go along.

- Classic characters appear, as well as remixed versions of some characters that we know from the past

- The intro to the game is an FMV video

GoNintendo.com/1up.com

 

[Spiderguy]

Super Paper Mario will be an awesome game! Heck, any Mario adventure game is awesome!

 

[Shifty]

Some new info, sounds good. Possible birthday gift.

Impressions: Super Paper Mario

SpmgreatFour hours in, and Super Paper Mario is shaping up quite nicely. Combining straight-up platforming action with the witty, daring dialogue of the Paper Mario RPGs was a great idea -- I'm surprised they didn't think of this sooner.

Not to mention the fact that the game's central mechanic -- switching back and forth between 2D and 3D to find hidden paths and solve puzzles -- works really well. The designers have gleefully taken the opportunity to hide secrets all over the place for the careful explorer. What a unique way of blending more easy-to-understand 2D platforming with all the hidden rewards for exploration offered in a 3D Mario game.

Top Five (Spoilery) Things You Didn't Know About Super Paper Mario, after the jump.

* The score? That's your Experience stat. You get the usual 100 points for stomping on Goombas or kicking Koopa shells. But as those add up, you gain levels. And it happens often enough -- and fighting enemies is so fast-paced and fun enough -- that seeing lots of bad guys is a joy, not a chore. You'll want to hunt down every single evil little bastard you can and stomp its face in. Not only that, you soon find out that much like in the original game you can rack up points by bouncing a Koopa shell against a wall again and again. You can get about 1000 extra points before the shell breaks, and considering that level-ups are only 30,000 points apart in the early going, it's worth it to just sit there and bounce a shell around a while. If you shake the Wiimote while you're in the air, you'll get a few bonus points as you perform acrobatic moves mid-jump.

* There's a hidden arcade in town. Once you clear the second world, a lot of the hub village opens up to you if you're willing to go find it. There's a Pit Of 100 Trials, much like the long, perilous multi-floor bonus dungeons in Paper Mario and Twilight Princess. There's a store that will sell you special cards that you can use to trap an enemy's soul. And hidden in there is an arcade in which you can play three mini-games for prizes. The best is Tilt Island. Imagine the boss fights from Super Mario World, except tilting the controller makes the island tilt back and forth with Mario on it. Now imagine enemies and food dropping from above, and you have to tilt Mario so he picks up the good stuff while avoiding the bad. I sunk a lot of time into this, plus a game where you use the pointer to shoot ghosts and one where you flip over cards and try to make pairs.

* Nintendo's writers have outdone themselves. It's still funny to watch Nintendo characters from the 80's be completely dysfunctional. Whether it's the constant Luigi-bashing (enemy characters shudder in fear when Mario's around, but they mock Luigi behind his back) or under-the-radar allusions to past Nintendo games (find the Punch-Out reference!), Super Paper Mario's script isn't just filler, it's there to be savored.

* Once again, the Wiimote is "tacked on" to a GameCube game -- and once again, it's a huge improvement. Super Paper Mario was 100% done and ready for release on GameCube in August, then moved to Wii. Holding the Wiimote sideways as if it were an old-school game controller adds to the retro feel. But even better is the ability to simply point it at the screen, which pauses the action and lets you "click" on anything you can see to get a text description of it -- or reveal hidden items and locations. I'd love to see a game built from the ground up with this in mind; for now, SPM feels like it was always a Wii game.

* I can't stand writing this anymore. I've got to go back.

Posted by Chris Kohler 1:08:08 AM in Console Games

 

[Shifty]

Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYmce3-9kHo

Gameplay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6SHjH9u4V4&mode=related&search=

Opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWHEtnZHhPQ

 

[Shifty]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D35YJWhwM5I

Super Paper Mario commercial

 

[TheGrayGhost]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D35YJWhwM5I

Super Paper Mario commercial

Am I wrong to enjoy those commercials so much...? At first, I was pretty indifferent towards them, but they've definitely grown on me, especially the music. Though I wonder what into the thought processing behind the Japanese feel?

Super Paper Mario, this'll be one heckuva game.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I wish it didn't come out after my spring break

 

[Shifty]

Some Reviews. Basically this is the next must own Wii game since Zelda. Its a 20 hour game.

Closing Comments
You should buy this game for a number of reasons. It's a Mario game and for some that will be enough. It's also one part platformer and another part RPG, successfully dabbling in both genres. It controls tightly and uses the Wii remote in a smart manner without stepping into forced territory. The new 2D-to-3D dynamic is built around clever and surprisingly complex puzzles that will challenge and impress you. And it all comes together to make Super Paper Mario a highly enjoyable title, whether you want to call it a platformer, an RPG, or something in-between. You will have fun and the fun will last for a good while, plain and simple.

And with that being said, that doesn't mean that the game is a work of perfection because that isn't true. The writing is well-crafted and humorous, but there is so much to read that it actually interrupts the flow of the game. Meanwhile, the 3D perspectives tend to look barren and boring even as the 2D views showcase stylized and colorful backdrops befitting of a classic Mario game. These gripes keep Super Paper Mario from becoming a truly masterful endeavor, but they don't stop us from recommending it as a must-buy for any Nintendo fan.

8.9/10

Final Word
There’s no denying it: Super Paper Mario is the first must-play since the Wii launch almost half a year ago. I don’t mean this in an insulting way – I really mean it as praise. This is a great adventure that blends RPG mechanics with platforming-style gameplay. Nintendo fans, in particular, are going to love the game. While the game is overly easy at times and some of the level design isn’t as likable or memorable as past Paper Marios, we absolutely recommend Super Paper Mario. It’s a great Wii game that just about anybody can enjoy.

8.8/10

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Have never played a Paper Mario before, but might pick this up. Glad that it'll last 20 hours, that's my big gripe about 360 games they're all too short. Seeing as I'm only at the third temple in Zelda though, might wait a while before picking this up.

 

[Shifty]

Another review, should be in stores today in America and in two days for Canada.

At least some new gameplay concepts keep the slightly dumbed-down platforming from feeling too basic. The ability to switch between several different characters adds some much-needed variety, but you'll likely spend most of your time controlling Mario because only he can "flip" the 2D world into semi-glorious 3D to reveal hidden pathways, pipes, and enemies. A simple press of the A button shifts the perspective, but once you've flipped, prepare to act fast -- you only have a few seconds before the "flip" meter runs out and Mario takes damage. Transitioning back into 2D allows that gauge to refill, so you have to strategically plan your dimensional explorations. As you progress through the game, you'll quickly learn just how essential flipping can be. It's a neat trick that paves the way for plenty of ingenious puzzles throughout the adventure.

While Super Paper Mario exudes creativity, it doesn't capitalize on the Wii's paradigm-busting technology all that well. Like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, this game began its life as a GameCube title...and it shows. Nearly all of the Wii Remote functionality here feels inessential and tacked-on, whether it's pointing to uncover hidden doors, jostling the Wii-mote to cure status ailments and use items, or timing a good shake when you stomp foes for extra points. None of these actions detract from the experience, but it's painfully clear that this was a quick-and-dirty transplant job.

Likewise, don't expect much from the visuals -- the art looks crisp and colorful, but occasional bouts of slowdown hamper the fun. Even the most impressive effects, like when Mario & co. balloon into mega-pixelated behemoths, aren't anything that the GameCube couldn't have done. The game also sounds totally predictable, from the peppy old-school Mario remixes to the paucity of "It's-a-me!" voice events. Your dreams of a fully voiced romp in the Mushroom Kingdom will remain just that for the foreseeable future.

So while it's far from the platforming/role-playing godsend that some Nintendo fans expected, Super Paper Mario still qualifies as a must-play for any Wii owner. It's creative, fun, and perhaps most importantly, funny. Quality localizations rarely get the credit they deserve, and the crew at Nintendo of America should be congratulated for penning one of the most laugh-out-loud funny scripts in recent memory. Any avid message-board poster will appreciate the brilliant send-up of their subculture (you're forced to admit that you "complain about games you've never played" in a caustically funny quiz section), and longtime Mario fans will spot numerous in-joke references to long-forgotten series esoterica. The storyline's more serious bits fall flat (the unrequited love story between the game's main villain and your helpful Pixl, Tippi, couldn't be more predictable or contrived), but there's enough humor here to keep any Mario fan hopping until the credits roll.

8.0/10

 

[Fran]

It's going to be in-stores tomorrow, actually, in the USA.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Anyone get it yet?

 

[TheCardPlayer]

I got this today. It's really, really, really awesome.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Good to hear. Was it easy to find and generously stocked?

 

[TheCardPlayer]

Yup. There was alot of them on the shelves.

 

[R_3]

I just finished this game. One of the first games I've completely went through in a while. I was surprised how this game actually had a story. Most Mario games I've played were simple platformers but this was one of the best Mario games I've played.

 

[R_3]

I just finished this game. One of the first games I've completely went through in a while. I was surprised how this game actually had a story. Most Mario games I've played were simple platformers but this was one of the best Mario games I've played.