Kasey

User Score
9.7

Presentation - 9.4
Gameplay - 10
Value - 9.3

Let me start by just saying this:  This isn't your ordinary Mario game.  The game is a beefy package, and has a much deeper plot than most games that feature our iconic red and blue plumber.  The largest difference between this and old-school side-scrolling Mario games is that.....well.....it's not always side-scrolling.  Mario now gains the unique ability to "flip" the camera into a 3D perspective, revealing a boatload of secrets that are otherwise inaccessible.  It's a trick that has been meticulously integrated into this game, and it has been done so quite well, for the most part. 

Ok, so, here's the story.  There is this evil prime minister by the name of Count Bleck, who uses his assistant, Dementio, to help him create a "void" that will eventually consume the entire planet, so that Count Bleck may create a planet of his own.  A creature comes to Mario to help him, called a "Pixl."  His name is Timpani, but when he is morphed into a butterfly, his name simply becomes Tippi.  Over the course of the game, you meet many more of these Pixls, that help you do many tasks in the game, like blow things up, crush things with a hammer, pummel enemies and objects into the ground with a ground pound, ride a Pixl across a bed of spikes, make a Pixl turn you into miniscule size, and more.  You cannot reach the finish of the game without recruiting the vast majority of the 12 Pixls, but there are a couple that aren't neccesarily required (in fact, there is one that you cannot obtain until after completion of the game). 

Three other familiar faces join you on this quest, but I will not reveal these to you, as I think it is important for you to play the game for yourself! 

Elements from RPG style games return from the other games in the Paper Mario series, such as the level system.  The system works in a different way, however.  Let me explain. 

When playing, when you defeat an enemy or obtain a field item, you gain points, just like in classic side-scrolling Mario games.  However, when you get a certain number of points, you will level up, making your attack and HP (hit points) higher with each level.  Another RPG element is the addition of items to be kept in storage until use is needed.  This is an implimentation that has been included in some of the classics, but not to this extent.  There are over 50 different items you can collect, by obtaining them from ? blocks (ahh....nostalgia) or buying them in item shops that you will find during gameplay. 

There is one thing wrong with this game that I really must point out.  While the hand-drawn, 2D environment is absolutely gorgeous, the gorgeousness stops there.  While the 3D concept was integrated well into the game, Nintendo tryed to make the 3D environment hand-drawn, as well.  While there is a smooth transition between 2D and 3D, and Nintendo had the best intentions of doing this, the landscaping of this environment ends up being rather drab and somewhat boring.  This is because Nintendo placed all the backround pictures and objects to the sides of the screen, and it is being portrayed as though you are in a sort of "box."  This somewhat takes the otherwise adventurous look out of the game, and ends up with a little less of an effect that we as consumers had initially hoped for.

Despite that flaw, this game is an excellent addition to any Wii collection.  It is charming in many ways (the text will have you laughing in some situations) and an absolute blast to play.  It isn't too easy or too difficult, and it will take you about 25 hours just to get through the main part of the game.  Completionists may put close to 100 hours into this game to obtain everything there is to be obtained, and explore everything there is to be explored.  I highly recommend this game to anyone who owns a Wii, and, for some people, this game could be a reason to purchase a Wii.  Go get this game!!