Super Paper Mario

 Wii
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 657 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 481 out of 657
  2. Mixed: 121 out of 657
  3. Negative: 55 out of 657
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  1. DBPirate1129
    Mar 22, 2015
    9
    Unlike most, I played this game's successor Paper Mario: Sticker Star after this one. Thankfully, I found Super Paper Mario to be superior in almost every way.

    Since this game is an RPG, it would naturally have an in-depth and engaging story (though Sticker Star begs to differ). SPM delivers with the best story in a Mario game to date, even if that's not too hard to beat. It has    Unlike most, I played this game's successor Paper Mario: Sticker Star after this one. Thankfully, I found Super Paper Mario to be superior in almost every way.

    Since this game is an RPG, it would naturally have an in-depth and engaging story (though Sticker Star begs to differ). SPM delivers with the best story in a Mario game to date, even if that's not too hard to beat. It has innovative gameplay as well. The switching from 2D to 3D mechanic never got old to me and it always opened up new puzzles and pathways.

    Super Paper Mario's soundtrack may not be quite as memorable as Sticker Star's but it still holds up with its funky 8-bit like tunes. The Pixls in the game are pixelated fairies that each have specific abilities. One can grab things and one can search for invisible objects, adding a fresh take on the gameplay.

    Overall, Super Paper Mario is definitely a game to pick up for your Wii (or Wii U) library. It's a polished game that I can easily recommend over Sticker Star.    … Expand
  2. skiziks
    Mar 12, 2016
    9
    While this wasn't quite as focused on exploration like TTYD, I loved this game. I thought the three d mechanic worked well for what it was trying to accomplish and add a good level of depth. My main complaint was that it felt too much like a regular Mario game with the 2d side scrolling. However, the game's story and powerful array of character really brought it to life and made the gameWhile this wasn't quite as focused on exploration like TTYD, I loved this game. I thought the three d mechanic worked well for what it was trying to accomplish and add a good level of depth. My main complaint was that it felt too much like a regular Mario game with the 2d side scrolling. However, the game's story and powerful array of character really brought it to life and made the game memorable.… Expand
  3. SuperMarioBro
    May 15, 2016
    9
    Stunning. I must say one - this game actualy final awesomepart from Paper Mario series. Normal Graphis, cute platforming gameplay, and wonderful storyline. I think even Legend of Zelda not have so storyline, how Super Paper Mario. Actually this game stand in second place in my favorite Paper Mario games))
  4. Arilio
    Jun 12, 2016
    9
    This game is one the best mario games that i have ever played. It has amazing puzzles and beatiful levels. Th3 thing that i liked the most is that it isn't like any of most of mario games. Specifically, the story is nothing like the classic one and the game is written very well. I enjoyed a lot this game and i believe that is one of the best out there for the wii console.
  5. Focaccia
    Mar 11, 2017
    9
    The concept of this game is simple: you switch between 2D and 3D to complete puzzles. I liked this game a lot, especially because it changes from its gamecube and n64 predecessors. The story is also very good. I recommend this game to people who like the series or want to try something new.
  6. JPK
    Jun 8, 2019
    9
    Another Great Entry
    Super Paper Mario is certainly not as masterful as TTYD, But it’s still extremely unique, hilarious, well written, and charming.
  7. KingBobby
    Nov 6, 2019
    9
    Nintendo did a really good job taking an rpg, and turning it into a 2d platformer. The story is great and so is the gameplay. The 2d, to 3d mechanic is very creative and different for its time. No game had ever done anything like this. That being said, Super Paper Mario is an amazing game, even though its not as good as the thousand year door.
  8. LuigiHelpsOut
    Jul 16, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'd give this game an 8.5/10, but that isn't an option.

    This game has an incredible story, the love between Tippi and Count Bleck is executed perfectly. But unfortunately, beyond the incredible story, the gameplay is only good, nothing great. But man, the story really does save the game. You might think I'm exaggerating, but seriously, play the game and you will get what I mean.    … Expand
  9. Squizzoo
    Oct 13, 2020
    9
    This is my favorite game of all time. Anyone reading this and questioning whether or not you should give this game a try, just do it. Ignore the negative reviews going on and on about "how the gameplay sucks wahhh it's not an RPG anymore!" for what this game is, it is fantastic. I'll admit that this game's gameplay is a downgrade compared to the first two games, but that doesn't make thisThis is my favorite game of all time. Anyone reading this and questioning whether or not you should give this game a try, just do it. Ignore the negative reviews going on and on about "how the gameplay sucks wahhh it's not an RPG anymore!" for what this game is, it is fantastic. I'll admit that this game's gameplay is a downgrade compared to the first two games, but that doesn't make this game any less fun. The characters are still eccentric and interesting, especially the villains. And this game has one of, if not THE best story I have ever experienced out of any Mario game. It doesn't have much replayability once you know the whole story and what will happen next, but the first time through this game is an experience you won't soon forget. Casual gamers and hardcore paper mario fans alike should both give this game a go because, if not for the slightly mediocre gameplay, Super Paper Mario would be a masterpiece. Give it a go!!… Expand
  10. LirioLeo
    May 19, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even though it starts off like a relatively conventional fetch quest storywise, Super Paper Mario goes on to surprise the player at every corner. Be it the sudden gameplay changes or the surprisingly emotional and, at times, really dark story - I mean, how many Mario games are there where you see our hero pretty much die and go to hell? - , this game doesn't hold its punches and surely knew to dazzle me all the way through. Its humour is just as on point as ever in the series and the dialogue is so well-written that I got more invested in the story and the characters than I ever thought I could in a Mario game. The music is weird and different, but really catchy and the art style is realling something unique. It helps convey the impression that we are witnessing a different world altogether. Gameplaywise, the platforming and combat are fine in my opinion, Mario controls just as you'd like him to, his jump does not feel to floaty, and the change away from turn-based combat does the game a favor the way it's set up, however, the flipping mechanic does not dazzle as much as you'd like it to. There are many areas where turning to 3D allows you to rush through the levels avoiding most enemies with ease - the fact that you lose a miniscule amount of HP when flipping for too long does not balance this out at all - and because most of the rooms are just squares when in 3D, the world feels a little less organic and exciting when seen from this perspective. Many puzzles just go "when you don't know what to do, just flip", which becomes a little stale after a while, in the beginning however it is still fun to flip and find the right ways to make your way through the platforming sections. The levels themselves are well-designed and not always sticking to the usual themes of the Mario series - which is what we love the Paper games for - still makes it fun to traverse the worlds, even though I got lost a lot of times trying to figure out which door I need to go through next as the environment can look a little indistinguishable at times. Most of the worlds however have creative concepts behind them and are interesting in that way. There might be mechanics that don't work as well as you'd like, like the aforementioned flipping or the way the funcionalities of the Wii remote that were worked into the game, but never was there a moment where I really couldn't stand the gameplay. The way the story is set up, despite the humourous dialogue and characters, dread is always present in the form of a giant tear in the sky, and switching perspectives to see what the villains are up to once in a while works wonders for their character development and our understanding of what's actually going on. Slowly discovering Count Bleck's backstory was one of the most fun and gripping parts of the story for me personally, and his interactions with his loved one are so well-written, they drove tears in my eyes without any visuals. Bleck's henchmen have fun personalities that make their squabbles a joy to watch, even though Mr L and Dimentio clearly steal the show. The plottwist at the end is so well set up and executed that even though I already knew what it was going to be from the internet, I almost doubted the information I was given there. Some scenes in the game are so well set up, they even put setting the right atmosphere over the gameplay, like the disturbingly long walk in the dimension of nothing - or how could anyone forget Francis' dating simulation or the part where you literally spend five minutes pressing right in a hamster wheel - which makes it clear that Super had the goal to not only be a fun game, but also just an incredibly memorable experience by subverting expectations and some times even pushing the boundaries of what you think a Paper Mario could be altogether. Even though some parts of the gameplay and the menuing weigh the game down overall, Super Paper Mario is still a really fun and unique experience I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who owns a Wii and hasn't played it yet. As far as I know, this was the last Paper title where Intelligent Systems were still allowed to create entirely new characters, and in that they created one of the most exciting and extraordinary Mario games they could. Even though it's not perfect and might not be as universally attractive as most Mario games are, despite the fact I hold no nostalgia for it, Super Paper Mario has a special place in my heart. With it's backstory that is so complex it even leaves room for interpretation at times, its extremely charming characters, its morbid sense of humour and its wacky, yet perfectly fitting and super catchy soundtrack, this game will be a blast to play through, and even though the Origami King - which was a return to form for the series in many ways - is a more rounded, technically superior romp, Super is my favourite game in the series and just thinking about it, I feel I want to play through it again.… Expand
  11. GameCatastrophe
    Sep 3, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is my favorite game on the Wii. It has so many things to offer, from difficult side-quests, fun bosses, and- most importantly- the best storyline I have ever seen in a video game. Watching as the worlds slowly crumbled, Mario getting killed, and the universes getting deleted, all made the bosses and final fight so cinematic. It made it feel important to save the worlds as the Void loomed overhead. The gimmicks were very fun and the post-game had just as much content as the main game.… Expand
  12. Ian
    Sep 4, 2007
    8
    A great game. It plays like the super mario bros of old but has rpg elements like the older paper mario games. its really enjoyable. and I actually like the dialogue which is really funny (although it did stretch on). the problem is that the game, although fun, is far too easy for hardcore gamers to last more then a weak and a half and the game was originally for the gamecube, so it A great game. It plays like the super mario bros of old but has rpg elements like the older paper mario games. its really enjoyable. and I actually like the dialogue which is really funny (although it did stretch on). the problem is that the game, although fun, is far too easy for hardcore gamers to last more then a weak and a half and the game was originally for the gamecube, so it didn't really fully take advantage of the wii's motion features.… Expand
  13. MikeK.
    Apr 17, 2007
    8
    Great old school gameplay. Tons of unskippable text and repetitive fetch quests keep it from being perfect.
  14. ScottH.
    Jun 20, 2007
    8
    Gameplay is solid but switching between characters is interuptive.
  15. KenA.
    Jul 17, 2007
    8
    The game is fun for the right player, just like any other game out there. For those that are complaining about it, you likely didn't research the game before buying it. That's your fault, not NIntendos.
  16. ScottM.
    Oct 13, 2009
    8
    Alright, lets face it, Super Paper Mario is a great game. But the thing about it is that it doesn't have the RPG battling style like the two previous Paper Mario games did. But it really wasn't all that bad. Like the previous Paper Mario games, you can complete it in less than 24 hours. The story is Fantastic. Especially the chemistry between Timpani and Blumiere. And the fact Alright, lets face it, Super Paper Mario is a great game. But the thing about it is that it doesn't have the RPG battling style like the two previous Paper Mario games did. But it really wasn't all that bad. Like the previous Paper Mario games, you can complete it in less than 24 hours. The story is Fantastic. Especially the chemistry between Timpani and Blumiere. And the fact that Count Bleck really wasn't all that evil, it was just his past that made him think that way. And they put enough detail about that by doing something a little less noticable: The fact that Count Bleck never Punished his minions. The worst thing was probably when O'Chunks had to sing that song 1,000 times, but it was Nastasia that issued that punishment, not the Count. As for partners, you have the pixls. At first they're pretty cool, but then you start to miss the original partners like the goombas, koopas, etc. Another problem is when you start to travel to Flopside. Its not that bad, but its like, first you come out of the door on the to of Flipside Tower, then you go down two floors, then you go throught the Mirror Hall, then you get to Flopside. The you go to wherever the Heart Pillar is, then the door opens back where you started, so you have to retrace your steps. I believe that starts in Chapter 5. So for three chapters, you have to do that. So much dialogue, but if your used to the other games in the series, you should be fine. Some of the stuff that they say is actually pretty funny. I decide to rate this an 8.… Expand
  17. TitaniumDragon
    Jan 26, 2009
    8
    A solid platformer, calling it an RPG would be strange. It isn't an RPG in any sense. It is a platformer, and a pretty decent one; the 2D-3D flip is pretty cool, and the Pixls add in some neat elements for interacting with levels. The game, while fun, has its flaws. Firstly, it is far too easy. I know the standards for difficulty have dropped, but the game is much too easy and really A solid platformer, calling it an RPG would be strange. It isn't an RPG in any sense. It is a platformer, and a pretty decent one; the 2D-3D flip is pretty cool, and the Pixls add in some neat elements for interacting with levels. The game, while fun, has its flaws. Firstly, it is far too easy. I know the standards for difficulty have dropped, but the game is much too easy and really needed its difficulty cranked up a couple notches, as you really would be hard-pressed to die given the amount of coins and healing items the game rains upon you like manna from heaven. There are other segments where you have to spend good portions of time backtracking, which is always boring. Secondly, there are parts where there is some monotony. World two has a section where you have to run in a hampster wheel for about five minutes to get some money to escape from an area. Any time I go to get some rubber bands to hold down one button on my controller and go do something else, the game has failed. Its really unfun and there's nothing necessary about the sequence; had it taken thirty seconds (or been a cutscene with text) it would have been fine, but it wasn't and it really just felt awful and immersion breaking (not to mention monotonous). Thirdly, the game has some secrets with no real "giveaways". The only way to find some secrets is to jump down every single hole in the entire game (which I'm doing). While you have so many HP it doesn't really matter, its a bit of stupid tedium which could have been easily done away with by using the actual useful Wiimote function (pointing at the screen) reveal that, hey, that hole is a secret! Fourth, the Wiimote felt pretty tacked on. Pointing was a fine mechanic, but shaking the Wiimote was just stupid. The story is pretty funny, which really does help out the game; it wouldn't be this high if the story wasn't as amusing as it is. Overall, a solid game, but marred by some amount of tedium and monotony.… Expand
  18. Chris
    Jun 23, 2008
    8
    Good game and great new concept. I liked the creativity of the 2D to 3D and it was used well, but wasn't near as good as Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door.
  19. MikeCraig
    Apr 17, 2011
    8
    I did enjoy the game, quite a lot, but I have played and beaten both the original Paper Mario and Thousand Year Door and I much say they were much better. Better story, combat, depth and replay value. They dropped the really nice action command RPG game-play and replaced it with a fairly oversimplified action game. The 2D - 3D element was fairly cool but became too predictable and didn'tI did enjoy the game, quite a lot, but I have played and beaten both the original Paper Mario and Thousand Year Door and I much say they were much better. Better story, combat, depth and replay value. They dropped the really nice action command RPG game-play and replaced it with a fairly oversimplified action game. The 2D - 3D element was fairly cool but became too predictable and didn't provide much proper challenge, but there were bits that did give me some good entertainment through some clever puzzles and interesting level designs and I have to say that it is a good game, just in hindsight I found myself thinking all the way through - this could've worked better as a continuation to TYD... now I'm not afraid of change, but there were elements of Thousand Year Door that could've been done better that they could have applied to this game. What instead we got was a good game - but really, feels like a missed opportunity to be a great game.… Expand
  20. Bman2095
    Jul 11, 2012
    8
    I was disappointed at the lack of the previous paper mario combat style but the familiar mario 2D style was interesting. compared to previous Mario rpg's the story isn't that great, while good it didn't live up to Paper mario: The thousand year door. overall it's a good game, and a great addition to the wii's library.
  21. jamba24
    Nov 29, 2012
    8
    Super Paper Mario is a wildly original and innovative addition to the paper mario library. The gameplay is kept fresh by changing the style of play entirely. Instead of a turn based battle system, mario now traverses 2d environments with the ability to flip into 3d to solve puzzles and find new areas, and the battles are now real time. The story has once again been improved. This gameSuper Paper Mario is a wildly original and innovative addition to the paper mario library. The gameplay is kept fresh by changing the style of play entirely. Instead of a turn based battle system, mario now traverses 2d environments with the ability to flip into 3d to solve puzzles and find new areas, and the battles are now real time. The story has once again been improved. This game features one of the darkest and best stories of any mario game. Other notable additions, without spoiling anything, is the inclusion of playing as characters besides mario. The party members are back, but unfortunately they are given little roles besides puzzle solving and have little personality. Despite all of these changes, this game does not match the greatness of its two prequels. The story is slow at times, the dialogue lengthy, and the gameplay can get repetitive later on. However, although this cannot compare to the near perfection of its two prequels, super paper mario is a great, fresh game that changes up the paper mario formula.… Expand
  22. BathroomKing
    Nov 9, 2013
    8
    Most of the Mario games out there have the basic storyline: Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser, and Mario must save her. While that's the standard story, the Paper Mario series strays from that path and takes on its own story.
    This is the only Paper Mario game I've played, so it'll be reviewed as an individual game rather than a sequel.
    The story of this game is that an evil sorcerer    Most of the Mario games out there have the basic storyline: Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser, and Mario must save her. While that's the standard story, the Paper Mario series strays from that path and takes on its own story.
    This is the only Paper Mario game I've played, so it'll be reviewed as an individual game rather than a sequel.

    The story of this game is that an evil sorcerer named Count Bleck has used to the powers of the Chaos Heart to open a void in the dimensions that would soon destroy all worlds. Mario, with the help of a butterfly named Tippi, must find all of the Pure Hearts to cancel out the Chaos Heart. While you're playing the game, there'll be little cutscenes that are nothing but texts on a black screen. These scenes narrate a tragic love story and actually play a big part in the overall conclusion. Throughout the game, there are many humorous scenes and events that actually make me laugh out loud. At the same time, there are moments that shock me, and some that even make me want to cry. Most Mario games are unoriginal with their stories, but this one is truly deep, worthy of a novel.

    In Super Paper Mario, you go through the side-scrolling 2-D world. There is a twist though: you get to flip it to 3-D and see the world in that perspective. There are limits to the ability, but. it contributes to the puzzle solving aspect of this game. Another factor in the puzzle solving of the game are little helpers called Pixls. You find a few of these little fairy-type creatures and they all have their own power, including making you super thin, allowing you to float over surfaces, and one being a giant hammer. There are other powers and if you're ever having trouble, all of these unique personalities might help you in your troubles. Also, you don't just get to play as Mario, but Peach, Luigi, and even Bowser. You can switch over from one to the other if ever the puzzle calls for it as each of them has their own unique ability as well.

    I must make it clear that in order to play this game, you must have a certain level of patience. This is a twenty hour game and about four of those hours can be you figuring out where you're supposed to go and what you're supposed to do, wandering around blindly and hoping that you'll stumble across the answer. When you do find the answer though, it makes you feel very satisfied with your problem solving skills. And in the 3-D world, while it's cool that you can do that, it's not very detailed. It feels like a barren wasteland and it doesn't do much for me. In fact, there were some parts of the game that seemed to be put there just to consume your time.

    While it's a puzzle solving game, it's also an RPG where defeating enemies levels you up, giving you more life and more strength. You can buy items or pick them up from place to place, all serving their special purpose such as healing you or making you more powerful for a certain amount of time. The mechanics of this particular RPG are simple but it's presented very well.

    The soundtrack of this game is wonderful in my opinion. Like I said, you might be spending hours on end finding out where you're supposed to go. That's what happened to me. And the soundtrack made it bearable, with some worlds having a jumpy, distorted but cheerful sounding tone, and others having a grand orchestral arrangement set up. All of it, even the boss fights, sets the mood of each world wonderfully and I don't have any complaints.

    It's not the very best Mario game I've played, but it's certainly up there. If you have patience for running around and wasting your time on trivial activities, I say pick this game up. It has a beautiful story and nice (even if flawed) gameplay mechanic.    … Expand
  23. SirKirbyThe4th
    Jun 27, 2014
    8
    I've never liked RPGs, and I still don't. So when I played this game, I was happy to se that it was a platformer, but with a storyline of an RPG, and even the leveling ups. Which really makes the game "deeper" if you really want to say that. Anyways, you can get these things called Pixls, and they can do things ranging from protecting you from spikes, giving you a hammer, making you goI've never liked RPGs, and I still don't. So when I played this game, I was happy to se that it was a platformer, but with a storyline of an RPG, and even the leveling ups. Which really makes the game "deeper" if you really want to say that. Anyways, you can get these things called Pixls, and they can do things ranging from protecting you from spikes, giving you a hammer, making you go faster & ect... Which really makes backtracking a joy, because you can use these abilities never seen before in that level, sometimes its mandatory, which, isn't as bad as you think.… Expand
  24. abraham_b
    May 4, 2015
    8
    Overall, it's an enjoyable game. Super Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door on Gamecube, however, is my preference.
    This game does indeed have its charms though and it is well-made overall; however, it does have its flaws. I have to say, one of the most annoying things for me is how it keeps making a beeping sound when you're on low health.
  25. DrewtheDude85
    Apr 2, 2014
    8
    Be prepared as you jump into this game, because if you were a fan of the first two Paper Mario games and you bought this game without looking at any gameplay already and expect it to have the gameplay of the first two games, you will be severely disappointed. For Super Paper Mario has a totally new style of gameplay that I know has made many Paper Mario fans enraged. For the gameplay isBe prepared as you jump into this game, because if you were a fan of the first two Paper Mario games and you bought this game without looking at any gameplay already and expect it to have the gameplay of the first two games, you will be severely disappointed. For Super Paper Mario has a totally new style of gameplay that I know has made many Paper Mario fans enraged. For the gameplay is now mostly sidescrolling with no turn-based battling but gameplay controls of like a traditional side-scroller Mario game; however there are still a few RPG elements still present, the game still has shops and HP and some other things and it's even as long as a typically RPG and it also has a very sophisticated story. Speaking of the story, the story in this game is amazing, I won't spoil anything, but this game has a very well written story, it even has some pretty dark themes even for a typical "E for Everyone" Mario game; not to mention, the ending ties the story well together and is even a bit of a tear jerker. Overall Super Paper Mario is sure to disappoint Paper Mario fans, but if you treat it like an individual Mario game, you will find that Super Paper Mario is an excellent game! Another Wii game I'd recommend.… Expand
  26. reviewguy02
    Mar 23, 2015
    8
    Simply fun, funny, cool and awesome. This is the best game on the Wii to me, the only problem with it is; Always carry an Ipad when playing because the puzzles are really hard to solve and almost clueless. Overall, it's the best Paper Mario game ever made.
  27. Beastprogamer
    Mar 20, 2015
    8
    This game is great. A good start for the Paper Mario Series if ya missed out on the N64 Version. The graphics are okay. The "3D" walking thing is good. The story is awesome. The characters and design were awesome. Super Paper Mario is a VERY great game but I have not played it in AGES.
  28. ali2005
    Nov 27, 2015
    8
    Super Paper Mario really delivers the awesomeness although it isn't entirely an RPG.The graphics are really good and some of the music is really catchy!This is a must own for anyone who has a Wii or Wii U as it is stunning!
  29. EpicLadySponge
    Dec 27, 2015
    8
    You got to admit it though. It does pretty much continue on to be a great Paper Mario game --- albeit not better than the original and the Thousand-Year Door but definitely better than Sticker Star --- and it'll bring in what's waiting for you.
  30. Tobann
    Mar 12, 2016
    8
    It has a nice new mechanic with the 2D to 3D switching and while it can be a little finicky it works well. I do not like how the turn based battles were removed and i feel that they really could have fit well as it brings it closer to generic Mario play style. Granted I loved how involved the Mario characters were in the plot, each one of them had a purpose. There were extremelyIt has a nice new mechanic with the 2D to 3D switching and while it can be a little finicky it works well. I do not like how the turn based battles were removed and i feel that they really could have fit well as it brings it closer to generic Mario play style. Granted I loved how involved the Mario characters were in the plot, each one of them had a purpose. There were extremely interesting villains, the love and betrayal in this game were so good. The reason that this game is not getting a 10 of 10 is because of the combat system becoming in world as compared to the last paper Mario, and maybe the lack of variety in locations. It was still good though and i have played through it a few times, so I would recommend it.… Expand
  31. Campanella
    Mar 12, 2016
    8
    Super Paper Mario is a departure from the traditional Paper Mario style of gameplay, abandoning the old turn-based battles in favor of an Action RPG system combining platforming with an RPG-style battle system. In place of badges, players now get a set of characters with their own abilities. The most notable is Mario's own, the ability to "flip" between 2D and 3D, revealing hidden areas orSuper Paper Mario is a departure from the traditional Paper Mario style of gameplay, abandoning the old turn-based battles in favor of an Action RPG system combining platforming with an RPG-style battle system. In place of badges, players now get a set of characters with their own abilities. The most notable is Mario's own, the ability to "flip" between 2D and 3D, revealing hidden areas or platforms and adding an extra layer to what would otherwise be fairly basic platforming. Partners have been replaced with Pixls, floating companions that with special effects such as allowing you to grab and throw items, turn into a bomb or a floating platform, or letting you turn sideways to get through narrow passages. While fun, the Pixls have much less personality than the partners in past games did, making them nice for gameplay but not so nice to have as characters.

    The plot is interesting, but more serious this time, focusing on stopping the end of all worlds. The series' usual humor is still present, but sometimes clashes a bit with some of the more serious moments. As in past games, each chapter has its own sub-plot and location. The characters are as lively and unique as always, with many of the new characters having a "blocky" look to them, a visual quirk shared by the new locations.

    Overall, Super Paper Mario is a great game, but the new gameplay feels a little weaker thanks to being very reminiscent of the main Mario games, and the tonal dissonance present in the cutscenes at times weakens the plot a little. Still, if you enjoyed the earlier Paper Mario games, like platformers, or just appreciate games with a good story and characters, Super Paper Mario is definitely a game worth playing.    … Expand
  32. MazinroboX2
    Aug 20, 2016
    8
    Although it's very different to the first two Paper Mario games in terms of mechanics, this isn't by any means a bad game, it's actually well made, with nice easter eggs from the first 2 games, and very cool story, places and characters. The 2D to 3D feature is cool yet a bit annoying to use sometimes, and partners lack the charisma they had in the past two entries. Being able to controlAlthough it's very different to the first two Paper Mario games in terms of mechanics, this isn't by any means a bad game, it's actually well made, with nice easter eggs from the first 2 games, and very cool story, places and characters. The 2D to 3D feature is cool yet a bit annoying to use sometimes, and partners lack the charisma they had in the past two entries. Being able to control Bowser, Mario, Luigi and Peach is very nice, and going on in the story is nice although there are some very time-consuming and annoying parts.… Expand
  33. CyberRobotnix
    Mar 8, 2018
    8
    Want to play Paper Mario, but in a platformer style? There you go,

    This game is one of the finest spin-offs around. However it has many noticeable flaws. The music is often meh, there are a few excellent tracks along the many meh musics. The controls feel loosy and heavy, well the developpers didn't care that much about the platformer aspect of paper mario, which ruins the    Want to play Paper Mario, but in a platformer style? There you go,

    This game is one of the finest spin-offs around.
    However it has many noticeable flaws.

    The music is often meh, there are a few excellent tracks along the many meh musics.

    The controls feel loosy and heavy, well the developpers didn't care that much about the platformer aspect of paper mario, which ruins the gameplay as a whole.

    Some levels drag on and many puzzles are mind boggling.

    Otherwise, I like how each character has its own abilities and its own uses. For example, most of the puzzles require Mario to switch to 3D mode to complete, also there are infact so many puzzles that it's to the point of being overwhelming.

    The story is just perfect, the story is some high paper mario quality like TTYD and overall this game deserves its praise.    … Expand
  34. TJ_of_Carolina
    Jan 10, 2019
    8
    Overall good game, biggest complaint is the removal of the JRPG battle system and equipment of the previous Paper Marios, this time being a Platformer with RPG elements instead. The ability to change who you directly control (Can play as Bowser, Peach, Luigi, etc.) is cool and the game retains the leveling system of a JRPG even without the battle system. The game's strong suit is it'sOverall good game, biggest complaint is the removal of the JRPG battle system and equipment of the previous Paper Marios, this time being a Platformer with RPG elements instead. The ability to change who you directly control (Can play as Bowser, Peach, Luigi, etc.) is cool and the game retains the leveling system of a JRPG even without the battle system. The game's strong suit is it's characters and story. The core platforming gameplay is more mediocre… Expand
  35. iMustang
    Mar 26, 2019
    8
    While this game definitely marked the departure from Paper Mario being a lovable RPG franchise, it did mark the end of their games being lovable. The puzzle-platformer adventure was a lot of fun, with great characters I've come to expect from the people at Intelligent Systems. I had a lot of fun flipping from 2D to 3D exploring the worlds and meeting the colorful characters, even if thereWhile this game definitely marked the departure from Paper Mario being a lovable RPG franchise, it did mark the end of their games being lovable. The puzzle-platformer adventure was a lot of fun, with great characters I've come to expect from the people at Intelligent Systems. I had a lot of fun flipping from 2D to 3D exploring the worlds and meeting the colorful characters, even if there was not a lot of open world content. If this game had one big problem with me, it was the poison mechanic. If you're poisoned and have no items to save yourself it's basically a delayed game over, and was often quite aggravating. But that aside, the game told a great story, and is worth picking up.… Expand
  36. livelovelaugh22
    Jun 6, 2020
    8
    People didn't like this game because it wasn't another TTYD, or another turn based RPG like its predecessors. I loved this game because it was unique, and beautiful. The graphics were great and the gameplay was fun. The game also had a phenomenal story with good writing. The game made me cry. There were a few issues that deterred me from seeing this as the best game in the series, but itPeople didn't like this game because it wasn't another TTYD, or another turn based RPG like its predecessors. I loved this game because it was unique, and beautiful. The graphics were great and the gameplay was fun. The game also had a phenomenal story with good writing. The game made me cry. There were a few issues that deterred me from seeing this as the best game in the series, but it is solid. I think the game would have been received better if it wasn't labelled as a Paper Mario game. Excellent game, but a bad Paper Mario game.… Expand
  37. LiquidSnekMGS
    May 20, 2020
    8
    This game is another solid step in the path of Mario games. This may not be better than its predecessor, but it is good as a stand-alone game. It has great level design, and the puzzle elements are great. While it is tedious and somewhat difficult with poor planning, it is still another good game in Nintendo's wide array of successes.
  38. Zethor
    Aug 17, 2020
    8
    What this game lacks in gameplay depth, it makes up for in masterful writing; Super Paper Mario is an enjoyable experience that, while marred by some uninspired or boring areas, is punctuated by the best Mario story the series has seen, paired with a simple but enjoyable style of gameplay, a great soundtrack, and the great wit that the Paper Mario series is well known for.
  39. NCL209
    Dec 3, 2020
    8
    While this was nowhere near as good as TTYD, I still had fun with this game and hey, at least it's not as bad as Sticker Star or Colour Splash.
  40. ntBagel
    Apr 17, 2022
    8
    Super Paper Mario. this game is very good overall. there is not many absolutely amazing parts besides the very end was absolutely amazing a warped up the story very well. otherwise the game never got boring to me but also didn't blow me away with how good it was. i like the rpg and platforming mix it feels very nice controlls well and is just super intresting to see how the world is inSuper Paper Mario. this game is very good overall. there is not many absolutely amazing parts besides the very end was absolutely amazing a warped up the story very well. otherwise the game never got boring to me but also didn't blow me away with how good it was. i like the rpg and platforming mix it feels very nice controlls well and is just super intresting to see how the world is in a 2D and 3D space. I think this is another reason I did not get bored and it didnt feel repetitive because of the change from being a 3D game to a 2D game but also playing simaler to an RPG. It had everything so it never felt old to keep playing. The story is really good but I feel a majority of the story was shoved into the last hour of gameplay which did make it end on a very high note. overall the game is good. it doesn't absolutely wow me but none of the parts are bad its a very consistently good game the whole way through. If you want a game that you know you would enjoy this is a very safe option to go to.… Expand
  41. BaldursThones
    Apr 14, 2022
    8
    If I could delete the first world of this game then it would be one of my favourite Paper Mario games.
  42. DavidD.
    Jun 10, 2007
    7
    A very neat game. It still has the humour from te previous Paper Mario's, but it lacks the RPG element. The flipping between 2-D and 3-D is fun for a while, but it wears of fairly quick. If you are a fan of the series, it is worth a play through. The game is pretty straight forward and pretty easy. Rent it first too see if you like it or wait till it drops in price.
  43. A.D.Olson
    Apr 20, 2007
    7
    A very, very basic game, with a boring storyline that's overdone. The platforming is not challenging in any way, shape, or form, and the only RPG elements that were left in were the annoying ones such as stupid run here, run there, talk to someone, and read more than you read through all of high school. The flipping to 3D is more annoying than anything else, and the presentation A very, very basic game, with a boring storyline that's overdone. The platforming is not challenging in any way, shape, or form, and the only RPG elements that were left in were the annoying ones such as stupid run here, run there, talk to someone, and read more than you read through all of high school. The flipping to 3D is more annoying than anything else, and the presentation loses a lot of polish when you're using component cables, in comparison to the 2D look and feel. All is not lost, however, as there are a few throwbacks to classic games and other Nintendo fanboyish things, and for that I gave it a few bonus points. I hope that there is a RUN ability in the next Mario game that Nintendo bothers to push out to us (or better yet, make a new IP rather than continually re-using Mario).… Expand
  44. AndrewG.
    May 9, 2007
    7
    SPM's presentation is beautiful and nostalgic, but the gameplay is pretty boring. There are maybe 3 parts of the game (other than the pits of 100 trials) where the platforming is interesting. The 2D/3D mechanic is an extremely cool idea, but was not implemented particularly well. It becomes tedious because you have to constantly switch to 3D in order to make sure that you aren't SPM's presentation is beautiful and nostalgic, but the gameplay is pretty boring. There are maybe 3 parts of the game (other than the pits of 100 trials) where the platforming is interesting. The 2D/3D mechanic is an extremely cool idea, but was not implemented particularly well. It becomes tedious because you have to constantly switch to 3D in order to make sure that you aren't missing any secrets. In addition, while the writing is very funny, and some of the story elements of the chapters are well developed, it is really tiresome to be constantly reading. The worst part, in fact, is the beginning of the game because it takes way too long for the action to start. To top it off, the game is incredibly easy - the bosses, in particular, are complete jokes. If it weren't for the pits of 100 trials, the cool art style, and the (mostly gimmicky, but still interesting) 2D/3D mechanic, I would not recommend SPM. As it is though, I definitely recommend buying the game, even though it sadly failed to meet my expectations.… Expand
  45. CameronS.
    Jul 20, 2007
    7
    A great addition to the Mario series, but the childish jokes and EXTREMELY long and boring cutscenes make it a game that nobody over 10 would enjoy thouroughly.
  46. Rick
    Nov 27, 2007
    7
    So much text (becomes boring), also is not as too fun as previous Super Mario Bros 2 or 3.
  47. austinbond
    Apr 1, 2011
    7
    The game is not a Mario RPG... it really is something original. The game has lot's of charm, has clever puzzles and is often hilarious. BUT there are parts when I was wondering, "What were the developers thinking?!". Seriously, for every amazing part, such as a castle for dorks, video game hell & an amazing space shoot-out, there is a dumb, bland sequence. Literally, there is a part whereThe game is not a Mario RPG... it really is something original. The game has lot's of charm, has clever puzzles and is often hilarious. BUT there are parts when I was wondering, "What were the developers thinking?!". Seriously, for every amazing part, such as a castle for dorks, video game hell & an amazing space shoot-out, there is a dumb, bland sequence. Literally, there is a part where you run right in a blank white space for 5 minutes... WTF? Good for a rental, but if you want classic platforming, get Kirby, Donkey Kong or New Super Mario Bros… Expand
  48. TheCritic1
    Aug 8, 2011
    7
    Don't get me wrong, this is a good game, but sometimes it feels like your just running around in circles! Want a good Mario game on Wii? Pick this if you want but if you are looking for the best Mario game on Wii, Galaxy 2 is for you then!
  49. TravisRedux
    May 15, 2012
    7
    +Different playable characters, +Different ways to approach classic Mario combat, +Re-playable levels, +A Mario story where Bowser isn't the antagonist. -Complete removal of the RPG system from the past 2 Paper Mario games, -Using the "Score" as an EXP system is sort of redundant. Although this game is different from the last two, I enjoyed it. Nintendo/IS should have named this game+Different playable characters, +Different ways to approach classic Mario combat, +Re-playable levels, +A Mario story where Bowser isn't the antagonist. -Complete removal of the RPG system from the past 2 Paper Mario games, -Using the "Score" as an EXP system is sort of redundant. Although this game is different from the last two, I enjoyed it. Nintendo/IS should have named this game something else to avoid confusion from avid Mario RPG fans.… Expand
  50. St33rpike
    Jul 18, 2012
    7
    This was a fun and unique take on the Mario game concept. While I enjoyed playing it, the game's linear RPG storyline makes it unlikely you would want to play it more than once. The story is strange and funny (or at least tries to be), and the fact that you can switch from 1D to 3D added a cool dynamic to the gameplay. Over all, though, the pace was slow and the storyline was too goofy toThis was a fun and unique take on the Mario game concept. While I enjoyed playing it, the game's linear RPG storyline makes it unlikely you would want to play it more than once. The story is strange and funny (or at least tries to be), and the fact that you can switch from 1D to 3D added a cool dynamic to the gameplay. Over all, though, the pace was slow and the storyline was too goofy to really get me excited about playing. This would probably be very fun for its target audience, but older gamers might find it a bit simplistic and watered down.… Expand
  51. ScribbleNaughty
    Aug 15, 2013
    7
    Super Paper Mario is the third Paper Mario Game in the series. SPM is a very dark game for a Mario Game but has a very great story and takes quite a long time to complete the game. The weak point of this game is that the game really doesn't let you explore Flipside for the majority of the game.
  52. Hexnar
    Sep 7, 2013
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The puzzles were cool. The overall game was decent, wasn't too difficult. Was extra fun as you got to play as many different of the Mario characters, not just Mario the whole way through. It was slightly childish in its execution, and at times slightly boring, and other times annoying. But overall was fun to play through.… Expand
  53. GaryFaulkDoesIt
    Jul 31, 2016
    7
    While not quite living up to its predecessors, this game is still very good in its own right.

    Right off the bat, this game's greatest strength is its great story, one with genuine intrigue, surprising plot twists, and characters on both sides having hidden agendas. This game may even top its predecessor in terms of overall story, even if it doesn't have the same advantages of having a    While not quite living up to its predecessors, this game is still very good in its own right.

    Right off the bat, this game's greatest strength is its great story, one with genuine intrigue, surprising plot twists, and characters on both sides having hidden agendas. This game may even top its predecessor in terms of overall story, even if it doesn't have the same advantages of having a unique subplot for each chapter.

    Character wise, this game was a bit hit or miss. The villains are extremely memorable and unique, while for the most part, Mario's allies are a bit forgettable. The Pixl characters are a bit of wasted potential, since unlike Mario's partners of the previous games (the direct predecessor especially), they remain silent and essentially blend into the background for the rest of the game after their introduction cutscene.

    The game's main flaw is its gameplay, which, while not terrible, and actually blending platforming and RPG elements in an interesting way, does get a bit stale and repetitive after a while.

    But, if you can look past the the gameplay flaws, you'll find a decent game that still maintains the spirit of the Paper Mario series in its incredible story.    … Expand
  54. EdwardG
    Aug 6, 2020
    7
    Super Paper Mario is a flawed game. It's certainly a well-written one, with funny dialogue and a genuinely good story, but it's just not as fun as a lot of other Mario games. The 2D gameplay with the 3D flipping gimmick is decent for the most part, but the platforming isn't as fun as it is in more traditional Mario titles. The combat is nothing special but it's serviceable and fun enough.Super Paper Mario is a flawed game. It's certainly a well-written one, with funny dialogue and a genuinely good story, but it's just not as fun as a lot of other Mario games. The 2D gameplay with the 3D flipping gimmick is decent for the most part, but the platforming isn't as fun as it is in more traditional Mario titles. The combat is nothing special but it's serviceable and fun enough. Being able to switch between different characters on the fly is nice though, and getting to play as Bowser is pretty cool.

    Really, I was having fun most of the time but there's just some stretches of gameplay that are a chore to get through. The quality of the different chapters varies quite substantially. One particularly funny one sees Princess Peach stuck in a dating sim with a chameleon, but another is a tedious combat marathon of running to a platform in the middle of a room, beating an opponent, and running to the next room over and over. I wish this was a more consistent game, but as it is some bits just aren't fun enough.

    Moving away from gameplay, I've got to say that the story is good in Super Paper Mario. I wouldn't say it's amazing, as some of its power of love elements feel a little simple. There's a lot of well written dialogue though that bring the characters to life. Mario's silent throughout but his companions have some funny things to say. The music is also solid, as you'd probably expect from a Mario game. Visually, it's got a decent style but it's nothing spectacular.

    After finishing the game, I'd say getting through its weaker parts was worth it in the end as it has a strong ending with good boss fights and a sweet ending to the story that mostly gets away with its simple love trumps all message.    … Expand
  55. BearPolar
    Feb 25, 2019
    7
    I really enjoyed playing this game but I have mixed feeling about it being a "Paper Mario" game. Part of me enjoys the aesthetic of it due to most of the things being impossible with the standard 3D Mario feel. The other part of me wishes this was more similar to Paper Mario 64 and TTYD. Either way, I think you should try this game if you're into quirky platformers that have some emphasisI really enjoyed playing this game but I have mixed feeling about it being a "Paper Mario" game. Part of me enjoys the aesthetic of it due to most of the things being impossible with the standard 3D Mario feel. The other part of me wishes this was more similar to Paper Mario 64 and TTYD. Either way, I think you should try this game if you're into quirky platformers that have some emphasis on story.… Expand
  56. DarCbrGr
    Jun 26, 2021
    7
    I remember this being a relatively enjoyable game. I think I beat it, but I can't fully remember.
  57. MaddoxWhite
    Apr 24, 2021
    7
    This was my first Paper Mario game. I don't like many RPGs, so seeing all the different opinions on this game that differ so widely is something I totally understand.

    For me, then and now, it's still all right. Story is better than the gameplay IMO.
  58. SteveE.
    Apr 22, 2007
    6
    My wife loves this game, but me, not so much. I love, absolutely love, the old 2D Mario games. But this game is slow-paced and unexciting. There's a painful amount of lengthy dialog and backtracking. Two examples: having to run in a hamster wheel for 6 minutes or walk in a totally blank (white) level in one direction for 4 minutes. It's pointless, and you can't skip it. The My wife loves this game, but me, not so much. I love, absolutely love, the old 2D Mario games. But this game is slow-paced and unexciting. There's a painful amount of lengthy dialog and backtracking. Two examples: having to run in a hamster wheel for 6 minutes or walk in a totally blank (white) level in one direction for 4 minutes. It's pointless, and you can't skip it. The gameplay is fun when it's there, even though it mostly amounts to looking for keys to locked doors. I miss being able to hit a "run" button like all of the earlier Marios. Mario only moves at "walk" pace. He can't pick up shells now without the help of a Pixl, either. Where's the fun in that? This is the worst Mario game I've ever played, but it's still a Mario game. It's fun at times, just not constantly fun like earlier games.… Expand
  59. GlenC.
    Jul 24, 2007
    6
    This game was a pain to get through. The gameplay was boring and frustrating for me, but admittedly I don't like rpg elements of most games. Some of the dialogue was pretty good (a lot of dialogue), and the visuals were very pretty. I can't complain about the control scheme except that I didn't see any of the style controls mentioned anywhere until after I beat the game. This game was a pain to get through. The gameplay was boring and frustrating for me, but admittedly I don't like rpg elements of most games. Some of the dialogue was pretty good (a lot of dialogue), and the visuals were very pretty. I can't complain about the control scheme except that I didn't see any of the style controls mentioned anywhere until after I beat the game. Probably my fault. I just didn't like this game all that much. It dragged on.… Expand
  60. SimonG.
    Sep 5, 2007
    6
    Here I am, commenting the fourth best game on the Wii according to all the critics. First, I think Super Mario Bros is by far the best 2D platformer series ever, period. Second, I don
  61. TotalJ.
    Oct 30, 2007
    6
    I gave this a shot because it's a Mario game and because the graphics and art style are appealing. The game itself is a tedious journey. I admit I didn't finish the game, probably didn't even get halfway. 2d and 3d? Big deal. This game has very little action or strategy. Rent it and see, but don't buy blind or you'll probably regret it.
  62. ToddS.
    Nov 4, 2008
    6
    Changing from 2D to 3D to solve puzzles is fun. I like the platforming element to this game. But all in all, there isn't enough RPG elements to it, and it has little to no replay value.
  63. Theday
    Jun 1, 2011
    6
    The Paper Mario series by Intelligent Systems is a series of games dating back to the N64, Intelligent Systems took the reins of the Mario RPG series after Square made Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the games have always had colorful characters, interesting locations and worlds and witty writing. Super Paper Mario takes away the turn base format from previous titles for moreThe Paper Mario series by Intelligent Systems is a series of games dating back to the N64, Intelligent Systems took the reins of the Mario RPG series after Square made Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the games have always had colorful characters, interesting locations and worlds and witty writing. Super Paper Mario takes away the turn base format from previous titles for more of a plate former feel and action while still keeping the health and moves. While the new take on the series does feel fresh, the way the abilities and character switching completely wrenches the experience. To have to change from one character who can bomb to one that can hammer just gets annoying after a short time. At times it felt that the game was rushed, and rushed bad. The entire use of the mirror town of Flopside is completely under used and felt like a last second addition. In fact, this game lacks a lot of polish the previous games of the series had. Sure the other ones had a few slow chapters, but this one really gets to you.
    If you can trudge along then you'll enjoy it, if not then you'll be annoyed out of playing this game.    … Expand
  64. Jorgendrix
    Dec 19, 2012
    6
    En su tiempo me encontré lo bastante ansioso y emocionado por esperar y obtener este título, jugándome en contra mi afición por muchas de las series de Nintendo. Al principio, me gustó mucho pero me fuí dando cuenta que es un juego que promete mucho pero que no te llena al final de todo. Si es uno para pasar el rato.
  65. MechanicalWood
    Aug 6, 2013
    6
    Although this game was okay for me, it is not as good as Paper Mario from Nintendo 64. There's no more turn fights which used to get annoying on Paper Mario 64 (but where fun). What I liked about the game is the flip from 2D to 3D, the second world is really fun and the world about the nerd was also fun and even hilarious.

    The world about game over was rather scary which talked about    Although this game was okay for me, it is not as good as Paper Mario from Nintendo 64. There's no more turn fights which used to get annoying on Paper Mario 64 (but where fun). What I liked about the game is the flip from 2D to 3D, the second world is really fun and the world about the nerd was also fun and even hilarious.

    The world about game over was rather scary which talked about hell and heaven and even that one business woman mentions if you where bad you'd suffer eternally (on a children's game what the There where also demons on that level (D-Man as they are called).

    What I hated about this game is that you need Mario to flip the world and you can't use the other characters because you can miss hidden stuff. I wish I could had played more with Peach or Bowser but the game didn't let me. Very bad. Also when you flip you have a meter which removes 1 HP each time the meter is over, after the 1 HP is reduced it starts over and I found it very annoying.

    The elevators at flipside are long and annoying, the pixls unlike the friends at Paper Mario 64 have no story at all and become useless, you even need a pixl for the hammer COME ON!

    In all the game was rather enjoyable.. but not as good as Paper Mario 64. Should you get this game? Maybe. Is it better than Paper Mario 64? NO!    … Expand
  66. Galacta1310
    Apr 30, 2014
    6
    This game wasn't bad but it was a bit of a disappointment. When it came out i thought it would be similar to the first 2, especially by looking at the box art. I did enjoy this game alot but it didnt even come close to the first 2 Paper Marios. Not only was the gameplay much different, the game was WAY to easy for me, i can get through the game without getting a game over. It was still funThis game wasn't bad but it was a bit of a disappointment. When it came out i thought it would be similar to the first 2, especially by looking at the box art. I did enjoy this game alot but it didnt even come close to the first 2 Paper Marios. Not only was the gameplay much different, the game was WAY to easy for me, i can get through the game without getting a game over. It was still fun but like i said, not the same. What was worse is that there was no turn based battling, but still leveling up which gave you a purpose to fighting enemies unlike Sticker Star. Most of the Pixls in the game were useless for most of the game. And the chapters were very short, on top of the game being easy with short levels it just got boring… Expand
  67. Tbone413
    Jun 12, 2015
    6
    Overrated. Not horrible, just overrated. It's decent fun, but I'm not a fan of Paper Mario. Overall ok, but not for me. Occasionally confusing, but the Flipside feature is cool.
  68. BeeSting1
    Jan 1, 2021
    6
    It's not a Paper Mario game.

    Good - it's nice to see peach being a playable character. Her umbrella techniques are pretty cool. - it's fun to flip in different places to see what secrets May lie in the 3D world. - I'm glad I'm able to stay on Carrie pixl and still am able to interact with things, so that I can maintain my speed. In the old paper Mario games all the fast    It's not a Paper Mario game.

    Good

    - it's nice to see peach being a playable character. Her umbrella techniques are pretty cool.

    - it's fun to flip in different places to see what secrets May lie in the 3D world.

    - I'm glad I'm able to stay on Carrie pixl and still am able to interact with things, so that I can maintain my speed. In the old paper Mario games all the fast partners couldn't interact or jump high enough for me to maintain them throughout the level usually.

    - squirps and the chameleons stories were really really funny. The pixl in squirps story using the elder's ancient clue to wipe his ass after 1000 years, so squirp can use the bathroom. And chameleon's play on the stereotype anime loving geek trying to mac on peach.

    - the ending was very bittersweet. I cared a lot about the story between Bleck and Tippi. Seeing how they sacrificed themselves to save the worlds was noble and touching. Something I've never felt in a Mario game.

    Bad

    - I think this is a good game for a Mario platformer, but I don't like how it's considered part of the paper Mario series. Besides the 2D characters being in the 3D world when you use the flip ability, there are no paper jokes like the past two paper Mario had.

    - not being able to use badges, special attacks, and star Spirit attacks takes a lot away from the diversity of the gameplay known to the paper Mario series. The only thing that remains are the items. And the partner abilities, which are moderately fun to use.

    - the pixels don't have a backstory, which means I can't relate to them or bond with their character. Every time I find a new one, their dialogue is just a bunch of nonsense. Each time I find a new one, I just want them to shut up, come with me, so that I can use their power. They're simply not memorable at all compared to Mario's partners in the old paper Mario games. Heck, even Yoshi is more memorable than these pixels in the normal Mario games despite not having a voice.

    - some puzzles are extremely boring and stupid like the one where I had to hit blocks in a long sequence. The game actually told me to write down the sequence and hit the blocks in that order, which was not fun.

    - the 2D shooting in the squirp levels were pretty boring. I don't play Mario for side scrolling shooting gameplay.

    - The hub world is too big and too similar looking to navigate. Sometimes it's hard to remember where everything is, especially looking for some hard pillars. I forget exactly obstacle which was in the way, but now I can pass with a new ability, because the areas just look so similar especially between flipside and flopside

    - in world 8-3, there was a completely non-intuitive puzzle design where I had to hit a block to open a door that was completely not obvious. Pointing with Tippi didn't even help. In 8-3, what is the points of following dementio into all the old worlds again, when there's absolutely nothing new, and I'm just walking down the same paths for the sake of it. It just feels like unnecessary filler.

    - The combat is too damn easy. The fights required almost no thought. A huge step down from its two predecessors. Very rarely did I feel a threat in a boss fight. And peach had the most OP move, her umbrella made her virtually invincible.    … Expand
  69. ND-Bringer
    May 27, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game's very presence is stunning. If Super Mario Bros and Thousand Year-Old Door had a child...just damn. This game combines the wonderful art style from Thousand Year-Old Door with a computer graphic style design and man...I just love. It makes this game feel so fresh, even 14 years later. That being said, some may say that it ruined the Paper Mario series with its diverse gameplay style. But then Sticker Star swoops in 5 years later and changes everything. Personally, I think Super Paper is fine for what it is. It's may not be as fantastic as the Thousand Year-Old Door, but the fact that Intelligent System's brilliant storytelling and creative level design was still at hand makes this one Big Bang of a game. I've always found classic Paper Mario magic to be so wonderful! While modern Paper Mario magic...is just acceptable. I would say my favorite thing about this game is the collection of dark levels. World 7-1 in particular just had me jump for joy, its hell that feels like heaven. A world of lost souls of video game characters that died in various ways, creepy hands in pool of whatever, and a surprise playable character...all in one! I also adore the quick World of Nothing stage that just blows gamers minds. It really makes you wonder if you're about to run into an evil game over sometimes. And trust this game has a few! Even playing with Bowser power, I can feel the icy touch of techno darkness is about to creep up on me! And that's the entire theme of World 8 and its just incredible. This game just has a wonderful variety of worlds. Desert ruins, 8-Bit terrain, , A SLAVERY LEVEL!? I'm just find it wonderfully bizarre that a level like that is apart of the Mario universe! But crazy things like aren't really meant for kids. Like the casinos in Pokemon, (And its very own casino!?) makes me wonder if Sticker Star was designed to be more kid friendly. After all Super Paper Mario is a complex game. If you don't pay attention to the vital dialogue you're likely to give up this game. I think this game is geared towards a teen level difficulty with the tricky puzzles. Heck, some levels can take hours if even minor details are ignored.It's not so bad though with fun battle mechanics keeping you awake. You're facing all sorts of silly and creepy enemies in this game. Even the innocent Luigi falls victim to evil mind control, and he's busting out giant missile blasting mechs on his own brother! And too makes things even darker, Dimentio, the true villain of this game, turns Luigi into some clown monster using the the Chaos Heart! I mean, holy smokes! To think, in the beginning of the game Mario and Luigi were just chilling with ice tea out on a nice summer day and forced to fight each other! Its like crazy fan fiction! This is one of my favorite final battles, if only I could listen to the awesome "The Man on the Internet Remix" while fighting him. MARIO, PEACH, AND BOWSER VS SUPER DIMENTIO! It's a near perfect ending, unfortunately its followed by the ol' "love conquers all" message. Yeah...I like Tippi and Bleck's story and all, but it's not all that interesting. I really love how Tippi, Count Bleck, O'Chunks, Mimi create a second set of Pure Hearts to help us break Dimentio's barrier. But my heart just slows down watching the over-sappy ending. And I'm not going to forget those irritating levels in the 2nd half world 7. Sometimes the camera is my enemy when I can't tell the the difference between a pit and a a shortcut to the lower cloud floor. And World 7-3, the constant backtracking you have to do in order to find the correct antidote fruit to cure Peach...I just hate it. Somehow hell feels like heaven and heaven feels look hell. And now my thoughts on the control, its fine and flexible. But it suffers in the cramped levels. But I love shaking the Wii-Mote to pull off fancy dance moves to increase my score. And in the place of the good guy minions, we have Pixls, digital fairies that give you all sorts of new and old abilities. You can shrink, place bombs, and let's not forget hammering foes. To bad I have to wait until I get to world 5 in order to get it. At least it's there. I understand if Sticker Star was aiming for a simpler setting, but it failed where Super succeeded. Super has both a great story and a fun new gameplay style, that combines classic Mario platforming with a RPG elements. And we're not just exploring another Mushroom Kingdom, we're exploring unique dimensions full of all sorts of creative characters like the enemy that wasn't meant to be, Fracktail! Well, he's all over the cover and he's also a Thousand Year-Old Door reference, he's more interesting then you think! Keep in mind, if you keep slipping up during battle or get stumped on a puzzle, I can relate. This game is about patience and soaking in each world. This series is all about breaking through normal settings and creating crazy creative dreams. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but its an incredible Wii console highlight!… Expand
  70. Idunno123
    Apr 15, 2023
    6
    A game made for younger audiences and practically no one else . I’ve tried to enjoy it but I feel there isn’t much to here enjoy. Perfect for younger people and those with nostalgia but it feels simple and sometimes with no navigation.
    I can enjoy simple gameplay but I feel this is to simple but somehow complex at the same time. Due to the controller having few buttons I feel the way it    A game made for younger audiences and practically no one else . I’ve tried to enjoy it but I feel there isn’t much to here enjoy. Perfect for younger people and those with nostalgia but it feels simple and sometimes with no navigation.
    I can enjoy simple gameplay but I feel this is to simple but somehow complex at the same time. Due to the controller having few buttons I feel the way it was adapted to wasn’t done the best.
    Altogether a Mario game for young people who have a long time on their hands    … Expand
  71. Joe
    May 20, 2007
    5
    I feel exactly how Steve E. feels toward this game. There are some really boring parts in this game. Running in the wheel for 6 minutes was horrible, typing please 8 times to get a clue was annoying, then having the clue be a 30 step process that needs to be written down.........Also the ninja level..... I am currently on the 8th world and cant wait to beat it so i can sell it on ebay. I feel exactly how Steve E. feels toward this game. There are some really boring parts in this game. Running in the wheel for 6 minutes was horrible, typing please 8 times to get a clue was annoying, then having the clue be a 30 step process that needs to be written down.........Also the ninja level..... I am currently on the 8th world and cant wait to beat it so i can sell it on ebay. Painfully boring at parts and the game is too easy, big letdown and over hyped IMO After you beat it once why would you want to play this again?????? Super Mario RPG is 1000x better.… Expand
  72. Jorchking
    Feb 13, 2020
    5
    De la saga RPG es el peor Mario que he jugado.
    Venía muy emocionado jugando a tiro el Paper Mario 64 y La puerta Milenaria, pero con este juego nunca me terminé de enganchar. Intenté 2 veces cogerle el la mano al juego y nunca pude. Más que nada porque es tedioso y poco atractivo, se hace MUY aburrido. Además creo que tiene que ver mucho el cambio de mecánicas que tampoco me convenció.    De la saga RPG es el peor Mario que he jugado.
    Venía muy emocionado jugando a tiro el Paper Mario 64 y La puerta Milenaria, pero con este juego nunca me terminé de enganchar. Intenté 2 veces cogerle el la mano al juego y nunca pude. Más que nada porque es tedioso y poco atractivo, se hace MUY aburrido. Además creo que tiene que ver mucho el cambio de mecánicas que tampoco me convenció. También se me contrastó demasiado ya que venía del mejor Mario RPG que era La Puerta Milenaria y haber jugado el peor inmediatamente lo terminas sintiendo más. Es el peor Mario en RPG que he jugado.
    Es un juego bastante olvidable, y que no invita a quedarse, y que ha tenido poca trascendencia en la saga RPG de Mario, eso dice demasiado.
    5/10.    … Expand
  73. shado1313
    Sep 10, 2018
    5
    i think this game has a lot of bad stuff. the characters to me were pretty forgettable, there was not a single side character i was like "hey, i like this guy" . bowser is pretty fun, some of the dialogue is pretty fun, there are parts of the game that i just feel like is not that well done. i found this game extremely easy to beat, its pretty cool at some points, the 2D-·3D transitionsi think this game has a lot of bad stuff. the characters to me were pretty forgettable, there was not a single side character i was like "hey, i like this guy" . bowser is pretty fun, some of the dialogue is pretty fun, there are parts of the game that i just feel like is not that well done. i found this game extremely easy to beat, its pretty cool at some points, the 2D-·3D transitions and how developers explore them are pretty cool at some points and sometimes it feels like they just forget they had that mechanic (mostly at the end of the game) but hey, i finished, and i finished because the story can be pretty addictive sometimes, there are moments where you found yourself at a extremely dumb and dull world and you just want to get over it because you will get a cool story at the end of the level. this game is a must play ONCE and never ever again. unlike its big brothers paper mario 64 and paper mario TTYD this one feels weird, sometimes incomplete, and sometimes... well, just weird.… Expand
  74. bancandrei
    May 14, 2020
    5
    I had heard good things about Paper Mario so I had great expectations coming in which were definitely not met. This is not the type of game I was expecting. Will probably have to check out the first 2 entries in the series for more RPG elements
  75. SirXyonder777
    Jun 8, 2021
    5
    This game is just one big gimmick. It tries to sell itself in a beloved series, but plays completely different. I'm not a huge fan of the pixls or swapping from 2D to 3D either, and what's with the difficulty spike on the desert level? This isn't a particularly great game unless you like Mario just that much.
  76. MaryaP.
    Jun 16, 2007
    4
    It's cute, don't get me wrong, but this game seems as though it's best suited for kids aged 5-7 who really like to read. I was reading for about 45 min. before seeing actual game play, which is pretty easy. It's a great game if you're buying for kids, the characters are cute and pretty witty, but I wouldn't recommend it for grown ups. I guess nothing can It's cute, don't get me wrong, but this game seems as though it's best suited for kids aged 5-7 who really like to read. I was reading for about 45 min. before seeing actual game play, which is pretty easy. It's a great game if you're buying for kids, the characters are cute and pretty witty, but I wouldn't recommend it for grown ups. I guess nothing can really compare to those old Mario games from back in the day.… Expand
  77. RobB
    Apr 6, 2009
    4
    Very blah. At first very charming but gets old very fast. It seemed fun to have the option to play as Peach, Luigi, and even Bowser but this is more or less a lie. Since ALL areas demand to be traversed both in 2D and 3D you
  78. 1206
    Nov 13, 2011
    4
    The game is funny, charming, consistently inventive, but the hybrid of sidescrolling platforming action on traditional RPG gameplay, in the end, feels horrible. This game goes against everything I was taught as a gamer. It takes away my beloved dash button.

    http://anti-gaming.tumblr.com/post/1306447517/paper-thin
  79. Wilyan30
    Jan 20, 2016
    4
    Thinking about the previous games of the franchise, i personally believe that Super Paper Mario could have been SO much better, if they only kept the battle system from the others, the game is now an puzzle game with some action here and there in the battles, still, it could be good like this, but there are still some things that annoy me, for instance, the fact that if you want to findThinking about the previous games of the franchise, i personally believe that Super Paper Mario could have been SO much better, if they only kept the battle system from the others, the game is now an puzzle game with some action here and there in the battles, still, it could be good like this, but there are still some things that annoy me, for instance, the fact that if you want to find everything in the map, you have to switch between 2D and 3D, and switching is something that takes 1 second, not a huge time, but it is still a long time to wait, that's if you're just checking the area, 1 second to go to 3D and 1 more to switch back to 2D. the game is good, but when i play it, it feels like i'm playing something like a fusion between Super Mario Bros and Paper Mario, it's totally not enjoyable for people that expected another game with similar mechanics to Paper Mario from gamecube and Nintendo64… Expand
  80. FinnGalaxy
    Mar 31, 2021
    4
    This game... is a mess.

    It's a game that tries to be a platformer with RPG elements, with the same good writing of the old games and that's not a bad thing, some variety in this franchise was more than welcome back then . The thing is that it doesn't execute them well, at all, as a platformer is very slow, with enemies that just require to jump on them until you're tired and half of    This game... is a mess.

    It's a game that tries to be a platformer with RPG elements, with the same good writing of the old games and that's not a bad thing, some variety in this franchise was more than welcome back then
    .
    The thing is that it doesn't execute them well, at all, as a platformer is very slow, with enemies that just require to jump on them until you're tired and half of the time you're just walking straight until a puzzle shows up. As an RPG all those puzzles are really arbitrary, one chapter is just as fun as using your abilities to climb a try, and in the next one is memorizing an extremely large order of blocks to jump under in order to progress and ends up making the pacing very sluggish, leveling up just means having to jump less on an enemy and ends up being redundant when you can just walk through them in 3D, and the items ended up being useless when most of the time taking down an enemy is as easy as jumping on them.

    And finally, the story; it's a good-ish one. Yes, it has the same writing of the old games... without any of the interesting main characters, the only ones that are interesting to see are the villains, who don't show up until the last moment every chapter, while the story is entertaining is so poorly paced that doesn't make the player overlook all of the other flaws of this game.

    I really wanted to like the game as much as other people but as it is, is just a boring game at best.    … Expand
  81. Crimson9
    Dec 25, 2022
    4
    I remember one summer I was extremely bored and found this game on my cousins Wii. Despite my incredible boredom I could still barely get through it. Looking back, I think this is a downgrade in every way from its predecessors.
  82. MartyM.
    Sep 15, 2007
    3
    I really wanted to like this game but what a let down. The artwork looks like it has been done by a 3 year old. I know its 'Paper' mario but its not as if it even looks like paper - it just looks rubbish. The story is dull and pointless with endless text to wade through. The 2D sidescrolling element of the game is its best feature although even this was done better on the SNES - I really wanted to like this game but what a let down. The artwork looks like it has been done by a 3 year old. I know its 'Paper' mario but its not as if it even looks like paper - it just looks rubbish. The story is dull and pointless with endless text to wade through. The 2D sidescrolling element of the game is its best feature although even this was done better on the SNES - so many of the 'classic' character functions are missing (ground pounds, flowers that allow mario to throw fireballs etc). The flip into 3D is again a let down as the 3D looks so poor and the novelty of it wears very quickly. Despite its claims, the flipping between 2D and 3D does little to enhance the game as its always the same everytime you get a bit stuck; "Damn Im stuck, Ill flip it into 3D.....oh there we go." I really was looking forward to this game but find it amazing anyone can give it anymore than a 5/10.… Expand
  83. NospamNoSpam
    Apr 13, 2007
    3
    Elementary game play. Same tired familiar game play, same tired familiar characters, same tired familiar story. Mediocre graphics. A total bore.
  84. NeilB.
    Jun 16, 2007
    3
    Super Paper Mario is a terribly boring game. The gameplay, when you get to it, is reasonable enough, but there's always some idiotic conversation you have to scroll through (hint: 1+2 fast forwards each dialog; there seems to be no "shut the heck up" option for the game overall). Level design is ok, but nothing nearly as well thought out as New Super Mario Bros (DS). Pass on this Super Paper Mario is a terribly boring game. The gameplay, when you get to it, is reasonable enough, but there's always some idiotic conversation you have to scroll through (hint: 1+2 fast forwards each dialog; there seems to be no "shut the heck up" option for the game overall). Level design is ok, but nothing nearly as well thought out as New Super Mario Bros (DS). Pass on this one. Play Wii sports instead.… Expand
  85. FredC.
    Jun 26, 2007
    3
    This game should only be for fans of Paper Mario : The Thousand Year Door, or rather BORE. This is a dull game in a RPG style that eschews strategy and gameplay for story. No talent required to play.
  86. Bobthemightyone
    Aug 17, 2013
    3
    A very disappointing title to say the least. The ideas are really cool and fresh originally, but the game suffers far too much from mindless backtracking. There are many stages where you simply must wander the area finding the right door or switch to progress through the game. Even speedrunning on a second playthrough, where all of the backtracking is known does nothing to help the game'sA very disappointing title to say the least. The ideas are really cool and fresh originally, but the game suffers far too much from mindless backtracking. There are many stages where you simply must wander the area finding the right door or switch to progress through the game. Even speedrunning on a second playthrough, where all of the backtracking is known does nothing to help the game's abysmal pacing. Paper Mario the Thousand Year Door had many poor backtracking segments as well, but those were somewhat avoidable. Very cool ideas, and very good implementation are in it's favor but some of the worst level design I have every seen hold back what should have been a very fun and unique platformer. If you're a fan of the Paper Mario series (as I am) I would probably rent it or borrow it from a friend, but it's not worth buying, even used.… Expand
  87. JoeL.
    Apr 17, 2007
    2
    Too easy, too much text, very little fighting, too short. paper mario 2 is my favorite game, this is not half as much fun.
  88. kirbyfanatic
    Aug 28, 2010
    2
    this game was horrible!!! it was just down right easy the 3D was the only thing cool about this game otherwise it was just plain easy and you would not want to play it again
  89. DonnaF.
    Jul 29, 2007
    1
    I am in my fifties and bought this for the exercise fun of the wii. If this is fun then we grown a generation of people with retarded development. Unbelievably boring, too many words. Big waste of money for the boomers who are looking to use their wiis and have a bit of sport. Smooth moves and wii sports are better. The 45 minute opening intro is absurd. Trash material. If I wanted to I am in my fifties and bought this for the exercise fun of the wii. If this is fun then we grown a generation of people with retarded development. Unbelievably boring, too many words. Big waste of money for the boomers who are looking to use their wiis and have a bit of sport. Smooth moves and wii sports are better. The 45 minute opening intro is absurd. Trash material. If I wanted to read I would have curled up with a book.… Expand
  90. superwesman
    May 4, 2008
    1
    I found this game to be exceptionally tedious. I bought it because it was in the top 10 here at metacritic and was completely disappointed. Other games like metroid prime and mario galaxy are quite good and worthy of the high ranks. I don't see how this slipped through the cracks. The dialogue is mind numbing and there is a lot to be desired in terms of game play. Maybe little kids I found this game to be exceptionally tedious. I bought it because it was in the top 10 here at metacritic and was completely disappointed. Other games like metroid prime and mario galaxy are quite good and worthy of the high ranks. I don't see how this slipped through the cracks. The dialogue is mind numbing and there is a lot to be desired in terms of game play. Maybe little kids would enjoy it.… Expand
  91. DonnaF.
    Jun 29, 2007
    1
    I am in my fifties and bought this for the exercise fun of the wii. If this is fun then we grown a generation of people with retarded development. Unbelievably boring, too many words. Big waste of money for the boomers who are looking to use their wiis and have a bit of sport. Smooth moves and wii sports are better. The 45 minute opening intro is absurd. Trash material. If I wanted to I am in my fifties and bought this for the exercise fun of the wii. If this is fun then we grown a generation of people with retarded development. Unbelievably boring, too many words. Big waste of money for the boomers who are looking to use their wiis and have a bit of sport. Smooth moves and wii sports are better. The 45 minute opening intro is absurd. Trash material. If I wanted to read I would have curled up with a book.… Expand
  92. MW1AA2Gs
    Aug 15, 2013
    0
    I remember when I was a kid that my favorite game on the Gamecube was Paper Mario The Ten Thousand year door and when I heard that there was a new Paper Mario game coming soon I got hyped more then for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I couldn't wait but little did I know I was waiting for a huge kick in the balls. The game was basically New Super Mario Bros. RPG (infact I would have preferredI remember when I was a kid that my favorite game on the Gamecube was Paper Mario The Ten Thousand year door and when I heard that there was a new Paper Mario game coming soon I got hyped more then for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I couldn't wait but little did I know I was waiting for a huge kick in the balls. The game was basically New Super Mario Bros. RPG (infact I would have preferred that title much more). With a boring storyline (that I can't imagine any kids understanding), graphics that are an insult to the Wii, terrible partners (I prefer one done well then 9 with no soul), Navi/Tippi, bad boss fights (excluding the first one), a main villain with no incentive (other then just take over the world), and some of the worst levels I've ever seen.… Expand
  93. clawshot2
    Oct 1, 2013
    0
    truly Nintendo has given up on the gaming industry. a game like paper mario should be ripped up and thrown in the trash. the 2d is okay I guess, but when you switch it to 3d you think something awesome is going to happen but nothing does. plus you slowly lose life in 3d. the worst and most overated game on the wii. no bowser are you fricken kidding me. i say rip paper mario up and throwtruly Nintendo has given up on the gaming industry. a game like paper mario should be ripped up and thrown in the trash. the 2d is okay I guess, but when you switch it to 3d you think something awesome is going to happen but nothing does. plus you slowly lose life in 3d. the worst and most overated game on the wii. no bowser are you fricken kidding me. i say rip paper mario up and throw him in the trash Kirby epic yarn… Expand
  94. PhantomAnime98
    Dec 28, 2018
    0
    In short, this is the worst game I have ever played in the Paper Mario series, the combat is trash, some of the characters in the game are "tolerable" and the worlds, although creative, are quite boring in its own degree. I want every copy hunted down, drowned, burned and buried 6 ft under. Don't waste your money on this and save it for something that is not trash.
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best Wii Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Shared Wii Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. Play Magazine
    85
    It feels and looks polished, considerate, and expensive. [Apr 2007, p.40]
  2. GamesRadar+
    80
    Anyone with half a heart will absolutely fall in love with the characters, the graphics, the dialogue, the old-school shout-outs to previous games, the little visual effects lingering in the skies of every world... the love just keeps plopping out of the speakers at an incredible rate. For every annoying, excessively long fetch quest or mundane puzzle, there's a huge, cutesy payoff that makes all the trouble worthwhile.
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  3. IGN
    89
    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.
    Read full review
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