Peach weds Bowser in Super Paper Mario
New game for the Wii keeps old school characters alive
Image Courtesy of Nintendo
Although previous games in the series were role playing games, Super Paper Mario for the Wii also uses elements from classic platforms.
It's a tale as old as time itself: evil monster kidnaps the princess, unlikely hero saves her and everyone lives happily ever after.
However, that last part does not lend itself well to setting up sequels, so Nintendo has disregarded it for the past 20 years.
Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Bowser have all been through a lot during this time, with little change in their relationships.
That is why it is particularly strange to see the opening scene of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems' Super Paper Mario (SPM) involving Peach getting married.
It is even stranger to see that the groom is Bowser.
Of course, all is not as it seems.
The evil and mysterious Count Bleck has forced the arrangement in order to give rise to the Chaos Heart, capable of destroying all of the worlds. Now it is up to Mario and co. to find a way to stop Bleck's sinister plot.
Like all of the other Paper Mario games, SPM for the Wii has a highly distinctive art style consisting of simple 2-D sprites in a 3-D environment.
They also use the paper aspect in game play mechanics and sight gags. SPM is no different in that regard, but Nintendo has reworked it to add a whole new dimension to the game.
Taking a page from Super Mario Bros. 2, players can switch out and control one of four different characters throughout the game, all with unique abilities.
Mario's ability is probably the most important of the game, with the ability to shift from a 2-D perspective to a 3-D perspective. This allows Mario to find hidden objects and locate navigable paths that would be impassable in 2-D.
Princess Peach has her parasol which is used to deflect attacks and float over long distances. Bowser has more power in his stomp attack and can breathe fire. Luigi can jump extremely high and use a rocket attack.
The game play is unlike the previous games in the series. While the other Paper Mario games were RPGs, this one combines elements from RPGs and classic platforms.
However, instead of a system of power-ups, there is a HP meter and usable items. The one exception is the return of the Star, which turns the character into an invincible eight-bit behemoth for a limited time.
The one thing that this game does keep from previous games in the series is the impeccable script.
There is a fair amount of reading involved in this game, but the wit is in full-force. Jokes and references show up when least expected, and the story is also enticing.
The graphics are simplistic, but each world has its own unique look.
The music is also very enjoyable, employing a mix of familiar favorites with newer tunes that fit the surroundings.
Anyone with a Wii will be doing themselves a favor by playing this game. It is easily the most enjoyable experience I've had recently, and the added nostalgia factor increases it even more.
Super Paper Mario is an excellent example of taking fun, familiar gameplay and adding whole new dimensions of enjoyment.
