This game has been taking up a good part of my time since I bought my Gamecube last Friday. It's been pretty fun and I enjoy the fact that the gameplay is both rpg and action at the same time. Something that I'm also grateful of is that generally there is not much backtracking, but when it does occur it is of pretty great importance and doesn't feel like a waste of time.
The graphics are very eye pleasing. The characters are all done in 2D and are very colorful. Backgrounds are done with elements of both 2D and 3D with much variety of color. All in all the graphics are an interesting blend that give Paper Mario much charm.
I love the presentation of Paper Mario and all of the elements that make up this great game. Such as the battles taking place on stages and there being a crowd that can help/hurt you in battle. Also how Mario can fold up into a paper airplane to reach another area or turn paper thin to walk inbetween thin places.
Now one of the most important points when I play any RPG game or RPG-like game are battles. I absolutely loathe level grinding but I'm happy to say that Paper Mario sidesteps that with the action elements and also the "crowd" element of fights. There are plenty of random things thrown in such as a stage light that may fall from above and hurt you, but cause either Mario or his party member at that time to turn electric hurting any enemy that touches him/her. Here the crowd comes in as well since they can throw things at you that can either help or hurt you. Even the stage is a part of the battle since at any time a piece of the stage can fall and hurt everyone on screen or just a character or two.
Paper Mario has been one of my favorite games of all time from what I played so far and I can't wait to continue playing through it. The only bad thing about these games, well games that I really enjoy, is the fact that I really don't want them to be over. It reminds me of that saying that many times the journey is more fun than the destination.