A quality game with an excellent comedic script although a little too easy or subdued. BUT it is more platform than RPG.
SPM starts out with Mario and Luigi setting off to see Princess Peach in her castle - she wasn't there however. As the pair assume she may have been kidnapped by Bowser they go to his castle. Initially an aggressive encounter, Mario, Luigi and Bowser realise that Peach is simply missing. This is when a mysterious sorcerer who introduced himself as Count Bleck, reveals that he is the true kidnapper of Princess Peach. Through the powers of the 'Dark Prognosticus', an ancient, prophetical tome, Count Bleck creates a Chaos heart unleashing 'The Void'. This is a dimensional rift that will grow and erase the universe from the seams. After the group (Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser) are torn away from this location with powerful magic, you then control Mario who wakes up to find Tippi, a 'Pixl', and a wizard, Merlon. You're informed that you may be the 'Hero' as described by the 'Light Prognosticus'. The prophecy foretells that the hero will go about collecting the 'Pure Hearts' which will become the power to save the universe. So, accepting your role in the prophecy, Mario and Tippi join forces to seek out all these hidden Pure Hearts - saving the universe, and hopefully finding your friends along the way, Luigi, Peach and yes, Bowser (for once).
The game can be described as visually mind-blowing, albeit not in the technical sense: You play the game in a beautifully-drawn 2D plane. Characters, objects, houses and even doors retain that paper-thin effect and are all done in a cartoon-fashion. You also gain the power to literally flip the world from it's side (or rather, yourself?). This is when 3D comes into play, seeing the world on its side feels incredible the first time it happens. The foreground is seen separate from the background and the objects between those two layers are revealed from a different dimensional state of mind! The game often plays tricks by hiding items, switches or tunnels behind 'decorations' and so encourages you to often flip every screen you ever visit in the game - SPM is one of those games in which the visuals actually have a very tangible effect on gameplay. You can also use this power as a tool for navigation; flat enemies will become harmless to you when in a different dimension, you can walk in and out of 'screen', revealing hidden pathways and sections of the world etc. The power is, unfortunately, limited to short bursts - if you use it too much you will lose health (HP).
While the game retains a 'wow!' factor in playing with the dimensions - the audio however, is barely just on par. Music plays well and goes suitably well to the light-hearted nature of the game. It never becomes magnificent but never really dull - although, if you do get stuck in one section of the game the mood can get frustrating due to the 'repeating nature' of sounds. There is also no voice-acting at all, so be prepared to just read speech bubbles over and over and over again. So how does the game play? Well it controls not too dissimilar to the traditonal 2D Mario platformers (minus the 'run button') because of the way you hold the Wiimote on it's side like a S/NES controller. SPM doesn't play as well as the traditional 2D Mario platformers though and the specialty of the turn-based combat in SPM1+2 is also lost. The game is rather too easy, the combat is simple and the plot is cliched. What's really good about the game once you overlook the easy-going nature of the game is the script even though the plot is predictable. Some scenarios and off-beat jokes could really give you the good chuckle and are often the highlights or the special moments of an overall subdued game. There's always a surprise waiting for you in each level. The other good thing about this game are the bosses, they offer a somewhat better challenge and are all pretty unique from another, some are quite breathtaking and others just ooze creativity. And then there are the Pixls you accumulate within your team, each offering there different abilities and helps to add variety into the game, a game which staggers a bit in pace.
In terms of pacing, the game starts off great but seems to drag in the middle. It's only at the end when things really pick up. It would be understandable if many players felt bored of this game after the initial excitement - in my case, i pushed on. I particularly liked the off-beat humour, at one point it felt like the game was mocking 'System Wars' or anything equivalent to it! The questions this game throws at you are quite unexpected and these are some of those special moments of the game which redeems it from being the 'usual tit-tat'. Other special moments (without spoiling too much) include playing the game in space, earning money to pay off some huge debt, or literally getting 'game over' from the very start because you refused to play your role as the 'hero' (:lol: i thought i could just answer any question stupidly and getting a kick out of what the characters had to say!). There were also some small games to be played in the 'arcade' which used IR and motion controls but weren't all that impressive. I completed the game at around the 15-20 hours mark and there was more to be played out of it if you're willing to get more items or do some levelling up. I wouldn't say it'd be enjoyable as most of the fun to be had is through the in-jokes and the progression through the bosses to the end.
Personally, i felt disappointment due to the change in the winning formula. Super Paper Mario is still a quality game though and will probably be much more enjoyable to the younger crowd and those new to the Paper Mario series. The really good news however is that this game has been out long enough for the price to drop considerably. I've seen the game going for £15 in certain online stores - when i bought my copy, the game subbornly remained at around £25. This game is definitely worth £15 though, so don't let my disappointment put you off.