Super Paper Mario
From Paper Wiki
Super Paper Mario is a platform/role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems, a division of Nintendo. Originally developed for the Nintendo GameCube, it was released for the Wii. It is a combination of the previous Paper Mario titles and Super Mario Bros. titles. Unlike the RPG-style gameplay of previous Paper Mario games, the game combines platforming gameplay, RPG, and puzzle elements.Its content is darker than previous games of the franchise.<ref name="reveal">Template:Cite web</ref>
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Development
Super Paper Mario was created out of a desire to combine the familiar look of the Paper Mario series with a new style of gameplay.<ref name="Williams 76">Williams, p. 76.</ref> Chief director Ryota Kawade was on a train thinking about ways to adapt a subgame from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door in which the player controls a large Bowser in a short side-scrolling stage; he noticed that the other end of the train looked like a stage in a Mario game and envisioned switching between two and three dimensions.<ref name="Williams 78">Williams, p. 78.</ref> When producer Kensuke Tanabe was told about the idea, he decided to make the sequel an action-adventure game,<ref name="Williams 76" /> but retained some role-playing elements to establish the game in the Paper Mario franchise.<ref name="Williams 77">Williams, p. 77.</ref> Kawade and Tanabe also felt that these elements, as well as the ability to switch between two and three dimensions, would make the game more accessible to players unaccustomed to action games.<ref>Williams, pp. 76–77.</ref> The team played side-scrolling Mario titles for inspiration, envisioning how the levels would look in 3D.<ref name="Williams 77" />
Super Paper Mario was announced by Nintendo on May 11 2006 at E3 for the Nintendo GameCube.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 30 2006, Nintendo set a release date of October 9 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That summer, the game was "quietly moved" to the Wii.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Storyline
At the home of the Mario Brothers, Luigi suggests that he and Mario visit Princess Peach. As they depart, Toad announces that the Princess has been kidnapped again. The brothers immediately suspect Bowser and quickly set off for Bowser's Castle. When they arrive, they find that Bowser is not aware of the kidnapping; in fact, he was preparing to kidnap Peach himself. Count Bleck appears and kidnaps Bowser, Luigi, and Bowser's soldiers, leaving Mario behind.
Princess Peach wakes to find herself in a wedding dress, standing at an altar with Bowser. Count Bleck and his toady Nastasia intend to marry them—a book called the "Dark Prognosticus" predicts that the marriage will create the Chaos Heart, capable of destroying all existence. Bowser complies, but Peach resists; Nastasia is forced to hypnotize Peach into saying "I do", which creates a dimensional rift in front of the altar. Luigi wakes nearby and rushes Count Bleck, who disappears with Nastasia and the Chaos Heart.
At Bowser's Castle, Mario finds Tippi, a butterfly-like "pixl" creature who transports him to the town of Flipside between dimensions. Mario visits the wizard Merlon who tells Mario of the "Light Prognosticus", a book written by the ancients, describing a method of destroying the Chaos Heart. Mario matches the description of the hero in the book, so Merlon entrusts him with one of eight Pure Hearts that together have the power to defeat Count Bleck.
As Mario recovers the other seven Pure Hearts, the back story is revealed through the dialogue of lovers Timpani and Blumiere. Timpani was a human woman and Blumiere was the prince of the Tribe of Darkness. Blumiere's father did not approve of the romance, and made Timpani disappear. In his sorrow, Blumiere took up the Dark Prognosticus, kept by the Tribe of Darkness for generations, and tries to destroy his own world. Towards the game's end, Timpani and Blumiere are gradually revealed to be Tippi and Count Bleck.
After all eight Pure Hearts have been collected, Mario and his teammates proceed through Castle Bleck. Bowser, Peach, and Luigi are presumed lost in several battles, leaving Mario to face Bleck alone. Mario cannot harm Bleck due to a shield generated by the Chaos Heart. Suddenly, Mario's friends rejoin him and the Pure Hearts surround Bleck, destroying his shield. After Count Bleck is defeated, one of his minions, Nastasia, protects him from a blast of magic, killing her. Dimentio then reveals himself as the main antagonist, claiming the Chaos Heart. Dimentio then sends Tippi, Count Bleck, and the fallen Nastasia to another dimension.
Dimentio says that the Dark Prognosticus states that Luigi's body makes the ideal host for the Chaos Heart. Luigi is brainwashed from a "seed" planted in his mind from their previous battle, and the brainwashed Luigi reveals that he was Mr. L. Dimentio, Luigi, and the Chaos Heart combine into Super Dimentio. Again, the Chaos Heart creates a shield preventing Mario from attacking. Tippi convinces Count Bleck that it is not too late to atone, and O'Chunks and Mimi arrive soon after, agreeing to follow him in any decision. The eight Pure Hearts are reformed from the emotions Count Bleck feels and make Super Dimentio vulnerable. Mario destroys Super Dimentio's body, leaving only his head. Realizing that his demise is close and barly clinging to life, Dimentio has one last trick up his sleeve. He leaves a portion of his power behind to continue controlling the Chaos Heart even after death. Dimentio is detsroyed in one more final explosion and Luigi is released unharmed. However, the void continues to wipe out all existence and life. Count Bleck realizes that there is only one last thing to do, though he is deeply saddened by the fact that he might sacrifice Tippi along with himself. She doesn't care, wanting to be with him. They rekindle their vows in front of the altar from the beginning of the game, and The Void is closed by true love.
Mario and his party awaken in Flipside, in front of Merlon. O'Chunks and Mimi are also there, but not Count Bleck or Tippi. Nastasia wakes up, having been revived. She is quickly distressed over Count Bleck's disappearance. The other two comfort her, saying that they should all help build the ideal world that Count Bleck would have wanted. She agrees, and thanks Mario for all that he's done. After some philosophical insight by Merlon about the nature of life and the future, everyone goes off to feast. The last image seen is a silhouette of Count Blumiere and Lady Timpani looking over a hill in a peaceful world as they walk away in happiness, showing that they have indeed survived together in at least some sense.
Much of the story includes in-jokes to previous Mario and Nintendo games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also frequently references the "paper" aspect of the game's universe in a breach of the fourth wall.
Characters
The player eventually controls four main characters, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, each with their own special abilities.<ref name="nsider_515">Template:Web cite</ref> Additionally, the player has special Pixls, creatures that provide the character with a special power, who also must be located to be added to the player's party.
Gameplay
The player controls the characters by holding the Wii Remote sideways like an NES controller.<ref>Thomason, p. 45.</ref> With the Tippi or Tiptron Pixl, the player can also point to the screen with the remote to identify features on the screen as well as hidden objects.
Super Paper Mario, like other Paper Mario games, borrows both RPG and platforming elements in its gameplay. A main hub city called "Flipside" provides a location for Mario and his party to talk to residents, shop, and rest, as well as to open doorways to other worlds. There also exists a mirror version of Flipside called "Flopside" that becomes available in the last half of the game with improved items and shops. Unlike previous Paper Mario games, there is no turn-based fighting; instead the player faces foes directly on screen as in a usual Mario platforming game, and through experience gains and special items, the amount of damage dealt can be increased; the player also must watch the party's health taken as damage from foes, though this can be restored with special health items. The traditional scoring system used in most platforming games doubles as an experience point system.<ref name="Thomason 46">Thomason, p. 46.</ref> After jumping on an enemy, the player can shake the controller for extra points. The player can also collect "catch cards & catch cards sp" for all the major characters and enemies; possessing an enemy card will double damage dealt for that enemy.
While the concept of a "paper" Mario (existing in only two dimensions) still continues through the game, a frequently used power obtained early in the game allows the player to "flip" Mario into the third dimension at nearly any point in the game. When this occurs, the current 2D level is rotated to become 3D in a third-person view; obstacles that may have blocked progress in 2D can simply be walked around in 3D, or hidden blocks or enemies may become visible. There are also numerous secrets to the 3D version of the level. Generally, Mario can only spend a short amount of time in this 3D form before taking damage, though some side-quests eliminate this penalty.
Mario and his party also gain powers through creatures called "Pixls" within the game. These give the current character an additional ability such as turning sideways to slip through cracks, hammering down large blocks, or planting bombs to defeat foes. In addition to Mario, the player will eventually control three other characters: Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser. Both the current character and Pixl can be switched out at any time during the game.
There are total of 8 chapters in the game, all split into 4 sections, with the second and final level culminating in a boss fight. For all but the last chapter, the goal is to collect a "Pure Heart" which is then used somewhere in Flipside to unlock the door to the next chapter. Save points are located strategically throughout Flipside and through and between sections; if the character's health points drop to 0, the player must restart at the last save point, though the player can escape to Flipside at nearly any point in the game, at the cost of having to restart the unfinished chapter when they return. Players can, however, return to any section of a finished chapter.
Additional side quests also can be performed once the player can access these areas through the use of the Pixls and new characters.
Reception
Reviews for Super Paper Mario were generally very positive, receiving scores around 8 or 9 out of 10 from many major sites and magazines.
- Edge: 7/10<ref>Template:Citation.</ref>
- Electronic Gaming Monthly: 9/10, 9/10, 8/10<ref>Template:Citation.</ref>
- Game Informer: 9.5/10(Also won Game of the Month May 2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- GameSpot: 8.8/10<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- IGN: 8.9/10<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Nintendo Power: 9.5 out of 10<ref>Template:Citation.</ref>
- Nintendo World Report: 9/10<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- RPGamer: 5/5<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- X-Play: 4/5
- NGamer: 88%
