At first glance, this game looks like an RPG with a Yoshi's Story kind of look and feel. But it's deeper than that. Paper Mario, although developed by a different company, is the N64 sequel to the Super NES game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. A lot of things are different than the original game. But that's okay, because the way I see it, things are better.
Unlike the previously mentioned Yoshi's Story, Mario moves around in a 3-D world, even though all of the characters are drawn in 2-D. In fact, all the characters appear to be paper cut-outs, hence the name of the game. The "paper" characters add to the overall humor. Like when one of them falls off a cliff, the character floats down, like paper does. Overall, the graphics are really good, as is the animation.
Music is fine. You'll here old Mario tunes (like the "underground song" in the sewers under Toad Town) and new tunes.
Control is as good as it was in Super Mario RPG. And just like in that game, Mario can do his multiple jump attack in the battle mode.
The challenge of the game is good. But as with most RPG's, the higher the level you are at, the better the chance you'll survive through the battles.
The game is set up in chapters. Each chapter deals with saving one of the seven Star Spirits, who is being imprisoned somewhere in the Mushroom Kingdom. One nice touch to the game is that right after saving a Star Spirit, thus ending that chapter, you take control of the Princess, who is in her own castle (her castle has been taken over by Bowser). The reason for doing this is to "spy" on Bowser and his future plans so that the Princess can send a message to Mario to tell him where the next Star Spirit is being held.
This game is a true adventure. And a very good addition to the very small N64 library of RPG's. Probably the best thing about this game is the many companions that Mario takes on his journey. My favorite of all of them is Goombario. He's the first one that Mario brings along with him. Goombario's "special ability" is that he talks to you when you want him to. In addition to giving you information about where you are and about enemies' weaknesses, he gives you a lot of unuseful, but hilarious, information. He gives the game a humorous and personable point of view. Other companions include Kooper, a Koopa adventurer-wanna-be, Bow, a ghost, and Parakarry, a parakoopa mailman.
If you want a really good RPG, and maybe you've been waiting a while for one for the N64, then this is one you should pick up.
GOOD: Great RPG, Lots of Stuff To Do, Great Humor
BAD: Not Long Enough
Paper Mario
