Release Dates

04/10/07

04/19/07

09/14/07

TBA

Super Paper Mario is the third installment of the Paper Mario series of 2D paper characters in a 3D world (with a dash of RPG elements). Super Paper Mario takes the 2D concept further as a 2D side-scroller / 3D free-roaming hybrid. The game also has some elements of an RPG, but to a lesser extent than previous games.

The basic story is Princess Peach is kidnapped (surprise)! Mario and Luigi rush to Bowser’s castle (the usual suspect) but finds out he was not involved. Instead, a new villain, Count Bleck, is responsible and he caps Luigi and Bowser, leaving Mario to save the day. Bleck forces Peach to marry Bowser, which results in a tear in the universe—a math equation spewing blackhole erupts over the town of Flipside.

Super Paper Mario also allows you to play as Mario, Peach, and Bowser and you can switch between them at anytime. The game is played holding the Wiimote sideways like a traditional controller. The D-pad moves your character and the 2 button jumps. The A button will switch the camera view from 2D to 3D, which is necessary to solve certain puzzles and find hidden paths.

In addition to the usual mushroom and flower power-ups, collecting friends called Pixis grant special abilities such as allowing you to point the Wiimote at an enemy to learn more information. The traditional power-ups play a little differently in Super Paper Mario, with mushrooms restoring health and the star making Mario a giant 8-bit NES Mario who can smash through the stage.