Pros: Fun, intuitive, for all ages, nunchuck not required
Cons: Audio that accompanies extensive in-game scrolling text
The bottom line: I would recommend Super Paper Mario to Mario fans of any age. It provides for fun and unique linear game play.
Full review
After falling in love with the Wii at a friends house, I made up my mind to purchase a console of my own.
I was very excited when Super Paper Mario came out, because I'm not much for first person shooters, and I had already enjoyed the Wii Sports that comes with the console. I was always a huge fan of Nintendo's previous Mario games so I picked up a copy from Gamestop for $49.99 (new).
The game brings many familiar elements from previous variations of Marios' adventures, adding the ability to "flip" between dimensions making linear rooms three dimensional. To play, you need only the Wii Remote (nunchuck not required) which you hold on its side.
The introduction is slightly entertaining, mostly from seeing the old characters again in the animation, but it's kind of long.
Toad comes by and tells Mario and Luigi that Mushroom Castle has been raided and that Princess Peach was stolen.
They go storming off to Bowser's castle, only to find him plotting to take the Princess. It is there they learn that the princess was taken by Count Bleck, the chosen executor of The Dark Prognisticus, a book which contains a prophecy for the Count to end the universe. The count opens a portal and removes everyone but Mario, leaving him to set out on a journey to save the universe, and his friends!
Mario begins his adventure with a "Pixl" named "Tippy". A pixl is like a fairy and Mario meets many along the way, each one offering a special power. Mario starts out meeting Merlin in the Flipside.
The graphics are true to the game title, in that they resemble paper cut outs on a moving background. They're interesting and fun, and necessary for the three dimensional aspect.