This was my birthday present, and it is the primary reason why I didn't have a lot to add to my page this update! I can't put this game down no matter how hard I try. With the grand exceptions of Banjo-Tooie and Majora, there haven't been many quality games released for the N64 lately. Paper Mario is like a breath of fresh air, but also like an old friend returning from a long trip. Perhaps you're unaware of this, but this game is the long-awaited sequel to arguably the greatest SNES game ever made--Super Mario RPG. That was one of the best games I've ever played period, and I'm pleased to report that Paper Mario is just as good. In an age when so many sequels don't live up to the original, we finally have proof that it is possible to live up to a classic!
When I first saw screen shots of the game in Nintendo Power a few years ago, I thought that the graphic style was horrid. Turns out that 2D characters in a 3D world work really well. Mario and friends look like cardboard cutouts wandering around in a cartoon. It's sort of like moving paper dolls, and it looks amazing! The faces are expressive, the characters all look really cute, and the lighting effects (especially when bad guys cast magic) will make your eyes pop. Considering the graphical capabilities of more powerful systems like the PS2, Paper Mario proves that there is still life in the N64.
As for the gameplay, Mario is back with tons of tricks. Veterans of Super Mario RPG will find many familiar qualities here, as well as new stuff. Bowser has stolen the Star Rod from Star Haven and has used its power to kidnap Princess Peach and beat up Mario. Mario has to find the seven mystical Star Spirits in order to defeat Bowser and save the Princess (yeah, it's incredibly sexist, but it's still good). The game isn't very hard, but it's a lot of fun. Peach plays a pretty large role for a damsel in distress, and Mario's new partners are pretty cool (Kooper and Sushie are my personal favorites). My biggest complaint, aside from the low difficulty level, is that Luigi only has a lame cameo. They're the Mario Brothers! You can drop in on poor, over-looked Luigi at any time, but he never joins your party. Come on, Miyamoto-sama! When are we going to see more Luigi like in the good old days of Super Mario Bros. 1,2+3?
Other than that, I have nothing to complain about. I beat this game in roughly 20 hours of playing time, but I'm already attempting my second run. Paper Mario won't win any prizes in the challenge or plot-twist departments (unlike Zelda games), but you'd be hard-pressed to find another game that is this much fun to play.