Do you recall a period when RPG's weren less intense and in depth? When angst-ridden teens and doomed planets weren't the norm? Unlike the modern RPGS of today, most players like myself tend to crave indulging with a classic title, traveling to a world filled with adventure and memorable characters. Sadly, very few RPGs manifest that feeling, and perhaps if you share my opinion, happen to miss that entertaining vibe. Thankfully, Intelligent Systems has provided salvation with Paper Mario, a title bursting with originality, charm, and humor, and above all, captivates gamers from start to finish.

The story takes on a familiar premise, as once again, the timeless struggle of Mario versus Bowser takes center stage, with the well being of Princess Toadstool in distress. Yet this time Bowser is finally fed up with being on the losing end of things. So the nefarious villain invades Star Haven and steals the Star Rod, an item capable of granting wishes. What would a peeved King of Koopas do with such power? That's where the story really begins, and when things get rolling it's just one punch line after the next. Such in-game jokes as a disgruntled brother Luigi to a baby Koopa bent on revenge are liberally tossed around. This is a blessing too since the core plot is rather linear, leading players from point A to point B. It may not be epic but Paper Mario is well-written, funny, and a great breakaway from the 'life or death' scenarios so many RPGs posses these days.

There's very little one should expect in terms of plot development, due to the linear fashion of the game. Unfortunately, this leaves little room for any unexpected events or sub-plots. Though the story isn't groundbreaking, it makes use of a number of elements that doesn't take itself seriously. To elaborate, throughout the adventure, you'll discover the characters' personality possess a abundant degree of, wit, humor and even infrequently floss a bit of sarcasm. Take for instance the event when Mario meets up with Luigi, just upon picking up his first teammate. At first the younger sibling is overjoyed to see Mario, but then turns jealous when he sees the new partner in tow. Another example is how the characters know the plot has been done to death and harp on the very issue. Such humorous quirks add quite a degree of flavor into what could easily be regarded as very mundane title.

Paper Mario introduces a series of gameplay elements that fans of Super Mario RPG will immediately recognize, along with a few distinct differences. Timing and reflexes are of course vital during battle as players are required to successfully input button commands which affect offensive and defensive actions. Unlike Mario RPG, Paper Mario bids adieu to the four party setup in favor of a rather basic party of two. Aided by a supporting character, Mario can avail himself to various partners which he will encounter during his quest, ranging from an adolescent Goomba to a snobby Boo. In my opinion, the best feature centers upon the the badges. Throughout your adventures, Mario can discover various badges that empower him with special abilities such as invulerability from fire or a new attack. A preset number of badges can be equipped, thus an effective customization requires some forethought.

True to Mario tradition, Paper Mario features a vast level of areas to explore. The majority of the regions you discover will tax your brainpower, as well as your thumbs. Challenges such as puzzles, complex mazes and other obstacles are deposited throughout your journey, all designed to thrwat your success. Without providing any spoilers, during the midpoint session of the game, you can expect to spend countless hours agonizing over what needs to be done in order to press on. Players that may feel the main adventure itself fails to be challenging enough can indulge in the various various side-quests, hidden items, and other secrets awaiting to be found. As a whole, Paper Mario offers a variety of unique and entertaining elements that enrich the gameplay, thus make the entire game enjoyable.

Graphically things are a mixed bag, offering creative 2D characters and elements, but rather bland 3D backdrops. Apparently, Intelligent Systems strived to bring a pop-up book world to life, with paper flat characters tossed into 3D environments. The characters behave just like paper, as you'll note how they flutter around when caught in updrafts or by showing their thin frames when turning around. Add to the fact that the characters themselves look great by traditional 2D standards, and what you're left with is a very solid visual display. However there is one problem: the 3D backdrops. Whereas the characters are crisp and well animated, the locales suffer from the console's hardware limitations. Blurred textures, blocky environments, and the usual 3D problems are a hindrance to the storybook atmosphere. Although it's relatively distracting, it's tolerable at best and not significant to the point that it undermines the game's overall appeal.

Fortunately, the music suffers no such contrast and is easily one the best soundtracks to grace the N64. The themes vary in range from upbeat, mellow tones in accord with the different regions Mario will encounter. As an added bonus, Paper Mario includes a number of old soundtracks derived from previous Mario adventures, rearranged and tossed into the mix, giving the game a spice of nostalgia. Fans of the Mario quotient are advised to keep the volume up, as Paper Mario clearly features some of the best musical selections to come out of the 64-bit platform.

Bottom Line: What are you waiting for? It's not every day that the Nintendo 64 gets RPGs, let alone ones that are as splendid as Paper Mario. Packed with challenge and charm, one can't go wrong purchasing Mario's latest adventure.

· · · Hero