Super Paper Mario (Wii)

Pros: Unique 2D/3D perspective swapping, fun use of puzzles. The relatively small amount of arcade action that is provided is well done.

Cons: Seemingly neverending and extremely boring dialogue and exposition in place of gameplay. Forced to slog endlessly around the known world over and over, ad nauseam, to find "heart columns" following each "world". "Cute and funny" dialogue is pale.

Summary: This game is much like a lot of Mario games in its look, play and approach to the game. And the puzzles are way more interesting than most Mario Brothers games.

Now I really enjoy reading, but a video game should be more action than words. The tedious, voluminous and mind-numbingly verbose dialogue describing background history of dozens of "cutesy" but ultimately meaningless characters makes the last 2/3 of this game a real slog in comparison to other Mario games, in which gameplay trumps all. I seriously can't wait to be finished. Having hit world 6, I'm definitely at the point of diminishing returns.

The puzzles are either really fun OR they are nothing but blunt instructions to go do a thing, then you do the thing and are sent to another thing, etc. There's not much fun in visiting character after character to complete a side mission without any sort of feat of wit or skill. This is the kind of thing a small child learns from, but with the amount of reading (and the reading level required), no small child is going to be able to complete these side missions, so who are they for?

I got both this game and the newest Zelda for Christmas, and I have to say, I should have played Zelda first. This one's mediocre despite its puzzles and 2D/3D charm. I will say, like almost all the Mario franchise, it's well-programmed and bugs and problems are few in number.