I think this is the first time I've ever gotten some impressions up on Gaming-Age before 100 people had played and beaten the game already.
I just got back from picking this game up, so I'll give some very brief thoughts on it. In the case of an RPG, it's impossible to encapsulate the gameplay after mere minutes, but I'll give you an idea of what it's like at the beginning.
Presentation
Absolutely fantastic. Each level and battle unfolds as some variation on the paper theme, and of course the art is superb. Menus are easy to navigate, tutorials are well done, and the world itself is very well realized. IGN said it was perfect except for the lack of voice acting. Your opinion on that will determine whether you give it my score, or deduct some points. Frankly, the world has a great deal of life and humor to it without recorded voices, but it's ultimately your call.
Score 10.0
Graphics Easily the best art direction Nintendo has managed since Wind Waker. (and so far it's more cohesive) You really get to see the difference between Intelligent Systems and EAD. I'm not going to have you groaning with another 10, don't worry. Over the course of this generation, I have come to appreciate what makes a great looking game. This is one such game, but despite all the presentation quirks, it's very simple in technical ambition. It is a pseudo-3D 2D game afterall, and while it outclasses Viewtiful Joe handily, I have to be fair to developers that work with a system's hardware. But make no mistake about it. Paper Mario looks awesome. Animations are also top notch for a game of its type.
Score 8.5
Gameplay Nintendo has been working with this Paper Mario/Mario & Luigi formula for several years now, and the results are outstanding. On the surface, Paper Mario offers a standard turn-based role playing experience with great Mario-based fanfare thrown in. But the game is also many-layered, with no battle being exactly like the last. It also avoids completely the things that make turn-based RPG's boring, like random battles and "Attack, Attack, Attack" tedium. I can't think of anything to fault here, to be honest.
Score 10.0
Sound When I reviewed Pikmin 2, I said the game featured some VERY subtle music that fit the game well, but it won't win any awards for best soundtrack. Paper Mario 2 on the other hand has a completely original soundtrack with great Nintendo music and an abundance of Nintendo-esque sound effects and little voice samples. I've played for about 30 minutes, and I'm already humming a few tunes.
Score 9.0
I'm cutting the "Control" section out of future Nintendo reviews because they never mess this aspect up, and if there's a control problem, I'll deduct it from the gameplay section.
Brief Impressions Score 9.4
Reviewer's Score 9.6
So far, it's a blast. Nintendo's quirky brand of humor is already evident, and the gameplay itself seems very balanced as well. If you're a Gamecube owner, there's really no reason why you shouldn't pick this up. All I can say is to make haste in doing so, or else you'll miss one of the coolest games this Fall.
