Super Mario

What makes Super Paper Mario so significant is the way that it embodies self-critique in its very structure—it doesn't merely contain elements of critique, it is a critique. So what, if anything, does this mean for videogames?

Game Description: The newest chapter of the Paper Mario story isn’t just out of this world…it’s out of this dimension! What at first glance appears to be a 2-D sidescroller ripped straight from the stylized pages of the Paper Mario universe soon turns into a hilarious dimension-shifting platformer possible only on Wii! 2-D...AND 3-D! Run through vibrant 2-D worlds, stomping on enemies and breaking blocks....then, with the press of a button, flip into 3-D! In the 3rd dimension, you'll find hidden paths, battle foes, and uncover secrets as you explore the previously invisible depth of the 2-D landscapes!

I think it really says something about the maturity and freestanding quality of the medium that there can be a game that derives so much entertainment purely from self-reflexivity. That videogames provide such fertile ground for multi-dimensional satire (no pun intended) is as sure a sign as any of the creative health of the art form.

Inspired by a visual trick from The Thousand Year Door, the developers of Super Paper Mario asked a simple question: what would classic Mario levels look like expanded one dimension into the background? So yes, the entire game is based on a gimmick, but in its defence, the gimmick is an extremely good one. Oh, and there's some RPG and platforming stuff tossed in there as well to keep things from getting dull.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Cartoon Violence, Cartoon Mischief

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild comic mischief

I can talk about why the game is fun, but I can't lie and say the game is brilliant. Mario isn't what he used to be. There are glimmers and flickers of greatness in this game—moments where I felt the magic might almost be back.

According to the ESRB, this game contains: Comic Mischief