While Billy has already contributed his own two cents on this topic after playing this game for a few days (and having to fight with my wife who generally HATES games for playing time) I can't say enough about it. Which game? Paper Mario of course!

While the major review houses like IGN64 and GameSpot all gave the game high marks one of the reasons I feel I need to speak up is their insisting on slamming the title for its sweetness and simple story. This is FREAKING MARIO we're talking about! What do they expect, for Mario to go into a blind rage, killing everyone in Toad Town, knock up the Princess having a menage a trois with Luigi, get amnesia, and then have to go on a journey to find his past like every other freaking lame RPG that seems to be spewed out these days?

While they dwell on the 'kiddiness' of the trappings though so many of the reviews I've seen have failed to say just how much strategy and thinking this game brings to the table. With so many RPGs characters/attacks/magic is all so interchangeable and the enemies so run of the mill beyond their appearance that battles are excercises in tedium. Not only is combat in Paper enhanced with action commands to keep you interested the level of strategy involved is also staggering with badge choices, who you choose as your fighting partner, and deciding the best course of attack for any given enemy or group of enemies. What a departure from the bland world of Cool Attack A, Cool Magic B, Heal, Super-Powered movie attack, repeat.

All I know is that my little girl can't grow up fast enough, I wish she could enjoy this piece of genuine gaming magic now... it is going to go on my list of all time greats shortly I'm sure. Granted, it would be a great idea if Nintendo could put the mechanics of this RPG into more mature trappings via one of their second parties but all I know is that this is a game that they can't work on a sequel to for Gamecube soon enough. Don't buy into the crap people have peddled with this title, it is truly a funny (who can't laugh at Luigi's angst over always being left behind), challenging, and delightful game that deserves a better shake than it is getting by reviewers who believe themselves too 'mature' to embrace something simple and true to its roots.