Dont get too excited - while all your gaudy favourites can be seen leaping from the cover of this latest Wii release, this isnt the new Mario platformer Nintendo devotees have been yearning for. But in blending the perilous action of a conventional platform-hopper with a healthy dose of puzzle-solving, Super Paper Mario is one of the most compelling and charming titles on Nintendos new console.
Stripping away the turn-based battles of previous games in the series in favour of all-out action, SPM is crammed with ingenious puzzles where players temporarily transform the luscious 2D levels into 3D space, in turn using this new perspective to spot hidden passages and dodge unruly monsters. Using Mario, Luigi, Bowser and Peachs unique powers to crack challenges also adds variety to the brain-tickling action, and RPG elements where you beef-up your heroes with new items also brings extra depth to the swashbuckling.
Tedious conversations with random characters and an unpredictable in-game camera that often wrong-foots you in precarious situations mar an otherwise excellent adventure, but this is still a spellbinding experience for anyone who enjoys a trip through the Mushroom Kingdom.