I had heard many great things about Paper Mario for many years before today, though I had never actually played it in all that time. After beating the game today, I realized what I was missing out on.

Graphics
          The cutesy, 2-D style of the characters in Paper Mario blends well with the 3-D environment. This mix makes Paper Mario look more like a GameCube game, rather than a Nintendo 64 game. The graphics of the N64 works fairly well with worlds and backgrounds, but doesn't make characters look very good (due to the technology at the time.), so the flat, paper style was certainly the best way to go.

Sound
           The moment the Story scene ended, and the Start menu appeared, I found myself enjoying the music for a good couple of minutes before actually starting the game. The music throughout the entire game was either a happy and upbeat tune, or dark and gloomy. The music even shifts in order to fit the current situation, such as the panicky tune when the children went missing, or the mystery like tune when Mario was accused of something he didn't do. The music always seemed to fit what was going on that very moment.

Addictiveness
             I played Paper Mario for about six hours a day, everyday, for a week. This is probably one of the most, if not THE most addictive RPG I've ever played, which is odd, since this game comes from a franchise that dominates the platforming genre.

Story
            The story is nice. It has everything you'd expect from a Mario game. Mario is have a grand old time, until Bowser shows up a ruins his fun. Be this as it may, there's something much more behind it. It makes you feel bad for the captured Star Spirits, the people of the Mushroom Kingdom, and Princess Peach. You get this strong sense of accomplishment every time you rescue one.

Depth
             This game was a lot bigger than I thought it was. I had first thought that, to get through a chapter, you hit a few switches, maneuver around an area, and beat a boss. Boy, was I wrong. I found myself taking a good couple  of hours to get through a chapter (With the exception of the Prologue.) I'm glad it wasn't short though. This is one of my favorite games of all time now. There are so many side objectives to do, and they don't feel like a chore, they feel like something that you want to do.

Difficulty
             Paper Mario is easy, with a challenge attached to it. Maneuvering through dungeons, and generally knowing what to do is the easy part. The strategy used in battle, and the efficient use of your items makes you have to stop and think. This is perfect for not getting bored because the game is too easy, while at the same time, not making you quit in a fit of frustration.

I never actually got to finish the game since I played it on my computer and my save file got corrupted somehow, but I rather enjoyed it for all that I actually played. In fact, I might be picking it up on Virtual Console. I agree with everything you said though, the graphics look nice, the sound is great, its pretty addicting, etc. Though I think its sequel triumphs it in every way, Paper Mario is still good.

Nice review, hope you write some more.

vizwiz123 : Well thank you. I had never actually played it's sequel, since the original is the only Paper Mario that I've played, but I certainly know what game I'm going to buy next.