Originality: While I haven’t played Super Mario RPG, it is clear in this game that this is meant to be a spiritual successor. It is a totally different game and has a totally different feel than the Paper Mario series (which themselves all feel very unique). It’s sequels take it to new heights, but this is the most unique in the series for introducing combat and exploration abilities that no Mario game has had before it. I played it after playing all the Paper Mario games as well as all the Mario and Luigi games after it (except for the newest one which isn’t out yet), so it is hard for me to realize how unique this game truly is, but I’m beginning to appreciate it as I look at how similar and repetitive the game’s sequels could be based on what this game first established.
18/20
Graphics: Another thing that is hard to tell due to how far technology has come. It looks on par with the other great GBA games, though.
8/10
Art Style: I really didn’t like the art style in this game. Bowser looks terrible and many of the bean people just look gross.
7/15
Story: What’s that? We are going OUT of the Mushroom kingdom and into a totally new area? Hurray! I was disappointed that it was a star that we were after, towards the end, but I enjoyed how this game didn’t make you get each piece the same way. There were different activities and storyline plots that took you down noncombatant paths to make it interesting. It was fun how Bowser wasn’t really the ultimate villain in this game (a very unique concept by this games creation, as opposed to now days). The humor in this game was spot on; I loved saying “I have fury!” lol.
25/30
Game Interface: Didn’t really enjoy having to pause so much to access stuff…
3 /5
Controls easy and fluid or difficult and rigid? Very easy controls.
5/5
Is it fun? Not NEARLY as long as some of it’s sequels (took me like 50-60+ hours to beat Dream Team), which makes this game stay fun. I only started having fatigue towards the end (that last boss fight takes FOREVER).
14/15
Total: 80 /100
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition – 100 + 5 = 105
Shovel Knight – 95 + 10 = 105
Shadow of Mordor = 95 + 5 = 100
Zelda Skyward Sword-98
Hyrule Warriors – 93 + 5 = 98
Batman: Arkham Asylum - 93
Zelda Minish Cap – 92
Portal 2 – 87 + 5 = 92
Portal – 87 + 5 = 92
Assassin’s Creed 4 Wii U – 86 +5 = 91
Zelda Windwaker HD – 86 + 5 = 91
Bayonetta 2 = 91 NR
Bayonetta (Wii U) – 91 NR
Zelda Oracle of Ages – 91
Metroid Fusion – 91
Mario and Luigi: Bowsers Inside Story – 86 + 5 = 91
Zelda Twilight Princess – 90
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon - 90
Guildwars 2 – 89
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team – 89
Animal Crossing New Leaf – 84 + 5 = 89
Pokemon X – 88
Zelda: A Link to the Past – 78 + 10 = 88
Kid Icarus Uprising – 88
Darksiders 2 - 88
Fire Emblem Awakening – 88
Super Mario Maker = 84*
Dishonored - 84
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark - 84
Paper Mario Sticker Star – 83
Rome 2: Total War - 83
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds-83
Super Mario 3d land – 72 + 10 = 82
Diablo 3 – 72 + 10 = 82
Batman Arkham Knight - 81
Batman: Arkham Origins – 81
Mario and Luigi: Super Star Saga – 80
Trine – 80
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze* - 68 + 10 = 78
Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D – 74
Black Ops 2 - 74
Rome: Total War-74
Paper Monster Uncut (Wii U) - 70
Red Alert 3 - 70
New Super Mario Bros. U - 66
New Super Mario Bros.Wii – 57 *
Assassins Creed 3 – 57 NR
Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition – 53*
Kirby Squeak Squad – 43
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3d – 42
Project X Zone - 18
* Means it was more fun than the score indicates. Scores judge the overall quality of the game (how fun it is only counts for 15% in my reviews)
NR means Not Recommended based on inappropriateness.
^Charm is rewarded to games that have an undefinable quality to them that makes them amazing and have high replayability value.
