Paper Mario was done because Square abandoned Nintendo completely after Nintendo didn't listen to...just about everyone and went for cartridges for the N64. Square took FFVII to the Playstation and was Sony only until Chocobo Dungeon in 2002. Since Nintendo didn't have Square to help anymore they went to the semi OK Mario and Luigi and Paper Mario series. Their attempts at emulating SMRPG just don't compare though. Nintendo has never made a decent RPG game (it seems to be a very very hard thing to do considering how many companies have had a hard time doing a good job on an RPG) and really could use Squares expertise again.
I heard a rumor of a SMRPG for the DS, that would be a HUGE mistake, SMRPG needs a proper console sequel not some rehash on a portable system. The action sequences and map interaction that made SMRPG so interesting would almost certainly translate well to the Wii.
PSN ID: ChosenOne feel free to add me
