While this looks cute, it makes the game too easy. Puzzles descend into regular intervals of getting stuck and then hitting the 3-D world to get "unstuck." Some utilize this feature a bit more creatively (the bathroom graffiti in Chapter 2 comes to mind), but it cheapens the experience.
If the 3-D mode doesn't save Mario, a special ability will. Super Paper Mario doesn't only star the dimension-flipping Mario, but Peach, Luigi and even Bowser join in on the action, each with their own specialties.Peach has her patented long jump and an umbrella that helps her float down, while Luigi has the same high jump he established back in Super Mario Bros. 2. Bowser, as he always should, breathes fire.
While this adds variety, it's also an easy way to get out of puzzles that should be a bit harder. Mario goes through the level in two dimensions and if he gets stuck, either #1) goes into 3-D to get the solution or #2) uses another character to clear a jump or barrier. That, coupled with the aforementioned yawn-inducing story, simply makes Super Paper Mario disappointing.
Overall, Super Paper Mario is a good, solid game. It looks beautiful, it plays well and it offers some good old-fashioned Nintendo fun. The pedantic storyline and rote game play hammer it down a couple of pegs. This should be a better game with more action, less dialogue, and more variety. Super Paper Mario is another in a frighteningly growing line of Nintendo Wii games that aim for greatness but missed spending design time where it mattered the most.
Final Score: 7 (out of 10)
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