Nintendo Intelligent Systems

Game Description: The newest chapter of the Paper Mario story isn’t just out of this world…it’s out of this dimension! What at first glance appears to be a 2-D sidescroller ripped straight from the stylized pages of the Paper Mario universe soon turns into a hilarious dimension-shifting platformer possible only on Wii! 2-D...AND 3-D! Run through vibrant 2-D worlds, stomping on enemies and breaking blocks....then, with the press of a button, flip into 3-D! In the 3rd dimension, you'll find hidden paths, battle foes, and uncover secrets as you explore the previously invisible depth of the 2-D landscapes!

I think it really says something about the maturity and freestanding quality of the medium that there can be a game that derives so much entertainment purely from self-reflexivity. That videogames provide such fertile ground for multi-dimensional satire (no pun intended) is as sure a sign as any of the creative health of the art form.

Inspired by a visual trick from The Thousand Year Door, the developers of Super Paper Mario asked a simple question: what would classic Mario levels look like expanded one dimension into the background? So yes, the entire game is based on a gimmick, but in its defence, the gimmick is an extremely good one. Oh, and there's some RPG and platforming stuff tossed in there as well to keep things from getting dull.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Cartoon Violence, Cartoon Mischief

Game Description: In Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones, you'll battle to defend an empire against internal dangers and external threats. On another world, humanity struck a bargain with demons and ensured generations of peace. Now, suddenly and for no reason, the Grado Empire has invaded neighboring Renais. Twin heirs to the throne of Renais, Eirika and Ephraim, fight to free their kingdom and uncover the secret behind their former ally's treachery.

According to the ESRB, this game contains: Fantasy Violence

Is the Game Boy Advance dead? It may be easy to think so with all the post-E3 talk of next-generation systems, let alone the current struggle between Nintendo's new kid on the block, the DS, and Sony's eye-candy PSP. However, there are still a few GBA nuggets worth looking at trickling onto retail shelves. The second of Nintendo's long-running strategy series to be released stateside, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, is one of them.

Tera has done a great job with her evaluation of Paper Mario, and I find myself in agreement with nearly everything she said. Paper Mario really is a great game, and the only area that I think I would like to reiterate is that I felt Intelligent Systems overdid it a bit on the backtracking.

The most fun I've had spending 50 hours—and 50 dollars—in a long, long time.