Zero Punctuation: Super Paper Mario

[jetsetlemming]

You know what's a great JRPG without turn-based combat? Star Ocean 2nd Story. If you can survive the extremely chatty hour-long intro chapter (It's not all talk, it involves you wandering around a town at one point and you kill maybe three bad guys including a rapist and a giant mutant ape... rapist), but after that, the game's solid gold. The fights are more in line with an arcade beat 'em up than a standard RPG, although you can pause the real-time action to issue commands, use items, set up spells and such for your other party members while controlling one real time. Four party members at a time plus 20 or so you can collect (not all at once, you have to make subtle choices in between different pairs at times), as well as two main characters you can choose from, and 80 or so different possible endings depending on how your party members got along made this game in particular my absolute favorite RPG since Shadowrun on the genesis and lasted until I first played Deus Ex.
Was the Genesis Shadowrun a western game? I'm not sure what asshole of the world FASA hails from.
I've only played about 20 minutes of the N64 Paper Mario and never owned a Gamecube and don't currently own a Wii (With no plans to since I already have a friend who has one and is planning on getting the new Smash Brothers), so my opinion on today's video is a bit limited.

 

[TendoAddict]

I normally agree with you fully but there is some points where I really disagree.

For one on the hamster wheel level, I'd hate to say it, but you really kinda flopped the level. Your not really supposed go for the whole million on that thing. I would think most people would get that you are not supposed to go the boring way. A 30 minute time sink in a Nintendo game? I know they've had pretty cheesy gimmicks but I don't think they would go that far. Though I admire your quick way to solve the problem. You really only need 10,100 total to afford the correct route which takes no time at all (not going to say how to do it but it seemed pretty easy to find if you search around). So the whole joke seems kind of empty. (and I feel bad that you waited that long XD)

The other point was the light side dark side part. It only really matters in the plot, the flip town (which was really just a cheap way to reuse th same town), a and the last chapter (kind of). It didn't really affect game play at all (which it has been in other Nintendo games, to the point of vomiting).

Other then that spot on, the platforming was bland and the collect 7 colorful things is getting old.

 

[Zera]

Whats with all the JRPG hating all of a sudden?

 

[ynamite]

Is Yahtzee a Ferrari fan, or is it coincidence?

coincidence? I reckon he let that Italian music play cause Mario is Italian. But then, what the hell do I know?

great review as always, actually the best reviews I've come across on this side of the great e-cosmos. no other reviewer out there is as blatantly honest, witty and funny at the same time. I keep wishing the videos were longer, but I can imagine that making them must be an f-load of work. So, no worries, keep doing what you do best and shot for the great reviews! Apart from being a real treat they actually do what they're supposed to. Fucking review the game!

regards
y

 

[propertyofcobra]

While I have, and play, several JRPGs (for the story, because what thickheaded moron would play those things for the action?), I agree with Yahtzee entirely in that most of the JRPGs out there are extremely boring from a gameplay point of view, most of it being 'Press X for shiny colors' until the game is freaking finished.

I have not played a Paper Mario game since the first one, so this review was just funny because it's Yahtzee and it makes fun of both americans and JRPGs.

I, and everyone else ever most likely, say 'Great job Yahtzee you charismatic stallion you, have some cake', the review was up to the usual standard, and each week I anticipate this day so I can see the funniness that is the latest review.

 

[JustDJR]

Im also in the "OMG HE MENTIONED EARTHBOUND LETS ALL FREAK OUT" Club.

Good show Yahtzee, and as I saw in your FAQ an entire episode devoted to Earthbound is unlikley but heres to hoping anyway.

 

[Evilducks]

Though I do think Yahtzee should give the original FFTactics a go, as that game is so good that Square must've only approved it by accident.

I'd suggest the recent PSP remake over the original - while nearly identical functionally, the new translation is much better. It's nice to play a game occasionally where the plot and dialogue aren't written for 5th graders.

I have to agree, it was odd playing an FF game where the entire story arc wasn't how technology is ruining spirituality. They have been so completely boring that I haven't finished an FF game since 7 and I blame long lonely nights to the completion of that one.

FFT on the other hand was a deviously fun blood-thirsty massacre. Aside from the tedium that can result from tactical rpgs, it was a lot of fun to play through just to see what sort of masochistic thing was going to happen to our hapless heroes next.


As for the review itself, it wasn't your greatest review but I certainly laughed a few times. If anything I'd like to give the paper mario's a chance, but I don't have a Wii at the moment and probably won't for another year or so when they have a library of games big enough for me to care about.

 

[Russ Pitts]

Whats with all the JRPG hating all of a sudden?

All of a sudden?

 

[Morayman]

good show old boy, i guess i must be a funny accented prick... only without a funny accent
(~ '')

I agree with you on JRPG'S with FF7 being the exception, personnaly i think its a classic.

 

[The Tingler]

Your not really supposed go for the whole million on that thing. I would think most people would get that you are not supposed to go the boring way. A 30 minute time sink in a Nintendo game? I know they've had pretty cheesy gimmicks but I don't think they would go that far. Though I admire your quick way to solve the problem. You really only need 10,100 total to afford the correct route which takes no time at all.

Actually there are two moments - the hamster wheel bit, even for the minimum amount needed, is incredibly boring, and of course TWO visits to the Big White World where there is absolutely nothing of interest (literally - it's just one big black line on a white background) and you have to hold 'right' for frickin' ages until you find something of interest. Like the game.

Oh, I'm also in the 'Earthbound? Woo!' club. Release Mother 3 you bastards Nintendo! I'm in Europe, so I'm also in the 'Nintendo of anywhere apart from US and Japan? Boo!' club that got Super Paper Mario waaaaaaaaay too late.

 

[Grenbalta]

Did the dark side have Goomba's with goaties?

 

[Grenbalta]

Your not really supposed go for the whole million on that thing. I would think most people would get that you are not supposed to go the boring way. A 30 minute time sink in a Nintendo game? I know they've had pretty cheesy gimmicks but I don't think they would go that far. Though I admire your quick way to solve the problem. You really only need 10,100 total to afford the correct route which takes no time at all.

Actually there are two moments - the hamster wheel bit, even for the minimum amount needed, is incredibly boring, and of course TWO visits to the Big White World where there is absolutely nothing of interest (literally - it's just one big black line on a white background) and you have to hold 'right' for frickin' ages until you find something of interest. Like the game.

Oh, I'm also in the 'Earthbound? Woo!' club. Release Mother 3 you bastards Nintendo! I'm in Europe, so I'm also in the 'Nintendo of anywhere apart from US and Japan? Boo!' club that got Super Paper Mario waaaaaaaaay too late.

Hmmm... a game where you sit around for a half-hour wasting your time... hell, if you had to pay for that kind of fun its called an MMO.

 

[SheikLooksLikeAGuy]

When I saw "Super Paper Mario" under the Zero Punctuation header, my heart nearly stopped. It was like I'd just noticed that my favorite dog was about to be run over by a cement mixer and there was nothing I could do about it.

Completely valid points as usual, and extremely funny as always, Yahtzee! And I'm glad you didn't completely hate the game.

 

[SenatorPalpatine]

No one caught this obvious mistake? It was Metroid Prime 2 that had the dark world thing, not 3. Also I think Zelda: ALttP had it, though I haven't played that. (For shame! )

Good review btw.

 

[REvolve]

I didn't find this review as amusing as past ones, no idea why. But its probably just me, the fact that I've played it and it matched your review almost exactly (except the hamster wheel part with the shortcut). I guess I wasn't surprised is all.

Good review nontheless!

Edit: Senator - I did catch that mistake also ^_^

 

[Evilducks]

No one caught this obvious mistake? It was Metroid Prime 2 that had the dark world thing, not 3. Also I think Zelda: ALttP had it, though I haven't played that. (For shame! )

Good review btw.

I think it was more that Nintendo as a production company in general really likes stroking itself off to 'dark worlds' in games rather than those in particular have done it.

 

[Jerakal]

Dullness and Slog would be a good name for a band, or at the very least a cheesy supervillain team.

 

[Bongo Bill]

Doesn't like turn-based games?

I... understand that such a thing is possible, but for the life of me, I can't understand how.

 

[Force Feedback Codpiece]

Yahtzee... you are a god amongst men.

 

[viciousmaniac]

Your description of modern JRPGs was pitch perfect. Since the loathsomely over-rated FF7, all mainstream JPRGs have to provide mind-blowing cinematics, thunderingly self-important storylines in the stark anime-vein, and flashy gameplay gimmicks in order to match the ante, rather than, say, make a good game.

The result is every game, as you say, feeling like typical anime tripe that gets rudely interrupted every so often for some button-pressing and shit-eating. Some require a bit more button-pressing (FFX, Legend of Dragoon), some more shit-eating (FFXII, Wild ARMS 3), but all have their priorities: provide wank material en masse to the otakus. I still can't believe it when I find myself arguing with fans of the genre on how it's perfectly natural to have gameplay place third to graphics and story in a JRPG.

The original Paper Mario was, to me, the first JRPG is a while that was just allowed to be. Once of it was enough for me though.