New games this week: Super Paper Mario edition

by Christopher Grant { Apr 9th 2007 at 4:26PM }

This week's release of the much anticipated one-time Gamecube title, Super Paper Mario, goes relatively uncontested, which is a good thing for multi-platform gamers with a limited budget. First, a gallery of the 2D - 3D gameplay, then the rest of the week's releases after the break.

Wii:

Super Paper Mario

Gallery: Super Paper Mario

Wii Virtual Console:

Galaga
BRAVOMAN
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle

PlayStation 2:

Brave: The Search for the Spirit Dancer

Nintendo DS

Cake Mania

Frontline: Fields of Thunder
Mission: Combat Force
The Ship
Pet Vet 3D: Wild Animal Hospital
Whirlwind Over Vietnam
Age of Mythology with Titans Expansion
Hot Dog King

[Note: We're trying something new here with the weekly releases: highlighting one major title and listing the rest according to relevance. Any suggestions on how to make this weekly feature more valuable to you, please let us know in the comments.]

Tags: newgames, SuperPaperMario

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ken @ Apr 9th 2007 4:32PM

I like the idea, but what if there isn't a "major" title that comes out that week? Do you just highlight one that seems decent?

Anyway, I'm going have that in my Wii by tomorrow afternoon.

Grog @ Apr 9th 2007 4:37PM

Seems like a good idea to me. Of course there will be some weeks when the "major title" is anything but and others when there are two or more, but it still seems like a good idea to me.

vidGuy @ Apr 9th 2007 4:41PM

I'll pick it up tomorrow - I plan to get several hours in for sure. How long is this game supposed to be? I put about 40 hours into Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door, but that was much more of an RPG than this one is.

wait in the car @ Apr 9th 2007 4:42PM

I picked up Paper Mario on my lunch break today.

Probably going to play it tonight until my eyes start bleeding.

Ken @ Apr 9th 2007 4:42PM

I "heard" down the grapevine that it's about as long as Thousand Year Door, maybe even longer.

But take it with a grain of salt.

Todd @ Apr 9th 2007 4:44PM

I'm really anticipating this game. Looks like it could be challenging and a load of fun.

FinalBoss @ Apr 9th 2007 4:51PM

I wonder if the fact that Too Human was once a GameCube game will hang over its head forever, similar to this game...

SoulBlade @ Apr 9th 2007 4:53PM

it's supposed to be ~ 20 hours of gameplay

Unit @ Apr 9th 2007 5:02PM

it may be much, but you can proab' add a pic of the game's boxart or a screen grab. Or add that metric review for the top game of the week.

Mr Khan @ Apr 9th 2007 5:04PM

@ Soulblade

20 hours for the main story, its said

they say that isn't including all bonuses

Should keep me occupied until the beginning of May, but then i turn my attention to Star Wars fandom...

Patrick @ Apr 9th 2007 5:06PM

i think a better solution would to hightlight major releases on each console in weeks where it happens

Mark @ Apr 9th 2007 5:29PM

I think the question of "How long is this game?" is not relevant. Length of a game really only applies to games that rely heavily on story, such as true RPGs or Adventure style games. You usually play these game through 1 time and that's it. Action oriented games rely more on gameplay. How many times have you played through Super Mario Brothers? Clearly, the length it takes to play through the game 1 time is not as important as replay value. Plus, I'm sure there will be alternate routes, secrets, etc thatyou won't hit the first time.

I did see one of those videos from the GDC where someone who worked on the game was doing a demo and said "...This game is huge. I would guess 40-60 hours of gameplay to get through"

umm...hello?? @ Apr 9th 2007 5:26PM

people still play games on their PC??

the featured game idea is nice, but if there were 3 major titles then they should all be highlighted, lest 'stiq be accused of fanboyism...ha..ha..

don't really care, as long as all the titles are listed.

am looking forward to SPM, the second AAA game for the Wii that isn't a party game!!

JodyAnthony @ Apr 9th 2007 5:09PM

I'm totally pumped about this game. Plus, Luigi!

Also: the whole 'pick the best game' or whatever will lead to so many flamewars...WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU PICKED [RANDOM 360 GAME]?!? [RANDOM PS3 GAME] IS WAY BETTER!! and so forth

Wil @ Apr 9th 2007 5:10PM

#4: At lunch? Where did you pick it up already? Nobody here in Las Vegas has it yet.. and it's annoying.

velocitystrike @ Apr 9th 2007 5:14PM

I'm liking the highlighting of a major title, Christopher :-)

I plan to buy this the day it comes out in Europe, however far away that day might be :(

Marlos Hill @ Apr 9th 2007 5:17PM

Practically everything else coming out this week sounds like hot garbage anyway.

PAPER MARIO ftw! on paper er...yeah.

I'll be picking this up tomorrow

wait in the car @ Apr 9th 2007 5:17PM

Wil,

I work in Chicago and picked it up at the Best Buy across the street. Their website says the release date is April 10, but they had several in stock.

C. Grant @ Apr 9th 2007 5:18PM

Metareview score, good idea Unit! We already have the box art and screens included though!

As for busy weeks, we'll probably pick the title with the best cover art! :) In those cases, we'll probably note the other major releases above the break but still pick one to have an image / gallery of.

Zertoss @ Apr 9th 2007 5:27PM

Hmmm... Game titles could link to their respective trailers (if they have any) on GameTrailers or some similar website.

Zamfir @ Apr 9th 2007 6:02PM

YAY! Another Joystiq advertisement for Nintendo! I don't think that box art photo is big enough guys... it doesn't quite fill the entire screen.

Grog @ Apr 9th 2007 6:13PM

I have to agree that the giant boxart + other images are a bit too much. I like the Release of the Week idea, but toning it down a bit so that it's the featured game rather than "SUPER PAPER MARIO (and some other crap)."

Mr Khan @ Apr 9th 2007 6:26PM

@ Grog

but, in this week's case, it pretty much is

No platforms other than Wii, PS2, PC, and DS got anything, and of those, Wii's was really the only one worth mentioning

This week (and most of this Quarter) is pretty dead. There's this game, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Forza 2, Mass Effect, and the Final Fantasy Remake as the only games worth mentioning in the Second Quarter

Grog @ Apr 9th 2007 6:51PM

Yeah, I understand that. But after reading some of the comments I scrolled back up to the top and noticed just how much SPM took over the post. I like the idea of putting the spotlight on a premier game, but this seemed to hide the other releases. My ideal would be the equivalent of bolding or italicizing the premier game while maintaining the rest of the list as still important (crap though it may be).

Jonnie Whoa oh @ Apr 9th 2007 9:20PM

it's a stupid idea because on weeks when there are multiple major titles there's conflict abrewing. I like the old list way better because you can see everything without clicking through.

Also I've wasted my life.

Jontarou @ Apr 9th 2007 7:04PM

The lack of a Luigi graphic saddens me by one point.

wait in the car @ Apr 9th 2007 7:05PM

We all know "Hot Dog King" should have been the headlining box art this week...

Rubang B @ Apr 9th 2007 7:27PM

I haven't even heard of any of those non-Paper games.

Unit @ Apr 9th 2007 8:18PM

@#17 C. Grant, sorry about the box art suggestion, sometimes the images show up and sometimes not on my work computer. i think it's because of their damn "surf control" software...arrghhh!!!

Unit @ Apr 9th 2007 8:21PM

@21 and 22, hmm.....i wonder if you'll complain if it's a game you want...i doubt it.

Grog @ Apr 9th 2007 9:19PM

I think maybe I'll "offer useful feedback" (not "complain") no matter the game. And since I'm planning on picking up Super Paper Mario tomorrow-ish, I don't think it's because I dislike the game or am a fanboy for another console. Heck, I don't even own another console!

mo @ Apr 10th 2007 1:54AM

I CANT WAIT TO GET THIS GAME!!!!!!!

i have one pre ordered for tomorrow :)!!!!

ShortFuse @ Apr 10th 2007 2:15AM

I didn't even know this game was coming out so soon. My sister told me about it when she forwarded the order she made online for it. So weird. My sister, bought a video game. The most she'd play is burnout on the psp... and... that's it. but she ordered this, so go figure. anyway, i picked up paper mario (gamecube) because i saw it at target today for $20.

I was driving around and saw a gamestop and then, in spite, went to target to look for a game to buy (in spite, because of the zelda ending thing) and got paper mario gcn. very neat. it's an improvement over the n64 and snes one. can't wait for the realtime battles in wii version.

C. Grant @ Apr 10th 2007 8:37AM

Zamfir: consider this the joystiq equivalent of being put "on notice." I'ma go ahead and add your name to my big board here.

RYAN @ Apr 10th 2007 8:55AM

oh man my preorder copy is ready to pick up!!!! Now i'm really glad i put 20 bucks on it last month instead of 5, I've only got to pay 30 bucks to get it home!!! wooooot!

and 20 hours is actually pretty freaking long for a platformer, especially a Mario platformer.