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This game is not what you might expect. In fact, it's better to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised than to think the marriage of RPGs and platformers might be the best thing ever... and walk away disappointed. Super Paper Mario is different, that much is certain. It resembles the Paper Mario RPGs as much as it resembles the traditional Super Mario Bros. series but still feels like something entirely new. Yeah, it's not so easy to explain.

Super Paper Mario is akin to a platformer, because it does away with the turn-based battles. Instead, you jump on enemies, kick turtle shells into them, or even pick them up and throw them into other bad guys. As much as I liked Paper Mario's old battle system, playing real-time has always been Mario's specialty, and Super Paper Mario is better off for it. The RPG aspect comes into play, because Mario still has hit points, and he still levels up. Every enemy you kill gives you a couple hundred points. Once you've gotten so many, you'll go up a level and increase your HP and attack power (alternately). There isn't much need to spend extra hours leveling up, but it's a possibility that certainly doesn't hurt. "Grinding" isn't as tedious as the traditional RPG, either, since Super Paper Mario offers so many chances to score bonus experience points. If you continue to jump on enemies after already killing one, your score will go up quicker. And if you shake the controller after each bounce, you'll earn extra stylish points. It's quite rewarding and makes the usual Mario head-stomping so much more entertaining.

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