Super Paper Mario -- Simple Controls.

The good news with Super Paper Mario using the Wii Remote only is that it works perfectly for what's there. What's there? Not a whole lot, really.  The Wii Remote is held sideways with the D-pad on the left so that it most resembles a standard controller. The D-pad moves Mario or one of the other controllable characters left or right in 2D and in eight directions in 3D. When playing as Mario the A button allows you to enter or exit 3D. The 2 button jumps. The 1 button allows you to use a Pixi. A Pixi being a helper character that tags along after Mario or the other playable characters. Each one has a specific ability such as exploding, or grabbing and throwing, or allowing you to stomp down in mid jump. Pressing the 1 and 2 button together brings up a quick menu that allows you to switch out the character you're playing as or to switch out the Pixi tagging along or to select and use items. There are some Wii functions here and they mostly feel tacked on. You can point the Wii Remote at the screen with the main Pixi who will then give a detailed description on whatever you're pointing at. You get to shake the controller as Mario timing the stomps for extra style points. You get to shake the controller to have Mario wake up from having been put to sleep and the like for various status ailments. There just isn't a lot there. You do get to press the A button an awful lot in advancing the text. It's quite a simple game as far as the controls go. The Wii remote handles them with ease here. No complaints with the control. But what about the story and its large amount of text? What of the pacing? What of the humor? And what of the core gameplay with the action combat and the puzzles? Do they deliver? That'll have to wait until next time...