This is the most hated game in the series, and for good reason, the things it does are just heavily flawed to the point where its not fun to play. Battles are useless, exploration is boring, puzzles are unforgiving and vague, the backtracking is horrendous.
Lots of factors to consider when playing this, now funny story, I never actually beat this game until recently. I lent this game to a freind and right when he was about to give it back and I just said he can keep it, cause I didn't want this game in my house.
Years later I'd get the game again to finish what I started and after seeing it all, it never got any better. This game is the sole reason paper mario is the way it is now and for that, it's horrible. But I mean the music is nice, that's about it.
Ignore/Skip this one at all costs. You will die of boredom playing this game.