Even after countless playthroughs, this game still rules. As a kid, Paper Mario's alluring charm and cartoony aesthetic drew me in, and to this very day it holds up astonishingly well. The vibrant world is brought to life by the colorful cast of characters (shoutouts to the NOA localization team), this game is really just bursting with creativity and charm. While some may think that the gameplay is pretty shallow for an RPG, I believe Intelligent Systems nailed it--we're talking about a JRPG in the Super Mario universe, after all. While the amount of options you have inside of in-game battles feels limited, the flexibility of Paper Mario's gameplay comes from the Badge mechanic. There are plenty of unique badges that can be equipped, keeping things fresh and engaging throughout Mario's adventure.
In summary, Paper Mario is a fun little romp, an essential experience for all fans of Super Mario and a great choice for those looking for a simple, pick-up-and-play RPG. Highly recommended.