Paper Mario: Sticker Star's visuals and music do not make up for its lack of story.
After seeing the first screenshots, my first impression of Sticker Star (then called "Paper Mario 3DS") was: "This looks like a beautiful game with a lot of potential." I expected Sticker Star to top the first three in terms of story, following true to the Paper Mario tradition of having a more detailed story with each installment. Super Paper Mario had amazed me to no end with its detailed storyline, the different characters like tragic villain Count Bleck and backstabber Dimentio. I personally wanted some of these characters to return in Sticker Star, but I also wanted a pleasant surprise with a witty or memorable new character.
When I recieved Sticker Star as an early Christmas present, I was excited. It was the very reason I had got a 3DS in the first place. Eager to play, I flipped on my 3DS and got ready for an epic adventure.
I did not get one.
But before I start complaining, let me say what I liked about this game. First of all, its visuals were amazing. Aside from the NSMB design, the 3D worked really well with the Paper Mario world. I felt like the characters were inside my system instead of on a screen. The animations felt a bit jerky compared to the previous two installments, but hey, it's a handheld! Despite what I am about to cover, it still felt amazing to finally play Paper Mario in the palm of my hand. I also loved the music, especially the main theme, and the way it is remixed in the final boss theme.
But, I regret to say, all that good stuff did not make up for the disappointment I felt as I played through the game. As for new characters, I got Kersti. Yeah, like I need another annoying flying thing with me! Granted, Kersti wasn't too bad, but she was not as memorable as her predecessors (Goombario, Goombella, and Tippi). She could not give enemy tattles like they could, and her hints were less than helpful.
As for the other new characters, there were none. Nor were there any previous Paper Mario characters. (No Dimentio, sniff). We had Mario, Kersti (the only new character), Peach, Bowser, and... a crapload of Toads. No memorable NPC's, they didn't even have names. Just "Oh, hey, it's Toad A!" "What's up, Toad B?" You get the picture. Villain? Bowser again. And he's not even up to anything new, just kidnapping Peach again, not to mention NO DIALOGUE. What happened to the witty and hilarious Bowser from Paper Mario 1-3?
Which brings me to Luigi. He too had dialogue in the first three games. He was also playable in Super Paper Mario. In this game, he is demoted from a playable character to a FREAKING EASTER EGG. Yes, you heard me right. Luigi can be found in 5 different locations, and the player has to Paperize and pull him off the screen. It's like Nintendo is saying, "Screw Luigi, he can get the hell out of this game." His only (slightly) major role is leading the parade at the end, but that's ONLY if you've made 5 locations rid of him. Luigi, like Bowser, is silent for the first time in this game.
But I could forgive everything above if the game lived up to other Paper Mario traditions. It does not. Here are just a few traditions dropped from this game:
1. Opening at Mario's House
2. Merlon and his family
3. Pit of 100 Trials
4. Leveling Up
5. Items
6. Peach playable at some point
7. Most enemies not directly connected to the Koopa Troop
8. Final boss being invincible at some point
9. A sense of exploration (as opposed to a world map)
10. (and most importantly) AN ORIGINAL STORY.
I overall give this game a 6/10 and I hope to dear God that Mario & Luigi 4 is better.