Format: 3DS
Release Date: November 11, 2012
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Price: $39.99 (retail and digital)
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
After the more recent Super Paper Mario for the Wii, the series returns to its turn-based battle mechanics with its fourth installment and does so rather well. Fan of RPGs or not, you may want to consider checking this one out.
Story, Presentation, and Core Gameplay:
The plot within Sticker Star is anything fans would come to expect from a Mario game. The annual holiday known as the Sticker Fest is taking place in the town of Decalburg when all of a sudden Bowser shows up to claim the Sticker Comet — a nifty tool that grants wishes to those that posses it. Eventually, the comet is split into six pieces and so Mario alongside his newly met partner Kersti decide to embark on a quest to retrieve the pieces of the comet and to put an end to Bowser's evil scheme.
The game's defining component lies within its combat system. As Mario travels the land, he will find an abundance of stickers plastered all throughout the environment in which he can later use in battle and to Paperize the environment (place stickers down to access new areas). Visually, Sticker Star is nothing short of amazing. It boasts a gorgeous diorama-like world and also features some remarkable 3D effects if you're into that kind of thing. It is also worth mentioning that the game features ever-so whimsical humor which is bound to make players smile and perhaps even laugh as they progress.
All in all, the combat presents a very pleasant experience for players. With such a large variety of weaponry (otherwise known as stickers), there is plenty for players to see and experiment with all throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. The way battling works is simple — Mario uses his arsenal of stickers to face off against various enemies. By initiating well-timed battle commands, players can do more extensive damage to enemies as well as block their attacks. The boss battles within the game present quite a challenge and players will have to act accordingly in seeking out their weaknesses. This means that you can expect to fight bosses over and over again if you're not thoroughly prepared. Best of all, battles are very fast-paced and won't take very long, though it certainly doesn't interfere with the overall enjoyment of them.
Though Sticker Star mostly features positive aspects, there is one major negative worth noting. Oftentimes the player's objectives can be rather unclear and the puzzles can be somewhat tricky to solve. On top of that, there's no real way for players to seek out assistance regarding ordeals that may come their way other than talking to Kersti, who will mostly provide you with uninformative dialog.
Final Thoughts:
Sticker Star is a very welcome addition to the series. The pacing is brilliant, it's just such a shame to see it lose such great potential as players may often find themselves stumped and unsure of where to go next or what to be doing. This aside, the game appeals to a wide audience and is great for newcomers to hop in without previous experience.
S&S Rating: 8.5/10.0 Follow me on Twitter: @JoshRioTeixeira
