Mario is traditionally a side-scroller game, and more recently a plain and simple adventure game. However, there have been many attempts to make a Mario RPG, two if which are still ongoing. Which do you think is best and why?
Paper Mario
The Paper Mario series has been going since 2000 for the N64. It features Mario and several partners battling many classic foes in a simplified RPG style, with Bowser as the main Antagonist. In 2004, a new game, Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door was released for the Gamecube, following the same style as the original, but with a whole new enemy. Then, in 2007, the most recent game, Super Paper Mario, was released to the Wii.
Mario and Luigi
Mario and Luigi started on the Gameboy Advance in 2003 with Mario and Luigi: Superstar Sega. This featured the brothers fighting Cackletta and Fawful to save the Kingdom. In 2005, the DS sequel was released, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, where you could play as both the brothers and their baby counterparts by traveling back and forward through time. Here you had to fight an alien race. Finally, a second DS release in 2009, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, featured the brothers fighting many enemies, and the returning Fawful, inside of Bowser.
Super Mario RPG
Although this '96 SNES title never had a sequel, it is often regarded as one of the best Mario RPG games. Here, Mario would eventually team up with both Bowser and Peach, as well as two other friends, to defeat Smithy and his gang. This is the most advanced of the Mario RPG series, and is very similar in many regards to the Pokémon series.
