Super Paper Mario: good, or good while coming off painkillers?

So I borrowed a Wii and some games. I've been trying out Super Paper Mario, and noticed a few things:

• It has quirky humor, and good writing for the standard MacGuffin collection plot.
• In the first hour or so, it has played very much like a traditional Mario platformer...
  • ...with the same linearity...
  • ...without any challenging or interesting platforming...
  • ...without any challenge from the enemies...
  • ...with levels taking twenty minutes instead of three.
• There are two ways to view the game world...
  • And items and secrets in one can be invisible in the other, so the player should flip between the two constantly...
    • ...and search everything twice...
    • ...and twiddle thumbs now and then to let the flipping energy bar recharge.

I played less insipid math teaching games while I was in grade school. My question to you is this: what is the right way to enjoy Super Paper Mario? Does it become challenging, does the fun writing come often enough to make the game a good way to kick back after a long day, or is it an ideal distraction when you're sick or in pain and need something with no appreciable difficulty?

And is there a reliable way to tell that there's stuff you can find if you flip, so that you don't have to backtrack every thirty seconds?

It's not quite as good as the RP Gs, but the story is excellent, the music is awesome, and the writing is top-notch.

I say if you do want to enjoy this game, just look at it as a storytelling device.

I like the storytelling, music, ect. Gameplay is okay, not as good as the previous two.

The biggest flaw is, as you've noticed, that it isn't challenging at all and levels tend to drag on. Some parts are fun even without being challenging, however. The Whoa Zone is awesome for sheer mind screwery, and all of Chapter 8 is pretty climactic and fun save for the 3D maze near the end.

edited 10th Apr '11 11:38:02 AM by Anomalocaris20

Have you ever tried shaking the wii remote after attacking a enemy by stomping on them?