Nintendo recently unveiled their latest handheld gaming device, the Nintendo 3DS. The new device will feature improvements over its predecessor such as increased hardware specs, analog control and most importantly, full 3D capabilities.

Shortly after announcing their newest gaming platform, Nintendo released a list of games that will be available to the device. Among these the titles listed, it was revealed that a 3DS version of Paper Mario will be published by the company.

In the world of gaming, Nintendo has become synonymous with Mario. The Mario brand has given way to a multitude of games spanning numerous genres. Across multiple formats and hardware, Mario has become Nintendo’s most famous and lucrative icon. The stout plumber has made himself available through different genres such as racing, sports, adventure, puzzle and party games.

The original Paper Mario game was the effort Nintendo to produce a Turn-Based Role-Playing Game featuring Mario and the universe Nintendo has created for him. The series has been given critical praise for adding new game play elements to the standard Turn-Based combat that gamers have been used to.

What separates the Paper Mario games from the typical RPG are the platforming aspects and the charming, paper-based art direction. In these games, it is common for the paper aspect of the title to manifest in different scenarios such as Mario transforming into a paper plane to fly across chasms or turning sideways to slip through narrow passages that only a paper-thin Mario can.

Also present in these games are wit and humor that is surprising to find especially in a title that prominently features cartoonish characters. While the storylines usually involve a simple plot involving the rescue of the always sought after Princess Peach, the writers manage to weave an enjoyable story with endearing characters wrought with smart and witty dialogue.

Thus far, Nintendo has not yet revealed when Paper Mario 3D will be released or even if it will be a completely new story or a port of previous Paper Mario games. What is known, however, is that the new Paper Mario will add 3D effects to fully utilize the capabilities of the 3DS. Because of the graphic style of the paper Mario games, it is likely the new version will still retain 2D characters in a quasi-2D environment with the 3D effect becoming a subtle effect rather than overpowering the 2D-centric nature of the game.

With the expertise of Nintendo when it comes to game play and quality, coupled with the lovable artistic style and humor found in previous Paper Mario games, expect one of the most engrossing and charming RPG titles to make its way to the Nintendo 3DS.