Paper Mario: Sticker Star

A new Paper Mario title is allegedly in development for Wii U.

The thing about Mario is that, as much as he looks like a little dungareed chap, he's not really a character. Ever since Nintendo's rise in the 1980s, he's been an icon: the embodiment of pure gaming joy, a wah-hooing hero eternally saving Mushroom Kingdoms in between entering every sporting event going. It's funny to think of how many different Marios there have been - and it's this aspect of the character that Paper Mario has always riffed on.

Paper Mario is a world about Mario, one built out of in-jokes and fourth-wall-breaking nods, where the biggest gag is that everyone's been through this before. This self-mockery has always led to the finest work of Nintendo's supremely talented localisation team and Sticker Star once again delivers the goods. Matched up to Intelligent Systems' most visually brilliant take on the paper Mushroom Kingdom yet, this is one of the wittiest and most surreal Mario games in years.

Sticker Star begins predictably: the Mushroom Kingdom's various denizens are enjoying a sticker festival, when up turns Bowser and throws a spanner in the works. Peach is gone, the Toads are squooshed against the walls, and a mystery comet has been scattered to the four winds. Let's-a go!

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The limited edition Pikachu-flavoured 3DS XL will be available in the UK from 7th December, Nintendo has announced.

The specially-coloured hardware was previously available in Japan for a short time.

It joins two special edition white 3DS XL versions to be released later this month. One comes with Mario Kart 7 pre-installed (available 16th November), the other with Super Mario 3D Land (30th November).

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Paper Mario: Sticker Star is slated for a 7th December release in Europe, Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata announced moments ago on a Nintendo Direct livestream.

Professor Layton and Paper Mario's upcoming 3DS outings have been given US release dates by Nintendo in its recently announced portable game lineup calender for the remainder of 2012.

Set your alarms. Prepare the coffee. A new Nintendo Direct conference has been announced for tomorrow, Friday 22nd June, at 5am UK time.

The 3DS's Paper Mario game has been named and detailed as Nintendo confirmed that it's coming out later this year.

Wafer-thin RPG series back next year.

Nintendo mascot's new adventure unfolded.

Wafer-thin Mario for TBA 3DS release.

Shop GAME will give you a trade-in price of £190 on the £196.99 Nintendo 3DS if you bring it back within a month of buying it.