Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was a better Mario RPG than Paper Mario

It's nice to see a fellow user who is a fan of Mario RPGs, and it has been a pleasure debating you. With that out of the way, on to my final round:In my opening arguments, I established multiple reasons that Paper Mario is a superior Mario RPG to Super Mario RPG. In particular, I focused on the following key aspects:*I established that Paper Mario utilizes a unique art design, with characters and backgrounds being designed to almost seem like they pop out of a storybook. This isn't just an aesthetic choice, as the 'paper' feel is also utilized in puzzles. I noted that Super Mario RPG is, in comparison, a standard JRPG that doesn't utilize a unique art design. I also noted that, as both games were released near the end of their console's lifespans, they both use their console's power to the best it can be done. *I established that the music of Paper Mario is superb, especially considering the fairly weak sound capabilities the N64 offers. *I established that Paper Mario offers a unique take on the traditional Mario story, as for once Bowser (who has stolen the wish-granting Star Rod) has the clear upper hand. To even stand a chance against him, Mario must rescue the seven Star Spirits, in hopes that they can strip Bowser of the Star Rod's power. I also noted the game allows you to control Peach, who is covertly aiding Mario from inside the castle. *I established Paper Mario places a heavy emphasis on both puzzle-solving and platforming. Puzzles are not only solved by using Mario's jump and hammer abilities, but also by using the unique abilities each of his partners offers. *I noted that battles in Paper Mario perfect the 'action commands' introduced in Super Mario RPG, offering a uniquely interactive RPG experience. *I established that there are a ton of new abilities for Mario and his partners to learn. In addition to learning a new power from each saved Star Spirit, Mario can learn new abilities by equipping badges, and partners learn new abilities by finding blocks hidden throughout the vast world. Right out of the way, it is clear my opponent didn't contest my arguments on artistic design and music at any point in the debate; thus, I assume he has conceded that Paper Mario has a superior art design and soundtrack. For the most part, this debate revolved around the story and battle format - I didn't see my opponent arguing against my points on the platforming and puzzle-solving aspects of Paper Mario. My opponent has (generally) argued that the story of Super Mario RPG is superior because it doesn't follow the traditional Mario story, while I have argued that just because a story is 'original' doesn't make it better. My opponent has also argued the battle system in Super Mario RPG is better because you have one more partner in battle, partners can level-up in-battle, and Mario has more moves in Super Mario RPG. I've debunked these points by noting that you have twice as many partners to choose from in Paper Mario (choosing 1 of 8 is better than choosing 2 of 4), partners can level-up outside of battle, and that Mario can learn from any of a vast number of new moves through badges, including attacks that cause status ailments, boost attack power, break through defense, and hit multiple enemies. I also noted that the total number of moves your partners can learn in Paper Mario, 32, is far more than the 21 combined moves available in Super Mario RPG. In his (rather short) final round, my opponent makes only a few arguments. His only real argument is about my definition of the word 'status ailments' - in R4, my opponent argued that you should be able to use items on partners because partners can get status ailments. I responded by noting partners are rarely attacked, and can only be stunned for a few turns. In R5 my opponent argues that is a status ailment - I disagree. I think it is deceptive to argue that there are 'status ailments' that affect partners, and than admit there is only one. Even if it is a status ailment, there is no item in the game that cures stunning, making my opponent's case a moot point. As we close down the debate, I would like to urge the voters to look at which debater proved their case better, as there is no assigned burden of proof.