I've often thought that The Legend of Zelda and Kirby just seem perfect for Paper Mario/Mario & Luigi style spinoff games, but eh, there are plenty of other cool options there too.
So, which of these would you went to see RPGs based on?
I never really thought about how in Paper Mario, people are so familiar with Mario enemies that they instantaneously know what they're going to do even without using tattle. Like if you're fighting a dry bones or boo, even if it's your first time fighting them, you just know they're going to revive or turn invisible. That also makes me think maybe something like Zelda or Kirby would work just fine
Just imagine seeing a cuccoo run up onto the stage, and then being like "ok, don't attack him" and then having to avoid using attacks that hit multiple enemies
Kid Icarus seems obvious for this to me in the same way Zelda does
DK and Wario would make me happier tho. Maybe Yoshi too.
Considering Punch out seems sorta dead right now and Wii was planned to have rpg mechanics at one point, maybe a paper punch out can fill that idea hole. Arts and crafts gimmicks can be used to devise new fight puzzles. Enemies could cheat with erasers (changing your color could fast track you to zero stamina hearts I guess) or scissors(insta KOs), activate special origami techniques where they fold into a new form to fight you
