Mario has been many things over the years in different games. So, some of the games are more like RPGs. But Mario is still Mario. And Mario is not just one thing. Mario is flexible. Mario can do many different things. And Paper Mario is still like other Mario games in some ways. And Mario is flexible. Mario can be a doctor. Mario can play tennis. Mario can play basketball. Mario can play golf. Mario can even play in the Olympics with Sonic. I guess it comes down to the definition of platform gaming. Mario is the main like mascot for Nintendo since the 1980's. If you're using a more specific and defined definition and meaning to platform gaming, then you could argue that Mario does not fit the requirements for that. I would argue for a more general and more vague definition.
Mario has been many things over the years in different games. So, some of the games are more like RPGs. But Mario is still Mario. And Mario is not just one thing. Mario is flexible. Mario can do many different things. And Paper Mario is still like other Mario games in some ways. And Mario is flexible. Mario can be a doctor. Mario can play tennis. Mario can play basketball. Mario can play golf. Mario can even play in the Olympics with Sonic. I guess it comes down to the definition of platform gaming. Mario is the main like mascot for Nintendo since the 1980's. If you're using a more specific and defined definition and meaning to platform gaming, then you could argue that Mario does not fit the requirements for that. I would argue for a more general and more vague definition.