What's Your Favorite Kirby Ability?

[Jermungandr]

How can Paper Mario be a fully 3D platformer if all of the characters are literally just Sprites (It's a link, go ahead and click on it) and not models?

You literally are not listening to what people are telling you are you. A 3D platformer is defined by the fact that you can move in 3D space. I.E. you can move across the X, Y, and Z axises. The fact that the characters are not 3D models has nothing to do with it.

I also take it you haven't played or seen the Sonic Rush games because they play like this. He does not move freely in 3D space. Straight line.