Super Mario RPG Review

Super Mario RPG stands out as one of Nintendo’s most unconventional games, brimming with peculiar characters, from a Santa-like antagonist to instances of dark humor. It introduces quirky elements like Toad cosplayers employing tickling as a form of torture and a four-eyed dog swallowing players whole and offering comments on the taste. The gameplay is both lively and diverse, marking a memorable conclusion to the SNES era. The new Switch version, however, defies expectations as a remaster, presenting one of the most peculiar overhauls I’ve encountered.

While it may appear on the surface as a modern Mario game, this remaster goes beyond mere aesthetics. Remaining steadfastly true to the original, Super Mario RPG feels more like a daring and largely successful experiment than a typical remake. This distinction becomes especially apparent in a year that has seen other remakes, such as Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space, adapting classic titles to contemporary tastes. Comparisons with Metroid Prime Remastered seem more apt—although the graphics have undergone a complete contemporary overhaul, the essence that defined the SNES classic remains intact. Save for a handful of minor quality-of-life enhancements, Super Mario RPG emerges as a remastered relic of its time, offering a captivating and thought-provoking experience. Its enduring charm, characterized by heartfelt humor, distinctive characters, straightforward combat mechanics, and a brisk pace that avoids the typical bloat of modern RPGs, ensures that Super Mario RPG remains a timeless classic.

Nearly all timeless narratives transcend their era, and within the realm of 16-bit era video games, storytelling often took a back seat. However, Mario’s foray into the role-playing genre pleasantly defies this trend, showcasing enduring writing that weaves a captivating tale of good versus evil.

The familiar plot unfolds as Bowser, in his habitual folly, kidnaps Peach, triggering a cascade of events. A colossal sword descends upon Bowser’s Keep, severing the wish-granting Star Road. Mario must now navigate a world overrun by robot weapons forged by the Santa-like blacksmith Smithy, embarking on a quest to recover the scattered Star Pieces and restore order. Although the Switch release drops the “Legend of the Seven Stars” subtitle, the essence of the adventure remains centered on reclaiming the natural balance of the world.

Mario, the ever-willing hero, is not alone in this endeavor, accompanied by a diverse cast of allies introduced gradually throughout the story. Familiar faces like Bowser and Peach shed their conventional roles, revealing new dimensions as they confront the looming threat to the Mushroom Kingdom. Yet, it is the introduction of two newcomers, Mallow and Geno, that adds a heartfelt depth to the narrative. Mallow, a lovable character with a heart of gold, contributes to the story’s warmth, while Geno’s introduction unfolds in one of the most adorable sequences in the Mario series, enhanced by modern cutscenes.

The core cast imparts Super Mario RPG with its emotional core, while the vibrant world is painted with zany encounters with quirky characters across the seven regions. From playing musical compositions for Toadofsky, the esteemed composer, to receiving sage advice from the bearded philosopher Frogfucius, the Mushroom Kingdom is teeming with charm. Even the usually silent Mario displays more personality through expressive mime sequences, transforming into various characters with animated finesse.

Darkly humorous villains provide a counterbalance to the lightheartedness, with characters like Booster, sporting a wild beard and eccentric behavior, and Knife Guy, an appropriately named jester. The narrative weaves together overt humor and clever subtext, creating layered story threads that enrich the overall experience.

Despite the wealth of characters and narrative complexity, Super Mario RPG manages to compactly deliver its adventure in around 17 hours of gameplay. The brisk pace, coupled with a plethora of engaging activities between story beats, makes playing this RPG in 2023 a refreshing experience. The turn-based combat, a central mechanic from the original, remains engaging with the addition of well-timed Action Commands. These commands, visually guided for each attack and block, add a layer of strategy to battles without compromising their inherent simplicity.

The combat system’s success lies in its execution, where timing-based bonuses and visually appealing animations contribute to a satisfying and repeatable loop. The diverse range of enemies, each with unique attack animations, adds depth to battles, transforming them into enjoyable, action-packed puzzles. Super Mario RPG, through its combination of charming animations, on-screen indicators, impactful sounds, and catchy battle music, manages to elevate its relatively simple combat mechanics into a delightful and fulfilling experience.

The dominance of a particular game mechanic in Super Mario RPG remains a testament to its strength, despite the occasional frivolous and seemingly useless nature of other battle components. The game’s balance, or lack thereof, becomes evident as the scales tip heavily in favor of the player, offering little incentive to diversify strategies or seek increased challenges. The tiered timing boosts, where good timing inflicts more damage and great timing unleashes a bonus damage shockwave, not only affect the target but also have overarching effects on other battle mechanics, introducing a level of imbalance.

Each character boasts a growing array of special moves with nuanced animations and distinct Action Commands. However, the issue arises when these special attacks lose their allure, often being overshadowed by the more straightforward regular moves that inflict greater damage. Furthermore, the area-of-effect bonus associated with well-timed attacks diminishes the unique appeal of certain special moves designed for multi-enemy damage. This imbalance extends to attack items and the new Triple Moves, where the latter, despite featuring elaborate cinematics, fails to add strategic depth to battles, feeling less impactful than similar features in other turn-based RPGs.

Paradoxically, the lone exception to the impracticality of magic lies in healing moves, particularly those wielded by multiple party members. Peach, in the role of the de facto white mage, possesses healing spells of significant potency, consuming minimal Flower Points. The simplicity of the timing required for Peach’s Group Hug spell, capable of fully healing the party, contributes to the combat imbalance. The abundance of healing items, easily obtained as battle rewards, further diminishes the strategic depth, making the game more forgiving than challenging.

Super Mario RPG lacks the depth expected in turn-based RPGs where strategy and forethought play pivotal roles in success. The game positions the player for success, leading to an experience where party wipes become a rarity. Late-game bosses struggle to pose a significant threat, and even unblockable special moves are infrequent, accompanied by ample cooldown periods for healing. The combat system’s inherent design, combined with the ease of execution, results in a game that prioritizes player enjoyment over tactical complexity.

Despite the lack of combat challenge, the game’s engaging combat loop remains enjoyable, offering a reliable and fulfilling experience. The immense variety of enemies and the unique traits of some bosses inject a level of excitement, preventing the gameplay from becoming overly repetitive. While the combat balance may falter, Super Mario RPG‘s charm lies in its diverse ideas and activities, ranging from playing Whac-A-Mole with Goombas to engaging in a cookie race against Boshi, a sunglasses-wearing Yoshi. The post-game content introduces a shift towards a more challenging experience, allowing players to revisit stronger versions of familiar bosses. Ultimately, Super Mario RPG transcends its combat shortcomings through its multifaceted and masterfully crafted adventure, showcasing the enduring appeal of its diverse gameplay elements.

Numerous Mario Party-style mini-games are scattered across the seven regions, serving as refreshing interludes between main objectives. These mini-games, exemplifying the “easy to learn, hard to master” mantra, encompass various activities such as navigating waterfalls, navigating chaotic railways, ascending mountains using Koopa Shells as platforms, and even participating in a Yoshi-starring rendition of the Kentucky Derby.

Released just months before Super Mario 64, Super Mario RPG stands out as the first 3D Mario game with platforming elements. While not the primary focus, platforming, and movement, in general, carry a nostalgic charm. Reflecting the era-accurate representation of Mario’s abilities, the game features a more deliberate jump, reminiscent of the original. Notably, the default control setting has Mario running continuously, eliminating the need to hold down the Y button, though a classic control scheme is available for those seeking a more authentic experience.

The dedication to authenticity extends to the soundtrack, allowing players to revert to the original composition. The enhanced modern version maintains the perfection of the classic tracks, adding layers without compromising the original’s brilliance.

The commitment to authenticity is further evident in the level design and camera perspectives. While not graphically intensive by modern standards, the game’s evolution brings lovely character designs and vibrant setpieces closer to contemporary expectations. Super Mario RPG retains its original look, viewed from an isometric perspective with a fixed camera angle, offering an intimate, distraction-free atmosphere with quick load times.

This level of replication, uncommon in enhanced re-releases, works exceptionally well here, providing a pop-up book quality that immerses players in condensed environments. Each locale boasts a unique aesthetic, capturing the Mushroom Kingdom’s lush greenery, Kero Sewers’ dark ambiance, Booster Pass’s rugged mountainous terrain, the Sunken Ship’s eerie isolation, and Rose Town’s idyllic charm.

While faithfully replicating the original experience, the game retains its quirks, with platforming challenges, especially those involving moving platforms, appearing deceptively challenging due to tricky depth perception. The methodical platforming experience, a result of the perspective combined with Mario’s weightier feel, may charm those with nostalgia but might pose challenges for newcomers.

Upon transitioning from the world map to the next destination, the primary objective is always within reach. Despite small areas with rigid borders limiting exploration, the game is rich with small puzzles and diversions. Though lacking traditional dungeons, quests for Star Pieces mimic mini-dungeons, featuring combat, platforming, brain teasers, and boss battles. The variety of puzzle types, from mazes to riddles, keeps the experience fresh. While lean on optional content, Super Mario RPG hides cool secrets and Easter eggs.

In essence, Super Mario RPG‘s remaster stands out as one of the most intriguing experiences, offering a nostalgic joyride through a zany adventure that significantly contributed to the love of turn-based RPGs in 1996.

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