Mario Mario is a man of many talents. Doctor. Kart racer. Plumber. Carpenter. Pinball. Over the years, our moustachioed man has proven he’s nothing if not versatile, with his vibrant cast of friends and foes able to gracefully transcend their platforming roots and embrace any genre.
The 2023 remake, first announced over summer, is perhaps one of the year’s best surprises.Super Mario RPGis a game with such a fervent fan following, and it’s fair to say we never thought we’d see this day. I’m delighted to report this remake is the real deal: a faithful return to the Mushroom Kingdom crafted with love, care, and plenty of modern touches to make the experience more accessible for modern gamers.
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Like I said, it’s weird. But these characters have become firm fan favourites over the years for a reason, and it’s a joy to see them back after all these years, and to experience their surprisingly fleshed out character arcs again. I’m certain Geno and Mallow will find a whole new audience, and the Smash Bros. campaigns will begin again in earnest. Brace yourselves.
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Of course,Super Mario RPGnever takes itself too seriously, even in the face of a world-shattering crisis. If you’ve played any of the Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi RPGs, you’ll immediately feel right at home withSuper Mario RPG’s tongue-in-cheek writing and absurd encounters. Over the course of the game, you’ll crash a wedding to fight an evil cake, pretend to be a statue to infiltrate an enemy base, and even team up with Bowser to take back his keep.
While I’d arguePaper Mario: The Thousand Year Door(headed to Switch next year) boasts superior writing and plotting,Super Mario RPGis never anything less than delightful, and packed with imaginative encounters and boss battles that make it feel like more than just another turn-based RPG.
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The more consecutive attacks and blocks you get right, the higher your combo climbs. A higher multiplier means increased damage, defence, and a speedier refill of your special attack bar, which means you can unleash all-powerful combo attacks much more often. The timings can be a little tricky to get right on some attacks, but if you’re really struggling you can simply switch to a new, easier difficulty that makes enemies much more manageable without grinding to a certain level or mastering those button prompts.
There’s also the occasional platforming challenge out in the world, and this is whereSuper Mario RPGshows its age just a little. The game’s isometric viewpoint isn’t entirely conducive to precise platforming, making certain segments of the adventure feel a little clunkier than we’d have liked. Fortunately, such challenges are few and far between, with turn-based encounters and puzzle solving being far more prominent.
Super Mario RPG’s world is filled to the brim with secrets and fun, random encounters that’ll delight fans new and old. The game’s famous secret boss is very much still present (no spoilers for newcomers), and there are tons of bonus weapons to hunt down and side quests to get stuck into that’ll reward you with substantial items and perks. While you can plough on through to the story in about 12 hours, there’s plenty to explore - and tons of minigames if you want to go back and chase those high scores.
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Fans of the original game will also be thrilled to learn that, in addition to the ability to switch between the original SNES soundtrack and delightful new orchestral arrangements at will, there’s a nice amount of post-game content to get stuck into. There’s not masses in the way of completelynewcontent, but there doesn’t need to be.Super Mario RPGis already a pretty perfect adventure as it is.
Super Mario RPGis the perfect remake of one of Nintendo’s very finest games, and I’m so very glad it’s about to find a whole new audience. This is an adventure that’s fizzing with invention, unforgettable characters, and sharp writing. One final, joyous surprise for Switch owners in 2023.
Pros:Gorgeous aesthetic, great writing, fun twist on turn-based battles
Cons:Platforming feels a little wonky
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Fans of:Paper Mario, Sea Of Stars, Final Fantasy
Topics:Mario,Nintendo,Nintendo Switch,Super Mario
