Super Mario RPG Review
I never got to experience the world of Super Mario RPG when I was a kid, I’m not sure if it was a rarity here in Australia, or if it just hadn’t achieved cult status at the time, but I do know a large part of it may have boiled down to the fact I was too poor to own a Super NES, and wouldn’t enjoy those games until much later when the Wii Virtual Console was in full swing. So for this review, I am going in fresh, and won’t be able to compare it to the 1996 version. I can’t tell you the differences between versions and I can’t tell you if it’s a faithful recreation of the original. What I can do, however, is offer my thoughts and opinions on Super Mario RPG as it is on the Switch, with a completely blank slate. What’s Super Mario RPG like? Let’s form our party, pick up our quest log, and prepare for an adventure!
Super Mario RPG flips the tried and true Mario formula on its head by introducing a new array of enemies called “The Smithy Gang” who interrupt Mario and Bowser during one of their usual skirmishes by crashing a giant sword into the castle, subsequently kicking everyone out (including Bowser himself.) So begins your epic adventure as you start off with a simple quest that unravels into a much larger narrative. This fresh approach introduces new heroes as well in the form of “Mallow,” a magical cloud character who specialises in support, and “Geno” a rather wooden character who uses arm cannons to deal high damage. You won’t have these characters right away though, as the game slowly introduces them along the way.
What it doesn’t do slowly is constantly change up mechanics and add interesting mini-games along the way, offering river rapid rides, barrel racing, and even Donkey Kong-style minecart rides. These sections keep new areas fresh and exciting, never outstaying their welcome and being rather forgiving, allowing for multiple attempts if you don’t achieve your desired outcome. The story is spurred forward by exposition and dialogue as you play, but is also illustrated with beautiful FMV cutscenes that really bring the characters to life.
Speaking of bringing the characters to life, the game engine looks beautiful as the characters are bright and colourful and represented in a chibi art style that really works for the game. You will encounter a wide range of characters, both familiar faces, newcomers, and some surprising cameos that put a smile on your face. The environments look amazing and there’s a lot of variety in the setting that keeps everything exciting. Interior sections are rendered in a great-looking isometric style that features a lot of detail and fantastic lighting. There are some caveats though as there were instances where the game encountered minor stuttering, mainly in the Mushroom Kingdom exterior. The performance issues are few and far between but should be noted.
The turn-based combat is a highlight of the game, prompting the player to press buttons in time with attacks to either do bonus damage or reduce and block incoming damage. This makes you feel like attacks and blocks actually connect, and every time you equip a new weapon item, the timing changes, maintaining the challenge the entire way through. You can also use your FP (or Flower Power) to use special abilities much like traditional MP. These attacks can be Mario’s Super Jump or Fireball, Peaches’ group hug healing ability, or even Bowsers’ Mechakooper. You can even experiment with your party layout to uncover special “Triple Moves” which build up with successful attacks and blocks and work like a summon, dealing high damage or delivering powerful party buffs. Each battle gives out XP which then levels up your characters on a charming screen where party members dance while you apply stat point upgrades. It all oozes of charm and style.
The overworld shows enemies meaning you can dodge battles if you want, and there are some interesting puzzles to solve with unique mechanics. You can also find powerful Super Star power-ups, allowing you to bulldoze through enemies, getting all of the XP, without the hassle of battle in some areas. I never once felt myself out leveled by the game with the exception of the final area, which proved to be a challenge with a frustrating save point too far back from where I hit the wall. Thankfully, this isn’t a problem throughout the rest of the game as it does autosave, and offers helpful suggestions should you be defeated in combat. Speaking of defeat, while you can do the usual “phoenix down” revive for one of your party members, you also have the option to tag in another party member in your fallen comrades’ place, changing the tide of battle.
I won’t spoil anything in regards to how it all ends, but there is post-game content to enjoy should you wish to do so and to me, everything seemed to wrap up sweetly. In a touch of class, the credits include the people involved in the 1996 original, and even the way the credits roll was handled is done in such a wonderful way. The game took me roughly 15 hours to complete, but that was rushing forward. I think I could have easily spent a lot more time hunting ultimate weapons and secrets (which I might start fresh and do.) There’s also a nice option to focus on story over combat, making battles easier should you wish to do so. I tried both difficulty settings out and the casual mode would make the game a great introduction to RPGs for the little ones, but parents just note there’s a lot of reading to explain what you must do. There’s a journal that recaps the story and where you are up to which is a nice help, and I really enjoyed looking through the monster encyclopedia to see all the great characters in the game.
For my vision-impaired Mushroom Kingdom citizens, there aren’t any accessibility options, but the game is bright and colourful with a contrast difference between enemies, characters, and the world around them.
Whether you’re returning to this classic, or visiting it for the first time, there’s a lot of wholesome fun in this heartfelt adventure that will make the Nintendo kid in all of us smile. Sure, it may look childish on the surface, but for those who embrace the colorful and warm atmosphere of Super Mario RPG, you will find yourself enveloped in a wonderful world that’s hard to put down. Super Mario RPG is an absolute delight from start to finish.
So What’s it Like?
Super Mario RPG is like Super Mario World, mixed with Final Fantasy.
