4/5 ★ – FluffyDigby's review of Super Mario RPG.

Super Mario RPG was always a game I had quite a weird history with. I was exposed to the game in two different ways growing up, the first was the soundtrack throughout my childhood with SMG4, while others were through sprite animations like Bowser's Kingdom that would crack a joke or two about his lack of presence after the original game. For years onward I would continue to hear about the game, thus creating a lot of interest for it. When I eventually got my now modded New Nintendo 3DS XL, I put a rom on it in hopes of checking it out when the right time came along... It never did though. That changed though late October 2024. Last year I received the Super Mario RPG Remake as a Christmas present and after playing the game for myself, I can confidently say I fully understand why so many consider it a classic and what makes it so special to many like me It cannot be stated enough just how much of a miracle it is that Super Mario RPG got remade at ALL. Especially seeing the characters Geno and Mallow again. It is still crazy to this day that the very first ever Mario RPG we got was developed in collaboration with Square Enix. And that's where I want to start, the overall presentation of the game. Artepiazza should definitely get a lot of credit where credit is due, because they did an AMAZING job at recapturing the 2D grid style and render artwork of the original game while blending it with the more modern art style of Mario. It's a new change but a welcome one at that with the chibi models intact. Every area of the game whether it's the characters, locations, UI, they all just feel purely replicated with effort and made with so much charm. They really understood the assignment and how to go about the process of updating the visuals, as well as creating newer versions of various aspects of the original game. The biggest area for me presentation wise that still holds up to this day is the variety in enemy, character and boss designs that Square Enix were able to create for Super Mario RPG that have that same quality from them with artwork for series like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, yet despite working for another company's mascot were still able to make many of the designs feel very Mario-esque. Many of the species and characters you can find in Super Mario RPG feel more out there and wacky, and it really helps with how lively each location is complimented by their presence! It really stuck out, and it made me feel more connected to the game as time went on. I'd also say like many Mario RPGS going forward, the locations in the game are distinct, not all of them are anything to ride home about but they use some themes in different ways and it's done pretty well! There are some really memorable areas like Forest Maze, Rose Town, The Mushroom Kingdom, Star Hill, Nimbus Land, Sunken Ship etc. The progression towards all of them feels earned and is very anticipating every time, the variety makes you want to learn more and more about the world. My favorite part about the world was the good ol days of the map, being able to use the map to go back and forth with the cute little animation of Mario running towards the next area. Such a lovely thing and reminded me how much I miss maps like those! And on the topic of progression... the gameplay? Yeah it's VERY addicting. I'm used to Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi's timed attacks so I was surprised to see for the very first RPG the timing can be used for more additional damage, ensuring more of a impact. It took me a while to get used to but when you do, it's a very fun combat system to work with. There are the special moves, the triple moves and the chain system. I found the special moves the most fun, since they really help you to put an emphasis on prioritizing FP and knowing when to go ALL out on enemies and land a ton of damage!! The chain system is really great, the music will alter slightly feeling more upbeat and quick, encouraging you to pull off more attacks in a timely manner, giving you second chances and making the battles even more fun. But the best addition to the remake for the gameplay by far, would have to be the Triple Moves. The Triple Moves are animated cutscene combination attacks you can pull off depending on your team of characters and there is one for each groups! They're a really cute new addition and the characters interacting alongside eachother to pull off one big move really helps show their personality as well as show how well certain trios can work. Certain team members can work really well depending on your choices. I was mostly a big fan of using Mario, Mallow and Geno together, sometimes Peach and Mallow, Peach, Mario and Geno and once every now and then Peach and Bowser together. Some characters will be more useful in tricky situations like Peach, Geno and Mallow. But there is a solution and the way you can approach it all allows for many opportunities with replays. And it'd be hard for me to mention the gameplay without mentioning the bosses! I already said there is a lot of variety with characters and species, but the bosses are definitely one of the best parts of Super Mario RPG with how they challenge your understanding of the battle system and skills. A lot of bosses will go for specific attack patterns, some may need certain weak points only done by interacting or from special moves, while others can be extremely difficult but also worth the amount of patience and effort. A lot of memorable bosses throughout the game, some you can rematch too in the post game! There are some I love such as The Axem Rangers, Dodo, Punchinello... they even had a completely original FINAL FANTASY BOSS as a surprise secret back in the day! With it's 2D sprite and the FF Victory theme. It wasn't something that was needed but definitely one of the coolest fights, the fact that both FF songs and a secret FF boss was in a Mario RPG is a crazy statement. The one really, REALLY big area that finally helped me see what makes Super Mario RPG so beloved and special to many people for me, is the story. Super Mario RPG's writing and the story definitely feels a lot more out there, it's very unique and different compared to the stories you'd see in Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario. It's pretty well told. I wouldn't say it's deep deep like games like The Thousand Year Door or Super Paper Mario but what I would say is the story quality is very consistent and far from your standard Mario game plot. Throughout the game you're trying to recollect the Seven Stars shortly after Bowser's Castle was destroyed by Exor, also destroying Star Road, known in the Mario RPG universe as the land of balancing and helping fulfill wishes. Very early on you meet my favorite character in the game Mallow. The Fluffy Cloud prince, who believes he is a frog and never met his real parents, and meets Mario after trying to get back at Croco for robbing him. Before meeting Geno, you do get to meet Mallow's grandfather the Frog Sage who helps advise you and sends Mallow on a quest with Mario after revealing the cold harsh truth. The character I find most interesting story wise is Geno, he's a part of a higher authority in Star Road as a star spirit sent down that just so happens to be sent down near the doll, and the more you progress and slowly have everyone join your team the more he bonds with everyone else, especially Mallow. When Geno has to leave with the balance of Star Road being restored its a very bittersweet ending. It made me nearly want to cry. I really loved both Geno and Mallow as characters, especially Mario RPG characters. It took me years but I can finally see the appeal in both of them and why they're so special to many people and damn it I love them just as much too!! I never once felt like the game dragged or that any area or part of the story was boring, it was very engaging and enjoyable. The final thing I can say that I'm extremely passionate about with this game.... is DEFINITELY THE SOUNDTRACK. this games SOUNDTRACK. HOOOOLLLY SHIT. ITS REALLY CONSISTENTLY AMAZING!! The original composer returned to do the remakes new soundtrack and Yoko NAILED it! So much of this games soundtrack really brings life into the game and makes it feel like such a grand adventure, especially the boss themes and battle themes. They're a blast! You can even use the original soundtrack too! Super Mario RPG isn't just special to me because it's a Mario RPG. it's a great RPG because it helped me see where a lot of the creativity and inspiration to a lot of my childhood Mario RPGS with Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi led to. Super Mario RPG was the foundation and I feel very grateful that this game helped allow more to exist, how much you can feel Square Enix's influence in the game really shows just how much they cared about helping to craft the very first ever Mario RPG. This game will always now be just as special to me as others with some fond memories with the remake, the same way Square Enix influence made me love Mario Sports Mix a lot as a kid. So to conclude. Super Mario RPG, it is the only one just for me.