Super Mario RPG Review

The first role-playing, narrative-forward adventure for Nintendo’s mascot has finally come to the Switch. Shorn of its subtitle and featuring a surprisingly precise remake, Super Mario RPG makes a fine introduction to the genre.

Smart tweaks to combat and a charming cartoon aesthetic ensure that the 27-year-old formula remains fresh. An accessible, entertaining RPG that’s perfect for families.

Story

In the world of RPGs, the story is often an afterthought. But Mario’s first role-playing adventure deftly weaves a compelling tale of good versus evil, with endearing characterization and a healthy mix of puzzles, platforming, and mini-games.

The cast of characters is a joy, from the aforementioned gang to newcomers like Mallow, who was raised to think he’s a frog, and Geno, a wooden puppet. Their interactions provide plenty of comic relief, with overt and subtextual humor aplenty.

The battle system is surprisingly well-rounded, with an intuitive Action Command prompt to guide the timing of your button presses and enemies that have unique attack animations. Defeating them raises your Triple Move gauge and rewards you with party-wide stat boosts. It’s a welcome addition to an otherwise straightforward combat that’s void of the bloat found in most modern RPGs. A scrapbook feature that recaps the story and boss rematches after completion are also nice touches. However, the inclusion of an Easy Mode feels a little cautious on Nintendo’s part.

Characters

When Super Mario RPG first launched, it was a surprise. Nintendo had never done a role-playing Mario game before, let alone one co-developed by Final Fantasy studio Square (now Square Enix). It also featured original characters created for the game, as well as characters that had appeared in previous games.

While the game takes place on an overworld, battles take place on a separate screen. You control each character in turn-based combat that can be boosted with special attacks and augmented by timed button presses.

You can choose from four playable party members, including Mario, Mallow, Geno, and Bowser. Bowser is eager to reclaim his castle from Smithy, and his attack power can be quite high with the right equipment. His special moves can also damage multiple enemies simultaneously. He also has a healing ability, which is essential for the late stages of the game. Lastly, Mallow is a spellcaster that can deliver AOE attacks and revive party members.

Mini-Games

Throughout the adventure, Mario RPG intersperses a variety of quick side quests and mini-games. These, for the most part, offer fun and gratifying rewards, but some, like an early barrel-jumping sequence that feels dated by modern standards, and a timed hits system that requires more precision to master than in future Mario RPGs, might not appeal to all players.

Overall, though, Super Mario RPG’s reworked elements make for a remarkably successful remake. It maintains the breezy, brisk charm of the original with smart tweaks to combat that help keep it relevant for a new generation of gamers.

Fans of the SNES original will revel in its pristine preservation, while newcomers to the genre will find an accessible entry point that avoids many of the trappings of more recent RPGs. It’s an utterly charming experience, with the right blend of heartfelt humor and standout characters.

Combat

Despite a coat of fresh 3D paint and a few tweaks to combat, Super Mario RPG hasn’t changed much of what made the original great. It’s a game of light platforming, timed attacks, and idiosyncratic humor masked within an RPG dungeon-bashing framework.

The combat isn’t exactly difficult, but it requires split-second timing to get the most out of it. The remake makes this a little easier by clearly signposting the correct actions to take but still encourages players to learn each enemy and weapon’s quirks. Nailing the timing is more rewarding than ever too, as perfect Action Commands build up an area-of-effect bonus or a flashy Triple Attack depending on what enemy you’re taking down.

In a year bursting with remakes and rereleases, Super Mario RPG proves that it’s possible to give a glow-up to a classic without losing what made it so special. With smart tweaks to the combat system, this is a remake that should delight returning fans while also providing an accessible entry point for genre newcomers.

Super Mario RPG Review

Story

Characters

Mini-Games

Combat

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