Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Square Enix, Nintendo
- Full Name: Super Mario RPG (Remake)
- Release Date: November 17, 2023
- Released on: Nintendo Switch
- Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
My wife was eager to play the Super Mario RPG remake, and I was just as excited to watch her play and revisit a game I hadn’t touched in years. Having played the original a long time ago, I was curious to see how the remake would handle modern expectations while keeping the magic of the classic alive. Right off the bat, the game hooked us with its charming visuals and nostalgic music.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The story in Super Mario RPG remains simple yet engaging. Mario teams up with a unique cast of characters—Mallow, Geno, Bowser, and Princess Peach—to stop the evil Smithy from taking over the world. The journey feels fresh while still retaining the beloved core narrative.
World building and immersion
The world-building in Super Mario RPG is as vibrant and immersive as ever. The Mushroom Kingdom is full of quirky characters, whimsical environments, and secrets hidden around every corner. The addition of updated graphics helps bring these places to life in new and exciting ways, while still keeping that sense of nostalgia.
Character development
Each of the main characters has their own distinct personality, and it’s fun to see the interactions between them. Bowser, in particular, adds a lot of humor to the group dynamic, making for a fun party mix. The character development remains simple, but it’s effective enough to keep you invested in their journey.
Emotional impact
The emotional impact of Super Mario RPG is subtle but present. There are moments of heartfelt bonding between characters, especially with Mallow and Geno, and the overall charm of the game makes it hard not to smile. The nostalgia factor definitely adds to the emotional experience if you’ve played the original.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 8
Most of the Super Mario games do not have a very good story, but this one actually does, albeit, a goofy one.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The gameplay in the remake stays true to the original, with turn-based combat that rewards timing-based button presses for extra damage or defense. This mechanic keeps the battles engaging, and there’s a layer of strategy in picking your party and using the right abilities. The battle system feels just as fun as I remembered.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty is well-balanced, offering enough challenge to keep things interesting without being overly difficult. Some boss fights, like the iconic Final Fantasy-inspired boss, offer a real challenge, especially with the second form that caught us off guard! I have no idea if it was in the original, but I completely forgot about it if it was.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is smooth, with a good balance between exploration, combat, and storytelling. There’s always something to do, whether it’s uncovering secrets, battling enemies, or progressing the main story.
Innovation and uniqueness
While the core mechanics are largely unchanged, the remake adds a few quality-of-life improvements, such as updated UI and controls that feel smoother and more intuitive. The new villain adds a fresh twist, and while the remake sticks close to the original, the additions make it feel like a modern experience.
Controls and user interface
The controls are responsive, and the interface is clean and easy to navigate. It’s simple enough for newcomers to enjoy while still offering enough depth for longtime fans of the series.
Microtransactions
There are no microtransactions in the game, staying true to the classic single-purchase model.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 9
The rematch with certain bosses is a fun gameplay mechanic.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics in the remake are beautifully updated, with a colorful, modern aesthetic that still respects the original game’s charm. The environments are detailed, the character models look fantastic, and the animations add personality to each battle and cutscene.
Technical performances
The game runs smoothly, with no noticeable frame drops or bugs. The polished visuals and smooth performance create a seamless gaming experience.
Environment and design uniqueness
Each environment has a distinct design, and the variety of settings—from the Mushroom Kingdom to the mysterious Forest Maze—helps keep the adventure feeling fresh. The updated visuals bring these worlds to life in ways the original couldn’t.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 9.5
This remake did an impressive job at improving the visuals!
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtracks can best be explained by saying, it feels like they blended Final Fantasy music with Super Mario music and called it day, which means the soundtracks are perfect. They set the atmosphere very well.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are crisp and satisfying, especially when you pull off a perfectly timed attack in battle. The remastered sound adds depth to the experience.
Voice Acting
There’s no voice acting, but it works well within the context of the game. The characters’ iconic sound bites—like Mario’s exclamations—are as charming as ever.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 9
The soundtracks are great, one minor problem with the sound effects might be laughing from the boss in the cloud kingdom, it can get annoying after a little while.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game offers a solid 20–25 hours of content, with plenty of side quests and hidden areas to explore. It’s long enough to feel satisfying but not too drawn out.
Extra Content
The game includes several optional bosses and secret areas, including the notorious Final Fantasy-inspired boss that adds a fun (and challenging) surprise for RPG fans.
Replay value
While the game doesn’t have a lot of post-game content, the nostalgic charm and fun battle system make it worth replaying down the line. Revisiting old areas for side quests or to test out different party combinations adds replayability. You can also challenge the bosses again, but they have leveled up properly, one of them can one hit your entire party!
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Super Mario RPG with an 8
If you like RPG games, but also love Super Mario, you can hit two birds with one stone if you play this game!
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
- A little more post-game content or challenges would have been nice for players who love to continue after the credits roll.
- Some additional tweaks to the difficulty settings could help balance out the game for different skill levels, especially for newer players.
Comparisons
Compared to the original, the remake modernizes the visuals and gameplay while keeping the essence of what made Super Mario RPG so beloved. It’s a fantastic update that retains the charm of the classic while bringing it to a new generation of players. Compared to other Mario RPGs, this one stands out for its unique blend of Mario platforming elements and classic turn-based RPG mechanics.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
One of the standout moments for me and my wife was encountering the Final Fantasy boss. As a fan of both series, it was an unexpected and fun challenge, especially when his second form took me by surprise! Defeating him felt like a real achievement for my wife, it adds a layer of depth to the combat and gives a nod to Square Enix’s history.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with this game, I give it a personal rating of 8,5
The best character in this game has to be Geno!
Last words
Pros
- Stunning modern graphics that retain the charm of the original
- Fun, engaging turn-based combat system with timing-based mechanics
- Nostalgic music, beautifully remastered
- Bowser as a party member adds humor and fun interactions.
- Smooth, polished gameplay with intuitive controls
- Plenty of hidden secrets and challenging optional bosses
- Well-balanced difficulty, with some tough bosses for veterans of the series
Cons
- Could benefit from more post-game content or challenges
- Some sections might feel a bit too easy for experienced players
- Some repetitive side quests
The Super Mario RPG remake is a fantastic revival of a beloved classic. It captures everything that made the original great, with stunning visual updates, modernized gameplay, and a nostalgic soundtrack. Whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the series, this remake is a must-play for any RPG or Mario fan.
Final Rating
9
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