SNES Games I Love #29: Super Mario RPG

On 02/29/2020 at 11:02 AM by The Last Ninja

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Developer: Squaresoft

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: RPG

Release: 1996

Currently available on: Wii U VC, SNES Classic Edition

About the game: The gaming world was shocked when it was announced that Square would be making a Mario RPG. How would this game work? Well, Square did a great job here. The game takes place from an isometric perspective, which mostly works. The story here is that Bowser has been kicked out of his castle, and a giant sword has lodged right down the middle of his abode. Mario teams up with some familiar characters (Bowser and Princess Toadstool) as well as some new ones (Mallow and Geno) in order to defeat this new villain named Smithy. The battle system introduces timed hits and blocks, which would be carried over into the Paper Mario games. There's also tons of memorable moments (such as when you have to rescue the princess from Booster or when you fight the Axem Rangers). It's not a perfect game. I think there are a few too many mini games and platforming doesn't work very well with the isometric perspective. But this game is still great.

Why I love it: I remember watching my older brother play this game. I loved the part with the Axem Rangers (mostly because I was a huge Power Rangers fan). This game has great dialogue, memorable moments, and excellent gameplay. It's not a cake walk either; some of the bosses can be very challenging. The music, composed by Yoko Shimomura, is really great too. The graphics look a little dated now (much like DKC), but it's not really a problem. The different towns you will visit are each charming and endearing in their own way. This game was done by Square's B team (since the A team was working on FF7), and yet they did a great job. Without this game, we might not have ever gotten the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi franchises.

SanAndreas

02/29/2020 at 01:52 PM

This was a good note for the SNES to end on, at least in the US. Japan was still getting SFC Fire Emblem games until the 2000s. And it came out right after Square announced they were dropping the N64 in favor of the PS1. What might have been...

The Last Ninja

03/01/2020 at 12:15 AM

Yeah, I see this game as Square saying "We'll work with Nintendo one last time before moving to Playstation." That makes this game really special.

03/01/2020 at 03:53 PM

I think development on the game was well underway while Square was still trying to figure out how to squeeze FF7 into a N64 cart. It was apparently a difficult decision for Square to make. I read somewhere from a Square developer that they met with Nintendo one last time to try and work things out, and Nintendo cordially, if somewhat stiffly, wished them the best of luck on the PS1. January 12, 1996 was a massive bombshell in the gaming industry. I remember when that happened. Enix followed suit shortly thereafter. Now, Square Enix just released the second-best Switch game made to date back in September. :) And CD Projekt Red managed to make Witcher 3 run nicely on Switch, and entirely off the cartridge no less (until a QOL update was released, there was no install file at all for Witcher 3 on Switch).

03/02/2020 at 11:32 AM

Yeah, it's great to see Square Enix working with Nintendo again!

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/29/2020 at 07:50 PM

I know you say the graphics are dated, but much like DKC, they blew my mind as a kid

03/01/2020 at 12:16 AM

Yeah, they were impressive back then.

Cary Woodham

03/01/2020 at 08:24 AM

This was a HUGE deal back then. Pre-rendered graphics like Donkey Kong Country? WOW! An RPG set in the Mario universe...and it's made by Square? WHOA! Keep in mind that other than Mario Kart, there were not too many Mario spin off games back then.

I played this game to death back in the day. Although I like other Mario RPGs better, like Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, the first Mario RPG was still an excellent game and one of the SNES' best.

My brother Jeff loved to watch me play this game. He called it "Mario PG." He couldn't read yet, so I had to read the text for him. If I forgot to read a text box, he'd yell out, "TELL IT!" My throat got pretty tired after playing that game!

03/02/2020 at 11:33 AM

lol yeah, there's quite a bit of dialogue, and it's really good too.

KnightDriver

03/02/2020 at 09:04 PM

I love the Mario RPG series, every game I've tries. At first I thought I hadn't played this but I think I did on Wii virtual console. I didn't finish it though. I need to go back to it.

PixlBit