Super Mario RPG for the Nintendo Switch fully brings that classic back into the gaming scene in a big way and feels very close to the original, and yet there are touches that help it stand out. The amazing gameplay and the story are still here, but the game has been completely rebuilt with modern visuals that still preserve the feel of the original game. From the moment the game begins, you feel both nostalgia and wonder and those new to the game will be surprised by a different style of Mario RPG.
It should be noted that some aspects of Mario RPGs that fans have come to know and love are not present in this game. This is because elements like first strikes were introduced in later games such as Paper Mario. What we do have here though, is the beginning of timed hits and it is handled in a way that is much more in-depth than later games would do.
Super Mario RPG also is notable for its unique characters and story, as well as the way the translation of the original game changed some things in interesting ways. While some things have been changed back to be more consistent with the Mario branding, many of the translation changes have either been kept or further expanded on, keeping the feeling of the original game alive. Of course, seeing the characters such as Mallow and Geno back is amazing as well, since they have not been playable in a game since the original title was released (outside of some cameos for Geno) and it has been far too long.
One thing that helps the narrative in this remake is the introduction of new cutscenes to flesh things out, and they are absolutely gorgeous. The visuals in general are some of the best on the Nintendo Switch and Super Mario RPG takes advantage to create some truly memorable scenes. Some may have wanted an HD-2D style remaster, but what we have received is far better than that would have been.
But how is the gameplay? Has it been changed? For the most part, no, but there are some tweaks and adjustments to combat that do make a difference. The game will let you know when some attacks cannot be blocked by a timed press for instance, and some moves have been renamed to be clearer.
Most notable, however, are the triple attacks that can be done once a gauge has been filled. Using a triple attack will trigger a quick cutscene that shows the attack being used and these can have a variety of uses. Some will unleash devastating attacks on enemies, while others will be more defensive, and they all change depending on which three characters you are using in combat at the time.
One thing many have expressed concern about is that the game feels a bit too easy with some of the changes, especially giving you the ability to find hidden blocks earlier along with other QOL changes such as fast travel, and the tweaks to the combat making some enemies a breeze. This is a bit of a problem and it is not any better when taking the new easy mode into account, and the game loses all of its challenge that way. The post-game content does provide a lot more challenge and can take many by surprise, but it would be nice to see an update that brings a hard mode option to the game.
Something else that must be mentioned is the absolutely amazing music composed by Yoko Shimomura, who also composed the music in the original release. The new versions of the tunes in the soundtrack are absolutely amazing, with some fan favourite songs sounding truly incredible in the new versions, and a few surprise tunes are amazing, but no spoilers on that will be given here. If you prefer the original soundtrack, however, there is an option to switch up ( no pun intended) the music and use the originals instead.
Super Mario RPG is a perfect upgrade of the original, with just enough new content to not be completely 1:1 and still preserve the original game. It also helps that this is just a fun game and Nintendo and ArtePiazza have done a great job updating the original game Squaresoft (before Square Enix was a thing) worked on. Even the cameos are back and some we missed in the original game are more clear now, while some content removed from the localized version has been put back in.
If you love Mario RPGs and want to see where they all started, then this is the place for you. Yes, it may be a bit too easy, but it is still a game you will get a lot of fun out of. Super Mario RPG is highly recommended for all fans of Mario and Mario RPGs.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
