Review of the legendary action RPG "Super Mario RPG" revived in the modern age. A little different from the usual Mario's great adventure!

The enemies are a mysterious weapon army!　Bowser and Peach join the ranks!　Don't miss the activities of "Maro" and "Gino," who can only be found in this title!

Super Mario RPG" is a title jointly developed by Nintendo and Square (now Square Enix). As the name suggests, it was a unique title among the Mario series at the time of its release, as it was an RPG in which Mario, the golden boy of action games and a nationally known video game character, played the leading role.

Twenty-seven years ago, when I was in elementary school, I learned of Super Mario RPG through a memorable commercial featuring the joyful singing of Pac-N-Flower. The commercial's claim that "even if you've never played a role-playing game before," was enough to get me to beg my parents for a copy, and I successfully purchased it. In fact, I was an action game-loving elementary school student who had never touched an RPG before, but I was hooked on the world of Super Mario RPG, a wonderful fusion of RPG and action elements, and played it so much with a strategy book in hand that I sucked it down to the marrow. Twenty-seven years later, I still rank "Super Mario RPG" as the game I enjoyed the most in my life, and the appearance of this Switch version of "Super Mario RPG" was a long-cherished wish and the most pleasant surprise of all. I am sure that there were many game fans who felt the same way.

I could go on and on about my feelings about "Super Mario RPG" (......), so let's get down to the business at hand.

Let's start with the story of the game.

The game begins when Princess Peach is kidnapped by Bowser. Then, Mario goes to rescue Peach. It may seem strange to call the emergency situation in which the princess is kidnapped by the Demon King a "usual scene," but the story of Super Mario RPG begins with a "usual scene" that is at least familiar to Mario series players and game fans. However, what follows is anything but "the usual scene.

Mario heads off to rescue Peach, and in no time at all, he arrives at Bowser Castle. What's that?　If it was the usual Mario, most of the game would be played on the way to Bowser Castle. ......" But as he continues on, he is confronted by Bowser again, this time early on. Mario wins the battle with Bowser and rescues Princess Peach, but then a mysterious giant tremor hits Bowser Castle. A huge sword appeared from the heavens and pierced Bowser's castle!

Mario, Bowser, and Peach are all blown to pieces by the impact of the sword. The sword also destroys the bridge that connects Mario's house and Bowser Castle in the shortest possible time. Thus, Mario sets off on an adventurous journey to find Peach. ...... is the synopsis of the film.

The introduction, which twists the usual Mario "promise" and has a great impact, is interesting and draws you in. As the story progresses, the story becomes more and more profound, as the unique weapon army led by the mysterious enemy "Kajio" who has taken over Bowser Castle and the existence of the "Star Piece," which is the key to the story, are revealed one after the other. This epic and unique story, which unfolds in both comical and dramatic scenes, is truly one-of-a-kind and can only be experienced through "Super Mario RPG.

Super Mario RPG" is also famous for its funny dialogue and gag scenes that make Mario and his friends crack up. These are also expressions that have never been seen in the "usual Mario" series, and when I played the SFC version, I remember being surprised as a child that such things could be said in the "Mario" series. I hope that those who have not played the SFC version will play this game and be as shocked as I was when I was in elementary school. If you have not played the SFC version, I hope you will play this game and be as shocked as I was in elementary school.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of RPGs is the companions who accompany the main character on his adventures. In this title, too, Mario's friends who fight alongside him appear one after another in the course of their adventures. Among these friends, I would like to first introduce Bowser and Princess Peach.
Nowadays, we can control Bowser and Peach in the "Super Smash Bros." series, and in the recent "Super Mario Bros. Wonder," we can control Princess Peach. However, the idea of having Bowser, the rival in the "usual Mario" story, and Peach, the heroine, in the same party is still quite a shocking experience, even 27 years after the release of the SFC version. The RPG-like roles of Bowser and Peach, with Bowser's high HP and Peach's ability to heal, respectively, are also interesting and perfectly in line with their respective character traits.

The attacking methods, such as Bowser throwing Mario at his enemies and Peach slapping or hitting them with a frying pan, are very bold and unique, and are a must-see feature of this title.

In addition, the characters " Maro " and " Gino " appear in this title as companions, names that may be unfamiliar to those who have not played the SFC version, but that's because they are characters that can only be encountered in this "Super Mario RPG".

Maro, with his fluffy body, is a self-proclaimed frog boy who doesn't look like a frog in any way. He is a bit of a crybaby and makes it rain when he cries, and he is good at magic, attacking with lightning and snow, as well as using recovery magic.

Gino is a celestial messenger who comes from the sky to collect scattered star pieces, and borrows the body of a doll to go on an adventurous journey with Mario. Gino, with his cool, hero-like demeanor, is a useful character in battles, using everything from beam attacks to kick the crap out of enemies to buffing support moves that boost his friends' attack and defense.

Maro and Gino are not only reliable in battle, but also play a very important role in the storyline. If you haven't played the SFC version of the game, or if you have played the Switch version of "Super Mario RPG," you will be able to meet Maro and Gino.

The battles, where action commands are key, are sure to get you hooked!　Additional elements from the Switch version allow even those who are not good at RPGs to enjoy the game!

The game is basically played on a slanting field. Various gimmicks appear on the field, including a floating treasure chest with a hatena written on it, clay pipes, a trampoline, a floating board, and the familiar chikuwa blocks from the Mario series. Some of these gimmicks can be utilized to advance through the game, and combined with the familiar jump-action controls, the game offers a Mario-like action play experience despite being an RPG.

The game uses a symbol-encounting system, and battles begin when players come into contact with enemy characters roaming the map. Therefore, if you make good use of jumps and other actions, you can avoid battles. This may be a good point for players who are not good at RPGs.

Battles are based on a turn-based system, with actions occurring in order of swiftness. The player then selects one of four commands: " Attack," "Special," "Item," or "Sono" to fight.

The "Attack" command attacks the enemy with an equipped weapon. The attack method varies depending on the character and equipment, and the timing of the "action commands" (described below) also varies.

Special" is a command to use magic or special skills by consuming "flower points," a kind of MP, and each skill also has its own "action command.

Item" is a command to use recovery items or items that can attack enemies. As an aside, it is interesting to note that the basic item for recovering HP is a "mushroom," which is very typical of the Mario series and easy to understand.

And "Sono-ta" is the command to defend or escape from battle. In addition, a new feature in the Switch version is the ability to check help, which makes the game easier to play.

The description up to this point suggests an orthodox turn-based, command-selectable battle system for RPGs, but the biggest feature that makes this title's battles unique among RPGs is the aforementioned " Action Command". The "Action Command" is a well-timed button press or a series of button presses that enhances the effects of "attacks" and "specials. Also, when an enemy attacks, a well-timed "Action Command" can reduce or eliminate the damage by pressing the button successfully (some attacks are disabled by "Action Commands").

In other words, the key to success in "Super Mario RPG" is how well the "Action Command" is executed. At the same time, it is a major attraction that cannot be overlooked when talking about "Super Mario RPG.

Now, let's take a look at some of the new additions to the Switch version that were not present in the SFC version.

While action commands are powerful when successful, they are also difficult to time to succeed. To compensate for this, the Switch version adds a " ! indicator. is displayed when an action command is a great success, such as when a weapon is used for the first time, a technique is used for the first time, or an enemy is attacked for the first time. is displayed at the timing of a major success of an action command. This allows the player to know the proper timing and to become familiar with the action commands. When the player becomes accustomed to successful action commands, the "! is displayed on the screen when the user becomes accustomed to successful action commands, so there is no need to worry about the display. This is a feature that provides ease of play for a wide range of users, much like an auxiliary wheel on a bicycle.

In addition, the Switch version includes a " chain" function. This is a kind of combo count that increases with successive successful action commands, and the player benefits from the "Nakama Bonus," a status boost based on the number of chains. If an action command fails, the chain is interrupted and returns to zero, but the number of consecutive chains is maintained even after the battle ends , and every 10 chains results in a "GAUGE UP," which increases the action gauge as described below. Personally, I felt that the addition of this chain system added a sense of joy and a moderate sense of tension as the chains continued, making the battles in "Super Mario RPG" even more interesting than they already are.

The " Action Gauge " is a circular gauge displayed in the lower left corner of the battle screen, and is also an added element of the Switch version. Each time an action command is successfully executed, the gauge increases, and when it reaches 100 percent, the player can use the "3 Maneuvers". The "3-Person Move," which is accompanied by a special cut-in movie, is a move whose effect changes depending on the combination of battle members, and has powerful effects such as a general attack or recovering the HP of the entire team.

Otasuke Kinopio" can be used with up to two battle members, and Kinopio, a member of the mushroom tribe familiar to the Mario series, will support the battle by providing various effects.

Both are powerful, so once the gauge is at 100 percent, save it for a boss battle or other critical moment. If you fail an action command, your Action Gauge will not be reduced.

Another new addition to the Switch version of the game is the " Replace" feature. In the SFC version, the members of the team were fixed and if all members went down, the game was lost. However, in the Switch version, it is now possible to replace a downed member with a reserve member, so the difficulty level of battles seems milder than in the SFC version.

!" display, chain, and action gauges are also elements that make battles milder than in the SFC version, giving the impression that the game can be enjoyed by an even wider range of players than in the SFC version.

The gorgeous new additions to the Switch version, such as the inclusion of arranged music and a monster list, are introduced! The fun elements after clearing the game are also of great interest!

Let's take a look at the Switch version's additional elements other than battles.

First is the addition of " Enjoy Mode," which makes the overall difficulty of the game milder.
This mode makes battles easier and makes the game more enjoyable for players who are not very good at games or who do not usually play games very often. The ability to switch to "Normal Mode" at any time during the game is a nice feature that allows players to enjoy the game by switching to "Normal Mode" when they feel comfortable with the game.

Next, as a fan of the SFC version, I must mention the music.
The background music in "Super Mario RPG" is all extremely wonderful, sometimes comical, sometimes serious, and leaves a deep impression on the ear and memory. I was in elementary school when I played the SFC version of the game, and I wanted to be able to enjoy the music of "Super Mario RPG" at any time, so I recorded the BGM of the game one by one with a boom box with a microphone and the volume of the TV turned up to the maximum. I had an experience of making a soundtrack by myself. I have fond memories of having to re-record many times because the voices of my parents calling out to me were included.

Let's return to the story. Yoko Shimomura, who wrote the music for the original SFC version, was in charge of arranging all the songs in this game. It is difficult to describe on paper, but all of the arranged songs add even more charm to the original songs, and in a word, are of the highest quality. In addition to these arrangements, the game also includes the original SFC soundtracks, and fans can switch between the Switch and SFC versions at will during the game, a feature that will bring tears to the eyes of fans.

Furthermore, the Switch version also includes a "Sound Player" that allows players to enjoy all of the songs as much as they like after completing the game. I am beyond happy about this addition, and I am simply filled with gratitude.

The "Monster List" is another new addition to the Switch version. This is a database-like function that allows you to view the status and battle animations of monsters you have encountered, which is not only useful for strategy, but also a pleasure to view. Of particular note are the commentaries provided for each monster, many of which are funny and full of charm that will make you want to read them over and over again.

In addition, the monster list also allows you to view the "thoughts" of enemies you have peeked at by successfully using Maro's special "What are you thinking about? These "what you're thinking" are very amusing, with some that make you laugh and others that are parodies, and are very popular with fans of the SFC version. In the monster list, enemies who have successfully completed "What's on your mind" are marked with a check mark, making the game a challenging element to complete for all characters.

An additional element in the Switch version is a "boss rematch," a fun element after clearing the game. This allows players to rematch some bosses that are more powerful than when they appeared in the main game, making it a kind of challenging element. The bosses in this title are all unique and fascinating, and the battles are full of tense and exciting moments, so being able to enjoy these boss battles at a higher level of difficulty is definitely a big attraction. At the time of writing this article, I have not yet cleared the game, so I have not experienced the "boss rematch," but I can't wait to play it.

Super Mario RPG" has not faded away, but has been revived in the modern age, and the masterpiece of the past has evolved into a "great masterpiece.

So, that's my first impression of "Super Mario RPG.

The SFC version of "Super Mario RPG," originally renowned as a masterpiece, has been brought back to the present day without losing any of its charm, and has evolved into an even greater masterpiece with new graphics, arranged music, and numerous additional elements. As the commercial once sang, "If you've never played an RPG before," "If you've played them all before," and "If you've never played the SFC version of Super Mario RPG," we hope you'll enjoy this game as much as we did. We hope that those who have never played an RPG and those who have played all of them will also play this game. You will not be able to forget this game for decades to come, and a game experience beyond "satisfaction" awaits you.

Super Mario RPG

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• Title Information
• Super Mario RPG" (Nintendo)
• Release date: November 17, 2023
• Price: Package version: 6,578 yen (tax included)
• Download version: 6,500 yen (including tax)
• # of games

Nero Hyakkabe

Writer who buys too many games. Currently have more than 300 games in my stack. Also a novelist. His works include "Todorouni tantei no chozen taru jikenbouki (Roaring Luck Detective's Chosen Case Book: Detective Annihilation Hall Murder Case)" (Seikai-sha), and "Yubisaki kaidan: 140 kanjaku no kaihon (Yubisaki ghost stories: 140 scary stories) (PHP Kenkyujo).
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