![]() Battles kept you engaged because attacks, spells, and defending yourself aren't complete without the perfect timing of button presses. Everyone had their unique spells that also required your attention and input. Everyone has their own special weapons that all function differently: Mario's hammers or koopa shells, Bowser claws or chain chomps, and Peach's slapping gloves or parasols, and so on. The game also hits many of the core JRPG tenets with aplomb and a particular kind of execution, which comes through in the turn-based battles. So many memorable moments of absurdist humor can be found throughout Mario RPG and it's a tone that other RPGs (and Mario games) just didn't have room to do. His clownish ass taunts and laughs at you as you chase him up his tower, but along the way is a masterclass in physical comedy-puzzles like matching the portraits of Booster's ancestors, avoiding bombs he throws from his little train cart, and dodging his goons from exposing you hiding behind curtains. Take Booster and the whole level of Booster's Tower, for example. Even the other villains you want to take down with ferocity are actually just really strong goofballs. It's a mutual enemy that flips the whole damsel-in-distress trope that Mario RPG pokes fun at. The whole reason Bowser begrudgingly joins forces with Mario and Peach is to take back his castle from Smithy, this gigantic sword that overtook his keep and spread his minions across the land. The toy-come-to-life is of few words and gives off a badass vibe with his stern attitude and powerful moveset. They also came together with newcomers like Mallow although he might be a big crybaby, his journey to develop his own strength and place in the world was heart-warming. Bowser gave off a low-key tsundere energy while Peach delivered a sass and fighting spirit that she never got to show off before. Mario's role as a silent protagonist works, especially when he has to communicate with others in the story with all the instances of silly charades he has to play. Mario RPG never takes itself too seriously, and it shows in its characterizations. In doing so, you'd earn the respect and support of the Mushroom Kingdom's denizens as you try to return things back to normal. While traveling through the mines, forests, sunken ships, and sky-bound towns, you'd help the folks of these places take back what's theirs, instead of just skittering through them and hopping on heads. Towns and villages were full of goofy characters that made the world feel alive, and let you peer into the goings-on of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Whereas Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger were relatively dark and brooding (which is why I cherish them), Mario RPG was a breath of fresh air-whimsical, light-hearted, and a pleasant world to be in. But I did have those SNES RPGs that tested my reading comprehension and problem solving skills at a young age. I didn't have a strong attachment to the Mario franchise at the time. On its own merits, Mario RPG stands among the genre's greats. Square gave Mario the Final Fantasy treatment with unique story arcs, the development of existing characters, new faces that quickly became favorites, an ingenious combat system, and an unforgettable soundtrack. And the developer's RPG mastery transformed that beloved Mario universe into something much more than a platforming adventure. It made Mario, Bowser, and Peach allies, and it gave the series' characters a vibrant world to live in.įinal Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VI, and Chrono Trigger were already among the SNES greats, but Square had one last game in it before jumping ship to the PlayStation. It's a game that took the things we loved about Mario and subverted expectations. ![]() The lens through which I've always understood the franchise has been Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the 1996 SNES game from Squaresoft (now Square Enix). I've enjoyed those games and understand the fervor of people's love for them, but they're not necessarily what made Mario important in my eyes. With games like Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 often cited as the quintessential series entries, and seeing that evolution with the likes of Galaxy and Odyssey, it's easy to see why these action-platformers are highly regarded and often cited as formative gaming experiences. Everyone has their favorite Mario game and remembers their first experience fondly-stomping goombas and koopa troopas, collecting stars, and making tight jumps in whichever whimsical world sticks with you, especially at a young age.
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