It also showed that even toward the end of that era Square were still pushing the envelope. The sprites are host to a wide range of animations both in and out of combat which adds to their charm. Most areas are small and split into multiple screens which allows an exceptionally high level of detail in its environments. The pre-rendered graphics have aged since the original release but the art direction still makes this an attractive title. Most will not have trouble seeing this through to its conclusion but it is worth noting. Plus if you allocate your stat upgrades when leveling up properly grinding can be avoided somewhat. Some amount of grinding is required but since you control how frequently battles occur it isn’t annoying. The battles against Exor and Smithy are incredibly long and see the sharpest spike in difficulty. Toward the end as bosses have large health pools that really encourage experimenting with different party setups. ![]() Surprisingly the game is not the cake walk you would expect as the challenge ramps up considerably. ![]() Timed hits become a staple of many RPGS such as Shadow Hearts and it is easy to see why. This brilliant system not only encourages active involvement it is also perfectly tuned so that even if you miss you’ll still deal a normal amount of damage. There are large variety from increasing one of your stats to even granting an extra turn. Another incentive to taking advantage of timed hits is the random battle bonuses. It also applies when defending it’s possible to completely negate all damage if you are good enough. Depending on the character this can be two or three times in succession with the timing changing depending on the weapon equipped. Nearly every attack and spell will deal additional damage if you press A at the right time. Perhaps the game’s greatest innovation is its timed hits. There are numerous status ailments and such that can even disable the use of certain buttons in combat which sounds frustrating but is actually fun to work around. It has a huge impact on the use of characters that rely on magic since you can’t spam your way to victory. Rather than individual magic points “spells” are cast using one pool of flower points. All enemies are visible like Chrono Trigger allowing you to avoid battle if you choose. There are numerous small additions that add depth and force you to be strategic. The game’s turn based battles follow familiar conventions but that would be selling it short. When it comes to combat it would be easy to dismiss this as Final Fantasy with a Mario skin. Even the large variety of minigames are actually fun and worth going back to once or twice. Power stars grant invincibility with any enemies defeated still awarding experience. There are coin blocks and invisible blocks that hold items. Although you spend the majority of time on typical RPG activities there are numerous elements carried over from the Mario games. The isometric view is certainly a strange choice but works since you are rarely called on to do any sort of precision platforming. The plot is funny, full of familiar characters from the series and moves at a brisk pace, something many RPGs fail at. Even Bowser is a likable protagonist although his personality doesn’t stray far from being a borderline asshole. Newcomers Geno and Mallo would become fan favorites even though they have yet to appear in any other games since. Although Mario does not speak the running gag is that he says everything he needs to by jumping. The story isn’t too serious and the cast of characters ooze personality. Alongside Illusion of Gaia and Earthbound this made me realize Nintendo of America’s localization staff really are some of the best in the business. It proves to be a fascinating world thanks to the witty dialogue and writing. Super Mario Rpg is the first game to really explore the mushroom kingdom in depth. It completely shatters expectations once again. In fact he actually joins you to deal with this new threat. These mechanical foes take over Bowser’s castle and kick him out in the process. However it is just a setup to introduce the real protagonists, the Smithy Gang. Super Mario RPG defies expectations and actually begins with that exact scenario. Those expecting a quest leading up to a final confrontation with Bowser to rescue Princess Toadstool are in for a shock. With its charming story and innovative gameplay this is more than worth tracking down. But it can’t be stated enough just how amazing the game is. ![]() Considering the parties involved it shouldn’t be so surprising. Square Enix and Nintendo didn’t seem to care as Super Mario RPG would go on to become one of the best rpgs of that era. But at one point even suggesting such a thing would invoke laughter. The concept of a Super Mario RPG doesn’t seem strange now considering the Paper Mario series is a modern day staple.
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