Once thought to be an impossible dream, Nintendo shocked fans by announcing that they'd be bringing back Super Mario RPG. Not as a digital title for their ever-expanding library of SNES games available via the Nintendo Switch Online service, but as a full-fledged remake. One that I'm happy to report sticks extremely close (perhaps too close) to the original formula.
High-profile remakes of beloved games that shaped the industry over the past decades are becoming increasingly common, with developers often taking creative licences – big or small – to justify them.
Capcom tossed out a bit of the campiness that made Resident Evil 4 such a timeless classic in favour of a much more gloomy, tetric environment for Leon Kennedy's seminal adventure set in rural Spain; however, the experience remained largely the same.
On the other hand, Square Enix's ambitious undertaking of basically reshaping everything fans have come to worship about the original Final Fantasy VII with Remake and the upcoming Rebirth has been a focal point of discussion in the ongoing debate of whether these remakes are just nostalgia cash grabs or have some artistic value in their own right.
Super Mario RPG doesn't go for either take on remaking a franchise and instead focuses on amplifying what made the original 1996 SNES title a cherished childhood memory for millions of fans who grew up daydreaming of seeing Geno in Smash Bros.
Setting the stage for what would be the first RPG ever featuring the iconic Italian plumber and its colourful cast of companions is the most basic premise you could think of, kicking us off with the abduction of Princess Peach by none other than the nefarious Bowser.
Right out of the gate, you're thrown into Bowser's castle, where you'll fend off a couple of his goons en route to saving Peach, not before a showdown with King Koopa himself ensues – one that goes terribly wrong for everyone involved as a giant sword slashes its way through the castle, blasting Peach, Bowser, and Mario in different directions.
As you progress through the game, you'll discover that the Smithy Gang is responsible for Bowser's accidental castle eviction as their world domination plan is set in motion, leaving good-ol' Mario with plenty of stuff to check off his to-do list before he can return to the cosiness of his shack. These include rescuing Peach and retrieving seven mysterious Star Pieces to save the Mushroom Kingdom and the surrounding areas from a dreary, lifeless, future.
Super Mario RPG's biggest asset is undoubtedly its graphical overhaul. The game is full of charm, with its main characters designed in a chibi-like style, maintaining the isometric point of view throughout the vast majority of the gameplay sections.
There are a few mini-games thrown in here and there that fans will be happy to see return that add an extra layer to the gameplay loop which mostly centres around exploring new areas, fighting enemies, and progressing your stats as you acquire more powerful abilities and gear.
They play, for all intents and purposes, just as you remember – yes, that includes the infamous Boshi racing minigame in Yo'ster Isle with its awkward tutorial and disorienting timing that will somehow make it harder for you to control Yoshi and feel like a complete idiot when you finally realise what the game is trying to convey to you.
Speaking of the meat and bones of the game, combat remains as pristine as ever. The original became a staple for many turn-based RPGs moving forward with its innovative timing mechanic, which allowed for the oftentimes dull pacing of turn-based gameplay to have a more active element to them, with many games borrowing inspiration from it – including this year's indie darling Sea of Stars.
By pressing the right button at the right time you could do more damage or mitigate damage taken completely. In the Super Mario RPG remake this system is referred to as Active Commands and has been expanded to allow for bigger rewards depending on your how good your reflexes, or mashing abilities, are.
There are two ways to trigger Active Commands, just like in the original game. You can either execute them perfectly or get a more lenient approach. The latter will still enhance your attacks or reduce incoming damage, but if you time it perfectly, your attacks will also deal splash damage to other enemies (new to the remake) and you will take no damage while defending. Even healing abilities have Active Commands so it's in your best interest to learn to trigger them.
Super Mario RPG stands tall among other games due to its unique feature where weapons, not only abilities, have specific Active Command timings. Even if you have more powerful gear, it doesn't automatically mean you'll be dishing out extra damage. You'll have to familiarise yourself with the new timing to start taking advantage of the Active Command buffs, which provide benefits that go beyond extra DPS or damage mitigation.
Adding to the already addictive nature of combat are the Action Gauge and Chain Counts. The gauge is essentially a super meter, upon reaching 100% you'll be able to unleash a Triple Move, which varies depending on who is on your active party, which is composed of Mario and two teammates of your choosing.
During our preview, we got to mess around with Star Riders, the Triple Move unique to Mario, Mallow, and Geno, which deals massive damage to a single target. It's flashy, cinematic, and adds a ton of flair and spectacularity to combat with the trio cruising through Rainbow Bridge as they unleash their finisher on some helpless Goombas.
Chain Counts are tied to the Action Gauge. By linking multiple Action Command prompts (whether perfect or not), the Chain Count will start to go up, activating Ally Buffs in combat. Mario grants a boost to how fast the Action Gauge goes up, for instance, giving you an extra incentive to stay active in combat.
The gripes some people had when first hearing about the new combat mechanics are present – the game, which wasn't hard to begin with, feels a tad easier than before. Of course, we're talking early hours, in hopes that difficulty ramps up just a bit as we dive deeper into Super Mario RPG.
Regardless, there's so much to love about Super Mario RPG – we haven't even mentioned the work of Yoko Shimomura, the original game's composer who has returned to craft modern renditions of the iconic soundtrack. The game does give you the option to toggle between modern and original tracks, which is a welcomed addition to fully appreciate just how much passion was poured into each arrangement.
How do you improve on perceived perfection after all? While it's a question that other developers have tried to answer in a plethora of ways, the team behind this remake team doesn't seem too preoccupied with finding a definitive answer. There are new systems in place, but generally speaking, the Super Mario RPG remake is the game you know and love but prettier.
I can't wait to sink more time into it and give out my full impressions in just a few weeks as we get closer to the release date, adding another high point to 2023's stacked catalogue of releases.