Super Mario RPG (SNES, 1996)

Holds a special place in my RPG-loving heart.

Nostalgia Factor: High. I spent a lot of time with this one in my childhood.
Difficulty: A relatively easy ride for most gamers.

While FF6 or Chrono Trigger usually dominate discussions about the best RPG on the SNES (with a few holdouts for Earthbound as well), Super Mario RPG still ranks very high. It was such an unlikely partnership between Square and Nintendo, who’s relationship had begun to sour ever since FF7 shifted its development to the PlayStation. Miyamoto wanted a Mario RPG, and Square wanted to find more success outside of Japan. The result of this collaboration was magic, and SMRPG quickly became a treasured SNES favorite, even seeing a remake on the Switch.

The gameplay is a refreshing sidestep from the usual RPG fare. Random encounters are replaced with avoidable enemies, and the timed hits and blocks add a whole new element to RPG battling. The various Mario themed environments are well-designed and fun to explore, though the “platforming” isn’t particularly refined. The RPG strategy is solid, and we’re introduced to several memorable new characters, enemies, and bosses. It’s a joy to experience our favorite Mario characters in the more immersive RPG genre.

The first-rate pixel art is what you’d expect from a Nintendo and Square collab. Not everyone praises the cartoony design, but I personally love the visuals in SMRPG. Mallow and Geno have especially captured the hearts of young fledgling RPG first-timers. I enjoyed seeing more depth in Bowser’s character through his various sprite expressions. Mario’s pantomiming often made me chuckle. It allows for more interaction than we’ve seen from Mario before while protecting the pseudo “silent protagonist” approach that Nintendo has continued to use for his character.

The story is simple and cute, but it fits perfectly with the game’s tone. SMRPG never takes itself too seriously and is loaded with lots of humor and quirky story beats. We are treated with a rare alliance between Bowser and Mario’s crew. A mutual enemy unites the long-standing rivals, and Bowser fills out the classic “tsundere” archetype. The game’s pacing remains steady – there are no sections that drag or feel slow, and a variety of mini games sprinkled throughout help keep the game fresh.

Yoko Shimomura‘s fantastic soundtrack is very well put together and extremely memorable. She utilizes familiar Koji Kondo melodies but also adds several thematic motifs of her own into the mix. “Happy Adventure” is a heckin’ jam, “The Road Is Full of Dangers” never gets old, and “Beware the Forest’s Mushrooms” has such an infectious melody that it’s been elevated to memedom. The soundtrack also boasts a great map music piece, one of my favorite versions of the underground theme, and other great tracks like “Nimbus Land”, “Merry Mary Bells”, and “Barrel Volcano.”

The cherry on top is the generous deposit of easter eggs. You’ll find cameos from Link and Samus, an Arwing from Starfox, an enemy that looks suspiciously like Donkey Kong, a few vehicles from F-Zero, and a Final Fantasy inspired bonus boss that features the FF4 battle theme. These special touches add even more to the game’s appeal.

SMRPG is a game for just about anyone. This is a great game for Mario fans, RPG first-timers, or even non-gamers looking to try a friendly title. I definitely recommend you give it a whirl.

I will always be grateful to SMRPG for introducing us to the Heavy Troopa. My man.