Let’s talk about game length and whether Super Mario RPG is worth $60

destructoid.com:

The debate over how long video games should be has raged since the 90s at least. I’ve certainly dipped my toes into this conversation before, including here on Destructoid. But for the recent release of Super Mario RPG, those asking “how long is it” may need a slightly more nuanced answer than usual.

For those just tuning in, the remake of the Super Nintendo classic Super Mario RPG is here. For my part, I absolutely loved reviewing the game. I do think there were missed opportunities with the remake. However, I remain confident in saying that everyone, in one way or another, should experience this adventure. It’s also a $60 remake of a 27-year-old game, and it doesn’t boast the longest run time.

Depending on where you look, you’ll maybe see the claim that Super Mario RPG takes 12 hours to complete. And while you certainly can finish the game in 12 hours, I’d hesitate to say that’s how long you’ll spend with Super Mario RPG. I’ll unpack this by sharing my experience.

I talked about this in my review, but I think a more dedicated breakdown is in order.

By the time I reached the end of the credits, my playtime was 14 hours and 45 minutes. I played the original quite a bit in my youth, but it had been a decade since my last playthrough. For this reason, I didn’t exactly remember each and every secret. I had to spend a bit of time looking for hidden chests and chasing down optional quests. I also talked to every NPC and looked for potential easter eggs. This included returning to Vista Hill every now and then, just so I could see if there was any new dialogue as my party grew.

I did, generally, try to skip most enemy encounters. This kept me from getting overleveled, which led to nicely-tuned boss fights. That said, I did