Super Mario RPG Hands-On Impressions – Exploring a Leveled-Up Classic

wccftech.com:

Over the past decade or so, Nintendo has seemingly been dead set against mixing Mario with RPG elements, much to the dismay of the many fans of that mashup. RPG mechanics have been largely scrubbed from the Paper Mario games and the Mario & Luigi series has been put out to pasture. So, consider everyone’s surprise when Nintendo recently announced the original Super Mario RPG is getting a full remake this year (and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is getting one next year). What led to this change of heart, I’m not sure, but I’m happy to chalk it up to Nintendo working in mysterious ways and reap the rewards.

Does this remake do justice to Super Mario RPG, and perhaps more importantly, does it still stand up as a classic over 25 years later? I’ve had the opportunity to go hands-on with the new Super Mario RPG and can comment on roughly the first third of the game (up until the point when you claim the third Star Piece). Grab some max mushrooms and syrup and scroll down for my initial impressions.

For those new to Super Mario RPG, don’t expect a particularly complex plot, although the game’s writers did throw a few twists into the mix. While the game begins with Bowser kidnapping Peach as per usual, things take a turn when a giant sword named Exor and his minions take over Bowser’s castle, scattering Mario, his friends, and the Koopa king himself to the four corners of the world. Of course, it’s up to you to take out this new threat by traveling through various lands and collecting Star Pieces.

While Super Mario RPG’s overall narrative is simple, the fun is in the fine details. This was one of the first Mario games to subvert some of the franchise’s tropes, and while things like playing up Bowser’s insecurities and