I haven't binged a game like this in, well...27 years!
But like a total degenerate, I spent every waking moment on release weekend, doing nothing but adventuring with Mario, Mallow, Geno, and the gang. And I'm so glad I did. It's still difficult to believe we got this game - what has become an admittedly niche artifact of Nintendo's past. An artifact that draws legions of fans whenever a new turn-based Mario game releases and it's not an RPG. It was easy to believe that Nintendo burned every notion of SMRPG after Square abandoned them for Playstation and Final Fantasy, but apparently, the dream still lived.
SMRPG was a special game to me - something I iteratively rented from Video Update until I could finally reach a conclusion. And certainly one of my earliest experiences with the RPG genre. That seemed to be in the conceit for this game way back then - an easy and approachable entry point into the daunting world of RPGs. With charm, recognizable (and unrecognizable) Mushroom Kingdom characters, funny writing, and superb music, it really hit the mark in 1996. But does it do the same in 2023?
For better or worse, this is a 1:1 remake of SMRPG with a few bells and whistles. At times, it really feels like a video game from 1996. For those totally entranced by its nostalgic power, that's perfectly welcome. But I can see it being a struggle for gamers new to the experience. The platforming is still a little wonky and the lack of voice SFX is perhaps a bit jarring. But the game moves at the same breezy pace it always has - one area never overstaying its welcome. A 10 - 12 hour RPG may be a bit surprising to new players, but that's just the way it was.
With the addition of perfect action commands hitting all enemies, and perfect blocks being more forgiving, SMRPG is actually an easier game in 2023. While I would like a Hard mode for veterans, I was also okay with relaxing on my journey. What awaited me in post-game was certainly enough of a challenge...But I'll leave it at that.
This brought me back to 1996. No worries. Ignorance. Just me and a Super Nintendo on the weekends. I leave the safety of the present weekend tomorrow, back into the perils of adult life. But it was fun just being a kid again with SMRPG.
But like a total degenerate, I spent every waking moment on release weekend, doing nothing but adventuring with Mario, Mallow, Geno, and the gang. And I'm so glad I did. It's still difficult to believe we got this game - what has become an admittedly niche artifact of Nintendo's past. An artifact that draws legions of fans whenever a new turn-based Mario game releases and it's not an RPG. It was easy to believe that Nintendo burned every notion of SMRPG after Square abandoned them for Playstation and Final Fantasy, but apparently, the dream still lived.
SMRPG was a special game to me - something I iteratively rented from Video Update until I could finally reach a conclusion. And certainly one of my earliest experiences with the RPG genre. That seemed to be in the conceit for this game way back then - an easy and approachable entry point into the daunting world of RPGs. With charm, recognizable (and unrecognizable) Mushroom Kingdom characters, funny writing, and superb music, it really hit the mark in 1996. But does it do the same in 2023?
For better or worse, this is a 1:1 remake of SMRPG with a few bells and whistles. At times, it really feels like a video game from 1996. For those totally entranced by its nostalgic power, that's perfectly welcome. But I can see it being a struggle for gamers new to the experience. The platforming is still a little wonky and the lack of voice SFX is perhaps a bit jarring. But the game moves at the same breezy pace it always has - one area never overstaying its welcome. A 10 - 12 hour RPG may be a bit surprising to new players, but that's just the way it was.
With the addition of perfect action commands hitting all enemies, and perfect blocks being more forgiving, SMRPG is actually an easier game in 2023. While I would like a Hard mode for veterans, I was also okay with relaxing on my journey. What awaited me in post-game was certainly enough of a challenge...But I'll leave it at that.
This brought me back to 1996. No worries. Ignorance. Just me and a Super Nintendo on the weekends. I leave the safety of the present weekend tomorrow, back into the perils of adult life. But it was fun just being a kid again with SMRPG.