Super Mario RPG - Switch Review

Brian Stillwagon -

A long-neglected classic can finally be enjoyed by old and new fans alike. Super Mario RPG Legend of the Seven Stars was originally released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1996. Developed by Square, it was the last Mario game released for the SNES. The remake, simply named Super Mario RPG, was developed by ArtePiazza, who had previously worked on Square Enix’s Dragon Quest series. The original game is a beloved game, which until now had only a handful of rereleases on the Wii and Wii U virtual consoles, and the Super NES Classic. Since the Wii and Wii U Shops have been taken down, unless you own a Wii or Wii U with the game already on it, a SNES Classic, or, of course, an original copy, this remake is the only way for you to experience the game.

The Good

Super Mario RPG is an extremely faithful remake of the original. The only changes are either quality of life or very minor, like how Princess Toadstool’s name was changed to Princess Peach for example. Anyone who fondly remembers the original release will be very happy with how untouched this remake is. Even the dialogue is a product of the time it was written, and it’s wonderful. 

The quality of life changes present in the game only serve to improve the experience. Other than the obvious immense graphical improvement, the game sports improved combat mechanics in the form of autosaving, strong Triple Attacks when the Action Gauge is full (which change based on your party composition, by the way), the ability to backtrack and find Hidden Treasures you might have missed, fast travel, and a journal that details enemies weaknesses, stats, and other information. 

Finally, you can freely switch between the modern soundtrack and the original in the settings menu. Anyone who is very particular about their music can simply ignore the reorchestrations if they choose to for the classic SNES background music.

TL;DR

  • Very faithful remake
  • Quality of life changes that only improve the experience
  • Freely switch between modern and classic BGM

The Bad

There are very few negatives to say about Super Mario RPG, and they really only come down to personal preference. The fact of the matter is this: Super Mario RPG is a nearly thirty-year-old game. The game is very faithful and makes quality of life changes that remove some of the more annoying aspects of the original, but it is still a product of the nineties. People that don’t have nostalgia for the game or the patience to play a thirty year old JRPG without the fast-paced combat mechanics of more modern releases might find Super Mario RPG to be a slightly outdated experience. 

The other one is more of a personal preference complaint, and I understand why they couldn’t do this because of the Triple Attack function and the updated cutscenes. Many remakes nowadays allow you to switch between classic and remade graphics with the push of a button. Halo: Mastercheif Collection, Another World 20th Anniversary Edition, and Diablo II Resurrected are all examples that spring to mind. It’s a wonderful way to relive memories and for new fans to experience the game as it was originally. It’s just a shame that Super Mario RPG has no method of doing this.

TL;DR

  • The game is a remake of a 30 year old game
  • There is no way to play with classic graphics in this version

Final Score: 9/10

If you were excited for this game, you were right to be. Super Mario RPG is a very faithful remake, clearly made by a team with love and respect for the original. The only negatives I could list are edge case issues that the average player is likely not to notice. I personally don’t have nostalgia for the original (I own an original SNES cart, but only got it within the last eight years and have also never played it before the week leading to the remake’s release for research purposes), so suffice it to say that I would be giving this same glowing review if this was a brand new release. If you’re a fan of the original, buy this game. If you’re a fan of Super Mario, buy this game. If you’re a fan of classic JRPGs, buy this game.

Thank you for checking out our Super Mario RPG Switch review, thank you to Nintendo AU/NZ for providing the review code and thank you to our Patreon Backers for their ongoing support: