Super Mario RPG Reviews
At the end of the day, Super Mario RPG has not received much love, outside of a surprising appearance on the SNES Classic and some Geno ephemera in the Smash series. To describe it as a purely niche oddity would be wrong, as it was a massive seller back in its day and has popped up on best-of lists ever since, but it still comes off as an oddball first-party Nintendo game. Super Mario RPG Switch fulfills most expected obligations and even surprises with a few new features, making it a predictable crowd-pleaser for those in the know who should welcome it with open arms while left wanting for even more content. The House of Mario doesn’t bless us with many full-spectrum remakes like this, and maybe this will be enough to spark interest in a real sequel some day.
The first Mario's RPG is still one hell of fun. Even after almost 30 years it offers a fun and fresh adventure, with many little surprises. A not particularly high difficulty level allows it to be playable even by an audience not familiar with the genre, but veterans may find it a bit too forgiving.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Super Mario RPG is a lovingly-crafted remake that retains the original’s peculiar off-brand charm, appealing combat, and varied level design while subtly tinkering with numerous elements to make the game more palatable for modern players.
While more seasoned players may find the experience a bit too easy until the post-game, Super Mario RPG is a great introduction to the RPG genre for newcomers. It’s also just an incredibly charming game, and it's a joy to look at from start to finish.
Super Mario RPG is so faithful to the original that calling it a remake feels disingenuous. The game is more of a top-to-bottom remaster.
A new lick of paint and some enhanced accessibility improvements bring the Super Mario RPG remake into the 21st century. While the game was already a great outing back in 1996, new players should have no problem jumping into Mario’s first RPG title, hopefully opening the door for next year’s Paper Mario remake and potentially more RPGs later down the line.
It would be easy, and in some ways fair, to complain that this remake is a slightly disappointing half-measure—just a bit of new paint applied to a game that’s almost 30 years old. In many ways, though, the light touch taken with this updated version just serves to showcase how vibrant the original Super Mario RPG has always been. And in a year that brought no shortage of sprawling RPG behemoths, from Starfield to Baldur’s Gate 3 to Octopath Traveler II, this one’s spryness and wit stand in sharp, refreshing contrast.
Super Mario RPG for Switch is an excellent remake of the SNES original that reimagines the classic for today’s audiences. It does a great job of modernizing the game and adding new features to freshen things up for fans while keeping the feel and spirit of the original game. Parts of the Super Mario RPG remake can feel dated and it can also be short and linear like its source material. Overall, though, this is a wonderful homage to the original game that should please JRPG fans.
At the end of the day, I’m glad I got to play this refined version of Super Mario RPG. It’s a game that garnered quite a bit of critical and fan acclaim back when it first released in 1996, and the 2023 remake is a loving recreation that will appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers alike. While I wish it could’ve been just a little bit more streamlined, it’s hard to complain too much about a game that just makes you smile and feel good for playing it.
Ultimately, the remake of Super Mario RPG presents itself to the appointment with fans in an exceptional graphic design that cloaks the same gameplay that had propelled the original Legend of the Seven Stars into the Olympus of the best JRPGs in the history of the medium.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch is a great-looking and faithful remake that brims with the original release's charm and wonder.
Super Mario RPG is a great remake. The game is atypical and very old school, but has enough quality to give it our full attention, especially since the improvements are numerous.
Review in French | Read full review
A loving and timeless new edition that shows what a banger we had to do without in Europe in 1996.
Review in German | Read full review
Super Mario RPG is a new example of how to represent old classics in a new way. Nintendo just nailed it, presenting gorgeous graphics and music, and making the right choice on how to make better things such as gameplay mechanics and quality of life improvements.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Super Mario RPG is a gorgeous reimagining of the SNES classic. Those looking for a dose of nostalgia will be pleased that this is a faithful remake, with just enough tweaks to make it more accessible to a new generation of gamers without diluting the magic of the original.
A modern version of the SNES classic, Super Mario RPG for Switch is a fun and nostalgic experience.
Fans of the original are sure to enjoy this excellent, faithful update with quality additions and improvements. Yet, I'm even more excited for those who've never played this one. Beyond the notable balance and pacing successes, this game excels with characters, locales, and plot developments. With little to complain about and much to celebrate, Super Mario RPG is a delight, one of the most enjoyable games I've played on the Switch. Not to be missed.
Super Mario RPG is a fun if not short RPG adventure with Mario and friends at the helm. It mixes together a colorful and interesting world with fun interactive RPG elements. Whether you're replaying this game from the SNES or experiencing it for the first time you should have fun.