Sunrise Parabellum Super Mario RPG Review

I finished Super Mario RPG on Switch a few days ago in 23 hours. I didn't complete the whole codex but I explored a lot and cleared every boss, including the post game stuff. I believe it is important to give some context: I'm not a Nintendo fanboy and I didn't grow up with the franchise. I played this mostly for my video game culture. It felt like one of those games you're supposed to experience at least once. I wasn't especially hyped going in. Honestly it wasn't crazy buuuuut, I didn't regret it either.. I'm even glad I played it :D ㅤㅤ‎ ‎ ✦ One of the first things that really clicked with me was the soundtrack. It's diverse, fun, sometimes groovy, sometimes more emotional but it fits the scenes perfectly. The ending themes especially hit harder than I expected. ✦ Visually, the remake is charming, from the lighting to the shadows and the small reflections on the ground. It's very colorful without. The cutscenes are also very well made. I watched them with a smile, like a kid again. The animations sell a lot of the humor. The game made me laugh more than once, just from a look or a small gesture. ✦ However, the story is simple, veeery simple, but it works. It's wholesome and doesn't try to be deeper than it needs to be. I found the party members genuinely charming. Their designs and personalities sticked with me. Some side characters too, like the old frog or Jonathan.. There are also nice little touches such as a scrapbook system to revisit past events.. It really gives the adventure a cozy feeling. ✦ Gameplay wise, it's a very classic JRPG with basic structure and turn based combat. Fortunately, the timed inputs make it more dynamic. Press the button at the right moment to boost your attack or reduce damage. At first, I wasn't sure if I was too early or too late, then I got used to it. The interesting part is that when you equip new weapons, the timing changes. So you have to relearn the rhythm. It keeps things fresh, at least for a while. Combat also stays active even when it's not your turn, since you can time your defense. That's a good idea. But in my opinion, the system isn't very deep. Most of the time, I just used normal attacks / magic when needed / heal if things go wrong. Once you master the timing, fights can feel robotic: You repeat the same inputs, same sequence... over and over. It works but it's not very demanding in my opinion. Also, the game is veeery easy, and I don't think you can lose because it's generous with healing, status effects like poison disappear after combat, you can swap party members without losing a turn, and even characters outside your active team get full experience. It's comfortable.. maybe too comfortable? And because of that, the stars I get after major encounters didn't always feel earned. As a side note, most bosses are also forgettable. You meet them, you beat them and.. that's it ! No buildup :/ The later bosses are more memorable though, either because of their presentation or how the fight plays out. On the other hand, the post game boss fights are a whole different story. Each one has its own gimmick and rules. I loved them because you can't just rely on the same routine from the main story, they pushed me to adapt and think a bit more. That's where I finally felt the kind of challenge I was missing before. Brutal. It can be brutal but never unfair, just more demanding in a smart way. I genuinely enjoyed fighting every single one of them. I really think it's worth sticking around for that. ✦ Another thing I really liked is the variety of environments. You move through many different biomes, and they're all short. The game constantly changes scenery. Enemy designs match the areas and stay coherent. There are also small mini games here and there. It kinda breaks the rhythm in a good way. ✦ Finally, the game doesn't overstay its welcome. Around 20 hours, even with post game content, felt right. It ends on a high note too ;-; The final cinematic is easily the strongest in the game + combined with the music = it left me satisfied. ✱ Now, a few more things bothered me here and there : > Hidden chests are a terrible feature. You get a ring that tells you if one is nearby, but it's not precise. So I ended up jumping on almost every square like a maniac. Spoilers: That wasn't fun at all. > There's also some platforming near the end that feels completely out of place: Fixed camera + Isometric 3D view = Depth perception becomes your enemy. I don't think it fits the game at all. > At one point, progression becomes very obscure. The journal tells you to return somewhere but it's misleading.. I got stuck. I checked YouTube, and I don't see honestly how I could have figured it out alone. A new route unlocks inside a previous puzzle area, but nothing really guides you there. That part frustrated me. #Conclusion: In the end, I see now why Super Mario RPG is important. It has charm and personality, and is polished. That being said, this remake is very faithful to the original SNES game, and the additions feel respectful. But I also think nostalgia probably carries part of its legendary status. But as far as I'm concerned and as a modern player, I enjoyed it, I smiled, I relaxed, I appreciated it but I didn't love it. Still, I'm glad it happened nonetheless, and I think that's already a good sign ^^ Since 2026, I stopped using numerical scores. I find them meaningless and overly reductive. A number can't really capture how a game feels to play. I may still give one for myself as a private reference, but it's not for readers. What matters more to me is the experience. Is a game worth avoiding? Approaching carefully? Just passing time with? Or genuinely recommending? As for Super Mario RPG, I wouldn't go as far as giving it a full recommendation. But I do think it's worth trying at least once. It's not for everyone. If you're looking for deep combat or real challenge, you might feel underwhelmed. That said, I strongly recommend it if you plan to play with your children since it is accessible, funny, colorful, and welcoming.. in other words, the kind of adventure that can spark a smile across generations. And if you are still unsure, just watch a few gameplay videos and see how the combat flows and how it feels.. You'll probably know pretty quickly if it's your kind of rhythm ^^ Thank you for reading <3