Jump to content

SUPER MARIO RPG REMAKE, update: "Expertly modernises a SNES classic" (Digital Foundry technical review)

Xbob42

By Xbob42
in The Spawn Point

 Share

Recommended Posts

crispy4000

crispy4000

Posted
Posted
19 minutes ago, best3444 said:

 

No, I never played it. Who knows, I may change my mind around release. Nintendo makes phenomenal games so we shall see. 

 

Square took the lead on this back in the day, when they were at their prime.  Its more of their joint, which is why a remake is neat to finally see.

 

There's so much oddity to it.  New characters that have never been seen in other games since.  Strange and twisted early 3D character designs.  A plot that bounces between so many fun scenarios.  There was no template back then, no Miyamoto edict that had to be followed.

  • Halal 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MarSolo

MarSolo

Posted
Posted

The game’s story was pretty revolutionary for the idea of having Mario and Bowser being forced to team up to defeat a greater threat, and then having Peach join them on top of that so it wasn’t just your basic “rescue the princess” story.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 months later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Keyser_Soze

Keyser_Soze

Posted
Posted


Game Information

Game Title: Super Mario RPG

 

Platforms:

  • Nintendo Switch (Nov 17, 2023)


Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 84 average - 96% recommended

 

Critic Reviews

Spoiler

Attack of the Fanboy - Marc Magrini - 5 / 5

The Super Mario RPG remake is an impossible wish come true. The biggest complaints for this release pale in comparison to incredible visuals, new intense challenges, fantastic music, and well-retained charm. This release is sure to be worthwhile for both fans of the original and first-time Mario players.


Daily Mirror - Scott McCrae - 5 / 5

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.


Atomix - Alberto Desfassiaux - Spanish - 95 / 100

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.


Stevivor - Matt Gosper - 9.5 / 10

Super Mario RPG is made in reverence to the original, bringing it to a new audience while also reminding returning players what was so great about it in the first place.


CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10

Super Mario RPG is as good today as it was 27 years ago, and this remake simply brings it into the modern day.


COGconnected - James Paley - 90 / 100

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.


Destructoid - Timothy Monbleau - 9 / 10

Super Mario RPG is an all-time classic game that both RPG lovers and Mario fans alike owe it to themselves to play. This Switch remake brilliantly preserves the spirit of the original SNES game, with some great quality-of-life enhancements and a phenomenally redone soundtrack. Longtime fans looking for a more transformative remake may feel disappointed, but when the core game itself has aged this well, it doesn’t suffer in the ways a lesser title would. If you’ve never played Super Mario RPG, or if you simply want an excuse to revisit it, this remake is for you.


GamingTrend - David Flynn - 90 / 100

Super Mario RPG is a classic for a reason, and its remake stands just as tall as the original. The visuals and sound are both top notch, and while some new features make the already easy battles even easier, this is still an excellent game that will have you grinning from ear to ear the whole way through.


Geeks & Com - Anthony Gravel - French - 9 / 10

In conclusion, this remake of Super Mario RPG is exactly what I was hoping for. Everything is as I remembered it, but with modern visuals and some gameplay improvements. It's shorter than I remembered, but I think that's thanks to the extra accessibility elements and the fact that I know a bit more about the genre than I did back then. Plus, if you want to introduce someone to the genre, there's an easier mode to enjoy the story. What's more, the game is entirely in French, so everyone will be able to understand it. In short, it's a great success, and I hope Nintendo will finally consider a sequel.


God is a Geek - Adam Cook - 9 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a carefully crafted remake of a classic, shining new light on a game that many will have missed, adding only when necessary and taking nothing away in the process.


IGN Spain - Raquel Morales - Spanish - 9 / 10

Nintendo recaptures the magic of Super Mario RPG, where nostalgia and brilliance go hand to hand thanks to a gameplay with subtle changes that really works.


LevelUp - Pedro Pérez Cesari - Spanish - 9 / 10

ArtePiazza understood what elements needed to be improved to deliver a remake that went beyond better graphics. This is Super Mario RPG for a new era and a new audience, with improvements that bring it closer to modern standards. It's hard to say that the remake will replace the gem that is the original, but it's another jewel that deserves to sit alongside it.


Nintendo Life - Alana Hagues - 9 / 10

Super Mario RPG is here in all of its weird, wonderful glory for a new generation to experience, and sets a new standard for how to do a faithful remake right. Delivering a beautifully preserved, pure experience for fans of the original and an accessible entry-point for genre newcomers, the game's infectious charm, writing, and polished gameplay do so much to elevate this beyond what might have been merely a simple RPG starring Mario.


Nintendo News - 9 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a superb remake that perfectly captures the essence of the SNES original. This is not always to its credit, as elements of its platforming in particular have not aged as well as they could have, and the ability to block enemy attacks with Action Commands serves to make the times you can’t feel far more punishing. However, these are minor frustrations that do not tarnish the overall experience in any significant or lasting fashion. Its beautifully remastered visuals and soundtrack, witty dialogue, and engaging combat make Super Mario RPG a modern classic that is more than worth your time.


Press Start - James Mitchell - 9 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a strong remake of an already stellar game. It successfully focuses on improving the original in all the right places: a faster and snappier battle system, strong quality-of-life improvements and more difficult optional content. These improvements combine with the game's already quirky charm to offer an experience that easily eclipses the original. While it's overly simplistic compared to other RPGs, that's ostensibly the point. Super Mario RPG is an oddball piece of Nintendo's history like no other, and that alone makes it worth experiencing.


Siliconera - Brent Koepp - 9 / 10

In 1996, Square teamed up with Nintendo to make Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Nearly three decades later, the SNES classic is getting a much-deserved second chance with the excellent Super Mario RPG remake on the Nintendo Switch.


Wccftech - Nathan Birch - 9 / 10

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.


The Games Machine - Daniele Cucchiarelli - Italian - 8.9 / 10

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.


Game Informer - Kyle Hilliard - 8.8 / 10

Much of what has changed about Super Mario RPG for the remake beyond the visuals is behind the scenes. The pace is brisker, and my hour count (even after beating the big optional boss) came in lower than the average playtime of the original. The game has been tweaked only slightly to add some new mechanics and make the adventure even more welcoming than it already was. The result is an experience that only shows its age slightly and rewards longtime fans and newcomers alike.


Cerealkillerz - Julian Bieder - German - 8.7 / 10

Square has conjured up a really detailed role-playing game for the SNES that has been rightly dusted off without changing much of the original: The HD textures and slightly revamped battle system bring Super Mario RPG up to date, and the post-game rematches offer a brand new tough challenge. All summed up, this is a remake of a role-playing game as it should be in the textbook; the only downer is and remains the playing time of the main story, which is too short at roughly 10 hours.


Spaziogames - Valentino Cinefra - Italian - 8.7 / 10

Super Mario RPG, with its faithful remake, is a vintage yet iconic game that defined the SNES era, offering a fresh and playful adventure that continues to inspire generations.


Everyeye.it - Riccardo Cantù   - Italian - 8.5 / 10

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.


GamePro - Dennis Michel - German - 85 / 100

A loving and timeless new edition that shows what a banger we had to do without in Europe in 1996.


Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 85 / 100

Super Mario RPG is the perfect combination of classic Final Fantasy role-playing and the outpouring of originality and sense of humor of the Mario games. As a remake it's a bit short, but for us, who couldn't play it in its original version, it's quite a gift.


SECTOR.sk - Michal Korec - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Super Mario RPG is such a nice rarity - it retains the gameplay and quality of an honest-to-goodness RPG from the 90s, and gets a new visual coat and nice controls. Although it will take some getting used to in the first few hours, you'll get the hang of it and then you won't put the game down so easily.


Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 8.5 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a faithful and super-cute remake that takes an already great game and simply makes it better. As you're jamming out to the new tunes, discovering secrets, and appreciating the new mechanics and visuals, you're bound to have an excellent time. ⭐


GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 82%

In some ways the developers could have been more courageous concerning innovations, because beside graphics and new arranged score there is not much really new stuff. But playing it safe is fine, because with that Super Mario RPG is a beautiful looking role playing game with a great mixture of round based combat and action elements.


But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 8 / 10

Super Mario RPG does a great job of mixing charming characters and fun, intuitive gameplay into an easy-to-enjoy package. Despite a few stumbles along the way, this classic journey largely lives up to its reputation, giving fans, new and old, something wonderful to experience.


Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 8 / 10

Maintaining what made the original so special, Super Mario RPG provides a glow-up to an absolute classic RPG experience, with smart tweaks to combat bringing it firmly into the modern era. It's an utterly charming experience that sucks you into its gorgeous, colourful world. Still, in sticking firmly to its roots, it just doesn't provide the challenge or open-world gameplay to elevate it to the next level. If you're keen on a breezy nostalgic RPG with simple yet satisfying combat, the iconic Italian in a red hat has you covered.


ComicBook.com - Marc Deschamps - 4 / 5

Super Mario RPG has aged fantastically well, with great gameplay, a terrific story, and some excellent characterization. Developer ArtePiazza has added just enough quality of life improvements to refine the experience, while still maintaining the elements that made it a classic in the first place. For those that have never played it before, Super Mario RPG is a very easy recommendation, but those that have played through it a number of times over the last 27 years might find that there isn't enough new content to rationalize the $60.


Daily Star - Tom Hutchison - 4 / 5

Overall, this is a great introduction to RPG games and offers a challenge as you push through the title.



It’s got a lovely modern Switch sheen to it but still keeps all the core values of the original, classic game.


Dexerto - Olly Smith - 4 / 5

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.


Eurogamer - Christian Donlan - 4 / 5

The game that kicked off Mario's RPG adventures retains its charm in this cheerful remake.


Eurogamer.pt - Vítor Alexandre - Portuguese - 4 / 5

In the end it's a very balanced and successful proposal, a meeting of forces between Square and Nintendo that worked well. Perhaps the greatest merit of this remake is to fulfill the mission that the original lacked, to leave the Japanese exclusivity and reach the whole world, with a presentation that reveals care and at the same time fidelity to the primitive design.


GameSpot - Steven Petite - 8 / 10

Super Mario RPG is an overtly faithful recreation of the Super Nintendo hit, and this charming adventure has aged quite well.


GamesRadar+ - Dustin Bailey - 4 / 5

It's maybe the most Mario has ever felt like a psychedelic dream sequence


IGN - Tom Marks - 8 / 10

Super Mario RPG is considered a classic for a reason, and this faithful remake makes it easy for anyone who missed it in the SNES era to see why.


PCMag - Will Greenwald - 4 / 5

Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch is a great-looking and faithful remake that brims with the original release's charm and wonder.


RPG Site - Scott White - 8 / 10

This brand new remake of the 1996 classic recaptures a lot of what made the original game great while infusing it with modern updates that will be great for new players but may turn off fans of the original.


Reno Gazette-Journal - Jason Hidalgo - 8 / 10

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.


The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 8 / 10

For a game that was released all the way back on the SNES in 1996, Super Mario RPG has held up exceedingly well.


TheSixthAxis - Reuben Mount - 8 / 10

There is a lot to love in the Super Mario RPG remake. An adorable art style, deceptively deep combat, an excellent updated soundtrack, and genuinely funny skits and writing all make this game as much of a joy to play as the SNES original. If you can look past the simplicity of the game overall, and the occasionally frustrating experience that is the jumping puzzles, this is a stellar addition to the Switch's already stacked library.


TrustedReviews - Ryan Jones - 4 / 5

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.


Twinfinite - Zhiqing Wan - 4 / 5

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.


VG247 - Alex Donaldson - 4 / 5

Though it can be a little easy, the Super Mario RPG remake scratches all the right itches – even a few decades on.


VideoGamer - Alex Raisbeck - 8 / 10

Super Mario RPG is unapologetically fun. While a simple combat system and lack of challenge may not appeal to hardcore RPG fans, brilliant writing, iconic characters, and a world bursting with charm make it a delight to experience all the way through, and a perfect example of a remake done right.


WellPlayed - James Wood - 8 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a gorgeously realised remake that brings the classic turn-based adventure to modern audiences but stops just short of recapturing the magical uniqueness of the original.


XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 8 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a strong remake from Nintendo thanks to the updated graphics, music and animations. It shows that the 1996-game is a timeless classic due to it's great story and memorable cast of characters.


Gamer Guides - Jarrod Garripoli - 7.5 / 10

Super Mario RPG is a faithful remake of the 1996 classic, which adds several new gameplay features and some welcome quality-of-life updates. While the revisioned graphics, sound, and music are amazing, the storytelling is still very basic with a challenge that is somehow easier than the Super Nintendo original. However, if you can stomach the price, which is a bit high considering the overall package, there’s still a lot of fun to be had here.


IGN Italy - Mattia Ravanelli - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Consider Super Mario RPG as a textbook: if you want to know how Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi were born, you're in the right place. If you're looking for a great Mario RPG, you'll find an outdated game.


Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 3.5 / 5

Super Mario RPG isn't necessarily an improvement over the 1996 version, but it's at least a more approachable experience for kids.


Gameblog - KiKiToes - French - 7 / 10

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.


Metro GameCentral - GameCentral - 7 / 10

An excellent remake of a historically important game, that often gets forgotten. The price is off-putting but beyond that this is a breezy and charming adventure that's perfect for RPG neophytes.


ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available


Ars Technica - Andrew Cunningham - Unscored

For people who haven't played it in a while, the Super Mario RPG remake is a fun opportunity to revisit a game you remember fondly. For those who are new to RPGs, this game is a great and low-stress introduction to the form, much like the original game was for kids in the '90s. The worst thing I can say about it is that it's a little short, and for people who know the original, you might come away wishing that there was just more Mario RPG to play. Though that may just be me continuing to pine for the true sequel this game never got.


Chicas Gamers - Álvaro Bustío - Spanish - Unscored

Super Mario RPG was a moment of reflection in the franchise and was the precursor of what we now know as the “Mario & Luigi” franchise, highly recommended games whose latest installments were the respective remakes of their first two DS adventures for the 3DS. If you have played the latter and you play Super Mario RPG, you will notice flashes and small details of this franchise in it. Super Mario RPG is a fun adventure to enjoy for all lovers of classic role-playing games, it is a very simple and accessible game for all audiences that will also make us enjoy and laugh with very good times of fun.



In conclusion, an adventure that may well be simple and short; so if you are looking for great strategies, study of strengths, weaknesses and weak points as well as great challenges (basic components in an RPG), it may fall a bit short, but if on the other hand you are looking to have a good time with a game With large doses of fun and playable surprises, this is your game, since they are things that urge the player to continue advancing in the story and discover the secret behind the 7 shooting stars and the new enemy that has invaded the mushroom world during the 10-11 hours that the adventure lasts.


Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - Recommended

Super Mario RPG is legitimately one of the best video games ever. The original is timeless, and the Switch remake excels at updating the experience to a definitive sheen while retaining all the personality and memorable moments.


GameXplain - Andre Segers - Liked-a-lot

Video Review - Quote not available

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Commissar SFLUFAN changed the title to SUPER MARIO RPG REMAKE, update: reviews from OpenCritic posted
crispy4000

crispy4000

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, best3444 said:

84...

 

:s

 

Too low, but that one sounds like it's on the critics for not appreciating it enough. ;)

 

At least one review I read called out the game's length.  It's a dozen or two hour RPG, depending on how much you engage with the secrets or mini-games.  So it's not bloated like modern day RPGs, but that's apparently a negative.

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Keyser_Soze

Keyser_Soze

Posted
Posted
17 minutes ago, crispy4000 said:

 

Too low, but that one sounds like it's on the critics for not appreciating it enough. ;)

 

At least one review I read called out the game's length.  It's a dozen or two hour RPG, depending on how much you engage with the secrets or mini-games.  So it's not bloated like modern day RPGs, but that's apparently a negative.

 

 

 

IGN Italy gave it a 7.5 while IGN Spain gave it a 9. 🤔

 

IGN regular gave it an 8.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
crispy4000

crispy4000

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Paperclyp said:

I THINK I’m just gonna boot up the original version and play it before TTYD comes out. This looks nice but seems like they just put a nice coat of paint on it and made it even easier. 


There’s something of a post game now.  Don’t know if that’s worth $60 in addition, but it’s worth considering.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
crispy4000

crispy4000

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, MarSolo said:

Stop listening to IGN.

 

Their main review complained about it not looking as fresh as Live a Live.  Seriously.

 

I have no idea what these people truly want.  It looks extremely faithful to the original and modern all the same.  And since that og art is more off kilter and wacky than the Mario RPGs that came later, that should have been a positive.  It doesn’t need a cel shaded filter or vanillaware art.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Keyser_Soze

Keyser_Soze

Posted
Posted
20 minutes ago, stepee said:

Yeah, when people decide where to live they often REALLY overlook that 9pm game release advantage on the west coast.

 

Also watching sports. A MNF game starts at 8PM on east coast and might end at 11 if you're lucky but on the west coast you can just catch the game right after work at 5 pm and still have some time to chill around 8pm.

 

If some overtime happens or a baseball game goes extra innings, forgetaboudit!

  • True 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Commissar SFLUFAN

Commissar SFLUFAN

Posted
Posted
MARIO-SITE_YrWRYzI.jpg?width=1200&height

Super Mario RPG for Switch expertly modernises a SNES classic

WWW.EUROGAMER.NET
The Digital Foundry tech review for Super Mario RPG.

 

Quote

 

In rebuilding the game on Switch, developer ArtePiazza has fully embraced this aesthetic. The isometric perspective and 3D rendered design return while the rest of the package has been polished up, modernised to deliver an even smoother experience. This new version of the game has been recreated from the ground up using the Unity Engine. The entire game world is now rendered fully in real-time 3D, yet remains faithful to the original - to the point where the new version even offers up a shot-for-shot remake of the SNES original's attract mode. It's delivered via pre-rendered video - likely to account for the many changes of location. Interestingly, this video, and others within the game, run at 60fps. It may sound bizarre but Super Mario RPG is perhaps the best example of video playback on the entire platform.

 

Once the game begins, though, it switches to real-time and despite switching to real-time 3D graphics, the Switch version manages to very faithfully recreate every scene, but with far more detail, along with more modern lighting and shading effects. The developer has also taken the time to adjust some scenes that either didn't look so good in the original, or are simply better suited to real-time 3D. Another big improvement in my book is the world map - it retains the level selection concept of the original but the map itself fills the screen and is presented as a seamless whole.

 

 

Quote

However, there is one big caveat to mention, the only dark spot on an otherwise pristine release - performance. Super Mario RPG maintains its target of 60 frames per second at nearly all times. This is generally a very smooth experience that feels completely fluid. Unfortunately, it is not perfect and when it does drop frames, frame-times are wildly unstable and the whole image feels jerky - and the transition is jarring.

 

Quote

 

I'd also like to touch on the last major enhancement to the presentation - the soundtrack. Composed by Yoko Shimomura, it's a whimsical score that perfectly walks the line between Square and Nintendo. This new version boasts a re-arranged score but also provides access to the original Super NES soundtrack as well. Like the visuals, these arrangements stay true to the original themes but improve the instrumentation and, in some cases, even expand the song. The world map song, for instance, is a short loop on Super NES but it goes much further in the new arrangement. In that sense, I think the soundtrack aspect of the game is also a success.

 

So, there's so much to enjoy in Super Mario RPG. Honestly, this is a nearly - but not quite - perfect translation of a Super NES classic and whether you've played the original or not, there's a lot to love here. The battle system still feels fresh while offering a little more polish, the storytelling is enjoyable and the game explores a unique take on Mario that is firmly derived from the Super Mario World era. It's absolutely worth playing and, aside from the minor performance hiccups, is a solid game well worth your consideration.

 

 

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Commissar SFLUFAN changed the title to SUPER MARIO RPG REMAKE, update: "Expertly modernises a SNES classic" (Digital Foundry technical review)

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...