Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Remake of classic game blends nostalgia with modern play.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
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Super Mario RPG
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
What’s It About?
SUPER MARIO RPG recreates the original Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars, taking advantage of modern graphics and controls to deliver an experience more in line with what current gamers expect. The adventure begins with Princess Peach (called Princess Toadstool in the original) kidnapped by Bowser, with Mario immediately heading off to rescue her. It's not long before the real villains of the story -- The Smithy Gang, a group bent on world domination -- are revealed and Peach and Bowser join up with Mario to take them down. Play alternates between exploration of the Mushroom Kingdom (where players move Mario around small areas in search of secrets and puzzles) and battles. Attacks and defensive moves make use of real-time actions, such as tapping a button repeatedly to power up a fireball, or tapping it once at just the right time to counter an incoming attack. "Triple Moves," meanwhile, make use of all three party members' abilities to deliver much more damage to groups of enemies. As the game progresses, players will gradually improve the stats and equipment of each party member, eventually transforming the entire group into much more powerful fighters.
Is It Any Good?
Remakes can be hit or miss, but this one gets it right. Super Mario RPG preserves what players loved about the original game, while updating mechanics and graphics to appeal to a wider array of players decades later. It feels at times almost like a scene-for-scene recreation of the 1996 SNES classic, which will likely appeal to the nostalgia of gamer parents can now share a beloved experience from their childhood with their kids. But the much improved 3D graphics, updated interface, and introduction of new systems, help give the game a contemporary vibe that ought to satisfy the sensibilities of current gamers.
This game truly does prove that what's old can be new again. The Mushroom Kingdom is chock full of hidden blocks to find, simple puzzles to solve, interesting ways to get from one spot to another (trampoline flowers, moving platforms, etc.), and funny characters to chat with. The turn-based battles rely on the same kind of strategy and decision making that has engaged players since the dawn of RPGs, requiring them to exploit weaknesses by taking the time to understand enemy types and the nature of the various attacks at their disposal. It makes for a satisfying challenge, regardless of the quality of the graphics. Modern RPGs may be bigger and have more bells and whistles, but Super Mario RPG for Switch proves that there's still plenty of delight to be wrung from a retro adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the cartoonish combat in Super Mario RPG. The violence is tame by most standards, but did you consider the motives of the participants? Why do you think the Shysters, Big Boos, and Hammer Bros attack Mario and his friends on sight? Parents can talk to younger players about violence in video games.
Talk about stereotypes in games, especially those like Super Mario, which have been around for a long time. Older games often featured male characters saving helpless female characters. Do you think modern games are moving past such cliches?
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Pricing structure: Paid ($59.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Nintendo of America
- Release date: November 17, 2023
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More
- ESRB rating: E for Mild Fantasy Violence
- Last updated: November 16, 2023
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