ROMiniscing: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES)
Superior Epic [ Legendary ]
We might be used to the idea that SquareSoft can take something like the Disney universe and make a full-fledged role-playing experience out of it, but Kingdom Hearts does not come without precedent. Before Paper Mario, before Kingdom Hearts, and before Rare unhitched its wagon from Nintendo, there was today’s ROMiniscing feature: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
It really doesn’t get more classic than this. Replayability, for me, is the key uphill battle for RPGs, and this game shows how it’s done like no other before or since. Midas River, Yo’Ster Isle, Melody Bay, Beetle Mania, and so many more – Mario RPG is chock full of minigames. These aren’t the type that completely distract you from the real game either (FFVIII Card Battling), these are the type that are simple, fun, and totally optional beyond their first appearance (where they present an interesting hurdle).
The battle system is almost bare bones in its simplicity, and yet I’ve met no one that wasn’t completely enthralled with it. Whether it’s the timed hits (that still aren’t in the mainstream like they should be), the unusual arsenal (throwing Mario, Frying Pans), the memorable bosses (Bowyer, Axem Rangers), or the stand-out soundtrack, the fights in this game stick with you. I’ve occassionally saved before the final boss in other games… for Mario RPG, I have three of the four SNES save slots occupied by boss saves (Smithy, Culex, Axem Rangers, and a free slot for fresh play-throughs). On ZSNES, I have even more.
And if presentation scores any points with you (admit it, even you like flashy colors), Mario RPG will whet your appetite. Sure, you may be used to modern, nearly lifelike 3D, but back in the SNES days, isometric was as good as it got. Somehow, this hasn’t aged badly – a Crayola color scheme on what look like clay models is just as endearingly cartoonish as it was in 1996. You can’t truly appreciate Rareware’s genius graphical developments until you think “this is still crisp and clean” over a decade later.
To be a fair critic, I’m expected to say at least one negative thing. Here goes: it takes a little adaptation to use a D-Pad on isometric 3D maps. That’s honestly the best I can do.
Readers: there’s a reason this game still has a spot on fan-voted “Best Games of All Time” magazine lists… it’s one of the best games of all time! If you haven’t already, fire up your dusty SNES, download the ROM, or login to the Wii Virtual Console and play this fucking game already!
Have a PS3 and want to use its controller for PC Gaming?
Read my previous post
Looking for screenshots?
Until I take some, enjoy the ones on the page linked below (I’m playing through again, and it’s a longish game)
Trying to find all the hidden boxes?
This site has a pretty solid walkthrough, among other things.
Can’t get enough?
Neither could the guys who made this Flash cartoon and song.
Tags: company-nintendo, company-square, company-squareenix, emulation, erdtirdmans, full of humor, great aesthetics, reviews-buy, ROMiniscing-legendary, rpg, single player, snes, timed hits, wii vc