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Tasunkawitko's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
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| [January 26, 2008 12:56:43 AM]
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GAME LOG ENTRY 2
GAMEPLAY
Well, I’ve been playing this game for a few hours now, and I’m still waiting for the storyline to really pick up. It seems like its just one tiny insignificant quest after another, although there is an inkling of a greater goal. With only two playable characters so far the dialogue has been a bit dry, especially considering the fact that Mario can’t speak, though admittedly he is very good at charades. Though it is incredibly slow to start I am still confident that the storyline will get moving at some point.
The gameplay has been mostly the same as the first session; the same old battles but with some new skills and spells. The levels themselves seem to be progressing in that they are becoming more complex with warp pipes, switches and platforms at different elevations and so on. There have also been a few small mini-games that help to break up the monotony of the turn-based battles, become quite tedious.
DESIGN
The level design for this game is, in my opinion better than that of the typical RPG. In most RPGs is limited to simply running around a straightforward single level map, collect items and fighting random encounter battles. Super Mario RPG features the ability to jump, something most RPGs do not have; the player uses this ability to overcome various obstacles such as rocks, barriers and platform puzzles. Additionally, many levels are designed with platforms at several different elevations, providing the game with more of a three dimensional feel, and complicates the player’s progression through the level so that it is more challenging and not quite so clear cut. Another element that I find helpful is that the enemies are shown on the map, so, rather than just being randomly encountered the player can attempt to avoid them if he so chooses.
Super Mario RPG does a good job in keeping with the feel of the rest of the Mario series. It uses similar artwork to the other games, and incorporates many of the items that gamers have come to know and love such as mushrooms stars and fire flowers. These are used to restore hit points or special ability points, etc. I find them a refreshing break from the typical potions and elixirs found in other games. This game also features all of the traditional baddies from goombas and koopas to lakitus and boos.
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| [January 25, 2008 11:42:57 PM]
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GAME LOG ENTRY 1
SUMMARY
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is, as the name suggests, a role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System created jointly by Squaresoft and Nintendo. The player assumes the role of Mario, the classic video game super-hero-plumber, and several of the friends that Mario meets along the way. Mario’s ultimate goal, as always, is to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser and the new threat of the Smithy Gang.
GAMEPLAY
So far, Super Mario RPG seems to be the perfect blend between the classic adventures of Mario and the intricate well planned game mechanics of Squaresoft RPGs. The battle system functions as a typical turn-based RPG, with basic attacks, special skills and item use. However, it adds something to the experience by prompting the player to press a certain button at the right time to make the current action more effective. This involves the player more than simply having him select an action to perform and watch the accompanying action sequence over and over again.
Unfortunately the story seems to be rather lacking up to this point. I feel that it doesn’t capture the player’s interest right from the start as many other games do. The story seems to be rather simplistic; the same old rescue the maiden in distress routine doesn’t quite cut it. Nor does the seemingly frivolous quest of tracking down a purple crocodile that calls Barney to mind, for the sake of a confused marshmallow who thinks he is a frog. However, I realize that it is still early in the game and have no doubt that the story will evolve into something more engrossing.
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Tasunkawitko's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
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Current Status: Playing
GameLog started on: Friday 25 January, 2008
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