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TDouglass's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
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| [February 19, 2008 11:56:45 PM]
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Gameplay
As the game progresses, it never stops accelerating until the final credits roll. From the addictive tunes playing in the background to the witty banter of the cast to the innovation of “Timed Hits”, and what that does to combat, this game remains one of the greatest RPGs of all time. The quirky characters, from the marshmallow-esque “Mallow” to the foreigner “Geno” to a few surprise guests along the way, Super Mario RPG both utilizes established characters that players can recognize as well as introducing some new faces to the world. The story is surprisingly complex for such an early title, this truly is a game for the ages. This game is, simply put, fun to play. Something about it just works, and its success led to the development of more RPG-style games in the vein of Mario RPG (Paper Mario (N64) and Super Paper Mario (Wii)), but neither of these hit quite the same buttons that this title did. Some of the magic lies in the nostalgia of the SNES system and its quirky midi files and graphics, while some of the magic remains in the originality and innovation at play. Many factors combine to make Super Mario RPG simply spectacular, and it remains a game that I will continue to come back to as long as I remain a gamer.
Design
Why is this such a fun game to play? How does a side-scroller translate into a turn-based RPG system? Simply put, because there is something about the Mario universe that lends itself to the RPG format. The multitude of enemies, the various moves Mario can perform, the never-ending supply of wacky allies he always seems to run into. All this adds up to a huge amount of resources available to the dev team, all that was left was to tweak some of the basic actions from keystrokes to strategy and you’ve got yourself a Mario RPG. But they didn’t stop there, they took it a step further than they needed to and created the “Timed Hits” functionality that makes this game stand out from other RPGs. Whenever a player attacks or defends, they can hit a given button at the right time to increase the strength of the attack or increase their own defense, which can hugely shift the tide of battle. This mechanic can get a little unfair for veteran players, at a certain point combat becomes much more about skill than luck, a factor in many RPGs. And yet, this contributes so much to the thrill of the game. Combat never gets frustrating, as with many RPGs where luck is a huge element. A skilled player will probably never lose a fight, and yet this makes the game so much more enjoyable. The ease of play and the low stakes allow the player to put less at stake while playing, and game sessions become about fun, which should be at the core of all gaming after all. The humorous dialogue and enchanting storyline continue to drive the player forward, and the whole package just comes together nicely to make for a thoroughly enjoyable play experience. This game is, to be blunt, a success story. When it comes down to it, this is a great game. Great games are incredibly rare, and having so few it is hard to come up with the vocabulary to describe them, but I can testify to this game’s greatness whole-heartedly. Something about this game just works, and it never disappoints. I have probably completed upwards of 10 run-throughs of this game, and I am certainly planning on revisiting it again as soon as I get the chance.
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| [February 19, 2008 11:48:54 PM]
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Summary
Since the early days of video games, Mario has been a household name. Most often associated with side-scrolling craziness and stomping on goombas and koopas, it cannot be questioned that this stout plumber's 'stache is one of the most recognized video game icons in all of video game history. In this title, the fiery, mute, red-clad hero dons his RPG gear and sets out on one of my personal favorite adventures in video games. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is by all means a classic and is worthy of the highest praise in gaming.
Gameplay
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars truly is a legend among games. From the moment I turn the game on, I am enchanted by the familiar-yet-different midi that plays over the title menu screen, and I can tell that I am in for a great gaming experience. The first level entails the standard Mario scenario: the princess Peach has been stolen away by the villain Bowser, and the hero Mario must scale Bowser’s tower, thwarting his minions along the way to save the day. And save the day he does! The princess is safe, the tyrant is defeated, and all is well after the opening number. But then a twist: Bowser is not the “big baddy” in this game. A huge sword pierces the sky and crashed into the tower, sending plumber, princess and turtle flying in different directions, and the stage is set for this epic game. The opening sequence is so familiar and nostalgic, with throwbacks to the Mario games of old while introducing the combat system, and yet it turns all of that on its head as it begins to change what a Mario game is about and point it in a different direction. The first few minutes of gameplay truly speak wonders about where this title will go along the course of its story, and what it will do to the Mario universe.
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TDouglass's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES)
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Current Status: Playing
GameLog started on: Tuesday 19 February, 2008
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