Super Mario RPG review: Turning back time

Such is the plot in Super Mario RPG, a glossy do-over of the 1996 SNES lost classic, which barely made it outside of Japan after its release.

Unless you bought the download for the Wii in 2008 or owned the SNES Classic replica machine in 2017, chances are this is Mario as you’ve never seen him before. Mario has filled many roles, of course – from platformers to kart racing to sports to puzzles – but this is his original turn-based combat RPG that never quite spawned a sequel.

Co-produced originally with turn-based experts Square, it has a distinctively different feel to many other Nintendo outings for Mario. Not least because, yes, Mario and Bowser have joined forces in the face of a new villain called Smithy. But Bowser is just one of four other pals who form a team to defeat Smithy’s minions.

Like Square’s classic Final Fantasy series, the gameplay consists of segments in which Mario roams freely through an isometric top-down view of colourful worlds before snapping into turn-based battle mode when he encounters small groups of enemies, which are many and varied. Combat switches between special moves and physical attacks, with members of Mario’s party each taking a crack at the opposition before they do the same.

Like a typical RPG, you try to whittle away your foes’ health points before they drain yours, with experience and loot gained in victory allowing you to customise somewhat your party’s strengths. Uniquely, Mario and friends can increase their damage and their defence with well-timed button presses as they attack or come under attack. It never gets too complex and you’d be unlucky to actually lose a fight unless you’re not paying attention to your stats and items.

Outside of battle, the gameplay feels a little simplistic, with very basic platforming made tricky by the fixed 3D angle and little in the way of traditional Nintendo level-design wizardry. Although it sticks closely to the outline overall of the original, it’s more of a remake than a remaster, thanks to lustrous modern visuals and a few quality-of-life improvements.

A few enjoyable mini-games and a gently humorous undertone make Super Mario RPG an amiable concoction. It’s nowhere near as inventive as recent Mario adventures and a little overpriced but it still has a nostalgic charm.