Ever asked the question to yourself: What if Squaresoft and Nintendo join forces in the harsh, competitive, and fierce video game industry? Thinking it's a joke to implement Mario into an RPG is understandable; that is, until it was actually done. Joining forces, and putting fourth the powerful and influential talent of Squaresoft responsible for the amazingly popular Final Fantasy series most synonymous with the acronym "RPG" and the "greatest RPG of all time", Chrono Trigger. Although the Nintendo 64 had yet to rear it head, Nintendo had but one last "Mario" title to show up on the Super Nintendo back in the late days of 1995. Fans all over thought of the possibility of a Mario game combined with the immense talents of both megaton companies and this is it: Super Mario RPG. Although Super Mario RPG is not as majestic as a Final Fantasy experience, it's adds an entirely new, mature, and complex story behind a seemingly sidescrolling destined plumber. The truth is, Nintendo nor it's fans could have ever seen this gem coming...

To begin with the universe of Super Mario RPG, there are many things veterans of the Mario series will be able to make such connections. Starting off, yet again in another Miyamoto plot, there is no mention, or sight of Mario's older, less respected brother Luigi. The story focuses on Mario and his seemingly simple quest to rescue Princess Toadstool from the evil clutches of Bowser. Starting off typical, hum-drum Nintendo style, Square's surrealistic storytelling world comes into play when a giant swords-like creature Exor slams down on the Castle of Bowser and a mysterious sourceror named Smithy threatens Bowser's shadowy hierarchy over the Mushroom Kingdom - kicking the almighty Bowser out of his castle. After a series of crashes, Mario realizes something strange is happening here with the exile of Bowser and missing whereabouts of Princess Toadstool. The story goes on, Mario meets a slew of newly introduced cast members from a cloud-like mock-frog, Mallow, to a alien spirit taking the form of a child's doll, Geno and even some new ferocious enemies like the gruesome purple top-hated thief, Croco and a pyschologically confused wingnut, Booster. Most every enemy and ally Mario confronts in the game is simply marvelous, and it all fits into a world that Nintendo and Square collaboratively created with amazement.

Although the Mario series since the beginning of it's time was never very elaborate nor depthful when it came to storytelling. Other than the typical fairy tale-esque pursuit of a hero and his journey to save the princess, Squaresoft takes Miyamoto's tale of Super Mario and heightens the series giving it an adaptive and majestic story like a Final Fantasy game would - except some of the characters seem familiar, especially the red-hat, blue-shirted beloved plumber, Mario. There are plenty of referrences to the Mario series respectively, but upon playing Super Mario RPG, many may often forget that this is a Mario game since it seems like much more. Not that that's entirely a bad thing, since Square and Nintendo have really cooked up an excellent story for fans to enjoy full of a different Mushroom Kingdom that has many diverse worlds whether it may be on land, sea, vast deserts, or even above in the clouds. Fans of Mario will definitely discover many old enemies and allies within the game's deep worlds, especially old friends like Yoshi, even those pesky Troopas, Goombas, and even Boos.

Taking on a similar RPG graphical perspective, Super Mario RPG is built entirely based on Squaresoft RPGs. The graphics are mostly represented in an isometric viewpoint of entirely landscapes cut into pieces overlaying a black background. The art style is brilliant and the graphics are surely ahead of their time with the pseudo-3D perspective displayed. Each character's doll-like look in their renderings look excellent, as if they were taken from a story book, fantasy-ridden universe that Super Mario RPG is set in. Throughout the game, the game seems to prove it's prowess that the Super Nintendo is indeed not dated or geriatric looking. Character movements are fluid, and the environments are wonderfully animated and rendered with a spectrum of colors.

Against many other RPGs, Super Mario RPG is entirely simple, and very elementary: perfect for beginners of the genre who are uncharted towards the more complex grounds of RPG-dom. The game plays in a pace suited for that audiences, pacing the story at perfect limits never having to misunderstand the game's happenings. The battle system, most notably, is placed very orderly and organized. Each button signified to clearly state the command - A attacks, B, defends, X, implements the use of magic powers, and Y uses enhancements and other items. Although it's unlike the import version's Famicom-rainbow colored buttons, the interface in the U.S. version are painted purple and lighter shades of purple to emulate the likeness of the Super NES controllers buttons. Unlike most RPGs, the player will have unlimited time to decide their strategy only displaying this version is well suited for non-RPG players unlike in other RPGs of Squaresoft's typical caliber to use quick pacing, attack, and contengency methods. Although this may seem too rudimentary to veteran RPG players, it caters to all levels of difficulty respectively. Combining Final Fantasy's RPG style and story structuring also puts in plenty of typical Mario, especially the map advancement system, where you'll be able and sometimes it will be needed to go back and fourth into previous locations a la Super Mario World, which is satisfying.

Super Mario RPG's style of gameplay works mostly based on a level-up system, like many RPG's of Squaresoft's style. Along the pace of the game, you're characters will be able to advance, grow, and build-up in becoming more powerful. Although you can choose your pace and endlessly battle early on in the game and become ahead of your intended power, the game allows the player to choose from three elements of advancement upon each level up in experience points. The player will either be able to select an advancement in their health, magic power, or hit points/strength. Since the game allows the player to choose which areas to capitalize on, it's suggested that players pace the game so that each area of power stays balanced by choosing wisely at each level up. Upon certain level-up power levels, each player will recieve one of their many level-up unlockable special magic abilites. Mario will recieve his Fire Orb at earlier levels as he'll be granted higher powered magic abilites upon leveling up higher. As Mario and his allies visit newer areas in the game, he will recieve more damage-inducing attack moves which he will purchase along with advantageous items and armors to keep attack and defense levels at their highest upon meeting newer, more dangerous enemies. As Mario begins to allow more characters to join, as the story moves along, you'll only be allowed three players in the team, where switching comes to play. Dedication of your most prized characters is vital to becoming a force of three nearly unstoppable allies. The game often calls for favorism as it usually suggests you switch to naturally more fitter characters that you'll encounter throughout the game.

Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu, two incredible composers and a beautiful arrangement by Yoko Shimomura equal one of the finest game soundtracks to ever set foot in the industry. If you're not paying over $100 on eBay to acquire one of these gems of soundtrack history, you can surely admire playing the game time and time over to here the brilliant scores in action. Although this game features typically synthesized Super Nintendo music, it's surely at it's best. Basically every tune in the game seems to fit the world set for Super Mario RPG's diabolical background while setting a very mature but Mario-universe friendly atmosphere. Listening to the game's music is simply what would happen if Nintendo and Square combined forces - it's a marvelous outcome. The tunes, being very catchy, and well-suited conclude in being that this is one soundtrack games are inspired and built-on and enough to be memorable. Was that a little too over the top? Tell it to the people who own the over $100 dollar soundtrack which is nearly extinct these days.

Super Mario RPG is definitely an excellent title that amounts to being satisfying enough. Although the premise of the game gives of a childish edge and the difficulty at times is simple, the game is mainstream medium in difficulty; pretty much on caliber with most RPG's around. You'll eventually find yourself repeating battles twice, or even thrice because you're simply not at the game's level of expectation. Which is nothing of the bad sort, even if you get a game over, you're experience points will be saved while redoing parts of the game will often give you the edge of acquiring more points in the same parts of the game - eventually you'll become strong enough to take down those bosses that gave you a hard time before. One of the other buggers aside from having Luigi on the cast is the non usable Yoshi. Although you'll be able to ride him (on his island only), and although the game often hints it, he cannot join your party, which is a tad bit of a let down. Aside from a few disappointing factors, it doesn't drag an otherwise excellent playing experience that will touch and adopt a widespread gaming audience.

PERSONAL COMMENTS
Upon playing Super Mario RPG in late 1995, my first impressions were very disappointing. Having never played an RPG nor heard of them, after soon adapting Super Mario RPG soon became my best friend. Like Nintendo's usual history of successful titles in the Mario franchise, Super Mario RPG fits in there swiftly; like a glove. Although Super Mario RPG is a very elementary playing RPG, this worked brilliantly in allowing me personally, to adapt to the genre in a easy step process. Since I was unadept to playing RPGs, Super Mario RPG's rudimentary base and excellent tutorial sessions early on in the game helped a non-RPG gamer as I was eight years ago. Although Super Mario RPG introduced me into the RPG genre, I respect this title mostly because it acts like a Final Fantasy and blends Super Mario all into a conclusive, robust package that exceeds usual standards which is relative to both Square and Nintendo.

Without a doubt, Super Mario RPG is definitely one of history's finest titles, and Nintendo's as well. Speaking of now with the recent 2001 release of Paper Mario, Super Mario RPG's unofficial sequel, simply didn't capture all the magic that the original set. Ultimately, between a brilliant gameplay engine, excellent cast of allies and villans and quirky humor sets Super Mario RPG as one of those excellent games that should absolutely not be missed. Of course, being a Square title, you'll find a referrence to Final Fantasy in there, and some music to go along with that as well. Furthermore, Super Mario RPG is definitely a title that is most apprechiated and I personally have been longing to see the reprisal of this brilliant classic on the Game Boy Advance now that it's possible. Without any further rambling, go get this classic if you dont have it or replay it if you do!

FINAL DECISION
(on a basis of Epinions' stars ratings)

Visual
5 out of 5

Audio
5 out of 5

Gameplay
5 out of 5

Control
5 out of 5

Lasting Prowess
5 out of 5



Recommended: Yes