Super Mario RPG, the Switch remake of the original 1996 SNES title, was released back in November 2023. If you’ve been waiting on a good deal? to dive in and re??live childhood memories, Woot! has got  you covered with an epic deal. 

Regularly selling for $49.99 USD, Woot! currently has Super Mario RPG on sale at a reduced price of $31.99 USD. This is a great d??eal for what is a nostalgic, very fun, and sometimes frustrating (in the best way) gaming experience.

This is an especially good deal if you’re an Amazon Prime member, as you’ll get free? shipping on top of this deal. If not, you’ll need to pay a $6.00 USD shipping fee, but even with that, you’re still paying way less than the full price. 

As with any purchase made through Woot!, purchasing Super Mario RPG? through the website comes with a 90-day warranty. This means that if anything?’s wrong with the item, you’ll either get a replacement (if the item is still available) or a full refund of the purchase price.

This Super Mario RPG deal comes just a day after Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom appeared on Woot! with a discount barely a week after it was released. The latter game sold out before we could even get the news out, unsurprisingly, but Super Mario RPG ??is cur??rently still available, at a limit of one per customer.

Super Mario RPG takes roughly 12 hours to complete on normal difficulty and less if you ch??oose a lower difficulty when setting up your playthrough. That’s a decent chunk of gaming, especially if?? you take advantage of this deal.

The post Super Mario RPG Switch remake ??sees a big price cut today appeared first on Destructoid.

This June marks the return of a summer speedrunning staple, as Summer Games Done Quick prepares to kick off another weeklong stream of incredible gaming feats. It all starts on June 30, and ahead of that the full list of games has been revealed. 

There are a ton of classics being revisited this time around, and there's also the typical mix of new games getting their very first run in the spotlight. Chief among them is the PlayStation 5 version of Alan Wake 2. Speedrunner suavepeanut has an "Alan%" run â€?meaning just the Alan-centric Initiation chapters from Remedy's celeb??rated sequel â€?planned, aiming for roughly an hour and some change. 

Developer LocalThunk's poker roguelike Balatro is also in the mix for the first time as a Bonus Game. These games are typically inserted into the schedule after a specific fundraising incentive has been met. Folks who donate to the cause, which is once again humanitarian medical nonprofit Doctors Without Borders, can decide which goal they want to contribute toward. Keep that in mind if you're dying to see a "3 Deck Random Seed, Skipless" run of Balatro! 

While no one has tossed in the sprawling Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth into the mix yet, tapioca is cooking up a 90-minute any% run of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Happybythree will throw their hat into the heist-pulling ring with an Any% PlayStyle A run of Turnip Boy Robs a Bank. The week typically closes with a lengthy role-player, and this time it's the Nintendo Switch remake of Super Mario RPG from runner V0oid. There's no better way ??to bring the house down than to bring Smithy down LIVE.  

Still goin' fast

If you're familiar with the Games Done Quick streams, you'll see plenty of familiar titles this time around, from a handful of Mega Man games �Mega Man 4, Mega Man 9, and Mega Man X5, specifically �to a Super Metroid race. There are welcome oddities in there, too. Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain will have TheShadedMaster going for 100% in roughly 15 minutes. There's also the Silly Games Done Quick block, which features the likes of Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, Barbie on NES, Birds Aren't Real: The Game, Mad Panic Coaster, and more.

Most importantly, there's a Chibi-Robo! race on the way, pitting Jaxler and Kobazzco against one another in the 1v1 Lockout Bingo category. It all goes down June 30 - July 6 at the Hilton Minneapolis Downtown in Minnesota, streaming live on Twitch and the official site. If you se?e my productivity dropping tha??t week, you know what's up. 

The post Summer Games Done Quick 2024 to speed through Alan Wake 2, Balatro, and? plenty of classics appeared first on Destructoid.

Kingdom Hearts and Street Fighter 2 composer Yoko Shimomura will receive a Lifet??ime Achieve??ment trophy during the D.I.C.E Awards this year. It will occur on February 15 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

"I myself am very surprised," said Shimomura on Twitter (throug?h a translation provided by the platform). "I'm very honored." She also mentioned this is "possible thanks to [ou??r] support."

Who is Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura?

Yoko Shimomura is a game composer known for her decades of work in the industry. She's behind the scores of Street Fighter 2, the Kingdom Hearts series, Super Mario RPG (with a re-orchestrated soundtrack for the remake), Final Fantasy XV, and the Parasite Eve franchise. Her?? vivid and illustrious music has now been recognized by her peers in the industry.

"Dearly Beloved," the main menu theme from Kingdom Hearts, is arguably her most notable song. What impresses many is that each game has its own take on the original piano-led track. For example, there's a swing version of the track in the rhythm game Melody of Memory.

“I was playing the beginning of the game, set in the Destiny Islands, and I was struck by a lot of imagery about the sea," said Yoko Shimomura to Square Enix. "Dearly Beloved just came to my mind one day, while I was thinking about that - picturing the sea and the waves.�/p>

Streamed through IGN, the D.I.C.E. Awards will be hosted by Kinda Funny's Greg Miller and IGN's Stella Chung. The finalists for Game of the Year include Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Cocoon, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The post Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura receives Lifetime Achievem??ent awar?d from DICE appeared first on Destructoid.

To be perfectly honest, sitting down and thinking about my favorite games of 2023 has been a surreal experience. When I look back on my corresponding list I wrote in 2022,?? I feel like the person who wrote that is a fundamentally different person than who I am today.

At the time, I was still recovering from some rough life experiences and wasn’t playing a lot of new games. My list of candidates was so sparse that I had to include Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year, which is totally real and not just something I mocked up in RPG Maker. Look, I’ve always had an overwhelming passion for video games. Once upon a time, I was here as a community member of Destructoid talking about my story of playing Final Fantasy II (IV) before I could?? even read. But it was always something I treated as my hobb?y and not my work.

Now, ever since Chris �.5�Carter invited me to write for Destructoid full-time, my relationship with the world of gaming has changed a lot. I’ve gotten to preview games like Persona 3 Reload, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and even Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I was able to review huge games like Diablo 4 and be on the forefront of complaining about its microtransactions. And aside from talking about new releases, I got to write about the insane backstory behind Gex and how The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse still holds up.

And of course, I must mention the entire week I spent pouring my heart and soul into a single Link’s Awakening analysis for Destructoid’s Zelda Week. I’ve been given so many opportunities to follow my passions here, and I cannot express how thankful I am that so many of you have been reading my words. Despite the gaming community’s reputation for toxicity, most of you have been nothing but exceedingly kind and supportive. I don’t know wh??at I did to deserve that, but fr?om the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful to you all.

The dark side of the industry

That said, I can’t say this year has been a bed of roses. Being this close to “the industry�and seeing how the sausage gets made has meant being keenly aware of layoffs after layoffs after layoffs after layoffs after�you get the point.

It’s been hard to retain my enthusiasm for video games when the people making them have been treated like disposable assets. It’s as if the ones responsible for these firings merely see their employees as gears in a machine, completely unaware that those gears have hopes, aspirations, families, and maybe the occasional desire to just stop turning for a few minutes. Even if 2023 was a particularly bad ye?ar for job security, it’s no??t like any of this is necessarily new. But it’s been hard to sit here and enjoy amazing new video games when so many lives were changed in the process.

In the face of such tumultuous times, I’ve frankly felt kind of cursed. Feelings of imposter syndrome and more have welled up throughout the year. All in all, I’m doing okay. But I also couldn’t talk about a bunch of cool games I played this year without acknowledging the sheer mental and emotional cost they accrued. My hope beyond hope is ??that everyone who lost their jobs this year will land back on their f??eet soon.

Now let’s talk about video games

Some quick ground rules for my rankings: I’m not limiting my picks this year to strictly 2023 games. ??Since there was some warm reception last year to seeing older games pop up, anything I played this year is fair game. Priority is given to completely new titles thou??gh, so don’t expect older stuff in the top 3.

Also, I’m only ranking games that I finished or at least got close to finishing. So while I’m sure Tears of the Kingdom belongs on this list, I didn't play enough to have much to say about it. And given how much I struggled to find time this year, I had absolutely no chance of making progress in Baldur’s Gate 3. I played more games than I ever have and still? miss?ed some of the biggest hits of the year, which is maybe worrying. I’m going to choose not to think about that now.

Timothy Monbleau’s favorite disaster of 2023: The Last of Us on PC

Look, playing The Last of Us on PC was not pleasant. I had a lot of issues, to the point that my write-up for the port had less to do with the game and more to do with my whirlwind experience of playing it. But I can’t pretend that I didn’t have an absolute??? blast writing that piece for you all.

From what I understand, The Last of Us on PC is at least a bit better today than it was then. At the very least, the underlying game was still excellent, which made coping with the ridiculous PC port easier. It was a good, bad time, and sometimes those experiences are memorable too. Still probably better than half the? things Zoey puts? herself through every week, though.

#10: Astlibra Revision

I was barely able to finish Astlibra before 2023 ended. Fittingly, it barely makes its way onto my best of the year list. Granted, I don’t mean that as an insult. The fact that I’d sooner rank a game made predominately by one person over other polished AAA games is a testament to KEIZO's dedication to this passion project. The ever-evolving gameplay was an absolute trip, and the sto?ry really stuck out to me with its numerous twists and turns.

It’s a title for a very specific audience. But if you like the grindy games, there’s truly nothing quite like Astlibra.

#9: The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

Few things make me smile wider than a Falcom action game, and The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is no exception. Despite technically being an HD version of a decade-old PSP game, Nayuta’s adventure absolutely competes with the best games released this year. The combat gave me a rush that only Falcom games can, and the soundt??rac??k is easily one of my favorites of this year.

Nayuta’s adventure is pure RPG ??comfort food. One day, I’d love to complete a New Game Plus run and see everything it has to offer. It's just a pleasant time from start to finish, and a game I hi??ghly recommend you check out if it passed you by this year.

#8: Final Fantasy VII Remake

How’s this for a long overdue backlog game? Someone into both RPGs and Final Fantasy like me should have had Final Fantasy VII Remake long finished by now, but with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the horizon, I knew I neede??d to catch up. And, surprise, ??it’s a good game.

I’m going to make a potentially controversial statement here, but the weirdest thing about Final Fantasy VII Remake is that it kind of felt like a better version of Final Fantasy XIII? I mean, the dungeon design often devolves into hallways, but the inclusion of puzzles and twists and turns helps disguise it much better. The battle system feels like an evolution of the mix of action and menu-based combat XIII attempted, with things skewed towar?ds the “action�side to give more player freedom. Even the weapon upgrades feel like the Crystarium with? less busy work.

I don’t say this to argue that Final Fantasy XIII is actually a misunderstood gem. It was just a weird case of déjà vu, but also a testament to how rough ideas can be refined in interesting ways. Also, I like that Tifa? and Aerith are pals this time around. I’m not emotionally prepared for anything to happen to them in the sequel.

#7: Rakuen Deluxe Edition

Rakuen is the very first game I reviewed for Destructoid, and�I honestly feel a little bad about it. I was still finding my voice at the time, and in retrospect, I perhaps focused too much on critique and created a negative sounding review. A lot of that was because of my reaction to Mr. Saitou, but it does seem like most people did enjoy that little side story. Honestly, I’m happy to be in the minority as far as that go?es!

All of this is to say, Rakuen was a special experience. It’s a very earnest, emotional story that hit me hard after my experience through the pandemic, even though Rakuen originally came out in 2017. And Laura Shigihara did a fantastic job on the music here. Build a Little World With Me is one of the most emotionally devastating songs I’ve ever heard, and I’m amazed more artists haven??’t covered it. I’d say I’ll listen to anyone who takes a stab at it, but I don't think I’m ready for that feels-trip again.

#6: Blasphemous 2

As far as my personal tastes go, Blasphemous 2 is an absolute dark horse hit. I genuinely was not grabbed at all by Blasphemous when I tried it out, and I was prepared to just treat reviewing the sequel like sheer work. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I didn’t just like Blasphemous 2, but I loved it. It just hit so many notes that I feel a Metroidvania should, and I adored nearly every boss battle.

I don’t typically expect Metroidvanias to hit the highs of stuff like the GBA Castlevania games, but The Game Kitchen pulled it off in stride. It’s just a go??od as hell video game that's well worth your time, whether you played the?? first or not.

#5: Super Mario RPG

It’s Super Mario RPG, what do I even have to say? It’s one of gaming’s greatest creative collaborations, and this remake retains nearly everything that made the SNES classic special. Mario RPGs work so well for both genre fanatics and those who typically dislike RPGs, and Super Mario RPG especially reminded me of that.

If the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake (remaster?) does just as well and succeeds commercially, I hope we s??ee ??a renaissance of Nintendo RPGs. Bonus points if we get Yoko Shimomura back for the soundtracks!

#4: Terranigma

Anyone who has followed me this year knows I’ve spent a lot of time discussing this nearly 30 year old RPG. I wrote a whole passionate write-up about it? back in May, and I even ranked it as one of the top three best SNES games ever made. Given how m?uch I’ve already said about it, I’m going to let? you in on my dirty secret that partially influenced why I’m so enthusiastic about it.

This year was the first time I’d ever finished Terranigma.

Don’t get me wrong, I played Terranigma a lot when I was younger. However, given the game’s Europe exclusivity, let’s just say I had a rough time trying to beat it with a keyboard two decades ago. My main motivation for playing it this year is that I wanted to rank Illusion of Gaia on my best SNES games list. However, I needed to see if Quintet’s subsequent game was mo?re worthy of the spot.

I was not prepared for how hard Terranigma’s themes would strike right through my soul. Shortly after I finished the game, my girlfriend called?? me while she drove home from work. I was doing my best to engage in our usual small talk, but she could tell there was something different about me.

She asked me about it, and I just started bawling, and we spent the rest of our call talking about Terranigma. The ending didn’t even have those big emotional moments that I was expecting it would. But everything Terranigma was about, and everything it had built up to, just sunk in. I ?was so profoundly sad and so happy to be alive all at the same time, and I couldn’t believe something that powerful was hidden in an SNES ??game all this time. A week hasn’t gone by since where I haven’t thought about Ark’s journey in one way or another.

I gave myself the rule about prioritizing newer games in my rankings here because Terranigma was, hands down, the game that impacted me the most this year. It’s easily in my top 10 games of all time and stands as a testament to the reasons we create and share art with each other. I’m almost three decades late to the party, but you did it Quintet. You created a mast??erpiece, and I’ll never, ever forget it.

#3: Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is somehow both a critical darling and a surprisingly divisive game, and I can understand both sides. I don’t necessarily agree with every take on its gameplay or story I’ve read, but I do get the points of view. Personally, Final Fantasy XVI really resonated with me, and I felt it was the kin??d of story I needed this year.

As I discussed back when I was ranking Final Fantasy games, the series likes to explore the concept of hope amid hopeless circumstances. And despite how edgy Final Fantasy XVI is, I felt this spirit? was intact. This particularly struck me early in Cliv?e’s journey, when he is getting to know his mentor figure Cid. Clive explains his desire for revenge, which makes Cid rather bluntly respond with:

“Fate. You’re content to be its slave then.�/p>

Many RPGs explore the concept of fate, but usually from an external perspective. For example, for the characters in Final Fantasy XIII, their fate of becoming l’Cie is forced on them, and the game’s theme involves breaking free of that fate. But in Final Fantasy XVI, fate is any??thing that takes our agency away from us. Whether it’s the destruction of your home or a desi??re for revenge that clouds your judgment, we’re constantly struggling with forces that threaten to take or redirect our freedom.

That depiction of fate has really struck me since it’s something that I struggle with daily.?? And I’ll venture a guess that many of you have your own "fates" you're battling too. Reframing fate in those terms has, weirdly, been mentally g??rounding for me. Whenever I feel myself staring too deep into that void, feeling hopeless as the world around us just seems weirder and dumber with each passing day, I try to remember Cid’s words. I don’t want to be a slave to fate. No matter how futile that may seem, it’s something I want to fight against.

I also like the part where Clive gets the big laser beam move and can go pew pew on his enemies. Good game, I hope to have a drink with Ben Starr someday.

#2: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

After discussing two games in a row that made me think and feel, it’s also important to remember games that are like the equivalent of being dropped in a Six Flags as a kid with $500 in your wallet. I went into Super Mario Bros. Wonder expecting something along the lines of the New Super Mario Bros. games, but what I got instead was pure, unadulterated joy. As much as I like to wax poetic about video games, sometimes I enjoy a go??od vacation too.

I love 3D Mario, but 2D Mario has always been where it’s at for my tastes. And Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, without a doubt, the best 2D Mario game I’ve played since Super Mario World. The level design consistently knocks it out of the park, the Wonder gimmicks are almost always entertaining, and it’s visually more filled with life than all the New games combined. There wasn’t a minute of Wonder w??here I wasn’t having fun; it was pure Nintendo magic from start to finish.

All in all, 2023 was a great year for Mario fans. And as cynical as I’ve become about our modern corporate world, the thought of parents sharing these wonderful Mario experien??????????????????????????ces with their kids this year just warms my heart.

#1: Octopath Traveler 2

Octopath Traveler 2 is one of those games where I couldn’t even comprehend how special it was until it was over. I went into it expecting more of the original Octopath Traveler, which I liked but did not love (similar to Chris Carter’s take). But if Octopath Traveler was a love letter to golden age SNES/PSX RPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 is a perfect encapsulation of them.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most fun RPG worlds I’ve ever explored. There are secrets and bosses around nearly every corner, rewarding every ounce of curiosity you have. At the same time, it never feels like you’re just cutting through filler content either. Octopath Traveler 2 is im??maculately paced, always tantalizing your senses with story objectives and rare treasures to pursue.

Similarly, the game’s combat mechanics offer a wonderful level of depth. Random encounters never gave me that usual feeling of tedium, since I felt consistently engaged in figuring out ways to dispatch foes faster and faster. Octopath Traveler 2 does a fantastic job of offering rich levels of party customization, yet it never bogs the player down with them. I was constantly getting huge “aha!â€?moments whenever I discovered different synergies with my skills and equipment. This did eventually make the game feel easy, but I also felt like I’d earned it. E?ven after spending nearly 100 hours with the game, I was fiddling with m?y team and experimenting with new ideas.

The segmented story has grown on me in retrospect too. While I initially didn’t like how separated each character’s tale was, that structure felt so real to me this year. Our paths often cross with friends and comrades, but ultimately, we’re all the heroes of our own stories. W?e all have our dreams we’re reaching for, and those ?goals may create temporary friendships of convenience.

But that’s not to say that those practical relationships can’t become meaningful. It’s human to want to make connections where we can, and we see the characters in Octopath Traveler 2 do that too. Hikari’s mission to lead Ku will naturally diverge from Agnea’s aspiration to become a star. But that doesn’t mean that, for a brief time, they can't share a story together. People often come and go in our lives, and seemingly lifelong friendships may become fleeting over time. But those memories, however temporary, are important. And by the end of Octopath Traveler 2, thatâ€??™s the sense I got from these eight unlikely, but ultimately relatable allies.

There’s no telling where our paths in life will take us. But if we only look ahead at where we want to be, we might miss the adventure we can have now. And in the case of Octopath Traveler 2, there are few adventures I’ll ever look back on as fondly. Here’s to what 2024 may bring, and may Team Asan??o rest easy knowing they’ve created such a special, captivating game.

#0: Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year 2: We’re All Content

That crazy bastard did it again, Ji??mothy Donbleau ??wins Game of the Year 2023!!!

The post Timothy Monbleau’s 10 favorite games of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

When Super Mario RPG first dropped, it showed the kind of magic that could happen when two of the biggest names in gaming �Square and Nintendo �combined their powers. The recent remake is a great remind??er of how those creative decisions can introduce new players to a genre that otherwise never clicked for them.

I used to be among that crowd, appreciating the idea of role-playing games without ever quite grasping what made them work. Not to out myself as a Dumb Gamerâ„? but going from reflex-based to menu-based action was jarring for me. When you're a kid who almost exclusively plays plat??formers, beat 'em ups, and run-and-gunners, it can be difficult to make the leap to RPGs. It certainly wasn't for lack of trying, either. 

With turn-based RPGs, I felt both too much pressure and a discouraging lack of immediacy. Systems like Final Fantasy VI's Active Time Battles were slow cookers. The heat was there, but the execution and the outcome just didn't grab me quickly enough. When Super Mario RPG launched two years later, it finally managed to bridge that yawning gap. On its surface, the same turn-based trappings of other traditional RPGs remained. Once you leaped into battle, though, you were able to punctuate each decision with a timing-based action. You weren't just telling Mario to hop on a Koopa Troopa; you were telling him to hop on one and then pe?rsonally giving that attack ??even more power. 

This spoke to me in a way that your average fantasy adventure hadn't been able to just yet. When I look back at my history with RPGs prior to 1996, it was a series of earnest attempts without ever being willing to meet the genre on its own terms. In 1990, NES kids who subscribed to Nintendo Power got a taste of RPGs whether they wanted it or not. They were literally giving Dragon Warrior (now Dragon Quest) carts away, and I was happy to get a free game in the mail. As much as I enjoyed the musical sting and visuals whenever a Slime appeared, though, the game itself didn't leave an immediate impression. To my young, obtuse mind, questing and taking on random battles was a grueling and lonesome endeavor. I probably played the first hour of Dragon Warrior a hundred times, but the menus never set my mind ablaze. The same goes for the original Final Fantasy. Even if ?the Nintendo Power strategy guide told me otherwise, I was convinced the game ende?d after the battle with Garland. 

Flash forward a couple of years, when there were a ton of alluring boxes on retail shelves begging to be purchased or rented. Seeing games like Lufia & The Fortress of Doom and Final Fantasy II (IV) was a real curiosity. Surely, with so much video game experience under my belt, these woul?d finally unlock some latent desire to select actions while enemies patiently wait for their turn ??to attack. 

Seeing is believing

At the time, I was far more interested in the tales my friends had to tell about RPGs than I was in actually playing them. I distinctly recall a friend telling me about how he waited for Shadow on the Floating Continent in Final Fantasy III (VI), amazed as he dashed out at the last second to escape with the rest of the party. So you could add him to your team after tha??t? Otherwise, he would just DIE? That sounded i??ncredible, but the game itself hadn't wormed its way in enough to make me want to play that far. In fact, I found it pretty damn difficult to do so. 

When Super Mario RPG came out â€?in the very same year that Nintendo would launch its next console, Nintendo 64, no less â€?it represented many of the technological leaps that still made the Super NES such an enduring and successful beast of a machine. Following Rare's act a couple of years prior, Super Mario RPG used pre-rendered characters to give this incredible illusion of 3D, from the battlefield to? the environments themselves. It's just one part of what made Mario's turn-base?d adventure so engrossing, but it helped lull me into the sense that I was playing a Mario game first and a role-playing game second. 

Live, learn, level up

With those visuals front and center, Super Mario RPG took familiar characters, introduced some fresh faces, and set them all out on a quirky adventure packed with humor. Throw in a fantastic earworm of a soundtrack by Yoko Shimomura, and you have an endlessly charming journey to find the seven stars and take down the villainous Smithy once and for all. You even enlist the help of Bowser along the way, setting the stage for the oddball team-ups that would come to define future Mario RPGs, from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door to the Mario & Luigi series. 

With such an irresistible setup and all that familiarity fueling it, I was finally ready to see what RPGs had to offer. The timed attacks didn't always make it easier for me �I still recall having trouble with the final boss and some other areas �but it got my foot in the door. Every new move I learned, and every new party member I acquired had the potential to introduce an exciting element of action as that exclamation point I so desperately needed. Suddenly, strategizing? started to make sense to me bit by bit. I had a better idea of who I wanted to attack, what moves I wanted to use, and how much d?amage I could deal with a little extra action on my end.

In a genre that made me ??feel like less of? a player and more of a coach, this was crucial.  

Captain M: The Menu Master

Nintendo and Square's adventure wasn't the first RPG to offer up something more interactive during actions. Sabin's Blitz command in Final Fantasy VI lets players use fighting game-style inputs to pull off specific moves. I saw the appeal of this, but it was buried in so many of the typical genre trappings that I was never able to fully appreciate it. That was the case, at least, until I saw the credits roll on Super Mario RPG. By the time I had bested Smithy, I was a little more prepared to see what else the ??genre had to offer. 

Maybe my patience had leveled up, or maybe I finally just saw the appeal in sitting back and taking the time to think about what I wanted to do next. Either way, I was invested. To this day, I wouldn't say I'm "strategically minded," but Super Mario RPG helped me better appreciate the pace of role-playing. With some turn-based training wheels, I was able to see the appeal of letting a world unfold before me, focusing on story and characters, and gaining a new fondness for the way differences were settled on the field of battle. I s?tarted to really love the way enemies and characters lined up across from one another, each side waiting for the right opportunity to deliver a punishing blow before the other could so much as unsheathe their swords. 

This would even inform the way I played with my toys! I used to collect those Star Wars Micro Machines sets, and once I finally grasped RPGs, I found myself facing a party of Luke, Chewbacca, and Han across from a towering AT-ST boss battle. It all couldn't have happened at a better time. It's not as if it suddenly became my favorite genre, but learning to enjoy RPGs was essential for a few key reasons. Final Fantasy VII would make its debut on PlayStation a little over a year after Super Mario RPG launched on? SNES, almost instantly becoming one of my favorite games of all time. ??I couldn't have done it without Mario, Geno, Peach, and some well-timed tapping.

The post Super Mario ??????????????????????????RPG made the genre click?? for me when Final Fantasy couldn’t appeared first on Destructoid.

The debate over how long video games should be has raged since the 90s at least. I’ve certainly dipped my toes into this conversation before, including here on Destructoid. But for the recent release of Super Mario RPG, those ?asking “how long is it�may need a s?lightly more nuanced answer than usual.

For those just tuning in, the remake of the Super Nintendo classic Super Mario RPG is here. For my part, I absolutely loved reviewing the game. I do think there were missed opportunities with the remake. However, I remain confident in saying that everyone, in one way or another, should experience this adventure. It’s also a $60 remake of a 27-year-old game, and it doesn’t boast the ??longest run time.

Depending on where you look, you'll maybe see the claim that Super Mario RPG takes 12 hours to complete. And while you certainly can finish the game in 12 hours, I’d hesitate to say that's how long you'll spend with Super Mario RPG. I’ll unpack this by sharing my experience.

How long is the Super Mario RPG remake?

I talked about this in my review, but I think a more dedica??ted breakdown is in o??rder.

By the time I reached the end of the credits, my playtime was 14 hours and 45 minutes. I played the original quite a bit in my youth, but it had been a decade since my last playthrough. For this reason, I didn't exactly remember each and every secret. I had to spend a bit of time looking for hidden chests and chasing down optional quests. I also talked to every NPC and looked for potential easter eggs. This included returning ?to Vista Hill every now and then, just so I could see if there was any new dialogue as my party grew.

I did, generally, try to skip most enemy encounters. This kept me from getting overleveled, which led ?to nicely-tuned boss fights. That said, I did have Mallow scan as many enemies as I could find with the Thought Peek skill. You better believe I want to read every single foe’s thoughts.

Though my playtime was a bit above the 11 or 12 hours that has been cited, I still fell quite a bit below the alleged SNES runtime of 17.5 hours. This could be because the remake is easier than the ori??ginal game. I’d have to play the two side-by-side to really compare them and see w??hat the difference is. However, I'd say the reduction is at least as much a result of how the remake streamlines the game. Again, as I cited in my review, there’s very little time spent on menus here. Additionally, battle transitions do seem to be a bit faster on average. The original game was already pretty light on filler, but the remake cuts the downtime even further.

But how long does the extra content in Super Mario RPG take to complete?

This is another area where the "length" conversation gets tricky. I’m going to remain spoiler-free with this topic, but as another recap, Super Mario RPG does feature some boss rematches. Like I said in my review, this feature wasn’t as comprehensive as I think it could have been. However, these encounters do a??dd some teeth to the experience, so I do think they warrant some discussion as well??.

I didn’t time how long I spent with these encounters, but I estimate they took around 1.5 hours. Part of what makes this estimate tricky is that, for the sake of exploring some of the mechanics at this stage, I did level-grind my party just to see how hard certain things could hit. I don’t think anyone has to grind to beat these encounters unless you just feel safer with more stats. I also spent some time replaying battles to? get the strategies down pat. Someone who looks up a guide or al?ready has the game’s best equipment might have an easier time.

However, even if you complete these rematches, you can still find things to do in the game. It’s just a bit weird since this is an area of content that’s closer to achievement hunting than anything. There’s stuff from the original game you can uncover, like trying to find items such as the Star Egg. Also, there are some remake-specific things you c??an chase down if you’re committed. This mostly consists of tasks like filling out the Monster List or going for better scores on some of the minigames.

I don’t necessarily think many people will get that into the weed?s with the game. You aren’t exactly missing out by not seeing and doing every single possible thing the game offers. But, that is what I did, and it did push me to roughly 20 hours played all said and done. I’m happy with my time spent, but as always, your mileage may vary.

Is the Super Mario RPG remake worth $60?

So, with all that said, we arrive at the $60 question: is Super Mario RPG worth all sixty of those dollars?

The thing is, there’s not really a great methodology for factoring price into a game’s quality. Some people have more time than money, while others have more money than time. Some may straight-up prefer their games to be short. For me, how much game I’m getting per dollar kind of depends on the quality of the experience. There are titles that have more filler than something like Super Mario Wonder, but maybe those games serve a different purpose. For example, a long RPG might burn me out if I play it for sev?eral hours at once, but it may be something I enjoy returning to in short bursts. In those cases, I think the longer runtime can benefit, since I can treat it like a bedtime story to enjoy for weeks on end.

However, I think the unique thing about Super Mario RPG is that it isn’t a slow-burn RPG. The first weekend I had it, I played it for a good 10 hours and didn’t feel sick of it at all. That flow of charming dialogue, inventive dungeon design, and phenomenal music puts it closer to Super Mario Wonder in my mind than something like Octopath Traveler 2. Maybe that’s not what RPG fans in particular value most, but I do think that experience is part of why Super Mario RPG still commands so much admiration.

But Super Mario RPG is a remake of an SNES game, right?

Well, yeah, I can’t argue ?with facts. Despite my gripes about what this remake could have added, I do think it’s a comprehensive effort. It certainly doesn’t feel like corners were cut, especially when it comes to tha?t delightful soundtrack.

Could Super Mario RPG have been sold at a lower price? Maybe. Obviously, a less expensive game is more accessible to more people, especially for anyone str?uggling just to make their bills every month. I also don’t know how much this remake cost to make, either. Nintendo didn’t include that information with the embargo guidelines.

The weird thing with remakes is that, if you never played the original game, then this functionally is a new experience. And while some may find ways to ??get their ?hands on the SNES original these days, it’s not like that cartridge is readily available. So for this audience, knocking it for being a remake is kind of an immaterial thing. Heck, some younger gamers may see it on the eShop without ever having seen a Super Nintendo!

But, if you do have that SNES cartridge on standby�then yeah, this remake may be a harder sell. Look, what the remake adds to the core game is very nice. That said, the main appeal of the package is just how good Super Mario RPG is at its core. Some extra features may not justify $60 for you, and that’s fine! I sort of feel like anyone familiar with the original probably knows how eager they are to jump into the remake. But at least for the time being, it’s not like this version of Super Mario RPG is going anywhere anytime soon. You can always ch??oose to pick it up down the?? line.

It's worth the money if you want the experience

Ultimately, I wrote this big ol�post because, based on my experience, I don’t think Super Mario RPG is a game that everyone will just crush within 12 hours. However, even if you extend your time into the 15-20 hour range, it is still short by RPG standards. The thing is, even if there are other games that are as good per minute and take twice as long to finish, I don’t think that’s a point against Super Mario RPG. It’s just a different exper??ience, and there's room for long and short games on the marke??t.

To give an analogy, sometimes I’ll treat myself with bubble tea. It's an expensive beverage, so I probably could get a gallon of juice from my local grocery store for the same price. Surely, that’s a better value if we’re talking price-per-sip. But not every decision I make in life needs t??o be the most economical one possible. Sometimes I’m happy to spend that cash on a treat I’ll really enjoy every now and then. Would I make that financial decision every time? Of course not. But the experience is worth paying a premium to me.

For those who are not great with metaphors, Super Mario RPG is the bu??bble tea. It is very good, and I am happy to have given it that nine out of ten score. At the same time, maybe not all of you need to?? purchase it on day one, and that is totally okay. I do hope that everyone can enjoy this game as much as I did. But if you’re still on the fence about picking it up, maybe wait a week or two and see how you feel about it after the hype has died down. You don't have to take my word or anyone else's on whether you're going to love a game. I promise you won't hurt my feelings.

In short, I highly recommend the Super Mario RPG remake. However, it may not be for you depending on what you want in an RPG and how you feel about the original game, and that is perfectly okay. Even if you skip it, I promise I can still be your friend. Maybe a friend that will nudge you to play Super Mario RPG, but a friend nonetheless.

The post Let’s talk about g??ame length and whether Super Mario RPG is?? worth $60 appeared first on Destructoid.

Super Mario RPG is Super Mario RPG. It was an i?nstant classic when it came out on the Super Nintendo in 1996, and it’s still a cl?assic in 2023. That’s the review. Leave your comments down below.

Oh, you’re still here. That’s understandable. After all, I don’t think you needed me to tell you that Super Mario RPG is a fun game. This unique collaboration between Nintendo and Squaresoft garnered a devoted following almost immediately upon release, and that passion from its fans endures to this day. While this is technically the origin point that led to the Paper Mario and the Mario & Luigi series, Super Mario RPG remains one of the wackiest and m??ost surreal games the mustached plumber has ever starred in. Quite ??frankly, it's a miracle we’re even seeing this game again at all.

When I previewed the game and noted that it was a mostly faithful remake, I saw quite a few mixed reactions. For some, a remake should be the original game preserved with modern graphics and updated music. For others, a remake should be a transformative experience that expands upon the source material. Does Super Mario RPG achieve either of these objectives? And perhaps more importantly, did Super Mario RPG need to change to appeal to a modern audience?

As good as Super Mario RPG is, the answers to both questions are?? surprisingly complicated. Not nec?essarily in bad ways, though.

Super Mario RPG (Switch)
Developer: ArtePiazza
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: November 17, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

Fungah! Foiled again!

For those totally unfamiliar with Super Mario RPG, our story begins with a tale as old as time. Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach, and it’s up to Mario to save her. Even in the Super Mario RPG universe, Mario’s reputation precedes him. So??, naturally, he speedruns his mission and whacks Bowser in record time. However, rather than cut to a happily-ever-after, a huge sword crashes into Bowser’s Castle, separating Mario and Princess Peach once again.

A new foe enters the scene, and it’s up to Mario to both f??ind the missing princess and discover why these weapon-based enemies?? have invaded both the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond.

Mario games don’t typically focus on storytelling, and Super Mario RPG isn’t exactly Shakespeare with its twists and turns. That said, Super Mario RPG remains, to this day, one of the best stories set in the Mario universe. The world and its inhabitants are vibrant, with funny dialogue that always got a smile out of me. Yet the story sequences move on quickly, so it never feels bogged? down by cutscenes.

I get the sense that Super Mario RPG was written specifically for people who don’t typically like RPGs. Its story beats are exceedingly simple, and the text can say e?verythin??g it needs with a handful of words. Yet within that space, there's so much life and tongue-in-cheek dialogue, which makes the package work so well. It feels like proper comedy, not just an RPG with some funny lines, and I love that vibe so much.

Lots of people use something called a “door�to go in and out of their houses

Additionally, this most recent playthrough of Super Mario RPG made me realize how much I love the characters in this game. Mallow and Geno are, of course, charming and lovable in their own ways. But Super Mario RPG is the rare Mario ?game in which?? I actually think Mario is the star of the show.

Like many '90s RPG heroes, he's a silent protagonist, but he’s so expressive in ways we typically don’t see even today. Mario recaps story events through elaborate charades, and he often reacts to wacky enemies or situations with slapstick humor that looks straight out of Looney Tunes. On a few occasions, we even see the usually cheery plumber lose his cool, and hones?tly, watching Mallow keep Mario from throwing hands is funnier today than it ??was in 1996.

At this point, it's a running joke that if you have a group of friends playing something like Mario Kart, almost no one will actually play as Mario. He’s often treated as a blank slate, with the entirety of his personality coming from Charles Martinet’s incredible voice work. But Super Mario RPG does such a good job characterizing Mario that I’m sad this didn’t become his canon personality. H??e’s an endearing little ball of chaos,? emotive in a way rarely seen by modern Mario.

Super Mario RPG obviously isn’t the only game in the Mushroom Kingdom to get creative with its world and characters. But as one of the first Mario games to take a story-focused approach, it??’s amazing just how well Squaresoft and Nintendo nailed it on the first try.

Mario! The chain! Aim for the chain!

The writing isn’t the only part of Super Mario RPG that has aged well. Even exploring towns still feels great, thanks in part to the focus on Mario’s most defining characteristic: jumping. Small platforming challenges and secrets are everywhere, adding extra spice to the more mundane parts of RPGs. See a treasure chest that’s out of reach in a shop? Well, do some snooping, and you may find a few hidden boxes. Climb to the top, and there's a chimney that drops you in just the right spot. These types of small puzzles are everywhere, and they’re always fun? to uncover.

That philosophy extends to the game’s dungeon design (if you can call the enemy-laden areas in the game “dungeons�. Super Mario RPG loves its gimmicks and twists, making each challenge distinct from the last. In one minute, you’ll try to catch a bandit before they escape; in the next, you’ll tackle some light puzzle-so??lving. Then, before you know it, you're floating down a river playing a minigame.

It’s the type of ingenuity you’d see in a Nintendo platformer like Super Mario Wonder, except in an RPG setting. Even the smaller gimmicks, like finding a star in a treasure chest that lets you instantly defeat enemies, adds so much energy to the experience. Despite finishing this game several times in my youth, I stayed curious and excited throughout the journey. This kind of design was wildly creative back in the SNES days, and even today, Super Mario RPG feels fresh.

Now, let’s chat about the remake

So, yes, Super Mario RPG has aged quite we??ll. But what does the r??emake add to the experience?

Well, let’s start with the obvious. Super Mario RPG has a visual overhaul on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s�pretty good! The art remains faithful to the original, with added environmental details where the SNES game just kind of had blank space. The decision to make Mario look so small in this version honestly added to my delight, too. Combine design with hi?s over-the-top charact??erization, and that makes this Mario a strong contender for my favorite incarnation of the plumber yet.

That said, Super Mario RPG doesn’t exactly stun or wow with its aesthetics. It gets the job done, don’t get me wrong. It just doesn't often aim much higher than that. It's not really a bad thing, but in context, Super Mario RPG was one of the SNES' more ??distinct an?d impressive-looking games. That specific appeal is lost here, and I imagine some purists may prefer the original game for that reason.

The same can’t be said about the music, which absolutely went above and beyond here. Back in the day, Super Mario RPG's soundtrack never stuck with me like other games of the era did. But these arrangements of Yoko Shimomura’s tracks sing, adding enough flourishes to enhance and honor Ma??rio's old tunes. For example, the extended battle theme includes a couple of key changes preventing the original theme ?from repeating too soon. I found myself stopping at several points just to listen to the music, despite my feelings regarding the original soundtrack.

There was a track or two that didn’t quite stick the landing. But ove??rall, even if visuals aren’t a showstopper, I’d absolutely recommend playing this remake for the new music.

The name’s Nello...PUNCHINELLO!

So those are the aesthetics, but what about the gamepl?ay?

At its core, Super Mario RPG plays the same as it always did; turn-based battles with timed button presses for attacks and defenses. However, we now have quite a few quality-of-life features that make the experience much smoother. Items and recovery magic have quick menus that you can access with a button press, making party upkeep a breeze. Additionally, inventory management drops the collective, total item cap and pivots to limiting how much of each item you can hold. Item restrictions could be a has??sle in the original game, but it's a no??n-issue in the remake.

Combat is where we see the most substantial changes. The big additions here are chain bonuses that grow with every perfectly timed block or attack and Triple Moves that function like Final Fantasy-style Limit Breaks. However, there are a few other added touches here too. The game will now announce which enemy attacks can or can’t be blocked, and your perfectly timed attacks will now inflict a little splash damage on all enemies. Additionally, a couple of neat new ??systems come int?o play once you get your fourth party member.

Out of an overabundance of caution, I won’t elaborate on that last point. But I will say that, of all the changes to the game, the integration of your whole party is my favorite. In the SNES version, I defaulted to a party of Mario, Geno, and Peach and never strayed from that. However, this go-around, I felt encouraged to swap out party members regularly, adding some welcomed variety. Even Bowser, who I almost always benched, actually saw some use in my run. It's a more dynamic iteration on the classic combat, leaning more into the RPG side of Super Mario RPG.

Crying? But that's what people do when they're...sad!!

That said, I can’t say that the entirety of the new battle mechanics changed that much about the game. The new systems are intriguing enough in isolation, but the momen?t-to-moment gameplay didn't necessarily feel much different than its SNES counterpart. Stuff like the chain bonus didn’t alter how I? played, and even the extra splash damage wasn’t usually enough to alter my tactics.

That said, the battle music ??does get more upbeat if you maintain that combo. So, in a way, the mechanic did provide an added incentive to time attacks just right. Yet again, Yoko Shimomura’s soundtrack comes in clutch.

The subdued impact of these mechanics probably comes from the fact that the Super Mario RPG remake is kind of easy. To be clear, it’s not terribly easy. The original game wasn’t necessarily known for its blistering diffic??ulty, and the remake can put up a fight at times. But as long as you got your timing on your button presses right, there's less pressure to min-max your actual battle tactics. This ultimately made me wish the game featured an optional harder difficulty for those who are well familiar with the original.

I do appreciate that you can select an easier difficulty from the outset. Super Mario RPG is honestly one of the best games for anyone who w?ants to get into turn-based RPGs, and the remake retains that quality. But this is one respect where this remake may have stopped just a step too short. I think something as simple as a hard mode could have made the game a bit more transformative for longtime fans, but I wouldn’t rank this omission as a dealbreaker.

I am matter... I am antimatter...

So maybe the remake is only mildly transformative with its gameplay, but what about all-new content? Nintendo previously teased boss rematches, and while I appreciated some encounters, not all of these new fights are winners. However, the ones that worked really dug into the game's mechanics. This is where Mario RPG gets some real ??bite, which I th?ink longtime fans will enjoy. One of these rematches, in particular, really stands out, too. Don't worry, you'll know it when you see it.

That said, without veering into spoiler territory, the boss rematches aren’t quite as comprehensive as they could be. While I was initially fascinated by uncovering “new�encounters, they were over too soon, and before I knew it I had cleared everything. My total playtime, with the rematches, was still under 20 hours all said and done. To be clear, Super Mario RPG goes light on filler. By no means do I think its shorter runtime i??s a bad thing, especially since most RPG??s drag on for 40 hours or more. But if you’re a longtime fan only interested in new content, you might feel a bit disappointed.

There are a few odds and ends you can chase down to max out your save file. Basically, a few medals and trinkets for those who like to 100% a game for completion's sake. But, again, the remake stops itself just short of giving players captivating reasons to stick around after clearing its beefier rematches. Super Mario RPG still has plenty of secrets tucked away, little things like feeding a Yoshi handfuls of Yoshi Cookies for rare items. But I still wish more was done to explore everything Super Mario RPG's world has to offer.

It’s honestly to the game’s credit that I was still searching for reasons to keep playing despite the lack of rewards for my efforts. Yet, when I think about remakes like Pokemon Heart Gold & Soul Silver that both preserve and expand on the source material, I can’t help but wish that’s what was done her?e.

Like the moon over the day, my genius and brawn are lost on these fools

At the end of the day, Super Mario RPG juggles its duty to serve as a classic tribute and modernized experience well. However, your mileage will depend on what you want out of it. Judged strictly as a remake, this is a firmly good-to-great effort. The visual upgrades are nice, and the music is phenomenal. Meanwhile, the added content and gameplay elements may not be substantially transformative, but do offer more than something like the Link’s Awakening remake. It’s not nearly as comprehensive as, say, the recent Star Ocean: The Second Story R, but?? this RPG maint??ains all of the appeal of the original.

However, if we judge the game as a whole, Super Mario RPG remains an utterly delightful time full of energy and personality. The writing, level design, and even the world aged so well that it didn’t need many changes to modernize it. Sure, there are a few balance issues, and some of the platforming can be trickier than it needs to be. But from the moment I picked it up, I still didn’t want to put it down. It’s all the charm of a golden age Squaresoft RPG combined with the sheer joy of a top-shelf Nintendo game, so it’s no wonder this one remains so fiercely beloved. There’s still nothing quite like it, and I’m thrilled to see it return for a brand new audience to fa?ll in love with.

Super Mario RPG is an all-time classic game that both RPG lovers and Mario fans alike owe it to themselves to play. This Switch remake brilliantly preserves the spirit of the original SNES game, with some great quality-of-life enhancements and a phenomenally redone soundtrack. Longtime fans looking for a more transformative remake may feel disappointed, but when the core game itself has aged this well, it doesn’t suffer in the ways a lesser title would. If you’ve never played Super Mario RPG, or if you? simply wa?nt an excuse to revisit it, this remake is for you.

The post Review: Super Mario RPG (Switch) appeared first on Destructoid.

Back when Nintendo announced that Super Mario RPG would return this year, I actually gasped. For years, I assumed this unique collaboration with SquareS?oft was lost to time. But lest you believe that announcement was actually a fever dream, I can tell you that it is, indeed, real.

Ahead of Super Mario RPG’s launch on November 17, I got to play this new twist on an old classic. Based on this experie????nce, much of this remake felt the same as the SNES classic it’s based on. Yet despite only featuring a few small tweaks to the original game, what I played was remarkably fresh, even by modern standards.

Just the way you remember

From the first moments of the game, I f??elt an overwhelming wave of nostalgia wash over me. Sure, that opening cutscene where Bowser kidnaps Peach remains faithful to the original. But even the smaller touches are retained to a tee. For example, seeing Mario walk up to the door of Bowser’s castle, pause, and then run in place before dashing in like a classic cartoon character made me vividly remember when I was seven years old in my childhood room, watching the exact same moment play out.

Are there differences? Sure, there are a few new shots thrown in here to show off the enhanced 3D graphics. However, most moments played out at least clos??ely to how I remembered them. I don’t think being this faithful is necessarily good or bad, but I was impressed by the attention to detail nonetheless.

Granted, it’s been long enough since I last played Super Mario RPG that I had to rebuild my muscle memory. For those just tuning in, combat in Super Mario RPG is mostly turn based. Similar to the Paper Mario games that followed, the strength of your attacks and defenses involve timing button presses right at the point of impact (with potentially more complex prompt??s when you use special skills). For this reason, I used the opening battles leading up to the first encounter against Bowser to test if I could still time Mario’s punch attacks just right. Spoilers, I couldn’t.

I actually needed to play the game’s combat tutorial to relearn how? to time attacks again. Fortunately, with a bit of practice, I did get my groove back. All of this is to say that, so far, combat doesn't appear to be simpler than it was.

It's the little things

After I got my bearings and made my way through the game's first levels, I started noticing subtle differences. The original SNES game was already pretty streamlined. At least, it was in terms of raw RPG elements, especially compared to contemporaries like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. And while this iteration of Super Mario RPG doesn’t appear to simplify its systems, it does get you in and out of its menus at lightning speed. Using items or healing spells is a total?? breeze, and even inventory management was basically a non-issue.

If you’re new to Super Mario RPG, you’ll ??likely?? think nothing of these changes. But I imagine those familiar with the classic will warmly welcome these tweaks.

That’s not to say that the only alterations are quality of life related. There are also cute visual touches that, while seemingly small at a glance, added a lot to my experience. Mario and his c?ompanions now have fun little idle animations while they wait for their turn in battle, which appropriately reflect their personalities. For example, you might see Mario take a couple practice swings while he waits for his turn. And perhaps most importantly, the new level up screen has gotten a total rework. Your party now takes to a stage, performing an adorable dance for whoeve?r had the honor of passing that next EXP threshold.

I have to con??fess that I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time on this screen just looking at Mario work it before I inevitably decided which stats to upgrade. Something abou?t his especially short-looking model in this remake makes Mario as a character so much more endearing than usual. Keep on dancing, king.

Prepare for battle

Where the game appears to make the most substantial changes, however, is in its battle system. As previously reported, players can now enj??oy a few extra bonuses whenever they pull off those timed button presses. Pulling off successful attacks or defenses builds a chain bonus, granting extra effects the long??er you maintain it. I didn’t notice this making the game much easier, necessarily. But it's certainly nice to see how many button presses in a row you timed perfectly.

The other obvious difference comes from what the game calls Triple Moves. For all intents and purposes, you can think of these like Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy 7. You’ll charge up the Triple Move meter to attack and defend, and once it’s full, you can trigger a new ability. Typically, the ability involves your party working together in some fashion. However, I was surprised to see Triple Moves usable as simply a "Gauge Move" before recruiting a team of three. It’s a small thing, but I like that you can play with the new toys the remake offers rig??ht away.

Much like everything else, these mechanics blend well with what was already in Super Mario RPG. They’re integrated into the core experience rather seaml??essly, and they don’t override the battle system in any way. I’d say combat on the whole skews more toward the familiar side, but I do like seeing fresh elements added to the mix.

We'll all learn more soon

Overall, I feel very curious about how the rest of the game will pan out. It’s admittedly been years since I last played Super Mario RPG, so I can’t give a play-by-play of what’s new and what’s the same down to the detail. That’s something I’m sure the fans will go ov?er, and I think I’ll enjoy reading people analyze this remake as much as anyone.

It’s too early to draw any kind of conclusion about Super Mario RPG. However, having just recently played the superb Super Mario Bros. Wonder, I’ve spent a lot of time revisiting childhood memories with Nintendo's charming mascot. I never thought I’d get another 2D Mario game on the level of Super Mario World, but here I am, reliving those highs in full force. And now, only a month later, I can play a classic RPG that I never thought would hit modern consoles. I love 3D Mario games like Odyssey and Galaxy, but the NES and SNES are where I fell in love with our moustached friend. Those were my games, and I'm happy to see these kinds of experiences returning for those who misse??????????????????????????d those console generations.

But even if others don’t warm to these '90s Mario throwbacks, I’m certainly here for the ride, wherever it may take. Because as far as my 16-bit loving heart is concerned, it's been a great year to be a Mario fan.

Super Mario RPG will launc??h on November 17 for the Ni?ntendo Switch.

The post Prev?iew: Super Mario RPG is a faithf?ul remake with subtle improvements appeared first on Destructoid.

Next month, the holiday season will be in full swing, and there are many November 2023 games to look out for. From a classic returning to a new Call of Duty approaching physical and digital stores, you better prepare ?your wallet.

After a busy September and October, I wonder if we'll get a chance to check out any of these titles. Nevertheless, here are all of the most anticipated November 2023 ?games.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, Demonware
Price: $69.99
Release Date: November 10
Trailer

Likely the last game in the series solely under Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 lets us play as Captain Price and the rest of Task Force 141 seeking Vladimir Makarov. All of the maps from 2009's Modern Warfare 2 have been moderni?zed for this game, and there?? are some new maps to explore as well. There are 12 6v6 maps to tackle too.

Hopefully, with so many developers behind the game's belt, we'll have a unique vision behind this installment. There should be some standout maps that land like Call of Duty Black Ops' Nuketown and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2's Terminal with so? much talent beh??ind this title.

The zombies mode lets you team up with other squads for the first time. The Steam listing says the game will have the "largest Call of Duty zombies map ever." We'll see if bigger means better when ?the game releases on November 10.

Persona 5 Tactica - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: P-Studio
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 16
Trailer

The Persona 5 spinoffs continue, and this time it's a strategy RPG with an all-new storyline in the series. There'??s also a strange new ally called Erina who helps you take down the Legionnaires. In this new realm, you must learn the strategy RPG mechanics of the game and survive.

It would be cool if Persona 5 Tactica reaches the incredible heights of the strategy-RPG Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That Nintendo game has an impactful st??ory, engaging g??ame design, and loveable characters. We've known the Phantom Thieves for a very long time, so it will be interesting to see how they grow.

This new take on the series might be daunting, but if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you can check this game out at no extra cost on day one of its?? release. I can't wait to "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There" for one of the most anticipated November 2023 games.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - PS4, PS5, PC, Switch

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix and Gemdrops
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 2
Trailer

Square Enix continues to blend stunning 2D pixel art into colorful 3D environments in this remaster of Star Ocean: The Second Story R. The 2.5D aesthetic from past games like Octopath Traveler 2 is back in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Only this time, it's in an action-RPG format.

The visuals look pretty. You'll see the pixel art lit up in some stunning lighting, and there are unique settin?gs they'll explore. The story's intriguing as there are two protagonists. Depend??ing on who you choose, the story and party members will change. There's also a relationship system and various endings to find.

If you want to find out more, there's a demo you can try out now on PC, PS4?, PS5, and Switch.

Super Mario RPG - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 17
Trailer

A Super Mario RPG remake is finally on the way for the Nintendo ?Switch. It wil?l feature long-beloved characters like Geno and Mallow in the game as we're reunited with this classic RPG.

The visuals truly pop on screen. It brings that classic look but revitalizes it for a 2023 audience. There are also spectacular Triple Moves that have all three members of the team working to?gether in one attack. The turn-based combat returns in full force, but the game will need you to land the hits with your button presses. It will be a "Happy Adventure, Delightful Adventure" indeed.

It will feature newly remastered music by the game's original composer Yoko Shimomura. However, you can switch back to the old version of the soundtrack at any time.

T?he game also lets you battle the bosses once more with a much harder diffic??ulty. I can't wait to "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" and play this cherished RPG for the first time!

WarioWare: Move It! - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 3
Trailer

One of the most memorable Wii games, at least for me, is WarioWare: Smooth Moves, and Move It feels like it is a successor to that. With the motion controls ?of the Joy-con, we'll be following 200 whacky mini-games that last a matter of seconds. You'll have to complete a chain of them to be successful. Of course, you'll be going through motions like wiggling out of rope and shaking a dog's hand.

The IR sensor, which tracks your hand movements for a few mini-games, is also present. It will show your hand on-screen, and you'll have to point out a certain number of finge?rs to succeed.

These mini-games, including a reference to Super Mario 64's iconic slide level, seem thrilling to play and will keep us on our toes. There's also going to be two-player co-op and a four-player Party Mode. It's one of the most anticipated November 2023?? games just from how entertaining and wild the game looks.

Honorable Mentions

• PowerWash Simulator VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) â€?nbsp;November 2
• RoboCop: Rogue City (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• The Talos Principle 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• Thirsty Suitors (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 2
• EA Sports WRC (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 3
• Ebenezer and the Invisible World (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 3
• Warcraft Rumble (Android, iOS) - November 3
• Football Manager 2024 (PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - November 6
• The Invincible (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 6
• Typecast (PC) - November 7
• Beyond Sunset (PC) - November 8
• While The Iron's Hot (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 8
• Cuisineer (PC) - November 9
• Dungeons 4 (PC) - November 9
• Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Spells & Secrets (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 9
• Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 14
• Assassin's Creed Nexus VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) - November 16
• Flashback 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 16
• Bluey: The Videogame (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Tiger Blade (PSVR 2) - November 17
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (PS4, PS5, PC) - November 30

The post Most anticipated games – November 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

After the Japanese Nintendo Direct, Nintendo updated the webpage for the Super Mario RPG remake. A few new details were ??revealed, including the fact that you can swap the soundtrack between the remastered and Super Nintendo versions.

There are few game soundtracks that are as indelibly etched on the caverns of my ears as the one for Super Mario RPG. It’s a bizarre and unique mix that sounds nothing like Koji Kondo’s more iconic tunes from previous Mario games. However, from the bouncing sounds of �a href="//youtu.be/_zOD4FbMDlg?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beware t?he Forest’s Mushrooms�to the walking basslines of �a href="//youtu.be/SEVe1LNWZh4?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">And My Name’s Booster,�it’s packed full of top-shelf tracks.

The soundtrack was put together by Yoko Shimomura, who is one of the most prolific composers in the industry. She made contributions to soundtracks like Final Fight and Street Fighter II, then continued on through Parasite Eve, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XV, and so many others. Personally, I’d argue that Super Mario RPG was her best, but that’s not an easy choice.

It’s important to note that Shimomura is returning to remix the soundtrack in the remake. From what we’ve heard, it sounds fantastic. I’ve heard the original versi?on enough over the year??s that I’m ready to hear it in a new way, but if you’re someone who doesn’t jive with newer instrumentals, this will certainly bring relief.

Also noted on the site is the addition of an easier "Enjoy Mode" and a bestiary to look up inf??ormation on all the monsters you fight.

The Super Mario RPG remake releases on Switch November 17, 2023.

The post The ??Super Mario RPG remake will let you swap back to the OG soundtrack appeared first on Destructoid.