Summary

These days, it feels like gaming is in the age of remakes and remasters. All the biggest studios seem to be greenlighting remakes of some of their most iconic titles. Square Enix hasgone all in onFinal Fantasy 7,Blizzard has churned out countless remasters, Sony has started remastering its most popular games, and even titles likePaRappathe Rapperhave gotten an HD facelift. Around every corner there seems to be a remaster, but no one really seems to do it like Nintendo did withSuper Mario RPG.

During the Nintendo Switch era, Nintendo has released a plethora of remakes and remasters of its many fan favorite games, withSuper Mario RPGbeing the latest. While some fans have gotten a bit burnt out by the constant revisiting of classics, there seems to be no stopping the studio. And with each remaster, Nintendo has shown audiences why its approach to the concept is second to none.

super mario rpg switch

Super Mario RPG Is Another Stellar Remake From Nintendo

Nintendo Handles Remakes With So Much Care

While some studios seem to take their games and give them simple HD upgrades, Nintendo has taken it to the next level.Games likeSuper Mario RPGhave taken that original concept, completely overhauled the look, and then delivered a fun-filled experience. It hardly changes the actual game, but it introduces just enough new features to keep veteran players interested in revisiting it. And at the same time, the experience feels like the perfect jumping on point for newcomers.

Super Mario RPGis not the first remakeby Nintendo to approach it like this.The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakeninggave the original game a cute new art style,Pokémon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlput an HD facelift on the DS look,Kirby’s Return to Dream Landretains that same charm, andMetroid Prime Remasteredfeels exactly like it did all those years ago. Instead of trying to completely change what came before, Nintendo has just recreated the experience players grew fond of, and that approach has helped these remakes shine.

Other Studios May Want to Take Notes From Nintendo

At the same time, Nintendo is giving its classics new coats of paint, other studios are approaching remasters in a very strange way. WhiletheResident Evilseriesseems to constantly go from hit to hit, franchises likeThe Last of UsandWarcraftare not getting as great a reception. Even though the original games were fantastic, these remasters and remakes are less so. Not only have some been plagued with technical problems, but it also seems like there really is no reason for some of them to exist in the first place. And sometimes, these remasters do not go far enough.

Nintendo seems to know exactly what type of remasters fans want to see. It does not try to reinvent the wheel, but instead just tries to deliver an experience as authentic to the original game as possible. Some players may want the studio to do a bit more, yet so far, this model seems to be working out extremely well. So well, in fact, that other studios should consider taking some notes. If the game looks and feels modern, there really is nothing more that these remasters need to accomplish.

Video game remakes and remastersshould maintain the charm of the original game while also injecting a few new mechanics in the mix. This is something that Nintendo seems to know how to do with almost all its remasters, which has made for some fantastic experiences.Super Mario RPGis just the latest in a long line of remakes that have shown audiences these games are in the right hands, and there will likely be plenty more to follow.

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Super Mario RPG

WHERE TO PLAY

Set out on a classic Mario adventure: Enter—or revisit—a world of whimsy with Mario on a quest to repair Star Road and defeat the troublemaking Smithy Gang. Team up with a party of unlikely allies, like the monstrous Bowser and a mysterious doll named Geno, in a story-rich RPG packed with laughs and quirky characters.A strange party unites to save Star Road: Meet the team of oddballs setting out to thwart the troublesome Smithy Gang and protect everyone’s wishes. Even Bowser is lending a claw!Take it easy with Breezy Difficulty Mode: Players new to RPGs or who want a story-focused experience can use the new Breezy difficulty, which makes battles easier and leveling up faster. You can set the difficulty at any time if you change your mind.Adventure, battle, and traverse across a colorful world: Jump towards your next goal and continue the story. Run into monsters to enter turn-based battles with your party of three. Master the new Chain and Triple Moves system to claim victory.A delightfully reimagined world: Enjoy familiar sights with colorfully enhanced graphics and spiffy upgrades.