SNES: March 9, 1996 May 13, 1996[1] Virtual Console (Wii): June 24, 2008 August 22, 2008[2] August 22, 2008[2] September 1, 2008[3] Virtual Console (Wii U): August 5, 2015 December 24, 2015[4] December 25, 2015 June 30, 2016 Super NES Classic Edition: September 29, 2017 September 29, 2017 September 30, 2017 October 5, 2017
Super Mario RPG's success was limited due to the release of the Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64 four months later that year. It was one of the last games in Square's original deal with Nintendo, and the final Mario game on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan on June 24, 2008,[6] in Europe and Australia on August 22, and in North America on September 1, 2008. The game was also re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in Japan in August 2015, in Europe and Australia in December 2015, and in North America in June 2016. In Europe, the game is treated as an import game, meaning that only the 60Hz mode is supported, and there has been no further localization. The game costs 800 Wii Points in North America and Japan, and 900 points in other regions. Super Mario RPG is also one of the 21 titles included on the Super NES Classic Edition.
The game begins with a short cutscene. Princess Toadstool sits peacefully on a hill outside Mario's Pad. Suddenly, she is kidnapped by King Bowser using the Koopa Clown Car. Mario exits his house then and sees Princess Toadstool in peril. He chases Toadstool and Bowser and ends up at Bowser's Keep. After going through the castle, Mario finally catches up with Bowser and proceeds to battle him on the chandeliers. Upon defeating Bowser and rescuing the princess, the castle begins to shake. A giant sword named Exor falls from the sky and crashes into Bowser's Keep, destroying the Star Road on the way. The crash sends Mario, Toadstool, and Bowser flying in separate directions.
Mario ends up landing back at his house where Toad has been searching for Toadstool. When Toad discovers that the princess is not there, he asks Mario to go back to Bowser's Keep to bring her back. Mario has no idea where she or Bowser are, but goes to check the castle. However, when he arrives he is unable to enter the castle and Exor, the giant sword, tells Mario that the keep is now the property of the Smithy Gang, taken over to help with its quest to take over the world. Exor destroys the bridge and Mario narrowly escapes.
Mario returns to his home. Toad gets kidnapped by two Hammer Bros. outside Mario's Pad. Mario defeats them and rescues Toad. Mario and Toad then travel to Mushroom Kingdom to inform the Chancellor of the Princess's kidnapping. After talking with the chancellor, he meets Mallow, apparently a frog from Tadpole Pond. Mario assists him by chasing after Croco, a thief, to recover a frog coin that was stolen from Mallow. When they return, Mushroom Kingdom is dark and overrun by monsters.
Mario and Mallow enter the Mushroom Castle and meet with Mack, a member of the Smithy Gang, in the throne room. Mario battles him and wins. After Mack is defeated, a star remains. Mario takes it, not quite knowing what it is.
Mario and Mallow now head to Mallow's home, Tadpole Pond. On their way, they travel through the Kero Sewers and encounter Belome, a giant, dog-like enemy. After Belome is defeated, the sewers are filled with water, and Mario is flushed down the Midas River. At Tadpole Pond, Mallow's grandfather Frogfucius reveals that he found Mallow floating in a basket as a baby, and is not really his grandfather. He tells Mallow to travel with Mario and find his true home.
Bowser's remaining minions in Rose Way
Mario and Mallow then travel to Rose Town via Rose Way. During their travels, they nearly run into Bowser and spy on him from the foliage. He has a group of minions with him and tries to get his castle back from the Smithy Gang, marching ahead of them. As Mario and Mallow arrive in Rose Town, it is under attack. Paralyzing arrows are shot from the nearby forest. The two seek shelter in the local inn. There, Mario plays with the innkeeper's son, Gaz, and his Mario, Bowser, and Toadstool dolls. As the game continues, Gaz brings out his favorite doll, Geno. However, Mario is knocked out by a stray punch from the toy. While everyone is in bed, a star possesses the Geno doll and walks into the origin of the arrows, the Forest Maze.
The next day, Mario and Mallow follow Geno's path through the Forest Maze, eventually meeting Bowyer, a bow-like creature who fires the paralyzing Aeros. Geno tries to get back the Star Piece that Bowyer holds. It is revealed that the Star Pieces are parts of the Star Road that has been destroyed by Exor. Without the Star Road, wishes cannot be granted. Unable to persuade Bowyer, another member of the Smithy Gang, Geno enters combat, and Mario and Mallow join him. Together, they defeat Bowyer and recover the second Star Piece. However, an Aero survives the battle. He hears about the Star Pieces' importance and heads off to inform Smithy.
While Mario is free to go to Yo'ster Isle via the Pipe Vault, the next stop for Mario and his friends in their search for the Star Pieces is Moleville. Again, Mario spots Bowser and his troops in the distance. The number of Bowser's minions has decreased since his time on Rose Way, but Bowser still leads his remaining minions to get his castle back.
The inhabitants of Moleville are upset because Dyna & Mite have been lost. Mario goes into the Coal Mines to find them. On his way through the vast caves, Mario jumps onto a trampoline which pretends to be an exit. However, it is fake, and Mario is smashed against the ceiling. While unconscious, Croco appears again and steals Mario's coins. Mario chases Croco and the Crooks through the mines and eventually faces off against him. Halfway through the battle, Croco steals all of Mario's items. After his defeat, Mario and his friends regain the coins and the items.
Going deeper into the mines, Mario meets Punchinello, who wants to defeat Mario in order to become famous. After a long battle, Punchinello drops a giant Bob-omb, which explodes but only covers Mario and his friends with soot. They get the third Star Piece, which Punchinello has found in the mines. Mario also finds Dyna & Mite, and they exit the mines through the mine kart track.
Mario at the base of Booster Tower
When Mario, Toadstool, and Bowser get launched from the keep, Princess Toadstool falls from the sky and lands at Booster Tower, the home to the maniacal Booster, who wants to marry her. However, she does not want to and cries out for Mario to help her.
Mario and his party arrive at Booster Tower. As they arrive, they see Bowser lamenting the loss of his keep and the "good old days". Once Bowser notices the others, he tries to act tough. At the top of the tower, Toadstool notices Mario and calls out to him. Afterwards, Bowser leaves. Mario tries to enter, but the door to the tower is locked. However, Bowser shows up again. On his own, he decides to help out Mario and destroys the tower's front door. He then joins Mario and his friends by making them honorary members of the Koopa Troop.
After heading to the highest level of the large tower, Mario enters Booster's room, right before the balcony where Toadstool is held captive. However, Booster enters and Mario hides behind curtains. Booster looks for his Mario doll, which he suspects to be somewhere behind the curtains. He and his Snifits search around. If they manage to find Mario while doing so, Mario has to then fight Booster. In both cases, Booster finds his Mario doll and heads out to his balcony. Mario and his friends follow him onto the balcony. However, Booster and Toadstool have disappeared, and two helpers of Booster, Knife Guy and Grate Guy, battle Mario.
After Knife Guy and Grate Guy are defeated, Mario continues to follow Booster, who runs up Booster Hill with Toadstool and tries to marry her in the wedding town of Marrymore. Mario disrupts the wedding and wants to take the princess back to Mushroom Kingdom. However, the creators of the wedding cake, Chef Torte and his apprentice, are angry because of this and fight Mario. During the battle, their cake comes to life. After the fight, Booster eats the cake, and Mario and Toadstool go back to Mushroom Kingdom. The Chancellor is glad about the princess's return. However, with the help of her chambermaid, who disguises herself as the princess, Toadstool is able to escape from the castle and join Mario's party.
During a short visit at Tadpole Pond, Frogfucius tells Mario he has heard of a Star Piece falling onto Star Hill. Mario heads there instantly and finds the fourth Star Piece, away from any member of the Smithy Gang.
Mario's next stop is Seaside Town. There, he gets told by the village "elder" that he saw a star fall into the sea. He asks Mario to get it for him. Mario, knowing that it is a Star Piece, heads off to the sea. He goes through the grottoes by the sea and finally reaches the shore. Underwater, he enters a Sunken Ship on the seabed.
In the Sunken Ship, Mario soon reaches a door that is sealed and can only be opened with the right passwords. There are six rooms where Mario can find hints about the password. With the right word, he can open the door. He proceeds and encounters King Calamari, a giant Bloober who caused the ship to sink in the first place.
After a battle with King Calamari, Mario reaches the lower levels of the ship, and eventually meets Jonathan Jones, the shark owner of the ship. Jones claims the Star Piece for himself as it fell into "his" sea. However, Mario is able to win the Star Piece in a battle with Jones and leaves the ship.
Upon returning to Seaside Town, Mario is stopped by the "elder" and various other Toads. The "elder" reveals himself to be Yaridovich, a spear-like member of the Smithy Gang. Yaridovich had disguised himself as Seaside Town's entire population in order to persuade Mario searching for the Star Piece for him. As Yaridovich threatens to torture the town's real population, Mario hands over the Star Piece. Yaridovich flees and Mario runs after him. Yaridovich was to be taken by the battleship Blade. However, Blade is late, and Yaridovich, being on a dead-end cliff near Seaside Town, sees himself forced to swim, though he admits he might rust when doing so. However, Jonathan Jones jumps out of the water preventing Yaridovich from fleeing. Cornered, Yaridovich changes into his real form and battles Mario and his allies. After a long fight, Mario is able to defeat Yaridovich and regain the fifth Star Piece.
Looking for the sixth Star Piece, Mario and his friends travel to Land's End. After climbing the mountain and clearing the desert area, they are unable to proceed because the cliff is too high. So they search for a way to the underground and end up in Belome Temple. There, they encounter Belome for a second time. The hungry monster tries to eat them, but again gets defeated. After the fight, Mario goes further underground and reaches Monstro Town.
In Monstro Town, Monstermama calls Sergeant Flutter to help Mario climb the huge cliff in Land's End. She says that the sixth Star Piece has to be somewhere in the clouds, as there is no place on land left to look for it. With the help of Flutter and his Sky Troopas, Mario and his friends discover the Bean Valley. In a Warp Pipe in Bean Valley, a Beezo grows a giant Piranha Plant, the Megasmilax. Mario and company have to defeat it in order to gain access to the giant tendril which leads up to the clouds and to Nimbus Land.
As Mario reaches Nimbus Land's plaza, Valentina gives a speech to the local Nimbus. She says that King Nimbus is ill at the moment and cannot do his business. Also, she introduces the giant bird Dodo as being the lost Prince Mallow. Though Dodo looks nothing like a Nimbus and cannot speak, Valentina claims the "prince" wants to marry her, thus making her the queen of Nimbus Land. She then leaves for Nimbus Castle, which is closed to the public.
Though Mallow does not realize at first that he is the actual prince, he is told so by Garro, a sculptor for the royal family. Garro agrees to help Mario and Mallow against Valentina. He coats Mario in gold, disguising him as one of Garro's statues. He takes it to Nimbus Castle with other statues for Valentina. Inside, Mario barely escapes Dodo's wrath as he pecks on random statues instead of polishing them on Valentina's behalf. He takes off the statue disguise and fights his way through the heavily guarded castle.
On their route through Nimbus Castle, Mario and his friends encounter a giant egg called Shelly, which turns out to be Birdo who works for Valentina. After defeating her, Mario gets to the back door of the castle and falls down a few layers of clouds. He quickly heads back to the plaza of Nimbus Land, where he meets Valentina and Dodo. After being defeated by Mario, Valentina falls through the clouds and ends up at Booster Tower, just as Toadstool did before.
Mallow is then reunited with his parents, King and Queen Nimbus. They say they heard a Star Piece has fallen into the nearby Barrel Volcano. Mario and his friends drop off the clouds from the royal hot spring and fall right into the vent of the volcano. The heroes fight their way through the hot volcano and take a stop at Hinopio's shop and inn. Shortly afterwards, they face a great dragon known as the Czar Dragon, the guardian of the sixth Star Piece. They manage to defeat the fiery dragon, but it resurrects and becomes the undead Zombone. However, it is defeated. As Mario tries to collect the Star Piece, it is snatched away before his hands by the Axem Rangers.
Mario and his party confronting the Axem Rangers
The Axem Rangers, five members of the Smithy Gang, run away with the Star Piece through Barrel Volcano, shortly followed by Mario and his friends. On top of the volcano, they head onto Blade, the huge battleship that failed to take away Yaridovich earlier. On Blade, Mario and company defeat all the Axem Rangers and also destroy the ship's Breaker Beam. Blade is destroyed, and Mario finally gets the sixth Star Piece.
After meeting King and Queen Nimbus again, Mario and his friends take Nimbus Land's Royal Bus to get access to Bowser's Keep, which is unreachable through any other means because Exor destroyed the bridge to the nearby Vista Hill.
All members of the Koopa Troop in Bowser's Keep have either defected to or been brainwashed by the Smithy Gang. However, many are scared off by their former boss Bowser. Mario meets Croco again, who does not fight him this time, but rather offers him help by selling his items.
Mario then reaches a room with doors to six corridors, of which he has to clear four. Two corridors are action courses, two are fighting areas, and two are puzzle courses led by Dr. Topper. In the fighting areas, Mario can encounter enemies such as the Chester. All enemies in the fighting areas are created by a brainwashed Magikoopa and the statues.
After the required amount of courses is cleared, Mario proceeds and fights the brainwashed Magikoopa. After its defeat, the Magikoopa comes to its senses again and helps out Mario's party, creating the magic treasure box as well as healing them. Croco also appears for a second time offering his items.
Mario reaches the final room of the keep again, and gets onto the chandeliers he fought Bowser on at the beginning of the game. This time, the enemy is the Smithy Gang swordsman Boomer. After Mario and his friends defeat Boomer, he falls down. The chandelier with Mario on it is transported upwards by a Chandeli-ho to the highest tower of the keep. There, Mario's party finally enters combat with Exor. The giant sword foe is shielded by its eyes in battle. However, after the eyes are "knocked out", Mario and company can defeat Exor. With his last ounce of strength, Exor inhales Mario and his party with its mouth, the Neosquid, which acts as a portal to Smithy's dimension.
Mario, Mallow, Geno, Bowser and Toadstool are brought to Smithy's Factory, his base of operation for the invasion of Mushroom Kingdom. In the gloomy universe, they have to fight many previous enemies a second time. Notably, Machine Mades, which are gray copies of Mack, Bowyer, Yaridovich, and the Axem Rangers, are produced en masse in the Factory. Additionally, they encounter Count Down, a giant clock which is controlled by the bell-like Ding-A-Lings.
They also fight the duo of Cloaker and Domino. When either one of them is defeated, the other runs away to make use of his giant snake. Domino's snake is Mad Adder, while Cloaker's is Earth Link. However, even with the help of the snake, he is defeated by Mario. Mario and company then enter the production lines of the Factory. There, they have to fight the Factory's Clerk, Manager, and Director before meeting the Factory Chief. The Factory Chief uses the Gunyolk in battle, but still gets defeated by Mario.
The five heroes finally meet Smithy in the basement of the Factory. Smithy constantly creates more weapons with his hammer and the Smelter. He also holds the seventh and last Star Piece. Refusing to give it away, he starts to fight Mario and his allies. At first, he use the Smelter to create Shypers to aide him in battle. However, he is soon defeated. Angry, he slams the floor with his hammer several times. Because the floor has only been constructed the day before, it breaks and Smithy, along with Mario and company, falls down to a dark area below the Factory.
Furious, Smithy changes into his real form for the final battle. With his hammer, he has the power to transform his head into five different forms, all with special abilities. However, after a long battle, he is defeated and destroyed by Mario and his friends.
The ending screen with Mario, Princess Toadstool, Yoshi, Toad, and the Chancellor.
With all seven Star Pieces restored, Geno thanks the others and says goodbye, before leaving the form of a doll and returning to a small star. The Star Road is restored, and Mario, Mallow, Bowser, Toadstool, and the Geno doll are returned to Mario's world. Exor dissolves into thin air.
Each of the seven Star Pieces show the events that follow after the defeat of Smithy:
Mallow is crowned the prince of Nimbus Land.
Bowser repairs his keep with the help of his minions.
Jonathan Jones looks out at the sunset from the cliff where the Yaridovich battle took place.
Croco is seen racing the Mushroom Derby against Yoshi. Though he loses this race, he is consoled by Boshi and the two walk off together (seemingly establishing a friendship).
Frogfucius and his Student both attend a concert held by Toadofsky.
Valentina and Booster get married with Dodo exchanging vows. However, Booster runs off and Valentina follows, leaving Dodo confused.
Mario and Princess Toadstool return to Mushroom Kingdom, thanking the player for all of the hard work.
As the credits roll, there is a parade featuring most of the game's cast in it. In his only appearance in the game, Luigi is the parade grand marshal.
Mario traverses an overworld filled with NPCs and enemies. If he encounters an enemy, the player is taken to a turn-based battle with the enemy.
Worlds are broken up into levels which must be traveled to using the map screen. Usually, Mario must complete an objective before he can progress to the next section of a world. During the adventure, the player occasionally gets to play a minigame.
Mario fights with two of his four partners at a time; they can be switched outside of battle. The characters have many stats that grow as they level up:
The stats
HP, or hit points, show the amount of damage a character can take. When it reaches 0, the character is knocked out and unable to fight unless revived. Having the entire party knocked out ends the game and the player automatically restarts from their last save.
Speed affects how often and in what order the character fights. Characters with a high speed attack before any other allies or enemies, and could attack multiple times before another character attacks once depending on their speed.
Attack is the physical strength of the character. Combined with the character's weapon, it adds up to a final value that affects how much damage they deal to an opponent with physical attacks.
Defense, combined with the character's armor, reduces the amount of damage a character receives from an enemy's normal physical attack.
Magic Attack affects the strength of a character's special skill.
Magic Defense is similar to defense, but only protects against enemies' special skills, not regular attacks.
Every time a character levels up, they can choose one of three groups of stats to gain a bonus point in: attack and defense, HP, or magic attack and magic defense. Special skills can be performed by using flower points, or FP. These flower points are not raised by leveling up, but by special items such as the Flower Tab. Occasionally, an item is used without being consumed as normal, called a "freebie" by the game.
Battles begin by moving into an enemy on a main game map. In battle, characters have four options:
Attack, which allows the character to perform a basic attack using the weapon they have equipped.
Item, which allows them to use one of the items they have on themselves, an ally, an enemy, or a group of allies or enemies depending on the item.
Special, which allows the character to use one of the special moves they have acquired by leveling up.
Etc., which gives the character the option of defending, ensuring they receive less damage if they are hit by enemy, or running away, which may or may not be possible depending on the enemy being fought and random chance.
Geno receiving a Bonus Flower
Many of these options can be improved by the use of action commands, most commonly the "Timed Hit" which helps them in many ways when the player presses any button at the correct time. Depending on the timing, these commands can increase physical damage by 1.5x if done okay, or 2x if done well. They can also block half damage from physical damage if done okay, and all of it if done well. Magical attacks can be timed as well for more damage. However, enemy magic attacks and some physical attacks cannot be blocked in this manner.
After defeating an enemy, the character who defeated it may receive a Bonus Flower that gives them a special bonus. The maximum level each character can reach is 30.
Both Mario's party members and enemies can inflict status effects, depending on the attack. For some status effects, they wear off after enough time passes. At the end of the battle, all status effects are cured. Certain accessories nullify negative status effects.
Hero of the Mushroom Kingdom and the main protagonist of the story. Mario attempted to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser again, but was sent flying by Exor crashing into the keep. Now he must go on an entirely new adventure as he fights off Smithy's army of mechanical minions and recover the Seven Stars. He is mainly played as in the overworld, where he cannot be switched out for any other of his teammates.
In battle, Mario uses powerful attacks, hitting his enemies with various Hammers, Koopa Shells or simply his hands. His magic attacks involve jumping and fire magic. If Mario ever falls in battle, his allies can still fight on and win the battle for him.
Mallow is the first partner that Mario meets, joining Mario during his first visit to Mushroom Kingdom. He is, at first, believed to be a simple tadpole from Tadpole Pond even though he looks nothing like one. He was raised by Frogfucius who found him floating in a basket as a baby. Later, when Mallow and Mario visit Frogfucius, it is revealed that Mallow is not a frog and that his real parents are out there, somewhere. Later in the game, Mario and his party visit Nimbus Land, whose citizens are all of the same species as Mallow. There, Mallow discovers that he is a prince and his parents are King and Queen Nimbus.
Mallow has a variety of attacks useful for attacking all of the enemies at one time. He has powerful control over the weather: outside of battle, when he cries, a heavy rainstorm starts. In battle, he can summon things from lightning to snow to a healing rain. In addition, he has a harmless but useful attack, Psychopath, that shows how much HP an enemy has remaining and a quote from the enemy's mind when the player manages to do a Timed Hit.
Geno is the second to join Mario's crew. He is an agent from Star Road, sent to retrieve the Seven Stars and repair Star Road while also battling Smithy's gang. While his real form appears to be a small star, he takes possession of Gaz's doll, as well as its name, as a physical form. He then meets with Mario and Mallow in the Forest Maze while fighting with Bowyer, and he chooses to help Mario in his quest since they have the same objective.
Geno is incredibly powerful and has a variety of offensive attacks, one of which (Geno Whirl) can deal 9999 HP of damage on regular enemies, Yaridovich clones, and Exor.
The ruthless leader of the Koopa Troop and Mario's arch-nemesis, Bowser starts out as an enemy, but eventually joins as the fourth party member. He kidnaps Princess Toadstool and fights Mario as the first boss of the game. But then after getting thrown out his own keep by the Smithy Gang, Bowser became determined to take it back with his remaining minions, though they all eventually desert him. After meeting Mario and his new friends at Booster's Tower, he decides to use them to get his keep back under the pretense of making them honorary members of his army. This marks the first time in the series where Bowser joins Mario's side.
Bowser does not have as great a variety of special attacks as the other members of the team, but he boasts incredible physical strength.
The fair ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Toadstool is the last to join Mario's team. She was kidnapped by Bowser at the beginning of the game, and, right when Mario rescued her, was sent flying off. After falling from the sky, she was discovered by Booster and held in his tower. Booster attempted to marry her, but she was eventually rescued by the heroes and returned to Mushroom Kingdom, apparently to stay. However, with the help of her grandmother, who disguised herself as the princess, Toadstool was able to sneak away to accompany Mario on his quest.
Her special skills are mostly defensive (with two crowd control spells in her mix) and healing, not offensive. Her healing skills can be incredibly useful, she can resurrect a fallen partner, and she can make a battle against tough foes and large crowds easier by putting them to sleep or by muting spell casters.
Mario and his party visit many places spanning over seven main areas during the course of the adventure. They travel in a clockwise fashion across the world. To progress through hostile environments, Mario has to reach the level's exit found at the opposite end or defeat a boss. To unlock levels past friendly locations such as towns, Mario needs to progress the story by interacting with other characters. Level descriptions in gray indicate that they cannot be accessed from the world map.
Mario's home, and where his adventure begins. It includes tools and a pipe for a smokestack. The bed here can be rested in for free. He can first learn about Timed Hits here.
The seat of the region, where the Mushroom People live. It contains a shop, an inn, and Mushroom Castle. Mario first meets Mallow while Mallow fails to catch Croco. After Mario returns from Bandit's Way with the Wallet, Mack and his Shysters invade the town.
A major location within Mushroom Kingdom and the home of Princess Toadstool. When Mario enters the castle, he informs the Chancellor the events that occurred at Bowser's Keep. After returning from Bandit's Way, Mario and Mallow defeat Mack and the Shysters within the castle. Defeating them allows Mario to collect the first Star Piece. Later, Mario escorts the princess to the castle after saving her from Booster.
A longer road branching off of Mushroom Kingdom. It leads to a dead end where Mario and Mallow chase and fight Croco for the first time. Mario can also first use the star here.
A large sewer system located above the Midas Waterfall. In order to progress, Mario has to navigate the rooms connected by pipes and drain the water. Its end is guarded by Belome.
An off-branch of Tadpole Pond where Toadofsky resides and composes his music. After learning various melodies from different locations, Mario can help give Toadofsky inspiration by using the tadpoles to play the notes. With each melody, Toadofsky rewards Mario.
A short, swampy road from Tadpole Pond to Rose Town. When Mario and Mallow first travel in Rose Way, they come across Bowser and the remains of his Koopa Troop.
A town attacked by Aeros that paralyzes the residents. When Mario enters the inn, he meets Gaz and his mother. During the night, a star takes control of Gaz's Geno doll and walks into the woods.
A large, winding forest near Rose Town inhabited by enemies. Mario must follow Geno to reach Bowyer. During the battle, Geno joins Mario's party. Once Bowyer is defeated, Mario is awarded with the second Star Piece.
An optional tunnel system which leads to Yo'ster Isle. It contains many Piranha Plant-filled pipes and patches of lava. Mario can play Goomba thumping while he is in the Pipe Vault.
The home of the Yoshis. The Mushroom Derby is held here, but is canceled by Boshi. Once Mario and Yoshi beats Boshi, all of the Yoshis are allowed to race. In addition, a Baby Yoshi hatches during the adventure. Feeding the Baby Yoshi with Yoshi Cookies rewards Mario with items.
A collection of mines in Moleville's mountain, now infested by monsters. When Mario and his party first arrive in Moleville, they hear that Dyna & Mite are trapped in the Coal Mines and go to rescue them. After bumping his head, Mario gets robbed by Croco. Defeating him returns the coins and allows Mario to venture deeper into the mine using a bomb dropped by Croco. They encounter and fight Punchinello while they venture in the mine, earning them the next Star Piece.
The home of Booster and his Snifits, which has been in his family for generations. At the base, Mario meets Bowser without any of his troops. After Bowser opens the door to the tower, he joins Mario's party. At the top of the tower is Princess Toadstool who Booster tries to make his bride. When Mario walks out to the balcony, he instead fights Knife Guy and Grate Guy.
A hill between Booster Tower and Marrymore that contains beetles and barrels. The first time Mario climbs up the hill, he chases Booster to Marrymore. Subsequent visits has Mario take part in Beetle Race.
A town famous for its large chapel where couples travel to be wed. When Mario arrives, Booster has taken over the chapel, interrupting the wedding of Raz and Raini. Mario enters the chapel by taking an alternative entrance. Before Mario and Princess Toadstool leave, Chef Torte and his Apprentice arrive and battle them. During the fight, the cake comes to life and attacks.
The place where granted wishes fall to Mario's world. Due to Smithy destroying the Star Road, some ungranted Wish Stars fell as well. The fourth Star Piece is found here.
A small town by the sea that has been taken over by Yaridovich when Mario first arrives. Yaridovich, disguised as the elder urges Mario to get the Star Piece that fell into ocean. When Mario returns with the Star Piece, Yaridovich takes it and tries to run, but gets stopped by Jonathan and is forced to battle Mario and his party.
A ship that sank near the sea's tunnel, infested with the crew's ghosts. To navigate the ship, Mario must solve several puzzles and beat King Calamari. Jonathan Jones and his pirate crew guard the fifth Star Piece.
An uncharted mountain and desert region. Traversed with pot cannons and whirlpools of sand, it also houses a passage to the Kero Sewers. To progress to Bean Valley, Mario must get help from Sergeant Flutter and several Sky Troopas.
A temple found under the sands near the end of Land's end. Depending on the fortune received from Shamans, Mario may receive treasures, fight enemies, or fight Belome and progress past the temple.
A valley traversed by a network of pipes. A hidden path to Grate Guy's Casino can also be found underground. To progress, Mario must battle Megasmilax to reach a beanstalk
A casino that requires a Bright Card to enter. It features blackjack, slot machines, and "Look the other way". It is operated by Grate Guy, the younger brother of Knife Guy.
A kingdom in the clouds where the Nimbus people live. Nearby is the hot spring which only royalty can use. Later, the Royal Bus driver drives Mario to Bowser's Keep.
Nimbus Land's palace and the home of Mallow's real family. Before Mario arrives, it was taken over by Valentina and Dodo. With the help of Garro, Mario infiltrates the castle and chases Valentina and Dodo out of the castle. After beating them, the castle returns to normal.
A lava-filled volcano that powers the hot springs of Nimbus Land. Inside, Hinopio runs two shops and an inn. The Czar Dragon rules over the sixth Star Piece, but it is stolen by the Axem Rangers after the Czar Dragon is defeated. Mario chases the Axem Rangers up the volcano and battles them to take back the Star Piece.
The area that once connected Mushroom Kingdom to Bowser's Keep via bridge until Exor destroys it. Returning here after the bridge is destroyed makes Mario stare at Bowser's Keep from a distant cliff and walk away.
The castle owned by Bowser where Princess Toadstool is taken to. After Mario beats Bowser, Exor falls from above and embeds himself into the keep, putting it under control of the Smithy Gang. When Mario returns after collecting six of the seven Star Pieces, he ventures deeper into the keep and comes across the Trial Course and a brainwashed Magikoopa that he must battle.
A collection of six rooms deep within Bowser's Keep. There are two action courses, two battle courses, and two puzzle courses. Mario only needs to complete four of them to progress.
After Mario and Mallow beat Belome, they are swept away by a giant wave and fall into Midas Waterfall. During this portion, Mario can collect coins, Frog Coins, and enter caverns. By pressing , Mario can swim upwards slightly. After reaching the bottom, Mario is taken to the barrel jumping event on the Midas River. Here, he can collect coins while jumping onto barrels floating on the river and avoid fish. Failing to jump onto the next barrel when Mario's current barrel collides with it makes Mario's barrel moves to a side. At the end is a Toad which exchanges the coins Mario collects for Frog Coins. Additional attempts cost 30 coins.
Located next to Tadpole Pond is Melody Bay. By playing various melodies taught to the player using the bay's tadpoles, Toadofsky gives Mario cards he can use at the Juice Bar.
In the Pipe Vault, Mario can play Goomba thumping for ten coins. In the minigame, Mario must jump on as many Goombas and Gold Goombas as he can in 30 seconds while avoiding Spikeys. The enemies emerge from pipes and move faster as Mario gains more points.
On Yo'ster Isle, Mario can take part in the Mushroom Derby. When Mario initial reaches the island, Boshi has taken over the event and only allows one-on-one races with him. To challenge him, Mario must get Yoshi Cookies from a Yoshi. During the race, the player has to alternate pressing and to the music's tempo. Additionally, the player can press to feed Yoshi a cookie, giving him a speed boost. Winning this race allows all of the Yoshi to join the Mushroom Derby. After this point, Mario has the option to bet cookies on Yoshi. He can improve the odds of Yoshi winning by winning races while riding him.
After collecting the Star Piece in the Coal Mines, Mario must ride a mine cart to exit the mountain. During the ride, the player can jump by pressing to avoid pits and collect mushrooms and coins and brake by pressing or if the mine cart is going too fast or is about to go down sharp turns to avoid derailing and losing time. The player can use the mushrooms by pressing to accelerate and honk the cart's horn by pressing or , though this has no actual effect. Later, the moles open a path directly to the mine cart and charge ten coins to ride it. Alternatively, Mario can wager 30 coins and beat the record to get 50 coins.
By purchasing a Beetle Box and returning to Booster Hill, Mario can play Beetle Race. As he runs up the hill, he must catch beetles of differing rarities while bouncing off barrels and Booster's Snifit to reach them. He can bring the beetles he collected to Beetles Are Us and exchange them for coins and Frog Coins.
After Mario and his party retrieve the Star Piece at Marrymore, the player can return to Mushroom Kingdom, find the inn, and talk to a young Toad in the corner. After talking to him several times, he sells Mario a minigame, Beetle Mania, for 500 coins. In the minigame, the player must shoot red Koopa shells and avoid the red stars they make when they are destroyed. These red stars also destroyed other shells, allowing the player to make chain reactions and gain more points.
In Monstro Town, there is a sealed door. Mario only can open it with a Shiny Stone, which he can get from a girl mole in Moleville if the player gives her fireworks, which they can get from a male mole in Moleville for 500 coins. When they open the door, the player then meets and fights Culex. Upon his defeat, he rewards Mario with the Quartz Charm.
After Sergeant Flutter and the Sky Troopas arrive at the wall to Bean Valley, Mario is timed on how fast he can scale the wall by using the Sky Troopas as platforms. By doing so fast enough, Sergeant Flutter gives him an item.
Grate Guy's Casino is a location which offers several minigames to win coins. To reach it, Mario has to get the Bright Card from Knife Guy in Booster's Tower and then find the secret entrance to the casino in Bean Valley. The three games available at the casino are a slot machine, blackjack, and "Look the other way".
Throughout the game, Mario can discover hidden treasure boxes known as Surprise Boxes throughout Mario's world. There are 39 Surprise Boxes in the game. The player is directly told about these Surprise Boxes by an elderly Toad in the basement of Mushroom Kingdom's shop. A friendly Chester in Monstro Town tells Mario how many Surprise Boxes he still has to find.
Inns allow Mario and his party members to heal their HP and FP for a small fee. They are indicated by the spinning star sign by the door. The inns at Marrymore and Nimbus land provide additional services for additional coins while Mario's Pad and the lone bed in Monstro Town can be used for free by turning off the Fungi Light.
Throughout the game, there are shops Mario can purchase items and equipment from. They are indicated by the spinning mushroom signs near the door. They are usually found in towns and within areas where the player cannot easily return to the world map. Tool shops[7] sell weapons, items, and equipment. The weapons and equipment each shop has is unique. Special shops[8] have unique items to sell or function differently from the typical shop.
Mario encounters many adversaries during the course of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars; the main antagonists are the Smithy Gang.
Unlike the Paper Mario series, there are no definable "chapters", and therefore there are no definable "chapter bosses"; any significant enemy with higher HP is considered a boss. Most bosses have a distinct battle theme (with Smithy Gang leaders getting a special one) and a "fading away" or otherwise-distinct defeat animation. Additionally, the party's HP and FP are usually fully restored after defeating a boss.
Play "Monstro Town Star Song" in Tadpole Pond by playing notes on the small tadpoles and talk to Toadofsky. Note: Mario must first obtain the Tenor Card.
A membership card for the Juice Bar. Allows Mario to buy the Kerokero Cola
"Mario! Let's say you and I get hitched in a few years, okay? Just... give me time to grow into my mother's wedding dress." - Toad child
"Stick for a body, head full of straw, give me a scarecrow, rah, rah, RAH!" - Belome
"Hmmm... Drink punch...eat cake...? It sounds...complicated. I don't know if I can muster the energy to do it... Let's walk through it once! It's wedding rehearsal time!" - Booster
"It's been so quiet around here, it's almost eerie... Is something going on? It probably doesn't concern me. But if you have any Frog Coins, I've got some neat items to sell." - Frogfucius' Student
"It's really weird. Sometimes I heard the guy next door. He's always mumbling about a Crystal-this and an Evil-that. Isn't a "Crystal" some kind of shiny rock...or something? I know I've seen those somewhere!" - Piranha Plant
One attack used by many bosses, Flame Wall, looks radically different from the original game. In the original version, a wave of red, orange, and yellow flows to the left of the screen. In the Virtual Console version, the wave is separated, only red, and somewhat faded. Also, Static E! is changed from a bright, blue and white flash to a deep blue one. This was changed in order to avoid players possibly having seizures. Also, Moleville has a considerably darker color scheme. Otherwise, the game was not localized. This means keeping the American SNES dark/light purple button layout in battle mode and against Bowyer, while the European SNES has the /// buttons colored as in the Japanese version.
For the European version, Bowser's victory pose was changed to the North American version because the original has Bowser giving a gesture which is viewed as saying "Up yours" in most of Europe. Also, the European version altered a line spoken by Croco early on in the game, changing the word "bugger" to "pest", due to "bugger" being a vulgar word in British English.
Material from an early Nintendo Power shows that the Chancellor was once designed differently, being a more elderly-looking, gray-spotted Toad with a beard. It also showed that at least one Buzzer would be in Mushroom Way, and that Frogfucius's island at Tadpole Pond would be closer and therefore accessed differently.
It is possible to skip over the battle with Mack. When the player gets to the room where Mack is faced, instead of going straight to battle him, the player can jump on top of the Shysters on the left side, and carefully walk on them. If the Mack scene does not trigger when the player falls off them, the glitch has been performed correctly. The player must then walk to the Chancellor in the corner, and talk to him to finish the glitch. The "Star Pieces" option on the menu does not appear when this glitch is performed, as being victorious in the battle against Mack triggers the appearance of the menu.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was developed by Squaresoft, with directing duties being split between Chihiro Fujioka and Yoshihiko Maekawa. Yoko Shimomura composed the soundtrack. Several members of the staff, including the aforementioned composer and directors, would later join AlphaDream and work on the Mario & Luigi series.
The game was the last work of noted videogame translator Ted Woolsey at Squaresoft.
The game is widely praised for its technical achievements, aesthetics, and the successful combination of a traditional RPG's turn-based combat with the platforming gameplay of the Super Mario series. Electronic Gaming Monthly's "Review Crew" gives the game a combined average score of 8.75/10.[9] All four members praise the visuals, though the game for being too childish in appearance is a point of contention. The sound design is also praised, with Andrew Baran stating that the sounds are faithfully from the Mario series and Mike Desmond commending the work done by the SNES's sound processor. Mark Lefebvre states that the game avoids being too technically overwhelming for the player as with other RPG games and notes that the game keeps its focus on the graphics and not in submenus during battles. Desmond adds that while the combat engine is similar to other RPGs, it is easy to use.
Michael Higham of GameSpot points out the game's unique interpretation of the Mario universe and the strong characterization of the main cast.[10] He commends the game for being a breath of fresh air compared to the relatively dark themes of other RPGs at the time like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy. He also points out the music which has kept his memories of the game alive. He specifically mentions "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms!" and how it is the perfect example of "how standout melodies are supported by rhythms and harmonies" using 16-bit instruments.
Nintendo Power magazine praises the game for combining RPG and traditional Mario platforming elements. However, it does critique the game's title for being misleading and states "It's not just a RPG-it's an action-packed adventure."[11] Of the six editors, four of them selected the game as their editor pick. In volume 100 released in September 1997, it came in 21st place in "Nintendo Power's 100 best Nintendo games of all time".
"Excellent 3-D graphics and a rich variety of game play will appeal to a much wider audience than most traditional RPGs. In fact, players will find that plenty of jumping and action skill will be required, just as in previous Mario games. [...] In short, it's charming, it's fun and it's truly a Mario game."
SNES
Sushi X, Electronic Gaming Monthly
8.0/10
"Besides being completely overused, I feel Mario should just take a vacation until the N64 gives him a new home. His latest RPG puts him in the same old role as a plumber-hero with extraordinary skills. Mario RPG uses great in-combat graphics and continues Nintendo's tradition for clean animation and worthwhile visuals, however. But I feel the characters and the gamebase is a bit too childish for the demanding play and difficult battles against the hordes of opposing forces. If you can overlook these childish tendencies, Mario RPG will satisfy the majority of players with the enjoyable combat system and the many twists and turns in the plot. Mario fanatics don't bypass this title, it could possibly be the last of the 16-Bit RPGs."
"So it's absolutely undeniable that Super Mario RPG is worth its asking price of only 800 Wii Points, as it's a classic, deep, fun and cult-appealing installment in the Mario series that no Nintendo gamer should go without playing. Nintendo saved itself a winner to take the honor of the "250th Virtual Console Game" title, and you shouldn't hesistate[sic] to download it right away -- because in addition to getting yourself a great game for a great price, you'll also be showing further support for those other seemingly forgotten games that the fans are still crying out to see come to the VC."
"Whether you're an RPG fan or not, you really owe it to yourself to give this legendary RPG classic a try. Who would have thought that putting Mario into a traditional rpg setting would end up working quite so well. As good as Super Mario RPG was back when it was first released, the game only seems to have gotten even better over time and is a true testament to what Square and Nintendo were able to accomplish with this absolutely amazing and timeless RPG classic."
Though no direct sequel to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars would come to pass, the next Mario role-playing game, Paper Mario, was announced under the title Super Mario RPG 2 and the final game would retain multiple links to Super Mario RPG such as the action command mechanic, the ending credits being presented as a parade, Star Hill and the character of the Chancellor (though both were given a different name in the English translation), the concept of optional boss battles against a martial artist who is fought three times, and more.
When asked in a 2013 interview if he was interested in making a direct sequel to the game, the game's co-director Yoshihiko Maekwawa responded that he felt Super Mario RPG accomplished what he set out to do and that he personally had no interest in revisiting the world or its characters.[12] Much later in a 2022 interview however, other co-director Chihiro Fujioka expressed interest in creating a sequel, stating he would like it to be his final game project.[13]
Set in the Mushroom Kingdom and featuring its cast of well-known characters, this adventure RPG begins with a familiar scenario. Mario™ must rescue Princess Toadstool™ from Bowser™. However, a mysterious new enemy named Smithy soon appears, and Mario and Bowser are forced to fight as allies for the first time in their long history. In the quest to defeat their powerful new foe, they'll journey across a wide variety of locations (a town of mining moles, a tropical forest, a thundering waterfall—just to name a few) and tackle a mix of obstacles requiring both expert timing and strategy to overcome. Along the way, they'll gain experience and grow more powerful, while also meeting new characters whose unique abilities will be needed to take on Smithy and his gang. Striking a perfect balance of traditional RPG elements and the action-packed game play Mario is famous for, it's easy to see why this title has earned "legendary" status!
The launch of the 250th title available on Virtual Console™, of course! And what better game to mark the occasion with than the eagerly anticipated Super NES™ game, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars™? Whether you're celebrating the Labor Day holiday, relishing the last few days before school begins, or just looking for a brand-new retro title to enjoy, this is one game sure to please. By combining the magic of traditional Mario™ titles with the renowned design skills of Square Enix, Super Mario RPG satisfies fans across the board. So if you've been waiting to take on Smithy again or never even knew that Mario and Bowser™ were once allies, now's the time to experience one of Mario's grandest adventures! Still want more info on Super Mario RPG? Then be sure to watch the video now available on the Nintendo Channel for a sneak peak on what the game has in store for you.
Also make sure to check out the other Virtual Console titles available for download. You won't find a more complete assortment of games from your favorite systems and genres available in one spot. From classic franchises to previously unavailable imports, you'll be sure to find titles that suit your gaming tastes!
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars™ is rated Everyone by the ESRB.
American version: A mysterious enemy named Smithy has appeared, forcing Mario and Bowser to fight as allies. Journey across a wide variety of locations and tackle a mixture of obstacles that will require both timing and strategy to overcome. Gain experience, grow more powerful, and meet new characters to use their abilities in taking down Smithy and his gang!
European version: The Mushroom Kingdom faces a new threat when a giant sword falls from the sky and lays chaos upon the land. Mario must gather a crew of unexpected allies to take on the nefarious Smithy Gang!
Before Paper Mario™ and Mario & Luigi™, the first Role-Playing Game featuring Mario was this celebrated collaboration between Nintendo™ and the makers of Final Fantasy™, Squaresoft™ (now Square Enix™). Many players hold fond memories of the witty dialogue and colourful characters such as Mallow and Geno.
If you own this title on your Wii™, perform a system transfer from your Wii to your Wii U™ to receive a special upgrade price.
The music score was released as a CD only in Japan as Super Mario RPG Original Sound Version.
The Super Mario RPG Original Sound Version is a Japan-exclusive soundtrack product that was released on March 8, 1996. All the tracks listed in this page were composed by Yoko Shimomura.
Super Mario Bros.: When Mario walks behind a curtained section in Booster Tower, he emerges as Mario appeared in this game. A soundclip from the game is played, and when he tries to exits the room the 'time running out' sound plays as he shrinks and runs back behind the curtain. If the player uses the bathroom in Marrymore, an arrangement of the game's theme plays.
The Legend of Zelda series: Link can be found sleeping in the Rose Town inn after beating Bowyer in the Forest Maze. When talked to, a jingle that normally sounds when a secret is discovered in the The Legend of Zelda series plays, along with a text box saying ".....", referencing Link's normally silent role in his games.
Metroid series: Samus Aran can be found sleeping in the guest bed of the Mushroom Castle after beating Yaridovich and obtaining the fifth Star Piece, and remains there until the player goes to Bean Valley. When spoken to, she says she is resting up for Mother Brain, the final boss of Super Metroid. A Samus action figure can be found in a toy box in Booster Tower.
Final Fantasy series: Culex (and his Crystals) is an optional boss designed to resemble the Final Fantasy bosses. During and after the battle with him, Final Fantasy music is played. The music heard is a rearrangement of the Boss Battle theme in Final Fantasy IV and after the battle, the famous Final Fantasy Victory Theme plays. The enemy Bahamutt is named after the powerful dragon Bahamut.
Super Mario Bros. 3: The music that plays in the battle against Bowser is a rearrangement of his theme from this game. The music that plays in Bowser's Keep also has a part of the same theme. Also, some of Grass Land's theme is heard in the flower garden cutscene and for Mario's Pad.
Super Mario World: When Mario enters the Rose Town inn for the first time, an arrangement of the overworld theme plays. Another cover of this theme plays when Lulla-Bye is used on a party member. Also, the crescent moon from Star World is shown in the background of the Star Road during the ending before the credits. The Koopa Clown Car reappears in the introduction cutscene, too.
Final Fantasy V: In the Japanese version, Exdeath is a possible answer to Dr. Topper's question, "What's the first monster you see in the Pipe Vault?" This was replaced by Chompweed in the English version.
Final Fantasy VI: Czar Dragon shares its name with an optional boss that was dummied out. Its second form, Zombone, shares its name with an enemy, which itself is recurring in the Final Fantasy series. "Here Are Some Weapons!" shares a lot of similarities with "Slam Shuffle", Zozo Town's theme. In the Japanese version, Kefka is a possible answer to Dr. Topper's question, "Who is the ultimate enemy in this adventure?" This was replaced by Goomba in the English version. Hidon aboard the Sunken Ship shares its English name with a boss from this game.
Stunt Race FX: A toy car that appears similar to the F-Type can be found in a toy box in Booster Tower.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island: Magikoopa's Psychopath references the events of the game. His thought is 「キイーッウキイーーッ！ あの時の赤んぼう！？」 (Kiii ukiii! The baby from that time!?) in the Japanese version, which refers to recognizing the adult Mario. His thought is "That's...my child?" in the English version, which instead refers to Bowser, whom he helped raise since a baby.
Mario Tennis: The explosive eggs of Birdo are featured in her ending when she wins a Singles tournament where one comes back down after being shot in the air.
Paper Mario: The end credits feature a parade of most of the characters, led by Luigi; this is a reference to the credits of Super Mario RPG. Additionally, throughout Paper Mario, there are many other elements that were lifted from or influenced by this game; for more information, see here.
Super Smash Bros. Melee: Peach's side smash attack cycles through a golf club, a tennis racquet, and a frying pan. The Frying Pan is a weapon she can equip and use in battle, purchased as the "Metal Plate" in Moleville. Her dress with the fiery patterns may have been inspired by the Fire Dress armor that can be purchased from Barrel Volcano.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga: A Geno doll appears in the Star 'Stache Smash minigame. Plus, a short arrangement of the Mario's Pad theme can be heard in the Mario Bros.' House, in the Warp Pipe zones, and the drink selection screen in Starbeans Cafe.
Mario Hoops 3-on-3: Peach's Castle appears at it does in Super Mario RPG in the background of Peach Field. Also, this game was developed by the same company after merging with Enix, which the two companies together became known as Square Enix.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: Bowser's Castle and army is taken over again. When being on a particular platform near Bowser's Castle, the character looks at the castle from far, similarly to how Mario does in Super Mario RPG if he goes to Vista Hill. There is a very similar line in this game about Starlow (known as Chippy to Bowser) joining the Koopa Troop.
Fortune Street: The Mushroom Kingdom map music (with Princess Peach's Castle in the background) contains a rearrangement of the music from this game.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star: Another end credits parade commences. Again, Luigi leads it (only if he was found in all of his locations). Additionally, Bowser swings a Chain Chomp at Mario in a similar manner as this game.
The instruction booklet does not list any battle statistics about Princess Toadstool, who is the fifth and final member to join the party.
This is the only SNES Mario game released outside of Japan not to have European and Australian releases until it was re-released on the Wii Virtual Console years later, although a European/Australian release was considered for July 1996.[15]
The Japanese version's copyright year says 1995 on the title screen, even though it was released on March 9, 1996, 65 days before its North American release. This is corrected in the North American version.
This is the first Mario game with some Toads being identified as females prior to recurring ones like Toadette who was later introduced in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! in 2003.
- Kids to Adults
- Three years and older
- All ages
- General
- All ages
Game Pak
Digital download
Happy Adventure, Delightful Adventure 
Introduction 
