The remake ofSuper Mario RPGcould be the first step towards a new era for theSuper Marioseries. The announcement ofSuper Mario RPGalongside the upcomingSuper Mario Bros. Wonderwas one of the highlights of the recent Nintendo Direct, bringing attention to Mario’s past as well as his future, while giving players a good idea of what to expect from both. The question is how far Nintendo will go down this newly opened path.
In an unexpected move, aremake ofSuper Mario RPGwas confirmedduring a Nintendo Direct in June, instantly providing something for Switch players to look forward to.Super Mario RPG, as the name implies, was the first RPG starring Mario and friends. Had it not been for this game, then future titles such asPaper Marioand theMario and Luigiseries may not have come to pass. For that reason alone, it is well worth remembering, but its role here as a remake could open the door to many, many more proper remakes for the Nintendo mascot.
RELATED:Nintendo Has a History of Mario + Zelda 1-2 Punches
Super Mario RPG Could Be the First of Many Mario Remakes
BecauseSuper Mario RPGis getting a remake rather than being anotherMariotitle added to Nintendo Switch Online, this decision could point toward more remakes moving forward. Remakes are not uncommon in the industry, but Mario has not really thrown his hat in that ring before. An updated version of the game, keeping everything that fans loved while polishing up a couple of the rougher parts, seems like an excellent move on the developer’s part.
Nostalgia has long been a powerful part of theMarioseries, and history has made that clear. Many of the earliestgames released for Nintendo Switch OnlinewereMariotitles, such asSuper Mario Bros.andPaper Mario. Nintendo is well aware of how popular and successful these games are, which is why it has kept making them accessible. This even happened well before the Switch, withSuper Mario Bros. Deluxeand theSuper Mario Advancegames bringing the classic platformers to handheld systems. The remake ofSuper Mario RPGis only the latest example of an olderMariotitle getting a well-deserved revival, but remakes are a different story.
The return ofSuper Mario RPGcould pave the way for remakes of more of Mario’s adventures. One game that could be a surefire remake candidate would be thewidely-lovedPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Not only hasTTYDnever seen a rerelease, but the fan demand for something be done with the title has always been sky-high. Another solid candidate would beMario Superstar Baseball, which while not an adventure game or RPG, is a well-regarded spinoff with an enduring player base. Similar to thePaper Marioidea, a back-to-basicsMario Sportsremake has the potential to be a major success on the Switch.
Super Mario RPGgetting a remake is good news, but even better is the hope of it potentially starting a remake renaissance for the franchise. Even afterSuper Mario RPG, there is still an incredible amount ofNintendo games that deserve remakes,Mariotitles included. A series of remakes bringing some of Mario’s respected but neglected games to modern consoles could be a winning combination, especially by working with tried-and-true games with built-in fanbases. IfSuper Mario RPG’s remake goes well, then an era of classicSuper Marioremakes could be on the horizon.
Super Mario RPGwill be released in November 2023 for the Nintendo Switch.
