Relentlessly charming. An amazing game for all ages.
BEST IN THE SERIES
Actually amazing one of the better rpgs
Great writing and the gameplay was pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of turn-based combat but IIRC they introduced some QTEs to keep you engaged
Haven't finished it yet, but I can feel the groundwork for bowsers inside story
SUCH A WACKY GAME. They really took the idea of an RPG staring Mario and Luigi and RAN with it. The battle system is some of the most fun I've had. I can't think of a better way this franchise could've taken form.
It indeed has decently comedic writing, good style, interesting setting and characters and kickstarted an influential RPG franchise. While I do consider this to have been a pleasing experience in the greater scheme of things, there are many things which have infuriated me, such as unbalanced boss fights (including the completely unbalanced Mush Badge which allowed me to 2-hit KO one of the most infamous final bosses in the franchise), cryptic mechanics (i.e. Advance attacks) and a lot of very repetitive enemy spamming. It is worth playing for the exploration aspect and to experience the writing, but it is one of those RPGs where I feel like they might have been better off just making a comic.
💯 💶 💯 💶 💯 💶 💯 💶 💯 💶 💯 💶 💯 💶 💯
It would be interesting if Luigi became a regular character in the Mario series
Superstar Saga is another in a long list of games that I played as a child but never beat.
This game is an absolute delight from start to finish. I really think it is hard to screw up a Mario RPG, but this one deserves its spot as one of the best in the franchise. I don't think it's perfect by any means, but like Super Mario RPG which I played earlier this year, it is a joy from start to finish.
The elements that really set this game apart from others in the franchise are its setting and characters. Superstar Saga is unique in the fact that it created a whole new kingdom, filled with multiple completely new races and characters that are unique from what is usually seen in the franchise. Almost all of them are winners, with the standout characters being Prince Peasley and Fawful.
The thing I respect most about this game is just how perfect it is for newcomers in the turn-based RPG genre. The battle system is simple, yet fun and engaging for newcomers. This game wasn't my introduction to turn based games (that was Bowser's Inside Story), but I know people who's first RPG was this game, and they all say they adore the battle system. It refined a lot of the action commands that were seen in games like Paper Mario and Mario RPG, while also making something that feels so unique to it.
Sadly, the main issues I have with the game boil down to that simplicity. Compared to the games later in the series, the combat is much more simpler with a lot less systems for the player to engage with. It is not too bad mainly because of the short length of the game, but even by the 12 hour mark I was starting to get tired of the repetitive nature. Thankfully, this is an issue that is fixed by the time the next few games roll out.
Overall, I do still love this game. If anyone out there is looking for a great introduction into the wonderful world of turn-based RPGs, then they should definitely pick up this game.
Be prepared for Cackletta's Soul tho. Even as an adult that shit was hard as hell.
This game is an absolute delight from start to finish. I really think it is hard to screw up a Mario RPG, but this one deserves its spot as one of the best in the franchise. I don't think it's perfect by any means, but like Super Mario RPG which I played earlier this year, it is a joy from start to finish.
The elements that really set this game apart from others in the franchise are its setting and characters. Superstar Saga is unique in the fact that it created a whole new kingdom, filled with multiple completely new races and characters that are unique from what is usually seen in the franchise. Almost all of them are winners, with the standout characters being Prince Peasley and Fawful.
The thing I respect most about this game is just how perfect it is for newcomers in the turn-based RPG genre. The battle system is simple, yet fun and engaging for newcomers. This game wasn't my introduction to turn based games (that was Bowser's Inside Story), but I know people who's first RPG was this game, and they all say they adore the battle system. It refined a lot of the action commands that were seen in games like Paper Mario and Mario RPG, while also making something that feels so unique to it.
Sadly, the main issues I have with the game boil down to that simplicity. Compared to the games later in the series, the combat is much more simpler with a lot less systems for the player to engage with. It is not too bad mainly because of the short length of the game, but even by the 12 hour mark I was starting to get tired of the repetitive nature. Thankfully, this is an issue that is fixed by the time the next few games roll out.
Overall, I do still love this game. If anyone out there is looking for a great introduction into the wonderful world of turn-based RPGs, then they should definitely pick up this game.
Be prepared for Cackletta's Soul tho. Even as an adult that shit was hard as hell.
super funny and cute, one of my favorite childhood games! wonderful music and characters
Probablemente el juego que más querÃa jugar desde que tenÃa 5 o 6 años
good times were had
one of the funnest games i've ever played, and an rpg i actually look forward to replaying every now and then. i've never beat it on original hardware so shhhhh you understand cmon youd keep my secret right that final boss is just very hard right shhhh
Very enjoyable, but hard as fuck the final boss, i hate you witch
cinema
One of the best Mario RPGs out there. Silly and just plain fun.
Finished it like 5 times as a kid, fun rpg, I really love the attack/defense mechanic and ooooooooh the bros attack when you learn to do it without input/slowdown help, great characters, great adventure, final boss felt hardcore when ur little hahah
Ta mejor el remake
It's a great first entry in the series, but it's clear that Nintendo didn't have a whole lot of confidence in it. There is a good amount of backtracking. There are several music tracks that are 10 second loops. I feel like it struggles a bit to find its footing as a concept for a game.
But it's a good game. Worth a play for sure.
But it's a good game. Worth a play for sure.
assuming the mushroom kingdom represents italy (because mario is italian) does this mean the beanbean kingdom represents austria?
El mejor de la saga sin ninguna duda. Prefiero el remake de 3DS pero es buenÃsimo aún asÃ. Muy original, gracioso e innovador. Descanse en paz AlphaDream 😔.
Glad I played again after almost 20 years. I enjoyed it through and through. I remembered most of the beginning but the middle to end I completely forgot. Humor is ok and the final boss is actually challenging. Have to look into the sequels.
Difficulty Played: Normal
Difficulty Played: Normal
There is a lot to love about Superstar Saga in regards to the writing and spriting. Alas, the difficulty curve cracks like an egg with even a small bit of grinding/minmaxing.
The start of the series that, to this day, has aged phenomenally with its gorgeous spritework and music, incredible gameplay that feels tight and packed with loads of options, mini-games that break up the RPG gameplay very well, and a goofy story with charm and high stakes at hand.
This review contains spoilers
The GBA had quite a few gems didn't it?
I'm gonna start with the aspects that got on my nerves because they're pretty short compared to this list of things Superstar Saga nails:
• The Yoshi Theater beanstar felt like
obvious padding compared to the
other three locations as it mostly
entailed just walking about BeanBean
for a bit for fruits.
• Scaratroopeas (and Joke's End as a
whole) can go fuck themselves.
Now that's out of the way I can gush about how cute Mario and Luigi are in this game. Outside of maybe Luigi's Mansion I don't think their bond as brothers has ever felt so warm and real.
This bond is so strong in fact that it allows you to effectively terrorize any enemy/boss encounter in the game as long as you have quick enough fingers, rhythm, and can easily discern between red and green.
Through the power of Bros Attacks you can render nearly any challenge in this game futile. I say nearly any, because some of the Koopaling fights in the end game as well as Fawful and Cackletta's heart will have you sweating...The power of said Bros Attack though depends on how comfortable you are with the timing of attack of by yourself. I adored how much care and character was put into each of the bros attacks, with unique, charming animations playing for each success and failure.
Above all though, this game is hilarious. Like actually laugh out loud material at points. I'm never gonna get over Luigi pouting over not getting a badge while Mario pushes him into the next scene ðŸ˜.
I'm gonna start with the aspects that got on my nerves because they're pretty short compared to this list of things Superstar Saga nails:
• The Yoshi Theater beanstar felt like
obvious padding compared to the
other three locations as it mostly
entailed just walking about BeanBean
for a bit for fruits.
• Scaratroopeas (and Joke's End as a
whole) can go fuck themselves.
Now that's out of the way I can gush about how cute Mario and Luigi are in this game. Outside of maybe Luigi's Mansion I don't think their bond as brothers has ever felt so warm and real.
This bond is so strong in fact that it allows you to effectively terrorize any enemy/boss encounter in the game as long as you have quick enough fingers, rhythm, and can easily discern between red and green.
Through the power of Bros Attacks you can render nearly any challenge in this game futile. I say nearly any, because some of the Koopaling fights in the end game as well as Fawful and Cackletta's heart will have you sweating...The power of said Bros Attack though depends on how comfortable you are with the timing of attack of by yourself. I adored how much care and character was put into each of the bros attacks, with unique, charming animations playing for each success and failure.
Above all though, this game is hilarious. Like actually laugh out loud material at points. I'm never gonna get over Luigi pouting over not getting a badge while Mario pushes him into the next scene ðŸ˜.
This review contains spoilers
It's beans
That final boss was impossible for me. Many fond memories dying to Cackletta's Spirit and her spinning arms in the backseat of the car on the GBA SP.
For this particular holiday season, me and a buncha Discord moots did a little "backlog secret santa" where each person was secretly assigned another to pick a game out of the other's backlog and make them play it. At the moment, I'm still unaware of who gave me Superstar Saga, but I'd like them to know I enjoyed it a pretty nice amount.
Before this little event, my only experience with any sort of Mario RPG was the third of this series, Bowser's Inside Story, and a forever unfinished run of Paper Mario: Sticker Star. I liked Bowser's Inside Story a shit ton, even going so far as to call it my favorite Mario game out of all of them, but for some reason I just never got around to trying any of the others. Glad I finally did with this one, though, since I definitely had fun with Superstar Saga, although it might've taken just a while to really start getting into it.
I think a problem I had with the game that didn't start fixing itself up until about three or four hours in, was the combat. With the amount of overworld encounters you face, you will be fighting lots of the same enemy over and over again, and the way the Mario & Luigi series does battles doesn't really help its case. Combat is extremely simple, time your A/B presses at the right time for extra damage, time your A/B presses at the right time on the enemy's turn to dodge. It's not until the Bros. Attacks when things start getting a little more varied, even if it is just a few more, flashier button timings for bigger numbers. It just makes all of the fights, including bosses unfortunately, rather forgettable.
The most charm Superstar Saga provides would be in the characters, in my opinion (and I've heard this is a pretty common thing among all of the older Mario RPGs.) There are a lot of great interactions, designs, even some quick cameos that were fun to see. It's always great seeing Peach get more speaking roles, the Bean Royalty (or whatever I'm supposed to call them) are all entertaining characters, there were some lines of dialogue that I had to do a quick double take on, I just don't have enough ways to say that this game's writing was shockingly entertaining, but I guess blame that on my lack of experience in these games.
I'll be honest and say I had the music off for a good majority of my playthrough. It's nice, and obviously I let it play for a little bit whenever I reached a new area, but it's not something I'd be willing to sit through for extended periods of time. Especially considering, again, the sheer amount of overworld encounters you'll be sitting through constantly cutting off the music with the same old battle theme every single time.
It was a lotta fun. It took a while to get there, but once I did, I had fun pretty consistently throughout, and I'm glad I had something to finally push me to try it out. Even if it was a little excruciating thinking about all the other games I wanted to play/replay lmao
Very nice 8/10. Looking forward to maybe also trying out some more of its sequels.
small tangent, people overhyped the hell out of that final boss. it's really not that bad, just dodge lol.
Before this little event, my only experience with any sort of Mario RPG was the third of this series, Bowser's Inside Story, and a forever unfinished run of Paper Mario: Sticker Star. I liked Bowser's Inside Story a shit ton, even going so far as to call it my favorite Mario game out of all of them, but for some reason I just never got around to trying any of the others. Glad I finally did with this one, though, since I definitely had fun with Superstar Saga, although it might've taken just a while to really start getting into it.
I think a problem I had with the game that didn't start fixing itself up until about three or four hours in, was the combat. With the amount of overworld encounters you face, you will be fighting lots of the same enemy over and over again, and the way the Mario & Luigi series does battles doesn't really help its case. Combat is extremely simple, time your A/B presses at the right time for extra damage, time your A/B presses at the right time on the enemy's turn to dodge. It's not until the Bros. Attacks when things start getting a little more varied, even if it is just a few more, flashier button timings for bigger numbers. It just makes all of the fights, including bosses unfortunately, rather forgettable.
The most charm Superstar Saga provides would be in the characters, in my opinion (and I've heard this is a pretty common thing among all of the older Mario RPGs.) There are a lot of great interactions, designs, even some quick cameos that were fun to see. It's always great seeing Peach get more speaking roles, the Bean Royalty (or whatever I'm supposed to call them) are all entertaining characters, there were some lines of dialogue that I had to do a quick double take on, I just don't have enough ways to say that this game's writing was shockingly entertaining, but I guess blame that on my lack of experience in these games.
I'll be honest and say I had the music off for a good majority of my playthrough. It's nice, and obviously I let it play for a little bit whenever I reached a new area, but it's not something I'd be willing to sit through for extended periods of time. Especially considering, again, the sheer amount of overworld encounters you'll be sitting through constantly cutting off the music with the same old battle theme every single time.
It was a lotta fun. It took a while to get there, but once I did, I had fun pretty consistently throughout, and I'm glad I had something to finally push me to try it out. Even if it was a little excruciating thinking about all the other games I wanted to play/replay lmao
Very nice 8/10. Looking forward to maybe also trying out some more of its sequels.
small tangent, people overhyped the hell out of that final boss. it's really not that bad, just dodge lol.
A lot of the scenarios feel like chores and there's many mandatory middling mini-games. Great graphics, music, and characterization of the Mario Bros, though.