Ok, does anyone else feel like Mario is ASS in this game? I don't know what it is, but basically from the midpoint until the end of the game when I started grinding and getting the best equipment from side quests, I found that Mario would hit with all the force of a pool noodle, he'd die in like two hits, and I swear every significant enemy in the game resists fire. Until you get the lazy shell, he's easily the worst party member in the game, it sucks that you can't switch him out.
Anyway yea, didn't really have the best time with this one. I don't think it's a particularly hard RPG all things considered, but I feel like it just wants to kick you in the balls and be generally annoying with some wack stat distribution and some obnoxious bosses that walled many of my attacks. I chilled with Bowser and Mallow through most of the game, and I feel like that was for the best given that, until the end game, Bowser is easily the best damage dealer, and Mallow's screen nukes just straight up hit harder until I could grind Geno high enough to get his late game spells and his Magical Attack up worth a damn. I think it's a fine enough time, and I like the timed hits as usual (I think this was the first RPG to ever do something like it, so that's cool, if true), but I was irked more than impressed by a lot of it.
Visually, yea it's definitely dated. I used to think this game was really ugly, and I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for still thinking so with its 3D assets that don't always have proper shading and thus clash with the lighting, the big blue void that everything floats over, and the bright obnoxious colors that stab you in the eyes. But now, I find the graphics charming, and the sprite animation and enemy designs are just straight up really good. It's definitely not as expressive as the Mario & Luigi games, nor does it have as defined a style as Paper Mario, but the puppet-esque look and all the pantomiming done by the characters make the comedy work as well as it does (and makes me worried for the remake).
Sadly, musically I think it's just ok, which is the most disappointing part. Yoko Shimomura is my favorite composer, and I don't get it because it's not like she hadn't found her groove yet, she'd already done great work with Street Fighter II. But something about the Mario RPGs she worked on just don't click with me. That said, I like this more than Superstar Saga's soundtrack, I like the town themes like Rose Town, Hello Happy Kingdom, Hard Working Moles are Good Moles, and Nimbus Land, but I think the ost is lacking in good dungeon and battle themes (with the exception of Margarie Margarita, which no one talks about, and, obviously, Beware the Forest's Mushrooms, which is the best track in the game).
I think it would be hysterical if in the next Smash Bros. game, they announced that Mallow would be joining the roster instead of Geno.
Anyway yea, didn't really have the best time with this one. I don't think it's a particularly hard RPG all things considered, but I feel like it just wants to kick you in the balls and be generally annoying with some wack stat distribution and some obnoxious bosses that walled many of my attacks. I chilled with Bowser and Mallow through most of the game, and I feel like that was for the best given that, until the end game, Bowser is easily the best damage dealer, and Mallow's screen nukes just straight up hit harder until I could grind Geno high enough to get his late game spells and his Magical Attack up worth a damn. I think it's a fine enough time, and I like the timed hits as usual (I think this was the first RPG to ever do something like it, so that's cool, if true), but I was irked more than impressed by a lot of it.
Visually, yea it's definitely dated. I used to think this game was really ugly, and I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for still thinking so with its 3D assets that don't always have proper shading and thus clash with the lighting, the big blue void that everything floats over, and the bright obnoxious colors that stab you in the eyes. But now, I find the graphics charming, and the sprite animation and enemy designs are just straight up really good. It's definitely not as expressive as the Mario & Luigi games, nor does it have as defined a style as Paper Mario, but the puppet-esque look and all the pantomiming done by the characters make the comedy work as well as it does (and makes me worried for the remake).
Sadly, musically I think it's just ok, which is the most disappointing part. Yoko Shimomura is my favorite composer, and I don't get it because it's not like she hadn't found her groove yet, she'd already done great work with Street Fighter II. But something about the Mario RPGs she worked on just don't click with me. That said, I like this more than Superstar Saga's soundtrack, I like the town themes like Rose Town, Hello Happy Kingdom, Hard Working Moles are Good Moles, and Nimbus Land, but I think the ost is lacking in good dungeon and battle themes (with the exception of Margarie Margarita, which no one talks about, and, obviously, Beware the Forest's Mushrooms, which is the best track in the game).
I think it would be hysterical if in the next Smash Bros. game, they announced that Mallow would be joining the roster instead of Geno.
2 Comments
@Fisher Nah man, not in my playthrough. For so much of the game Bowser takes single digit damage from everything and just one shots enemies with physical attacks letting me save all my FP for Mallow to spam Thunderbolt which usually clears the room, or does enough to get everyone in killing range with basic attacks. Until Geno learns Geno Blast/Flash, that combo works great for me. Also Geno's too frail for my liking; definitely worth the damage output in the endgame but dies all the damn time.
Fisher
6 months ago