There is not much to Super Mario RPG. All those that have declared this to be baby's first RPG were 100% correct. Mechanically SMRPG is safe but satisfying. Moving through the world is breezy and the battles are equally swift and fun. Action commands (and the remake's added layer of splash damage) keep the player engaged in otherwise unremarkable combat. SMRPG holds up as a very accessible and playable game in the modern era, though not an essential one. Still, it's an enjoyable jaunt through a new take on the Mushroom Kingdom. And it's this bold take that really shines even decades later.

The Mario brand is iconic and beloved but is so familiar and so synonymous with Nintendo as a brand that it can come off as stale and bland. The magic of the Mario RPGs is that they reintroduce us to a Mushroom Kingdom that is playful, charming and absurd and Super Mario RPG gets all the credit for being first and setting the tone for the Paper Mario series, the Mario & Luigi games and I'd argue the Illumination Mario movie as well.