Super Mario Bros RPG

Game: Super Mario Bros RPG

(Keep in mind that all you need to do is click an image to view it larger!)

So I started with Super Mario Bros RPG Per Logan's request. He thinks this is the game I will find most fun... Lets see if he is right.

I am pretty familiar with what I am in getting into with any Mario game.

So in most cases the games involve...

           This guy ^                                                                                             ^  Saving this lovely lady

Not to my surprise, we begin by dangling from the ceiling while I start my game experience presumably fighting what will be the last boss, or ultimate goal of the game. Mario must save Princess Toadstool from Bowser. 

One thing I notice right away is the lack of voice acting. Rather, there is some text bubbles and a lot of 8 bit sound to illustrate the emotions that the characters are to be betraying. Each character seems to have a different arsenal of beeps and boings and it makes for an entertaining introduction.

On another note, I notice that the game might give you hints. I immediately starting punching Bowser's face in, in hopes to break the game and beat it now. Wouldn't Logan be impressed then, eh?! While I was hopelessly bopping the large reptile in the nose, the Princess (who is hopelessly dangling from the ceiling) gives me a tip (pictured above). Aim at the chain! Well duh, thanks Princess. I don't know if this relationship is going to work out with your condescending attituuuuuuuuuuuu.....

By golly it worked. Hmmf.

After my perilous descent I come across something vaguely familiar.

Would you look at that! I have seen that somewhere!

This is Logan's 3D model of the scene above. I think his is amazingly, breathtakingly accurate.

Its all coming together for me!

I am introduced to my world. The map is really small, probably deceivingly small. You can move along paths that it dictates and enter sub-worlds that are far away quickly.

They give you a quick preview of the battle system. It is what I expected with a few twists. You can power up nearly any usable item or ability by timing your button press accurately. I find I am apt to powering my offensive abilities but less likely to time the defensive press right. Something I need to keep an eye on I think.

My first level up and I am introduced to this system in which every level you get you gain base attributes but you can choose from three "Level Up Bonus"s to tailor your game to your liking. I chose HP for my first one. Not sure what the S does. I think it was special attack and defense. Hmm. All of these will probably come in handy but as I am forbid to search outside sources, it will remain unknown what the most beneficial bonus is for any given time.

In the world there are these flowers that propel you in different directions depending on when you jump off of them. Lets say I had a little fun spinning in circles...

My first boss is the Hammer Bros. They follow the basic principles of all combat in the game, but are a smidge harder.

They easily succumb to my charms. ;]

I explore town a bit, familiarize myself with the locals. This young lass wants to marry me. For some reason this is a little weird but I was flattered. 

I perused the local shop (didn't purchase anything) and took a look in the inn (didn't snooze there).

I go and talk to this royal toadstool guy and he tells me a few things I already know. 

Also, apparently Mario has a knack for story telling. 

I am not keeping track, honest, but I am adding "shapeshifter" to the long list of bad ass things Mario can do. Just saying.

Upon leaving the castle I find this pitiful scene in which "someone" has stolen this poor doughboy's coin. Mallow begins to weep and it starts to rain. By the way, hes also not made of pastry, hes a toad. What?! So I tell him I will track down this mofo who stole his change, and he joins my party. Woohoo! 

We run into this guy as we are leaving, and the hunt is on for yet another large reptilian evil guy.

Off we go, exploring, pwning bad guys, when we run into the alligator baddy and he shows us the way of 2½D platforming. I hop around until I get this chest....

And run around with the invincible buff making things fly off the screen. I want to say the most fun part of the game so far. Yessss...

We eventually catch up to this guy and engage him.

I begin to open the can of whoop ass with some nasty fire balls and such.... but things don't turn out to well.

Ah yes. The moments before I get my first "Game Over" That's right folks. I got a game over.... man I was pissed.

I start my adventure over... and this time I start by stocking up on mushrooms and pick-me-ups (which you use to revive)

I do a bit more exploring and find a few things that I would have liked to have before the previous battle, but I think I am learning how this works.

I chase this guy around, he continues to insult me, and finally he wants to get his butt kicked for real.

I use my mushrooms and use Mallow's healing ability (which is pretty cool, and usable out of combat too!). This guy takes a lot of hits to take out. One thing I find lacking is any sort of progress bar. I felt like there was no end in sight...

And then my good marshmallow friend takes the last swing and gets his precious coin back. Woohoo! We take our loot (and I am sure that cold blooded brats head) back to town to revel in our victory)

Once we make our way back to town we observe the poor townsfolk being tormented by bouncing hooded heathens. I free a few pestered friends and make my way towards the castle...

... stopping to pick up some more supplies before most likely heading into another string of battles.

I find the castle occupied by the springy dudes as well, so I dodge the ones I can and head to check on the throne room and see where these coil-for-butt people are getting their orders.

I find myself face to face with Mack (Mack daddy? Lawl) and engage him.

He is protected by four bodyguards. You can still hit Mack whilist the body guards are there so I wasn't really sure who I should be attacking. I used Mario to attack Mack and Mallow to heal.

The lightning attack Mallow has proved to be highly effective (when timed right) in clearing the guards away so I tried to save my flower points (currency to use special abilities) to use that attack when he had four guards up.

When I got Mack by himself he would use a couple fire attacks, one of which (firewall) would hit both Mario and Mack, and I seemed to be unable to avoid the damage? Not sure but it wasn't fun. I am just glad he didn't do it a lot.

There are times when Mack would retreat completely and leave us with guards only to deal with.

I actually ran out of FP and started to panic. This fight was lasting FOREVER.

I also ran out of Mushrooms. I started with seven I believe. I felt like this fight was going on forever, and wished again that the game had some sort of progress bar.

I did run into a couple saving graces. One of which was the fact that the enemy could run out of flower power as well, and would essentially skip a turn. Also, when I killed the guards, sometimes they would heal Mario or Mallow to full health. I think that is the only reason I stayed in the game for so long.

Unable to heal, I had to use pick-me-ups when I died and hoped that I didn't loose both my guys or run out of pick-me-ups before I killed him.

Eventually I got him down, finished off the guards, and collected the booty. I was pretty proud of myself.

The whole time I was killing him Logan was asking if I beat him. Upon beating him I shouted "HES DEAD" and got a few chuckles. I guess, according to Logan, if I would have freed some more of the villagers from the sproingy guys, I could have gotten a few more things to help me.

I felt kinda bad ass doing it without the rewards, and kinda stupid at the same time.
Learned my lesson though. E.X.P.L.O.R.E

Mario: "Can I eat it?!"

So I got this shiny blue star....

Added it to a star collection I didn't know I had... I guess another goal of the game.

After gaining a trusted companion, pwning a springy dude, and earning my first star, I explored the castle (like I should have to begin with) and found that the Princess has a bouncy bed.

I bounced for fun, I bounced for adventure, I bounced for victory!