Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
1996 · RPG · SNES
Overview
Super Mario RPG was a collaboration between Nintendo and Square that brought Final Fantasy's RPG mechanics into the Mario universe. The isometric 3D environments, the timed action commands — pressing a button at the right moment during attacks to boost damage — and the story involving a sword that fell from the sky and shattered the Star Road made it one of the SNES's final masterpieces.
Deep Dive
Super Mario RPG was developed by Square under producer Shigeru Miyamoto and directed by Yoshihiko Maekawa. The timed action command system — a button press at the attack's moment of impact increased damage — was a design innovation that subsequent RPGs including Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi adopted. The game's story featured Bowser as an occasionally helpful antagonist, Peach as a party member with healing abilities, and an original villain named Smithy whose factory setting departed from Mushroom Kingdom norms.
Developer Story
Super Mario RPG was developed by Square at Nintendo's request, with Shigeru Miyamoto serving as producer to ensure the game felt authentically Nintendo. The collaboration was unusual — Square was producing Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation simultaneously — and the resulting game reflected both studios' design philosophies. The game launched in Japan in March 1996.
Did You Know?
- Super Mario RPG was the last Mario game produced in collaboration with Square before the two companies separated — Square's subsequent Nintendo-exclusive RPGs appeared on the N64 and later platforms.
- The timed action command system — pressing a button at the moment of attack impact for bonus damage — was invented for Super Mario RPG and subsequently became the signature mechanic of the Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi series.
- Geno — an original character created for Super Mario RPG — has become one of the most requested characters for Super Smash Bros. inclusion despite never appearing in another mainline game.
- Super Mario RPG was the last major SNES release in North America, shipping in May 1996 — by which point the N64 was already being prepared for its North American launch that September.
