super-mario-rpg
Latest
MMO Blender: Larry's old-school 16-bit MMO
In August of 1991, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System launched in North America, kick-starting what would eventually be the biggest boom in console roleplaying games. Granted, some of us had been playing RPGs on consoles like the original NES, but RPGs didn't see as big a console boom as they did on the SNES. In fact, console RPGs haven't seen the same level of popularity since the SNES. A quick jump over to VGChartz shows us that out of the top 50 games sold world-wide on any individual console, RPGs on the SNES dominated the NES, the Playstation, and even the Nintendo DS, boasting titles like Dragon Quest VI, Final Fantasy III, and Super Mario RPG. If you take into account some adventure games that should be considered RPGs, like Super Metroid and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, then you have arguably the best platform of all time for the genre. Nowadays, with online gaming and indie companies sprouting up all over the place, a 16-bit online RPG would probably sell really well, especially if it took some of the best elements from the classic console RPGs of the NES/SNES era. Isn't that right, Cthulhu Saves the World? Let's see what I can throw together from some of my favorite 8- and 16-bit games.
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Faux-fighting
We usually write off Nintendo Week as nothing more than the usual PR flim-flam, but this week's episode on the Nintendo Channel is one to watch. The segments on Muscle March, Super Mario RPG and Little King's Story are nice, but there's an important lesson to be learned here: New Super Mario Bros. Wii ruins friendships. If you plan on partaking in Mario and Co.'s latest outing on the Wii, make sure those bonds are krazy glue strong; otherwise, you'll do something cliched ... like divide the room in half with tape. Head past the break for this week's Nintendo Channel content and be sure to check out the new Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth demo!
Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger creator working on an iPhone project
Good news for the new year from Touch Arcade: Hironobu Sakaguchi is developing games for the iPhone. Just in case that name doesn't ring a bell for you, maybe the games he's helped create might: Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, and Xenogears. Yes, those of you who know your console RPG history will know that those are some of the best role-playing games ever made, and if you don't know that, then walk away from whatever you're doing right now and go play all of them -- they're brilliant. Sakaguchi announced over on the blog for his latest company, Mistwalker, that his team was working on a brand new "blockbuster project" in 2010, and they're also working on releasing something for the iPhone. He doesn't share much at all about either, though he does say that we'll see the iPhone project on the App Store soon. We can't wait -- having a legendary developer like this working on the iPhone platform just shows that while 2009 was a great year for iPhone gaming, 2010 has plenty of potential as well.
Wii Warm Up: VC 2008
There's been a lot of Virtual Console releases this year (been keeping up?), and we were wondering which were among your favorites? We've received Secret of Mana, Super Mario RPG, and River City Ransom, to name a few. So, which sit at the top of your list for this year? Sure, we were hoping we'd have another to consider, but let's not dwell on that.
Wii Warm Up: Virtual dreams
For many of you, your dream came true yesterday, as one of the most desired titles for the Virtual Console released. We figured it was appropriate to ask about any other games you wanted to hit the Virtual Console, so what are they? What game are you dying to see release on the Virtual Console?
VC Monday Madness: Super Mario RPG and Clu Clu Land
Our commitment cannot be measured. Here we are on a holiday, bringing you another VC Monday Madness. This week is a big one, so we decided to take the most care possible with this week's video. The level of professionalism within will likely blow your mind. Hit it up above, then head past the break for more.
Retail and download releases for the week of September 1st
That's right, folks. North America finally gets one of the most anticipated Virtual Console releases. If you have the day free (with it being a holiday, it's likely you do), then you've got a date with destiny. We're sure if you try really hard, you can get through it today.Head past the break for details on this week's releases.
Super Mario RPG, Clu Clu Land press A to attack Virtual Console
Well, this is certainly a great surprise for Labor Day. We're pretty sure one of these Virtual Console games needs no introduction or description. It just needs your money. Clu Clu Land (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Obviously the greatest game about a sea urchin ever conceived. Obviously. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): A little-known collaboration between small developer Square Enix (at the time an even tinier Squaresoft) and struggling console maker Nintendo. The game is virtually unknown in all parts of the world.
Nintendo of Europe rubs it in with Hanabi Festival video
The strangest thing about this Hanabi Festival video, found on the Dutch Nintendo Channel, is seeing Nintendo promoting the Virtual Console at all. Nintendo of America grudgingly allows the bare minimum of content to be released to the (apparently) hated service, and would never dream of going so far as to have a special event like the Hanabi Festival or talk about it outside of that one press release every Monday morning. The trailer features video footage of all of the games in the latest Hanabi Festival, from the celebrated (Super Mario RPG) to the ... celebrated for some reason (Spelunker). We may have most of these particular games, but we want our own Hanabi Festival![Via GoNintendo]
VC Friday: Super Mario Update
It's only been three months since the previous Hanabi Festival ended, but a third has already kicked off, bringing us PAL gamers a slew of (usually) fantastic U.S. and Japan-only games that never saw the light of day in Europe or Australia. In the coming weeks, we'll be buying Wii Points for Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (NES), Dig Dug (NES), Spelunker (NES), and DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure (SNES).This week is Mario week, meaning you're probably going to need to stock up on Wii Points. While Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels did appear for a limited period during the first Hanabi Festival, it's now here to stay forever. That's pretty exciting, but even more thrilling is the appearance of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, a full twelve years after its original Japanese release. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars -- SNES -- 900 Wii Points Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels -- NES -- 600 Wii Points Jump in a green boot and hop past the break for footage of each game!
How to justify buying expensive SNES games
Do you crave awesome, quite rare SNES games? Do you wish you could buy said games without feeling guilty about coughing up the kind of money that would go a long way on the Virtual Console? Then we have a solution, dear reader -- head over to one of the two auctions we've linked below and bid away on whichever takes your fancy. The first lot consists of Square duo Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana auction (current price: $68), while the second consists of Super Mario RPG and Super Mario All-Stars (currently at $57). Even though they lack boxes, all four are quality games, and will serve a worthy cause -- every cent spent will go to Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana-West, a non-profit provider of training, career services, and education for people with disadvantages, including homelessness, lack of education, and physical, mental and emotional disabilities.Go on, do it! It'll make you feel all fuzzy inside, and may even assuage the guilt of the thousands you wasted on Stadium Events. But probably not.Read: Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana Read: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Super Mario All-Stars [Via GamerTell]
Super Mario RPG alive and well!
In case you were wondering what all the fuss is about, the first footage of Super Mario RPG on the Virtual Console has surfaced. It's a rather speedy video showing bits and pieces of the acclaimed RPG, and it should be just enough to get fans excited and newcomers intrigued.Japanese gamers are already enjoying the classic title once again, but it might be a while before it becomes available in North America. It should come out eventually -- it's been rated for Australia, and the original SNES game was never even released there in the first place![Via GoNintendo]
VC Tuesday: A feast of game downloads
One of the most highly-anticipated Virtual Console titles arrives in Japan today, eliminating the need to hunt down an expensive cartridge. Even the somewhat high 900 point price Nintendo is asking is understandable given the nature of the game. That's right, today Japanese gamers can celebrate the arrival of Ninja Commando -- and, according to the ESRB, we could see it soon as well!What? It looks fun. Super Mario RPG (Super Famicom, 1 player, 900 Wii Points) Phantasy Star IV Sennenki no Owari Ni (The End of the Millennium) (Mega Drive, 1 player, 700 Wii Points Paranoia (Psychosis) (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Ninja Commando (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points) As if four awesome VC games weren't enough, Nintendo of Japan has also made three WiiWare games available: Saikyou Ginsei Go, Blue Oasis, and -- yay! -- Ouchi de Mugen Puchi Puchi! Wow, seven games? Our Wii Shop is officially a joke.
Super Mario RPG to take starring role on Japanese VC next week
Nintendo of Japan updated their Virtual Console page with next week's planned updates, and the releases are definitely worth reporting early. Since Super Mario RPG was announced as a June release, it may seem like a no-brainer that the game is being released next week, but we've seen plenty of games silently delayed, going unreleased as the month winds down.Happily, Super Mario RPG is specifically dated for release on the 24th. According to Nintendo's page about the VC release, Square Enix retains rights to their original characters, which helps explain why it's taken so long to appear on the VC.Super Mario RPG will be joined by Phantasy Star IV, Paranoia, and Ninja Commando (which is a pretty good title for a game that is basically Commando with ninjas).
Super Mario OFLC: Legend of the Green G
Australian and European gamers were forced to watch even more wistfully than us as we rejoiced of the news that Nintendo of Japan was planning Super Mario RPG for release this month. Because the game also came out in the U.S., it offered the possibility of a future Virtual Console release. Well, now, in an even more unlikely turn of events, the Australian OFLC has rated the game before the American ESRB!You may have to wait for the next Hanabi Festival to roll around (because Super Mario RPG never came out in Australia or Europe!), but soon, you could (potentially) be enjoying Square and Nintendo's bizarre isometric RPG. As usual, we must remind you that an OFLC rating is no guarantee of a speedy, or even real, release. However, the news makes it seem even more likely that Super Mario RPG will actually come out worldwide. [Via Cubed3; thanks, velocitySTRIKE!]
Japan's Legendary Virtual Console
There's a certain feeling of envy emanating from non-Japanese Wii owners right about now, because the big release on Japan's Virtual Console calendar in June is not to be sneezed at. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is known to some intellectually superior gamers as one of the greatest SNES games ever made, and a catalyst for the entire range of righteous Mario titles we enjoy today -- Super Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi, and many others.Kudos, Japan. While we may be disappointed, it gives us a bright shiny ray of hope that maybe, just maybe, we'll be rocking out with this classic sometime in the future. However, Nintendo are tacking on an extra 100 Wii Points to the price tag, making the download a still-reasonable nine bucks. There's an extra dollar that will be lost forever, never to be spent on that bus fare to Grandma's house.Check in after the break for the full list of Japan's June Virtual Console releases.
The awesome just keeps on coming: more Virtual Console games [update 1]
Because the eight we just posted weren't good enough, we've got another ESRB confirmation ... this time for thirteen. We'll let the list do the talking for us:NES: Excitebike Ice Climber Dr. Mario Mario Brothers Ice Hockey Soccer Super Nintendo: Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Kirby's Super Star Super Metroid Kirby's Dream Land 3 Nintendo 64: Mario Kart 64 Starfox 64 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time "Mario Brothers", which is technically the name of the arcade title already coming to the VC at launch, is presumably the actual Super Mario Bros., which failed to make it across the Pacific in time for November 19th. The biggest name on this list is certainly Mario RPG, a collaborative effort between Nintendo and Squaresoft USA (now known as Square-Enix). Besides being an absolutely excellent game, it shows that Square-Enix is committed to bringing some of the very best of its SNES golden-era RPGs to the Virtual Console. We don't want to say it, we shouldn't, really ... but dammit, we need to ... Chrono Trigger?[Thanks, Cian C.!][Update 1: Dammit, we can't count.]
