30 Years Ago Today, Nintendo Changed How Fans Saw Mario Forever

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For the first fifteen years of his life, Mario was known as a classic platforming hero. Starting as ‘Jumpman’ in Donkey Kong and continuing with his popular games on the NES, Mario was primarily a side-scrolling character. But everything changed in 1996 with the release of Super Mario 64, which brought him into a fully 3D world and redefined the series.

Before the Nintendo 64 became a hit, another innovative game starring Mario proved how versatile the character could be. Released in Japan on March 9, 1996, and in North America a few months later, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars combined the classic platforming gameplay with the style of role-playing games from Square. Though not as well-known as another Mario title released that same year, Super Mario RPG was a significant step forward for the Nintendo franchise.

Why Mario Got His First RPG

Developed by Square for the Super Nintendo, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was a significant game that proved Mario could succeed outside of traditional platforming games. It was one of the final major projects Nintendo and Square worked on together before Square began focusing on the PlayStation. The game blended elements from Square’s Final Fantasy series—like turn-based battles, a team of characters, and a large world to explore—with the familiar Mario universe.

The game began as a collaboration between Shigeru Miyamoto, who wanted to create a role-playing game featuring Mario, and Square, who aimed to produce an RPG that would appeal to players in Western markets. The project took two years to develop, with a key decision being to integrate Mario’s signature platforming style rather than simply putting him into a typical Square RPG. This resulted in a blend of platforming and overworld exploration, along with a new battle system that used timed button presses for attacks and defense.

In this game, Mario travels across the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Peach from a new, unknown danger. Surprisingly, he even has to work with his longtime enemy, Bowser, to succeed! By using a role-playing game style, Nintendo and Square Enix were able to create a much deeper story than previous Mario games, filled with fun characters and humor. Mario is joined by a diverse group of allies, including familiar faces like Peach and the beloved Geno. The game was a critical and commercial success, earning an 84/100 score on Metacritic and becoming one of the year’s best-selling titles. It quickly became a favorite among both RPG and Mario fans, and its influence on the Nintendo franchise can still be seen today.

Super Mario RPG Proved Mario Could Grow Beyond His Platforming Roots

Both Super Mario RPG and Super Mario 64 were released in the same year. Super Mario 64 famously transitioned Mario’s gameplay into 3D, proving the character could successfully move beyond 2D. But Super Mario RPG was equally significant, demonstrating Mario’s ability to adapt to a different genre. This game established the series’ signature humor and storytelling style, which continues to be a hallmark of Mario games today.

Super Mario RPG was a huge departure for the Mario franchise, moving beyond the traditional platforming style. While Mario Kart had already shown the series could branch out, Super Mario RPG proved Mario could succeed in the role-playing genre. This game paved the way for beloved spin-offs like Paper Mario and the Mario & Luigi series, which might not exist without it. Super Mario RPG also heavily influenced the humor and personality that are now central to all Mario games, shaping the series for the past thirty years.

As a gamer, I think Super Mario RPG really showed everyone that Mario could thrive outside of his usual platforming adventures. It still felt like a Mario game, even with all the RPG elements! It proved Mario could successfully jump into pretty much any genre – sports, fighting, puzzles, you name it. Along with Super Mario 64, it was a massive leap forward for Nintendo, especially considering how much gaming was changing back then. From the moment it launched, Super Mario RPG was a hit with fans, and honestly, it’s just as fun to play now on the Switch. While it ended up being the last big collaboration between Nintendo and Square, it’s still a game both companies can be super proud of, even after all these years.

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2026-03-10 01:10