Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars - SNES

ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults
Release Date: 3-8-1996
Moby Score (1-10): 8.4
Genre(s): Action, Isometric, Role-playing (RPG), Anime / Manga, Turn-based, Diagonal-down, Japanese-style RPG (JRPG), Regional differences
Media Type(s): Physical

SUPER MARIO RPG STIMULATES IMAGINATION BY COMBINING CLASSIC MARIO ACTION AND TRADITIONAL RPG STRATEGY

Mario Sports New Computer-Rendered Image; Provides More Involving, Long Lasting Game Play

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 1996 -- Nintendo of America this month broadens the appeal of role-playing games (RPG) to a vast new consumer audience with the release of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. In his first appearance in an RPG, Mario is brought to life as a completely rendered character for the first time using Nintendo's Advanced Computer Modeling (ACM) technology. He serves as the game player's alter ego in this intellectually involving adventure that will take more than 100 hours to fully explore.

"For the past few years we've seen American video game players' interest in role-playing games increase," says Peter Main, Nintendo of America's executive vice president, sales and marketing. "More and more players are continually discovering the unique, intrinsic entertainment values that RPGs provide. Super Mario RPG, featuring America's most celebrated video game character in familiar surroundings, combines these benefits with the playability of action/adventure games to bring RPGs to a wider audience in this country."

The 32-megabit, one-player game is available only for the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) and will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $74.95.

THE WORLD OF RPGs BECOMES THE NEW WORLD OF MARIO

Featuring an involving story line from Nintendo's legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario RPG boasts the first use of stunningDonkey Kong Country-style, ACM graphics in both a Mario game and an RPG. As with most Nintendo games and as an added effort to broaden to appeal of the RPG genre, Super Mario RPG is user-friendly. For instance, in the style of the Super Mario World series, there is a walk-through during the beginning of the adventure to introduce players into the game play mechanics. Such features will greatly aid new RPG players in learning the new style of game play.

After several years of cult status due to the inherent elements involved in traditional RPGs, the RPG genre is beginning to grow into the mainstream U.S. gaming arena. Super Mario RPG breaks new ground by combining all of the fun and familiar elements of the Super Mario World action game series with the classic elements of the RPG genre, such as non-linear character movement, progressive character development, multiple characters joining the quest, menu-based battles and strategy-based game play.

Like other Mario games and RPGs, Super Mario RPG includes several fun and challenging bonus games and mazes -- for example, there is a stunning behind-the-head perspective mine cart ride. And, along with all of the usual Super Mario World characters, new characters have been added: new heroes Mallow and Geno; new enemy Smithy; and a wise frog named Frogfucius.

The game also takes the traditional RPG menu-based battle system one step further by incorporating an easy-to-use command selector and a move-within-a-move "Action Command" feature. With the new battle command selector, a player simply presses the corresponding button selection listed on the screen next to the character to enable the action. With the "Action Command" feature, a player can select to attack an enemy, then increase the power of the attack by pressing a button with the right timing.

Super Mario RPG also contains rotating Mode 7 effects, hidden Nintendo characters and a good dosage of humor. There is a battery-backed memory to save up to four different games.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is rated Kids to Adults, 6+ by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

Soon after the release of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the editors of Nintendo Power Magazine will release a comprehensive player's guide for the game with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $11.00.

Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan is the leader in the worldwide $15 billion retail video game industry. Nintendo and its international subsidiaries have sold more than one billion video games worldwide. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Washington, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere, where more than 40 percent of American homes own a Nintendo System.

Super Mario RPG is a console RPG starring none other than Nintendo's popular character Mario. This game starts off like almost every other Mario game, with Bowser kidnapping Princess Toadstool. However, when Mario goes to Bowser's Keep to save her, a giant sword made by the evil Smithy crashes into the castle and sends Mario, the Princess, and Bowser flying to separate parts of the world.

The game plays much like a traditional RPG: Mario and the members of his party gain experience points by defeating enemies. These experience points can increase the team's maximum number of hit points and flower points (magic points). The battles are also turn-based, but this time there are timed attacks and defenses. Timed attacks allow you to inflict more harm than normal to an enemy. Timed defenses, on the other hand, allow an enemy to inflict less harm than normal. You are only allowed to have three out of five team members on your party at a time. Mario is always in your party, regardless. Your team members can also purchase more weapons and abilities, along with better armor.

*** Data by MobyGames.com ***

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