The Super Mario RPG Remake Sparks Excitement for a Thrilling New Mario Spinoff Universe

Highlights

Speculation about a potential Super Mario RPG remake hints at Nintendo's reinvigorated interest in Mario RPG games, and this renewed focus could potentially pave the way for a revival of the beloved Mario and Luigi series.

Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario's success opened doors for more Mario RPG spin-offs. However, interest in the Mario and Luigi series has waned in recent years, resulting in the closure of developer AlphaDream.

The remake of Super Mario RPG, created by Square Enix, demonstrates Nintendo's acknowledgement of the demand for Mario RPG spin-offs. It serves as a test for a possible revival and an opportunity for them to explore new developers for the Mario and Luigi series.

The June 2023 Nintendo Direct surprised many fans with the announcement of a Super Mario RPG remake. This beloved SNES classic marked Mario's entry into the RPG genre, inspiring popular series like Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi. While the Paper Mario series has continued, albeit with some changes, the closure of developer AlphaDream temporarily halted the Mario and Luigi series. However, the return of Super Mario RPG suggests that Nintendo may be interested in investing in more Mario RPG titles. Originally released in 1996 during the RPG golden era, alongside titles like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, and Secret of Mana, Super Mario RPG showcased the potential for quirky and unique RPGs featuring the iconic plumber. Now, with its remake, Nintendo has the opportunity to bring back the Mario and Luigi series and revisit Mario's RPG spin-off glory days.

Super Mario RPG Could Warrant a Mario & Luigi Revival

Nintendo brought a new series of spin-off titles to its handhelds, kickstarting with Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga in 2003. This RPG game, similar to Super Mario RPG, placed players in control of the brothers, Mario and Luigi. The success of Superstar Saga led to the development of sequels such as Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, and Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam.

However, interest in the series gradually declined, with the 3DS remakes of Superstar Saga and Bowser's Inside Story not meeting expectations. As a result, AlphaDream, the developer of the series, closed down in 2019. Nintendo has shown a reluctance to continue with Mario RPGs, evident in the recent Paper Mario: The Origami King, which significantly reduced its RPG elements. Nevertheless, the announcement of a Super Mario RPG remake brings hope to fans, suggesting a potential revival of RPG spin-offs in the Mario series.

The Super Mario RPG remake is a promising sign for future RPG spin-offs because it was originally created by RPG powerhouse Square Enix. Since Square Enix owns the rights to the game's original characters, Nintendo would need their approval to proceed with a remake. The fact that Nintendo is willing to collaborate with Square Enix and revive this SNES classic indicates that there is demand for Mario RPG spin-off games.

This remake provides an opportunity for Nintendo to test the waters and gauge interest in a Mario RPG revival, before committing to producing more spin-offs in the genre. One challenge that a new Mario and Luigi game would face is finding a suitable developer to replace AlphaDream. Although it is unclear which studio is handling the development of the Super Mario RPG remake, Nintendo could be using this as a trial to assess a potential developer's capabilities before entrusting them with the Mario and Luigi series.

Super Mario RPG will release on November 17 for Nintendo Switch.