SUPER MARIA RPG

Disclaimer; I wasn't able to get through the entire game for time reasons, but feel I have experienced enough to write a review (I made it to Zerybus's Castle, Part 1).


Presentation:

Super Maria RPG certainly has a unique feel to it- whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on what you're looking for. It's enemies, though they look amateurish at first, are each original and add to the charm of the game. The game's soundtrack is original too, though sometimes grating as it repeats in short loops. As the description says, the game uses no default resources, which I give it credit for. Overall, I'd say the presentation is different, but not overly stylized like some games are today.


Gameplay:

If you've played the creator's previous game- Hellbound- it's a lot like that; Standard RPG mechanics with a wide variety of challenging, but not cheap, enemies. Definitely make sure to use your buffs and debuffs, as you will likely die without them. Enemies don't have a health bar which may be off-putting to some, though it helps make the enemies more challenging. Also, expect to be grinding against enemies at some point in the game, though it wasn't a bad problem in my run-through.


Story:

Super Maria RPG is a game you play more for its humor and internet references than its story. You are tasked with killing the evil lord Zerybus to save the world, and have a tricky fairy and dope-ass dog to help you. The characters are okay, if rather one-dimensional. There's hardly any character development or story twists, and when they do come along it's too little, too late. Thankfully the game will give you a few good laughs along the way. As the developer states, there are enough jokes and reference in this game to make you sick, but in a good way. I especially liked Silva's Dungeon and the tombstones within.


Pros:
Enemies are challenging
Wide variety of enemies
Originality
Funny


Cons:
Bit of a grind required
Generic story and Characters