Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES review)

Developer: Square
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: 1996

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is a role playing game that was only released in Japan and North America.

Your mission is to overthrow the Smithy Gang by reclaiming the seven Star Pieces so that wishes can once again be granted. You control 3 of 5 characters (Mario, Mallow, Geno, Bowser and Princess Toadstool) in turn-based battles and you can either use normal attacks, special attacks (requires flower points), items (e.g. to increase health or restore a downed team member), or defend / run away (to lessen damage). A timed hit mechanic is also included whereby pressing a button at the right moment will either increase your attack or decrease the damage you take from enemies. In a nice twist, the game throws away the rule book immediately by placing you into battle with Bowser! A lot of the enjoyment comes from learning enemy attack patterns and timing your attacks / blocks; it's a neat element that adds plenty of skill to the action. The world is a joy to explore with diverse locales, and I like how enemies are visible, allowing you to choose whether or not to attack rather than engaging in random battles. The game also does a great job of signposting and making sure that you're not wandering around aimlessly. It's a very lengthy experience too with tons of content, lots of interesting mini-games, as well as an abundance of secret items. The writing has a terrific sense of humour (with many hilarious in-jokes that give it a unique personality) and there's also an intriguing story that keeps you emotionally invested. There are a few clunky moments though such as the 3D Maze that you have to navigate blindly, and the platforming sections where the isometric viewpoint makes spatial distance hard to judge.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is extremely ambitious and it successfully executes pretty much every part of its gameplay, presentation and story arch. The gigantic amount of content will make you want to revisit its charming world often, and its uncomplicated mechanics make it an ideal entry point to newcomers of the genre.

Random trivia: The game was included on the Super Nintendo Classic console that was released in 2017.

Rad Racer (NES review)

Developer: Square

Publisher: Nintendo

Released: 1987

 

Rad Racer is an arcade style racing game that was developed by the same people that created Final Fantasy (1990, NES).

 

There's eight stages and the objective is to finish each one within a time limit. A handy marker shows your progress and if you collide with another vehicle at full speed or hit a roadside object your car flips and precious seconds tick off the clock. The B button brakes while A accelerates, but once you reach 100 km/h you can press Up on the d-pad to activate Turbo for up to 255 km/h! The driving is smooth with tight controls that make precise movements a breeze. Despite the simplistic gameplay there are a few advanced techniques; for example, hitting another vehicle doesn't always make you crash and you can purposely collide if you feel you're about to be pushed off-road. The action moves along at a brisk pace and the track selection is varied so you never get bored; highlights include the San Francisco course that takes place under a beautiful night setting, and Seaway in Typhoon which starts off looking dreary but eventually clears to show a coastline and blue skies. Similar to Outrun (1986, Arcades) you can choose between three songs and even switch them during a race by pressing Down; they're upbeat and wouldn't sound out of place in a Mega Man game but I did find myself accidentally changing them while trying to swerve round a corner. In terms of downsides the time limits are a bit strict and the A.I. can be overly aggressive. The graphics are functional at best and it would have been nice if more scenery was littered around the tracks. There's also a '3D mode' you can toggle using the Select button but the red/green glasses aren't convincing and you'll most likely see double.

Rad Racer is a top-tier driving game on the NES with great track design, fantastic controls and intense driving action. While it's certainly not a 'looker' it's expertly crafted with the emphasis firmly on fun and I was impressed by how well it manages to hold up today.

 

 

Random trivia: In 1990, a NES sequel called Rad Racer II was released exclusively in North America.

The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner (NES review)

Developer: Square
Publisher: Acclaim
Released: 1987

The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner is a third-person rail-shooter and platformer.

You control Jack who automatically runs along the level and you must avoid enemies and obstacles while jumping over gaps. You can adjust your speed by pressing the d-pad Up or Down and the longer you hold the A button the further you'll jump. At certain points you'll come across pillars and if you bump into them they'll drop useful items such as extra lives, invincibility and missiles that you can fire. The first world isn't too taxing and it's entertaining as new enemies are gradually brought into the mix. Once you've passed four sections you'll face a boss; the same one appears throughout which is a shame but it's still a lot of fun. It's inspired by Space Harrier and you must shoot as the boss sways towards the front and back of the screen. These are a real highlight and help to break up the action. There are some really weird enemies throughout including hand icons that stop you in your tracks and static frogs that you need to bump into to clear large gaps! The difficulty becomes excruciating in World 5 and the game starts to beat the living daylights out of you! It features purple blobs that home in on you and they appear out of nowhere, giving you no chance to react. As you progress further the action gets faster and more manic and the 'fun' factor is thrown out of the window in place of frustrating gameplay. There's too much trial and error and many sections have unintuitive features that are impossible to predict without many deaths. The music is extremely repetitive and will have you reaching for the mute button!

The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner is a game I really wanted to love as it's a cross between the twitch gameplay of Trailblazer, the art style of Fantasy Zone and the action of Space Harrier. The first half of the game is a blast but it eventually becomes way too difficult and starts to wear out its welcome.

Random trivia: Pressing the Select button during a level allows you to access a 3D version of the game. It doesn't work terribly well but it'll give you an excuse to wear the amazing red and blue glasses!