Here's one I bet nobody ever would have expected: Take Nintendo, Square, Mario, and a Role-Playing Game, and mix them all together.

You would think that such a strange mixture would result in chaos; quite the opposite, actually! Super Mario RPG is one of the best SNES games out there. In fact, it is one of the best games out there for any system, in many peoples opinions. I wholeheartedly agree. This game is definitely in my Top 10.

This game can be pretty funny. Mario's Pantomimes are hilarious. Some characters say some pretty funny things, too. Anyway, on to the review.

Gameplay 10/10

The gameplay in this game is high-caliber. There are no random battles. You can see all the enemies on the screen. I always liked this way much better then random battles. They can get extremely annoying. However, you may avoid enemies more in this game resulting in not high enough levels. However, the highest level is Level 30, so it should't hurt you too much.

--Battle System

The battle system is one of the best on any RPG, in my humble opinion. Each option is assigned to a button. Attack is on A, Special is on Y, Item is on X, and defend is on B. It's easy to memorize, and you'll have it under your belt in no time. Also, there is a very neat ''Timed Hit'' thing in this game. It's kind of like critical hits in other RPGs--however, you get to control it! If you, for instance, hit the attack button again, right before your character attacks, it will deal out anywhere from 1.5x the damage to 2x, depending on how accurately you pressed the button. Very nice.

Instead of the regular Magic Power, you have Fire Power. Your characters all share the same Fire Power.
 

--Controls

Super Mario RPG also has very good controls. On the overworld, B jumps, and A runs. X opens up the Menu. I pretty much explained the battle controls above. You will probably have mastered them in your first few minutes of playing.

--Difficulty

Super Mario RPG is slightly easy, but I am not complaining. A younger child might find it difficult, but not difficult to stop him/her from playing. Some people gripe about it being to easy, but I like it the way it is.

Story 8/10

The story to this game may not be the most unique out there, but it is, hands-down, the best story for any Mario game. When you start the game, it seems as though Bowser has kidnapped Toadstool again! GASP! However, in the first five minutes of the game, you actually battle him! You know this can't be the end. After he plummets to the ground, a giant talking sword falls into the ceiling, sending Mario, Toadstool, and Bowser in opposite directions. It turns out that this sword is a minion of someone called ''Smithy.'' Anyway, the plot has a few twists, and eventually Bowser actually joins your team! As does Toadstool, a star- inhabiting a doll's body, named Geno, and a tadpole that isn't a tadpole called Mallow.

I won't spoil anything else, but the story definitely has some surprises in it!

Graphics 10/10

Wow. I mean, wow. Super Mario RPG has some the best graphics for the Super Ninteno Entertainment System. The game is 3D, and is in a three-fourths view. Everything is extremely detailed, and colorful. The bosses are great! The graphics were most definitely revolutionary. You will probably find yourself staring, thinking: ''This is on the SNES?!'' I'll sum up the graphics in a nutshell: outstanding.

Sound effects/Music 11/10

The music in this game is great. It's all very beatifully orchestrated, and fits the mood of wherever you are. (With the possible exception of the battle music; it's always upbeat, and happy. This may detract from a spooky dungeon. It's still very well done. You'll probably find yourself absentmindedly humming the Mushroom Kingdom tune. Whoever composed the music for Super Mario RPG...I tip my hat to you. You don't find quality music like this very much these days.

The sounds are great, although the sound of Mario jumping can get a little big annoying. Just a little. ^_-

Replayability 10/10

So you've beaten the game. (Well, probably not, since you are reading this review, but let us suppose. ^_^) What can I do now? Well, you'll probably find yourself defeating the game several more times. You could also play one of the many mini-games. Emphasis on many. The Mini-games are always fun, and there are a ton of them. How about go test your skill at scaling the wall at Land's End? Maybe you'd like to take a go at the Moleville minecart riding. Maybe your tired of Mini-games. You could always try and find all of the invisible chests. That should take quite some time. Or maybe you should go find out what that mysterious locked door at Monstro Town is...or maybe you could even try the legendary Level 3 challenge. (Defeat the game with Mario only at Level 3.) Yes, it is possible. But far from easy.

Anyway, you'll keep coming back for more, I can guarantee that.

Difficulty 9/10

This isn't the most difficult game out there. But that doesn't really matter, does it? You'll probably defeat this game between 20-25 hours on your first try. But, personally, I think that this is about the perfect length. It allows you to play this game over and over, without getting frusterated over and over. You will just have fun over and over!

Buy or rent?

I highly doubt you can rent Super Nintendo Entertainment System games now a days. But you should most definitely buy it if you can find it. eBay always has several copies, and you could probably find one around $25.00 at a used game shop. So, if you do find it, then buy it. Now. ^_^

That about wraps up my review for Super Mario RPG, for the SNES, one of the best games out there!