Two of our favorite Mario classics, Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, will receive their own remakes soon, but which one will win? Read on to learn more about our thoughts on the matchup and which one is our best bet.
The Dawn of Mario Remakes is Upon Us
Classic Mario fans rejoice, the dawn of Mario remakes is upon us all! Although Nintendo’s been churning out remakes of classic titles for a while now, as seen with New Super Mario Bros for the DS and Wii, we are about to witness two major remakes in rapid succession. Both the progenitor of Mario RPGs, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, and the widely-regarded best Mario RPG, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, are getting their respective remakes in the coming months.
Both games have been lauded for their amazing RPG elements, memorable gameplay, and the significant parts they played in many people’s childhoods. However, a question arises in the excitement bubbling from these upcoming releases: Which remake is going to be better?
Clash of the Classic Mario RPGs
This is going to be one heck of a head-to-head. It’s a matchup between the Mario RPG that started it all and the Mario RPG that made its mark in history. I’ll be running down exactly how one does better than the other and we’ll see which one comes out on top at the end. The two games will be judged according to the following criteria: Fan Reception, Remake Quality, and Innovations.
Which Remake Was Received Better By Fans?
This criterion measures two things: the impact of the remake’s initial announcement and the rising hype among the original game’s fanbase for the remake’s release. This will be measured through Google Trends analytics and other notable effects the announcement had on the fanbase.
Super Mario RPG Remake’s Breakout Popularity
Super Mario RPG Remake surged in popularity around the time of its announcement in June 2023 during a Nintendo Direct for that month. To say that it had a warm reception is the understatement of the century. It is pretty clear from the audience’s reaction that this remake was not just long-awaited, but long overdue. Fans welcomed it with open arms as if it were a long-lost friend (which it actually was for many).
Google Trends shows that this game’s peak popularity overshot that of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door in June, eventually subsiding by July and rising slightly as its November release approaches. The hype for this game is phenomenal and I expect it will only rise as the days tick by.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’s Steady Rise
Unlike Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door had a steady following in the past year even before the announcement of its remake. This game was decidedly a crowd-favorite among Mario fans and it shows with its higher baseline popularity. This popularity skyrocketed come September when its remake was announced for that month’s Nintendo Direct.
Fan reactions were electric, to say the least, and the hype for this game was immense. Unfortunately, Google Trends shows that, even at its peak, it never overcame Super Mario RPG’s breakout popularity. It sputtered out sooner as well, likely due to its more distant release date.
Sad as it may be for some to admit, the fan reception for Super Mario RPG wins for this matchup.
Which Remake is of Higher Quality?
This criterion pits the remake against the original, measuring its authenticity to the original game and how it holds its legacy. This particular criterion would be mostly comprised of speculation and what information the trailers have provided.
Super Mario RPG Remake’s Modern Nostalgia Hit
Super Mario RPG Remake banks on the nostalgia of the original, as is evident from its trailer, where it featured the original’s opening scene. Its authenticity to the original game relies on its content and gameplay more than its aesthetics. Although it features a stylized version of the modern Mario aesthetic, the updated graphics make it visually distinct from the original game.
The remake also drops the "Legend of the Seven Stars" a subtitle that was exclusive to the game’s US release. While this does tread a little on the original’s legacy for western audiences, the remake still delivers enough of its spirit to be considered a quality one.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’s Minimal Changes
The upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake is a spitting image of the original, down to the animations. Granted, the gap between the original and the remake is smaller than Super Mario RPG, but it still takes the cake for authenticity; at least with what we’ve seen so far.
Currently, it is difficult to tell how the game could carry the original’s legacy. The gameplay and story seem identical, and, for all intents and purposes, look more like an HD remaster rather than an overhaul.
Until new information for the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake is released, Super Mario RPG Remake wins this matchup.
Which Remake Innovated the Most?
This criterion, though similar to the previous, specifically measures the innovations made by the remake compared to the original such as with its graphics, sound, gameplay, and aesthetics.
Super Mario RPG Remake | A Modern Take on an SNES Titan
As stated before, the most noticeable innovation that the Super Mario RPG Remake has is its updated graphics. It did away with the pixelated, low-resolution art of the original and brought the story of the Star Road to the 3D era. In addition to that, the remake also promises two major gameplay additions: powerful "Triple Moves,"and repeatable boss fights. These two gameplay changes make it distinct from the original without making itself too far removed.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | Doesn’t Need Fixing
From what limited information we have on the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake, it doesn’t seem to change the equation much. Graphical improvements are certainly present as the game looks as crisp as the paper it’s drawn on. No other innovations gameplay-wise have been promised, though a gameplay trailer is likely in the works and could change that.
As it stands, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’s remake looks like it won’t be diverging much from the original, if at all. While this speaks highly of the original’s quality, it doesn’t bode well for the game’s innovations at all.
For the time being, our best bet is that Super Mario RPG wins this particular matchup for its clear innovations over the original. Only time will tell if Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will follow suit.
So What’s the Final Verdict?
Super Mario RPG Remake Wins…For Now
There’s a clear forerunner at the moment and it’s Super Mario RPG Remake. It leads in all three criteria by a huge margin, handily leaving Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door in the dust. While this is a landslide victory, I don’t expect it would be as much of an upset once the gameplay trailer for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake comes out. It still might not nab the win considering its lack of healthy distinction from its original game, but it might be less of a stomp the second time around.
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