Highlights

  • The remake of Super Mario RPG brings the original SNES title into the modern era with overhauled graphics and new features and mechanics.
  • The Super Mario RPG remake showcases recognizable boss designs in 3D, improving their likenesses and allowing players to challenge them to rematches for an even greater challenge.
  • The return of Super Mario RPG and the Paper Mario remaster show that Nintendo may be open to re-introducing less typical character designs for these types of games.

The remake of Super Mario RPG looks to be setting the stage for a revival of classic Mario RPG games by bringing the original SNES title into the modern era with overhauled graphics alongside new features and mechanics. While Super Mario RPG seems to be a faithful remake of the original, there does seem to be some clear improvements aside from the visual re-imagining of characters and locales. One of the areas where the original game was most creative was in its boss designs, and it appears that most of those bosses will be returning in the remake.

Although many fans of these classic Mario RPGs have lamented the lack of creative character design in more recent RPG spin-offs, the return of Super Mario RPG and the recent announcement of the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remaster shows that Nintendo may be open to re-introducing less typical character designs for these types of games. Some of the bosses in Super Mario RPG in particular are a drastic departure from the usual character design for the series. However, many fans find these designs charming, and their appeal is enhanced by their transition from sprites to 3D models in the upcoming remake.

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All Super Mario RPG Bosses that Have Been Shown So Far

Fighting a boss in Super Mario RPG Remake
  • Croco
  • Birdo
  • Yaridovich
  • Megasmilax
  • Mack
  • Knife Guy
  • Valentina & Dodo
  • Bowyer
  • Booster
  • Punchinello
  • Johnny

The trailers for Super Mario RPG have done a great job highlighting many of the bosses players will face off against in the game, with most of the major enemies being showcased. Despite only receiving two trailers so far, Nintendo has dedicated a solid chunk of time showing off these bosses likely because they are some of the most recognizable aspects of this quirky game. This focus shows that the company recognizes the fan base's love for these characters and wants to demonstrate their commitment to improving their likenesses in the remake.

Given the original game's use of 3D models rendered as 2D sprites on the SNES, many of the designs of these bosses could often be lost in translation. One major improvement the Super Mario RPG remake has over the original is its ability showcase these bosses in 3D the way they were originally intended to be seen. Now a boss like Bowyer is actually recognizable as an animated bow and not some bizarre worm-like being, and Yaridovich's limbs are easily distinguishable in its new animations and don't get lost in the rest of its design like in the original.

From a gameplay standpoint, the Super Mario RPG remake is giving players a new way to interact with these bosses by allowing them to challenge them to a rematch as part of its post-game content. These rematches are said to offer players an even greater challenge, upping the difficulty of these boss battles to really put players' skills to the test. The addition of this new rematch mechanic in Super Mario RPG once again shows that the game will be catering to fans of the original who want more content out of these unique characters.

While many of the bosses in the Super Mario RPG remake have been shown, there are still a few who have yet to be seen in any trailer. Bosses like Belome, Bundt, and King Calamari are still missing an appearance from the list of the game's bosses, but it's likely Nintendo doesn't want to reveal all the new boss designs before the game comes out and their commitment to a faithful remake means it's doubtful these enemies have been cut. The main antagonist, Smithy, also has not been shown, and although the sword Exor can be seen sticking out of Bowser's Castle, no footage of the fight against it has been revealed.

Super Mario RPG will be released on November 17 for the Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Why Super Mario RPG is Particularly Deserving of a Remake