Highlights
- Nintendo is releasing a physical game manual with copies of Super Mario RPG in Japan, appealing to fans' nostalgia for old-school gaming experiences.
- The manual will include character information, gameplay tips, and lore, and is inspired by classic Super Nintendo manuals from the 90s.
- While the manual may not hold much significance for younger gamers, it is likely to become a collector's item for older fans and may be sought after by international audiences.
Nintendo fans in Japan will have a chance to own an old-school physical game manual to go with their copy of Super Mario RPG when it launches later this month. Lately, Nintendo seems to be leaning heavily on remakes, revisiting fan-favorites and playing to the nostalgia of gamers. The updated version of Mario's first RPG adventure is leading the way and hopes are high for this title.
While some gamers feel that now is the time for a Super Mario RPG sequel, they'll have to settle for playing through the original with updated graphics and gameplay for now. This should be a great opportunity for younger Nintendo fans to experience a classic for the first time and for older players to rekindle some fond memories from their past. Apparently, Nintendo will also be offering a bonus dose of nostalgia for some lucky gamers when they buy their copy of the game.
As first reported in English-language media by Nintendo Life, Nintendo has announced that a physical game manual, based on classic Super Nintendo manuals, will be available with copies of Super Mario RPG at stores in Japan. True to its inspiration, this manual will feature background information on characters as well gameplay tips and interesting pieces of lore. Preview images of the manual indicate that the art style is also heavily inspired by old-school manuals from the 90s with charming pictures of the game's cast of characters.
Physical manuals likely don't mean much to younger gamers but, for many Generation X and Millennial fans, flipping through the little book that came with a new title before diving in was a major part of the experience. Manuals often explained the basics of gameplay, in lieu of opening tutorials that have since become the norm, and even provided setting and story information that hinted at the plot to come. The love many players have for these classic manuals has even led to some amazing fan creations, like the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet manuals that honor the past.
This official Super Mario RPG manual that comes directly from Nintendo is sure to become a collector's item, and it wouldn't be surprising to see fans outside of Japan trying to find copies online. Sadly, there's currently no indication that these manuals will ever get an English version or that the Japanese version will be available at retailers outside of Japan. Still, American audiences do have some Super Mario RPG pre-order bonus content available through GameStop to take advantage of, so they won't be left out entirely.
Nintendo is clearly capitalizing on nostalgia at the moment with its remakes of classics, and the printing of an old-school manual seems to be another step in this direction. Fans that long for the good old days definitely have lots to look forward to in the coming months.
Super Mario RPG
A remake of 1996's Legend of the Seven Stars, Super Mario RPG revamps the franchise's first role-playing game to make it as accessible as possible for a modern audience. The game utilizes a turn-based combat system reminiscent of old-school JRPGs, one that allows three characters to form a party. Outside of fights, Super Mario RPG features platforming, puzzles, and a more involved story than a traditional Mario game.
- Franchise
- Super Mario
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- November 17, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- RPG
