Highlights

  • Super Mario RPG is a faithful remake of the original 1996 SNES game, with popular cameo characters from The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong making a comeback.
  • The remake features improved graphics and technology, but seems to retain the charm and Easter eggs that made the original game special.
  • While the full list of cameos is yet to be confirmed, the return of Link and Donkey Kong suggests that other iconic characters from various Nintendo franchises may also be reappearing.

Super Mario RPG looks to be a faithful remake of the original 1996 SNES game as two popular cameo characters are confirmed to be included in the upcoming title. The SNES game was originally a collaboration between Square Enix and Nintendo, taking familiar characters like Mario, Peach, and Bowser, and adding them to an RPG style world which fans of Final Fantasy would be familiar with. The game proved to be a big hit and would eventually lead to other Mario RPG style spin-off games, most notably the Paper Mario series.

Disappointingly for many fans, the game wouldn't get a direct sequel, leaving popular characters like the doll Geno in limbo until Nintendo surprised fans with a Remake announcement 27 years later. The biggest change from the original game was to the graphics which now have access to better technology and higher definition graphics. With the recent trailers and news, fans and players alike have begun comparing the two games, seeing what has made the jump and what has been left behind.

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Part of the charm of Super Mario RPG is the various Easter eggs hidden throughout of the game, and a few of which include Nintendo references. Recently, it was discovered that at least two of the iconic cameos for The Legend of Zelda's Link, who is sleeping soundly inside of the Rose Town Inn, and an enemy that strongly resembles Donkey Kong are indeed making a comeback in the new remake. In addition to the confirmation from Game Informer, fans likely will remember the Guerrilla Kong enemy appearing in the Super Mario RPG reveal trailer during Nintendo's June Direct.

mario jumping above link sleeping in a bed

What Other Cameos are in Super Mario RPG?

While the news was specifically centered on the returning appearances of Link and Donkey Kong, Super Mario RPG certainly has plenty of other cameos that fans have spotted in the years since the game originally launched back in 1996. While it's unknown if every cameo is going to make it back into the upcoming remake, the fact that Donkey Kong and Link are returning seems to bode well. Either way, here is a list of confirmed and unconfirmed cameos in Super Mario RPG.

  • Link (Confirmed)
  • Donkey Kong (Confirmed)
  • F-Zero vehicles (Unconfirmed)
  • Star Fox Arwing (Unconfirmed)
  • Samus Aran (Confirmed)
  • NES Mario (Unconfirmed)
  • Culex (Unconfirmed)
  • F-Type racer from Stunt Race FX (Confirmed)
  • Diskun (Confirmed)
  • Birdo (Confirmed)
Fighting a battle in Super Mario RPG Remake

The news should please fans of the original, which seems intent on preserving at least some of the unique moments from the classic SNES version. In the meantime, players continue to debate just how faithful the remake will be on top of the already announced modern, quality of life updates on top of it. The other question that keeps popping up is whether the secret Final Fantasy IV boss will be making a return inside Super Mario RPG, giving players an added level of challenge if they want.