Summary

  • Super Mario RPG features all the iconic characters players would expect, but Yoshi's role is incredibly small despite being an integral part of Mario's adventures.
  • Yoshi has proven to be a valuable sidekick in other games, helping Mario with various tasks and providing useful abilities. It's a shame he wasn't given a more prominent role in Super Mario RPG.
  • While Yoshi appears briefly in a racing segment, he is largely underutilized in the game. Given his popularity and importance in the Mario franchise, he deserves more spotlight and gameplay opportunities in future RPGs.

Since Super Mario RPG is a Mario game, it features pretty much all the characters that players would expect. While the likes of Luigi and Daisy may have taken a backseat, other iconic Mario characters have taken center stage. Players fight their way through the game as Mario, they team up with Bowser and Peach, and they encounter countless Toads along their journey. Additionally, they must fight their way through all the enemies that the Mushroom Kingdom is known for, which makes for an exciting and unique experience. However, one character seems to have been left out of the Super Mario RPG fun.

For years, one of Mario's greatest sidekicks came in the form of the green dinosaur Yoshi. He has proven to be a vital ally throughout Mario's many adventures, and even headlined his own game, yet he barely appears in the RPG. It feels like he was just sort of forgotten about in the grand scheme of things, which is a shame as he is one of the most recognizable characters within the Mushroom Kingdom.

Super Mario RPG Has All The Characters Players Can Expect

Mario's Best Sidekick Yoshi Feels Kind of Wasted in Super Mario RPG

Since Super Mario World, Yoshi has assisted Mario in almost all his platforming adventures. While many players have used him simply to reach higher platforms, he is far more useful than that. Not only does he provide Mario with a trusty steed to ride into battle, but he can also prove extremely useful when hunting down hidden items or gathering useful resources. And while the green Yoshi is the most iconic, he has come in all shapes and sizes over the years.

Originally, Shigeru Miyamoto wanted Mario to have a horse in Super Mario Bros., but due to technical limitations, the studio would have to wait until the SNES to include Yoshi.

Yoshi was so popular in that original debut that he would go on to become a core part of the Mushroom Kingdom cast. But even though he reached that status, he was mostly left out of the Super Mario RPG fun. He only really appears in a brief segment on Yo'ster Island that sees players race Yoshi against Boshi. Once that is complete, there really is not much more to do there, which is a shame since the character could be doing so much more. And the only other use that Yoshi has is as an assist item.

Yoshi Deserved Much Better Treatment in Super Mario RPG

Yoshi has appeared in all sorts of platformers, crossover games, and has even headlined his own games. He is a core part of the franchise, yet he was given so little to do here. For a game that seems to put the core Mushroom Kingdom cast at the forefront, it seems strange that Yoshi would not be included in that party. Even if he was simply a replacement for the Toad assist, it would have been great to see.

While there is no way to go back and give Yoshi a prominent role now, he definitely deserves a larger role in a future RPG. Mario has trusted him to get him where he needs to go, so he should also trust the dinosaur with assisting him in battle outside of being an item. His speed and abilities could be extremely useful on the battlefield, and if he was not able to join the party, then he could have at least been used as a way to get across the map in a flash.

Super Mario RPG's Yo'ster island is a fun side activity, but it is hard to ignore how Yoshi's involvement could have been so much more. It would be one thing if the character was simply a small side character, but he has cemented himself as an integral part of the cast over the years - so integral that he deserves just as much of the spotlight as other supporting characters. Hopefully, this is the last time he gets left out.

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Super Mario RPG
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RPG
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Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo
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Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
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Released
November 17, 2023
ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
unity
Franchise
Super Mario
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Set out on a classic Mario adventure: Enter—or revisit—a world of whimsy with Mario on a quest to repair Star Road and defeat the troublemaking Smithy Gang. Team up with a party of unlikely allies, like the monstrous Bowser and a mysterious doll named Geno, in a story-rich RPG packed with laughs and quirky characters.

A strange party unites to save Star Road: Meet the team of oddballs setting out to thwart the troublesome Smithy Gang and protect everyone’s wishes. Even Bowser is lending a claw!

Take it easy with Breezy Difficulty Mode: Players new to RPGs or who want a story-focused experience can use the new Breezy difficulty, which makes battles easier and leveling up faster. You can set the difficulty at any time if you change your mind.

Adventure, battle, and traverse across a colorful world: Jump towards your next goal and continue the story. Run into monsters to enter turn-based battles with your party of three. Master the new Chain and Triple Moves system to claim victory.

A delightfully reimagined world: Enjoy familiar sights with colorfully enhanced graphics and spiffy upgrades.


 

Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Genre(s)
RPG
How Long To Beat
11 Hours