Summary
Mallow and Geno fromSuper Mario RPGhave likely taken the cake for the most belovedSuper Mariocharacters that have fallen to the wayside in recent years. Geno in particular has a special place inSuper Mario RPGfans' hearts as a good number of them campaigned for Geno’s big return to be inSuper Smash Bros.as a new fighter. Even though that wish still has yet to come true, the players who adore the SNES role-playing game have had at least one long-standing wish answered in the form of the Switch remake that is now on store shelves.
While normally remakes of old, obscure titles don’t mean much,the resurrection ofSuper Mario RPGbodes well for the unique concepts it brings to the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. This also means that important characters such as Boshi, and even Mallow and Geno themselves, are once again relevant and part of the world ofSuper Mario. There were many stipulations behind Geno and Mallow being used for any future projects, and Nintendo would do well to use this opportunity to turn the star warrior and the cloud into series mainstays.
Super Mario RPG’s Geno and Mallow Deserve to Stick Around in Any Way Possible
Back when the game first launched,Super Mario RPGwas seen as an incredible collaboration betweenFinal FantasyandSuper Marioin its own right as the game was developed by part of Square Enix. This is whySuper Mario RPGbrings back the old-school waythat role-playing games operated back then and used status effects that felt like they were ripped from classicFFexperiences such as scarecrow and mushroom.
However, this collaboration backfired as the years went by as it was made clear that, as the developers of the game, Square Enix owned the rights to everything that was unique toSuper Mario RPG. This meant all the locations and characters, including the iconic Geno and Mallow, belonged to another company that had grown distant from Nintendo. This was why many fan initiatives to make Nintendo bring the characters back, such as rallying to haveGeno added toSuper Smash Bros., weren’t as successful as fans would have liked for some time.
The fact that Square Enix owned the rights to many parts ofSuper Mario RPGis especially apparent through what happened with theMario & Luigi: Superstar Sagaremake. In the original GBA game, the Geno doll made an appearance in a mini-game with the exclusive copyright of Geno being credited to Square Enix. The doll was removed from the 2017 remake of the game, hinting that Square Enix wasn’t allowing his likeness to be used anymore.
Now, with the release ofSuper Mario RPG’s remake,there may be a bit of a shift in Nintendo’s favor due to better relations within the company. As theSwitch version is one of the highest-rated games of 2023, there’s certainly a demand behind this game that both companies might want a stake in. Considering the campaign to have Geno return forSuper Smash Bros., it’s likely that both Nintendo and Square Enix understand that the star warrior and Mallow are so loved that fans just want them back at a rate more frequently than every 27 years.
This could be handled through many different methods, from trying to makeSuper Mario RPGinto yet anotherMariorole-playing game spin-off series,allowing Geno and Mallow inMarioensemble games, or even giving the two characters a spin-off of their very own with Nintendo or Square Enix’s blessing, depending on who develops it. After all, changes to the new ending forSMRPGmake it very clear that Mallow and Geno had a close friendship with each other, so the two going on adventures again would make sense. No matter what Nintendo and Square Enix end up doing, leaving Geno and Mallow to fall between the cracks again would be a missed opportunity like no other.
Super Mario RPG
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
