Look, the 2023 remake of Super Mario RPG for the Nintendo Switch didn't just give us prettier graphics; it reminded everyone why we fell in love with this weird, Square-developed fever dream in 1996. It's a game about timing. If you’re hunting for a Super Mario RPG walkthrough that actually works, you need to realize one thing: hitting the "A" button at the right time matters more than your level. Seriously.
The game starts with a classic Bowser kidnapping Peach scenario, but things go sideways fast. Smithy, a giant sword from another dimension, crashes into Bowser’s Keep and shatters the Star Road into seven pieces. Suddenly, Mario, Bowser, and a princess have to team up with a puppet and a "tadpole" to save the world. It’s bizarre. It’s perfect.
Getting Started: Don’t Skip the Basics
Most people rush through the Mushroom Kingdom. Don’t do that. You’ll want to talk to everyone. Honestly, the NPCs in this game are some of the funniest characters Nintendo has ever written. When you’re in the Chancellor's room, jump on his head. He won’t give you anything, but it’s a classic move that makes you feel like a pro.
The first real hurdle is Croco in Bandit’s Way. He’s fast. He steals your stuff. To beat him, you basically just need to keep Mario attacking and Mallow on healing duty with HP Rain. Don’t get greedy. If you try to finish him too fast without watching your health, his bombs will wipe you out.
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Why Timed Hits Are Everything
You’ve got to master the Action Command. This isn't your standard Final Fantasy turn-based slog. When you attack, tap the button right before impact. In the remake, a little exclamation point (!) pops up to help you learn the window. Once you get the "Perfect" timing, you deal splash damage to all enemies. It’s a game-changer.
Defensive timing is just as crucial. If you press "A" right before an enemy hits you, you take zero damage. Zero. You can technically beat the hardest bosses in the game at low levels if your reflexes are sharp enough.
The Mid-Game Grind: Forest Maze and Star Hill
The Forest Maze is where many players get stuck. It’s a literal loop. To find Geno, you have to follow him through specific paths. If you take a wrong turn, you’re back at the start. It’s frustrating, but the music makes it bearable. Once you recruit Geno, the game's difficulty curve flattens out a bit because Geno is, frankly, a beast.
Geno Boost is the best buff in the game. Use it. It raises attack and defense. If you time the button press perfectly, it boosts both at once.
Then there’s Star Hill. It’s beautiful, quiet, and surprisingly short. You’re just looking for Star Pieces here. The real challenge comes right after in Seaside Town. You’ll meet Jonathan Jones, a shark pirate with a sense of honor. He’s one of the best boss fights because he forces Mario into a one-on-one duel halfway through. If you haven't been upgrading Mario’s physical attack, you’re going to have a bad time.
Managing Your Party Members
You can only have three people out at once. Mario is a permanent fixture.
- Geno: High speed, high damage. Glass cannon.
- Mallow: Great for elemental weaknesses, but falls over if a breeze hits him.
- Bowser: The tank. Huge HP, but his weapons are kind of inaccurate.
- Peach: The goddess of healing. Once you get her, the game becomes significantly easier.
Honestly, a team of Mario, Geno, and Peach is the "meta" build. Peach’s Group Hug clears status ailments and heals everyone for a pittance of Flower Points (FP). It’s almost broken.
Dealing with the Smithy Gang
The end-game of any Super Mario RPG walkthrough has to focus on the weapon-themed bosses. You’ll fight a spear, a clock, and eventually a giant forge. The difficulty spike in Smithy’s Factory is real.
The battle with Culex is the one everyone talks about. He’s an optional boss in Monstro Town that looks like he stepped out of a Final Fantasy IV save file. He’s harder than the final boss. To even fight him, you need the Shiny Stone from the girl in Moleville (exchange a Firework for it). Don't walk into that fight unless you're at least level 20 and have a stockpile of Rock Candies.
The Secret to Infinite Coins and Frogfucius
Frog Coins are the premium currency. You need them for the best accessories, like the Exp. Booster or the Flower Ring. The best place to farm these is the Midas River course or by doing the "Look the other way" game in Grate Guy’s Casino.
To get to the casino, you need the Bright Card. You get this from Knife Guy in Booster Tower by winning his juggling game a dozen times. It’s tedious, but the rewards are worth it. The Star Egg, which deals 100 damage to all enemies forever, is hidden behind the games there.
Hidden Chests: The Completionist's Nightmare
There are 39 hidden chests scattered across the world. Some are in plain sight but require "invisible" platforms. Others are in corners you’d never think to jump in. The Signal Ring, found in the basement of the Mushroom Kingdom shop early on, will beep when a hidden chest is in the room. Keep it equipped. Even if you aren't a completionist, the items inside—like Croaka Cola or Rock Candies—are too good to pass up.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you want to breeze through the game and see the credits without pulling your hair out, follow these specific beats:
- Prioritize FP over HP: When you level up, you get a bonus to one stat. Always pick the one that gives the highest numerical increase, but lean toward FP (Flower Points). Having a deep pool of magic is better than having an extra 5 HP.
- Get the Lazy Shell: This is the most important item in the game. After beating Megasmilax in Bean Valley, you get a Seed and Fertilizer. Give them to the gardener in Rose Town. He’ll grow a beanstalk leading to two chests. One is the Lazy Shell weapon (Mario’s best) and the other is the Lazy Shell armor.
- The "Invincible" Peach Strat: Put the Lazy Shell armor on Peach. It lowers her attack to almost nothing, but it makes her nearly invincible. She can sit there and heal the party while the bosses struggle to do even 1 damage to her.
- Learn the Triple Moves: In the remake, you have a gauge that fills up. When it hits 100%, you can pull off a Triple Move. The move changes based on who is in your party. The Mario/Geno/Peach combo gives you a massive shield that protects against one full attack, which is vital for late-game bosses like Smithy or the 3D-rendered Culex.
- Don't ignore the NPCs: Talk to the toad in the Mushroom Kingdom after every major event. Sometimes he gives you items; sometimes he just gives you flavor. It builds the world.
The final boss, Smithy, has two phases. In the second phase, his head changes shape. When he’s a tank, don't use physical attacks. When he’s a wizard, don't use magic. It sounds simple, but in the heat of the battle with that heavy metal music blaring, it's easy to forget. Watch his animations. He telegraphs everything.
Once you beat the game, the remake offers "Post-Game" rematches. These are significantly harder versions of earlier bosses. You’ll need every bit of timing and strategy you’ve learned to take down the powered-up Punchinello or the revamped Jonathan Jones. Stick to the timing, keep Peach healing, and you'll see everything the game has to offer.