Super Mario RPG review: This adventure makes the most of its connection to one of the greatest franchises in all gaming, writes PETER HOSKIN

Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch, £49.99) 

Verdict: Just as super

Rating:

You know the story. You’ve heard it a hundred times. Once again, Princess Peach has been captured by the nefarious Bowser, leaving that moustachioed Italian plumber Mario with the task of rescuing her and restoring peace to the Mushroom Kingdom. Yadda yadda yadda.

Except, this time, it’s different.

Not only is there a twist in the actual tale: Bowser is soon dispatched and the real antagonists, a bunch of interdimensional ne’er-do-wells known as the Smithy Gang, reveal themselves. There’s also a twist in the gameplay: instead of bouncing Mario through a series of distinct levels, you’re guiding him and his buddies through a rich, combat-heavy narrative and world.

Welcome to Super Mario RPG – a game that was first released in 1996 and which has now been remade, prettier and slicker, for the Nintendo Switch. It was a curio back then. It remains a curio now. A different way of doing Mario.

And a good way, too. Although Super Mario RPG suffers some of the generic problems of Japanese roleplaying games from the 1990s – too many boring, my-turn-your-turn battles against this world’s cartoonish baddies – it’s also far more than just a Mario-looking version of a different type of game.

Once again, Princess Peach has been captured by the nefarious Bowser, leaving that moustachioed Italian plumber Mario with the task of rescuing her

Except, this time, it’s different. Not only is there a twist in the actual tale: Bowser is soon dispatched and the real antagonists, the Smithy Gang, reveal themselves

There’s also a twist in the gameplay: instead of bouncing Mario through a series of distinct levels, you’re guiding him and his buddies through a rich, combat-heavy narrative and world

No, from its cast of kooky supporting characters to its special jumping abilities, Super Mario RPG really makes the most of its connection to the second-greatest franchise in all gaming.

And, it must be said, this remake is just stunning. Colourful. Beautifully drawn. With an amazing soundtrack of jazzed-up, orchestral Mario numbers to boot. Super Mario RPG is precisely that: Really Pretty Great.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £44.99 or included with Xbox Game Pass) 

Verdict: Backwards, not forwards 

Rating:

He’s back. Kazuma Kiryu, the main star of the entire constellation that is the Yakuza series, is back after faking his own death at the end of 2018’s Yakuza 6. And he still packs one hell of a punch.

But my question is: does he need to be back? It’s not just that Yakuza 6 gave Kiryu a perfect, ambiguous send-off; it’s also that, in the intervening years, we’ve been treated to Yakuza: Like a Dragon, a game that introduced a new protagonist (the likeable Ichiban Kasuga) and whole new way of fighting the street punks of Japan (tactical, turn-based battles rather than frantic, button-mashing scraps).

Kazuma Kiryu, the main star of the entire constellation that is the Yakuza series, is back after faking his own death at the end of 2018’s Yakuza 6

Does he need to be back? It’s not just that Yakuza 6 gave Kiryu a perfect, ambiguous send-off; it’s also that, in the intervening years, we’ve been treated to Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Wandering around these violent streets is still a great, if subversive, form of tourism. The fist-fighting is best in class

This one, with the extremely extreme title of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, is meant to be a side-story to the original Like a Dragon. However, it trashes most of its predecessor’s innovations. No Ichi. No turn-based battles. Just lots of Kiryu, and lots of button-mashing – like all the older Yakuza games.

This isn’t an entirely bad thing, of course. Classic Yakuza, which is largely what we’ve got here, is one of the most enjoyable experiences in all gaming. Wandering around these violent streets is still a great, if subversive, form of tourism. The fist-fighting is best in class.

Besides, The Man Who Erased His Name does shake things up a little by giving Kiryu some Bond-style gadgets to play around with – including a zippy, electrical lasso and rocket-propelled brogues.

But, overall, it all feels rather needless, particularly with a proper, full sequel to the original Like A Dragon coming early next year. I’m sorry, Kiryu, I’m going to have to ask again: do you really need to be back?

Persona 5 Tactica (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, £54.99 or included with Xbox Game Pass)

Verdict: Tactics fantastic.

Rating:

Persona 5 Tactica is, at the very least, a worthy entry in the brilliant Persona series and as good a tactics game as I’ve played all year.

It starts with the usual gang of cool teenagers — or are they actually the gang of dimension-hopping Robin Hoods known as the Phantom Thieves? — hanging out in their cafe in downtown Tokyo.

Persona 5 Tactica is, at the very least, a worthy entry in the brilliant Persona series and as good a tactics game as I’ve played all year

The main difference is the gameplay. Instead of the Phantom Thieves’ usual Japanese role-playing game combat, we now have a full-blown tactics experience

It works perfectly, in part because Persona’s combat was quite tactical to begin with — but also because it’s challenging in the way that all the best tactics games are

But soon they’re whisked into an entirely new dimension where everything’s slightly awry. Their secret identities switch on and off unexpectedly. Their special demon-summoning powers don’t work as usual. And everything’s under the tyrannical rule of a giant pink lady with a murderous penchant for wedding planning.

But the main difference is the gameplay. Instead of the Phantom Thieves’ usual Japanese role-playing game combat, we now have a full-blown tactics experience.

It works perfectly, in part because Persona’s combat was quite tactical to begin with — but also because it’s challenging in the way that all the best tactics games are.

If there’s a downside, it’s that — with the simpler story and cutesier art style — Tactica does feel like what it is: a side-entry in the Persona series. But this is still great tactics and more Phantom Thieves. They’ve stolen my heart all over again.

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