Every Playable Character in Super Mario RPG Explained

Summary

Super Mario RPG's combat system laid the foundation for its successors, offering unique and varied attacks from each character in the party.
The diverse party in Super Mario RPG, including Mario himself, Mallow, Geno, Bowser, and Peach, stands the test of time and offers a mix of familiar icons and treasured newcomers.

After years of waiting, a remake of the Super Nintendo classic Super Mario RPG is on its way. Having originally been a collaboration between Square Enix and Nintendo to bring Super Mario Bros. Into the JRPG genre, this title is responsible for kicking off both the Mario and Luigi and Paper Mario series in subsequent years. While the future of Mario and Luigi is currently uncertain, the fan-favorite Paper Mario entry The Thousand-Year Door will be getting its own remake soon, which should be the perfect complement to Super Mario RPG.

Because of all that, it’s a great time to be a Mario RPG fan. The combat system used in Super Mario RPG could be seen as primitive, but it laid the foundation for the action commands its successors would use later. Attacking with every character felt different, and that plays into Mario RPG’s strengths. The party in Super Mario RPG stands the test of time as a mixture of Mario icons and treasured newcomers, and fans will soon get the chance to become acquainted with them all over again.

Mario

Leading the party is Mario himself, the red Italian plumber with a jump recognized around the Mushroom Kingdom. It serves him well in battle, as Mario is always in the active party and stays relevant as a physical attacker. His even stat distribution is supplemented by strong abilities and some of Mario RPG’s best equipment, so even if his fire spells don't see much play, this charismatic take on Nintendo's mascot will always be the party’s backbone.

Mallow

The first of Super Mario RPG’s one-off newcomers is Mallow, a young Nimbus who joins Mario shortly into his adventure. He wants to help save the world and find his birth parents in the process. Appropriately for a cloud, Mallow specializes in elemental magic, boasting the largest variety of attack spells in the party. The use for this wanes later in the game, but clever players can still find uses for this timid ally.

Geno

Geno joins the party a short while later and has become the mascot for Super Mario RPG in its community. Taking the appearance of a wooden doll, Geno is actually a spirit from the shattered Star Road and is the most invested in Mario's quest for Star Pieces. Equipped with guns and energy weapons, Geno starts weak, but can eventually become the best damage dealer in the game, especially if players become proficient with his action commands. Super Mario RPG’s remake will show Geno's origins to many for the first time, so hopefully he will make a strong impression.

Bowser

After spending some time with Mallow and Geno, players may be wondering where Mario's other regulars have gone. Fortunately, the last two party members are familiar faces, and both appear in quick succession. The first is Bowser, forced out of his castle by a mysterious giant sword. Reluctantly teaming up with Mario, Bowser brings his massive power and physical defense to bear. Unfortunately, his equipment is some of the worst in the game, and his magical defense becomes a problem later on. Many fans hope the comedic Koopa King gets some buffs in the upcoming Super Mario RPG remake.

Peach

Bowser may need saving, but Princess Peach herself is doing just fine. Once Mario and the crew find her, she proves to be essential as the best healer in the game and gradually becomes a solid combatant as well. Peach easily slots into any party composition, and arguably allows the other three rotating members to work in any situation. With a new solo game titled Princess Peach: Showtime! Stirring up her fans, Peach should be a common sight in most players’ Super Mario RPG runs.