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''Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; It was the first [[SuperMarioBros Mario]] game to be a RolePlayingGame. It was developed by Nintendo and [[SquareEnix Square]] and released in 1996 for the {{SNES}}.

During a routine [[SaveThePrincess princess-saving]] by Mario, a giant sword with a face on the hilt crashes into Bowser's Keep, sending Mario, the Princess, and Bowser flying. Soon afterwords, a messenger from the stars named Geno (or rather, "[[TheUnpronounceable Heart-musical note-exclamation point-question mark]]") informs Mario that the sword also destroyed the Star Road, which grants the wishes of Mario's world. Unless the seven [[PlotCoupon Star Pieces]] can be obtained and reassembled, no wishes will ever come true again. With the help of his companions (including, for the first time, Bowser), Mario sets off to smash the Smithy Gang and save the world.

The game was hugely popular - it ''is'' a Mario game and a Square RPG, after all, when Square was at the height of its 2-D {{RPG}} prowess, just before the transition to 3-D with ''FinalFantasyVII,'' plus it had brand recognition from being a Mario game. Deserves credit for innovating ActionCommands and the hybrid {{platformer}} / RPG gameplay, as well as its superb plot and localization, which was notable for being one of the last where Square didn't take itself seriously, as well as one of the first games to engage in a full-on frenzy of LampshadeHanging regarding the tropes of the Mario series and [=RPGs=]. Nintendo would take the "Mario role-playing games must bring the funny" theme and run with it, producing [[PaperMario a series of]] [[MarioAndLuigi excellent pseudo-sequels]] without Square's involvement (they would finally work again, starting with a Mario themed basketball game on the {{DS}}).

Due to licensing problems, very few of the characters that made their debut in this game have recurred in later Mario games, including fan-favorite Geno. But worry not! The game has appeared on the Wii's VirtualConsole for all regions!
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Tropes include:
* ActionCommands (Every attack, spell, and item use has a benefit if you time an extra move right.)
*AllYourColorsCombined(Parodied with the Axem Rangers' Breaker Beam)
* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield
* AnyoneYouKnow (You're required to have a profile name. It ends up being the password to the balcony in Booster's Tower. However, Mario doesn't know this, which causes problems for a player doing a second playthroug.)
* ArmCannon (Geno's weapons)
* ArmorPiercingSlap (Some of Peach's glove weapons)
* BadassMustache (Mario's mustache earns admiration from his fans and scorn from his enemies at various points in the game.)
* BalefulPolymorph (Mushrooms and scarecrows)
* BehindTheBlack
* {{BFB}}
* BicepPolishingGesture (Bowser's victory pose in the Japanese version, but replaced with a fist pump in North America.)
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment (Mario transforms into his 8-bit version in Booster Tower.)
* BoisterousBruiser (Bowser at some points.)
* BonusBoss (Culex)
** Mokuka may count, though as a secret mini-boss. He floats around in the desert of Land's End and in one area of Belome's Temple with a random encounter rate, so it's very likely to miss him unless you keep going back and forth on the screens. He has a lot of health and is unaffected by physical attacks, making him difficult to beat unless you're at max level. When beaten, he provides 30 EXP, which is very high for a random enemy.
* BossInMookClothing (Mokura/Mokuka, who appears on the overworld like a normal enemy, but has powerful attacks. The game treats him more like a boss, though, so he could also be considered a BonusBoss.)
* BossRush (Optional. Near the end of the game, you come across some of the bosses you fought earlier in the game, being put in mass production.)
* BoundAndGagged (Peach tied up and hanging from the ceiling in the prologue)
* BreatherLevel (Star Hill. There are some enemies, but they aren't that strong, and no worry about a boss.)
* BreathWeapon (Breaker Beam)
* BrokenBridge (To Bowser's Castle)
* BubblyClouds (Nimbus Land)
* ButNowIMustGo ([[spoiler: Geno after the last battle]])
* ButThouMust (or else Mallow will cry)
* {{Cap}} (Surprisingly, the game's level cap is one of the lowest eastern examples at 30)
* TheCameo ([[{{Metroid}} Samus]] and [[TheLegendOfZelda Link]] are resting in hotels at certain points in the game)
** Also, in one place, you can also see an [[{{Star Fox}} Arwing]] and [[{{F-Zero}} Blue Falcon]] in a certain inn.
* ChestMonster (Four of them: Pandorite, Hidon, [[IncrediblyLamePun Chester]], and Box Boy)
* ClimaxBoss (Any battle against a member of the Smithy Gang, especially since they normally occur at the end of each world)
* CognizantLimbs (Several examples, including the evil clock Countdown and the FinalBoss)
* CombatMedic / StaffChick (Peach starts out with okay weapons, but her healing is valuable. Once her stronger weapons and spells sppear, she's one of the best characters.)
* CoolAndUnusualPunishment (Yaridovich's tickling torture, and another But Thou Must moment)
* CowboysAndIndians (toys of Mario and Bowser)
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome (Many players have at least one favorite piece.)
* CryingWolf (Gaz)
* DebugRoom
* DefeatMeansFriendship (Jonathan Jones, although he doesn't join the party.)
* DegradedBoss (Clones of Bowyer and Mack, among others, are churned out by Smithy's factory)
* DistressedDamsel (Peach in the first half of the game)
* DoWellButNotPerfect (Goomba Stomping)
* DualBoss (Loads)
* DuelBoss (Jonathan Jones and Dodo)
* EnemyMine (Bowser)
* EnemyScan (Mallow's Psychopath ability)
* EnsembleDarkhorse (Geno)
* EpicFlail (Bowser can equip one of these as one of his weapons. Also, he can equip Chain Chomps, which work on the same basis)
* EvilChef (Chef Torte and assistants)
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin
* FaceFault
* FakeKing
* FastballSpecial (Bowser's Hurley Gloves weapon involves chucking Mario at an enemy.)
* FetchQuest
* FieldOfBlades (Smithy's world of weapons.)
* FinalBossPreview
* FiveManBand / FiveBadBand (The Axem Rangers spoofs these tropes.)
* FlunkyBoss (several)
* FoeYay (the one {{Mario}} game in which you can get Bowser to kiss Mario!)
* FryingPanOfDoom (Peach's Infinity Plus One Weapon)
* {{Gainaxing}} (Valentina)
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere (It's probably safe to say at least half of the bosses in the game qualify)
** But, by far, Bundt [[PunnyStuff takes the cake...]]
* GlassCannon (Geno)
* GoldenSaucer (Grate Guy's Casino)
* GoldfishPoopGang (Croco)
* GuideDangIt (Finding Grate Guy's Casino)
** First, beat Knife Guy 10 times to win the Bright Card. Then, go to Bean Valley and enter one of the pipes. If you stand in a certain spot and jump not once or even twice, but ''three'' times, a platform will appear that when jumped on takes you to a secret area that holds Grate Guy's Casino. You can only enter with the Bright Card.
*** By the same token, if you talk to Grate Guy several times he'll finally ask if you want to play a game of "Look Away". If you guess right a total of 100 times, he'll reward you with the Star Egg, an item that deals 100HP of damage to ''all'' enemies on the field and can be used again and again.
** Also the Mystery Egg's use. Only one character can "activate" it. And ONLY when equipped with a seemingly useless accessory.
*** You equip Toadstool (Princess Peach) with the B'tub Ring, a random item bought from a Mole kid, and use the Mystery Egg on her turn ten times... On the tenth time, it will turn into the Lamb's Lure. Use it another 48 times, and it will turn into the Sheep Attack, an item that turns most non-boss enemies into sheep and ends the battle.
** In fact, most of the weapons and accessories have very vague in-game descriptions, often not mentioning what their most important effects are!
** Indeed. The game is notorious for the sheer crazy steps needed to complete secrets, or even activate'' the ability to ''even'' start the steps for those secrets. Many of the secrets, like the above Star Egg, are piled onto other secrets where you wouldn't expect to look for them. Super Mario RPG definitely gives the old Pokemon PokeGod rumors a run for their money.
** For those of us who have played a LowLevelRun of SMRPG, there is a way to convert Mario's standard 3FP Jump attack into an almost necessary DiscOneNuke. The Jump attack's power rises 2 points every time is used up to 125 times, making it into the most powerful move in the game (100 Super Jumps might be more powerful, but you'll never learn the attack if you do the Level 3 challenge), and will carry you right until you get Bowser, which is coincidentally when Mario starts turning into [[PunchOut Glass Joe]]. Powering up Jump and collecting experience turns it into a GameBreaker of epic proportions.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits (TropeNamer)
* HeroicMime (Mario, literally, but he pantomimes, even to the point of ''shape shifting''.)
** {{Lampshade}}d at the beginning by Toad asking Mario "what's with the silent treatment".
* ImprobableWeaponUser (Princess Peach, user of the Parasol Of Pain and Frying Pan OfDoom. Also Bowser, who throws Mario or swings a Chain Chomp. And Mallow and his ''cymbals''.)
* InfinityPlusOneSword (Lazy Shell, Frying Pan. The Super Jacket armor and Attack Scarf accessory are also GameBreakers.)
* InnSecurity
* InvisibleMonsters (Mokura, who starts out as the invisible Formless) The game also seems to treat it like an obscure BonusBoss
* IsometricProjection
* JungleJapes (Yo'ster Isle)
* KleptomaniacHero
* LethalLavaLand (The Barrel Volcano)
* LightningBruiser (Geno is as strong as Bowser (slightly more or slightly less depending on level, weapons, and selected growth on leveling up), and is the fastest character.)
* LostForever (One block in the mushroom kingdom containing a single frog coin and can only be accessed the very first time you vist. Subverted when it comes to flower tabs/jars, as while you can lose quite a few permanently, you have more than enough of them to get max flower points anyways.)
** Also, Samus's cameo is only for a certain period in the game.
* MaximumFunChamber (The building where the villagers of Seaside Town are being held. See CoolAndUnusualPunishment.)
* MinecartMadness (After working your way through the Coal Mines and beating the chapter boss, you must escape via a mine cart over three courses. This later becomes a mini game if you talk to the mole outside)
* MemeticBadass: the Axem Rangers. Period.
* MiniBoss (Being an RPG, this game has tons. Start with the Hammer Bros., whom when beaten reward you with your first weapon, a hammer)
** Then Croco, the purple alligator that steals Mallow's grandfather's Frog Coin and a Toad's wallet.
* MiniGame (Buttloads of them)
* MonsterTown (Monstro Town)
* MusicalNod (Culex's battle theme sounds... [[FinalFantasyIV familiar..]])
** If that wasn't enough, listen to his victory theme.
* NameThatTune (Mario whistling in the shower)
* {{Narm}} ("THE Big Boo", as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVoXsD5MWjI&fmt=18 this LP]] demonstrates)
* NightmareFuel (The scene of the final battle is rather hellish looking, and this game is marketed at kids.....)
* NoIndoorVoice [[spoiler: Queen Valentina]]
** Mallow mentioned that [[spoiler: her]] voice can be heard in a 10 mile radius.
* ObliviousAdoption (Mallow, and no one else in his hometown notices either.)
* OneHitKill (The "Magnum" attack.)
* OneOfTheseDoorsIsNotLikeTheOther
* OneSizeFitsAll (Work Pants)
* OneThousandNeedles (Geno Whirl, if you time it right, can do exactly 9999 damage, instantly killing anything. It doesn't work on bosses, though...[[spoiler:excluding Exor.]])
* OneWingedAngel (Smithy)
* OnlyIdiotsMayPass
*OutOfCharacter (An upset Mario was going to punch a kid! Good thing Mallow stopped him in time)
* ParasolOfPain (One of Peach's weapons)
* PartyInMyPocket (played with repeatedly)
** After a conversation is supposedly concluded, all the characters prepare to step back inside Mario. The speaker then remembers something and when he says, "Oh and one more thing..." all the characters bump heads.
* PerversePuppet (Remo Con and Puppox)
* {{Pirate}} (Pirate ''sharks'', in fact. Surprisingly logical combination, actually...)
* PlotCoupon (Star Pieces)
* PopQuiz (Dr. Topper's Quiz)
* PsychopathicManchild (Booster is a comedic version.)
* QuirkyMinibossSquad (Axem Rangers, although the are an actual boss you fight.)
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits
* RebelliousPrincess (Peach)
* RecurringBoss (Belome)
* ReviveKillsZombie (One boss isn't immune to Geno Whirl's timed hit damage.)
* RocketPunch (Geno)
* SaveThePrincess (Subverted in the prologue, and then played straight... sort of.)
* ScrollingText
* SequentialBoss
* ShoutOut (Pipe Vault, Culex's music is the boss music from ''FinalFantasyIV'' (although he's an original character for this game), 8-bit Mario appearing in one room.)
** Not to mention that while the credits roll, there's an [[DisneyThemeParks Electrical Parade]]! (Well, the lights come in partway through, but the music is a definite Shout Out from the start.) [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bP5eQsDSII Link]]; parade starts at 5:23.
* SmoochOfVictory (Zig zagged with, depending on how quickly you find Peach's accessories after she drops them.)
* SnotBubble (the "sleep" status effect)
* SomeCallMeTim (Geno, since his real name looks like a bunch of symbols.)
* SpiritualSuccessor (''PaperMario'' and ''MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'')
* SquishyWizard - "Mallow", who is made of living cloudstuff as well as having poor defenses but strong attack magic, pretty much exemplifies this (and his name kind of indicates he's delicate anyway).
* StupidityIsTheOnlyOption
* ThatOneBoss (Bundt; a living cake that can a) debuff and possibly wipe out your whole party with one magic attack, and b) regenerate itself. The only way to kill it is with an all-out offensive [though you can cancel the debuff effect if you're wearing the right accessory.])
** Yaridovich can also prove to be quite the challenge.
** Same with Belome (the second time you fight him). He can create clones of your party members (that have higher HP and defenses), but your entire party to sleep, and slowly kill you. And you won't be able to do a thing.
** At lower levels, Birdo can be quite frustrating as well, since an unguarded egg will basically KO any party member under level 13, and almost every direct attack will do single digit damage to her...
** Barrel Volcano has Those Three Bosses - Czar Dragon, Zombone, and the Axem Rangers - back to back.
* ThatOneSidequest (Speak to a particular Chow in Monstro Town, and it will tell you how many [[ActionCommands Super Jumps]] you've managed to make in a single use of the technique. What some players never realize is that you can go back and receive an extremely handsome reward if your record hits 30 Super Jumps, and a much, much better one at ''100''. This requires perfect timing, rock-solid concentration, and lots and lots of practice.)
* TheMaze (Forest Maze)
* ThePsychoRangers (Axem Rangers)
* TheUnpronounceable (Geno's real name)
* ThisCannotBe (Axem Rangers and Smithy)
* TooAwesomeToUse
* TrickBoss (Czar Dragon)
* TurnsRed (Johnny Jones)
* UndergroundLevel (Mole Mines)
* UnexpectedGenreChange (The minigames, and even those have you alternating genres as well.)
* UnwillingSuspension (Peach when Bowser captures her)
* UselessUsefulSpell (once you're past the Hammer Bros., ''every'' special not named HP Rain, Therapy, Group Hug, Come Back, Geno Boost, or possibly [[ActionCommands Super Jump]]--6 out of 26 specials)
* VendorTrash (Goodie Bag)
* VerbalTic (Bowyer)
* VillainDecay (Bowser shows his softer side when dealing with some of his former minions)
* WarmupBoss (Hammer Brothers)
* WakeUpCallBoss Croco is the second mini-boss in the game, and following the first you naturally wouldn't expect much. This line of thinking proves fatal during the fight, which can last over ten minutes if you don't know exactly which attacks to use and when... And if you forget to save in the Kingdom before leaving and die during this fight, you ''will'' go back to your house at the beginning, and lose over 30 minutes of gameplay as both my brother and I have done on several playthroughs. If you can make it past him, though, the rest of the game and bosses are relatively easy even with minimum leveling.
* WaveMotionGun (Geno Whirl can do maximum damage against regular enemies. All maximum attacks other than Mario's do massive damage to all enemies on screen. The enemies have some in the form of Corona, Breaker Beam, and pretty much anything Smithy's wizard head throws at you.)
* WorthyOpponent (Johnny Jones, again)
* {{Woolseyism}}
* WorkOffTheDebt
* YourMoneyIsNoGoodHere (Tadpole Pond)

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