#22: Super Mario RPG

The last in a run of extremely quality JRPG's over 10 games of the list, Mario RPG was fan-freaking-tastic.  It was accessible, balanced, varied, funny, and fun, all at once.

The game was easy for new players to pick up.  It walked beginners through the various RPG strategies quickly.  It featured a timed button press for most attacks that could double your power.  These timed button presses made every fight exciting.  To be great, you had to pay attention to every animation and time everything perfectly.  Simply put, it was engaging in a genre whose battles aren't normally engaging.

The characters were very distinct with separate roles within the party.  You had your healers, your mages, and your melee DPS.  They were fairly balanced and it was always fun to find out what new mega-attack you had just unlocked.

Mario RPG had a quirky sense of humor that persisted through the entire quest.  There were Bugs Bunny like falls, blundering enemies, and Three Stooges like beatings.  It was a kid's (or cartoon loving adult's) kind of humor.  I always remember one group of enemies, the Axem Rangers.  They were a parody of the Power Rangers and they played it perfectly with constant insults and puns about how evil they were.  Classic.

Super Mario RPG's best and most unique trait was its map and levels.  I remember a friend stating, "It's a platforming RPG."  It's still the best way to describe it.  Outside of battles in SMRPG, there was still as much action as in them.  You'd have to platform to reach hidden items, complete quests, or get the jump (I love Mario puns) on enemies.  Just running around the levels was fun and fluid, a sharp contrast to most JRPG's.

If you've never played this, go now.  If you have, give it another shot.  It's a lot better than most people remember.