Topic: Final Fantasy IV vs. Super Mario RPG - which is the better game?

I have to say that Final Fantasy IV is a much more satisfying game and does the RPG genre more justice than the somewhat shallow Mario game. Not to say I didn't like Super Mario RPG, just that as a SNES RPG, its over-rated in comparison to other SNES RPGs.

Mario RPG is better at what it tries to do; humor. none of the mario RPG's are particularly deep, you just play them for their unique and funny dialougue, and outlandish stories, whereas you play a FF game expecting deep RPG style play and a serious story. both are awesome games, just trying to do different things.

As much as i love Mario, it's FFIV, no doubt. SMRPG is a great game and i enjoy the hell out of it, but if it wasn't attached to the Mario franchise (including the characters, humor, style, etc), it would probably come off as somewhat mediocre.

Well Super Mario RPG hasn't really aged well, the VC release was/is my first playthrough and it's nearly unbearable. On the other hand the FF games(and DQ) from the SNES era have aged fantastically!

I'd personally go with FFIV but if I played it when it first came out I don't know what I'd say.

Well, to me, a mediocre game is still a mediocre game even if it does star Mario. I've played enough average Mario spin-off games to know that Mario doesn't make a mediocre game better just by his appearance (although it does sell better than the same game without him).

Mario is better by far. You actually solved puzzles and other such things rather than grind through enemy after enemy.

I would say FFIV. Though I've never played SMRPG...

I like both, but i'd have to say SMRPG. I believe it introduced me to the RPG genre and the characters were just a delight to me.

Also: You want to talk overrated SNES RPGs, try Secret Of Mana. It's not terrible, but I don't really think it's as great as everyone makes it out to be... _{Also FFVI. >:3}

Well one is an epic tale of redemption and such, and the other is just a terrible game. Clearly Final Fantasy IV is much better.

(Also note the correct use of "epic", rather than seeing it misused as it is the majority of the time it is used)

I personally enjoy FFIV more, mainly because it has aged much better. Mario RPG definitely shaped the way some RPG's are made today, but it felt unrefined.

This. Super Mario RPG can't even begin to compare to FF4, IMO.

How about the plot of almost every other RPG that at least takes itself semi-seriously? That game was a bore-fest.
_{Not saying that Mario had a good story}

SMRPG has more gameplay variety. FF4 is a grindfest and more primitive game.

I dunno FF fans can usually give reasons why they like them, most SMRPG fans give the terrible reason of it being their first RPG, or the first Mario RPG.

SMRPG has more variety (not that it does anything well...), but it's definitely a ton more primitive. Also in FFIV grinding isn't neccessary at all.

Well it does the theme justice a lot better than most other games, being a trailblazer for the theme is of small significance too.

^ You apparently haven't even played Super Mario RPG. Read the reviews from this site, people, and you get pretty good picture about these games. (FF IV 8/10, SMRPG 10/10)

Thanks for that intelligent response.

You're right, I've never played SMRPG, but I'll remain adamant that it sucks simply because I'm a Sony fanboy (or for some other ridiculous reason).

On a serious note, I've beaten SMRPG, and I can say with confidence that it's the worst experience I've had with a game that I've persisted with until the end. Reviews are composed of a series of one's opinions of things contained in the game, thus they aren't always indicative of the quality of a game (as well as being never agreeable to by everyone). Also an arbitrary score doesn't give me a clear picture about these games, I purchased SMRPG expecting a top tier game, rather than the slow, simple, mindless game that I recieved. Do the adjectives I used help paint a picture of my view on the game, or would you prefer the number 4? (Which doesn't really explain anything, other than one's overall opinion)

^Say what you say, for me the game is a 10. Case closed.

Why do you consider it a 10?

While FFIV is a classic, I seem to recall having more fun with SMRPG. It would not beat FFVI, though.

There's something about SMRPG that I don't like. It just doesn't feel very much like an RPG. I definitely prefer FF4. :3