Summary
It would be difficult for players to find a gamer who hasn’t heard ofSuper Mario RPGin some way or another. Not only is it a rather short and sweet SNES RPG compared to more recent titles, but it is also well-known for featuring Geno, a character manySuper Smash Bros. players wish to see as a fighter someday. However, there’s one aspect toSuper Mario RPGthat is rather well-known among fans of the genre.
Super Mario RPGwasdeveloped by Square Enixback when it was known as just Square Soft. Not only is this why it plays like a retroFinal FantasyRPG, but the developers decided to sneak in a fun little surprise to tie everything together. This would be Culex, a superboss that was created forSMRPGto be a parody of everythingFinal Fantasywas back in 1996. In the new Switch remake, Culex was not only kept, but he can now be fought twice.
Super Mario RPG’s Newest Culex Fight Brings the Character Full Circle
Considering how heavy-handed Culex’s references toFinal Fantasyare, many players were concerned that he’d beremoved from theSuper Mario RPGremakefor copyright purposes. However, Culex was allowed to return in full, and can be fought in his usual location in Monstro Town if players have the Shiny Stone. His door is even painted black this time to help call attention to him and the fight that lies beyond it.
Finding and Battling Culex in Super Mario RPG
Opening the door calls Culex to come greet Mario in a colorful void, where he makes allusions toFinal Fantasy 5and6. He states that the plumber’s world is “uninhabitable” for his kind, but before he leaves, he talks about how in “another game,” he and Mario could have been “mortal enemies.” However, an interesting detail is that the Culex fight players encounter in the main campaign features him still as a 2D sprite despite the remake being in 3D.
However, this is entirely on purpose, as it seems that the Switch remake is the other game Culex refers to. After fans make their way through the main story and unlock the post-game content, they unlock an entirely newSuper Mario RPGsuperboss: Culex 3D. This boss battle was most certainly what fans were expecting once it was confirmed Culex would still be in the game, but it takes advantage of the fact that it’s reserved for post-game content.
Culex 3D Offers a Great New Challenge
Culex 3D is an incredibly hard fight, and according toSuper Mario RPG’s bestiary, specifically designed to be the hardest boss battle in the game. He opens up with an attack that will leave players with 1 HP right away, and destroying Culex’s crystals will result in buffs being given to whatever enemies remain on-screen. Fans are recommended to have the party at maximum level withSuper Mario RPG’s best equipmenton hand to make it through.
As difficult as this new superboss is, and purposefully so as the message from the developer team left in the bestiary states, it’s actually even more evidence of the team’s dedication tomakingSuper Mario RPGas faithful as it could be. The running joke with Culex in both versions of the game is that through jumping from an old schoolFinal Fantasygame toSMRPG, Culex has somehow managed to remain 2D. For the second fight, he’s managed to adapt to a form that is finally able to fit into the “three-dimensional world.”
Culex’s Final Form Stems From Super Mario RPG’s Endgame
The catch to the new form, however, makes things even funnier, and ties into why Culex 3D is a post-game fight. Even though Smithy isn’t entirely defeated yet in the post-game, a few new wishes have been granted through the player fixing the Star Road in the ending that can be found on Star Hill. All of these wishes belong to the post-game bosses, including Culex. This means that Culex was feeling so out of place as a 2D sprite, he wished to become 3D and had it granted, so the extra battle that ties the game together is essentially the player’s fault. The situation trulytellsSuper Mario RPGfans to be carefulwhat they wish for.
Super Mario RPG
WHERE TO PLAY
Set out on a classic Mario adventure: Enter—or revisit—a world of whimsy with Mario on a quest to repair Star Road and defeat the troublemaking Smithy Gang. Team up with a party of unlikely allies, like the monstrous Bowser and a mysterious doll named Geno, in a story-rich RPG packed with laughs and quirky characters.A strange party unites to save Star Road: Meet the team of oddballs setting out to thwart the troublesome Smithy Gang and protect everyone’s wishes. Even Bowser is lending a claw!Take it easy with Breezy Difficulty Mode: Players new to RPGs or who want a story-focused experience can use the new Breezy difficulty, which makes battles easier and leveling up faster. You can set the difficulty at any time if you change your mind.Adventure, battle, and traverse across a colorful world: Jump towards your next goal and continue the story. Run into monsters to enter turn-based battles with your party of three. Master the new Chain and Triple Moves system to claim victory.A delightfully reimagined world: Enjoy familiar sights with colorfully enhanced graphics and spiffy upgrades.
