As a seasoned gamer who has seen countless games come and go, I must say that Mario & Luigi: Brothership is like a breath of fresh air. With its charming camaraderie between our beloved plumber brothers, it reminds me of those simpler times when gaming was more about the experience than the epic narratives.
In my personal observation, the Mario & Luigi series hasn’t received as much mainstream acclaim as Nintendo’s other role-playing games featuring their plumber characters, like Paper Mario. At the very least, it has often been overshadowed by Super Mario RPG, which has recently been remade and paved the way for our journey down this divergent path of role-playing games.
It’s possible that the series’ focus on being handheld has hindered it from attracting wider attention. If that’s the case, Mario & Luigi: Brothership could certainly change things; as the first game to appear on a home console – and more notably, the highly popular Nintendo Switch – Brothership can leverage stronger technology to present more stunning graphics and a vast world teeming with eccentric characters.
After attending a press event to preview Mario & Luigi: Brothership, I can confidently express my belief that longtime fans will be satisfied with Nintendo’s latest creation. The writing remains as sharp as ever, and while combat is more action-oriented and faster than before, it retains its core turn-based essence. Overall, the game is enjoyable, humorous, and delivers the perfect blend of fun and humor that I was seeking.
I sampled the game in two distinct sections, both of which begin with the titular brothers launching themselves from a cannon to reach their newfound island destination. The first of these two locations is Twistee Island, which I’m told is fairly early into the story.
The theme here is hinted at in its name – some of these folks love to groove. So much so, in fact, that their all-star dancer is called Groovemaster Dyode. His assistant, Emmit, is panicking because Dyode has lost his hair wax. Without it, Dyode just can’t get down with the funk. As you can see, it’s a high-stakes scenario with tragic consequences should Mario and Luigi fail to locate this lost MacGuffin.
Even though we’re only a fifteenth of the way through, the battle system isn’t complex at this stage. It wasn’t until I reached the lively Merrygo Island, however, that I could delve deeper into its mechanics. Although we’re still in the early stages, it seems to be far enough along to get a good sense of what it entails.
Encountering an adversary on the open map usually results in a fight. In my novice encounters, it’s more often me getting ambushed rather than the other way around. If your opponent strikes first, they have the advantage. All attacks shown across both demo segments can be avoided or their impact reduced by reacting swiftly and appropriately at the right moment.
Among the aspects of Mario & Luigi: Brothership that have left me particularly impressed is their distinct character traits, which keep the gameplay engaging. Each character has unique attack patterns to master, and these often necessitate your attention on both brothers simultaneously due to their shared vulnerability to multi-hit combos. It’s not overly challenging, but it ensures that each playthrough isn’t a walk in the park.
When it’s the other party’s turn, it demands equal precision. Performing consecutive jumps requires synchronization among the brothers; the one whose turn it is will be the first to leap, but their loyal companion will help them re-enter the battlefield for another strike against the enemy’s head. At every instance, pressing the button at the right moment increases the damage dealt.
Attacks with your hammer are equally interesting. Let’s say it’s Mario’s turn. Mario swings at your selected foe, and you’re prompted to press the B button to line things up properly. A second or two later, and you press the A button to time it so that Luigi, who swings behind Mario, can launch his red-clad bro, hammer-to-hammer, into the same target for more.
In the beloved Mario & Luigi series, the iconic Bros. Attacks make a triumphant comeback! Seasoned players will undoubtedly spot some familiar moves. For example, the Green Shell maneuver involves the brothers swiftly kicking the shell toward an adversary, then kicking it back when it bounces off them and returns to your side of the battlefield. The shell can hit multiple targets unpredictably, making it a fantastic method for managing crowds.
Amongst the variety of games centered around combat, it’s the Battle Plug system that truly caught my attention. If you’ve played previous games and encountered Badges, you might find it reminiscent but more advanced. It offers a broader range of options compared to what we’ve seen before, and from what I gather, there could be over fifty different ones available. You create these using a unique currency, and you can carry a set number at once.
In some cases, certain items are automatically activated when a character’s health is low, such as healing items. On the other hand, abilities like Anti-Flying Specialist are meant to combat specific types of enemies. However, there are skills that can significantly alter the course of battle. For instance, with the Surprise Iron Ball, receiving an “Excellent” rating during a Jump or Hammer Attack will result in an iron ball falling on the target, causing additional damage. The Surefooted Guard ability protects against Trip and Dizzy status effects. Lastly, Empower Counters converts jump counters into ground pounds and boosts hammer counters by 30%.
Additionally, you’ll encounter Plug Combos such as Ka-Specialist, which unleashes a chain of critical damage across an enemy team upon activation of the Kaboom Attack using a Specialist-type Battle Plug. This adds another layer of strategy to your choices in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, similar to deciding on what to equip, choosing which bonuses to pick when leveling up (including one that allows for more gear at once), and even determining the order in which to unlock shops between Maykit and Billdit, whose names perfectly describe their roles.
In simpler terms, throughout the Mario and Luigi series, teamwork and problem-solving often highlight their friendly bond. On the islands, for example, Luigi might come up with peculiar solutions that usually work well. This aspect is also reflected in the story – on Merrygo Island, I had to move through a large rotating labyrinth, discovering gaps in each level to continue my journey.
Reaching the top of the maze’s central tower provided me with a bird’s-eye perspective, yet maneuvering it was challenging because I needed to instruct Luigi, who was still on ground level, to hit a switch using his hammer, while Mario did the same from the tower. Small details like this can have a significant effect on Mario and Luigi’s gameplay experience. A distinct button for each brother’s hammer swing ensures that a seemingly straightforward mechanic effectively illustrates the “teamwork is key” concept that underpins the Mario & Luigi series.
Fundamentally, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a game centered around relationships, whether it’s between siblings and their equipment or a large body of water and its numerous islands. Finishing an island connects it to the heroes’ boat, which serves as both the main objective for the game and also links various NPCs, allowing them to provide regular services at your central hub.
It seems that people playing a Mario RPG aren’t usually searching for an elaborate storyline, instead favoring something more intimate and charming. However, this series has a knack for making small-scale ideas flourish in unique ways; take “Bowser’s Inside Story” as an example. Despite being primarily set within the antagonist’s body, it brims with unforgettable moments.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership boasts a broader scope and presents itself in a console-worthy manner that’s visually stunning. Its RPG mechanics are larger than life yet retain the charm and warmth that keeps me engaged. I was overjoyed when Groovemaster Dyode regained his waxed hair, and I can’t wait to assist more unique characters when the game releases on November 7th.
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2024-10-10 16:26