As a long-time fan of the Mario and Luigi series, I must say that Brothership has easily become one of my favorite installments yet! Having grown up with these quirky, hilarious, and downright charming characters, it’s always a pleasure to see them back in action.
In the final stages of Nintendo Switch’s lifespan, there’s an unforeseen revival of Mario RPGs, and fittingly, this rejuvenation is culminating with the most unexpected titles among the recent releases. After two remakes of cherished Mario RPG classics, we’re now receiving a fresh new Mario and Luigi game – something many thought was unattainable not so long ago, not only due to the series taking a lengthy break, with its last original installment, Paper Jam, being almost a decade old, but also because the series’ developer, AlphaDream, has been inactive for roughly five years.
Now, with Acquire studio at the helm, everyone’s beloved plumber duo, Mario and Luigi, are back in a maritime journey titled Mario and Luigi: Brothership. This new installment revives the series in an impressive manner, although it may not quite reach the heights of classics like Superstar Saga or Bowser’s Inside Story. By refining and expanding upon the tried-and-true formula from previous Mario and Luigi games, this latest adventure offers another solid RPG experience for Nintendo’s iconic mustached character on the Switch.
In a fresh take on classic Mario and Luigi games, this latest adventure innovates by introducing novel gameplay elements, offering an exceptional role-playing game experience for these iconic characters on the Nintendo Switch.
“Mario and Luigi: The Bond of Brothers
In storytelling terms, the game titled “Mario and Luigi: Brothership” takes some time to build momentum initially. The tale may seem a bit directionless during the initial stages, and even when it picks up speed, the main plot doesn’t quite match the captivating allure of some past Mario RPGs. However, what truly shines in this game is its writing. As is customary for a Mario and Luigi title, “Brothership” abounds with an abundance of charm, wit, and humor, with the humor ranging from eliciting occasional chuckles to causing outright laughter. During their adventure, Mario and Luigi encounter a diverse assortment of characters, including both well-known faces from the broader Mario universe and entirely new characters, all of whom contribute positively to the narrative aspect in their unique ways.
The enchanting allure of the game is significantly boosted by its stunningly refreshed visual style. With the Mario and Luigi series now fully embracing 3D, Brothership also adopts a fresh, distinctive appearance – one that undeniably enhances the overall experience. This visually appealing game consistently showcases its beauty, even if the frame rate dips occasionally. From the distant roar of a waterfall cascading into the background to Luigi’s animated expressions when he levels up, from the intricate details scattered across the environments to the visually captivating landscapes, there have been numerous instances where I’ve been left awestruck by its visual splendor. To complement this, Brothership offers a remarkable soundtrack that has left me humming its tunes for several days now.
“On more than a few occasions, I’ve been taken aback by how good this game looks.”
In addition, just like previous Mario and Luigi games, it offers an engaging play experience. The combat stands out, offering another exciting dose of the series’ distinctive turn-based gameplay. Timing-based button presses are used for both offensive and defensive moves, a mechanic that longtime fans will recognize. Moreover, the game keeps things fresh with various attacks, jumps, Bros. Attacks, and different dodges and blocks, each accompanied by its unique Quick Time Events (QTEs). From the QTEs themselves to the captivating animations displayed on-screen, these elements never grow old. Occasionally, encounters with common enemies can become monotonous due to the game’s lengthy duration, but the swiftness of battles and the diversity in enemy types and strategies ensure that such issues don’t significantly detract from the overall experience.
The progression within this game seems to strike an ideal blend of simplicity and satisfaction. Advancing levels and observing your stats climb is consistently pleasing, particularly since each level advancement grants access to significant upgrades for one of the two characters, ranging from new gear slots to increased maximum health, faster level-ups, and more. Additionally, the game encourages strategic gear selection for both characters, while Battle Plugs, introduced later in the gameplay, offer additional layers of complexity and player choice. Although the progression and customization systems may not be particularly groundbreaking, their straightforwardness is precisely what makes them effective – they appear uncomplicated yet always engaging and mechanically rewarding. For those seeking a more complex experience, delving deeper into the Battle Plugs system will undoubtedly yield additional rewards.
Just like combat, exploration is another significant aspect of the game. Outside of battles, you’ll spend a good deal of time navigating environments, gathering items, completing side missions, and solving mysteries. These activities are quite enjoyable, and the environmental puzzles and exploration stand out – especially the exploration, thanks to the game’s impressive level design and variety in biomes. However, some side quests can feel repetitive or formulaic at times. Luckily, the game’s clever writing and humor make many of these side quests worthwhile.
Once more, the combat stands out, offering another powerful serving of the game series’ distinctive style of turn-based battles.
In Shipshape Island, the overall design seamlessly links each island visit together. As you journey from one island to another in real-time (with an option to speed up travel later in the game), you find yourself with leisure time which invites you to revisit earlier islands, discover newly accessible regions, engage with NPCs, take on side quests, search for hidden reefs while sailing across the sea, and more. The game offers a good mix of engaging optional content alongside its strong main storyline, allowing it to keep a steady pace throughout most of its playtime.
For those who have previously played a Mario and Luigi game, many aspects of Brothership might seem familiar, but it also presents unique concepts of its own. One of the game’s most enjoyable innovations is Luigi Logic, which comes into play during challenging boss fights or environmental puzzles. At these times, Luigi can come up with absurd solutions to help the brothers escape difficult situations, and as a fan of Luigi, I found these instances particularly engaging. While Brothership slightly reduces the simultaneous control of both brothers compared to its predecessors, the addition of Luigi Logic helps compensate for this adjustment.
In essence, while there are some minor hiccups throughout the game Mario and Luigi: Brothership, it essentially marks a successful comeback for the iconic duo’s RPG escapades. With an abundance of charm, witty humor, engaging battles, satisfying advancement, intriguing exploration, and stunning graphics, this adventure makes for a journey that is definitely worth embarking on.
This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch.
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2024-11-12 15:13