Mario & Luigi: Brothership Review
Join me on the high seas as I explore the quirky charm of Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Will it float your boat or leave you adrift? Find out in my full review.
The iconic duo of Mario and Luigi return in a nostalgic RPG adventure. The role-playing spinoff series was introduced in 2003 with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga on the Game Boy Advance and has returned two decades later on the Switch. The classic is back with its charming take on the brothers with its humour, clever puzzles, and unique tag-team mechanics.
"The classic is back with its charming take on the brothers with its humour, clever puzzles, and unique tag-team mechanics."
As a fan of the first game, I was excited to see how Mario & Luigi: Brothership carried things forward. Returning to this whimsical world now offers nautical twists and new mechanics. Let’s step onto the Brothership and see how Mario & Luigi’s latest adventure fares in my full review.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership Details
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch OLED
Developer: Acquire
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action RPG
Available Game Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Set sail for adventure
In Mario & Luigi: Brothership, our beloved plumbers embark on a seafaring adventure to the fragmented land of Concordia. They are tasked with restoring the islands and thwarting a new group of baddies. Along the way, the brothers encounter familiar faces and new characters, such as the electrically themed inhabitants, “Wattanists,” who assist in their quest. They sail on the Shipshape Island, part ship and part island, looking to reunite Concordia. The narrative is filled with the series' trademark humour and charm, though it doesn’t offer as much innovation as its predecessor. I still had a fun time with the story, and it was surprisingly deep with themes about connection to people and relationships.
Tag teaming gameplay
The combat system in Brothership stays true to the series' roots, featuring turn-based battles that require precise timing for attacks and defences. The introduction of "Battle Plugs" adds a new strategic element, allowing players to equip bonuses that enhance various aspects of combat.
"The introduction of 'Battle Plugs' adds a new strategic element, allowing players to equip bonuses that enhance various aspects of combat."
One of the standout features is the "Luigi Logic" mechanic, where Luigi acts autonomously to assist in puzzle-solving and exploration. While innovative, the mechanic can become cumbersome during certain segments of the game.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership Graphics and Performance
Visually, Brothership boasts colourful and vibrant environments that is a feast for the eyes, especially on the Switch OLED display. I enjoyed the hand-drawn art style that connects back to the nostalgic charm of the original game. It’s also unique compared to other titles, making it instantly recognizable. However, performance issues, particularly frame rate drops in the overworld, really hamper the experience. Thankfully, this isn’t as much of an issue in the game's stellar combat sequences, helping battles feel fluid and responsive.
"The dynamic animations during special moves and attacks also showcase the game’s attention to detail in combat."
The dynamic animations during special moves and attacks also showcase the game’s attention to detail in combat. While the frame rate dips in exploration sections can disrupt the sense of immersion, the polished performance during battles helped maintain my overall enjoyment of Mario and Luigi’s adventure.
Audio and Sound Design in Mario & Luigi: Brothership
The audio and sound design in Mario & Luigi: Brothership helps to enhance the oceanic themes of the brother’s adventure. The soundtrack, composed by Hideki Sakamoto, marks a departure from the series' traditional composer, Yoko Shimomura. Sakamoto's compositions feature a nice blend of wind instruments, accordions, brass bands, and tropical steelpans that fit with the game's nautical theme.
The sound effects are fun, too, from the crisp clinking of coins to the iconic voices of Mario and Luigi. However, some voice lines, particularly those of new characters, really became repetitive over time. Overall, the audio elements in Mario & Luigi: Brothership helped to draw me into the adventure but wasn’t as memorable as the original.
Final Thoughts on Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a charming addition to the series that offers a nostalgic journey for longtime fans and newcomers. While it introduces some innovative mechanics and boasts engaging combat, the game's reliance on fetch quests and noticeable performance issues can detract from the overall experience. Nonetheless, it's a lighthearted adventure that captures the essence of what makes Mario and Luigi's escapades so endearing.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership Pros
-Engaging and timing-based combat system
-Charming hand-drawn art style
-Humorous and lighthearted storytelling
Mario & Luigi: Brothership Cons
-An overabundance of fetch quests
-Performance issues, particularly frame rate drops
-Some repetitive character voice lines
-Storytelling segments and character dialogue can get too wordy
Overall Assessment of Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Replayability: 7/10
Mario & Luigi: Brothership Overall Rating: 30/40 = 80%
Nintendo provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.
About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!
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