Mario & Luigi: Brothership Preview

For almost a week now, I’ve been doing a deep dive into Mario & Luigi: Brothership as we head towards release day. I would never call myself a hardcore Mario & Luigi franchise fan, but I have dabbled in the 3DS releases and via Nintendo Switch Online, and quite enjoyed by time with the brothers. A Mario & Luigi game hits a bit different than other traditional RPG experiences, but the uniqueness of the two-person gameplay has intrigued me enough over the years that I was really excited for the release of Brothership. With the game (so far) feeling much easier than in the past, I wonder how it will land with longtime fans of the franchise.

At this point, I expect nothing less, but Brothership looks and sounds absolutely amazing, although there have been a few frame rate hiccups. The game itself is using a brand new, unique art style, likely due to a brand new development studio working on the game. The previous developer of the franchise, AlphaDream, filed for bankruptcy in October of 2019, leaving the franchise in limbo until 2024. The new art style, however, is phenomenal, and while I can see Nintendo detractors poking fun at a few of the graphical hiccups – i.e. Mario’s eyebrows constantly coming through the brim of his hat – I find the experience charming in all aspects. Can we get a bunch of shorts to go along with this game, Nintendo?

Mario and Luigi will be traveling the ocean currents of Concordia attempting to reunite the islands with the brand new Uni-Tree on your “ship”, Shipshape Island. Each Island is a small puzzle that you’ll need to complete in order to reach the lighthouse and reconnect the island to the ship. The islands don’t take a ton of time to complete the first time around (so far I’ve found about 30 – 45 minutes), but Nintendo gives you plenty of reasons to return to these islands in the form of side quests, items to find, and more. I can only speak to a handful of islands so far, but they have each had a unique twist that I’ve enjoyed, and the gameplay slowly ratchets up in difficulty as you go. I haven’t found this experience to be overly difficult so far, but I feel that tougher islands and more fearsome enemies are on the horizon.

Like with any good RPG, there is a possibility that grinding to gain a few levels might be something you’ll need to do. However, because of certain areas of the islands being locked away for a variety of reasons – either until the lighthouse is connected or because of the story arch – the “grind” doesn’t feel like a grind at all, as you head back to regions you’ve already been, to check every nook and cranny for interesting items or piles of coins. It’s a very natural way of pushing you to level up before moving on, but not one that feels like a boring grind.

Mario and Luigi oozes charm, from the fantastically detailed islands to the whimsical characters you’ll meet and fall in love with along the way. Although you are trekking…or sailing…across a brand new world, doesn’t mean familiar faces won’t be making an appearance. It’s early for me, but the sign of multiple toads enjoying the lush landscapes of Concordia makes me think we could be seeing other Mushroom Kingdom characters in the future! As you venture deeper and deeper into the world of Concordia, attempting to deal with its many troubles, the world around you will expand as well. Your central island and “ship”, Shipshape Island, will grow as you connect more islands, brining unique guests, shops, and more to your floating city. Similarly,  the Islands you help will also have minor changes that can be to your benefit. including unlocking new areas to explore that were previously locked away.

The joy of this RPG, and what sets it apart from other franchises, is how Mario and Luigi work together, not only to solve puzzles in the over world, but also in battle. Longtime fans of the franchise will know exactly what to expect when they first load up Mario & Luigi: Brothership, but for those who have yet to experience the joys of the Bros. working together…you are in for a real treat. Throughout the game, Luigi will have brilliant ideas when areas seem closed off, and before you know it, you’ll be tossing items and people between ledges, spinning across gaps, hopping on character specific platforms, and more. Jump into battle and you will catapult off each other to land huge attacks on enemies, use your hammers in sync to deal a massive strike, or use any number of the interesting Bros. Attacks to deal some hefty damage.  The timing of these battle maneuvers might take time, but once you understand how enemies move, and how the Bros. can work together, it become fairly intuitive.

For me, that’s where the real charm lies. It’s been so long since I took Mario & Luigi for a romp together on a new adventure, and I’ve forgotten how enjoyable that experience is. While there are things I believe have been streamlined in this release – did Luigi always automatically jump his way through obstacles? I think before you had to take control of him specifically – the core concepts of the Mario & Luigi franchise are alive and well, even with a new developer. And it’s all wrapped up in a humorous tale chalked full of hilarious references, funny albeit voiceless cutscenes, and more. Nintendo has been going back to its roots with a lot of franchises lately, and I think this is yet another example of that.

I’m sill early in my Mario & Luigi: Brothership adventure, but I’m excited every time I pick it up – I cannot wait to play more! Just be warned. You will read. A lot.