Mario & Luigi: Brothership is filled with clever twists in the RPG.
After our practical experience with Mario & Luigi Brothership, it seems that the next adventure incorporates significant innovations to its role-playing game formula.
For nearly ten years, a new Mario & Luigi game has not been released, which is unexpected, as is the fact that the series hasn’t had a full console game. Mario & Luigi: Brothership represents a significant event. It not only marks the return of a beloved RPG series that was losing its way, but also gives Nintendo the chance to prove it can deliver experiences beyond handheld devices. While it's not a decisive moment, it is a game that needs to hit the mark.
During a presentation event, I had the opportunity to play Brothership for over an hour. This demo reintroduced me to the familiar time-based combat and showcased some fresh animations that provide a modern update to the series’ style. However, this title is not simply a reinvented adventure in the Mushroom Kingdom; it includes an innovative combat system that could redefine the series in its first foray into console gaming.
In Mario & Luigi: Brothership, the famous Italian brothers sail on a ship to various islands in their adventures. The main gameplay mechanic allows players to spot an island from the bow of the ship, fire a cannon at it, and find a plug that connects them back to the vessel. This not only lets the brothers return anytime they want, but also establishes routes between the islands linked to the ship. The adventure is not completely linear, allowing for the possibility of encountering new visitors on previously connected islands.
My first gameplay experience took me to Twistee Island, where a typical and wacky Mario & Luigi story begins. On this island full of dancers, the leader cannot join the party because his hair doesn’t look good, and ironically, his dancing skills are necessary to grow a central tree that provides access to the plug I need. This initial challenge involves searching for hair wax while battling enemies along the way.
The RPG combat felt familiar, albeit more dynamic, as it requires button presses at the right moment to attack and evade. Mario and Luigi are controlled alternately during attack sequences, making the combat system more active than in previous installments.
The new aesthetics of Brothership complement this evolution. Similar to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the game features much more expressive animations, making Mario feel like a true cartoon hero. These details are present in multiple moments, such as when the brothers briefly transform into a UFO to move faster, even doing a synchronized dance while doing so.
The next part of my demo took me to Merrygo Island, where I needed to find Princess Peach. Through a rotating maze, I faced both flying enemies and spiky creatures. During this segment, more of Brothership’s new battle system was revealed, including brother moves and the innovative Battle Plugs, which are coins that can be used to unlock passive benefits during combat.
These plugs can have various effects and can be exchanged freely during gameplay, although they deplete after a certain number of turns and need to be recharged. Strategy becomes essential, as it allows players to maximize their power by selecting combinations of plugs that enhance different abilities.
Finally, as the brothers level up, they gain upgrades to their stats, but there’s a twist: additional perks can be chosen that allow for customization of Mario and Luigi, thus trying out new variations in gameplay style.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership seems to be marking a new beginning for the series, bringing freshness and new mechanics in an era where the most successful franchises continually reinvent themselves. The release date for Nintendo Switch is scheduled for November 7.
