For a hefty Italian plumber, Mario is a capable character. Aside from jumping high and rescuing princesses from giant turtles, Mario is a professional kart racer, tennis player, golfer, soccer player, and even a fighter. We still see him as the star of some of the best 2D and 3D platformers... and that's why I still find it strange that so many RPG games featuring Mario exist. Even stranger… almost all RPG games with Nintendo's mascot are GOOD! Surprisingly good. The same applies to Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
A for Mario, B for Luigi
As I mentioned above, there are several different Mario RPG games, such as Mario RPG and Paper Mario. The Mario and Luigi games have always been the most interesting. They are top-down RPGs where you simultaneously control the two super brothers as they embark on a quest to save the world—or, in this case, to reunite it.
Although Mario walks in front and Luigi follows behind, you have special buttons on the controller for each brother, as the title suggests. This alone gives the game a very unique identity. Having the freedom to jump with Luigi whenever I want (while Mario stands still) has always been entertaining. The same goes for overcoming various obstacles.
These mechanics shine the most in the numerous turn-based battles. As in many JRPGs, you decide each turn whether to attack, use an item, perform a special attack, or flee. Of course, since this is a Mario game, nobody would be happy to see Mario swinging a sword (okay, maybe some would, but that's not why we love him).
The Controls in Brothership Are Amazing
When Mario attacks, he jumps, and it's crucial to time the jump correctly. During each attack, it's up to you to press the correct button at the right moment, usually when the jump or attack starts or ends. For instance, press A when Mario jumps and A again before he lands on the enemy's head. This is a core feature of Mario games. The same applies to Luigi, except he uses B. In other words, this is a turn-based JRPG where you can't just press "attack" and passively watch; you actively participate in nearly every moment.
But do you want to hear the best part? The same applies to defense! If an enemy attacks you, jump at the right time to avoid the attack altogether. EVEN BETTER, COUNTER THE ATTACK! Yes, if a Goomba charges at you, you can jump over it or jump earlier and land on its head, dealing extra damage.
It gets even deeper... Mario and Luigi have joint attacks. Mario jumps a bit, Luigi follows, and you alternate pressing A and B to perform a big attack with maximum damage. Even though there have been several games in this style, it still amazes me how fun this battle system is.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership uses almost all these mechanics, albeit slightly simplified. Fortunately, this doesn't harm the game in any way.
The Brotherhood (and Unity)
Believe it or not, we're not rescuing Princess Peach this time. Mario and Luigi fall into a portal and land on a ship that also serves as a floating island. This ship used to sail with all the other islands in the region, but unfortunately, something terrible happened, and all the islands drifted apart. The goal of the Super Brothers is to visit each of these islands, activate their lighthouses, and reunite all the islands in the region. The story isn't intense, but Mario games, even RPGs, aren't exactly known for that.
On the other hand, there's a lot of dialogue. Mario and Luigi will meet many new friends and foes during their journey. The two brothers won't talk much (like true video game protagonists), but they will listen to colorful and wacky characters. Unfortunately, the supporting characters aren't very memorable, but I still cared about helping them, especially reuniting the islands.
As you progress, you'll travel farther across the ocean and gradually fill the map with new islands. Gazing at the map and seeing how far you've come is satisfying.
Speaking of progress, this is still an RPG, meaning the brothers can level up. Leveling up is very noticeable in this game. It doesn't happen often, but each level brings stronger attacks, more health, and sometimes even bonuses.
However, if you're a fan of RPGs, especially turn-based JRPGs, don't expect a highly challenging experience.
Difficulty level EASY
One of the most significant issues with Mario & Luigi: Brothership is its difficulty—or lack thereof. This is surprising because games featuring the Italian plumber usually have a perfect balance between easy and hard. They start easy, get more brutal, and at the very end… you hand the controller to DAD (me) to beat the last hidden level.
Unfortunately, that's not the case in Brothership. If you defeat every enemy you encounter, equip Mario and Luigi with new gear, and occasionally use items, you'll breeze through the game without any trouble. Even if you're bad at jumping and dodging enemies, the game allows you to block attacks and minimize damage. I never used this feature, but it's there.
The only sliver of the challenge comes from Challenge Badges. Since Nintendo doesn't (and probably never will) implement an Achievement system on its consoles, some games, including Brothership, have built-in achievements. If you want a small challenge, there are Badges where you must avoid 100 attacks, complete 300 battles without any gear, or finish 300 consecutive battles without losing either brother. Believe me, even the last challenge wasn't that hard, and I managed it on my first try, but I'm glad there's at least a small challenge.
Boss fights are slightly more challenging, but even here, you have assistance. Luigi often has ideas on disabling a boss for one or more turns, giving you a few good hits. Luigi's ideas are also used outside battles to overcome certain obstacles and find secrets.
Brothership In Conclusion
Despite all this, the game was still fun, and I enjoyed the battles. They may not be as challenging as in previous Mario & Luigi games, but a game doesn't have to be hard to be fun. You'll encounter enemies, new weapons, locations, and a delightful journey.
There are a few issues with Mario & Luigi: Brothership. I've already mentioned the difficulty, but perhaps the most noticeable flaw is that the game expects you to… patiently wait while the ship sails. The ship where the game begins is your HUB zone, and you often have to wait for it to reach new locations. It doesn't take long, but you must still wait and aimlessly wander around the deck until the mini-map shows you're approaching something. Honestly, this didn't bother me much, but I completely understand those who would find it annoying. Fortunately, the ship can sail while you're not on it (when exploring one of the islands), so at least you can do some side quests while waiting.
Battles can also take some time. The game doesn't have many ways to speed up battles, and since you have to press buttons for every attack and there can sometimes be six enemies, it can become tedious.
Additionally, there are minor performance issues. The game mostly runs at a stable 30 FPS, but if you're playing on a TV, FPS drops can occur at certain moments, even during battles. These drops are rare, but you'll notice if you're sensitive to them.
To end on a high note, the music is phenomenal. Expect plenty of catchy tunes, all with a tropical vibe. The battle theme is a hit.
Final Score: 8.4/10
Reason: The game shines with its unique combat mechanics, humor, and engaging exploration, but it's too easy and lacks innovation.
Recommended Age: 10+
The simple controls and lighthearted themes make it suitable for children, but younger kids might struggle with the mechanics. However, Brothership has an ESRB rating of E for everyone.