Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a solid enough RPG with all the charm the series is known for despite some peculiar choices. The controls aren’t totally intuitive and there are a few too many tutorials, but the core gameplay and world are still strong.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $70
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
The Mario & Luigi series is known for its charming world and visuals, which put the two Nintendo icons in situations they would otherwise never be in. I previously played Superstar Saga and Bowser’s Inside Story and found them to be quite enjoyable, so I was pretty optimistic going into Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Parts of it live up to the previous titles, while others could use a bit more tinkering.
The main goal of Mario & Luigi: Brothership is to reattach drifting islands to the hub area, Shipshape Island. You visit each smaller island and solve problems for its residents, which makes for enjoyable pacing as you can quickly tackle an island or two depending on how long you plan on playing. The islands are distinct and each full of their own puns and goofy characters, making the world feel robust.
I love the electricity theming of the new characters, with several of them being based on power outlets, cords, and devices. Everyone has thought of how outlets look like faces, so seeing a Mario & Luigi game turn these mundane things into silly characters is a delight. The new characters themselves are strong additions to the series, with many of them having funny quirks that make them stand out amidst the large cast.
One of the new additions to Mario & Luigi: Brothership is Luigi Logic, which has Luigi conjure up an idea to navigate a puzzle on the overworld or to weaken a boss during battle. These are fun moments that provide the game with some extra humor while making Luigi stand out a bit more from Mario, which is important given some of the changes that Brothership has received from previous entries in the series.
The addition of overworld Bros. skills to Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a novel one, as seeing Mario and Luigi turn into a UFO or a ball to navigate gaps and holes is incredibly entertaining. The new Bros. attacks are especially dynamic, giving off a frantic energy that I really loved.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership has some odd control quirks
The strangest change comes from how Luigi is controlled. In previous entries, the A button would be used for Mario’s controls and commands while the B button would be used for Luigi’s. This time around, some of Luigi’s commands are still B, while others – most confusingly, the button to choose his options in battle – are assigned to the A button.
“The visuals are largely excellent, and I think Mario and Luigi look incredible in this art style.“
Even in the overworld, the new Luigi Logic actions are assigned to the L button, further complicating what was a purposely straightforward control scheme. I messed up battle commands more than once as I tried to get used to the new button inputs, which was a bit frustrating. Similarly, I found the timing of counters and dodges, both in battle and the overworld, to be a little off, as I’d often miss or get hit by an enemy when I seemed to be pretty squarely on top of them.
Outside of that, combat in Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a blast, as using the two brothers in tandem is as satisfying as it’s ever been. Using jumps, hammers, and the aforementioned special Bros. attacks are all visually exciting and weighty, and the addition of Luigi Logic in boss fights goes the extra mile in diversifying combat from past entries.
The visuals are largely excellent, and I think Mario and Luigi look incredible in this art style. The colors are vibrant and the environments are diverse and intricate. The enemy designs feel a bit less creative this time around, though the designs of the main antagonists and ally characters are neat to look at thanks to the unique electricity theme.
The Final Word
Mario & Luigi: Brothership has some strange choices that take away from the title, but the gameplay and characters are as snappy and charming as ever. It’s not the best game in the series, but fans of Mario & Luigi likely won’t regret giving Brothership a chance.
MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
