Mario & Luigi: Brothership Review

Missed Opportunities in Gameplay and Storytelling

Mario & Luigi: Brothership attempts to revive the beloved Mario & Luigi series but fails to recapture the magic of its predecessors. The game’s exploration, where Mario and Luigi sail between islands, lacks excitement and depth. Navigation is tedious, and the sense of discovery is entirely missing, leaving players with a sense of monotony rather than adventure. This, combined with hand-holding mechanics aimed at younger audiences, makes the experience feel overly simplistic, especially for long-time fans of the series.

Repetitive Dialogue and Humor

Another key issue is the excessive and repetitive dialogue. The game constantly interrupts the action to explain objectives, with lengthy explanations from characters like Snoutlet. The humor, intended to lighten the mood, falls flat with forced puns and awkward jokes that never evolve over the 34-hour runtime. While the game attempts to deliver a story about friendship and connection, it lacks originality, leaving the characters and plot unmemorable compared to previous Mario RPGs.

Combat Shines, but Luigi’s Role Is Weakened

While Brothership’s turn-based combat stands out as one of the game’s stronger elements, Luigi’s role feels disconnected from past games. The dynamic between Mario and Luigi, where they work together to solve puzzles, is diminished. Luigi often feels like a background character, with automatic actions taking away from the interactivity. However, the boss battles are a highlight, offering challenging encounters that reward strategic thinking. The introduction of Battle Plugs adds a layer of customization to combat, making it one of the few areas of the game that feels fresh and exciting. Despite these bright spots, technical issues and a lack of innovation make it hard to fully recommend Brothership.