If there was ever a series that brings back memories of being on vacation, it’s the Mario and Luigi role-playing games. I vividly recall playing on my Game Boy Advance in 2003, guiding my plumbers through exciting battles while lounging in the sun. Brothership is the first new game in the series in nearly a decade, and it brings a lively, seafaring adventure to the bright screen of the Nintendo Switch.
In a typical Mario storyline, our heroes are transported from the Mushroom Kingdom through a giant portal and find themselves stranded in the oceanic world of Concordia. The scenery is absolutely stunning. As you explore the vibrant, cel-shaded islands, you can almost feel the ocean breeze. The beautiful bloom lighting effect, reminiscent of Wind Waker HD, gives this cheerful adventure a sun-kissed, washed-out feel.
But before they can relax, the brothers learn that Concordia’s once united archipelago has fractured, and it’s up to them to take control of the floating Shipshape Island and sail around reconnecting the islands. So much for a relaxing holiday.
The combat in Brothership is a delightful experience, making the simple timed-button-presses of attacks, jumps, hammer blows, and counters much more engaging than expected. Unlike other games where turn-based battles can become tedious, Brothership’s combat is a lively dance, introducing new ideas, abilities, and flashy attack modifiers with enthusiasm.
However, reaching the best part of the battles requires patience. At the beginning of the game, Mario and Luigi lack these fantastic tools, and you’ll find yourself skipping through a lot of text. This series is known for bombarding players with text, but the early hours of Brothership feel particularly overwhelming. Before the brothers can fully explore the land, they are bombarded by endless conversations with the Concordians – a race of talkative anthropomorphic acorns. While the Paper Mario games excel in clever puns, the humor here feels lacking, and there’s no voice acting to liven up the dialogue.
A delightful experience… Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Photograph: Nintendo
Fortunately, Brothership picks up speed as you unite warring nations of ice and flame, win island-wide dance-offs, solve gloomy detective mysteries, and even join a group of teenage pirates. The inhabitants of each island you save flock to your ship-island, bringing new technology and equipment, and over time, you may even develop a fondness for these annoying acorns. The fantastic soundtrack certainly adds to the experience: an upbeat, nautical score filled with horns and sea-shanty accordions.
As you sail the seas, you’ll come across optional puzzle-filled islands, from market towns inspired by the Middle East to sandy dunes teeming with sand sharks. Boss fights are another highlight, set in dimly lit dungeons that provide a stark contrast to the sunny locales above. Finally, Luigi gets the recognition he deserves, using his logic to find collectibles, solve puzzles, and come up with clever strategies to defeat bosses. All of this is presented with a comedic flair: Brothership is a whimsical RPG that offers plenty of fun.
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In a year that has given us not one but three Mario-themed RPGs, I was prepared to be disappointed by Brothership. However, thanks to its captivating combat, diverse platforming, and well-balanced difficulty, Brothership not only lives up to my childhood nostalgia for the series but surpasses it. It offers a delightful serving of sun-soaked joy at the beginning of a gloomy November.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership is set to be released on November 7th for £49.99