What parents need to know
After a seven-year absence, brothers Mario and Luigi are back in a new role-playing game in the franchise that bears their name, Mario & Luigi: Brothership (The Sibling Epic in France). You play as the two plumbers as they are transported to the world of Connexia. This world has a particularity; if it was once a united continent, Unicéa, a catastrophe has split it into a host of drifting islands. Mario and Luigi come to the aid of Amperia, a “Volticulturist” who has given herself the mission of attaching the islands to her ship, the Navisthme, to unite Unicea again. Except that during their adventures, our heroes rub shoulders with Voltface and his Breaker Brigade, in addition to a well-known enemy of plumbers… Mario and Luigi: Brothership largely follows the codes of the other games in the franchise, that is to say that it is a turn-based role-playing game rather than a platform game as is generally associated with Nintendo’s mascot. Also as in other titles in the franchise, turn-based battles have a real-time element; You have to press buttons at the right time to deal more damage to enemies, or to avoid enemy attacks. Some attacks also require us to perform other actions in real-time with the controller. The capture system is new in this installment of Mario & Luigi. By collecting ampoleons that are hidden in the environments you explore, you can make holds that give you advantages in combat (an extra attack, more money when you defeat an enemy, spike balls that fall on enemies, and much more). The use of these plugs is limited; After a certain number of uses, they should be allowed to recharge. In addition, depending on the combination of shots activated simultaneously, additional effects may be added. Once again, the world we explore is full of secrets and we must use the abilities of the two brothers to unravel the mystery. The different islands are also covered with puzzles that will force us to rack our brains, and inhabitants with quests to offer us.
This game was offered to us for review purposes, but that doesn’t influence our opinion.
Details
Level of experience required
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Evaluation
Mario & Luigi is a family game. Apart from very cartoonish violence (we hit enemies with a hammer and disappear in a shower of stars), nothing to report.
None.
You will have to read because all the characters express themselves in gibberish. On the other hand, the level of vocabulary remains very accessible.
The two brothers get out of it by collaborating. They are fighting an enemy who wants to isolate people, and the lesson is that we are stronger together and that it is better to talk to friends and family.
The game is not very difficult, but some of the brothers’ special attacks require a good level of skill with the controller.
No additional paid content. The lifespan of the title seems to us to amply justify the price.
Local game modes
There is a single-player story mode.
Online Game Modes
None.
Expansions/Add-ons (DLC)
None at this time.
Our opinion
Is this return of the Mario and Luigi franchise after almost a decade (and with a new developer) successful? In our opinion, yes, absolutely, despite a few ugly little flaws. Our first disappointment is at the level of the story. The dialogues are funny, especially enhanced by the very Quebecois translation if your system is set to “French (Canada)”. On the other hand, the characters who populate this adventure are rather ordinary. It is highly doubtful that the public will remember Amperia or the people of Connexia in a few years’ time. But above all, the scenario itself is not captivating. Role-playing games starring Nintendo’s plumbers sometimes hide nice surprises in terms of the storyline, but not here. The adventure quickly became worldly; A villain with unexplained motives for 90% of the game stands in our way, and we outsmart him by connecting one island after another to our ship. Few twists and turns turn the adventure upside down, and when there are, they are usually solved by snapping your fingers. Too bad. On the other hand, where Mario & Luigi: Brothership shines is in terms of gameplay. The fights are always exciting, even after our thousandth fight. The enemies and their attacks are varied, which keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout the adventure. Plus, our list of attacks gradually grows as the adventure progresses, and the grip system adds a welcome layer of depth to the fights. It is also a renewed pleasure to explore the different environments. The puzzles, although generally very easy (the game is clearly aimed at a younger audience) are pleasant to solve. The powers of the two brothers also made us smile. For example, the first power you unlock is the UFO power, in which the two brothers stand in a waltz position, before starting to spin so fast that they hover, taking on the appearance of a flying jerk. Funny. Some players lament that we don’t control Luigi as directly as in previous adventures. Indeed, even if he can be asked to perform certain actions directly, he usually follows Mario on his own. Even if we understand that the disappearance of this mechanic takes away some depth, we didn’t really miss this mechanic since the game does not lack opportunities to put Luigi in collaboration. We must also mention the graphics and animations of Mario & Luigi: Brothership. The title is beautifully animated. The developers have ventured into a more stylized version of the two plumbers, a little more manga-esque, and this style suits the Mario universe perfectly. The animations are complex, impressive, and give a huge personality to our protagonists. You wouldn’t have thought that you couldn’t get even more attached to Luigi, but Brothership has succeeded in this tour de force. If you’re looking for an exciting story, Mario & Luigi: Brothership may not be for you.
But if you’re looking for a game with a combat system that you can’t get enough of, and with a visual style brimming with personality, then you can’t go wrong!
