Mario & Luigi: Brothership review on Nintendo Switch

Get ready to dive back into the world of Mario and Luigi with their latest adventure, Mario & Luigi: Brothership on Nintendo Switch. It is the first new game in the series since 2015, and also the first game designed for the big screen! Developed by Acquire and published by Nintendo, this game marks a return to original storytelling for the iconic duo after several years of remakes and spin-offs.

In Brothership, you are transported to the colourful land of Concordia, a place filled with islands and quirky characters. The game features classic turn-based combat and timing-based actions, where you control both brothers as they work together to solve puzzles and restore Concordia to its former glory.

With its charming art style and fun gameplay mechanics, Mario & Luigi: Brothership delivers a delightful experience for both new players and long-time fans. So, if you’re ready for a journey filled with laughs and challenges, let’s dive into the review and see what this game has to offer!

Mario & Luigi: Brothership details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Acquire
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Action, Adventure, Role-playing
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Reconnecting Concordia through humour, adventure and teamwork

Mario & Luigi: Brothership takes place in Concordia, a fragmented world of floating islands. Mario and Luigi are transported there by a mysterious light, discovering a world once held together by the Unity Tree. With the tree’s destruction, Concordia has splintered into numerous islands drifting across five seas. Playing as Mario and Luigi, you work to reconnect these islands and restore the world to its former unity.

Each island has its own charm and challenges. Along the way, you encounter a mix of familiar faces and new foes, including a friendly creature named Snoutlet. The story is lighthearted and filled with classic Mario and Luigi humour. During your journey to reconnect the islands, you must also rescue Princess Peach, surprise, surprise! The story unfolds through funny dialogue and silly situations, making it enjoyable to see how the brothers interact with each other and the world around them.

I especially love Luigi’s role that he plays in Brothership. He often comes up with clever solutions to problems, showcasing his intelligence and creativity. This twist on the typical dynamic between Mario and Luigi adds depth to their relationship. I lost count how many times I was laughing and smiling at Luigi’s silly antics, especially when he falls asleep or gets into funny situations. I really enjoyed Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s story. It’s a memorable journey that is a delightful mix of humour, adventure, and teamwork.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s gameplay combines classic RPG elements with fun platforming challenges. You control both Mario and Luigi, using their unique abilities to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. The game features a turn-based combat system that requires timing and strategy.

Bros Moves have been a core part of the Mario & Luigi series, and Brothership adds new ways to use them. Now, you can mix Bros Moves like Mario’s Power Jump or Luigi’s Whirlwind Spin with Battle Plugs. By combining Bros Moves and the new Battle Plug system you get added effects, like dropping an iron ball on enemies or setting them on fire. Experimentation is key! You’ll want to try different combinations to see what works best against each enemy type.

One of my favourite new gameplay features in Brothership is Luigi Logic, which puts Luigi’s quirky thinking in the spotlight. When a green exclamation point pops up, Luigi gets a random idea—sometimes odd, but always useful. It adds variety to puzzles, letting you approach challenges in creative ways, like using items in unexpected combinations or following unique patterns. My favourite example is when Luigi thinks to transform into a UFO, allowing Mario and Luigi to reach areas they normally couldn’t. This mechanic keeps things fresh by making you think outside the box.

The Cel-Shaded charm of Concordia

Mario & Luigi: Brothership uses the Unreal engine to create a beautiful cel-shaded art style that brings the world of Concordia to life. The cut-scenes in the game look like they are right out of an anime. I would love it if Nintendo used this artstyle to create comic books or even an animated show or film. Each island is uniquely designed, with colourful landscapes and charming details. Every character you meet is animated with their own unique personality, making every interaction enjoyable.

Brothership’s soundtrack is filled with catchy tunes that fit the game’s playful tone. The music changes to match the mood, whether you’re in a lighthearted moment or facing a tough boss. I can’t wait till they add this soundtrack to Nintendo Music! It adds to the overall experience and keeps you immersed in the game. While there isn’t voice acting specifically in Brothership, some characters including Mario and Luigi have gibberish voices. Similar to what is used in other Nintendo games like Animal Crossing.

At first, I thought Mario and Luigi were talking in Italian! It caught me off guard. The more I played, the more I grew to like it. You can hear Luigi’s nervousness and Mario’s enthusiasm come through in a weird but charming way. While I would still prefer the main characters to be fully voiced, this is a unique and interesting approach that ultimately grew on me.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a memorable adventure filled with humour and fun

Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings back the charm of the series while introducing some new elements. The game’s story takes you across five seas filled with humourous dialogue. Luigi’s antics and teamwork with Mario bring plenty of laughs and highlight a fun, memorable adventure filled with classic Mario & Luigi humour. The game looks beautiful, with its colourful cel-shaded art style that makes every island feel unique.

Brothership’s gameplay blends RPG mechanics with platforming. You control both Mario and Luigi, each with unique abilities for solving puzzles and fighting enemies in a turn-based combat system. Bros Moves return, with options to combine attacks using Battle Plugs for extra effects like dropping iron balls or setting enemies on fire. Luigi Logic, which highlights Luigi’s quirky ideas, adds unique approaches to puzzles, like transforming into a UFO to reach new areas.

Pros	Cons
Luigi Logic introduces unique gameplay elements that highlight Luigi’s role in the adventure.	Some gameplay mechanics are overexplained.
The battle system is engaging, offering a mix of strategy and timing-based mechanics.	High amount of random battles can become tedious.
The game provides a variety of puzzles and challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting.
Beautiful animations and a charming art style.

Overall assessment of Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 4/5

Overall rating: 4.2/5 (84%)

Overall, I had a lot of fun with Mario & Luigi: Brothership. While my favourite game in the series is still Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Brothership is a solid entry. If you’re looking for a light-hearted adventure filled with humour, charm, and unique gameplay on Nintendo Switch, Brothership is the right game for you.

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