If you’ve been out of the loop and are looking for a Mario RPG to play, you may want to hold off on Mario & Luigi: Brothership. While Nintendo has released some fantastic remakes of classic Mario RPG games in the past year, Brothership falls short of expectations. The game, while featuring action-packed turn-based battles, lacks the magic of its predecessors and is plagued by issues like overly chatty dialogue, hand-holding tutorials, and boring fetch quests.
The game follows Mario and Luigi as they sail a giant island-ship hybrid to explore new islands. While the concept sounds exciting, the execution is lackluster, with navigation feeling uninspired and results feeling meaningless. The game seems to be targeted towards a younger audience, with tutorials and dialogue constantly holding your hand and explaining everything in detail.
The humor and story in Brothership also miss the mark, with repetitive jokes and unoriginal writing. The characters and environments lack depth, and the game fails to create a sense of attachment to the cast. Additionally, the game’s performance on the Switch leaves much to be desired, with framerate issues during exploration that can be distracting and impact gameplay.
One of the few bright spots in Brothership is its combat system, which is engaging and challenging. The game introduces Battle Plugs, equippable modifiers that add a strategic element to battles. However, even the combat can feel repetitive towards the end of the game, as the final act drags on without adding much substance.
Overall, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a disappointing entry in the Mario RPG series. While the combat is a standout feature, the game falls short in terms of story, humor, character development, and performance. Fans of the series may find some enjoyment in the game, but it fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessors. If you’re looking for a Mario RPG to play, you may want to explore other options before diving into Brothership.
