Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Brothership keeps the series' spirit alive with smart battles and a funny story.

Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood Connection is one of the most complete games of 2024 that you can enjoy on Nintendo Switch. Although it has an interesting variety of content beyond the story, the main thing that stands out is the quality of the content, offering entertainment in abundance. Those who love the RPG genre will feel how the game hooks them, inviting them to continue constantly to reach the highest possible levels. If you are looking for an entertaining story, with minigames, challenges, and charismatic characters, this is the perfect game that will fulfill everything I mention. Nintendo once again hits it off through a wonderful installment of the Mario franchise.

With so many bespoke moments for each little mini-story, complete with unique minigames and interesting character arcs, Brothership is bursting at the seams with fun things to do.

Brothership is everything you knew about the series taken to the next level. If you like RPGs with a great sense of humour, you shouldn’t miss it.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership delivers yet another solid Mario RPG outing. Riding high on waves of clever writing, charming humour, engaging exploration, and addictive combat, this is an odyssey well worth undertaking.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the comeback that this franchise deserves, with stunning visuals, a great soundtrack, and smooth gameplay. Aside from minor issues with monster variety and repetitive battles, it’s highly recommended for both new players and returning fans.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an adventure RPG for Nintendo Switch that stands out for its snappy storytelling, charismatic characters and charming humour. Players explore different islands, solve puzzles and engage in turn-based combat that requires good timing.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is such a great return for the beloved series. Acquire understood what makes this king of games so special and also, found elements to make them better. Nintendo having another extraordinary year.

Mario & Luigi Brothership has made it to the top of my favorite Mario RPGs, a feat that I never thought would be achieved. Everything is constantly entertaining throughout the experience, from the creative animations to the energetic sound effects and wonderful roulette of activities; the game provides a revolving door of engaging fun at every step.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the biggest and most ambitious game from the franchise, and it was worth the wait. It maintains the soul of the Mario & Luigi games and it also adds a lot of interesting things that makes it a complete and sublime experience. It can be the beginning of a new and bright future for the brothers.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership brings together the best elements of the previous titles in the crumbling Concordia. It plays great, is again sharply written and looks beautiful. When fighting, it is mainly the exciting boss battles that stay with you, partly due to the extra layer of strategy that the new Battle Plugs bring with them. But it is the characters that you meet along the way that make Brothership an unexpectedly emotional experience.

A game geared towards younger players, but that doesn't mean that hardcore RPG fans should necessarily ignore it: with a volcanic dose of inventiveness that will make you laugh more than once and an enchanting artistic direction, the game is the perfect bedtime story to end the Switch's extraordinary career with a bang.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an exceptional adventure that’s just as much about the journey as it is the destination. Whether you’re new to the series or have played every Mario & Luigi game up to this point, the captivating narrative with well-written and comedic characters is sure to keep you thoroughly engaged as you travel from island to island to help reconnect the land of Concordia. From the brain-stimulating puzzles to the extensive RPG battle mechanics, there is a boatload of fun to be had around every turn.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an absolute delight, all told. Strong themes and art direction buoy a light, well-meaning narrative that is further enhanced by dynamic combat, and a real sense of cohesion in overall game design. The Mario & Luigi franchise has a daunting legacy. Acquire has crafted a tale that more than lives up to it.

Mario has ventured to massive worlds before. He's even surfed the cosmos across different galaxies. Rarely has a world in any of his games felt this connected. Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a game about building bonds, the kind that Mario shares with his cherished brother.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings fresh humor and plenty of creativity to this somewhat forgotten RPG series, with a combat system that’s fun and interactive. Exploring the world of Concordia offers a true sense of adventure and a uniquely charming Nintendo experience that many will enjoy, though the game’s pacing and rhythmic battles may not appeal to everyone.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the grand return of the franchise that so many fans have been waiting for. The game brings together everything that made the series fun, and enhances it with gorgeous graphics, a fun cast of characters, and addictive, action-packed turn-based combat.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership takes this long-running RPG series to new heights in a high-seas adventure that's packed full of top-notch combat, inventive variety, a positive and thoughtful story, and lots signature comedy from the dynamic duo themselves. This is a big game, packed full of surprises and fun, and the all-new Battle Plug system, alongside lots of flashy specials, a fittingly emotive art-style, and a world that brimming with puzzles and challenges, make for a must-play in our book.

It takes a while, but when The Brothership is in full swing, it is an excellent action RPG after all these years: exploration, arcade elements, tactical strategy and the mix of gameplay is top-notch. We are so glad that the Switch has its entry in the series.

This is the first Mario & Luigi on Switch and it very much feels like the series’ first big-budget home console entry. It's so much bigger than any of the older games, not just in terms of play time, but in terms of ideas too. The only bad thing about Brothership is that it sets the bar so high there’s no going back to the originals now.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is a joy to play, as well as an excellent entry in the Mario & Luigi series. Even as the Switch era is sailing towards new waters, it is a real treat to see them release such amazing games. I hope it gets all the attention it deserves in spite of being released on the tail end of the Switch's lifespan. If you haven't had the opportunity to play a game from the Mario & Luigi series, this is as good a jumping-in point as any, and this is a must-own for long-term fans of any of the Mario RPG entries.

Mario & Luigi: Charged Brothers enriches the already rich Nintendo Switch offering with an adventure that has its roots in the brand's role-playing tradition, but manages to modernize it in practically every aspect. Despite some uncertainties on the technical side and an unbalanced level of challenge, this is a great event for all Mario Brothers fans that could also be a great surprise for those simply looking for a role-playing game to spend a few dozen hours of lighthearted fun.

Nintendo has made the return of Mario & Luigi in Brothership the most complete and entertaining entry in the series, blending strategic gameplay with immersive exploration in a new world. Although its story may feel a bit childish, its adaptation to Switch and the complexity of its mechanics make it a very solid and enjoyable RPG experience.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a delightful return for the beloved series, with deep gameplay and vibrant worlds that make it a must-have on Nintendo Switch, despite a few minor design shortcomings.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a great combination of Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario in a unique floating island world. Although it is a solo game, the RPG succeeds in preventing an inimitable co-op-like experience with a high variety in combat, puzzles and skill based challenges. Just one of the best Switch games in 2024 and a must have for any Mario fan.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a fantastic adventure that prioritizes a top level combat.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a colorful and exuberant new entry in the RPG series. It offers dynamic and fun combat, some decent humor, and a surprising amount of replay value in branching choices and side quests. Despite that, there are some poorly implemented features, such as the Battle Plugs and Power Tap, as well as the sometimes glacial pacing of the adventure. Still, fans of turn-based RPGs will absolutely find something worthwhile in this Switch exclusive.

Despite a few stumbles, Mario & Luigi: Brothership manages to deliver a comeback worthy of the franchise. The game strikes a balance between fun and challenge, and it's a great duo job to control Mario and Luigi at the right time to progress through obstacles and face enemies in an exciting combat system.

After a long time, the brothers from Nintendo's original family are back in Mario and Luigi: Brothership, bringing a colorful world, solid combat mechanics, and a fun gaming experience. Along with many dad jokes that might make you laugh, it may not be the best game in the series, but it has all the elements to have a very entertaining time.

Part of what makes Mario & Luigi: The Brothership compelling is the momentary rush of joining each island to create a power grid. There are unapologetic puns galore, and leveling up is all about learning patterns.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership is an excellent entry in the RPG franchise. It's beautifully crafted, colorful and lively, but also fun and carefully balanced around an interactive combat system.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is like a perfect representation of the Bros themselves: even though one might trip up here and there, everything works so well together that it makes it an unforgettable experience.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership resurrects a long-dead franchise from the grave, and we’re so glad Nintendo decided to give this series another chance. It’s a great game, although our biggest gripe can be summed up as ‘…but it takes a while to get really good’. The story starts off a bit shaky, but gets a lot better after a certain point. The islands are very unique and the level design is great, but the early islands are a bit small and limited compared to the later locations. The combat is also incredibly addictive, although you’ll have to wait a while before you unlock the most fun and in-depth features. Don’t let that spoil your fun, though, because Mario & Luigi: Brothership is definitely worth the time, for both newcomers and old fans. One tip: make sure you’re ready to fire your cannon in time when you sail past an island, because having to wait for your ‘Sail Island’ to sail an extra lap before you can fire again is quite annoying.

Mario & Luigi Brothership feels like the series never left. AlphaDream may no longer be at the helm, but Acquire respectfully takes up the mantle. The lighthearted humor, interesting characters, world-building, and recognizable gameplay all feel as familiar as ever. Yet, despite the enjoyment I had throughout the lengthy storyline, the poor performance leaves a bitter aftertaste that will stay with me.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is one of many unique video-game series that features beloved Nintendo characters making a strong comeback featuring a super fun and humorous adventure.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership was on the verge of greatness, and it was largely due to some content balancing flaws that prevented the game from firing on all cylinders.

Faithful to the spirit of previous installments and with some great ideas to keep it afloat, Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood Connection is a game that sails the ocean of RPGs with fun and variety as its flag.

The game has bit of a slow start, but despite this, I thought the pacing was mostly good, especially compared to Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. Despite a few other issues like the frame rate and some mild frustration with muscle memory, Brothership is one of the better games in the series. It’s fun, it’s engaging, it’s creative, and it’s even full of heart. It may not be as laugh-out-loud funny as prior games, but for the first time, this game went for an overarching theme and a good but basic message of bonds and connections. It certainly warmed my heart. If Acquire were to continue developing Mario & Luigi games, I’d say it’s in good hands.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a fun addition to the series and for the Switch. It has fun gameplay and great humour, but feels repetitive at times and quite long.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is packed with well-written humour, clever puzzles, and excellent level design. Though it's not without issues, such as limited enemy variety and long loading times, its charm and fun factor are undeniable.

Mario & Luigi – Brothership captures Nintendo's signature charm with vibrant graphics and a feel-good atmosphere. While it doesn’t revolutionize the RPG genre, it delivers a well-paced adventure, blending combat, puzzles, and exploration into an enjoyable experience lasting 35-40 hours.

A little too conservative and talkative here and there, but a thoroughly fun comeback with smartly amended combat mechanics and a backpack full of nonsense.

A familiar journey into an alternative world, with established mechanics and new developments that make for an enjoyable and challenging experience.

In a year that has given us not one but three Mario-themed RPGs, I was ready to be underwhelmed by Brothership. Yet thanks to captivating combat, varied platforming and well-judged difficulty, Brothership not only lives up to my childhood nostalgia for this series, but improves upon it. It is an inviting serving of sun-soaked delight at the beginning of a gloomy November.

Mario & Luigi Borthership is a surprise on Nintendo Switch. This new opus brings back, not without brio, a license dear to the hearts of fans. The change of studio behind the scenes is somewhat noticeable, particularly in terms of visual harmony. However, Acquire pulls it off very well, appropriating a formula that it manages to refine in many respects. The story may not be the most memorable in the series, but the experience is even funnier and more intense than before. While old-time fans will easily find their way back, we can only hope that this episode will win over a new audience, in the hope that we won't have to wait another ten years for a new opus to see the light of day.

Nintendo games are at their best when they’re approachable and polished to a sheen, and Mario & Luigi Brothership is great at both of these. This is a sizeable RPG that contextualizes classic turn-based mechanics in a platformer framework. This isn’t anything new, but it shows that this current run of Mario RPG remakes wasn’t a fluke. The mechanics are strong, and even as someone who doesn’t usually like RPGs like this, I had a pretty great time. Brothership might be a bit on the longer side, but I think this is a fantastic game to give to a younger gamer looking to understand the appeal of the genre. There’s a ton of personality on display that I think will make people of any age smile, and the systems are flexible enough to keep most of your time enjoyable.

The game plays well enough, just like the Paper Marios before, with a near top-down viewpoint for the puzzle sections. And the visual style is a little different, more cartoony than many of the recent Mario efforts. The brothers are as cute together as ever and their joint fighting is a highlight.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a silly and surprisingly challenging RPG with a unique world traversal mechanic and a superb variety of puzzles. However, the unavoidable enemies and lengthy battles might put off folks who are looking for a more casual affair.

It's a decent sequel for everyone who enjoys the unique quirks of Mario & Luigi.

Although the formula is bordering over-familiar at this point, it’s been long enough between entries that this return to the Mario & Luigi series is incredibly welcome. It manages to feel fresh enough with interesting new wrinkles that play on this new world and story’s overall themes, and its obsession with fraternal bonds results in probably my favourite take on the Bros. to date.

With tight battle mechanics, engaging puzzles, and new characters that become more endearing as the story goes on, Mario & Luigi: Brothership has all the hallmarks of a great RPG. It’s still no Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, but it’s not far off.

Brothership is a fun time, but has frustrating moments. It's not an easy recommendation like Paper Mario, but you'll have a good time nonetheless.

Despite a few lurches here and there and some so-so exploration, Mario & Luigi Brothership offers an enjoyable voyage with smooth sailing, and a punderful script that brings the laughs. It has a new developer and an extra dimension, but the same dedication to humor and brotherly love.

A relatively minor instalment, but in a series this magical, that's still good news.

For those who do decide to delve in and grind to the end, Brothership has a message about how we’re all in this together. And seeing the classic brothers get up to all sorts of creative hijinks is always a fun nostalgia trip, providing just enough cuteness to see this journey through.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the plumbers' first RPG outing on the Nintendo Switch, and it's an adorable and merry high-seas adventure filled with side quests.

While Mario & Luigi: Brothership doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s a solid RPG with fun mechanics and lovable characters. New additions like Luigi Logic and Plugs make for satisfying combat, while overworld exploration benefits from the new Bros Moves and ample puzzles with a decent amount of variety. However, the game does suffer from what is emerging as the Nintendo Switch generational curse; frame rate drops, as well as some pacing issues in the late game.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is a triumphant return for the series, maintaining the spirit and action-oriented platforming of its predecessors, coupled with fantastic exploration and satisfying battle mechanics.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a role-playing game with a compelling combat system, beautiful graphics, and catchy melodies. While the blanketing narrative comes off as assertively obnoxious with interminable conversations mixed with a tiresomely obtuse progressive system, the flow of the game and everything in between is just peachy.

A fantastic role-playing game with fun fights and great story, but the gameplay becomes a test of patience.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership falls into that odd zone of being fine but not exceptional. I think it's comfortably the third best Mario & Luigi game, but it's a distant third and a far cry from the franchise's heights. I had a lot of fun, and I don't regret playing it, but it lacks that certain special something that made the first and third games in the franchise really shine. It's still a fun RPG adventure with some fantastic combat, but it's the weakest of all the Mario RPGs released this year.

At the end of the day, Mario and Luigi: Brothership has plenty of great elements to it that are also trapped behind a game that just wants to take its time and squeeze as much juice out of itself as it can.

Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood is a solid game that brings humor and classic gameplay to the saga's fans. It is an entertaining option, even though it takes a while to show off its best features, but it is still a relaxing and captivating game with a very attracting visual.

Friendly as it may be, Mario & Luigi Brothership will have a hard time making an impression. Overly talkative and riddled with technical problems ranging from long loading times to poor framerate, Acquire's title never really gets off the ground. What's left is gameplay with fun combat and a sibling cast that's more animated than ever, helping to sweeten the trip to Connexia.

Although the first few hours of gameplay were fun, Mario & Luigi: Brothership was a slightly disappointing experience. Despite good art direction and many exciting mechanics, especially the combat system, the gameplay seemed too repetitive and not up to the standards of other recent RPGs.

So is Mario & Luigi: Brothership a must-have? Definitely. But only if you like turn-based battles and have the patience of a saint. If you want to get straight into the action, deep puzzles and that sort of thing, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is not for you. But us? Well, we recommend it. Teamwork makes the dream work!

This game suffers when subjected to a reviewer’s brutal pacing. Maybe if I hadn’t been racing towards the finish line, the endless tiny loading screens wouldn’t have bothered me as much. I was also forced to discard a lot of the side content. It’s not super compelling stuff, but the act of completing it can be pretty relaxing. Searching for Sprite Bulbs scratches that completionist itch in a big way. Plus, the game is beautiful and the battles are a lot of fun. I still wish the puzzles weren’t so frustrating for me. But again, they benefit from more patience than I could spare. My momentum while playing felt wobbly and uneven, but this is still a well-crafted game. Perhaps your time (if you can offer more of it than me) will be well-spent playing Mario & Luigi: Brothership.

I'm incredibly glad that Brothership was made, and despite its unimpressive beginning, I don't regret a single moment spent with the title (apart from the optional volleyball minigame on the first ocean, but I'm guilty of that suffering myself). I wish interested readers a happy trip to Concordia and I hope you finish the first sea as soon as possible.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership has its heart in the right place and delights with its combat and charme. But a flood of tutorials and noticable pacing-problems are weighing down the fun.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the classic Mario & Luigi experience fans have longed for since Bowser's Inside Story. While there are significant pacing issues that really drag down the first half, an incredibly intriguing second half and a simple, engaging battle system help keep Brothership on course.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings back one of the plumbers’ more underappreciated series, offering plenty of visual pizazz, an impressive array of inventive maps, and a solid amount of RPG depth. It’s not a perfect relaunch, as Brothership’s writing lacks the snap of the best entries in the series and some unfortunate padding results in a game that arguably overstays its welcome, but overall, those still on board the aging Good Ship Switch ought to find this a charming-enough twilight cruise.

When the wind is in the sails, Mario and Luigi: Brothership is a particularly nice adventure with a wonderful holiday feeling. Unfortunately, developer Acquire regularly changes the wind, causing the pleasure trip to come to a standstill. Unnecessarily much dialogue and bad pacing prove to be heavy anchors, which meant that I could never really hang on to the holiday feeling for long.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is far from the duo's best RPG outing, but that's not to say it is a bad one. The combat is engaging enough to remain entertaining throughout the 40+ hour adventure, even as it crawls along against the tide.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an experience that, although it repeats itself a lot at times, is quite fun. It manages to overcome some of the obstacles that made this franchise fail, but it also stumbles at times over the same stones. It's not a bad return for the franchise, but it also falls in the middle of other great RPG experiences even for the same character.

There's a great 20-hour romp to be had in Brothership, but you may have to give it a bit of a wiggle to find it. [Issue#405, p.110]

Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood is ultimately a very cute game, even if there are some annoying dialogues along the way and unexciting rewards for exploration. It's not exactly a new standard compared to its predecessors in the series, but it still manages to provide an excellent and fun combat system that makes it a not-so-bad experience.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership shines with its unique setting, imaginative battles, and the charm of its iconic plumber duo. While it lacks deeper RPG mechanics and suffers from some technical hiccups, it provides plenty of fun through vibrant island locales and inventive gameplay. The story occasionally loses momentum, but it still takes you on an enjoyable journey, albeit without any major surprises.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an exciting, albeit imperfect adventure that brings the Mario Bros. to a whole new world. There is plenty to see and do and it is well worth taking the time to slow down and immerse yourself in this brand new adventure.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is the biggest and boldest the series has ever been, with some novel battle mechanics and colorful presentation. However, an overstuffed runtime and exhausting pacing severely dilute the experience in both narrative and gameplay. Had Brothership been a snappier, more compact entry, it could have been one of the best in the series, but as it is, we're left with an enjoyable game that overstays its welcome once again.

In short, it was a pleasure to get to know and revisit the different islands of Concordia, but I wasn't enamoured with its inhabitants, too many plug heads and not enough memorable creatures. In terms of new characters, the highlight goes to Concordia's special forces, but the truth is that Mario & Luigi: Brothership shines most brightly when it uses a few powders from the mushroom kingdom. I'm not sure I could do without them, at least not until the combat starts to get really challenging and the interesting choices multiply, a good ten hours into the adventure.

It took us some real adjustment to accept Mario & Luigi: Brothership for what it is, but once you do, there’s genuine enjoyment to be found here. You have to learn to follow its pace and accept its shortcomings, because it won’t change its ways and blossom into a top-tier Mario RPG. Still, the ride will be worth it for some to experience its bright points.

With Mario & Luigi: The Brotherhood of the Legend, it's easy to see that Nintendo wants to offer the return of a franchise appreciated by fans without getting too wet. We find an effective combat system, still as exhilarating thanks to its modernization in both substance and form. Conversely, the story told and the illustrated environments lack a strong identity: this is also how the Mario and Luigi games have been able to shine. This overly smooth side nevertheless allows a wide audience to get into the swing of things, especially with the treatment (whether for the writing or the gameplay) of Luigi. But everyone will come up against a sea voyage shaken by multiple interruptions and repetitions. Like Ulysses in the Odyssey, Mario and Luigi arrive safely, not without a few scars. Like the Greek hero, they will need a few more exploits to hope to enter the legend once again.

Even with these negatives, however, this is a game that I truly loved playing. The story, fun abilities and skills, the citizens of Concordia, and more all came together to make this a really fun experience. Mario and Luigi are both perfectly portrayed, with Luigi having more of a chance to be a hero than he often gets, and Princess Peach is as much a symbol of charm and heroism as ever. I truly hope that Mario & Luigi: Brothership will serve to usher in many more games in this series in the future.

A welcome return for the Mario & Luigi franchise, that proves to be a more involved role-player than expected, even if it lacks the consistent humour and weird gameplay flourishes of previous games.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a welcome return for the other Mario RPG series, taking a more straightforward, less gimmicky approach to help bring new players aboard. The rhythm of the brothers in combat is pleasingly engaging, as ever, and there's a solid adventure here, but it's just lacking that spark to match the very best in the series.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is undeniably endearing, learning from other media forms to present an uplifting adventure with lovable protagonists. With too much dialogue and backtracking implemented within the game’s design, it can run at a pace that feels slow, ballooning what should be a fun jaunt into an overly long adventure. There’s room for further fine-tuning of ideas, meaning Brothership isn’t the flawless seafaring journey we wanted. Though it’s also far from a shipwreck with incredible charm and gameplay offerings carrying this title across picturesque waters.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership just lacks some of the magic, the flavour, and the secrets those games bring, it drags considerably, and it gets a tad too dreary a tad too often. That being said, kids love it, it's good to see the return of a series many thought dead, and it does set the foundations for a new branch that can feel different to the Paper games going forward.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership has you covered if—and only if—Mario RPG mechanics are your favorite thing and you want the largest mass of them yet. If they aren’t, you’re probably going to struggle to get over the initial five-hour hump before the game truly begins. While I didn’t outright hate most of my time with the game, would I have even seen it through to its conclusion if I weren’t reviewing it, even as a fan of Mario RPGs who wants to see Nintendo make more? Possibly not. Perhaps the best thing to do about Mario & Luigi: Brothership is to hope Nintendo realizes the missteps here and has the resolve to try their hand at the franchise once more instead of abandoning it again.

Mario & Luigi Brothership is definitely ambitious, but the structure of the game is not well suited to the sluggish feeling everything has. Despite being about half the length of some other modern RPGs, it doesn’t have the depth to match. A few good gags and some touching character moments doesn’t make the entire experience fulfilling. What’s here is solid enough but it’s death by a thousand cuts. Every cool or fascinating thing has some kind of asterisk to go with it. Battles are fun but they take forever to finish, characters are unique but dialogue is often belabored, Battle Plugs are interesting but take way too long to recharge. There’s a lot to like here, but just as many things if not more to dislike, leaving the game okay but frustrating.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings a nostalgic return to the beloved RPG series with engaging combat, charming presentation, and heartfelt sibling dynamics. However, its lackluster story, forgettable characters, and technical hiccups hold it back from being a true masterpiece. While it has moments of fun and familiarity, it struggles to stand out in a year brimming with excellent Mario RPG releases.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership takes far too long to get to the point, and the journey to get there isn’t nearly as interesting as it needs to be to make it feel worthwhile. Again, there are some great ideas here, and the game looks amazing, but unless you want your hand held for dozens upon dozens of hours, you’ll probably find yourself a little let down by it all.

Saved by its battles, the brotherly epic somewhat usurps its quality - coming closer to a poorly conceived sequel than a chanson de gestes. Overly directed and choppy, it does no credit to a canon that has often been so much better.

The detailed art style looks gorgeous in handheld mode but forces the Switch to struggle noticeably on a big screen when it’s pushing more pixels. Shackled by the tedious storytelling and tame dialogue, Mario and Luigi feel like the relatives you should visit more but who are frequently annoying when you meet them.

By Mario RPG standards, this is not one of the better ones, particularly when it comes to the pacing, design, and story. What saves Mario & Luigi: Brothership from sinking completely is the strategically engaging and fun battle system, delightful animations that go hand-in-hand with the cartoony art style, and the excellent soundtrack. Other gameplay ideas miss their target, and things become a drag far too quickly.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership could have been great, but the wonderful presentation and level design can't save it from ceaseless conversations and the repetitive combat.

That length may have been born from a desire to create a big, meaty RPG, but in the end, it mostly serves to accentuate the simplicity in all aspects. Stretched over so many hours, exploration becomes dull, combat feels repetitive, and the story can't sustain itself. Mario & Luigi: Brothership is well made and has some great ideas, but in breaking free of its handheld limitations, it becomes too ambitious for its own good.

Eventually, all of its problems start to overshadow its successes and they begin to fester. What would be a joyful experience gets washed away in a sea of grey leaving nothing to connect with.

Considering the expectations that come with being a Mario role-playing game, Brothership is largely a disappointment.

Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood succeeds at creating a loyal sequel to the previous installments in the franchise, but fails to successfully bring that franchise to the level of quality synonymous with Nintendo's console games. Slow progression, major quality-of-life issues and unbearably-boring lengths of dialogue and gameplay heavily bog down this fun and lighthearted turn-based RPG, with the final product ending up as a 50-50 split of soul-sucking boredom and family-friendly fun.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an incredibly disappointing return for an RPG series I’ve always loved. Apart from the combat, it fundamentally misunderstands its own past success, and completely fumbles Luigi’s role in puzzle-solving and exploration by making him more of a pain than a partner. The story is simplistic and unoriginal, its attempts at humor fall flat, and the overly chatty writing holds your hand to a ridiculous degree. It’s not a total disaster, as the excellent, flashy turn-based battles are some of the best this series has ever had – but even those somehow manage to wear thin as the repetitive final act crawls across the finish line of this roughly 34-hour campaign, which suffers from surprisingly bad performance issues nearly the entire time. The Switch has been home to many triumphant revivals for Nintendo, but the Mario & Luigi series has sadly missed the boat.