Summary
Following Nintendo’s most recent Direct, it’s clear that the famed company is ramping up for a number of ambitious releases within its tentpole franchises, includingSuper Mario,The Legend of Zelda, andMetroid Prime. Players have good reason to be excited as, true to its reputation and history, Nintendo doesn’t look to be playing things too safe, as evidenced bythe reveal ofMario and Luigi: Brothership.
Mario and Luigi: Brothershipwill center on the titular pair of iconic plumber brothers as they embark on a grand adventure. The game seems to be taking a few notes from the likes ofIt Takes Twowhen it comes to its multi-character mechanics and mini-games, but it’s ostensibly an RPG through-and-through, continuing the tradition of olderMario and Luigigames likePaper JamandDream Team.Brothershipwill be folding genre staples like turn-based combat into an unmistakablySuper Marioworld, bolstered by puzzles, platforming sections, and a colorful cast of side characters.
Mario and Luigi: Brothership Is Joining Other Recent Mario RPGs
Mario and Luigi Is Chasing Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: TTYD
A remake ofSuper Mario RPGlaunched last November and was warmly received as one of thebest first-party Switch games of 2023. Just six months later, Nintendo dropped another highly anticipated remake:Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. This too came as a treat for fans, with theTTYDremake being widely accepted as a faithful recreation of the GameCube classic, blended with enough modern considerations to make it more than worth the asking price, even for those who already experienced the original.
Although theSuper Mario RPGremake is a 2023 release, it’s representative of the approach Nintendo seems to be taking with itsMarioRPGs in 2024 and beyond.
While many players are likely still making their way throughThe Thousand Year Door’s reimagined campaign, Nintendo is plowing ahead withMario and Luigi: Brothership, which stands apart from its two recent predecessors as an original project rather than a remake, re-release, or remaster. With this newMario and Luigigame, Nintendo is demonstrating a clear commitment to the RPG genre within the world ofSuper Mario, and making a number of gamers happy in the process. Indeed, fans ofMarioRPGs are eating well in 2024.
What the Recent Spate of Mario RPGs Says About Nintendo’s Future Endeavors
Nintendo unveilingMario and Luigi: Brothershipas a Fall 2024 releasemay be indicative of the company’s aggressiveness in the RPG space. Remakes and remasters are one thing—and are arguably overdone at this point, especially with big franchises—so the remakes ofTTYDandSuper Mario RPGaren’t the most Earth-shattering surprises, as welcome as they may be. An original release, and one that seems to be taking theMario and Luigifranchise in a new direction, is far riskier, especially since the series in question has never been Nintendo’s hottest-selling commodity.
The fact that Nintendo is willing to take this relative risk shows that there may beeven moreSuper Mariorole-playing gamesin the company’s future. Moreover,Mario and Luigi: Brothershipmay be viewed as proof that Nintendo is remaining aggressive with its use of theMarioIP outside its flagship platforming games, continuously diversifying even within its own RPGs, not allowingPaper Marioto beMario’s only foothold in the genre. It’s also a more direct sign of Nintendo’s planned continuation of theMario and Luigiseries, being its first new entry in over seven years and seemingly pushing the brand forward with a new setting, cast of characters, and gameplay mechanics, possibly buttressed by the power of a home console, which has never been the series' main stage.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
WHERE TO PLAY
All hands on deck for an island-hopping adventure starring Mario and LuigiThe brothers return for a brand-new adventure on the high seas! Set sail with Mario and Luigi on Shipshape Island (part ship, part island) and journey through the vast world of Concordia. Launch out of Shipshape’s cannon to visit, explore, and quest your way through islands that range from tropical rainforests to bustling cities. Meet new friends along the way, like Connie and Snoutlet (definitely not a pig), and encounter familiar faces from the Mushroom Kingdom like Peach and Bowser, who may help—or hinder—you on your journey!You’ll have to rely on Mario and Luigi’s brotherly bond to succeed. Use Bros. Moves to get past obstacles while you explore, and powerful Bros. Attacks in a dynamic twist on turn-based combat. You’ll need every edge this “brothership” will give you to save the day!
