Review: Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
The DS follow up to the successful Superstar Saga, Mario & Luigi marks the fifth RPG staring Mario, this time doubly. The story starts in the past, when Mario, Luigi and Peach are only toddlers. Shroobs, evil alien versions of the toads, invade the Mushroom Kingdom. In the present, Peach test drives E Gadd's (someone who I wished never appeared in any other game other then Luigi's Mansion) time machine, unknowingly porting directly to the invaded Kingdom. The elder Marios now partner up with their young selves to ward off the invasion and (once again, for the millionth time) save the Princess.
Graphics: Almost everything is done in 2D. The art direction is actually pretty good. Not much to say, since it is done mostly right and as expected.
Sound: Alike of Mario Kart, I was suprised by its quality. Mario and Luigi talk mostly in some form of Simish, but do occasionally mutter actual words, mostly in reference. Peach gets a similar treatment, but doesn't have as much screen time. E Gadd is the only other one with a voice, but resembles something from the Banjo games. Isn't it time for actual dialog, Nintendo? It works for the humor in this, but I still would like to hear more from our characters then random laughs and phrases that come from Ewoks.
Control: You use the pad to select/move, and the buttons correspond to a specific character's action, often context sensitive. It doesn't get too confusing, since most of the time you'll be in direct control of one set of Bros. at a time.
Gameplay: Here is where Mario & Luigi set themselves apart in the world of RPG's. The overworld isn't anything new, although when the Bros. are seperated, the top screen is used for the babies while the bottom screen for the elders. Mostly it is used with one set activating buttons while the other actually move. Otherwise, the action isn't much different then what we saw out of Mario RPG on the SNES.
The battles, on the other hand, are far different then what we see out of normal RPG's. Each attack, whether yours or the enemy's, has a minigame type feel. Mario/Luigi/babies' normal attacks are fairly quick, with only a jump or hammer. But the Bros. Items activate a much longer, and often single-thumb twisting, game. Enemy attacks has you dodge attacks, sometimes countering, thus damaging, enemies.
This works to make a fast pace for the battles, where one can't relax. Since health is often low in comparison to other RPG's, you can't really just sac a turn. It puts up plenty of variety in battles.
The second screen...well...doesn't do as much. It is used about 20% of the time and is inventive when used. But most of the time, it has a random wallpaper up that doesn't serve the gameplay until that 20% hits. While it is a good philosophy of not using something unless actually needed, more should have been done with it.
Overall, it is a fun game. Those who don't like RPG's due to the lack of action will love Partners in Time. It will suprise you when you first play, but the game will feel short, which is the major problem with it. If you don't mind that problem, go ahead and get this game. If anything, get this game for the leet Bros (the only moment where I can say it is better to have text vs. voice dialog).
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Control: 10/10 (how can they screw it up?)
Gameplay: 9/10
Personal rating: 8.5/10
Buyability: 4/5
Graphics: Almost everything is done in 2D. The art direction is actually pretty good. Not much to say, since it is done mostly right and as expected.
Sound: Alike of Mario Kart, I was suprised by its quality. Mario and Luigi talk mostly in some form of Simish, but do occasionally mutter actual words, mostly in reference. Peach gets a similar treatment, but doesn't have as much screen time. E Gadd is the only other one with a voice, but resembles something from the Banjo games. Isn't it time for actual dialog, Nintendo? It works for the humor in this, but I still would like to hear more from our characters then random laughs and phrases that come from Ewoks.
Control: You use the pad to select/move, and the buttons correspond to a specific character's action, often context sensitive. It doesn't get too confusing, since most of the time you'll be in direct control of one set of Bros. at a time.
Gameplay: Here is where Mario & Luigi set themselves apart in the world of RPG's. The overworld isn't anything new, although when the Bros. are seperated, the top screen is used for the babies while the bottom screen for the elders. Mostly it is used with one set activating buttons while the other actually move. Otherwise, the action isn't much different then what we saw out of Mario RPG on the SNES.
The battles, on the other hand, are far different then what we see out of normal RPG's. Each attack, whether yours or the enemy's, has a minigame type feel. Mario/Luigi/babies' normal attacks are fairly quick, with only a jump or hammer. But the Bros. Items activate a much longer, and often single-thumb twisting, game. Enemy attacks has you dodge attacks, sometimes countering, thus damaging, enemies.
This works to make a fast pace for the battles, where one can't relax. Since health is often low in comparison to other RPG's, you can't really just sac a turn. It puts up plenty of variety in battles.
The second screen...well...doesn't do as much. It is used about 20% of the time and is inventive when used. But most of the time, it has a random wallpaper up that doesn't serve the gameplay until that 20% hits. While it is a good philosophy of not using something unless actually needed, more should have been done with it.
Overall, it is a fun game. Those who don't like RPG's due to the lack of action will love Partners in Time. It will suprise you when you first play, but the game will feel short, which is the major problem with it. If you don't mind that problem, go ahead and get this game. If anything, get this game for the leet Bros (the only moment where I can say it is better to have text vs. voice dialog).
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Control: 10/10 (how can they screw it up?)
Gameplay: 9/10
Personal rating: 8.5/10
Buyability: 4/5
posted by SeanM at 2:10 PM
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