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System:
Nintendo DS
Genre:
RPG
ESRB Rating:
E
Release Date:
1- 2005
RPG
ESRB Rating:
E
Release Date:
1- 2005
Publisher:
Nintendo
Developer:
AlphaDream
Nintendo
Developer:
AlphaDream
Magma
Published:2- 2005
User Views: 5211
User Replies: 0
The sequel to the hit GBA title is here at last! But does it meet expectations?
Near the end of the Super Nintendo's days, Squaresoft, acclaimed RPG creator, partnered with Nintendo and used Mario characters and locales in the awesome RPG, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Though the game was a huge success, and remains one of my favorite couple of games, Squaresoft soon broke its bond with Nintendo and went on to create games for Sony's console, the PlayStation.
Despite this, more Mario RPG games were created. First was Paper Mario, the innovative title for the Nintendo 64, where the characters were all literally 2-D paper cutouts living in a 3-D environment. The next was Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance. This game improved greatly on the past Mario RPGs' timed hits system in which you pressed a button at exactly the right moment to increase damage given and decrease damage taken. This game required spot-on timing, in which powerful attacks failed if you didn't have lightning-fast fingers. In addition, not only could you dodge enemy attacks, but better timing allowed you to do damage to them instead. The game also relied heavily on comedic situations, and is known as the funniest Mario game to date.
If you'll allow me to skip the Nintendo Gamecube Paper Mario sequel, I'll go right to the game I'll be reviewing today. The title? Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, for the Nintendo DS. While most fans of the Mario RPG series agree that its predecessor is leagues better, I personally prefer this game by light-years.
This title adds a new layer of gameplay to the original. In Superstar Saga, you got to control Mario and younger brother Luigi simultaneously, making for some interesting level design and a brand new battle system that had never before been seen. In this game, not only do you control Mario and Luigi, but Baby Mario and Baby Luigi.
If you're wondering how that's possible, I'll explain the storyline now. In the past, Peach's castle is attacked by the creepy alien Shroob race. Baby Bowser, who Baby Mario had just defeated, allows the baby brothers, Baby Princess Peach, and the middle-aged Toadsworth to hitch a ride on the Koopa Cruiser, a flying airship. Meanwhile, in the present, Professor E. Gadd, a brilliant scientist, has just finished building a time machine powered by the mystical Cobalt Star. Peach, along with two Toad attendants, uses the machine to go to the past. However, trouble occurs when the time machine returns, busted. The only thing inside is the monstrous Junior Shrooboid. After defeating it, time holes start appearing in the castle, which Mario and Luigi use to go to the past in search of the princess.
They arrive at a village in the past just in time for it to be attacked by the Shroobs. When they are defeated by a UFO, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi end up rescuing them. They all ride the Koopa Cruiser to Baby Bowser's Castle. All the good guys escape to Peach's Castle, with one shard of the Cobalt Star. When they get to the castle and the Junior Shrooboid acts extremely scared of the star, E. Gadd realizes that the Cobalt Star may be able to destroy the Shroobs. From there, it's a long journey to find the rest of the shards and rescue Peach.
One thing I'll throw in before continuing is that the Shroob race speaks their own language of strange symbols. As such, it's hard to dislike and/or love them. I believe this to be a flaw in the storyline, as a good villain always makes the storyline better. And how villainous can somebody be when you can't even understand what they're saying? Even the leader of the Shroobs doesn't talk in the English tongue.
Back to my bit on controlling all four characters. You can move as a group, or easily separate the pair. The top screen is used to show a map and the bottom for gameplay. However, the top screen also displays where Baby Mario and Baby Luigi are if you separate the quartet of heroes. As far as the DS's touch-screen function goes, it is virtually unused, thankfully. There is only one scenario where it is required, where you have to rub dirt off a picture.
Despite this, more Mario RPG games were created. First was Paper Mario, the innovative title for the Nintendo 64, where the characters were all literally 2-D paper cutouts living in a 3-D environment. The next was Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance. This game improved greatly on the past Mario RPGs' timed hits system in which you pressed a button at exactly the right moment to increase damage given and decrease damage taken. This game required spot-on timing, in which powerful attacks failed if you didn't have lightning-fast fingers. In addition, not only could you dodge enemy attacks, but better timing allowed you to do damage to them instead. The game also relied heavily on comedic situations, and is known as the funniest Mario game to date.
If you'll allow me to skip the Nintendo Gamecube Paper Mario sequel, I'll go right to the game I'll be reviewing today. The title? Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, for the Nintendo DS. While most fans of the Mario RPG series agree that its predecessor is leagues better, I personally prefer this game by light-years.
This title adds a new layer of gameplay to the original. In Superstar Saga, you got to control Mario and younger brother Luigi simultaneously, making for some interesting level design and a brand new battle system that had never before been seen. In this game, not only do you control Mario and Luigi, but Baby Mario and Baby Luigi.
If you're wondering how that's possible, I'll explain the storyline now. In the past, Peach's castle is attacked by the creepy alien Shroob race. Baby Bowser, who Baby Mario had just defeated, allows the baby brothers, Baby Princess Peach, and the middle-aged Toadsworth to hitch a ride on the Koopa Cruiser, a flying airship. Meanwhile, in the present, Professor E. Gadd, a brilliant scientist, has just finished building a time machine powered by the mystical Cobalt Star. Peach, along with two Toad attendants, uses the machine to go to the past. However, trouble occurs when the time machine returns, busted. The only thing inside is the monstrous Junior Shrooboid. After defeating it, time holes start appearing in the castle, which Mario and Luigi use to go to the past in search of the princess.
They arrive at a village in the past just in time for it to be attacked by the Shroobs. When they are defeated by a UFO, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi end up rescuing them. They all ride the Koopa Cruiser to Baby Bowser's Castle. All the good guys escape to Peach's Castle, with one shard of the Cobalt Star. When they get to the castle and the Junior Shrooboid acts extremely scared of the star, E. Gadd realizes that the Cobalt Star may be able to destroy the Shroobs. From there, it's a long journey to find the rest of the shards and rescue Peach.
One thing I'll throw in before continuing is that the Shroob race speaks their own language of strange symbols. As such, it's hard to dislike and/or love them. I believe this to be a flaw in the storyline, as a good villain always makes the storyline better. And how villainous can somebody be when you can't even understand what they're saying? Even the leader of the Shroobs doesn't talk in the English tongue.
Back to my bit on controlling all four characters. You can move as a group, or easily separate the pair. The top screen is used to show a map and the bottom for gameplay. However, the top screen also displays where Baby Mario and Baby Luigi are if you separate the quartet of heroes. As far as the DS's touch-screen function goes, it is virtually unused, thankfully. There is only one scenario where it is required, where you have to rub dirt off a picture.
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