MARIO & LUIGI: SUPERSTAR SAGA
Starting with Super Mario RPG, the Mario franchise takes a break from it's usual platforming device, and uses the RPG formula instead. Paper Mario then took it a step further by adding in counterattacks and even an audience for power, unique for a RPG. Now, for the Game Boy Advance, the Mario RPG structure comes in with a new story filled with unique one-hit wonders and worlds. In this game, you are not in the Mushroom Kingdom (except for the tutorial parts). You are in a neighboring land called the Beanbean Kingdom. Why are you there? To get some fresh baked beans? To get an autograph by Prince Peasley? Or to sleep with many Beanish Women as possible? Neither. It's the generic Damsel-in-Distress routine when an evil witch named Cackletta, along with her assistant, Fawful, steal the Princess Peach's voice to awaken a jewel called the Beanstar in order to take over the world. It's up to two superstars to stop them. Is it the Marx Brothers? The Dooby Brothers? Simon and Garfunkel? Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez? Want me to stop all of these bad jokes? Alrighty, then. Let's get on with the review.
The Gameplay is enjoyable for both newcomers and oldies to the Mario franchise. You travel to different parts in the Beanbean Kingdom with a different objective when you enter the new area. In the first half of the game, you're basically trying to find Prince Peasley and enter the castle to cure Queen Bean of a sickness. You then travel to a place called Woohoo Hooniversity to defeat Cackletta the first time and take back the captured Beanstar. In the second part, the Princess comes along in a plot-twist and (big shock) gets kidnapped AGAIN and it's up to the Bros. to get her back by repairing the Beanstar Pieces that broke off during a struggle in the Hooniversity. You then enter a captured Bowser's Castle and defeat the bosses ahead. You can collect beans to get prizes at the Castle Town's Starbeans Cafe, such as the Cobalt Necktie, which helps a lot in battle. Woo Beans come from enemies, Hoo Beans come from hidden or special blocks, Chuckle Beans have to be dug out of the ground by Luigi in certain areas, and Hee Beans are obtained through completing mini-games. The Bros. obtain Hammers when they first appear in Hoohoo Village, and are upgraded 2 more times as the game progresses. They also get Hand Powers (Fire for Mario, Thunder for Luigi) when they crash land at Oho Oasis. Our heroes can get clothing and badges to upgrade their max HP, BP (Bros Points - for special moves), Atk Points, and Def Points. Speaking of Bros. Points, the Brothers can use special attacks to double the damage on an enemy. These attacks are learned usually after someone teaches the Brothers how to use their Jump, Hammer, and Hand attacks more effectively. Mini-games are offered in the game, such as the Border Jump Challenge, in which Mario and Luigi must jump over a border line without getting hit 3 times, or The Hoohoo Cave Ride, in which Mario and Luigi have to pick up a total number of jewels to make it out of the cave without getting hit by obsticles. Mario and Luigi work together by using High Jumps or Spin Jumps, and many more moves by pressing the R and L buttons at a specific order. To intiate a battle, one of the Bros must touch an enemy to go into battle. If a Brother jumps on an enemy in the Adventure Field, the Brothers get a first strike. If a Brother bops an enemy with a Hammer on the Adventure Field, the enemies will be usually stunned for the beginning of the battle. Like with most RPGs, once your HP reaches 0, it's Game Over. If your BP runs out, you can't use Special Moves. Don't fret, though. Items such as Mushrooms and Syrup replenish your HP and BP, respectivily.
The Music in this game is OK. Not many tracks really stick out to me, but my favorite has to be the Battle Theme. That music having an upbeat DJ style type mix makes the battles way more enjoyable. Other than that, Teehee Valley has a pretty beat to it. I've always been a fan of Desert-type music in games for some reason, but this really speaks out. The Mario Theme is present many times in the game, because without it, well, it's just not Mario, is it? The Underground Theme is also present when you are in Caves or in a Ruins. The other music merely reflects on what the enviroment around you is. If you're up in Hoohoo Mountain, you'll hear a loud and adventrous piece. If you're in an underwater area, it's an eerie and slow theme. Every piece reflects on something, even in characters.
Graphics are good GBA-wise. Nice structures in every world, and good movement in the players and enemies. When the Brothers go to do a Special Attack, the movement of the Bros are perfect and the flashes and booms are stunning. Not that this game has wicked cool graphics, but it is certainly not bad. I think it's better than the DS's and Wii's blocky hardware.
The game's difficulty can go either way. It can be easy if you Level Up your Brother nicely. You should always put Attack and Defense before HP. If you want a challenge, simply ignore the enemies and Level Up slower than usual. You should be at least Level 40 when you go to fight the final boss. If you want to go below it, then you're in for a challenge. Enemies such as Clumphs and Ice Sniffs can be devasting when they attack, so time your counterattacks and dodges right and you should do just fine. Also, get the right combination of Clothing and Badges. Those can really help you in battle.
Overall, this game is perfect. It certainly started a string of good Mario games to come. Although it's sequel is way insuperior to the original masterpiece.
GAMEPLAY: 8/10
MUSIC: 6/10
GRAPHICS: 8/10
GAME DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM
OVERALL: 8.5/10
Starting with Super Mario RPG, the Mario franchise takes a break from it's usual platforming device, and uses the RPG formula instead. Paper Mario then took it a step further by adding in counterattacks and even an audience for power, unique for a RPG. Now, for the Game Boy Advance, the Mario RPG structure comes in with a new story filled with unique one-hit wonders and worlds. In this game, you are not in the Mushroom Kingdom (except for the tutorial parts). You are in a neighboring land called the Beanbean Kingdom. Why are you there? To get some fresh baked beans? To get an autograph by Prince Peasley? Or to sleep with many Beanish Women as possible? Neither. It's the generic Damsel-in-Distress routine when an evil witch named Cackletta, along with her assistant, Fawful, steal the Princess Peach's voice to awaken a jewel called the Beanstar in order to take over the world. It's up to two superstars to stop them. Is it the Marx Brothers? The Dooby Brothers? Simon and Garfunkel? Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez? Want me to stop all of these bad jokes? Alrighty, then. Let's get on with the review.
The Gameplay is enjoyable for both newcomers and oldies to the Mario franchise. You travel to different parts in the Beanbean Kingdom with a different objective when you enter the new area. In the first half of the game, you're basically trying to find Prince Peasley and enter the castle to cure Queen Bean of a sickness. You then travel to a place called Woohoo Hooniversity to defeat Cackletta the first time and take back the captured Beanstar. In the second part, the Princess comes along in a plot-twist and (big shock) gets kidnapped AGAIN and it's up to the Bros. to get her back by repairing the Beanstar Pieces that broke off during a struggle in the Hooniversity. You then enter a captured Bowser's Castle and defeat the bosses ahead. You can collect beans to get prizes at the Castle Town's Starbeans Cafe, such as the Cobalt Necktie, which helps a lot in battle. Woo Beans come from enemies, Hoo Beans come from hidden or special blocks, Chuckle Beans have to be dug out of the ground by Luigi in certain areas, and Hee Beans are obtained through completing mini-games. The Bros. obtain Hammers when they first appear in Hoohoo Village, and are upgraded 2 more times as the game progresses. They also get Hand Powers (Fire for Mario, Thunder for Luigi) when they crash land at Oho Oasis. Our heroes can get clothing and badges to upgrade their max HP, BP (Bros Points - for special moves), Atk Points, and Def Points. Speaking of Bros. Points, the Brothers can use special attacks to double the damage on an enemy. These attacks are learned usually after someone teaches the Brothers how to use their Jump, Hammer, and Hand attacks more effectively. Mini-games are offered in the game, such as the Border Jump Challenge, in which Mario and Luigi must jump over a border line without getting hit 3 times, or The Hoohoo Cave Ride, in which Mario and Luigi have to pick up a total number of jewels to make it out of the cave without getting hit by obsticles. Mario and Luigi work together by using High Jumps or Spin Jumps, and many more moves by pressing the R and L buttons at a specific order. To intiate a battle, one of the Bros must touch an enemy to go into battle. If a Brother jumps on an enemy in the Adventure Field, the Brothers get a first strike. If a Brother bops an enemy with a Hammer on the Adventure Field, the enemies will be usually stunned for the beginning of the battle. Like with most RPGs, once your HP reaches 0, it's Game Over. If your BP runs out, you can't use Special Moves. Don't fret, though. Items such as Mushrooms and Syrup replenish your HP and BP, respectivily.
The Music in this game is OK. Not many tracks really stick out to me, but my favorite has to be the Battle Theme. That music having an upbeat DJ style type mix makes the battles way more enjoyable. Other than that, Teehee Valley has a pretty beat to it. I've always been a fan of Desert-type music in games for some reason, but this really speaks out. The Mario Theme is present many times in the game, because without it, well, it's just not Mario, is it? The Underground Theme is also present when you are in Caves or in a Ruins. The other music merely reflects on what the enviroment around you is. If you're up in Hoohoo Mountain, you'll hear a loud and adventrous piece. If you're in an underwater area, it's an eerie and slow theme. Every piece reflects on something, even in characters.
Graphics are good GBA-wise. Nice structures in every world, and good movement in the players and enemies. When the Brothers go to do a Special Attack, the movement of the Bros are perfect and the flashes and booms are stunning. Not that this game has wicked cool graphics, but it is certainly not bad. I think it's better than the DS's and Wii's blocky hardware.
The game's difficulty can go either way. It can be easy if you Level Up your Brother nicely. You should always put Attack and Defense before HP. If you want a challenge, simply ignore the enemies and Level Up slower than usual. You should be at least Level 40 when you go to fight the final boss. If you want to go below it, then you're in for a challenge. Enemies such as Clumphs and Ice Sniffs can be devasting when they attack, so time your counterattacks and dodges right and you should do just fine. Also, get the right combination of Clothing and Badges. Those can really help you in battle.
Overall, this game is perfect. It certainly started a string of good Mario games to come. Although it's sequel is way insuperior to the original masterpiece.
GAMEPLAY: 8/10
MUSIC: 6/10
GRAPHICS: 8/10
GAME DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM
OVERALL: 8.5/10
