Every Mario and Luigi Game, Ranked

With the launch of Mario and Luigi: Brotherhood for Nintendo Switch, the Mario and Luigi the series may finally be making a long-deserved return. A lot was happening Brotherhoodrelease, as not only did it need to revive a series that had been without an original entry for nearly nine years, but it also needed to prove that Mario and Luigi has the potential to evolve with future entries. Happily, Brotherhood was able to achieve this, but the question of how it compares to other Mario and Luigi the entries remain.

THE Mario and Luigi The series is known for its unique take on the RPG genre. The best entries in the series successfully adopt a wacky, eccentric tone that the series is known for and ensure that the tone endures in all aspects of the game. From traversal to combat to narrative, every aspect of the franchise comes together to create a strange yet charming adventure unlike what players would typically see in the mainline. Mario titles.

6

The paper jam was a big disappointment

AlphaDream’s final entry was completely unoriginal

Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam it was the definition of wasted potential. The idea of ​​a crossover between Mario and Luigi and Mario Paper opens up a huge world of interesting possibilities to explore. Both series are home to a variety of iconic locations and characters that could have been brought together to create a grand adventure filled with nostalgia.

However, developer AlphaDream seemed to have other ideas. Rather than capitalizing on the long history of either series, Paper jam had players walking through the same tired Mushroom Kingdom and its array of all-too-familiar biomes while fighting the typical enemies that make up Bowser’s army. The potential for a great story was traded for yet another princess rescue mission like the ones that have already made it to the mainline Mario the titles seem redundant. There is a feeling that Paper jamThe story of , a central part of both RPG series, was an afterthought, proving to be a detriment to the title’s overall quality.

Paper jam makes use of the brothers’ new paper companion. Paper Mario’s unique moveset and introduction of Trio Attacks help freshen up the battle system that was starting to show its age by the fifth entry. However, this still doesn’t make up for how little Paper jam uses the ideas at your disposal to create something original, making one Mario and Luigi entry that has no sense of identity.

5

Partners In Time failed to utilize its time travel premise

The game made great use of the new hardware

Mario and Luigi: partners in timeThe unique time travel premise starts off promising. The addition of Mario and Luigi’s baby counterparts is in keeping with the series’ signature eccentricity and eccentric ideas that are used to great effect in the gameplay. The ability to control both pairs together or separately creates some unique puzzle scenarios for the player to solve, and the additional screen provided by the DS is used to great effect. Combat also gets a new coat of paint, with more challenging moves to master that serve as a major change to the established system in Superstar Saga.

Partners in timeIt’s biggest flaw also comes with its lack of an ambitious story.. Once the quartet begins the task of collecting the fragments of the Cobalt Star, the story comes to a halt until the game’s final act. What could have been a grand time travel adventure instead becomes a simple collecting marathon, avoiding Partners in time to reach your full potential. Mario and Luigi’s interactions with the past are certainly highlights, but Partners in time it can still leave a lingering feeling that it could have offered a little more.

4

Dream Team can be occasionally frustrating

The game’s pace threatens to ruin a great adventure

In contrast to Paper jam and Partners in time, Mario and Luigi: dream team makes effective use of its unique premise. The world of Pi’illo Island is truly dreamlike, filled with the sense of personality and charm that Mario and Luigi series is known. The introduction of Dream World also brought some interesting changes to the series’ core gameplay, as players are invited to experience Dreamy Luigi’s range of new abilities in both traversal and combat, including Luiginary Attacks that deal devastating blows to the most vicious Dream. World. World enemies.

On that note, Luigi takes center stage in Dream Teama decision that contributes to a better overall experience. The brother who is often put aside has multiple chances to shine, contributing to some of the funniest and most emotional moments in the series. It’s all encapsulated by a story that deftly mixes that offbeat humor with a host of memorable characters and heartwarming moments, creating another enchanting tale that only Mario and Luigi can achieve.

What a great adventure Dream Team strives to be, ends up being brought down by a horrendous pace. The game’s opening hours arriving on Pi’illo Island are admittedly a bummer and from there the player is continually interrupted by almost endless tutorials or goal reminders that quickly become tedious. Mario and Luigi it’s not strange to guide the player through the adventure, but Dream Team takes it to a level that almost feels condescending, threatening to ruin a great entry in the series.

3

Brothership is the most ambitious entry yet

This game proves the series still has places to go

Mario and Luigi: Brotherhood was more than a return to form, setting an ambitious path to Mario and Luigi series. The latest entry makes no effort to restore the series’ signature tropesas players follow the brothers on a massive seafaring adventure across the many lands of Concordia. The continent is filled with a variety of distinct locations, each filled with a variety of unique landmarks and lively characters that make each area memorable. The thrill of adventure is encapsulated by a compelling narrative about relationships that reflect the bond of the series’ title characters.

Furthermore, Brotherhood pushes the series forward by giving players more things to do than previous installments Mario and Luigi entries. The addition of multiple side quests not only adds a sense of variety, but also encourages the player to connect with the world of Concordia and its residents in a way that previous entries never achieved. BrotherhoodThe more personal and emotional approach is a breath of fresh air for the Mario and Luigi series and makes up for the game’s admittedly slow pacing and lackluster battle system.

2

Superstar Saga started the series strong

The original remains one of the best entries in the series

Superstar Saga continues to be an excellent example of the ingredients of a truly great Mario and Luigi game. The title introduced many of the series’ staplesamong which are separate button commands for Mario and Luigi. Having each sibling assigned their own button forces the player to consider each character’s available actions and how they can work in conjunction with each other. This results in Superstar Saga providing a new take on both world traversal and turn-based RPG battles, with the addition of Bros. Attacks rewarding the player’s mastery of button commands with some powerful moves.

Superstar Saga was also responsible for the series’ strange but charming narrative and eccentric sense of humor. Mario and Luigi’s adventure through the Beanbean Kingdom is filled with silly, lively characters that often draw the brothers into a variety of wild and hilarious scenarios. The game is never afraid to take any opportunity to make the player laugh, giving Mario and Luigi that unique identity that makes the series so beloved.

1

Bowser’s inside story remains the best entry in the series

Bowser steals the show in Mario and Luigi’s best ride

No other entries in the Mario and Luigi series took such an unusual direction Bowser’s Inside Story he did. An adventure that takes place mostly inside Bowser’s body hardly seems like a great idea for an RPG, but Bowser’s Inside Story commits to its crazy premise and pays off handsomely. AlphaDream makes the most of Mario and Luigi’s unique situation, turning Bowser’s body into a complex maze filled with locations modeled after certain bodily functions or organs and forming a distinct world that surpasses the creativity seen in others Mario and Luigi entries.

Of course, it’s Koopa King himself who ends up stealing the show. Making Bowser a main playable character is another example of Bowser’s Inside Storythe main risks are paying off. Bowser’s unique moveset in both traversal and combat offers a fresh experience from the typical Bros. moves. that fans are used to. Additionally, the game often asks the player to consider Bowser’s abilities and the surrounding environment to make areas accessible to Mario and Luigi, resulting in a multitude of challenging and engaging puzzles beyond what the series has shown before or after.

Bowser’s Inside Story follows a narrative that perfectly encapsulates the unique charm of Mario and Luigi. The brothers’ quest to save the kingdom and Bowser’s revenge against Fawful are at the service of a story full of the series’ signature humor and warmth, although Bowser’s Inside Story it never takes the focus off the unusually ominous threat. The game’s final act remains the most emotional climax of the series and is testament to the love and care that went into making it. Bowser’s Inside Story the best Mario and Luigi I play to this day.