Mario & Luigi: Brothership hands-on preview on Nintendo Switch

Thanks to Nintendo Canada, I recently got a 60 minute hands-on sneak peek at Mario and Luigi: Brothership. It is the first new game in the series since 2015, almost a decade! The Mario & Luigi series has always been known for its unique blend of storytelling and quirky gameplay, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership continues this formula.

With dozens of hours of content, Mario and Luigi Brothership looks like it is going to be the biggest adventure in the series yet. From what I learned, the amount of side quests, collectibles, and secrets will definitely keep you busy long after the main story is complete. And with the ability to revisit islands, solve new puzzles, and uncover new content, there’s always something to do.

Having played other games in the series, including my personal favorite, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, I’m excited to see what this latest entry brings. Seeing as it is the first game in the series developed for the big screen, I was eager to see what new ideas it brings. And, after just 60 minutes with the game, I can honestly say there’s a lot to be excited about.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership details

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Action, Adventure, Role-playing
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Ocean exploration and the thrill of adventure

The game takes place in Concordia, a shattered land of islands. Mario and Luigi find themselves transported by a mysterious light to the world, which was held together by the power of the Unity Tree. After the tree was destroyed, the world was shattered into countless islands, now floating across five seas. As Mario and Luigi, your mission is to reconnect these islands and restore Concordia to its former glory.

The game is all about traveling, exploring, and linking these floating islands back to your base – Ship Shape Island. For me, one of the most exciting aspects of Brothership is its open-ocean exploration. Not to mention that Shipshape Island is part ship and part island. How cool is that?! There’s something exciting about sailing uncharted seas and discovering hidden islands that I couldn’t wait to play.

There’s more freedom than ever in Brothership, as you can choose where you want to go at various points in the game. I love games that give you these types of choices. For example, choosing to rescue one sibling over another will determine which shop you get on your ship for the rest of the game. It reminds me of the sense of scale and excitement from Bowser’s Inside Story, but on an even bigger level. The fact that your actions impact the game’s world, like reconnecting islands and helping characters, gives you a real sense of control. And, I like that! It’s a refreshing change of pace that promises plenty of exploration.

Puzzle-Solving Fun

While the exploration is a major part of the game, combat keeps turn-based mechanics, but with a real-time twist. Timing is everything, as Mario and Luigi will need to time their attacks and counterattacks perfectly to fend off enemies.

Luigi Logic

One of my favourite new gameplay features in Brothership is Luigi Logic. This is where Luigi’s unique way of thinking comes into play. This mechanic gives Luigi the spotlight he often misses out on. When a green exclamation point appears, Luigi gets an idea. Sometimes it’s useful, sometimes bizarre, but trust me it is always helpful. It adds a fun twist to puzzle-solving, allowing you to approach challenges in creative ways.

I really like this new gameplay element because it makes you think outside the box by combining actions or abilities in unexpected ways. For example, you might have to follow patterns, use specific items in creative ways, or interpret clues differently. And, since Luigi Logic is new to the series, it introduces opportunities for fresh gameplay moments. One of my favourite ideas that Luigi came up with was transforming into a UFO to reach areas that the brothers normally couldn’t get to.

Bros Moves

Another gameplay element I really enjoyed and was excited to see the changes to were Bros Moves. These were first introduced in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. They involve Mario and Luigi teaming up to perform special attacks that require precise timing and button presses. For example, there’s Mario’s Power Jump that deals heavy damage to a single enemy. By pressing a series of buttons you’ll unleash powerful jumps on your enemy. It’s perfect for taking down tougher enemies quickly. My personal favourite is Luigi’s Whirlwind Spin. Luigi spins into the air, and you have to time your button presses to extend the attack across all enemies on the screen. It’s great dealing with large groups of enemies and Luigi looks hilarious doing it.

Each game in the series has introduced new variations of Bros Moves and Brothership continues the tradition. While the idea of Bros Moves isn’t new, the ways they can be used and combined in this game is. You can now combine Bros Moves with Battle Plugs or use them in puzzles, such as those using Luigi Logic. Battle Plugs act as modifiers, granting special effects like dropping an iron ball on enemies or setting them on fire. Combining Luigi Logic with Bros Moves to solve puzzles and defeat enemies is something that feels fresh and strategic. I love how it encourages experimentation, and I can’t wait to see how many different combinations we can use throughout the game.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership launches November 7, 2024 on Nintendo Switch

After my hands-on preview of Mario and Luigi: Brothership, I’m even more excited to get my hands on the final game. The game feels like a love letter to fans of the series, while also introducing plenty of new mechanics and surprises to keep things fresh. Not only does the game look absolutely gorgeous on Nintendo Switch, it plays great too. I only began to scratch the surface of what Brothership will offer in my preview, but I already love the fresh gameplay opportunities with Luigi Logic. And Bros Moves, while not new, the way in which you can combine them with Battle Plugs and use them in puzzles feels like it will open up a whole new world of opportunities and gameplay possibilities.

Pre-order Mario & Luigi: Brothership at Best Buy today!

The Mario & Luigi series has always had memorable characters, and I’m hoping to see some fan favourites make a return in Brothership. I’m also excited to see if we’ll see any new faces as Mario and Luigi set sail on this new adventure. With such a rich history behind the franchise, the potential for exciting cameos is definitely something I am looking forward to.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership launches November 7, 2024 on Nintendo Switch. As always, stay tuned to the for my full review leading up to launch. Let me know in the comments section below if you will be picking up Mario & Luigi: Brothership and which character(s) do you hope to see make an appearance in the game.

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