Mario & Luigi - Superstar Saga Review by: tj4bigred - 10/10
Mario and Luigi Superstar SagaMario and Luigi Super Star Saga
Is it wrong I like the Mario and Luigi line more than classic side-scrolling Mario? This game is a masterpiece. A home run for Nintendo. They took classic RPG elements, our favorite plumber siblings, and a huge adventure, and topped it all off with a large amount of comedy. This game is funny as could be, and one of my top 10 GBA games. If you haven't played this game, then stop reading right now... AND PLAY IT!!!
The maps are littered with monsters who Mario and Luigi must defeat in turn-based battle. On their turn Mario and Luigi can:
Solo Attack: Jumping on the opponent hurting it in classic Mario way, hitting opponent with hammer, or using a fire(Mario) or Lightning(Luigi).
Bros Attack: special moves that do more damage through proper technique, but cost use up BP.Â
Run: Run away from the opponent. You can still get hurt while running way and will lose coins, but it's the only way to escape battle.
Winning a battle earns coins(to buy items and gear) and experience. When you level up, your HP, BP(move energy), POW(attack power), DEF(Defense), Speed(to determine turn order), and, the strangest, Stache(increases critical hits and affects prices at stores.)
Many techniques can be performed in the field to reach new areas, like spin jumping, smashing Mario to tiny size so he can reach small areas, and Luigi turning into a surfboard. These all make exploring the Bean Kingdom a blast in this game.
Graphics-
They're beautiful. Seeing Mario in all his glory like this? It is utterly awesome. The maps can be colorful and bright, or dark and ominous. Most of the enemies are unique, ie. You probably have never seen them before, and I have to say, they look great. A nice little Easter egg: When Mario and Luigi get they're pictures taken at the very beginning, you can press the arrow keys to make them do different comical poses. It's little things, but it really makes me think Nintendo went all out on this one.
Sound-
Oh, is the music catchy. Its a wonderful soundtrack, and the bar of expectation I set for other GBA games. All games should sound so good. The battle music has a nice beat, and Mario and Luigi will dance to it if left idle. I really like the noises Fawful makes when he's talking. But I'll talk about Fawful later. Overall, this is some of the best Sound on the GBA.
Addictiveness-
Gosh it sure does suck you in. When I would play this game on my SP, I could play for four hours straight, without a care in the world. The battles are so interactive, which makes the game more wholly worth experiencing. Unlocking new moves, leveling up, finding new areas... It has all the right components for a great RPG.
Story-
Out of 10? At least 15. I love this series more than any other when it comes to telling a story and being comedic about it. It is an epic tale, your typical plumber-meets-princess kind of thing. But wait? Cackletta has stolen Peach's voice! Mario is too noble to let such injustice go by without punishment! And Luigi decides to trail along too. This game would only get 9/10 without Fawful. So let's talk about Fawful.
Fawful-
This guy. He is a little bit short. Fawful is a mechanical genius and sidekick of Cackletta. He often speaks in improper English, and has severe rage issues. He hates the Bros. He's funny. You don't realize how funny Nintendo can be until you play this game. Fawful's two most famous quotes:
"And this battle shall be the delicious mustard on that bread! The mustard of your doom!"
"I have FURY!"
Fawful is hilarious and a great part of the games plot.
Depth-Â
Even though the game is already very long, 20 hours at least, I still wish there was some post story. Once the credits roll, there isn't much to do. I'm just nit-picking though as Superstar Saga offers a ton of content. I think it's definitely worth investing some time into.
Difficulty-
While the game wasn't too difficult, there are some challenges, like the frustratingly difficult Border Jump, and other specific bosses. Luckily, unlike most RPGs, this game doesn't require much if any grinding to beat it.
Overall this is a top five GBA game, and deserves more credit as a quality Mario game. WHY ARE YOU STILL READING?! PLAY THE GAME!!!
Graphics
9 Sound
10 Addictive
10 Depth
8 Story
10 Difficulty
7