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Posted on May 23rd, 2006 - 6916 Reads

Rated Everyone Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time Nintendo DS Review

-- Written by NDS_Master



 In a day where epic RPGs clash with action games, tension is bound to occur. Action oriented gamers will duel with RPG fans, who prefer thought more than quick reflexes. Such has been and will be the fight between two entirely different types of gamers. Some will manage to cross the void and find enjoyment in both genres, while others would rather die than surrender to a separate method of gaming.

This long, hard fought battle receives little attention, as most sane people will not care enough to vocalize their thoughts on which genre other gamers should prefer. Despite its lack of media coverage, though, the pressure remains in subtle ways. Both sides want the other to see from a certain point of view, while most diehard fans will refuse to participate in such radically different game types.

Thus the stage is set for Nintendo, the company of unity, to enter the market. For years Nintendo has been known to experiment with genres and try new things, an expertise which is useful in bridging gaps between gamers. Their latest endeavor, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, does just that. Is it an action game? Yes. Is it an RPG? Yes. By fusing together two vastly different genres, the company that started the video game boom has created something that RPG and action fans alike can savor.

Truth be told, this is not the first time Nintendo has combined RPGs with action; Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga also followed this strategy, yet even that had its heritage from an older Super NES game -- Super Mario RPG. However, in this newest conglomeration, Nintendo has gone further than it ever has before, adding additional actions, characters, and plots for a fresh new gaming experience.

At the beginning of the game, Baby Mario and Baby Luigi are summoned to Princess Peach's castle in order to entertain the young princess. Playtime goes awry, though, when a force of purple mushroom people known as the Shroobs besieges the castle. The group is quickly forced to abandon the nursery, and the purple monsters take over, led by their very own Princess Shroob.

During the episode over at Baby Princess Peach's castle, something else is happening in a different part of the fourth dimension -- commonly referred to as time. The older Princess Peach has ventured off in Professor E. Gadd's time machine, leaving Toadsworth, her guardian, in deep anxiety. As is the tradition with Mario games, something happens to the Princess, leaving Mario and Luigi to save the day. As they attempt to locate the missing princess, the famous brothers will have to travel back in time via time holes, meet new people from a different time period, and even team up with the younger versions of themselves!

While that only covers the first five minutes of the game, it does give a general introduction which the remainder of the game's storyline springboards off of. RPG fans will feel comfortable with the many twists that overtake the storyline after Mario and Luigi set off on their adventure, as most RPGs have in-depth storylines. Classic Mario fanatics, however, might feel a bit uncomfortable with the frequent dialogue and constant plot changes. To alleviate the problems that RPG newbies might experience, Nintendo has found a middle ground. Every part of the game is peppered with humor, from the leet speaking Hammer Brothers to the argumentative elder Toadsworth. These aspects keep Partners in Time relaxed and very enjoyable, although it might distress people who desire serious or intricate plotlines.

So, how do Mario and Luigi go about recovering the incarcerated princess in this RPG and action hybrid? It is quite simple, actually. Just as in all other RPGs, there is a party comprised of several characters (in Partners in Time it happens to be Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi). This party of plumbers must then travel through various overworld maps to locate items, battle enemies, and advance through the storyline.

Most RPGs use traveling as a major portion of the game; each one contains multiple maps and areas to explore. Partners is no different, yet the journey seems too linear. Instead of having free access to search worlds, Mario and Luigi: PiT contains a straightforward path to follow. Nearly every single time Mario and the gang will have to go from one area straight to another without any chance at unrestricted exploration. Although this makes the game easier for action gamers to follow, it may deter some RPG fans.

In addition to traditional traveling, PiT also contains some new puzzles. The group will constantly have to solve environmental puzzles to advance through the worlds, and this makes for some unique fun. Occasionally, these challenges will require the babies to separate from the adults so that they can head through small cracks or other "babies only" obstacles and clear a path for the adults using often bizarre talents. When this foursome is split up, the top screen will stop displaying a map and instead show the babies, while the touch screen will keep its focus on the adults. Using the dual screens, gamers will be able to lead both parties of two through treacherous territory almost simultaneously.

Another aspect of this game that role-playing fanatics are familiar with is the leveling up system. As the four brothers progress through the game, they will defeat enemies and earn experience points. The points that they acquire allow them to upgrade to even higher levels. For those who are oblivious to this system, leveling up simply increases various stats about each character such as health, defense, and attack. Each area that the heroes can improve will assist them in battle -- a major part of this game.

Now that battles have been mentioned, it would be impossible to move onward without discussing them. After all, many people are probably wondering what Nintendo did to establish a game that would appeal to two vastly different strains of gamers. The answer is surprising, yet, at the same time, expected.

Once Mario reaches an enemy, the game will take all party members into something known as a battle screen. In the battle screen, Mario and Luigi, sometimes accompanied by the babies, will face their opponents. As with all RPGs, the two brothers and the enemies will take turns attacking. But, this time there is a twist.

In this game, there are three basic attacks: the jump, the hammer, and the items. When using these attacks, gamers will not only have to initiate the attack by selecting it in RPG fashion from the options, but they will also have to press specific buttons to increase the damage done in the assault. For example, players using the jump attack with Mario -- whose action button is A -- will have to press A as soon as Mario lands on top of his enemy if they want to inflict maximum damage. Mario will still harm the enemy if the A button is not pressed; however, the damage is so insignificant it is essential for gamers to be on top of the attack buttons and how to use them.

The babies also get into the action, but in a different way than would be expected. If all four plumbers are together for a battle, the babies will not have their own stance or specific attacks. Instead, they will ride on the back of their older counterparts and assist in combos. To cite the example above, a jump performed by Mario with Baby Mario would require gamers to press X (Baby Mario's action button) as they land, dealing a solid blow to the opponent and sending Mario high into the air. As Mario later hits the enemy, the gamer would also have to press A for another strike. In battle screen, the action buttons are used exclusively, though in the overworld map, the D-Pad is used to move while the action buttons perform basics moves. Strangely enough, the stylus is never used in battle or in regular game play, except for one rare, pointless instance that is not even worth mentioning.

Although jumping is the standard method of attacking, there are others. The hammer is a useful weapon wielded by the babies, and it permits aggression against enemies invulnerable to the classic jump. Along with that are items, which people can collect as they travel through the overworld. Items vary from Koopa shells to fireballs, and each one provides its own unique offensive advantages in battle. Just like the other attacks, though, players will have think quickly and press the right buttons to maximize damage. Because of the powerful nature of the items, many of them have complex button combinations that will challenge even the most skilled players. Fortunately, it is possible to harm the enemies some if the player is not awesome at rapid button pressing, but the infliction will not be as great.

However, battles are not only about attacking. Once the heroes have had their share of offensive moves, defense kicks in. True to RPG format, the enemies receive a chance to attack after the plumbers have had their turn. Immediately the minions will initiate one of several attacks in their arsenal, and they will move in to destroy the brothers.

When they strike, their attack power is different than in most RPGs. It is way more powerful. Give the Mario Bros. a few attacks from an enemy and the famous gang will quickly be dead. Luckily, there is hope. As an enemy attacks, the brothers can either jump over the blow with Luigi's and Mario's buttons, or the group can best the battling baddies by banging the baby brothers' buttons, hence utilizing the hammer. Either option is a valid way to counter attacks, and if used at the right time the buttons can also trigger real counterattacks. It will keep RPGers on their toes while at the same time giving action fanatics some relief from the tedious role-playing battle system.

Moving away from the game play and battle system, there are also the graphics to consider. Keeping with the hilarious style of game play, the graphics in this game are cartoony. All of the worlds and characters are confined to the 2-d realm, and at the same time they look absolutely horrendous. Mario looks simply terrible, and all of the other characters, animations, and environments look so fake it isn't even funny.

Actually, it is. The graphics may seem awful in comparison with other games, but that is because Mario and Luigi is a lighthearted game. In reality, every single piece of artwork fits with the game perfectly. This title is way more "childish" than the other Mario games, so the graphics achieve the exact effect that the designers intended.

Of course, that isn't to say that Parters in Time is only meant for six-year-olds. It does present a good amount of challenge for experienced gamers, and the humorous dialogue is great for anyone. Those seeking a dark, scary adventure may be dismayed, but those who simply want a fun, bright game will be delighted.

Accompanying the storyline, game play, and graphics is the sound, which continues the tradition of happiness. Some of the songs are a little dark, but the even the darkest song has enough zany instruments and light notes where the game style will not be harmed. Most of the songs, though, have friendly overtures that will keep gamers smiling. Not all of the songs will appeal to all gamers, but most of them are catchy and enjoyable. Even the repetitive battle mode song (which plays in every battle screen) is not too annoying, as players will be focusing more on the battle at hand when it the tune starts running through the speakers.

The sound effects are equally gratifying. There's a light bop when a plumber pounces on a bad guy, and even the hammer sounds kiddish as it bangs against the ground. Mario and Luigi both talk in gibberish, which is always entertaining to listen to, and the babies feature their own form of baby talk. All of the characters come with their own individual sounds; every one accommodates the character nicely.

Now, people may also be aware that this game supports the Rumble Pak. It is the second Nintendo game to do so, and it does so superbly. Since the accessory tends to get noisy, leaving the sound at max volume is vital, particularly when the rumble really starts moving in order to accommodate the intense parts of the storyline. While the massive rumbling is good, it is the subtle rumbling that actually makes the Rumble Pak a must-have accessory for this game. During battles, the pak will shake a small amount when players attack or get injured. Although barely noticeable, this minute vibration supplies a realistic feel to the game. It is not noisy at all, and it feels natural.

When you put it all together, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time turns out to be a great game. It is more relaxed than most games, but that mood supports the enjoyment of this game. One of its biggest flaws, however, is its lack of length. As stated before, this game is very linear, and there is no place where gamers can simply traverse to find some cool items. Overall, it provides about 15-20 hours of game play, followed by a one-hour final boss battle with a very satisfying twist. The only problem is that Partners in Time has absolutely no replay value – once you beat the final boss, you are done.

So, is Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time worth purchasing? That depends largely on the gamer. RPG and action buffs may find it uncomfortable since it combines two different styles, but it is a great way for them to experience new genres without fully abandoning what they are used to. People who love both genres will also enjoy this game, since it joins the best of two worlds. However, it does suffer from short length and nonexistent replay value. Although this isn't a must-buy, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time is not something to cross off your wishlist; just be careful when considering whether this title is actually worth the thirty bucks.

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