Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time Review

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.