Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time Review

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.