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Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time (Nintendo DS)
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5/5 |
You don't need to be a kid to enjoy this
(May 22, 2008) |
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Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is essentially a 'lite' RPG that works on the interesting game mechanic of combining the efforts of both adult and baby versions of Mario and Luigi. The game brings together the two versions of the Mario Bros. from two timelines linked by a catastrophic event that has changed the face of the Mushroom Kingdom: the invasion of the Shroobs (basically a poisonous purple version of the Mushroom people).
The game plays out like a cross between a platformer and a top-down RPG. You explore different worlds, some more free-form than others, and solve puzzles to progress. Control is simple but very effective. The directional pad controls movement, as you'd expect, but -brilliantly- each character has been assigned one of the face buttons, so X and Y will make the babies perform their respective actions and A and B control the elder two. There are some side-view dungeon sections and a few fun minigames thrown into the adventuring that give the game a welcome level of layering not often seen in games today. This game certainly deserves the Nintendo seal of quality you'd expect from the infinitely-acclaimed Japanese developer.
The look of the combat is reminiscent of most Japanese role-playing games (e.g. Final Fantasy)in that you see your characters and the enemy facing off from a side view. But unlike J-RPGs you don't simply cue up attacks and watch them play out. Every attack involves some element of player input, the better the timing and the more accurate the button presses, the better the result. This works the other way, too, with 99.9% of enemy attacks being avoidable once you work out the pattern to their movements.
The boss fights deserve special mention: for some reason in later years (mainly Western) games seem to be eschewing bosses and level-by-level game structure in favour of continuity. Some of the best memories I have from games are the boss fights - from Quake to Zelda, so this trend comes as something of a vexation for me. Thankfully in PIT all the bosses are as original and rewarding as what you'd expect to see in a Zelda game, something I found really appealing.
In spite of the game being a watered-down RPG, player customisation is handled incredibly well. On top of your main stats -Health, Power, Defence, Speed and Stache- each character can wear a badge and an item of clothing (pants for the adult Bros, jeans for the tikes) which augment stats in different areas. The character levelling-up system also allows you to play to your strengths and weaknesses. When you level up your character is awarded a certain amount of points by default (more in the areas they excel in), but you also get a bonus 'spinner' that will let you award 1-6 points on top of what has already been added. This will allow the cocky player to focus on "Power" and "Stache" (as in 'Mou-stache', used here to mean 'luck') and the more conservative player to focus on Health and Defence. All of this is handled through very intuitive menus and introduced with straightforward tutorials for good measure.
You can make the game as tricky as you like. I played through collecting every item and every last coin and by the end had enough to buy the Mushroom Kingdom's entire stock of 1UPs if I'd wanted! This did take my playthrough to 26 hours (making my friend's 18-hour time seem like a 'roadrunner' in comparison), but from the loot I managed to acquire it does show that less skilled players can always rely on dilligence and resourcefulness to get them through the game. Some of the boss fights are a bit tricky, though, and rely on recognising patterns as much as good timing. I'd say a young player could get through the game with the help of an adult for some of the more taxing puzzles (the last boss in particular). As an example a 12-year-old coule probably do it alone.
So, my score: I'll give the game 4/5 for 'Fun' because I would have preferred a bit more of a challenge, but this isn't enough to fault my overall rating, which takes into account how original and well balanced the game is. It really does cater for a lot of different playstyles and abilities and it mixes the gameplay up very well too keep it interesting and challenging. Overall, I have to give the game 5/5.
I see the price is currently still fairly high for a game released almost 2 years ago. This is testament to its quality, so don't be put off by the £24.99 price tag: you will get value for money here. |
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4/5 |
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
(May 15, 2008) |
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Through decades of being one of the largest gaming icons in history, the Mario franchise has seen its fair share of genres. Ranging from 2D platforming games to the legendary Mario Kart, there aren't too many Mario games that haven't been thoroughly enjoyable.
Partners in Time is another of the Mario RPG's, following on from the highly acclaimed Superstar Saga released for the GBA. This time around the Mario Bro's are using time hole's to go back and forth through time, to protect the mushroom kingdom from the evil `Shroobs', and of course; save Princess Peach.
The gameplay isn't a great step forwards from Superstar Saga, with the same reaction based battle system as last time, allowing you to dodge attacks or deal extra damage by pressing certain buttons at the right time. The main addition to the battle system are the Bro's Items, though these work in the same way, pressing either A or B to perform various attacks. The reaction based battles are a great idea, with every enemy offering a different set of moves to dodge, though this does make the game a little less challenging. I found it easy enough to dodge the majority of attacks and even toward the final part of the game I was sailing through. Nevertheless, it's fun and original to the Mario series.
As well as keeping to the same gameplay as Superstar Saga, Partners in Time does quite little in making use of the DS's stylus, unlike a lot of other games. To my memory there is only one point in the entire game where the stylus comes into use, and it's pretty pointless. In a way this is relieving though, showing that whilst Nintendo are concentrating hard on appealing to a casual crowd, they still know how to make a good button basher.
It's not so much new ideas and revolutionary gameplay that make Partners in Time a good game though, but more the trademark Mario charm. The script is funny as ever, the gameplay simple and addictive. This game is very much a case of `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. It looks great, plays great, and is a definite must buy for Mario and RPG fans alike.
The Good: Well told story and funny script - Fun and friendly gameplay, much like other Mario titles - Quite lengthy
The Bad - Perhaps a bit too easy for hardcore RPGers - No real replay motive - Doesn't play differently from Superstar Saga... at all...
VERDICT - Final Fantasy for casual gamers; it's definitely worth getting.
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5/5 |
Another hilarious outing for gaming's favourite brothers
(July 02, 2007) |
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What can I say about this game other than "amazing!". The 2 DS screens are filled with colourful and sharp cartoon graphics. The music is some of the best ever to come out of a Mario game and the script is absolutely hilarious with real laugh-out-loud moments, that is very rare with games.
'Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time' is the sequel to excellent Gameboy Advance RPG, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. The brothers travel back in time to retrieve Princess Peach, only to come face to face with baby versions of themselves, the princess and Bowser. Teaming up with their young selves send Mario and Luigi on a quest of lunatic proportions as you must control both the adult and baby versions of the Mushroom Kingdom heroes to save the Princess and her castle from the evil Shrooms.
The game will probably take you about 20-25 hours to complete, depending on how much you want to explore and spend battling enemies to gain items and to level-up, so there is plently of content there to get your money's worth. It is also a game where once you start playing, you will be completely engrossed in the story and will be unable to put it down.
The battle system is turn-based, where you will need to take control of all 4 characters (the adult and baby Mario and Luigi) and learn new attacks and use various items as you progress through the game. This is quite a normal way to battle in an RPG game, but some of the boss battles (especially the one at the end) do drag on a little sometimes.
My only minor niggle about M&L:PiT would be that the game doesn't take advantage of the DS's touch screen controls. The game is played entirely using the d-pad and the buttons. It's not a huge problem, but it would have been nice to have had some DS-only touch screen puzzles to make it a little more unique from the previous Mario & Luigi game on the GBA. I'm just hoping that the creators of the next game in the series (Super Paper Mario for the Wii) have kept this in mind and have made something really special.
Overall M&L:PiT is one of the most playable, funny, addictive and best games on the DS and is one that every fan of Nintendo (or at least the Mario series) should own. This game is also much better than New Super Mario Bros. |
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4/5 |
Aw, where's the rest of it?
(June 24, 2007) |
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Following on from Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, Partners in Time sees Mario and Luigi travelling through time with their baby selves (without breaking all of those time-space continuum laws or whatever) to stop an invasion from an alien race called the Shroobs from destroying the Mushroom Kingdom. Not really a big problem for the pair (or two pairs), considering they do it almost every week. Only problem is, saving the world is competely second nature to them now that the game is over in around twelve hours.
However, that time is crammed full of hilarious little gems of dialogue, the old-school RPG element of buying items/equipment (which made it a real winner for me) and a journey through some very varied landscapes.
Battling is also inspired- 'Bros items' provide an entertaining alternative to the 'jump' and 'hammer' attacks.
One gripe I had (other than the shortness) which I have with come other games in this style (the Paper Mario games in particular) is the fact that Bowser is now a complete failure as a villain. He used to be pretty badass before 2004. Oh well, here's hoping he's back to normal come Super Mario Galaxy...
But yes. It's short, but fun. I replayed it quite a few times and it didn't get boring. |
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4/5 |
Good but gets repetative
(September 17, 2006) |
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I had great fun with this game 4 a few months but after a while u just get bord of the fighting scenes and the boses take for ever.
Good overall game with decent graphics and hilarius story.
I would recommend it if u can be bothered to waste tons of time getting used to the battles |
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