User Reviews (31 - 41 of 138)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Pure joy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have a theory about games like these. My theory is that their developers have secret access to a mysterious element called Happy, which they tuck into the microchip before shipping the game. This causes the strange effect of players not being able to cease smiling as they play the game. I have fallen under the effects of Happy, and here's why.

I loved the look of this game. Clear, sharp, and colorful, with gorgeous animation. I highly reccomend that you play it on a DS or GBA SP, as the extra light heightens the graphics to glorious levels.

The battle system is wonderful. You may not be able to believe that the superb Paper Mario combat system would translate well to a handheld, but ah, how wrong you'd be. Timing the button presses takes concentration, but is never frustrating or boring. You can use hammers, jumps, or even magical powers to attack, as well as an array of fun items.

Then there are the puzzles. This is where the Happy element is in its strongest form. As you progress in the game, you'll earn new abilities, and each and every one will help you solve the near-perfect puzzles. Use your hammer to whack the brother in front of you into the ground...light your partner's pants on fire to make him dash...or jump on his head to reach a high ledge. Whatever it is you have to do, it always makes sense. For this reason, I would reccomend playing without a strategy guide, since using one would ruin the fun of figuring the puzzles out.

The story, which is beautiful in its simplicity, has many twists and turns, so you never know what you might be doing next. One minute you could be hunting for beans to make Yoshis lay eggs, and the next you might be strategically using your hammer to help a fashion designer dye her clothes. This keeps the game fresh and exciting at every turn.

RPG elements are integrated masterfully. You can gain experience, level up, and even buy new equipment. These features add to the game, but never become a pain.

From the beginning, which features Mario running around in his underwear, to the end sequence, wherein Bowser is tied to the back of a plane in a gigantic gift box, this game is pure joy. So play it already. Feel the Happy.

They finally star in a game, and it's good too

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

One could very rightly say that there is sort of a rivalry between the Mario Bros. Mario has starred in big games like Mario 64, Sunshine, Mario World, Mario 3 etc. Luigi however doesn't really have great games. He was in Mario is Missing and Luigi's Mansion and he only has co-starring roles like in Mario Party or Mario Kart. So finally they pair up and even then they reference the rivalry in the first game in awhile they star together in.

Story: Princess Cackaletta is bringing a gift to Princess Toadstool only she steals Princess' voice and replaces it with explosive vocabulary. Her words are literally bombs that explode. So off Mario and Luigi, a reluctant Bowser and some other cameos are along for the ride(sort of) has the Mario Bros try to rescue the Princess' voice.

Graphics: Some find it ugly, others say it fits perfectly in this context. I say it's both. It's not incredibly animated like Golden Sun and even one could say Mario RPG from the SNES looks better than this but it fits the atmosphere of the game.

Sound/Music: The ever popular Mario theme returns, as usual remixed too. There is little to no voice acting besides Mario's "let's go!" or Luigi's "alright!" and some other things. Mario games tend to have very little voice acting anyway.

Gameplay: You ONLY control the Mario Bros. This game is the spiritual successors to Mario RPG and Paper Mario, games where you controlled not just the Brothers, but here it's strictly a family affair. And so of course gameplay and battle screens A controls Mario and B controls Luigi always. It's kind of confusing at first, especially since RPG's were always one button for action commands but you'll get the hang of it.

The Brothers can team up on both play areas. Let's say that that platform is too high for them to jump. Put Mario in front and activate Luigi's power with the L and they can do a high jump. Likewise, substituting Luigi for Mario, they can do a Spin Jump which allows them to travel platforms too spaced out. Other abilities come your way like shrinking Mario or pounding Luigi into the dirt.

The game has a light-hearted feel with the dialogue and while not as sharply written as Paper Mario: TTYD, it's still enjoyable to read, especially to the nods to past Mario/Luigi adventures.

The game can be slightly challenging to the young-uns but then again even some stages in Super Mario World will drive anyone nuts but at least it's forgiving here and it's a good game too so it won't hurt to pick it up.

Their most hilarious adventure yet!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: August 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Oh, don't get me wrong. The game is fun too (although, try not to completely consider it an RPG, since it's just a bit different than standard RPGs). But, a game that can have me laugh and also be fun is a definate plus in my book, and it even not afraid to take a few stabs at its parent franchise.

The story starts of seriously enough, when Peach's voice is stolen by an evil villian named Cackletta. After that, things get humorous as Mario and Luigi rush to the castle to help Peach, and also find Bowser hesitant to kidnap her because her voice was replaced with exploding symbols. From that point on, the stage is set for what has to be Mario and Luigi's most hilarious adventure yet.

Since I already mentioned story, it seems fitting that I should mention the graphics. Just like the story, the visuals are also hilariously exaggerated. The way they animate the characters is smooth and expressive, and the visual style is DEFINATELY fitting of the game's humor. Everything has a cartoony type style... except done right. In fact, even the text boxes are in on the act, adding emphasis where needed, giving the game an extra boost to its overall presentation. Also, the frame-rates (i.e. the fluidity of the animation) is superb, whether in battle, roaming around, or just letting some of the crazy story insue.

The sound is good, overall. The sound effects are exactly what they should be, though most of it probably won't blow your mind. However, the voicing for some of the characters is very excellent. There isn't any voice acting, per se, but rather general grunts, laughs, and a lot of lines that Mario and Luigi say. Well... they don't have any "real" dialogue (in other words, nothing in text), but they have short spoken lines like "Let 'sa go!" or "Oh yeah!" In fact, when Mario or Luigi are explaining anything to other characters, they use spoken dialogue that, believe it or not, sounds Italian (which is a first, as far as I can tell O_o ).

Anyway, music is also excellent. They have plenty of new tracks, but they also remix a lot of things. Funny thing is, the remixes are so new, so different, and so natural that they seem like they were an original part of the Mario & Luigi soundtrack.

Now, gameplay. This one is interesting. The best way I can describe the travel part (read: "non-battle") is somewhat like a platformer. Oh, don't think it's anything like the Mario platformer games, though. Think of this as a normal RPG that gives you more real-time freedom and more interesting things to do. They have some puzzles that you even have to use some special techniques for (these are explained thoroughly as you aquire them). This actually adds a unique flavor to the game, adding some adventure elements to it loosely akin to Legend of Zelda.

Now, battles are an interesting area. First, I should mention that any fans of RPGs will find this game rather easy. Regardless, the battle system is so unique that it may still be fun. Battles are turn-based, BUT there are two real-time systems that require almost precisely accurate timing. One is the dodge system. If an enemy attacks, you have the chance to dodge, if you press the button at the correct time, and even counter-attack if your lucky enough (assuming it's the right attack/enemy for it). The two types you get are jump and, later on, hammer, which are actually based on attacks you can perform too (FYI, there's another set of attacks called "hand," which allow Mario to do a fire attack and Luigi to do a lightning attack, but these don't have dodge moves, which makes sense). The type of dodge you can do is automatically selected, which is a good thing because it gives you more room to focus on waiting for the right time to dodge.

The other instance of real-time, or pseudo real-time, reaction in the game are the Bros. Attacks. These use an MP style point system called Bros. Points (or BP), so if you use them too much you'll need to recover your BP with items or go back to normal attacks. Anyway, the interesting thing about Bros. Attacks is that they require a string of correctly timed button presses, which alternates between Mario and Luigi (in battle, Mario is the A-button and Luigi is the B-button). Pressing all the buttons at the right time will net you greater damage with the attack. But, mess up along the way and your attack won't be as effective, though it may be hilarious to watch.

Mario & Luigi is definately a well concieved game. If you can get past how easy it may be, and the fact that it has no conventional genre definition, you'll find a fun and hilarious game waiting for you. Plus, if you like this game you'll be overjoyed to here that a Mario & Luigi 2 is in the works for the Nintendo DS (currently slated for release in November 2005).

Another brilliant Mario game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Having played, but not completed, Paper Mario, I was anxious to try Mario & Luigi: S.S., the latest Mario game from the mind of Shigeru Miyamoto. I was not dissapointed.
In this new adventure, Mario & Luigi exfiltrate the Mushroom Kingdom (with Bowser!) in pursuit of the witch Cackletta, who has stolen Peach's voice. Their pursuit ends in ruin, and the Mario Bros. find themselves in the Stardust Fields amidst the wreckage of Bowser's Airship. From here on in, their journey is a wonderfully orchestrated experience, filled with humor and exploration. Some of the hilarious characters you'll meet include the pretty-boy Prince Peasly, his mother, the obese Queen Bean, the evil henchman, Fawful, Bowser, and Toad. The graphics are colorful, lively, and fluid, with characters jumping, hammering, laughing, screaming, and being kidnapped by desert goombas. The music is jumpy and energetic, which is par for the course in a Mario Bros. game. Unlike in Paper Mario, Luigi is your sole compatriot for this jaunt through the Beanbean Kingdom. And what a jaunt it is. The Beanbean Kingdom has almost every kind of terrain imaginable, each beautifully "rendered." The enemies are delightfully varied, each with their own attacks and animations. They can attack either brother, and each one has a hidden hint in its attack that tells you which bro will be attacked. The bosses are a split group, though. Sometimes, (read: rarely) the boss will be of an appropriate difficulty level and a joy to fight. More likely, it'll be an overpowered beast that can kill you in three clean hits. Take your first encounter with Queen Bean. Each turn you can basically do two points of damage to her. She has about 100 HP. It took me 20+ minutes to defeat her, and it was incredibly boring.
Other than that one fault, this game is a perfect representation of Nintendo's ethic: nonviolent, fun electronic games. Enjoy.

Great Game, but a bit different from the last 2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga brings back the brilliance that is the Mario RPG. Like Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario, Superstar Saga is a must-have. In the last two games, Mario journeys from town to town in his quest. In this game, Mario's adventure centers around the Beanbean Kingdom and it's surrounding areas. For a GBA game, I am truly impressed how many little extras are in this game. Mario, Luigi, and Peach all have unique voices and the little mannerisms, facial expressions, and humor really are great. Even GENO makes a cameo in this one!

this game is awesome!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I think this is the best mario game ever! Well at least for the gameboy advance, I own gamecube and I have all kinds of Mario games, I own a GBA SP and this is my favorite game

GRAPHICS 10/10
the graphics in this game are really awesome! finally one game that actually shows what the GBA is capable of

STORY 10/10
the story is cool and really original, you have to find Peach and get her voice back

GAMEPLAY 10/10
the gameplay is one of the best thing is this game! you get to control Mario, and Luigi too, the controls are great so you'll enjoy playing this game very much

BUY IT! believe when I say you won't be sorry.

AWESOME!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

OK, so I'm not under 13, but that doesn't stop me from liking this game! IT'S FREAKING AWESOME!!! ALMOST as good as Halo, and that's saying something. The graphics are awesome. The battles and moves you can do are sweet. LOTS of replay value. The only complaint I have is after beating the last boss, the game just ends. I wish you could still walk around and fight and stuff. But no big.

A must have for all RPG or Mario fans

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I played this game, and i was amazed. This game is the best. It reminds me of my other favorite Mario game, "Paper Mario" The 2 are actually quite similar, in battle system and leveling up. But there are differences. in Mario and luigi they take turns fighting, and can use Bros. Attacks. The monsters are running around like in Paper Mario. Each brother will eventually get hammers and hand powers which add new bros. attacks. Another thing about the battle system is...it's like real-time crossed with turns. What i mean is that you take turns attacking, but you've gotta pay attention to dodge your enemys attacks. This game also has an excellent plot. It starts out with princess peach's voice getting stolen, so you have to go get it, but the problem escalates, and the story takes many surprising twists and turns, and if you miss the old koopa kids like Iggy,Lemmy,Ludwig etc., THEY'RE IN THIS GAME!!!

Unoriginal, but a fun RPG none the less

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is the third and latest game in the Super Mario RPG series. Any fan of either Super Mario RPG or Paper Mario should give this game a try, as it is very similar in game play to the other two. The obvious difference is this time, you get to use both Mario and Luigi in your quest.

It's a conventional RPG with turn based battles, character upgrades and the like. But instead of the usual plot of Bowser-kidnapped-Peach-so-you-better-save-her, you and Bowser will be working together to defeat the evil Cackletta that has stolen Peach's voice.

Being an RPG, Superstar Saga will take you a long time to play, it's by no means a quick-beat. Even the game play keeps getting more interesting as you need to master more fighting techniques as you progress.

In conclusion, a great RPG, but it doesn't really add much to the genre. If you like RPG's, or was a fan of the original two, you should check it out.

great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I love this game because it is fun and challenging. I really like the bosses and it is different from all the other Mario games. I highly recommend this game.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next 

Actions