(Game Boy Advance)

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Game Boy Advance)

Game Review

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Review

USA USA Version

Posted by Corbie Dillard

One of Nintendo's most enjoyable games of all time

With the success of Super Mario RPG on the Super Nintendo console, most people knew it was only a matter of time before Nintendo or one of its many developers revisited the idea of combining the Super Mario universe with a RPG gameplay system. Instead of simply rehashing many of the same ideas as those found in Super Mario RPG, the developers at AlphaDream instead built upon them, adding an almost completely new gameplay system that placed an emphasis on using the two Mario Bros. in a more cooperative fashion. The end result was one of the most wildly playable games you're ever likely to encounter and yet another amazing release in the Mario RPG series of titles. So how exactly has this Game Boy Advance RPG held up, and is it still as amazing a gameplay experience as when it burst onto the scene in 2003?

The gameplay idea of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is fairly basic in its design and execution. You'll spend the majority of your time in the game doing one of two things: traversing the many areas of the game or doing battle with the game's many enemies and bosses. As far as moving around goes, you'll have to learn to control both of the Mario Bros. in conjunction with one another in order to move around. You'll also have to learn to use their special cooperative abilities in order to progress through some of the game's trickier sections. While the game does a great job of showing you the ropes, you will have to put in the time to learn how to make use of the many gameplay moves in order to navigate your way successfully through the game. And on top of everything else, the game throws tons of enemies your way to make things even more challenging.

Since you can see your enemies before you engage them in battle, it is possible in many cases to avoid them if necessary. But if you want to earn coins and valuable experience points, you're going to have to take part in many of the game's battles. Once either of the Bros. touches an enemy, a fight breaks out, but you can gain an early advantage but stomping on or hitting an enemy with one of your hammers whilst on the map. This will not only do damage to the enemy before the battle even commences, but it will also generally give you the first turn despite your opponent's speed.

The battles in the game are turn-based, but there is also a lot of action involved as well. Not only do attacks require various button presses, but defending and counter-attacking require them as well. Much like the platforming moves, the game also eases you into the various battle commands and special moves as well. You'll learn one move at a time and then be given plenty of opportunities to perfect the move before the game tosses you a new one. Much like other Mario RPG releases, timing the various button presses plays a key role in how successful you are in battle. And since you'll be using both Mario Bros. cooperatively, you'll have to come to grips with the game's unique combat system if you're going to be effective in battle. It's this unique gameplay system that makes the game so much fun to play and so difficult to put down.

The careful balance of platforming and enemy battles gives the game a smooth flow. The game does a great job of showing you the ropes a little at a time without ever making you feel overwhelmed. The game's pattern-based boss fights also do a nice job of adding challenge to the progression of the game without making it too frustrating for the player. As long as you take part in battles and level your characters up evenly, you'll find the difficulty curve quite manageable. Couple all of this with some fantastic cooperative-style playability and an engaging storyline, and what you have is one of the most playable Mario titles ever made and a game that you'll definitely keep coming back to time and time again.

Visually, the game is quite impressive, especially for a Game Boy Advance release. While the shiny rendered visuals of Super Mario RPG are long gone, the sprite-based visuals the game makes use of are extremely rich and detailed. As if this weren't enough, the game also features a staggering amount of variety between the different areas of the game with each new area exuding it's own distinctive look and feel. Even the characters and enemies you'll encounter throughout the game all show a surprising amount of detail in not only their design, but also their many animations. Some of the bosses in the game are absolutely incredible sights to behold. Portable games got a nice step up with the release of the Game Boy Advance hardware and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a shining example of a developer making the most of the system's graphical capabilities.

As if the dynamic visual presentation wasn't enough, the developers still managed to find time to squeeze in an impressive musical score. Not only are there plenty of classic Super Mario musical tracks to enjoy, but there are also a plethora of new tunes as well. While some songs are more quirky than others, each one does an outstanding job of bringing out the mood and theme of the area it's featured in. Even many of the sound effects themselves get the nostalgic treatment and sound like they were plucked straight out of another classic Super Mario title. The combination of old and new audio elements gives the game a great balance and ends up being one of the better Mario soundtrack efforts.

Conclusion

Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga is ultimately one of those games that no matter how hard you might try, you just can't really find anything at all to complain about. It's got an enthralling quest, a great sense of humor, an extremely playable gameplay system, and a host of some of the greatest characters in video gaming history to interact with. Super Mario RPG might have originated the idea of tossing Mario and friends into a role-playing game universe, but Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga definitely perfects it with a nearly-flawless gaming experience that should appeal to anyone who's even the slightest fan of Mario or the RPG genre. A game of this caliber doesn't come around very often, but when it does it reminds us just how great video gaming can be when a developer takes the time to get it right.

Game Trailer

User Comments (59)

Big_A2

#2

Big_A2 said:

I like to call these types of games "Friday afternoon" games, because they always seems to evoke the wonderfulness of getting home from school on Fridays and sitting on the living room couch with a GBA and sarcastic gaming magazine in hand.

Token_Girl

#5

Token_Girl said:

You guys are really building up your pool of Retro Reviews. I, for one, think that's awesome. (Well, except for the lack of a DSiVC, so I could download these games and play them...that's where it all falls apart after reading a review like this).

Raylax

#6

Raylax said:

These games are so awesome. I have a copy of M&L:SS, but it's broken and doesn't save D:
Got to just after the beanstar is split into pieces by just using Sleep Mode whenever I wanted to stop playing, but then it crashed :(

Loved Partners in Time though, but the controls in that were really awkward sometimes, trying to move the babies and the bros in sync without dying too much.Still yet to play BiS.

Nekogao

#7

Nekogao said:

I really enjoyed this but never got round to finishing it for some reason...

Now feeling the urge to dig it out!

VGM

#9

VGM said:

Damn, now that 10 is no good.:(
Corbie, don't review SMS, PLEASE.:P
Excellent review as always.:)

Mayhem

#10

Mayhem said:

I felt this way back when it was released... and time hasn't changed much. It's still an unbelievable game...

Percentful

#13

Percentful said:

I've only played Partners in time, but I want BIS also. I have a DSi, but my sister wants a DS so I could play M$L SS on that. [she will most likely get it, or I will get it for her and she will share ;)]

Axoloth

#14

Axoloth said:

If there was ever a GBA game that deserved a 10/10, it's this one.
That and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
.......Final Fantasy Tactics Advance isn't too shabby either.
You should review one of those.

Objection

#16

Objection said:

Indeed, I'm surprised at the lack of mention at the humorous script. Good review nonetheless. I'll be picking up BiS when I get a chance.

Golgo

#17

Golgo said:

Partners in Time was dreadful compared to this masterpiece. I've got Bowser's Inside Story on my shelf, not opened it yet in fear it too will pale before the might of Superstar Saga!

pixelman

#18

pixelman said:

Great review Corbie, though I was a bit disappointed that you skimmed over the brilliant dialog, quirky story, and the minigames, as those really added to the charm of the game. "a host of some of the greatest characters in video gaming history" - damn right. Fawful and Cackletta FTW! :D

Fully worthy of a 10, and it stands as my all-time favorite game. It's far, far better than BIS.

@VGM: Now is when I ram you.

Noire

#21

Noire said:

One of the games I want to understand because I can see the greatness there, and yet for some reason, I just can't. Something about it and all the other Mario RPGs save Paper Mario N64 just rub me the wrong way...

CorbsAdmin

#22

Corbs said:

Great review Corbie, though I was a bit disappointed that you skimmed over the brilliant dialog, quirky story, and the minigames, as those really added to the charm of the game.

Would you like me to change that score to a 5? There was no need to give anything more than I gave away from this wonderful game to get the point across, so consider it skimmed. :P

Ricardo91

#25

Ricardo91 said:

Nonsense. This game should've been at least an 11. :P

Great review for a great game Corbie! It still my favorite RPG to this day, and most likely always will be. :) I still have yet to beat Cackletta's soul in Bowletta's belly. I've played through the game 3 times already and she still gets me every time. :(

"SMRPG is better than M&L SS."

I HAVE FURY!!!!

CanisWolfred

#26

CanisWolfred said:

I could never really get into this one. If felt foo similar to Partners in Time, which I played first, except Super Star Saga's gameplay was much shallower and the story wasn't as interesting. It just couldn't hold my attention.

Peacock

#28

Peacock said:

When I got this in April, It changed the way I think about games are.
Easilly my favorite game of all time. Thank you, Corbie, for giving this game what it deserves

Peacock

#29

Peacock said:

But I just noticed something. You didn't say anything about the fantastic dialoge! Or maybe Fawful hypnotized you not to?
NOW IS WHEN I RAM YOU!

Neo_Yor

#33

Neo_Yor said:

I just got it last week and finished it in 4 days. One of the best of GBA.

I HAVE FURY!

Stuffgamer1

#34

Stuffgamer1 said:

What the heck does "most playable" even MEAN?

@Mickeymac: I believe you are in a minority on that one. Most people (myself included) find the gameplay and story in SS much better than PiT.

CorbsAdmin

#35

Corbs said:

most (adj.) - Greatest in amount, extent, or degree.
playable (adj.) - Capable of or suitable for being played or played on.

If I was deducing the combined definition I think it would probably be something like: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga has the greatest amount of capability for being played by comparison with other Nintendo releases.
(Means it's damn fun to play) :D

CanisWolfred

#36

CanisWolfred said:

@Stuffgamer1

I think I can get that just by reading the coments here, Stuff.:P Opinions are opinions. I just happen to have an opinion that doesn't agree with everyone elses.

KeeperBvK

#37

KeeperBvK said:

Nowhere near a 10 in my books and easily the weakest Mario RPG in existence. Way too short and easy and just sometimes downright boring. If it wasn't so truly funny at times, this'd be nothing more than a 5 in my books, but as it is, it's at least a 6.

Bakajin

#38

Bakajin said:

Way too short? Sounded like a must-buy already, but that makes it will-do-anything-short-of-a-felony-to-own now. RPGs used to be my favorite genre, but I just never get around to finishing them anymore. Short RPGs are where it's at.

pixelman

#39

pixelman said:

I think it's shorter in terms of hours than Bowser's Inside Story (this one's around 10-15 hours), but the sheer amount of locales and variety make it feel much longer.

Stuffgamer1

#40

Stuffgamer1 said:

@Corbie: Yeah...I get the literal definitions. I just don't really see equating "playable" with "fun." To me, "playable" would refer to quality of controls, not actual fun value. Makes more sense to just say it's one of Nintendo's best games, most fun games, or like that.:P

@Mickeymac: Yeah, I know...not sure why I felt compelled to point that out, actually. Though for what it's worth, I like PiT a lot more than a lot of people around here seem to. Baby Luigi's so CUUUUTE!:D

Bassman_Q

#42

Bassman_Q said:

Ahhh so much good memories with this game... It's what made me interested in the RPG genre. It deserves all of the credit it gets and easily the beast GBA game in existence. It should be considered a sin to not play this game. :D

Anyway, its sequel, Partners in Time, wasn't nearly as good as this one, though, luckily, BiS was a great success in terms of its playbility, and I think SS and BiS are tied for being the best handheld Nintendo game out imo.

Vinsanity

#43

Vinsanity said:

Never could finish this myself, but I do remember loving every minute of what I played:) I wish Nintendo would somehow get this onto a home console*; its hard to give a handheld RPG the love it deserves, unless you take the bus EVERY DAY for a few months or something...

*and not with a Game Boy Player. I'm not busting out my Gamecube and digging up the boot disk just for a GBA game, no matter how great it was.

Stuffgamer1

#46

Stuffgamer1 said:

@Vinsanity: What's so hard about playing your GBA at home? I play my handhelds while laying in my room all the time! I've never really understood the viewpoint that you couldn't just do that.

vonseux

#49

vonseux said:

I AGREE, one of the best experiences on GBA... no sequel can do it better.
The battle system is perfect, graphics, lenght... and for the first time the STORY is actually interesting. =)

Deviant_Mugen

#50

Deviant_Mugen said:

After playing Bowser's Inside Story, I have to track down a copy of this and Partners in Time so I can play them as well...

Peacock

#51

Peacock said:

Next to NSMBWii, Smash Bros. Brawl, and SM64, this has to be my favorite game of all time

SpriteKing

#53

SpriteKing said:

This game Is my Favourite GBA Game of all time.
My only complaint is that near the end, the quality of the "Cut-Scenes" gets surprisingly low.

Simon_Deku

#54

Simon_Deku said:

Awesome. It took me a few years to beat it but that was before I was as good at video games as I am now. Great reveiw Corbie!

HanuKwanzMasBif

#55

HanuKwanzMasBif said:

Only 10/10? Are you insane? This is probably the best game I've ever played. It deserves at least a 12. You must've been in a bad mood when you played this game and/or wrote the review.

ColorsOfSonic

#56

ColorsOfSonic said:

I got this but trded it into gamestop before the 3DS was released (My DS Lite's screen is messed up). If it becomes available then I will definitely download it from VC on 3DS

Sam_Loser2

#57

Sam_Loser2 said:

I think I liked this game just a bit better than the sequals. The main advantage this one has over the others is the diversity with the special moves, allowing you to choose the speed and even use different versions of the same attacks, allowing really skilled players (such as myself (: ) to get in more damage with a more challenging attack. What the sequals have over this IMO is the Final Boss. Not that this one is bad, but Partners in Time has one of the hardest final bosses (no, CHAIN of final bosses) I have ever seen in a Mario game. And Bower's inside story just has a very fun final boss. Don't know why, I just loved that fight.

Happy_Mask

#59

Happy_Mask said:

I love this game!!! Best soundtrack in a Mario game, an awesome story, amazing gameplay, AND IT WAS HILARIOUS! When I was on the final boss, my friend was watching, and he said items don't work in that battle. I actually believed him and died so many times until I memorized how to dodge every move and beat her with 1hp! God was that satisfying. 2nd playthrough I realized items are usable, and I made a scarier face to him than the original cackletta makes. :D
Btw popples theme is the best Mario song ever.

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