Mario & Luigi: Brothership in the test: A great role-playing game for the Switch with one extremely annoying flaw

In their first Switch adventure together, Mario and Luigi stick together through thick and thin.

Welcome to our test of! Now we'll tell you whether the new role-playing game from the Mushroom Kingdom?

Oh, did you know that Mario was named after the Italian landlord of Nintendo's American offices? So let's continue with the test:

Now we'll tell you whether the new role-playing game from the Mushroom Kingdom is fun. The plot tells of Mario and Luigi, who one day...

Oh, and did you know that Mario wasn't even a plumber at all, but was a carpenter at the beginning of his career? Interesting, right? Let's continue:

The plot tells?Wow, that's annoying, isn't it? I just can't get to the point.Instead of finally starting the test, I keep braking abruptly. That's exactly what you'll get in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. This flaw is particularly annoying because the rest of the game is really great.

Connection lost, world broken, what now?

If you don't have a connection, you can no longer waste your time on your smartphone or call your mom. But if the country of Konektania no longer has any connection, the whole world will fall apart!

When Mario and his brother Luigi reach Konektania via a dimensional rift (sure, how else?!), they of course immediately offer their services as experienced world savers. Your task is to travel through the fragments that drift as islands through the huge sea and connect them using a power plug (!) to a tree (!), which also serves as a ship's mast (!).

The story reads like a Shigeru Miyamoto fever dream, but it's fun! Brothership always surprises with cool ideas and twists. By Nintendo standards, you get a narratively strong role-playing game here.

A role-playing light of the first quality

But please don't expect Baldur's Gate 3 or Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Mario & Luigi: Brothership relies on simplified role-playing gameplay, which fits the light-hearted flair of the game perfectly and puts you in a good mood:

• Character values: The two brothers have different weaknesses and strengths that come from attack power, defense, speed, and beard (yes, that's an attribute). In MMO terms: Mario is the damage dealer, Luigi is the tank.
• equipment: Pants, boots, hammers - there are a whole range of items that make Mario and Luigi stronger. These are available from dealers or as rewards for special tasks.
• Levelaufstiege: After each battle, the siblings collect experience points. Once they have accumulated enough, they level up and their attributes increase automatically.

Get on topQuests von NPCs, scattered throughout the fragmented environment. All in all, the mechanics mix into a harmonious whole with a pleasant depth without being overwhelming.

By the way, the side tasks are mostly tied to the main story, so you can't miss them. Only a few tasks require you to explore the game world independently.

The attributes of the two plumbers can be improved with items.

Great round-robin battles with neatWumms!

As Mario and Luigi explore the islands, they inevitably come across creatures that attack without hesitation. There's no need to worry because the fights are the big highlight of Brothership.

Anyone who has already played one of the other Nintendo role-playing games - such as Paper Mario or the Super Mario RPG - will get to grips with it straight away. The battles are turn-based. Mario and Luigi have the choice per turn whether they attack their opponents with a jump or a hammer attack. Alternatively, there are also particularly strong abilities, the so-calledBrother pointscosts.

The highlight: As soon as enemies attack, you don't have to grudgingly accept the damage caused. Instead, you can study the villains' movement patterns, memorize them, and thenWith good timing you can dodge or block pretty much any attack. Often it is even possible to counterattack so that you can deliver another powerful blow yourself.

Through their teamwork, Mario and Luigi prove that they are an unbeatable brother duo. All attacks are carried out together. You can deal bonus damage by pressing the A button (Mario) or the B button (Luigi) at the right moment. Seeing the close relationship between the mustachioed people in battle is wonderfully atmospheric and turns every fight into a spectacle!