Nintendo Mario & Luigi: Brothership

The visual design of Brothership represents a significant evolution for the series, with vibrant cel-shaded graphics that pop on the Switch's screen. Character animations are fluid and expressive, bringing personality to every interaction. The nautical theme is cleverly integrated into both the environmental design and user interface elements, with each island featuring distinct visual motifs that range from tropical paradises to mechanical wonderlands.

Performance-wise, the game maintains the series' signature timing-based combat system while introducing new nautical-themed special moves. However, frame rate issues occasionally disrupt the precise timing needed for combat, particularly during more elaborate attack animations. The game runs at a targeted 60fps but frequently drops frames in busy areas or during complex battle sequences.

The user experience retains the dual-character control scheme the series is known for, with each brother mapped to different buttons. The new ship navigation mechanics add an interesting layer to exploration, though the constant need to dock and undock when visiting islands can become tedious. The menu system is clean and intuitive, but excessive tutorial prompts and dialogue boxes frequently interrupt the flow of gameplay.

From a value perspective, Brothership offers substantial content with its roughly 30-hour campaign. The variety of islands to explore and side quests to complete provides plenty of entertainment, though much of it feels like padding rather than meaningful content. While the game introduces several new mechanics and features, it doesn't quite justify its premium price point when compared to other recent Mario RPG releases.