Key Takeaways
- Hidden details in Mario & Luigi Brothership offer Easter eggs for eagle-eyed gamers.
- Bros. Moves in the game are not original but bring upgraded animations.
- Starlow is one of just a few side-character who appears in every Mario & Luigi game, rewarding returning fans.
Mario is inarguably the most recognisable face in the gaming sphere, and thanks to just how deep the well of previous Mario projects is, there is also a massive history behind the most famous plumber in the industry. With masses of spin-offs and multimedia, Mario & Luigi is just one of the many Mario video game series, but it stands out as one of the few RPGs.
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With RPGs having a lot more depth and focus on exploration and details, there are even more hiding places for Easter eggs, and room for hidden details and references. Mario & Luigi Brothership is no exception to this, with the island-hopping adventure offering plenty to eagle-eyed gamers, so what are the best hidden details?
7
Time For A Kick About?
Shell No
If you haven’t played any of the previous Mario & Luigi RPGs (you’re missing out) you might not know that Bros. Moves are by no means original to Brothership. While there are original moves in every new game in the series, the class of attack will nearly always see the brothers teaming up for a combined attack against their foe for massive damage.
There are plenty of new additions within Brothership, but one Bros. attack that always seems to wheedle its way into just about every Mario & Luigi game is a Koopa shell attack.
While this movie remains largely similar compared to previous incarnations, the animation is upgraded thanks to the graphical capabilities of the Switch. The specific shot of Mario and Luigi kicking the shell is almost directly taken from the brothers’ sporting adventures in Mario Strikers Charged, with the football, of course, being replaced by a shell.
6
Luigi’s Touchdown
Always Improving
While there are recurring elements in every Mario & Luigi game, each new entry tries to add something new to help that particular entry stand out. For Brothership, this is the island hopping adventure, as the brothers sail the Shipshape Island around to find new lands to explore and eventually connect.
To reach these islands, the brothers will need to shoot themselves out of a cannon to get to their destination. Each of these entrances to a new island we see the terrified siblings hurtling towards the island, and while Mario always seems to land perfectly, Luigi tends to struggle, often finding himself crashing into the unique terrain of the island.
However, if you pay attention, you’ll notice that Luigi’s landing skills gradually improve as you progress further into the game.
5
Never One To Shy Away From Wordplay
No Punny Business
One of the main strengths of the Mario & Luigi series is the fantastic writing, with original characters who have strong personalities creating some great dialogue (even if they’re working with two brothers who tend to remain mostly mute). An area where the writing of the game shines, is in the pun-filled names of locations, characters, and just about anything they can think of.
Connie, who looks after the tree on Shipshape Island is a Wattanist (a portmanteau of Watt and Botonist), the villainous trio of Ecks, Ten, and Shun, form the Extension Corps (not to be confused with an extension cord), and Starlow, being a combination of star and yellow (a bit on the nose there).
4
A Particular Companion
Reward For Returning Mario & Luigi Fans
As the name of the series suggests, the stars of the show are the eponymous Mario brothers, and apart from Mushroom Kingdom mainstays, very few other characters tend to be both original to the Mario & Luigi series, and show up in multiple games. However, the one exception to this is Starlow.
Originally appearing in Mario & Luigi Bowser’s Inside Story, this charming companion has appeared in every main Mario & Luigi game since. While it seems at the start that the companion role has been filled by Snoutlet, part way through the game, Starlow will re-appear, only this time they’ll fill the role of Peach’s companion.
3
The Most Obscure Zelda Reference Possible
The Hero Of Trains
Nintendo, compared to other game companies, tend to not repeat itself too much when it comes to gimmicks and new ideas. While it’ll make references to some of their more experimental gimmicks, it’ll tend to only feature for one or maybe two games in a series and then be retired.
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However, the method of getting between islands on the Shipshape Island in Mario & Luigi Brothership, is incredibly reminiscent of the method of transport in The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks. While controlling the ship as Link is a little more involved, moving between tracks, and keeping an eye on the map is quite similar to moving between predetermined flow-streams and keeping an eye out for reefs in Brothership.
2
Princely Reef
My Liege?
One of the many activities you can try out while exploring the land of Concordia is looking for reefs while you sail Shipshape Island. These reefs are found in specific spots, all have a unique statue-like appearance, and after you find a handful, Issa Rock will give you a unique reward.
Some of these statues are a reference to characters from Mario history like Bloopers, but some are more specific, like Princely Reef. This reef clearly depicts the character of Prince Peasley from the first Mario & Luigi game; Superstar Saga. Peasley is a fan favourite and part of the core cast of from Superstar Saga, having an enjoyable rivalry with the brothers and a particularly engaging dynamic with Luigi.
1
Sleepy Luigi
Dream Team Now And Forever
When playing mainline 2D Mario platformers, it’s easy to miss out on the intricacies of the lead characters’ personalities, and this is where games like Mario & Luigi shine, by putting extra emphasis on the unique traits of the brothers. One aspect of Luigi’s character that is established and referenced a couple of times throughout Mario & Luigi Brothership is how sleepy Luigi is.
While it’s never directly mentioned, this is likely a small nod towards the previous main entry in the Mario & Luigi series; Dream Team. In this adventure, Luigi would frequently fall asleep, forming his own dream worlds that could be manipulated by interacting with the taller brother in different ways.
- Franchise
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Mario & Luigi
- Released
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November 7, 2024
- Developer(s)
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Acquire
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- ESRB
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E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
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37 hours
- OpenCritic Rating
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Strong
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
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November 7, 2024