rom the opening moments of Superstar Saga, you know this is not a standard Mario game. Yet in typical Mario fashion, deviation from the formula yields some outstanding results.
Much like the N64 release Paper Mario, Superstar Saga is an RPG with Mario characters. In this adventure, Mario and Luigi head into the unfamiliar world of the Beanbean kingdom to battle the evil sorceress Cackletta. The witch has stolen Princess Peach’s voice in order to awaken the Beanstar, a sacred object which will allow her to rule the world. Although set in a completely new environment, Superstar Saga is brimming with familiar faces, like Bowser, goombas, koopas, wigglers, and more.
While the enemies are familiar, play is a mix of old and new. Much like a typical GBA role-playing game, Mario and Luigi explore the Beanbean kingdom in an isometric view. Each button controls the actions of one character; hitting start switches which plumber is in front. Both can jump and use hammers, but each has individual abilities as well. For example, Mario has a spin jump and can shrink, while Luigi has a high jump and can burrow through the ground. Utilizing the abilities of each is essential to the quest.
When the brothers encounter a creature, turn-based combat is initiated. At first, Mario and Luigi must rely on their trusty jumping skills to defeat enemies, but they later learn other attacks, including special moves in which they both strike at once. Enemy attacks can even be dodged or countered by careful jumping. Overall, combat has surprising depth and rarely grows dull, even though it is incredibly simple in execution.
While everything has a more kid-friendly look than most Mario games, the graphics are incredibly sharp and rival anything else on the system. The sound is equally well done. Perfect renditions of classic themes play throughout the quest. Mario and Luigi both have some limited voice work, but it is all so fitting that it’s funny every time you hear it. But even more notable is the downright bizarre sense of humor throughout the game. No one you meet can remember Luigi’s name, meaning they call him things like "Mr. Mario Brother Guy," and "Mr. Green ‘Stache." Fawful, Cackletta’s minion, has the best lines I’ve ever seen in a Mario game, and he’s now my favorite character in the franchise. When a weird green dude shouts "I have fury," I can’t help but giggle out loud. The strange humor is a big part of this title’s appeal, as are the atypical style of play and the charming story. If you’re a Mario fan, you owe it to yourself to pick this up.