One of the greatest strengths of theSuper Mariobrand is its ability to adapt to new game types. Mario and friends have explored all kinds of genres aside from platforming, producing a plethora of beloved spinoff franchises, fromMario SportstoMario PartytoMario Kart.Mario has even dabbled in RPGs in a few different franchises:Paper Marioand theMario and Luigiseries of games. WhilePaper Mariohas shed many of its RPG elements, theMario and Luigigames stuck to turn-based combat and a leveling system that set it apart. Unfortunately, the franchise’s main developer shut down in 2019, leading many to believe thatMario and Luigiwon’t get any more entries.
There’s still hope for the series, though, especially sinceNintendo trademarkedMario and Luigiagainin 2020. It’s simply a matter of finding a developer and getting the right concept for a game together. Nintendo might be wise to return toMario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story,the third entry in the franchise and one of the most beloved entries to date.Bowser’s Inside Storytakes a unique perspective on Mario and Luigi’s historic nemesis that Nintendo and another developer could repurpose in a brand new game, rather than simply remaking Bowser’s tale.
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Mario and Luigi’s Fall From Grace
Mario and Luigiwas once a very influential franchise for Nintendo, selling tons of copies and supplying Nintendo’s handheld consoles with solid games. The first threeMario and Luigititles were all beloved by critics and fans, establishing another potentiallylong-livedSuper Mariospinoff series. Unfortunately, the series declined in popularity in the late 2010s while AlphaDream started focusing on remakes of previousMario and Luigigames instead of new entries, even though the franchise wasn’t really old enough to justify leaning on remakes. After theBowser’s Inside Storyexpanded remakeMario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journeysold poorly, AlphaDream declared bankruptcy.
However, many fans suspect that theBowser’s Inside Storyremake didn’t sell poorly because it was bad; on the contrary, critics were fairly positive about it. Instead, many blame AlphaDream’s broader reliance on quick, easy remakes instead of wholly new games for both the studio and the franchise’s downfall. What’s more, theBowser’s Inside Storyremake’s platform may bear some blame. The original game released for the Nintendo DS, but the remake came tothe Nintendo 3DS in its final daysof relevance. It was definitely a confusing move to put the remake on the 3DS, even though it had the backward compatibility necessary to playBowser’s Inside Storyalready.
All of this leads to one important fact:Mario and Luigias a franchise didn’t let Nintendo down. Reception of theMario and Luigigames before theBowser’s Inside StoryandSuperstar Sagaremakes was still positive. In other words, Nintendo can still return to thisSuper Mariospinoff and give it another chance.A fresh start on the Nintendo Switchmight be just whatMario and Luigineeds. What’s more, the direction for the franchise’s return looks clear.Mario and Luigishould get a new game based onBowser’s Inside Story,rather than a remake.
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Imagining a New Mario and Luigi Game
If AlphaDream was going to remake anyMario and Luigigame alongsideSuperstar Saga,it was right to chooseBowser’s Inside Story.Critics loved the game’s charming writing, changes to combat, and use of Bowser as a protagonist instead of an antagonist. That’s whyNintendo should imitateBowser’s Inside Storyin the nextMario and Luigititle. There’s a lot of strong broad concepts inBowser’s Inside Storythat could help get the subseries back on its feet.
The chief among those concepts is the use ofBowser as a playable character. Although he doesn’t realize it, Bowser cooperates with Mario and Luigi throughout the entire game as they help Bowser fight off the scheming Fawful from inside their nemesis. It’d be great to see another game where Bowser teams up with Mario and Luigi to stop some greater threat; maybe Bowser is aware of their teamwork this time, and fight directly alongside Mario and Luigi instead of unwittingly cooperating. Seeing these three characters butt heads and face threats to the Mushroom Kingdom together sounds like a fun way to takeMario and Luigiback to its roots.
RebootingMario and Luigiwould also be a great opportunity to innovate on the franchise’s mechanics, just likeBowser’s Inside Storydid by its changes to the special attack system. The games that came afterBowser’s Inside Storyreceived some criticism for excessive tutorials and low innovation, so Nintendo would be wise to rework combat, leveling, and so onif it brings back thisMarioRPG series.Mario and Luigifell by the wayside in part because it got mired in its past; Nintendo ought to look to the franchise’s future and search for new potential by forging a team out of Mario, Luigi, and Bowser.
A New Generation of Mario Spinoffs
Nintendo’s recent enthusiasm aboutSuper Mario’s spinoff franchises might bode well forMario and Luigi.Fans thought thatMario Sportsgames were largely done for untilMario Golf: Super Rushcame forward, introducing new mechanics and characters to the series while reigniting interest in the sports spinoff series. Similarly, Nintendo’sSuper Mario PartyandMario Party Superstarstake new approaches to theMario Partyseries, and fans have responded positively so far. Hopefully, Nintendo takes that positive response as assurance that it can getMario and Luigito work again too.
Super Mariofans certainly wouldn’t complain about getting a newMarioRPG of some kind.Paper Mario’s divergence from its RPG rootsremains a sticking point for the series; many critics asked questions aboutPaper Mario: The Origami King’s limited use of RPG mechanics and whether or not the franchise should revive traditional turn-based combat. If there’s no clear sign thatPaper Mariowill resume being an RPG, thenMario and Luigihas a great potential playerbase among Nintendo fans longing for aSuper MarioRPG.Mario and Luigimay have faltered, but it shouldn’t lay down and die. Nintendo can still keep the franchise moving by taking inspiration from one of its strongest entries.
