Mario & Luigi: Brothership beginner tips

Key insights

• Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a role-playing game with a unique turn-based combat system and multiple leveling statistics.
• Players must choose carefully between improving their stats, unlocking gear slots, and choosing the right level 8 bonus.
• In Mario & Luigi: Brothership, exploration is the focus. Players must find hidden paths, click on question blocks and take notes to retrace the path.

Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood is the first new adventure in almost a decade and fans have been waiting a long time for it. The game begins with the two brothers being sucked into a whirlpool. Eventually, the two come across an island that is actually a ship, where a young girl, Connie, asks for help in restoring her world.

This ship used to be part of a large landmass, but a cataclysmic event split it all into many islands. Mario and Luigi agree to help and set off. That's the general premise for this Mario & Luigi: Brotherhoodbut let's get to the gameplay next, because there's a lot to learn for new players. This isn't your average turn-based RPG, so here are some pointers.

6 Choose the first bonus at level 8

Upgrade your slots

As Mario or Luigi levels up, their stats increase like any other RPG. However, at certain levels, players can unlock an additional bonus starting at level 8. Players can choose to increase three different stats between HP, Speed ​​or Luck or acquire two skills.

Leveling up quickly increases the amount of experience points characters can earn, and Gear Slot +1 unlocks an additional accessory slot in the game. Although it may be tempting to level yourself quickly, do not resort to it at any time. Mario and Luigi can only obtain a limited number of these bonuses over the course of the game, and at some point additional EXP will no longer mean anything, whereas additional equipment slots and bonus stats will always help players.

5 Which island should you travel to first?

Raynforst Island or Twistee Island?

At the beginning, players have to make another big decision Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood. After the first island, players can choose whether to visit Raynforst Island to rescue Billdit or go to Twistee Island to rescue Maykit. Not only do the plumber brothers have to save her for their mother Willma, but they also need one of them to make them some hammers. The kicker is that the choice doesn't technically matter.

If Billdit is selected first, he will craft the hammer and vice versa for Maykit. Whoever is visited second won't offer players as cool a reward, and the islands will scale the levels of their monsters and change their shops. However, the island designs are different: Raynforst Island is a simple dungeon with no town, while Twistee Island is a larger area with more NPCs. So to get the hammers as quickly as possible, it's best to visit Billdit first.

4 Prepare yourself

From supplies to equipment

Gold coins are a precious commodity in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, the lifeblood of this role-playing game. Players can purchase a plethora of things from the start, such as mushrooms for healing or equipment to improve their stats. While it may be tempting to invest heavily in the latter option, through exploration the equipment will become available soon enough.

The one thing players should always have on hand are 1-Up Mushrooms, which will revive any brother in battle. Since there are only two party members and one brother is incapacitated, it means you can't win. They are expensive but worth it. Still, only one is needed at a time and hopefully, as with equipment, players should be able to find at least one 1-Up Mushroom on the field.

3 Fighting Tips

From offense to defense

There are two early pieces of combat gear that players can use to attack. Both brothers can jump onto enemies and will then receive the aforementioned hammers from either Billdit or Maykit. Both weapon types will be more useful in certain situations, but players should consider diversifying their heroes beyond that.

For example, it would be too expensive to buy Mario and Luigi the best boots and best hammers at every store location. Instead, one brother should get the best boots and concentrate on jumping, while the other should hold the hammer with a grip as strong as Thor. It should also be noted that the best offense in Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood will be a good defense in battle, meaning learning enemy patterns and counterattacks will lead to victory.

2 Look out for hidden paths and blocks

The rain shows everything

As mentioned, gold coins are hard to come by at first, but there are plenty of rewards to be won as you explore. How typical Mario In platform games, players can click on question blocks to receive gold coins or items. There are also hidden question blocks that players should always be on the lookout for.

An easy way to spot them is through shadows that reveal the location of hidden objects. Another example can be found on Raynforst Island, where the location of hidden question blocks is revealed by falling rain. As always, the map will be the RPG player's best friend, able to reveal locations of side quests and materials such as Sprite Bulb Groves. The general tip is for players to be aware of their surroundings.

1 Make notes about blocked paths

Use the screenshots from The Switch

Another exploration tip is for players to take notes using screenshots. Players can complete literal side quests given to them by NPCs, but they can also go back to complete non-specific side quests. For example, when an island is reconnected to Shipshape Island, special flower bulbs will grow and open up new paths, but that's just one of the reasons players can and should return to an old island.

Certain paths are blocked for other reasons, similar to Metroidvania. For example, early on there are large rock formations that can be smashed with a hammer. It can be difficult to remember places with previously closed paths like this. Screenshots are helpful here as they can help with backtracking.