After the success of Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga, for the GBA, the silly dialog and impressive game mechanics won over millions of children, and rightfully so.
After that, the developers, Alpha Dream produced three more games: Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, for the Nintendo DS, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, for the Nintendo DS as well, and this game.
To clarify, I had already had my expectations high up after playing Partners in Time and Bowser's Inside Story. Would this game meet the expectations?
Well... they actually surpassed my expectations.
The game has wonderful graphics, a great storyline, and a plot twist that genuinely shocked me. They also seemed to up the goofiness and comedy, what with the newcomer, Dreambert, and Dreamy Luigi.
Well, okay, let's get started.
Gameplay: A typical Mario and Luigi game; it's an RPG, where you battle enemies, and gain stats and levels when you defeat them. However, now there's a new gimmick - everytime you reach a new rank, you get the chance to add on a trait for the respective brother; for example, you can save on BP.
With the Dream World, you control both Mario and Dreamy Luigi; and there are new mechanics, called Luiginary works. Basically, as Luigi is sleeping, you can manipulate what he does in his sleep (I.E. pull on his moustache - ouch - rub on his nose to make him sneeze, ectera.) and have Mario reach the new goals. When you get into battles, Mario can use Dreamy Luigi attacks, which basically summon many Luigis to do various things. (I had a theory that they made this game so that every Luigi fan and fangirl can get a Luigi, but whatever)
The one problem that many people had with the Dreamy Luigi battles were the gyro scope controls; basically, you have to move your 3DS around to make the attacks work - but I personally had no problem, and I believe that Nintendo released a patch for the game anyway.
With the boss battles, instead of continues, you can use Easy Mode when you die. It's quite nice, actually, and it's also optional.
Story: The story is centered around this: a villain named Antasma, a sort of literal nightmare, has just been rereleased into the world, and you must free the natives of the old kingdom, the Pi'llo, in order to defeat him.
... That's only the synopsis, and does it not sound awesome?
It's also been found out that due to the fact that Luigi is such a deep sleeper (The beginning to Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, anyone?) he is the only one who can open the portal to the Dream World, in which Mario can jump in and set things right.
It is the Year of the Luigi, everyone, 2013, and it's great that they actually tied in one of his traits into the game instead of a retcon.
And finally... the characters themselves.
Now, I would like to focus on the villain, the new exposition fairy, Dreambert and the aforementioned green man himself, Luigi.
I was pumped when I found out that Antasma was going to be a composition of the old Mario and Luigi villains. And it shows.
His design is based off of Cackella, he has a scary, shrunken in look like the Princess Shroob, and his attacks remind me much of the Dark Star.
Besides the fact that he has crazy dialog like Fawful. He's Transylvanian. Because he can transform into a bat. I don't really know why they have to go with that route, but it's funny, so I can let it slide.
Dreambert, at first, I had mixed feelings about. I couldn't really understand this strange, new character, and why it was he knew Antasma.
But after playing through the game, he's probably my most favorite exposition fairy in any game I've ever played.
He's funny, responsible, he's got a pleasing dialog voice, and thank Lord almighty, he's actually polite to the brothers that are helping him.
Starlow, I didn't really like that much. She had an annoying dialog voice, was very rude at bad times, and while she had a cute design, it was overshadowed by how she could possibly be Navi's great granddaughter. I'm sorry if you like her, but I could barely stand her.
Dreambert, I would take him over that little lightbulb any day. I only wish that he could have been the only exposition fairy, and that Starlow just got a cameo. C'mon, we could've easily just messed around with Luigi without her. More breaking of the fourth wall, that would have been nice.
And now, Luigi. I've already stated that this is my favorite Mario character (See Luigi's Mansion and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon reviews) so I apologize if this seems biased.
It seems as though, every day, Nintendo and Alpha Dream think of new ways to make this character goofier and more adorable.
You can mess around with him in his sleep, but when something good happens, he lets out a happy laugh. If you trigger a certain Luiginary, he does a little fist-pump, and it's adorable.
Don't worry, bad things still happen to him, and they are hilarious - but unfortunately, there are no epic gusher tears. I was disappointed.
But I think the pinnacle of the interactions are when you go into Dream's Deep.
Dream's Deep is the deepest subconscious of Luigi; while you're in there, Dreamy Luigi isn't following you, and there are words that follow you as you travel deeper and deeper into this place.
What are the words? Are they rage against the world for putting him down, a deep-seated need for revenge against his older, more popular twin?
No. They consist of nothing but praise and worry for his big bro. It actually did make me tear up a little, not just at the implications, but some of the words that flew across the screen.
"Please don't leave me behind", "I can help".
As someone who was not physically fast, and was often at the end of the line when running with friends, and they wouldn't stop to wait for me to catch up - as you are doing with Mario right now - it did strike a chord with me.
It's this kind of subtlety that really makes these games great. They're not outright telling you that Luigi is worried about Mario through exposition; they're showing you, in a very moving way.
This game? Come for the bright, vibrant story, stay for the beauty within the words.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Buy this product as Renewed and save $1.94 off the current New price.
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team (Renewed) $28.05
FREE Shipping
on orders over $35.00
shipped by Amazon or get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
(4)
Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
Get free shipping
Free shipping
within the U.S. when you order $35.00
of eligible items shipped by Amazon.
Or get faster shipping on this item starting at $7.02
. (Prices may vary for AK and HI.)
Learn more about free shipping
(4)
Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Frequently bought together
$29.99
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15
Only 18 left in stock - order soon.
Nintendo 3DS
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Reviews with images
This game is amazing!!
I picked this game for three reasons:Reason number one: I love sleeping and dreaming!Reason number two: The field setup is similar to Bowser's Inside Story, with normal aspects in the real world and 2D platforming in the dream world. Plus, you can cause effects by messing with Luigi's face.Reason number three: The OST for this game is beautiful! Yoko Shimomura is a great first-time/RPG composer.
Top reviews from other countries
saniya
Opinions expressed by my 13-year-old
Reviewed in India on April 17, 2018
saniya
Reviewed in India on April 17, 2018
Images in this review
