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To start off are the graphics. The graphics presented to us are very well done. Rich colorful environments decorate this game in a way we've never thought possible on the GBA. Mario, Luigi and other characters are visually stunning. The animations in battle are simple, yet fun to look at. You'll no doubt be impressed by the graphics the first time around.
The music and other sound in this game is also quite good. Music from nearly all the Mario games is mixed into the bunch as well as introducing new tunes. The new tunes are quite remarkable, especially for the GBA. While some tunes get a little repetitive and loop around much too quickly, you'll quickly get used to it, as it is a minor flaw.
The story is that a witch named Cackletta from the neighboring Kingdom of Beanbean has stolen Princess Toadstool's beautiful voice and has replaced it with explosives. Each time Toadstool speaks you'll see a lot of symbols pop up in her dialogue box and then come down to the ground with an explosion. When Bowser comes to kidnap the Princess he soon realizes that she would probably ruin his castle. In short, Bowser decides to help Mario and Luigi.
What was even more remarkable are the voices in the game. Mario and Luigi don't scream, grunt, groan and moan for every action they do, but they're voices are still pretty well done. Bowser's voice is also impressive. Voices are very well done on this game so you shouldn't find yourself turning down the volume a whole lot. Mario and Luigi never really say anything; instead you hear them speaking gibberish a lot of the time when they communicate.
The game also presents a lot of moments that'll without a doubt make you laugh. Even the opening cinema and beginning of the game are pretty funny. So you'll find a lot of entertainment with this that I think you'll really love.
The battle system is quite different from your standard Turn-Based RPG as well as on the field. For example, the A-Button controls one character and the B-Button controls another. The start button switches Mario and Luigi around so that the other one leads (so if Mario is leading push start and Luigi steps in front). So they're both on the over world map. If Mario is leading the A-Button Controls him, and the B-button controls Luigi and vice-versa.
What's even more important is that in battle the A-Button ALWAYS controls Mario and the B-Button ALWAYS controls Luigi. This is always true in battle. There are four commands in battle: Solo Attack, Bros. Attack, Items and Run. The Solo Attack allows your character to attack of course. But remember that if it's Luigi you use the B-Button. Much like Super Mario RPG you've got "Timed-Hits". Pressing a button right before the attack connects causes a more powerful hit. Bros. Attacks are different. This is where Mario and Luigi do a duel attack to an enemy. You must execute by entering the right button commands as they appear on screen. If you decide you want to make them harder to pull off you can do them without the aid of button commands and have the speed at which the attack is executed at increased. Of course the harder one you choose the more damage it'll do.
What's also interesting is that you can dodge attacks. When an enemy comes to attack you, press the button that corresponds to that character to dodge the attack. So if an enemy attacks Mario you'd press A.
Mario and Luigi can also use techniques on the field. Luigi can jump on Mario's head and perform a high-jump and Mario can jump on Luigi's for a spin jump. They can also use hammers which they can smash blocks with too.
I've only about one or two cons with the game. One is you only have Mario and Luigi. No one else joins the party. This isn't really a con but for an RPG there are some RPGers who expect more characters to control. The other con however, is that they included the arcade Mario Bros. While this isn't necessarily bad, it's on EVERY Mario game on the GBA! It was nice at first but after the second Mario Advance game it just began to lose my interest. I'm sure many will probably overlook the Original Mario Bros. Game.
However, Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga is excellent for the GBA. It's the first original Mario game on the GBA and for that I'm glad. This is without a doubt one of the greatest GBA games we've ever seen before.
Basic plot: too full of twists and turns to explain here. But basically, it's another "Mario & Lugi go on a quest" game. However, it's different from any other Mario game I've ever played (although I'll admit I have never played Paper Mario).
What's particular about this game is that, first of all, you play as Mario AND Luigi at the same time, with the A and B buttons each controlling one of the brothers. Second of all, whenever you run into an enemy, instead of killing it with a jump or battling it in the usual manner, you automatically switch into Battle Mode. In this mode, you each get a turn at attacking the enemy, then the enemy gets a turn at you, and you need to dodge the attack. This initially surprised me, and irritated me: I'll admit I found it somewhat boring at first. However, I can assure you it grows on you. At first, all you can do is jump on the enemies, but as you make progress, you learn new very cool techniques, including Bros. Attacks, in which both brothers combine their forces to inflict severe damage on the enemy. The variety of attacks you eventually learn makes the whole thing very entertaining.
Speaking of entertaining, this game also has a lot of humour. The creators, by inventing the new techniques, enable you to put your characters into rather unusual situations. There are puzzles to solve, which I found to be quite fun (although some people may not like those). And, at times, you find yourself in delightfully funny circumstances. There are quite a few dialogues and scenes, many of which are ironic and very entertaining.
Finally, this is an elaborate game that will keep you busy for a while. It records the number of hours you've been playing, and right now, I'm almost at the end and my file shows I've been playing for over 21 hours!!!! I'm not a very good gamer, I'll admit, but still, this isn't a game you'll finish in two hours and then put away, you really get your money's worth here.
So, in conclusion, don't expect a traditional Mario game, but something very different and, in my opinion, at least as good. Oh, and the graphics are very nicely done. ;-)
