Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

***Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga*** is a turn-based action role-playing game developed by AlphaDream and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance, released on November 2003, and later re-released as a Virtual Console for Wii U in 2014.

While this is the first *Mario & Luigi* installment, this is the third role-playing game in the *Mario* franchise, following *Super Mario RPG* and *Paper Mario*.

## Gameplay

The gameplay of *Mario & Luigi* differs from most other role-playing games due to its focus controlling both Mario and Luigi simultaneously. During the overworld sections, the directional pad controls Mario's movement with Luigi following closely, while Mario and Luigi's other actions are controlled individually with the A (Mario) and B (Luigi) buttons respectively. The game begins with them being able to jump independently, though they would soon gain access to hammers and a variety of other techniques as the game progresses. For example, Luigi's hammer can be used to squash Mario into a smaller size, allowing the latter to access small gaps, while placing Mario on Luigi's shoulders allows them to act like a propeller and hover across large gaps. Various enemies roam the overworld, and coming into contact with these enemies initiates a battle. Landing a hit on the enemy while on the overworld allows the player to deal pre-emptive damage, while the opposite is also possible.

The battles in *Superstar Saga* is turn-based. Mario and Luigi can attack normally either by jumping, which can deal multiple hits but when used against enemies covered in flames or with spikes, Mario or Luigi will get hurt, instead of the enemy. Another attack option is the hammer, which is powerful, but ineffective against flying enemies. Similar to previous Mario role-playing titles, such as *Super Mario RPG* and the *Paper Mario* series, players can time button presses to make their attacks more effective, such as earning an extra jump attack or increasing the hammer's power. Introduced in this series is the way in which Mario and Luigi can defend themselves during an enemy's attack. When an enemy attacks, the brothers would be able to either jump or use their hammer which, when successfully timed, allows them to dodge their attacks and even deal counter damage (for example: if they jump on top of a charging Goomba). Throughout the game, players can unlock Bros. Attacks, which use Bros. Points (BP) which requires players to cooperate between Mario and Luigi's actions to perform powerful combination attacks. Players can also use items such as mushrooms for healing, peppers for boosting stats and 1UP mushrooms for reviving fallen Bros. Defeating enemies earns experience points which help the Bros. level up and increase their stats, with players given the option to further increase the stats of one attribute every time they level up. Players can further improve their stats by equipping new gear to the Bros. or making them wear badges that give them special attributes.

Like other *Mario* titles for the Game Boy Advance, such as *Super Mario Advance*, *Superstar Saga* has the enhanced remake of the *Mario Bros.* arcade game. The game also supports rumble functionality when used with the Gamecube's Game Boy Player accessory.

## Gallery

Mario and LuigiPrince PeasleyPoppleCaptain GoombaCaptain Shy GuyLuigi
## Trivia

* The game was heavily inspired from *Tomato Adventure*, a Japan-exclusive role-playing game.
* The game was featured in the Playback section of the 263rd issue of *Nintendo Power*.