Summary
Nintendo’s June 2024 Direct was a home run for many in the industry and fanbase, with several hotly anticipated games being announced, includingMario & Luigi: Brothership.Brothershipwill be the first entry in the celebratedMario & LuigiseriessinceMario & Luigi: Paper Jamin 2015. Fans of the series are avidly awaitingBrothership’s release this November, and as a side effect, speculation over a long-running theory regarding the series has come back into the spotlight. This theory has followed the series since its inception and may potentially affect the Mario universe in ways that were previously misunderstood.
Mario & Luigihas always stood out from the mainlineSuper Marioseries with its unique art design and mechanics. Each subsequent installment has introduced new characters and mechanics to keep the series fresh.Mario & Luigi: Dream Teamtransitioned the series from sprite art to 3D models, given that the game was released on the 3DS handheld. Additionally, the Dream World brought fun, wacky mechanics and story elements to the game.Paper Jamchanged the series further by introducingPaper Mario. However, the question remains:are the Mario Brothers ofMario & Luiginot the real Super Mario Brothers?
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Mario & Luigi Stands Out For Its Style And Mechanics
Game Mechanics Could Separate The Mario Universes
There has always been speculation that the Mario and friends ofSuper Marioare not the same as those that appear in spin-off franchises likeMario & Luigi. It’s possible that this theory finds its roots in the game mechanics of the spin-off series, such as the turn-based battle system ofMario & Luigiand theMario + RabbidsRTS style. The pure platforming of 2D and 3D Super Mario adventures not only perfected the platforming genre but also established the Mario Brothers in the minds of folks around the world as a couple of plumbers that jump on turtles.
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However, theMario & Luigiseries has always felt like something separate from the core games. The humor, the breaking of the fourth wall, and the dynamic art style instantly stand out. It makes sense thatPaper Mariowould join the series withPaper Jam, as many of the mechanics and the tone ofMario & LuigimirrorPaper Mario. The paper version of Mario is probably a starker example of a Mario universe that is separate from the main series. Consider also the characters ofSuper Mario RPG, whose designs are much shorter and squat in their appearance.
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The Mario & Lugi Series Still Contains Many Of Trappings Of The Mainline Games
The Closure Of The Original Developer May Be Another Clue
Of course,as different as theMario & Luigiseries isin appearance and mechanics, much of what is central to the identity ofSuper Mariois still there. Bowser kidnaps Peach, and Mario and his green-clad brother come to save the day, a storyline on infinite repeat. The personalities of the characters are also mostly par for the course. Mario is courageous, while Luigi is much more timid, a character trait that was firmly cemented in the originalLuigi’s Mansion. Strangely,Luigi’s Mansionis a series that does seem to take place within the world of the core series.
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An interesting thing to note is that AlphaDream, the original developer of theMario & Luigiseries, filed for bankruptcy in 2019. Nintendo soon filed a trademark forMario & Luigiin January 2020.This may be the best evidence thatMario & Luigiis a separate universe, or at least it was until Nintendo filed a trademark for the series. While not much is known aboutBrothership, it has been established that new locations and battle mechanics are in store, such as a focus on sea travel. UntilMario & Luigi: Brothershipreleases this November, the speculation will continue.
