"BACK TO ADVENTURE!" Stuffwell (Partners in Time)
This was one of the games I was looking forward to on the DS. I loved Superstar Saga and this one had the babies, and I like the babies. While it's not bad, I just don't like compared to other Mario games.
Story
Years ago, an alien race called the Shroobs have invaded the Mushroom kingdom and are converting it to their own creepy needs. Meanwhile, Professor E.Gadd has created a Time a machine and Princess Peach wants to give it a test drive. So of course things go wrong and the Mario Bros. get attack by the Shroobs and find a hole in time. There they meet their baby selves and together, must defeat the Shroobs.
I find the story to be a waste of ideas. The biggest problem is that the time travel feels like a complete gimmick as it's hardly used in the story it's only there just so you can play with the babies. While Baby Bowser is a villain in the story, regular Bowser feels shoe-horned in for a boss fight. Even Kamek, one of my favorite Mario villains is quickly removed from the plot after his fight.
The Shroobs are also a disappointment and I was looking forward for them. They are just a generic evil alien race and the reason they leave their home is never fully explained. There's also a plot hole very early on that only exist so that the characters can go forward.
GameplayLike the last game, you control Mario and Luigi with the A and B buttons but now you can control the babies with the X and Y buttons. The adults are stronger in battle and can spin jump and turn into a ball and the babies are weaker than the adults and can go into small places the adults can't go. While this isn't bad, I don't like getting the babies to fight.
The combat has improved a bit with the hammer defense having time before giving out and the introduction of a combo jump, plus the enemies take full advantage of the top screen as some enemy moves are telegraphed on the top. However, I'm mix on the bros items. You can stock up on these items and use them in battle. However, this leads to my biggest problem with the combat which is the game wants you to use these items, even if you don't want to. Sometimes you'll fight a large number of enemies or enemies with lots of health and the best way to deal with them is to use bros item. And most of them aren't that good as there are only three I used: the canonballer, the trampoline(best move) and the copy flower. Another problem I have is that you can only use the hammers with the babies But I admit that's a nitpick.
But the biggest problem of the game is how there's nothing to do. Sure there's collecting beans and that slot machine but thats it. Superstar Saga had several mini-games, a few side-quest, some secret areas and mini levels and even a hidden surf track. There's nothing in this game. And I don't like the hub in this game. Peach's castle feels more linear than it should and beside sealing beans for badges, there's nothing. Compare to the hub in Superstar Saga which was also linear but was filled to the brim with secrets. I don't even like the final boss in this game.
PresentationAt least I can say that the art is good. The sprites are well done and I liked the design of the Shroobs but I will admit I felt that some the Shroob enemies felt like ripoffs of Mario enemies. I do like that the sprites are allowed to be as big has they have to be instead of being force to be smaller. Unfortunately I don't like the maps as they make the areas feel smaller than they should be.
The music is good although are some track I don't care about. I don't like the battle music or the Shroob theme but I really like Thwomp Volcano and Toad Town. This also has my favorite boss track in the three MnL games I played.
Verdict
I don't think I'll play this game again. It's just an underwhelming sequel with wasted potential. And I dislike wasted potential.
6/10
No comments:
Post a Comment