Mario & Luigi: Brothership Connects in Almost All the Right Places

[@theivoryguy2476]

I love hearing people talk about what they *thought* Reclusa was going to be before the reveal, because they're wrong everytime and I love it. I had the exact same thought process. Brothership isn't a perfect game, but in some ways, it kind of is to me. Hearing people discuss its story and themes, good and bad, is so engaging.

[@AurumAlex64]

I really thought Reclusa was going to be some kind of dragon creature that pops out as a phase two fight after Zokket. I think what we ended up getting was a lot better.

[@tysondennis1016]

@@AurumAlex64Love our insane murder TV jester

[@Zyckro]

@@AurumAlex64 Same haha. I thought it was going to be a massive creature but it was awesome to have a whole final part of the game after he hatches.

[@BeanBeanKingdom]

I tried speaking to as many NPCs as I could after major story events. I could never believe just how much dialogue they were given. There are dozens upon dozens of subplots that are introduced when an island is isolated, developed when first reconnected, often further developed when a future island is reconnected and another NPC can finally meet the previous one, twisted when the Glohm starts spreading and finally taken to their extreme when Reclusa's flowers show up. For me it was one of the most obvious signs of how deeply Acquire cared about the game and it gave me major whiplash coming after the lack of character in Paper Jam. I also loved how the sidequest NPCs are there on Shipshape Island in the epilogue to see you off if you've done their sidequests. Perhaps the clearest indication of the bonds you as the player decided to make.

[@greenh6486]

I'm glad someone else can see a story for its themes especially something like M&L which has always had strong themes that people dont talk about because theyre mario games, but I have to disagree on your evaluation of what could have been. I think that the last 5 or so hours of Reclusa's reign do fully state everything I would want this kind of story to say. Maybe outwardly the concordians are all for bonds and connections, but the second they get the chance to live their perfect one-man-show life they take it and would rather starve then try to break out. I think this switch up does actually get to the heart of the loneliness epidemic than any outward asshole concordian could. People love to have friends but its difficult to forgo your own pleasure and ego to make them. In an age where pleasure and ego boosting is easier than ever, and people are just pixels on a screen, its easy to believe you are the main character of the world rather than just the main character of your own story. Making connections sounds nice until you remember that they need just as much time and attention as you do, that the other person's wants, needs, past, and opinions are just as important as yours. Its like trying to water a plant while you are wilting, you both need that mutual bond for that connection to survive, and some people are just not willing to give that, they would rather just live in their own simulated world. Even if on the surface they seem selfless and kind, people can become so enraptured in their own problems that they forget about others, a self fulfilling cycle of loneliness and solitude that only makes people suffer alone instead of together. To me, Technikki is so enraptured in her own self worth issues that shes unable to even talk about it without a lot of time and prodding, which leads her to stay with her self worth issues until the end. Thats why shes susceptible to the virtual world, its the easiest way out of her problems. She gets to live in a world where all those self worth issues melt away and she doesn't have to have any connections to solve it. For her problem to truly be solved, she would have to let go of her ego and instead of just making inventions to try and prove herself by herself, actually get to the heart of the problem with someone else. (Not to say shes like, a bad person for this. Actually the opposite, i think this is a universal struggle which is why the story hit so hard for me.) Theres a reason why the Great Connector needs to call across universes to find 2 people so in sync to save their world. Mario and Luigi are like the anti-ego, they share a bond so close and care about each other so much its almost unreal. Something that a world thats outwardly pleasant but deeply flawed like concordia, or really our own, needs. They could just focus on the safety of each other, or their friends. But they are able to be sucked as far away from home as possible just to lend an ear to this worlds citizens and do what none of the others could. At least thats how I see it. I get wanting more in the middle of the game but I think it kinda not being there says something to me.

[@lonelyonionagain.]

I would space out some of the paragraphs, it's kinda hard to read.

[@AurumAlex64]

I think, for me, the middle portion of the game really starts to run into problems with the Glohm. I don't like that basically the only characters who want to be alone are mind-controlled, because it makes it seem like the game thinks no one could _ever_ not want make connections with one another unless they were being manipulated. We sorta-almost get what I'm looking for in the Brrning Sea, but not quite. And so when we reach the last 5 hours, it feels like the game is clarifying a point it hadn't made particularly well in the last few dozen hours rather than the game coming to an incisive conclusion it had carefully been making this whole time.

[@OChunks]

I think the Extension Corps was one of my favorite parts of the game, they were such unique and colorful villans, just oozing with charm. They somehow felt surprisingly competent and extremely dumb at the same time.

[@AurumAlex64]

Yes, I thought the Extension Corps were a highlight. The scene with Ecks going to the bathroom was the funniest scene in the game by a good margin

[@bakerfransen9128]

Ellow escaping the extension corps by casually walking away gave me a good laugh

[@mini1173]

I haven’t and will probably never play the game due to my impatiences and doubts in finishing it but after watching the gameplay I ended up loving those three idiots so much, if they have 100 fans I’m one of them, if they have 10 fans I’m one of them, if they have 1 fan I’m one of them, if they have zero fans then I’m dead… Edit: Extension Corps my beloved

[@aidanhammans9337]

They’re, ironically, deeply connected. I’m sure the only reason Shun tolerates being interrupted every single time is he’s been with the other two for years, and knows they aren’t just how they appear to everyone else.

[@OshieWott-ux2jd]

Really nice video by a criminally underrated channel! I haven't bought the game yet but as an avid Mario and Luigi fan I definitely plan to pick it up once I have the money for it :D

[@gmoneygdogdev]

The game is incredibly positive-spirited, to the point that it cannot discuss how bad connections form and the nuances of them. However, I found the cheesiness of the story of positive connections to be not only personally appealing but also beneficial to the game's overall messaging. And more importantly, when the game lowers or removes that, it makes those moments significantly more enjoyable. A good example of this is Jellyfish Island. While Technikki and Adaphne definitely feel undercooked, Jellyfish Island certainly isn't, and it's not a coincidence that it's the last island you link. When talking to the people there, they constantly speak about how bad things have gotten when it comes to Concordia but quickly state how they're having too much fun to care. These are partially comedic jokes about club and party culture, and they are very corny, but they also reinforce an essential part of the game's theme about connection, which is one's connection to the outside world. Towards the beginning of the game, Groovemaster Dyode alludes to how the club made him happy for a short time but quickly got boring as he became disconnected from the real world and himself. We partially see that effect on the people at the club, including Adaphne. They're perfectly aware that there are problems outside of the island but are too absorbed in their world of dopamine to care. You talked about how nothing happens on Jellyfish Island, and you're right; nothing of importance happens on Jellyfish Island because nothing of importance CAN happen on Jellyfish Island. The club exists solely to distance a person from reality, thus making it the most disconnected island in the entire game. The game should've leaned more into that idea because Adaphne is essentially already living Reculsa's solipsistic reality in her mind. There are other great examples. Gorumbla's character develops from somebody who is making a mess because he wants everyone to pay attention to him(one of Reclusa's fantasies) to somebody who chooses to amend his mistakes and starts to show remorse. Buddy could've searched for his own safety and ignored Bowser Jr.; he instead looked for help because even though he's aware they're not friends, he still cares for him, and vice versa, which also goes against Reclusa's wants. The game could've definitely explained the nuances of these situations, such as how Buddy could've just chosen to be alone instead of rekindling with Bowser Jr. or how Technikki could choose to work alone instead of with Adaphne, and those are important to understand in their own right, but for the plot as a whole, that would only serve to support Reclusa and undermine Connie's point about connections. Adding some cynicism would certainly make for a more realistic examination of connections, but it also would've made a less impactful story, at least not without a considerably large rewrite. While the game could've explored the nuances of making connections, its central message isn't really about that. Despite being an understandable assessment, I don't believe the message the game's trying to send is just that connections and bonds are good. Evident by the end of the game, I think the central message of the game is, to use your words since you wrote it extremely well, to understand that other people exist in the world besides yourself, and their value and autonomy are equal to yours, and to not show care or be rude to those people just because it doesn't fit the exact world you personally envision is egomaniacal.

[@AurumAlex64]

So, I think it's important to emphasize that when I say I want the game to be a little more cynical, I really only mean that in a very limited sense. While I would like for the residents of Concordia to be skeptical of the value in talking to one's neighbors, that's only because I eventually want the story to end up at a very happy-go-lucky place. I want, over the course of the adventure, the characters to realize how fulfilling making connections is with people they would've previously rejected out of hand, to learn firsthand the truth of Connie's speech about connections "increas[ing] the possibilities". But because most of the characters *begin* in a position where they're already primed to do just that, Brothership only gives us a conclusion to an argument it didn't spend most of its time making. Your Jellyfish Island point is a great example. I think your argument about the sinister nature of Jellyfish Island is exactly right. But the reason I say "nothing happens on Jellyfish Island" isn't because I disagree with your understanding of the island, it's because Brothership never actually tells us the story of a people who have been disconnected by a cloud of luxury. What if, for example, the plot of Jellyfish Island was that the denizens of the island *intentionally* block our progress because they don't want the island to be reconnected, as that would mean having to share the amenities with other people? And so, in order to reconnect the island, we would have to find a way to convince the islanders that their luxury life isn't as great as they think it is, through whatever means. This would be Brothership trying to formulate an argument for it's thesis. Instead, what we get are a few isolated minigames that don't really cohere into a narrative nor tell us much about the people who live on the island. Remember that the reason we don't go straight to the lighthouse after entering the club is because the elevator is broken, but that there is a team *actively* working to fix it. If Brothership were slightly more clever, the people would actively work *not* to fix it. That being said, I still maintain that it is incumbent upon Brothership to complicate its own theme with counterexamples. When Connie states, "sometimes it's good to be alone," we should understand that as Brothership making a declarative statement on its themes, intentionally carving out a case in which being connected with other people is not the desirable outcome. But, as is, I honestly have no idea what Brothership is talking about. To my mind, there's not a single example throughout the game where a character giving themselves alone time is the correct solution to a problem. And so when the game makes such a statement in its last moments, they have only created a carve out without providing any reasons for why we should think that carve out is sensible. Now, I suspect people will not have a problem with Connie's claim because most people will find it intuitive: being around people all the time can be just as draining as being lonely. Which is my problem: Brothership assumes its carve out is so intuitive it does not need an argument in support of the idea, which I believe does a disservice to the topic at hand. This helps to explain why I think Adaphne and Technikki *not* forming a connection would perfectly fit the themes of Brothership as you've described them: if a person (Adaphne) has repeatedly shown that they are not interested in treating you as an equal, that their autonomy far outweighs yours by their own calculations, then there is little virtue in forming such a connection in the first place. I think the game agrees with us. It is, after all, the point the game ultimately makes about Reclusa. He does not view the peoples of Concordia as worthy of his respect, and because of that, Connie comes to the conclusion that "it's time for you to disappear! There's no place here for you!" Brothership sees little virtue in trying to accommodate someone as cruel as Reclusa, and I think the game is right on the money with its assessment. In my version of the story, casting Adaphne as a miniature version of Reclusa, her and Technikki not working together wouldn't lessen the impact of the story -- it would enhance it, by offer a smaller reinforcement of the same argument the game will go on to make in the last 5 hours. So, ultimately, it's less that I think it's outright bad that Adaphne and Technikki end up getting along, and more that I think by not exploring other avenues, the game is making a far less emotionally resonant argument for the importance of connections than Connie's final statements to Reclusa suggest.

[@tnzwelk]

Brothership definitely feels like it wanted to tell a darker story than it got the chance to, final 10% aside. Not sure if you’ve seen it, but technikki has some really good dialog on jellyfish if you’re insane enough to pick adaphne over her.

[@AurumAlex64]

Yeah, I saw that dialogue, it's pretty good. Not that I'd ever willingly choose Adaphne's plan to see it though

[@Folutu]

Brothership is probably my favorite Mario & Luigi game. Personally, I think the Bonds are the Beanstar Piece/Star Cure/Ultibed type collectible of Brothership. I actually kinda like it because, despite the backtracking, it gives Reclusa time to establish his character so we get supermotivated to take him down (because he's such a piece of shit). Also, I like how the connection theme worked in nature and technology/electricity into it too. You have the Concordians and battle mechanics based on plugs and sockets, and the Uni-Tree and Connectar Flowers based on flora. Reclusa even takes this further as he and his associated spawn is a mix of both.

[@Danominator]

While I know not all of your takes have been popular amongst fans of many a franchise, you've earned my respect a lot over this year with the way you've written your thoughts out and presented everything in your videos. I've really been looking forward to this one! Here's to your great 2025 for your channel. :)

[@AurumAlex64]

I appreciate it! Somehow, I feel like it's just the Mario videos that end up being my most controversial, honestly not sure why that is. But even then, most people are understanding despite their disagreements. Although, when I get to covering a mainline Pokémon game, that could get a little spicy, haha.

[@Danominator]

​​@@AurumAlex64honestly I think part of it comes down to how Nintendo restricted the perception of what a Mario game needed to be for a while there. Now that things are supposedly allowed to be creative again, I think there will be more people willing to hear people presenting less conventional takes and ideas.

[@Crusty783]

This was a pretty dope game I think. Its just so goddamn nice to have Mario and Luigi back, man. (would love to see the bonus roulette return for the next one, though!!)

[@thekirbyguy4576]

After finishing Brothership, I honestly really loved it, and thought it’s story was among the best of Mario RPGs. Your dissertation really helped me to think about a lot of these aspects, though. I believe you're right in that it would've been more compelling to have something to grapple with people who already aren't disposed to connections and would prefer isolation. Hell, it could've been cool to even have an entire character who embodies this who stays on Shipshape but refuses to socialize, watching the other characters from afar, only to be spared when Reclusa appears and become spurred to act after realizing the importance of bonds firsthand. I originally felt Brothership portrayed a really strong message about the significance of connections, which is especially topical in our modern world, but I do agree that with even a little more nuance it definitely could've been made into something better. I don't think just being a Mario story justifies its lack of this either. While I love Connie, I have to be honest I can't think of her ever being a more compelling character than Huey or Olivia in my mind because as you said, there's not much for her to grapple with. She doesn't have to grapple with the fact that her mentor was the one responsible for the tragedy, since Cozette was being controlled. She doesn't have to grapple with the weight of being a junior Wattanist because everybody already supports her and believes in her. If there were some dissenters, or even moments where Connie herself failed, it would've been easier to feel sympathetic for her and cheer her on, but honestly, she may embody many traits of a Mary Sue if anything, which hurts my heart to say because Connie is great and adorable, but it's true. I did enjoy the focus on different types of bonds, whether it be familial or friendship, but I can't help but agree that the inclusion of negative bonds would've made the story a lot more interesting. I suppose you could say that manifests in Zokket's treatment of the Extension Corps, but I still feel it would've been more impactful if it were affecting characters we interact with more rather than villains. What a thought-provoking video.

[@Rediscool9]

You had me… until you called Connie a “Mary Sue”. That term has been so horribly misconstrued that it has basically become nothing more than a buzzword that has lost all of its meaning at this point. A Mary Sue is someone who is literally perfect at everything, is extremely overpowered, and has no negative traits to speak of. Connie has the negative qualities of being cowardly and afraid of most creatures and she also isn’t even remotely a fighter who is capable of defeating things that the Bros aren’t.

[@thekirbyguy4576]

@Rediscool9 You know what, fair enough, I was debating internally with myself whether to include that. Connie obviously isn't a fighter and has to rely on the Bros. She does have flaws, so maybe Mary Sue doesn't accurately apply to her, I still adore her, as I said, I just latched onto the idea of her having some dissenters or some sort of conflict that noticeably affects her within the story. She's still a good character without that though.

[@biondigiacomo7176]

I don't get the part were you say the negative bonds... That's literally what Glohm is, a manifestation of negative bonds, simply turned into energy

[@thekirbyguy4576]

@biondigiacomo7176 Well, yes, but the point I'm trying to make is that these negative bonds don't exist authentically, they're manufactured artificially. It makes it seem strange because before Glohm, everyone on Concordia is chummy and happy to get along with each other. It's only after they've literally been mind controlled that they act hostile towards each other. This isn't an accurate reflection of bonds in the real world though, as people will sometimes just have nasty attitudes or not wanna associate with others. Showing nuance with people who aren't literally mind controlled by the Glohm but aren't automatically entranced by the concept of bonds could've been interesting, that's all I'm saying

[@Rediscool9]

@@thekirbyguy4576 Uh Heatfreeze and Bulbfish Island show that even without Glohm, there are Concordians that have their grievances with one another. I just feel like most of the criticisms towards the game’s story are mainly towards what the games story could have been rather than what it is.

[@Zyckro]

How you talk about the story at 26:00 was well thought out. I understand they wanted Concordia to feel like an idyllic world before it was split apart, with all the characters living in harmony, but I feel like that shouldn't sideline an interesting use of the theme. I do love how they focus so much on the theme, but without characters that oppose it (like someone who shuts themselves in because they don't want to be heartbroken again), they are really missing out on huge opportunities for nuance like in the last section of the game. It's a flawed but heartfelt voyage through the game.

[@babblewithjam]

another absolute banger, i love a compelling and convincing analysis !! i’m a themes > plot girlie through and through so it’s always enjoyable to see someone take the time to prioritize metaphors over lore.

[@AurumAlex64]

I think this is why procedurals have never been my thing. I always prefer when plot is there to facilitate the character drama and themes of the story, rather than act as the main attraction. Not to say procedurals don't do that stuff, but they place a lot more emphasis on, well... the procedure.

[@barelyhere7200]

I can’t believe they directly mentioned the events of Bowser junior’s journey in this game. That’s insane. That is the last thing I ever expected them to mention but I love that they did because the stories of the side modes are very underrated

[@FlameHricane]

Best video on the game that I've seen. The way you approach describing each aspect is truly next level. You put out nothing but bangers so it was to be expected

[@buzzytrombone4353]

When I first played it, I listened to various pieces composed by Yoko Shimomura because I wanted to keep that feeling that I had when I first played Dream Team in tact and I realised that I wasn't doing the game justice when I did that because a lot of the soundtrack composed by Hideki Sakamoto is top tier. When it comes to the function of sailing the seas and finding islands in the seas however, I feel that the pacing would have been streamlined if the islands in the first three seas were still attached to their respective Great Lighthouses and that pulling the plugs out of the regular lighthouses unlocked branching paths as well as adding power to Shipshape Island. The worst offender of the pacing to me is the two times that Mario and Luigi go to the final area to face off against the scary man, only to be faked out twice. I struggled to stay fully invested in the game when I first got to Fortress Zokett, and had to revisit it again and then go to the Soil-Tree. I can see what they were going for with it, with this feeling of unresolved issues and stuff, but it should have gone in a direction where in one visit, everything crazy that happened, still happened, in order to keep the feeling of the villain uprooting the heroes in tact, replacing what is conventional with something fresh as opposed to adding more stuff for you to do and that if you're expecting the end, you are getting it, but it's not the one that you were fully expecting. Feeling like that you're about to reach the ending of the game three times and then suddenly being given more stuff to do, is quite frankly a pain in the arse for a lot of people.

[@AurumAlex64]

Yeah, I don't disagree with any of this really, although I think the game could've gotten away with one visit to Fortress Zokket and one visit to the Soli-Tree separately. I warmed up to Brothership's soundtrack a lot in the end, but I don't think anything could beat my love for Dream Team's.

[@sts-jaidn]

I think the story of the two brothers is a good example of times it's good to be alone. The first quest with them always stood out to me cause it's mentioned that the guy's a scaredy cat and breaks under pressure and in the game all about connections and stuff the guy solves his fear problem by just being alone on a deserted island for a while, to the point that his older brother has trouble processing the change when he comes back.

[@RealRaven6229]

Finally had time to sit and watch this! I haven't played the game yet, but this was a great rundown of it! So much of the discussion around this game has been hampered by that 5/10, it's been really hard to get an idea of what it's really about and where it's strengths and weaknesses lie. I'm at least glad the ending seems to be so strong, since that's the part that will really stick with you, and it feels like a lot of RPGs can really faceplant in the home stretch (xenoblade 3 my absolute beloved mess...) but yeah, some more edge to the characters would have been nice to see, along with more self-awareness about the nature of connection. I'm still playing through the Thousand Year Door, so I'm probably not going to be picking this game up anytime soon, but I've really been wanting to know more about it! Sidebar, but I really appreciate how you point out that 3d is not inherently better or worse. It feels like a lot of people get on the hate train when a series moves to 3d, but in the case of Mario & Luigi (and IMO Ace Attorney but that's besides the point) it leads to so much potential for expressive animation and cinematography that I really love to see. Sorry I don't have more to add this time around, but I did really enjoy this video!!! I hope you've been having an awesome holiday! Thank you so much for sharing this work even amidst such a busy time!

[@AurumAlex64]

Yeah, I think the ending is fairly divisive just because the last two seas are where most of the backtracking is concentrated, but I didn't mind it too much. The final dungeon is definitely a highlight of the series. And yes, I think perspective is fittingly the best thing a transition from 2D to 3D can offer. My mind always goes back to Athena trying to replicate the 'statue' in the third case of Dual Destinies. That's definitely not something that would've happened in 2D. Or things like poking around the Omnibus in GAA's 3rd case, either. Hope you have a great New Year's!

[@tysondennis1016]

Hear me out: Technikki. What? Smart, humble (too humble, if I may add), and cute. What’s not to like?

[@theprincechameleon]

Phenomenal video. I've been eager to hear people dissect this game's story. The recurring theme of the game piqued my interest, but I agree that it went about exploring its theme naively to the point where it diminished the impact of various character interactions. I was particularly disappointed with the side story featuring Buddy and Bowser Jr. For a game so set on hammering home themes of true friendship, their eventual reconnection as we collected their bonds towards the end of the game felt entirely undeserved. Kamek's lecture at the end of the "A Dear Friend" sidequest seemed to lead up to Bowser Jr. apologizing to Buddy, because he HAD been pretty harsh to him prior. But we see no evidence of this apology and we're left with Buddy being the one begging for forgiveness in the end. I get that it's a "baby's first friendship" scenario, but the game refuses to acknowledge that Bowser Jr. may have also been in the wrong during this whole arc. The fact that Buddy's sole character trait is wanting to be pals with Bowser Jr. doesn't do the situation any favors. It makes Buddy appear almost dependent on him, which is a weird take for an arc centered around "true friendship". Their whole arc left me with a weird taste in my mouth. It's a questionable lesson at best.

[@AurumAlex64]

I did notice how little we actually know about Buddy. So much so that I thought it would've been interesting if Buddy had actually joined Bowser's Minions and come back with us to the Mushroom Kingdom, since he doesn't really seem to have any tethers to Concordia. Mario & Luigi games _do_ have a continuity, but because Concordia exists in a separate universe, you won't be able to show Concordians existing in the world the same way Dream Team did with prior races on Pi'illo Island. So Buddy could've been the one link to that world going forward, assuming there ends up being more Mario & Luigi. Of course, this is now completely my fanfiction at this point, but yes, I agree with your point.

[@HypnoSpec]

I know this is a minor thing in the grand scheme of things, but I really appreciate you taking the time to add subtitles to the video. I don't struggle with understanding what you say, but it does make it easier to watch the video, and it's great that it's there for the people who do need it, accessibility is something that I personally have come to care a lot about recently. Anyways, I'm gonna actually watch the video now, been looking forward to this since I first found you through the Paper Jam video. Minor note: I'm not gonna pick this apart like a reviewer or anything, but I feel like you probably should've added a spoiler warning in the beginning, or moved the spoiler content to the end of the video. I know the game isn't completely new anymore, but it is still relatively fresh and I feel like some people wouldn't be happy to suddenly see the secret villain being revealed only 4 minutes into the video. I'm personally fine since I've already beat the game, but I still think that's something to note for next time.

[@AurumAlex64]

I will give KZbin a lot of credit here, it does most of the heavy lifting. I can just drop my script into a text file and KZbin will automatically match it to the words I'm saying, and from what I can tell, it's pretty much perfect. Very convenient.

[@bowserjrsoutsidestory7125]

i really like how well you explain all aspects of the game, especially the story and i feel like you approach games in a way differently from which i love i know that's kind of a basic compliment but i do mean that, i'm not very eloquent when it comes to explaining my opinion ig lol

[@Play-Ghost-Trick]

So like. This might be a weird comparison to make but. I think this is honestly a story beat Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates To Infinity pulled off really well, at least in my opinion. It didn't get much time to focus on individual characters past their introduction or their involvement in the story, but it still showed the problem that was a lack of connection to the point of distrust.

[@AurumAlex64]

Last week, I wrote down ideas for an addendum video I'll make when I get to Gates to Infinity, and it is exactly on what you just said. The people's behavior and attitudes _created_ the Bittercold, but if GtI were more like Brothership, the Bittercold would create the people's behavior and attitudes, acting similarly to the Glohm. This difference is what makes GtI a fundamentally more compelling story, in my opinion.

[@QuasarBuasarEeveeTheUziFan]

Gti mentioned

[@Nickk7878-v8t]

Now you are making me want a Brothership remake more than a Partners in Time remake. lol. Both games could definitely modify their own stories, but I feel like the story here is more important and worth perfecting more.

[@Skillaway]

Your videos are always so profound and in-depth, I think it's really unfortunate that they don't get as much attention as they should.

[@leafbladie]

Nice to see you back on Mario again

[@DustyDust5]

I had a feeling you'd voice my sentiment on the story in a better way I ever could, just as happened with Xenoblade 3, and it seems I was right! I whipped out my own video on Brothership in the meantime, but lacking any experience and the necessary time or motivation, my video is decidedly less elegant than yours, and less kind or eloquent about it. I found Brothership a rather large disappointment story-wise precisely because of the reasons you put out. I have seen a lot of praise for its message, but the message feels as hollow as the praise. Connections are important, yes, but it fails to make a single believable connection for me due to its focus on overly positive naivety. Not a single friendship feels natural or robust, because the characters and their connections lack any depth due to a lack of meaningful communication or struggle. Everybody magically becomes friends about as soon as they meet after all, cause yay connections. Glohm being a literal loneliness laser that gets cured by a random berry almost felt like an insult to the very concept they were putting so much focus on, since if it was as easy as just popping a berry in someone's mouth and all the damage their words may have done is automatically undone, why communicate at all? I also feel like Gorumbla was a good example of a character that could have been handled better in the story, even if it was early on. Wilma is supposed to be his parent figure, and he destroyed art because he was treated like an outcast, but all the game can think to do is have this be used for slapstick comedy where Willma slaps her own adoptive son to kingdom come. It will last until the very end of the story before they actually make up, only cause her own children push her a bit, and then immediately produce a bond strong enough to fill the watering can. As with Technikki, more could have been done with this but it decides to take the most straightforward way out. I have gone around checking out why other people love the game as someone who really could not get on with it, and the message and characters often did get brought up as strong points, that strong theming like this in a mario game should be celebrated. More power to those who could enjoy it, but as someone who has always had a particular tough time connecting with others because most people either used me or did not care for my efforts to make some sort of meaningful connection, I could not at all get on with this vapidly positive portrayal of bonds. Friendships have broken over petty arguments even in adult life, and it takes more effort than just thinking 'I value our bond' to keep a friendship afloat. In a game with no natural conflicts or solution to said conflicts, with a status like glohm where words are absolutely useless but a berry will cure it instantly, where connections are always the right answer and solitude is always wrong... it is a good theme, a valuable theme, but I think it does show a disinterest in actually talking about the theme at all in a meaningful way. Yes, it is a mario game, but even mario can do better and has done better when it comes to just making for believable bonds. A very apparent, valuable theme also does not equal a well-realized one in this case. When cliché 'friendship is our power' anime plots beat out your 50 hour game focused on connections in terms of how real the characters and friendships feel, I think that says it all. The lack of any struggle, even just a difference in opinion that leads to some valuable conversation or decision, makes every character feel rather fake or part of this overly nice massive blob of plugs where they all just say essentially the same thing. It lacks any sense of community when everybody says the same thing, and even entire peoples who disagree vehemently at first immediately reconcile after a wedding or so. Connie lacking any sense of character or actual importance because everybody immediately parrots her outlook on connections did just make her feel like she was kind of nothing, just a big walking megaphone for the game's message. It destroyed my interest in talking to npcs, even if there was a lot of attention to detail, and even characters like technikki with decent nuance in the smaller parts of her character just feel like the story does nothing with it, as you pointed out. I am particularly harsh on it because I feel like due to oversimplifying it, it does more harm than good. As a children's game, teaching children this overly simple way of looking at bonds as always good is not my idea of a good message, and to older audiences it teaches us little new and adds nothing to the conversation past the very end, though it still feels the game does just put more of the fault on Reclusa than recontextualizing the resident's understanding of connections. I think many adults will walk away with just as superficially a perspective on the value of connection as before they played this game. Add to that the horrible pacing, which bothered me more so because the story thus had more than enough time to actually develop its themes but did not do so for hours on end, and I'd say this is the worst M&L game for me tied with paper jam. The combat is great and the exploration adequate, but the way the message is presented and how the characters end up feeling because of it is personally just a big problem. Your rewrite ideas were honestly great and would still feel in line with the depth one could expect from a mario rpg, I feel. I believe Acquire could make for a great sequel, just really hope they drop AI Luigi, another gameplay aspect I felt went against the idea of connection in their game, but I have yapped more than enough already. Great video as always!

[@trayson]

thank you for writing this - watching this video then reading your experience has convinced me that i don't want to buy this game. there's a profoundly negative and somewhat sickening feeling of disconnect i personally feel when a story wants me to be engaged in all of its length and detail, all while it completely ignores the real nuances of inherently nuanced and emotional topics (which it has an obvious opportunity to cover)... instead opting to over-simplify everything to a fake cookie-cutter "perfection" (because it "looks nice" i guess??). that lack of honesty just feels claustrophobic when thinking about it (and im not sure that could be mitigated by the rest of the game, considering how ever-present this theming appears to be here). im curious though, do you have any RPG(s) in mind (or ig any video game in general) that you really like with how it handled its themes and story?

[@DustyDust5]

@@trayson I think a good RPG that takes this kind of approach to a singular, large theme would be Persona 3. (Haven't played reload but I imagine it still does this somewhat well) I do not have the same amount of praise for Persona 4 and especially not for Persona 5, but Persona 3 was rather well done in terms of the usual jrpg trappings with a story around 'death' that felt like it emotionally resonated with me at least somewhat. Omori, Celeste and Outer Wilds came to mind as stories that I feel do a great job at combining gameplay and story in a way where both halves strengthen each other, with Celeste probably doing it the best imo. Recently Crow Country was also a game that I found surprisingly well done with the themes in its rather simple narrative, and it was a good time gameplay-wise too. Nier: Automata was also pretty good in regards to exploration of themes, even if it is quite messy. I'm sure there's quite a bit more but these are the ones I could think of.

[@trayson]

@@DustyDust5 i hold omori and celeste dear to my heart i love them so much, and ive been meaning to check out outer wilds at some point. those others i had no idea of so I'll have to keep them on my radar. thank you for responding :)

[@bowserjrsoutsidestory7125]

imo the red streamer from origami king was my favorite since that focused the most on exploration with it having the most toads and less on gimmicks outside of the temple, i felt that it a lot of little fun things happening with little time between

[@Platycatty]

Haven't started watching but yooo peak video

[@MarceloKatayama]

Love your videos man. I would like to give a more insightful comment, but I haven't played brothership yet, so I can't compare your video with my experience. That said, great video as always.

[@grfrjiglstan]

Well shit, now I guess I have to finish the game in order to watch this video essay. Brb!

[@mubzytv]

I think pacing issues could have been improved by having more bosses. There were parts of the game where I thought there would be a boss battle like Chilliams and Burnadette’s wedding. The great lighthouses are great in terms of puzzles but the music is repetitive and feels like a castle level in Super Mario bros

[@Nikolas0269]

I wish Nintendo had started to now. Patch the game when Switch 2 comes out

[@fluffbyzelda]

I just beat the game, and it was an excellent adventure. The graphics look great, the slow down wasn't too bad, the music is excellent, the game was challenging through just before the end, and I laughed throughout the game. The game is long, but it never felt repetitive. I would suggest getting through the first couple hours if you aren't feeling it at the start, and you get abilities to speed up the sailing at about the one third mark (I'm guessing the ign reviewer quit before this point given a few comments). Bottom line, if you like earlier games in the series you will almost certainly like this game. Oh and playing in handheld is the best way to play.

[@tnzwelk]

Was thinking about this a few hours after watching it and realized something I don't remember you bringing up. While M&L's bond would certainly help them break free from Reclusa, I don't think that's actually the reason why. Maybe with some time they'd be able to, but I think it'd take a lot longer. The real answer is Snoutlet. Reclusa didn't account for Snout being pulled into the world as he didn't know Snout was under luigi's hat. The world is paradise for M&L, but not for Snoutlet. Snout is the first one to notice anything is wrong, Snout is the one to keep pushing the idea, realistically Snout is the only one who would actually be able to see the camera screen to guide them out. Now how much of this is just for the sake of gameplay since he's your guide vs actually meaning something is up for debate, but I think there may be something to it. It may be touching on the idea of making bonds with those who are different from you. Obviously the third sea gives this idea a focus, but it never really answers WHY. This is the why. If you just surround yourself with those like you you can create an echo chamber. Your own perfect little world that you can't really see out of. Having bonds with people that are different helps you see the other angles, see reality.

[@ArgentuTA164-2]

For multiple reasons, one of my biggest gripes with the story is the fact that Zokket completely turned back into Cozette. I personally think it would have been more engaging to have Cozette stay as Zokket, permanently altered by Reclusa, representing how Connie and Zokket/Cozette's relationship and bond has been forever altered by the events of the story. Connie, while Zokket was active, eventually grew out of being Cozette's student and into a Wattanist of her own. Cozette already feels like she needs to atone for what she did as Zokket, and doesn't want her former student to truly understand. Maybe get rid of the wire cutters and bring back the scarf in their place but other than that I find Zokket's design more appealing, distinct, and interesting, and kind of more fitting for the kind of story they seemed to have wanted to tell. My other reason is selfish and ultimately unimportant to the point I'm trying to make.

[@ThatLuigiBrothershipRender]

Part of me feels like Zokket should've just been his own person. Having him go through a redemption arc at the end of the game (Maybe have him try and fight Reclusa and fail). I feel like him just being Cozette all along sort of deflates his image as an antagonist/villain, making it "he wasn't actually evil, he was just being mind-controlled and is actually someone we all know is good!". Most Concordians see Cozette as a respectable and kind figure already so if course they'd forgive her, so having Zokket be his own person that nobody really likes (cuz Evil stuff he did) would've made for a compelling redemption arc as he helps the Bros stop Reclusa. The Extension Corps sorta have one, so why not Zokket too?

[@ArgentuTA164-2]

@ Yea Cozette's "redemption" arc falls flat because of her form _as Cozette._ She's already a massively respected member of the community and I doubt most people even knew. My take is just that if she stayed as Zokket permanently but had basically the same arc then it would make so much sense. Plus Zokket becoming a teacher in the credits sequence would be very funny to me.

[@imprudentdev1503]

9:40 you just put my gripes with the story structure into words, it just didn't feel like a Mario and Luigi game

[@imprudentdev1503]

Yeah, really felt that the intergration of Brothership's themes were rather juvenile and simplistic

[@tacitgamingfanREAL]

11:50 theres a sort of what now.

[@Rediscool9]

24:55 What exactly is wrong with this one in particular?

[@AurumAlex64]

I just think a few still pngs that don't give me any idea about what the game is about or what things I'm going to be seeing along the way doesn't really excite me to start playing. Maybe I'd feel differently if those pngs changed over the course of the game, but I'd prefer something a little more bespoke in general.

[@Rediscool9]

@@AurumAlex64 Fair enough. I personally think the incredible music that plays during the title screen and the still pngs showing Peach and the Toads preparing the Origami Festival in the Mushroom Kingdom before the events of the game’s story to be very charming so I honestly wouldn’t call it “generic” per se like say Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom’s main menu’s which also completely lack music, but I can understand it not being everyone’s cup of tea.

[@Rediscool9]

Where would you rank this game compared to the rest of the series?

[@AurumAlex64]

I would probably put it below Bowser's Inside Story and Dream Team, but above Superstar Saga, Partners in Time, and Paper Jam. Although I could be convinced to swap places with Superstar Saga, I need to sit on it some more.

[@Rdrdrdrdrd-45]

@@AurumAlex64that is literally my same ranking lol

[@notavailable2374]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@blazie42069]

I heard people saying the story was bad and childish, and I think it is poor assessment. The story is very heartwarming and might be the best story we got from mario and luigi ever Also Snoutlet is an awesome companion and I hope he shows up in a future game. Also the extension corps are a blast and are always fun and entertaining

[@Timkorea0810]

Hey it might sound weird, but do you know how to cure my own glohm? After brothership I realized I did not make many social interactions. I was spending time a lot in internet (glohm irl) and I am starting to feel remorse of it. I sometimes think myself as half-reclusa as I think I am immature, selfish and spends a lot of time in loneliness. Maybe I could understand a concept of bonds in college? I need to reconnect with the world and kill my inner reclusa and if I don’t I could also be nowhere in this world. I need help

[@J.DanielsThe3rd]

Ur gonna have to just start saying shit to random people

[@Nikolas0269]

The Issue Was That Nintendo Played It To Safe. Many people said the Game Was Rushed Can't Blame Them