Mario and Luigi: Partners In Time

[Bear-Max]

Format: DS.
Genre: RPG.
Release: Out now (all territories).

Partners in Time is the first RPG outing for Mario and friends on the DS, with Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser and all their baby counterparts featuring throughout. The games story is that while travelling back in time, Princess Peach is abducted by an alien race called the Shroob, who are using the 'Vim' of the Kingdom's mushrooms to power their spacecraft. All very high-tech, I know The story reminds me slightly of 'Day Of the Tentacle', and although this is a completly different type of game, if you enjoyed LucasArts' classic point-and-click adventure, I think you'll enjoy this.

In my modest opinion, the game is the most charming I've played in a very long time. The colours are very pastel, the sprites are beautifully done and the game is extremely funny at times through both its art and dialogue. Not being a fan of turn-based battle, I wasn't expecting to enjoy fighting off the host of creatures the game throws at you. But I was surprised. The battle system is very involving, but easy to control. Each of the four characters is assigned one of the four face buttons, and a lot of the challenge is making It really is a lot of fun, with counter attacks and double-teamed attacks simply initiated. There's even a chance to quadruple-team when you battle with Mario and Luigi giving piggybacks to their red and green-bearing tykes. Watch your HP counter though - if it reaches 0 for both characters you're battling with, it's game over and back to the last save. There's no shortage of healing items about though, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The game doesn't make any effort to make use of the touchscreen, which is a shame, but it's clever use of the top screen makes up for this. Primarily used as a map, the top screen becomes a playable area when Baby Mario and Luigi wander off into areas on their own, most often into places that their present-day ringers can't get to; this can be down low accessible because of their small stature, or up high because they can leap from Mario and Luigi's backs. There are all sorts of puzzles that require quick awareness of what screen you're on and rapid changes between controlling the adults and babies, and it's a nice challenge.

With a wonderful art style and a battle system that doesn't get too repetitive, the game truly is an unsung gem. I didn't really expect to pick it up myself, but I couldn't resist when I saw it at a bargain price in a store promotion. I urge all DS owners to try it - and if you plan to pick up a DS Lite next week, Partners in Time is a fine game to christen your system with.

Rating: *****

[SimplyTech]

yeh i had this ages ago [day of release] and completed it. Its a really good game.

[Lozzoling]

crud title "partners in time" pffft,dead cheesy

never ever change the oh-so-bad cliche partners in crime

ok game

[HUGECOOL]

I was actually going to buy it yesterday along with Lost Magic, but I forgot, lol. I've played the game once and it's pretty neat. I think I'll pick this up today. =P

(Oh, and apparently $2.3 m in Black DS Lites have gone missing and those were the ones en route to Europe, so the release date might be postponed until they're been found again.)

[Lozzoling]

I was actually going to buy it yesterday along with Lost Magic, but I forgot, lol. I've played the game once and it's pretty neat. I think I'll pick this up today. =P

(Oh, and apparently $2.3 m in Black DS Lites have gone missing and those were the ones en route to Europe, so the release date might be postponed until they're been found again.)

ooh nooo but i cba to buy it till my current ds explodes,knowing this weeks luck it will be tomorrow

white DS lite

[Bear-Max]

I was actually going to buy it yesterday along with Lost Magic, but I forgot, lol. I've played the game once and it's pretty neat. I think I'll pick this up today. =P

(Oh, and apparently $2.3 m in Black DS Lites have gone missing and those were the ones en route to Europe, so the release date might be postponed until they're been found again.)

Haha I read that today, someone stole 12 000 Black DS Lites in Hong Kong. A pretty hefty reward is being offered. I doubt Ninty will delay the release; I only want a white one ^^

Oh yeah, and thanks to whoever gave me good rep (which I suppose was supposed to be bad rep) for being an "idiot" because "there is an edit button". Yes, I know. My signature is about me wanting there to be a permanant edit button.

[Demynx]

Buying it today.