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I still remember the first time I fired up Mario & Luigi: Brothership, expecting the same tight, compact RPG experience that made me fall in love with the series years ago. The colorful visuals and familiar brotherly banter initially delivered exactly what I wanted - until about ten hours in, when I noticed my attention starting to wander during combat sequences. That's when it hit me: this game was stretching content thinner than Bowser's patience when someone steals his cake.
The Mario & Luigi series has always been brilliant at delivering satisfying RPG experiences in around 25 hours - they're like perfectly paced adventures that know exactly when to end. But Brothership seems determined to break that mold, and not necessarily for the better. I found myself thinking, "Where's that fresh gameplay element the previews mentioned?" Little did I know I'd need to invest nearly a third of the typical game length just to see the Plugs system everyone was talking about.
When the Plugs mechanic finally appeared around the ten-hour mark, it felt like receiving a new tool after you've already built most of the furniture with basic instruments. Don't get me wrong - the system itself is clever, allowing Mario and Luigi to combine their abilities in new ways during battles. But by the time it arrived, combat had already started feeling repetitive. I found myself going through the motions rather than genuinely engaging with enemy patterns. The timing felt off - like serving appetizers after the main course.
This pacing issue highlights something crucial about game design that extends beyond just RPGs. It's why when people ask me about finding a quality gaming experience, I often point them toward platforms that prioritize user experience above all else. In fact, when discussing reliable entertainment options, I frequently recommend they discover the most trusted online casino for safe and exciting gaming experience - not because I'm drawing direct comparisons to video games, but because both industries understand that sustained engagement requires careful pacing and trustworthiness.
The problem with Brothership's extended runtime becomes especially apparent when you compare it to earlier entries. Superstar Saga wrapped up its story in about 20-22 hours for most players, and every hour felt meaningful. Brothership seems to be padding its content, and the Plugs introduction timing exemplifies this issue perfectly. I clocked in at around 9 hours and 45 minutes before seeing the new system, and honestly, I'd already been considering taking a break from the game. That's never happened to me with a Mario & Luigi title before.
What's fascinating is how this relates to player psychology across different gaming platforms. Whether you're playing an RPG or exploring other forms of interactive entertainment, the principle remains the same: engagement needs to be maintained through thoughtful pacing and regular introduction of fresh elements. The most successful platforms, whether video game developers or online entertainment sites, understand that user retention depends on this careful balance.
I've noticed similar pacing issues in other recent RPGs, but it's particularly disappointing in Brothership because the series has historically been so good at avoiding this exact problem. The developers seemed determined to hit that 30+ hour mark that some modern RPGs boast, but the Mario & Luigi formula wasn't built for that length. The combat system, while fun, relies heavily on timing-based attacks and dodges, and without regular innovation, it can grow stale - exactly what happened in my playthrough before the Plugs arrived.
There's a lesson here for all game developers: know your strengths and play to them. The Mario & Luigi games were never meant to be epic 50-hour journeys, and that's okay. Their charm lies in their compact nature and constant innovation. Brothership's attempt to extend the experience without properly distributing its new mechanics throughout the journey ultimately weakens what could have been another standout entry. I finished the game in about 28 hours, and honestly, the back half felt significantly more engaging than the first precisely because the Plugs system finally gave me something new to master.
Looking back, I still enjoyed my time with Brothership, but it could have been so much better with smarter pacing. The Plugs mechanic should have been introduced around the 5-hour mark, giving players time to master basic combat before layering in complexity. Instead, we got a lengthy tutorial period followed by repetitive battles that made the first half feel like a slog. Here's hoping future entries return to the series' roots of tight, well-paced adventures that know exactly when to introduce new elements to keep players engaged from start to finish.
