Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s Edgy Origins
Released for Nintendo Switch last month, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, the sixth installment in the Mario & Luigi series, has generally been well received by fans. The role-playing game innovates in terms of animation and mechanics but sits comfortably in the Mario canon in terms of our favourite hero plumber’s look. But that could have been very different.
The Edgier Look
When the developer Acquire first began exploring character designs for the game, it wanted to do something entirely new. That included making Mario and Luigi looked ‘edgier’ and more ‘rugged’. In the end, Nintendo reined the developer in because it was concerned that altering the iconic characters too much would alienate fans.
Early Sketches
Early character explorations for this edgier look show a grittier Mario and Luigi with stubble and dirt on their faces. Producer Akira Otani said the radical new look caused Nintendo to call a meeting to reassess the direction. "It’s like we’d unleashed Acquire into the wild…only to go chasing after them again," he says, adding: "While we wanted Acquire to have their own unique style, we also wanted them to preserve what defines Mario. I think it was a period when we were experimenting with how those two things could coexist."
The Decision
I think Nintendo’s decision was probably wise. While some fans would have been intrigued to see a new interpretation of the iconic characters, the a wrecked-looking Mario may have been too much of a departure for many, and it might not have resonated with long-standing Mario fans who grew up with the characters.
Balancing Innovation and Nostalgia
In the end, Acquire created a style of animation that’s unique to this game but one that also stays faithful to the Mario & Luigi series. They say they used Super Mario Odyssey as a reference, studying the feel of the controls closely. The result is the best of both worlds, preserving Mario’s recognisable aesthetic for a visual consistency with other games while expanding in terms of animation and hardware capabilities, ultimately balancing innovation and nostalgia.
Conclusion
Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s development was a challenging but ultimately successful journey. Acquire’s willingness to experiment and push boundaries was met with a wise decision from Nintendo to preserve the iconic characters’ look. The result is a game that innovates while staying true to the Mario & Luigi series’ spirit.
FAQs
Q: What was the initial direction for Mario & Luigi: Brothership’s character designs?
A: The developer Acquire wanted to make Mario and Luigi look ‘edgier’ and more ‘rugged’.
Q: Why did Nintendo intervene?
A: Nintendo was concerned that altering the iconic characters too much would alienate fans.
Q: What was the outcome of the character design process?
A: Acquire created a style of animation that’s unique to this game but one that also stays faithful to the Mario & Luigi series.
Q: How did Acquire balance innovation and nostalgia?
A: Acquire used Super Mario Odyssey as a reference and studied the feel of the controls closely, ultimately creating a game that innovates while staying true to the Mario & Luigi series’ spirit.
