At this point, the kids move up to the top screen, allowing you to move both sets of brothers around independently. This opens the doors for all sorts of puzzles that require you to properly manipulate both teams to open pathways and reach items. The teamwork here makes the actiony parts of the game more than just standard platforming -- you will have to do a little planning to get everyone to work together. As the game progresses, you learn new abilities that allow the brothers to pull more advanced techniques. Although these skills do deepen the gameplay, having to constantly pull them off to get through an area occasionally becomes somewhat of a chore as they require a lot of button juggling.

An Enemy Approaches!

Of course, you can't have an RPG without plenty of battles, and although Partners utilizes the tried and true turn-based battle system, it has been enhanced to add more action to the fights. As is the case in the action bits, each of the four characters is controlled by one of the DS's face buttons (A, B, X, and Y). When you pull off an attack, you can cause extra damage on your foe by pressing buttons at the proper time. Likewise, when you're being attacked, a properly timed button press will cause you to avoid getting hit, or potentially, pull off a counterattack. There are also special items that you can use that require even more elaborate sequences of button mashing to successfully use. The payoff, as you've probably guessed, is massive damage to the enemy. Don't even think about challenging a boss without a stockpile of these "Bros. Items" (so named because they involved the Marios and Luigis working together for a combined attack).


One of the best features of Superstar Saga was the outstanding script, which in addition to being well written was also funny as all get out. In particular, a hilarious bit near the beginning of the game with 1337 speaking Hammer Bros. comes to mind, as does a throwaway line about the princess being in another castle. Sadly, Partners isn't nearly as funny as Saga, and most of this game's humor is reliant on pantomimed interplay between the older and younger Mario Bros. than funny dialogue. Make no mistake, though, these little scenes inspire some solid laughs and are cute to boot. The limited voice acting is also handled quite well. I still crack up when the adult brothers yell, "Babies!" when they're trying to get the attention of their past selves.

It's a pretty beefy quest, too, clocking in at roughly 20 hours, so you'll be occupied for a while. Even if you're not normally a fan of RPGs, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try. There's enough action so that it doesn't really feel like an RPG, and the humor makes it all the sweeter. Between this game and Mario Kart DS, Nintendo's mascot is really giving us a reason to own a DS this holiday season.