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Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

EMAIL PRINT ds

8.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 45 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 27 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: AlphaDream

Genre(s): Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 28, 2005

Summary

In this sequel to Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, the brothers travel back in time to retrieve Princess Peach, only to come face to face with baby versions of themselves, the princess and Bowser. Teaming up with their young selves will soon send Mario and Luigi on a quest of lunatic proportions as players must control both the adult AND baby versions of the Mushroom Kingdom heroes. Players use the top screen to study the land, keep track of the pair of brothers not under their control or maximize combo moves in battle. With twice the Mario brothers and twice the laughs, this massive side-splitting adventure could only find a home on the dual screens of the Nintendo DS. [Nintendo]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Modojo

Not a guarantee that it's a game for everyone, but rather a big fat A+ for Alphadream when it comes to Advanced Game Design. This game is the cream of the portable gaming crop, and you'll be really hard-ressed not to be taken in by at least one of it's plentiful charms.

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Nintendojo

Fantastic. With an insane plot, goofy characters and some incredibly well-designed gameplay, this is a game which should be on the must-buy list of any DS owner who does not hate fun.

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Just RPG

A plot that is both epic and comical, a quirky and addictive battle system, beautiful graphics and music, and retro charm. Along with Meteos, this is a DS must-have.

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eToychest

Anyone else with a heartbeat, a DS and forty bucks should pick this game up immediately.

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Cheat Code Central

Mario is no stranger to RPGs but there are probably no stranger RPGs than this one. Highly recommended.

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Worth Playing

An engaging narrative that actually inspires an urge to read all the text, fun and evolving combat, and a smooth coat of presentational polish make Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time a compelling package.

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Pelit (Finland)

A fun and interesting RPG. The clever combat system works almost perfectly. Too bad the touchscreen is not used. [Mar 2006]

Games Radar (in-house)

Despite being a very solid RPG, it never takes itself too seriously. There's just something very cheeky, almost silly about it all (and the game really focuses on this) as it throws one ridiculous situation at you after the next.

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Electric Playground

A solid follow-up to Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA), this game sticks to its predecessor's proven game play, adding updated graphics, a new story and a couple of extra Mario Bros., making for one of the most enjoyable DS titles to date.

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DarkStation

Some may scoff at a Mario RPG, but this turn-based masterpiece is perfect for the increasingly popular DS, featuring solid combat and trademark Nintendo feel.

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GameSpy

There's enough action so that it doesn't really feel like an RPG, and the humor makes it all the sweeter.

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Da Gameboyz

The ‘cuteness' of Partners in Time does not take away from any of the overall scope of the game and developers AlphaDream have done the Mario name proud with pretty graphics, great sound and great gameplay to match.

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GameZone

Though not as innovative or as funny as the first, no fan will be able to put the game down, nor will fans be able to finish it without feeling excited and satisfied.

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Eurogamer

It's gorgeous. It's cute. It's surprisingly deep. It's deeply satisfying. And it's oh so hilariously funny.

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Nintendo Power

A worthy follow-up to "Superstar Saga," and the first great RPG on the DS. [Jan 2006, p.110]

IGN

Partners in Time has an even crazier story, funnier dialogue, more elaborate puzzles, and more action-based fights than the original game.

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Yahoo! Games

It's just too original, funny, and innovative to ignore.

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1UP

It's not a pure action game, it's not really an RPG...and it's not even an action-RPG. It's a successful blend of all these elements, proof that Nintendo does have some good ideas for the DS.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

As good a Mario adventure as you could hope for, and a cracking RPG in its own right. [GamesMaster]

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N-Europe

Enjoyed "Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga"? Looking for a fun RPG on your handheld? You can’t go wrong with this title.

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GameSpot

Partners in Time might not have as strong of a script as the previous Mario & Luigi, but it's still another charming, high quality RPG worth any DS owner's while.

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WHAM! Gaming

As light-hearted as it is, it has a seriously addictive flavour to it and it looks and sounds great to boot.

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N-Insanity

But don't let the linearity fool you--Partners in Time is an excellent game no matter what platform it's running on.

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GameBrink

The only feature of the DS used is the double screens, and it's used pretty well too. I wouldn't want it any different.

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The New York Times

Retains most of the original's brilliance, though it isn't quite as funny.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

Clever, addictive gameplay like this fits the Mario subject matter perfectly, but neither the story line (it's too cute to stomach, really) nor the visuals (can you say GBA?) do it justice. [Jan 2006, p.130]

Play Magazine

I don't often get a good belly laugh from a video game, but then not many games pack the humorous charm of Mario and Luigi 2... [Nov p.99]

RPG Fan

Overall, I'd recommend this game for any fan of Mario RPG titles, anyone looking for a nice solid RPG for the DS, and of course, people who enjoy smiling, since this game will brighten your mood.

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Armchair Empire

It’s still pleasant, lighthearted fun and legions better than the embarrassing "Lunar: Dragon Song," making it the uncontested champion of DS RPGs.

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GameShark

It also ends up being around twenty hours, so there is plenty of fun to be had in it.

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Game Informer

It may not be the most emotionally complex RPG on the market, but it's solid entertainment with a quirky twist. [Dec 2005, p.187]

Game Revolution

An exceptional blend of gaming styles filled with enough irreverent humor to please old and young alike. It could stand to be harder and less linear, but in the end this marks another winner for the mustachioed mascot.

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Gamer 2.0

Combines rock-solid and dynamic gameplay with an actually funny sense of humor. Returning gamers will find a bag full of changes, while those new to the series will have an easy time picking this up and running with it.

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NintendoWorldReport

My opinion of Partners in Time is smeared by the battle system's flaws, which become more of an issue towards the end of the game. However, this is by far the best RPG currently available for the DS, and its use of the dual screens opens up gameplay possibilities that just aren't available on any other system.

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GamePro

Some may yearn for a more complicated gameplay, but for those who do not, Partners in Time is still as funny and enjoyable as its predecessor.

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GameCritics

My complaints about the storytelling and button-pressing aside, it's impossible to deny that Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is engaging from a tactile perspective—taking out evil toadstools by kicking a red shell back and forth between the mustache brothers just never gets old.

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Thunderbolt

It has a story chock full of hilarity, the right balance between fast-paced combat and multitasking puzzles, tons of items and a handful of memorable characters, and presents it to use in a psychedelic blend of 2D animation and a wide array of colors.

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Total Video Games

Perhaps the only real disappointment is the game's inability to make use of the DS touch capabilities.

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NTSC-uk

A fun, engaging, thoughtful and compelling game in its own right, and a definite purchase for those entranced by earlier iterations.

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Sydney Morning Herald

While equally entertaining, Partners in Time inevitably lacks its predecessor's impact.

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PALGN

The game offers around 20 hours of play for the first time through, with several sidequests. Unfortunately, the mediocre story doesn’t have enough impact to keep players enthralled for the full playthrough, and it suffers from a linear, generic world-home-world structure.

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netjak

Partners in Time has its flaws and can get repetitive at times, but it certainly keeps you coming back for more, thanks to engaging gameplay and the unmistakable Mario charm.

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Detroit Free Press

A fresh, entertaining title that delicately balances role-playing and classic "Mario" gameplay.

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Edge Magazine

Often, it can be enough for a sequel to deliver more of the same, but in Superstar Saga’s case, when what the first game delivered was such a powerful sense of freshness, more of the same – which Partners In Time certainly delivers – inevitably feels like less. [Feb 2006, p.86]

G4 TV

The threadbare story can barely support the game’s 20 hours of gameplay and the brothers don’t have enough moves to keep the puzzle-solving fresh.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Tor A. gave it a10:
It lets you have fun and helps your imagination. it is not a wast of money!

Steven C. gave it a7:
Having not played the previous (and supposedly fairly similar) Mario & Luigi GBA game, I bought this game with an open mind. The game focuses around Mario & Luigi, and their "partners in time" mario and luigi babies. Going round the slightly loony plot (going back in time here and there, killing alien mushrooms called shroobs) There are plenty of puzzles involving both pairs of bros, or just one of the pairs, although for the most part they're trivial and there's no other way you can do it. The battle system is turn based fighting that properly rewards good reactions speeds and quick thinking, be it attacking (chaining your special item attacks to produce the most damage you possibly can, which is tough on the final real high damage items) or defending (counter attacks or simply evading attacks from the enemies). The boss fights, as with most of the enemies, is merely a case of working out the attacks and then trying to capitalize on taking the least damage possible, and all fights are fairly simple in the game. It will likely take you less than 20 hours to complete the game if you know what you're doing, and the unfortunate thing is there's no real replay value in the game. Still, an ejoyable title that gives you smiles along the way with its mild humour. And by the way - if you can get a string of "great" hits on the Mix and CopyFlowers, you're a better man than me.

Andrew C. gave it a6:
As a huge fan of the original Mario & Luigi (one of the very best GBA games ever!), I was surprised by how little its sequel did right. The battle system works all right, though almost every boss battle is way too drawn out and easy. The dialogue and story are both rather weak in comparison to the original, and the adventure is rather linear. There are absolutely no sidequests, so the value of the game is nil. Really, really disappointing. Could have been more, but the satisfying moments are few and far between. Shame...

Steve R. gave it a10:
This is a game to end quite a few games. The entire thing was hilarious, to the point that it doesn't get old. Plus, the twists in the plot. I never would have seen it coming. I say, if you don't like this game, then screw you! This game was worth every penny! Anyway, it's one of those RPG's that you would hate yourself if you hated it.

Alejandro G. gave it a7:
Moderately long, with almost no replayability, yet fun and (a bit) challenging. The final battle takes almost 2 hours to finish.

Nonya N. gave it a10:
The best DS game out there.

Corey S. gave it a7:
A great game, but it's not better than the orginal in any way.

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Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

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