| 100 |
AceGamez
Superstar Saga is the perfect mix of turn-based combat, adventuring and platforming all in one.
|
| 100 |
GameNow
Best GBA game I've ever played. A must-have. [Jan 2003, p.46]
|
| 100 |
Pocket Games
One of the most imaginative, compelling, and outright fun RPGs to grace any system in years. [Spring 2004, p.30]
|
| 100 |
G4 TV
This is as light and unpretentious as RPGs get. If the typical melodramatic RPGs make you laugh more than cry and you've grown tired of casting dragon destroyer +7, Mario & Luigi is just what the plumber ordered.
|
| 99 |
Nintendophiles
Whether in battle or just the game world itself this is my favourite game of the year on any system.
|
| 96 |
Just RPG
What will keep you playing through all that time is not just all the neat moves or the excellent graphics but the well-crafted and humorous story.
|
| 95 |
Game Informer
The strange humor is a big part of this title's appeal, as are the atypical style of play and the charming story. If you're a Mario fan, you owe it to yourself to pick this up. [Jan 2004, p.158]
|
| 95 |
Deeko
The presentation is charming, the writing is witty, the control is well implemented, and the game is simply a lot of fun.
|
| 95 |
NintendoWorldReport
Possibly the best GBA title yet... Many fans yearn for handheld titles to compare with the polished, deep, lengthy experiences of console games; Mario & Luigi is one of the few to attain this ideal.
|
| 95 |
Gamenikki
A rarity in the gaming world; a game that brings a smile to your face by not taking itself seriously, and at the same time keep you on your toes gameplay-wise.
|
| 95 |
Armchair Empire
It’s chock-a-block full of action, strategy, humor, mini-games, it'll take many hours to finish, and Luigi finally gets some props.
|
| 95 |
Nintendojo
The game might be something you can fly through quickly, but you’ll enjoy every second of the journey.
|
| 94 |
Nintendo Power
Impressive graphics, innovative gameplay and a lengthy quest, but what makes it really special is its snese of humor. The game is genuinely funny. It made me laugh out loud. [Jan 2004, p.156]
|
| 94 |
GameZone
It's not just an RPG with the cast of "Super Mario Bros." The story is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
|
| 94 |
Gamer's Pulse
It’s a fresh take on the old turn-based RPG formula and the hilarious, but sometimes slightly plodding story will keep you glued to your Game Boy Advance for hours and hours.
|
| 94 |
Inside Gamer Online
Superstar graphics, stellar sound, outrageous gameplay and a hilarious story.
|
| 93 |
Weekly Famitsu
9 / 10 / 9 / 9 - 37 platinum [Vol 780]
|
| 93 |
GameBiz
A must have for any RPG or Mario fan out there. It has great style, an enjoyable adventure, and is very funny at some points.
|
| 92 |
GameSpot
A fun and engaging spin on the traditional action RPG experience that blends equal doses of impressive technology, innovation, and humor.
|
| 91 |
Play Magazine
The bold visuals, mechanics, story, and characters are brought together with a seemingly effortless charm. [Dec 2003, p.94]
|
| 90 |
GBA Central
The mix between overly complex elements and overly simple ones brings this title down somewhat, however it does not completely hide a truly fantastic game.
|
| 90 |
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
A real surprise - if you liked "Paper Mario" on N64 you'll love this. It's funny, enjoyable and capable of eating up hours on end. [GamesMaster]
|
| 90 |
NTSC-uk
Things never slack off either due to the brilliant storyline and characters, whilst the tricky combat and devious puzzles keep attention fixated.
|
| 90 |
Cheat Code Central
If there's a better Mario game for the GBA, you haven't played it yet. Word.
|
| 90 |
GMR Magazine
One of those games you cherish playing - and avoid completing because you just don't want it to end. [Jan 2003, p.93]
|
| 90 |
EuroGamer
One Of The Best GBA games of the year, Nintendo games on the GBA, and RPGs in existence. Simple, fun and rewarding, this is for everyone who ever ogled but never played the original Mario RPG, and everyone else besides.
|
| 90 |
games(TM)
It may not lean enough in either direction for hardcore platform or RPG fanatics to find everything they're looking for, but as far as genre-crossing titles go, they don't come much more enjoyable or extensive than this. [Jan 2004, p.104]
|
| 90 |
VideoGamesLife
Despite being a completely different genre, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga manages to do that one thing that not many others have managed: it transcends the barrier set between genres, and the result is nothing short of brilliant. Bouncy, platformy fun.
|
| 90 |
IGN
It's an incredibly weird and original gaming experience that never takes itself seriously, and it something that definitely shouldn't be missed on the handheld.
|
| 90 |
GamerFeed
The story, filled to the brim with elegantly executed wit, is engrossing to the point where it seems industrial strength adhesive is connecting you to it.
|
| 90 |
Game Chronicles
A classic in a long line of Mario classics. Excellent gameplay, vibrant graphics, beautiful sound, and an intriguing story make this one of the best GBA titles.
|
| 88 |
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Everything your typical RPG is not - fast-paced, action-oriented, colorful and lighthearted - yet it's the best game the genre has seen on the GBA. [Jan 2004, p.162]
|
| 85 |
GameCritics
It's aesthetically fresh, filled with original creations, and presents a wholly unique mix of gameplay styles.
|
| 85 |
GameSpy
But if you're one of those RPG players who detests games that require you to do anything more than navigate menus, or if you were hoping for some genuine innovation from Nintendo, Superstar Saga will have you barking up the wrong mushroom.
|
| 85 |
1UP
Gamers seeking a hardcore RPG experience would admittedly be better off with something like "Golden Sun" or "Fire Emblem." But if you're after some lighthearted, lightweight gaming, or if you're simply a Mario fan, you'll have a hard time finding a better buy than Mario & Luigi.
|
| 84 |
Siliconera
If there's one downside to Mario RPG it is the level of difficulty. Once you master all the timing tricks like giving extra damage, jumping on the enemies heads before battle, dodging and how to get extra coins the game becomes much easier than any other RPG. [JPN Import]
|
| 83 |
netjak
The first few hours of the game can be extremely tedious, and thus the game may not be for players who have limited time for games and really can’t dedicate a good amount of play time to the game.
|
| 80 |
Computer and Video Games
The one problem with the game is that cycling through the Brothers' many different moves and skills with the shoulder buttons isn't very streamlined.
|
| 80 |
Gamestyle
An unusually brilliant release, which (for once) didn't see the light of day on the SNES. This makes it all the more essential, either for those with strong RPG preferences, or for anyone who might not have previously been 'into' them.
|
| 80 |
Yahoo! Games
On the whole, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga's got a solid Zelda vibe: it's polished, it flows nicely without being too restrictive, and it offers a distinct style of gameplay, all presented with a lot of charm and a laidback sense of humor that doesn't try too hard.
|
| 80 |
GamePro
A wacky, wonderful meditation on the Mario phenomenon. As for the game itself: The combat system is clever, nicely varied, and wickedly fun, but a little more depth to the adventure would have sealed the deal.
|
| 80 |
Edge Magazine
Superstar Saga does justice to Miyamoto-san's original vision: a world of deliciously impossible creatures and impeccably illogical logic. A world where you never know what'll happen next but, once it has, you know it's what always should have happened. [Jan 2004, p.100]
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