History VideoGame / MarioAndLuigi

* MascotRPG: A popular example of this trope alongside its sister series VideoGame/PaperMario.

''Mario & Luigi'' is a series of {{Eastern RPG}}s for Creator/{{Nintendo}} handheld systems, starring the eponymous [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario Brothers]]. It's the third RolePlayingGame series to star Mario, the first being the one-shot ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' made by [[Creator/SquareEnix Squaresoft]] and the second being the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series. Developer Creator/AlphaDream developed every title in the series up until their bankruptcy and closing in October of 2019, and every game thus far has featured a soundtrack composed by Music/YokoShimomura.

''Mario & Luigi'' is a series of {{Eastern RPG}}s for Creator/{{Nintendo}} handheld systems, starring the eponymous [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario Brothers]]. It's the third RolePlayingGame series to star Mario, the first being the one-shot ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' made by [[Creator/SquareEnix Squaresoft]] and the second being the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series. Nintendo affiliate [=AlphaDream=] developed every title in the series up until their bankruptcy and closing in October of 2019, and every game thus far has featured a soundtrack composed by Music/YokoShimomura.

* ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam'', (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2015) ({{Crossover}} with the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series.)

* ArtEvolution: Compare the ingame-graphics of ''[[http://www.spriters-resource.com/gameboy_advance/mlss/index.html Superstar Saga]]'' with those of ''[[http://www.spriters-resource.com/ds/marioluigipartners/index.html Partners in Time]]'' and ''[[http://www.spriters-resource.com/ds/marioandluigi3/index.html Bowser's Inside Story]]''. While the general style stays quite the same, the sprites get much more detailed in the latter two games, thanks to them being released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS instead of the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance. Taken UpToEleven in ''[[http://www.mariowiki.com/Gallery:Mario_%26_Luigi:_Dream_Team Dream Team]]'', which brings 3D graphics to the series for the first time -- but still keeps the same overall art style.

** The first game has the recurring "Popple and Whatever" fights, where the bandit crook teams up with a partner to fight against Mario and Luigi. The second one even has them pull Bros. Attacks like the protagonists.

** The third has Bowser Memory M and Bowser Memory L, who are blocky copies of Mario and Luigi based on his past memories of them. For Bowser, there's also the recurring Midbus fights, who is essentially just "Bowser if he was a [[MixAndMatchCritters pig/armadillo]] and had ice powers".
** In the fourth, there's the battle with Bowser and Antasma, in which the latter enters Bowser just like Dreamy Luigi does with Mario. Their attacks even feature Bowser using Antasma clones, just like what happens with the Luiginary attacks.

* RhymesOnADime: Parodied by Fawful who sings an elaborate rhyming song but is unable to think of something that rhymes with his name (the only rhyme being awful, in a song describing himself) for the last line and settles for "Something... else that... rhymes... I HAVE CHORTLES!!!"

** In the fourth, there's the battle with Bowser in Antasma, in which the latter enters Bowser in a similar way that Dreamy Luigi does to Mario. Their attacks even feature Bowser using Antasma clones, just like what happens with the Luiginary attacks.

%%* NameAndName: Obviously.

%%* SiblingTeam: Who else?

On the surface, the games are fairly standard RPG stuff, with a field screen, a map, and a battle screen, equipment and items to collect, a smattering of statistics, and a suitably grand adventure. What sets it apart is how it integrates classic ''Mario'' elements into an RPG. The two leads are joined at the hip, the field screen is negotiated with platform action, and all sorts of [[ActionCommands action elements]] are added to the battles, up to elaborate "Bros" attacks which can be [[SomeDexterityRequired shockingly demanding]]. Enemy attacks can be avoided completely with proper timing, and can even result in [[DeadlyDodging counter-attacks]].

* MarketBasedTitle: '''Dream Team Bros'' and ''Paper Jam Bros'' in Europe, for some reason.
* MinimalisticCoverArt: The [[https://vgboxart.com/boxes/GBA/56125-mario-luigi-superstar-saga.png]] [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/1/15/PiTJP.jpg cover art]] of the first two games, especially when compared to the [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/4/4e/Superstars.PNG international]] [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/7/79/MarioLuigiPartnersTime.jpg versions]]. ''Bowser's Inside Story'', also minimalist, is the first game in the series to have the same cover art in English and Japanese. Interestingly, after using the same design for all markets for three straight games, the remake of ''Superstar Saga'' goes back to the split designs, albeit differently. The [[https://www.mariowiki.com/File:MLSS%2BBM_Box_NA.png Japanese and American]] versions are inspired in the original, minimalistic cover used in Japan (although with a few more characters), while the [[https://www.mariowiki.com/File:Superstar_Saga_Boxart_ES.jpg European]] cover sticks to the old Western design.

* WrapAround: Many enemies have this, such as charging off one side of the screen and coming back from the other.

* RepeatingSoTheAudienceCanHear: How Mario and Luigi's conversations with [=NPCs=] go, since Mario and Luigi [[SpeakingSimlish only speak in a way that other characters can understand]].

** There is a fake Peach in every game except for the third. The first has Luigi and [[spoiler:Birdo]], the second has [[spoiler:Princess Shroob]], and the fourth has [[spoiler:Kamek]].

* BadassMustache: Mario and Luigi, to the extent their "Stache" stat earns them store discounts, and increases the [[LuckStat chance]] to perform a [[CriticalHit "lucky" strike]]). In ''Partners in Time'', the Baby Mario Bros. also have the Stache stat, even though they don't actually ''have'' mustaches.

* CallAHitPointASmeerp: Critical hits = "Lucky hits" (in addition to what the games call critical hits: using an attack that an enemy is weak to), Skill/[[LuckStat Luck]] = "[[BadassMustache 'Stache]]", MP = "BP" ("Bros. Points") in the first game and "SP" ("Special Points") in the third, though the remake uses the series standard "BP", calling them "Brawl Points" in Bowser's case.

* SequelDifficultySpike:
** The stats of bosses and such like in the second game are ridiculously hard compared to the first one [[JustifiedTrope since you have four brothers. That gives you more attack power and more longevity. If the enemies had stats in line with those from the first game, they'd be wiped out.]]
** The third game takes a ridiculous one with the Bro. Attacks and minigames.
** The fourth game eventually becomes downright ''[[UpToEleven brutal]]'', especially when compared to the previous games. Enemies become powerful enough to take entire chunks out of your hit points, with attack "tells" being ''much'' harder to spot. Several bosses have attacks that are both fast and powerful, and the complexity of their bigger moves only adds to the difficulty.[[note]]One of the last bosses ([[spoiler:Final Antasma]]) even has an attack that goes on for ''eternity'' if you don't stop it yourself.[[/note]] Don't be surprised if the last bosses can kill you in a few hits. There's also the added [[SelfImposedChallenge Expert Challenges]], which dare you to fight in certain ways in order to obtain points to unlock rewards.

* ArtEvolution: Compare the ingame-graphics of ''[[http://www.spriters-resource.com/gameboy_advance/mlss/index.html Superstar Saga]]'' with those of ''[[http://www.spriters-resource.com/ds/marioluigipartners/index.html Partners in Time]]'' and ''[[http://www.spriters-resource.com/ds/marioandluigi3/index.html Bowser's Inside Story]]''. While the general style stays quite the same, the sprites get much more detailed in the latter two games, thanks to them being released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS instead of the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance.
** Taken UpToEleven in ''[[http://www.mariowiki.com/Gallery:Mario_%26_Luigi:_Dream_Team Dream Team]]'', which brings 3D graphics to the series for the first time - but still keeps the same overall art style.
* TheArtifact: Bean collecting. Every game has the player dig up beans from specially marked spots in the ground, either to consume directly or use as currency for a special sub-quest shop. This made perfect sense in the first game, since it was in a kingdom that was bean-themed to the same extreme as the Mushroom Kingdom's mushroom theme, and it worked well in the second as an excuse for a cameo from the first, but as the series as gone on the beans have been further and further removed from the overall theme of things.

* CowardlySidekick: Luigi, but in the fourth game his dreamy side begs to differ.

** ''Bowser's Inside Story'' is, naturally, one of these for Bowser.

* DifficultyByRegion: The Japanese versions are easier.

** There are no {{Exposition Fair|y}}ies. Not even Starlow, who became a series mainstay from Bowser's Inside Story onward.

** In battle, there's an attack block that contains all 3 of the bros' solo attacks, as opposed to separate blocks for jump and hammer.

** Rather than using fancy items, Bros moves have Mario and Luigi simply using their abilities in tandem.
** First striking an enemy with a hammer doesn't do any damage, instead stunning the enemies.
** Using certain moves required making Mario and Luigi switch places. In later games, and even in the remake of ''Superstar Saga'', the brothers could not be switched freely, and Mario was always in the lead.

* EscapeBattleTechnique: The series has a 'Flee' option for this. In the first three games, you had to hammer the A and B buttons to make Mario and Luigi run while coins fell out their pockets, in [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam Dream Team]], you just hit the run command and immediately flee the battle. As per the norm, it doesn't work in boss battles.
* FisherKing: Peach, possibly; it depends on whether or not an economic crash like the one in ''Superstar Saga'' happens every time she gets kidnapped.

** The third game, ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Bowser's Inside Story]]'', is a FantasticVoyagePlot through Bowser's body. The weakest enemies inside Bowser are single-celled Goombas called Goombules. The weakest enemies outside Bowser are Chuboombas, chubby Goombas who love candy. Actual Goombas also appear as SummonMagic. [[IncendiaryExponent Flaming Goombas]] that [[RussianReversal stomp enemies]], no less. [[spoiler:The same Goombas are also Bowser's only way of countering one of Dark Fawful's attacks, by punching them into him, no less.]]

* GrievousHarmWithABody: Most Bros. Attacks involve some element of this between the Bros.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: So many characters do this, it's almost a RunningGag.
* HeroicMime: It's played with though, in that Mario and Luigi are actually quite chatty in these games, albeit not in a way [[SpeakingSimlish the player can understand.]]

* InformedEquipment: You never see any of the special gear or badges on Mario and Luigi's actual sprites. Then again, they could just all look identical to their normal clothing and differ merely by effect, as the icons representing the equipment tends to just be the gear they wear anyway, such as overalls.

* LethalLavaLand:
** Bowser's castle, of course.
** Thwomp Caverns in the second game.

* MinimalisticCoverArt: The [[https://vgboxart.com/boxes/GBA/56125-mario-luigi-superstar-saga.png]] [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/1/15/PiTJP.jpg cover art]] of the first two games, especially when compared to the [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/4/4e/Superstars.PNG international]] [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/7/79/MarioLuigiPartnersTime.jpg versions]]. ''Bowser's Inside Story'', also minimalist, is the first game in the series to have the same cover art in English and Japanese.
** Interestingly, after using the same design for all markets for three straight games, the remake of ''Superstar Saga'' goes back to the split designs, albeit differently. The [[https://www.mariowiki.com/File:MLSS%2BBM_Box_NA.png Japanese and American]] versions are inspired in the original, minimalistic cover used in Japan (although with a few more characters), while the [[https://www.mariowiki.com/File:Superstar_Saga_Boxart_ES.jpg European]] cover sticks to the old Western design.

** The first game has the recurring "Popple And Whatever" fights, where the bandit crook teams up with a partner to fight against Mario and Luigi. The second one even has them pull Bros. Attacks like the protagonists.

* NameAndName: Obviously.

* NumberedSequels: In Japan only. Elsewhere, they went with subtitles instead.
** The second one is ''Mario and Luigi RPG 2 x 2'' (the two brothers and two babies) and the third is ''[[ExcitedShowTitle Mario and Luigi RPG 3!!!]]'' The fourth goes back to normal titles with just ''Mario & Luigi RPG 4: Dream Adventure''. Numbering was dropped for ''Paper Jam'', with the Japanese name being ''[[WordSequel Mario & Luigi RPG: Paper Mario Mix]]''.

** Mario and Luigi [[ManHug always hug each other in the games as well.]]
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Bowser refers to Luigi mainly as "Green 'Stache" [[spoiler:until the ending of Dream Team, indicating that he's finally considered Luigi a WorthyOpponent by then. Even then, Bowser still does it at least once but calls him Luigi again in the final battle.]]

* ProlongedVideoGameSequel: On average, [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga the first two]] [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime installments]] can be completed in about twelve hours of gameplay each, [[SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer not counting sidequests]], while [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory the third]] was only slightly longer by about four hours or so. Meanwhile, [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam the next]] [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPaperJam two]] could take up to thirty hours to be completed (again, without sidequests) on average.
* PunBasedTitle: Starting with ''Partners in Time'', the English titles are pun-based: the first is a pun on the phrase "partners in crime" while reflecting the TimeTravel theme of that game. ''Bowser's Inside Story'' is quite literal--the Mario Bros. end up accidentally getting swallowed by him. ''Dream Team'' refers to both Mario and Luigi themselves and the sleep and dream-based nature of the gameplay, and even the spinoff ''Paper Jam'' is a pun, playing off of the ''Paper Mario'' crossover.

* RuleOfFunny: Everything. Also the general answer of anything in the Headscratchers page.

** CognizantLimbs: Often part of at least one of the two parts.

* SiblingTeam: Who else?

* UndergroundMonkey: Most ''Mario and Luigi'' games feature derivatives of classic ''Mario Bros.'' enemies, though [[PlanetOfHats sporting a new theme]] particular to the game.
** ''Superstar Saga'', again, took place in the Beanbean Kingdom, where everything was based on beans. So you had enemies like the ''Koopea'', rather than the Koopa, or entirely new derivatives of foe who happened to live in the location, like the Yo-Yo Bros. spun off from the Hammer Bros.
** ''Partners in Time'' involves an alien invasion, so many of the enemies are [[TheCorruption Shroobified]] versions of common Mooks. The Shroobs themselves are Underground Monkeys of the Toads.
** ''Bowser's Inside Story'' has two major sets. There are Physiology-derivatives within Bowser himself, and the Fawfulized enemies on the outside.
** ''Dream Team'' features, naturally, Dream enemies.

* VictoryPose: Naturally, being a JRPG. Mario's tend to come across as cool, while Luigi's tend to be awkward, or like he's trying too hard to be cool like Mario. Leveling up comes with an extended victory pose.

** [[/index]] ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2019 VideoGameRemake) [[note]]The final game made just before they filed for bankruptcy.[[/note]][[index]]

** [[/index]] ''Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey'' (UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, 2019 VideoGameRemake) [[index]]

* MinimalisticCoverArt: The [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/0/0e/MLRPGBox.png Japanese]] [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/1/15/PiTJP.jpg cover art]] of the first two games, especially when compared to the [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/4/4e/Superstars.PNG international]] [[http://www.mariowiki.com/images/7/79/MarioLuigiPartnersTime.jpg versions]]. ''Bowser's Inside Story'', also minimalist, is the first game in the series to have the same cover art in English and Japanese.

''Mario & Luigi'' is a series of {{Eastern RPG}}s for Creator/{{Nintendo}} handheld systems, starring the eponymous [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Super Mario Brothers]]. It's the third RolePlayingGame series to star Mario, the first being the one-shot ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' made by [[Creator/SquareEnix Squaresoft]] and the second being the ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series. Nintendo affiliate [=AlphaDream=] developed every title in the series up until their bankruptcy and closing in October of 2019, and every game thus far has featured a soundtrack composed by Creator/YokoShimomura.

* ThemeNaming: Everywhere! Beans and laughter in the first game, sticking the word "Shroob" into anything villainous in the second game, Fawful adding parts of his name to his minions, like Crawfuls, in the third game, and references to sleep in the fourth game.