Visually, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a candy-coated affair that fits right in with the series. There's a cel-shaded quality to the models that reminds me a little of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Brothership includes many side quests which develop the world and often lead to comedic cutscenes. However, some of these sidequests have time limits which require the player to drop everything and complete a specific task.

Mario and Luigi have two different types of weapons they can equip in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. First, the pair can only jump on enemies with a nice pair of boots. Second, they will unlock hammers that they can use to smash enemies into pieces with or rocks while exploring the various islands that they will sail to.

Brothership has a pretty slow start. It takes a good 20 minutes to get through all of the cutscenes and intro dialogue that sets up Mario and Luigis adventure, but even when you finally get control of the brothers,

After linking Rumbla Island to Shipshape Island, Mario and Luigi will be tasked with getting a hammer that could break open the purple capsule that dropped on the beach. Your destination of choice is between Raynforst and Twistee Island,

These early side quests are ideal for getting nice rewards as soon as possible in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, and shouldn't be skipped by players.

One tiny detail was changed for the latest Mario & Luigi game, and only veteran players of the series will notice it. New players miss it altogether.