Mario & Luigi Brothership Could Have Been “Edgier” But Nintendo Said No

The beloved plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, almost got a grittier makeover in their latest adventure. However, Nintendo steered the development team towards a more familiar aesthetic. Let's delve into the fascinating story behind Mario & Luigi: Brothership's art direction.

Mario & Luigi: A Rougher Start?

Image from Nintendo and Acquire

In a December 4th "Ask the Developer" article on Nintendo's website, Acquire, the game's developer, revealed an unexpected twist. Early in development, Mario and Luigi sported a significantly edgier, more rugged look. But Nintendo felt this departure from the established style risked losing the essence of the iconic duo.

The developers, Akira Otani and Tomoki Fukushima from Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development Department, and Haruyuki Ohashi and Hitomi Furuta from Acquire, aimed to create 3D visuals that captured the series' unique charm while differentiating it from other Mario titles. This quest led to experimentation, resulting in a surprisingly edgy Mario and Luigi.

"In our search for a new Mario & Luigi style, we tried an edgier, more rugged Mario," designer Furuta shared with a laugh. Nintendo's feedback emphasized the importance of maintaining a distinctly Mario & Luigi identity. A reassessment followed, guided by a Nintendo document outlining the defining characteristics of the brothers throughout the series. Furuta added, "While we enthusiastically pitched this rugged version, considering it from a player's perspective, I worried if it truly represented the Mario players wanted." This feedback clarified the direction.

The team ultimately blended the appeal of illustrated elements—solid outlines and bold eyes—with the charm of pixel animations showcasing the brothers' signature comical movements. This approach forged a unique art style for the game.

Otani from Nintendo added, "We wanted Acquire's unique style, but also the preservation of Mario's defining traits. It was a period of experimenting with how these two aspects could coexist."

A Development Challenge

Acquire, known for less vibrant, more serious titles like Octopath Traveler and the Way of the Samurai series, faced a unique challenge. Furuta admitted their natural inclination was towards darker RPGs. Creating a game featuring globally popular characters was also a new experience for the studio.

Ultimately, the collaborative process yielded positive results. "While still grasping the Mario & Luigi series' mood, we chose this direction to remember it's a stage for fun, chaotic adventures," Furuta explained. "This applies not only to the game world, but we learned from Nintendo's design perspective on clarity. The world became brighter and easier to play thanks to these insights."