Developer Q&A Volume 15: Mario & Luigi: Brothership – Chapter 4 | Updates

Otani: Throughout the series, we’ve leaned heavily on piano tunes for the background music. This time, though, we wanted to try something different. We encouraged our composer to incorporate wind instruments and really infuse the tracks with emotion, and then we let him take the reins from there.

Ohashi: Crafting the music was quite a journey. We had weekly meetings with Sakamoto-san, and we often found ourselves pondering, “What does ‘Mario & Luigi-like’ actually mean?” (Laughs) Eventually, we narrowed down our instrument choices to those that resonated with the vibe of Mario & Luigi. We ended up focusing on sounds like tropical steelpans, lively brass bands, and accordions to capture that unique feeling.

Otani: Once we settled on a specific set of instruments, the music began to align seamlessly with the series’ atmosphere. Despite “Mario & Luigi-like” being a bit of a nebulous term, I always kept in mind how well the music matched the characters’ on-screen actions. The result? A collection of truly fantastic music tracks.

What’s particularly remarkable is the attention to detail—every scene has its own unique score. Typically, we’d reuse tracks for different scenarios, like battles or boss fights, but this time around, each cutscene has its own dedicated piece.

Ohashi: For this game, the music was composed after each scene was finalized. Sakamoto-san crafted the tunes by observing how each scene flowed into the next. Discussions were frequent, especially for the climax moments.

Otani: Music and story meld together wonderfully. With over 100 pieces, each one is outstanding. Honestly, I’m eager to have the soundtrack myself. (Laughs)

Ohashi: Generic tunes simply wouldn’t do justice to these cutscenes. They were so well-crafted that I felt they deserved bespoke music to amplify their impact. We ended up adding 40 more tracks to the initial 60. (Laughs)

Okay, but what about the timeline?

Everyone: (Laughs)

Fukushima: Even with the tight schedule, we found that our dedication pulled us deeper into the project. The end reward was recording a live performance, which truly enriched the listening experience.

Otani: The game’s authentic “Mario & Luigi” feel is all thanks to Acquire’s diligent research into the series. To build on that foundation, we brought in key figures from AlphaDream who were instrumental in previous Mario & Luigi titles. This included the director, the developer responsible for the game world, and the battle director. Plus, we had Maekawa-san, who was intimately involved with the series, to oversee the project. Their expertise massively contributed to capturing that familiar vibe.

Ohashi: It was an invaluable learning journey. Our aim was to ensure continuity for those familiar with the earlier games, so as not to jar their experience.

When talking about RPGs, the story’s crucial, but balancing gameplay can be tricky, right?

Ohashi: As development neared completion, Fukushima-san was deeply involved with the team perfecting the battle system.

Fukushima: In past entries, battles relied on “badges.” Players could activate them once a gauge filled, but after depletion, they required a cooldown. Naturally, this led some players to save them for pivotal moments, like boss fights.

Feeling a need for a shift, we collaborated with Acquire to introduce the Battle Plug system. Players now equip Battle Plugs instead of badges. Many Plugs alter regular actions or add effects, offering instant benefits.

Otani: Crafting the right balance for these Battle Plugs posed its own set of challenges.

Fukushima: That’s the truth! (Laughs) We’re talking over 40 Battle Plugs, leading to endless combination possibilities. However, instead of forcing players to grapple with complicated strategies, we made it intuitive. Players, especially those new to gaming, can simply mix and match Plugs and instantly sense the differences.

Ohashi: Part of the fun lies in uncovering the plug synergies when combined.

Fukushima: Everybody has their preferred playstyle; be it aggressive with damage-heavy plugs or defensive with recovery-focused ones. While plugs do exhaust over time, swap them out during recharge to discover your favorites.

Furuta: Personally, I’m a fan of the Iron Ball plugs during battles! Equip a single Surprise Iron Ball plug, and one iron ball drops. Combine it with a Kaboom Attack, and you’ll see multiple balls targeting foes. Equip two Surprise Iron Ball plugs together, and those balls grow larger, wreaking havoc when paired with a Kaboom Attack. It’s really intuitive!