History YMMV / MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Stuffwell. Some love him for his adorable design, funny dialogue, and for acting as the Bros.' suitcase. [[AnnoyingVideoGameHelper Others dislike his constant interjections into cutscenes and for being responsible for the massive amount of tutorials in the first part of the game]].

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Some critics felt the gameplay didn't innovate enough, being essentially ''Superstar Saga'' with a more linear overworld and babies tagging along. Adding fuel to the fire was the only segment utilizing the DS's touch screen, [[{{Waggle}} which felt tacked on]].

* UnderusedGameMechanic: Though it is a DS game in a series known for using each console's unique capabilities in a way or another, as it was released just a year after the console launched, the touch screen isn't properly used for about 99% of the game. The only time you use the stylus is when you [[spoiler: remove the dirt on the odd drawing to reveal two Princess Shroobs]]. Tellingly, ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Bowser's Inside Story]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory Dream Team]]'' use the touch screen to a far greater extent.

** [[spoiler:Transformed Elder]] Princess Shroob has extremely high HP, an extremely high rate of attack with attacks that are difficult to dodge, and requires several other points of her body to be attacked before you can even target her actual source of HP. [[spoiler:Even for the standards of a FinalBoss]], she is practically unstoppable if you aren’t high-leveled enough, and has without doubt caused many a player to RageQuit the game entirely if they aren’t leveled up to a point that she is remotely possible to beat. This make sense in-universe as fighting to [[spoiler: avenge both her sister as well to]] save her species from extinction would undoubtly make her DefiantToTheEnd.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: The Shroobs (barring the younger Princess Shroob) have garnered sympathy from the fanbase in recent years. See TheWoobie below.

* WoobieSpecies: Believe it or not, the Shroobs, [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds though of the Destroyer of Worlds kind]]. The Shroobs may be doing loads of atrocities throughout the game that would warrant the entire species crossing the MoralEventHorizon, and the story wants us to beleive that they're an AlwaysChaoticEvil race, but then you remember that they're doing this because their own civilization was [[DyingRace heavily implied in the prologue to be on the brink of extinction at the prologue of the game]] and they needed to find a new home quickly or risk extinction. Not helping is that [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen they're ruled by]] [[spoiler: [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen not one, but two Dictators of Princesses]]]] Whom want to either kill off all life in the Mushroom World or enslave them to do their bidding as well as occasionally mistreating their own brethren, [[spoiler: although this is more apparent with Elder Princess Shroob in her Boss fight]].

** Heck, the [[WoobieSpecies Shroobs themselves could be woobies]], [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds though of the Destroyer of Worlds kind]]. The Shroobs may be doing loads of atrocities throughout the game that would warrant the entire species crossing the MoralEventHorizon and the story wants us to beleive that they're an AlwaysChaoticEvil race, but then you remember that they're doing this because their own civilization was [[DyingRace heavily implied in the prologue to be on the brink of extinction at the prologue of the game]] and they needed to find a new home quickly or risk extinction. Not helping is that [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen they're ruled by]] [[spoiler: [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen not one, but two Dictators of Princesses]]]] Whom want to either kill off all life in the Mushroom World or enslave them to do their bidding as well as occasionally mistreating their own brethren, [[spoiler: although this is more apparent with Elder Princess Shroob in her Boss fight]].

* BreatherLevel: Coming between the battle against [[ThatOneBoss Petey Piranha]] and [[ThatOneLevel Toad Town Ruins]] is Thwomp Volcano/Caverns, which are fairly short, easy to navigate, and lack any particularly strong foes to battle on your way. The only semblance of challenge you might experience here is the battle against [[spoiler:Bowser and his baby self]], and even then, some [[AchillesHeel Ice Flowers]] and [[GameBreaker Copy Flowers]] will take care of them easily.

* ContestedSequel: While generally agreed to be at least enjoyable, many fans consider this game the weakest in the series, mostly because of its [[NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom high linearity]] (which isn't helped by the lack of an interconnected overworld like the other games, instead having a HubLevel), often [[{{Padding}} excessively long boss battles]] (though this was more serious in the American version, as the European and Japanese versions were released after and rebalanced the boss battles by reducing many bosses' HP), turning the Bros. Attacks into consumable Bros. Items and removing Bros. Points, that there's absolutely nothing to do after clearing the game, etc. However, many fans say instead that it's the ''best'' of the series, mainly for its DarkerAndEdgier storyline, or its relatively fast-paced nature compared to the other games. All of this said, the consensus seems to be that it's an okay game on its own, if not excellent.

* SoOkayItsAverage: The general reaction towards the game. While having excellent writing and characterization as well as an interesting DarkerAndEdgier spin on the formula, the game is let down by extremely linear progression and area design as well as overly long boss battles, along with the Bros. Attacks becoming one-use items and nothing to do after the game's completion. However, most fans feel that the game isn't bad by any means, and can be enjoyable at least for a single playthrough.

* UnderusedGameMechanic: For a DS game released a year after the console launched, the touch screen isn't properly used for about 99% of the game. The only time you use the stylus is when you [[spoiler: remove the dirt on the odd drawing to reveal two Princess Shroobs]].

* AnticlimaxBoss: The PostFinalBoss against [[spoiler:Shrowser]] is more of a fairly easy dodging minigame than an actual fight, a letdown coming off the heels of two incredibly tough final bosses and a poor conclusion to the threat of the Shroob invasion.

** Toad Town Ruins. Remember Joke's End sequences from [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga the previous entry]] where the Bros had to explore alone for a good chunk of the dungeon? Well, Toad Town Ruins might be arguably worse, since almost ''the entire'' level involves the Bros and their younger selves being separated the whole time, with special mention going to the Babies' parts, as they are considerably weaker than the adults which makes battles longer and tougher. And for extra fun? ''Every'' enemy here enters the GoddamnedBats category (see above), featuring Shroids, Skellokeys and Love Bubbles. Prepare for a lot of pain when crossing this place. At least there isn't a BossBattle to worry about though.

* ContestedSequel: While generally agreed to be at least enjoyable, many fans consider this game the weakest in the series, mostly because of its [[NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom high linearity]] (which isn't helped by the lack of an interconnected overworld like the other games, instead having a HubLevel), often [[{{Padding}} excessively long boss battles]], turning the Bros. Attacks into consumable Bros. Items and removing Bros. Points, that there's absolutely nothing to do after clearing the game, etc. However, many fans say instead that it's the ''best'' of the series, mainly for its DarkerAndEdgier storyline, or its relatively fast-paced nature compared to the other games. All of this said, the consensus seems to be that it's an okay game on its own, if not excellent.

* UnderuedGameMechanic: For a DS game released a year after the console launched, the touch screen isn't properly used for about 99% of the game. The only time you use the stylus is when you [[spoiler: remove the dirt on the odd drawing to reveal two Princess Shroobs]].

* BreatherLevel: In contrast to the boss fight, Thwomp Volcano is a rather short level and has brief minigames that you can repeat to get beans. The mini-boss isn't even evil and simply attacks you for putting a funk in her rocky husband.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: The Shroobs (barring the Princess Shroob) have garnered sympathy from the fanbase in recent years. See TheWoobie below.

** [[spoiler:Transformed Elder]] Princess Shroob has extremely high HP, an extremely high rate of attack with attacks that are difficult to dodge, and requires several other points of her body to be attacked before you can even target her actual source of HP. [[spoiler:Even for the standards of a FinalBoss]], she is practically unstoppable if you aren’t high-leveled enough, and has without doubt caused many a player to RageQuit the game entirely if they aren’t leveled up to a point that she is remotely possible to beat. This make sense in-universe as fighting to [[spoiler: avenge both her sister as well to]] save her species from her species would undoubtly make her DefiantToTheEnd.