Just finished the second Lighthouse, having a great time now that the game has really hit a steady clip.
I love Peach's role in this game so far, taking a strong pro-active and even epsionage-esque role as member of the team. I kind of wish the choice to either have her or Luigi allow themselves to get captured would have resulted in her teaming up with Mario during the brief bit that Luigi is unavailable.
Beat the game. First few hours were way too slow. Overall game needed to be 8-10 hours shorter. Especially without a real gimmick. The plugs were a neat mechanic, but not strong enough to carry the game for 40 hours. This series really does not need sidequests. A straight shot from beginning to end feels more appropriate. Pacing wasn't as bad as Dream Team, but still on the plodding side.
But when it was good it was pretty good. Bowser was a highlight. Best cutscene was his army vs Zokket's forces. Plus he almost got the game renamed Connie & Arc: Brothership. Probably had the best bosses too, though I am glad he wasn't part of the final boss for once. Luigi got a surprising amount of respect overall. Guess Starlow sticking with Peach helped. IDLE was probably my favorite of the new characters.
Probably better than Dream Team, but weaker than the other games. Considering it's a new studio, good results overall. Especially in the animations. Hopefully a sequel cuts down on the fluff and adds some more interesting mechanics.
The plugs weren't the gimmick of the game, they were just this game's "badge" equivalent.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.I’m currently on the desert island where I’m looking for Stickem Oil (So, the last major island before the second Lighthouse, I think), and I feel a little bit stumped.
I’m at the part with the gate and the oasis, and I’m fairly certain that I’m supposed to get a weight somewhere to push down the button to keep the gate open, but I’m looking all over the area and can’t see anything that looks like I can pick it up. About the only thing that crosses my mind is that I’m supposed to get somerhing from the oasis, but it’s asking me for a Quick Charge Brooch, which I don’t have. So, is the oasis optional? Because I can’t return to Shipshape because I haven’t linked the island to it, and I refuse to believe that the designers would let you essentially soft-lock the game by requiring an item that you can’t get. I also see the little ramp and three hollow cacti with the blocks inside of them, which I’m assuming will be made accessible through a new Bros. Move or something.
What am I missing here? Could I get a general hint, please? I feel like I’m missing something very obvious…
My AO3 profile. Let sleeping cats lie and be cute and calming....the Oasis is completely optional.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.Is it bad that I like the fact that the tutorials are here? I know I shouldn't be encouraging them, but that's only told me that I really was back in familiar territory. (Context: I'm the kind of guy who wouldn't change a single thing in regards to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door's infamous backtracking.)
Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.That's great and all...but there are way less tutorials than even the first game.
The complaint about the beginning is more about redundant dialogue than forced tutorials.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.
I'm more in favor of just dumping you in an Antepiece, giving a message at the top telling you how to do the move, and letting you take it from there. For me at least, I pick up shit extremely fast in practice and do a much worse job learning from reading a pop-up tutorial.
They are mandatory...
They just don't come from the characters speaking to you.
—-
And since they aren't teaching you anything complicated, just basic utility...you aren't at risk of forgetting anything.
I say this, but...obviously forgetting the secondary utility of each Bros. move may depend on the person, as I've already seen.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.I've seen way too many people fail to understand core game mechanics and get angry at the game at it, just because the explanation was skippable, to believe that everyone is capable of picking stuff up as they go along. ...We're getting off topic, though
Edited by Hylarn on Dec 9th 2024 at 2:27:18 AM
Are we really, though? I thought that WAS the topic.
Joking aside, I'm enjoying my playthrough of the game thus far.
I'm right before the final dungeon with the Great Lighthouse rematches, a few craftable items, and the Solitree being all that I have left (not counting challenges).
I love this game, probably my GOTY, but the pacing is abysmal. Not as bad as TLOU2, and debatably Dream Team, but the game is way too long.
The lack of bosses and Bros. Moves compared to the sheer length of everything else makes the game feel stretched thin. Just a few more Bros. Moves to compensate for not having the additional set previous games had would've gone a long way. Bosses are at least very high quality throughout, even if there are too few of them.
Edited by TheLivingDrawing on Jan 7th 2025 at 1:54:07 PM
Once Upon A Time.

Finished the game. Could only find one Grampy Turnip in the Soli-Tree despite there apparently being 9 of them there (half of them in the game). So whatever prize that was waiting for me for picking up those stinking vegetables will be a mystery to me.
ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.