Brothership Could Have Been Edgier, Says Miyamoto

The beloved plumber brothers, Mario and Luigi, almost received a grittier, edgier makeover in their latest game. However, Nintendo stepped in to ensure the game retained its signature style. Let's delve into the art direction evolution of Mario & Luigi: Brothership.

Exploring Diverse Artistic Styles

Image from Nintendo and Acquire

In a December 4th "Ask the Developer" feature on Nintendo's website, Acquire, the game's developer, revealed an initial design featuring a more rugged, edgier Mario and Luigi. Nintendo, however, felt this deviated too far from the established characters' identities.

Akira Otani and Tomoki Fukushima (Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development Department) and Haruyuki Ohashi and Hitomi Furuta (Acquire) discussed the development process. Acquire aimed for "3D visuals that would bring out the unique appeal" of the series, differentiating it from other Mario games. This led to experimentation and the creation of the initially edgy design.

Furuta recounted the team's initial proposal of a tougher Mario, only to receive feedback from Nintendo emphasizing the importance of maintaining a recognizable Mario & Luigi aesthetic. A subsequent meeting and a Nintendo-provided document outlining the core characteristics of Mario and Luigi guided the team's reassessment. Furuta admitted concerns about whether the edgier design truly represented the Mario players desired.

The final art style, according to Furuta, successfully blended the appeal of illustrated elements (solid outlines, bold eyes) with the charm of the characters' comically exaggerated movements in pixel animation.

Otani added that while Nintendo encouraged Acquire's unique style, preserving the essence of Mario was paramount. The process involved navigating the balance between these two objectives.

Navigating Development Challenges

Acquire, known for titles like Octopath Traveler and the Way of the Samurai series, typically creates less vibrant, more serious games. Furuta acknowledged the team's natural inclination towards darker RPG aesthetics. Developing a game based on a globally recognized IP also presented a unique challenge for the studio, accustomed to working with their own characters.

Ultimately, the collaborative process yielded positive results. The team's decision to prioritize fun and chaotic adventures, combined with Nintendo's design insights focusing on clarity and accessibility, resulted in a brighter, more user-friendly game world.