Simply one of the greatest RPGs I have ever played. The pinnacle of Mario based gaming. Must play for Gamecube owners.
Mario can use a hammer, jump attacks or special star powers or items. In this game though, allies are more powerful, as they can use items and more abilities. As you go along, you gather upgraded gear for Mario and Star Sprites to upgrade your allies. While Mario levels up from gaining experience, you can select 5 hp, 5 fp (flower points, kinda like mana), or 3 bp (badge points). Star Sprites add a new attack and anywhere from 5 to 10 more hp to your allies (beware though only 1 ally can be upgraded per 3 star sprites).
So this game is more customizable in terms of how you play and if you like lots of HP and FP, do that, if you want neat hammer or jump attacks and special powerups when you are in danger or just to boost your overall attack, use lots of badges. It comes from trial and error, but you can't go wrong any way you play. In the battle, you can charge your attack by doing whatever the game's input command tells you to do, like hold left on the joystick until the star lights up, or press a button sequence, or something to that effect. It's not very hard to get used to the things and it makes the game more interactive. Also, by pressing the A button when attacked, you can guard some of the damage enemies give you. Basically that's a simple run down of the combat. The damage dealt is only around 5 damage per attack, with the highest damage I've seen around 15 in one hit, so don't expect 9999 damage a la Final Fantasy. However, this doesn't mean those 5 damage don't make a difference, the game is finely balanced and is evident upon playing. Strategy makes a great deal of importance, especially when the enemy decides to charge up for +8 damage on the next hit. (Hint for those who haven't played, use an invisible move to dodge the attack). Swapping partners on the fly in this battle with Mario was not featured last game, nor was swapping the order in which Mario and his ally act. These little upgrades make the game a lot more enjoyable and strategic and less aggrivating. Not once did I find the game frustrating either. And the puzzles are sometimes tricky, but if you use one of your partner's abilities (all of them are necessary to complete the game), she gives you good hints, sometimes outright spilling the beans, or just enough to figure it out. Let's just say you don't need to have an IQ of 150 to play this game. Neat little side games like when you see Bowser on the journey flash back to the old school side scrolling Mario games. Bowser starts off rather large, but grows to Godzilla like proportions and goes invincible (replete with the classic Starman induced invincibility music). Refreshing distractions are very welcome in the game.
Clearly the game is cliched in one must save Princess Peach (nee Toadstool, age ????, residence Mushroom Kingdom), and ultimately the world, but how the story is told and the interactions with the various characters Mario meets on the journey is the reward in itself. The dialogue is so witty and humorous, but most often heartwarming and just a good time. Even the bad guys are lovable, as hard as that is to believe. I won't say anything more to spoil the story, but the Last Boss is possibly one of my favorites in any game I have ever played (just don't look at my avatar Icon... oops... did I write that out loud?).
The game is presented like a vividly colored 2d cardboard cutout. Interesting graphical touches like when a button activates the stairs, they fold out and arrange geometrically. Bridges and stairs sprout into being instantly, I only wish that the Department of Public works was that efficient in real life. Some enemies (like Hooktail the Dragon) fill up the entire stage (yes I said stage). Every battle take place on a stage that has the audience fill up with various denizens of Rogueport and the Mushroom kingdom. Luigi, Toadsworth, other random toads, koopas, goombas and others appear to cheer you on (or sometimes toss items at you, occaisonally bad stuff, sometimes good stuff. You have to react, or not react, depending which is which. I've gotten mushrooms, fire flowers, thunder rages and more before, other times, I got a flying rock to the noggin). Anyways, the stage keeps you on your toes, and the Gamecube can handle quite a bit of characters onscreen at once.
Speaking of lots of characters onscreen at once, sometimes, ghosts, koopas, dry bones or other random monsters attack you and flood the screen, so you have to beat them back with your hammer and watch their bodies go flying in droves. Its fun to keep bashing on the baddies, and necessary when it happens. Sometimes its overwhelming and the sheer number of the on screen enemies get that impression across quite well.
The music, well, the music is just classic Mario fare remixed plus some new tracks. The boss themes are awesome and energetic. The X-Naut base has an uptempo techno dance beat that reminds me of a moon base. The music in the Princesses' room is a light and breezy theme that is befitting of a princess and when Mario gets "cursed" (just play the game and it explains it), the monster comes out to the most sinister and grinding music. The 4th time though, the music still is there, but the tone went from sinister to the monster pleading for him to let Mario be cursed. Every attack has a different sound, and Mario makes his famous "It's a me" stereotypical one liners, otherwise his only dialogue is what you select in your options. I guess it's a good thing that we don't put voices to these characters, otherwise it would ruin the mystique. Sometimes I just listen to the classical remixed music for 10 or 20 minutes on end because it's so nostalgic. The voices and laughter (particularly Bowser) are quite deep and rumbling, like a mad villian would laugh like, but when they get egg on their face, you have the classic wah wah wahhhh noises like old comedy shows.
Basically the presentation, the gameplay, the story, the characters, everything is amazing. It took me about 30 hours to beat, so at 20 dollars to buy this game, it provided me with a tremendously fun time for 66 cents a hour, and I know I'm going to play this game again. That to me was a prime value. I would have ranked the value slightly lower if I paid full price, because that was the only dissappointing aspect of this game, it was too short, and left me wanting more and more. It's one of those games you DONT want to end.
This is my favorite Mario based game of all time, and my second favorite RPG of all time right after FF7. There is nothing bad about this game beyond it's length, no programming errors, no glitches, nothing, just a robustly coded game and a well thought out, simple, yet complex at the same time battle system with an amazing story, cast of characters and my favorite Final Boss battle ever.
If you are a Gamecube owner and have never played this game... I feel bad for what you are missing out on.
Absolutely flawless masterpiece.