In this story, Mario will meet old friends and new friends. Some of these friends comes from other Mario ‘spin-offs’ franchises, (Wario, DK) However, those new friends will be proven valuable to the adventure.
Controls: I’m going to try my best to the Wii mote and Nunchuck.
Analog stick on the nun chuck: This is your main function to when you want to move your character, move the cursors, and move out of your parents house (j/k)
A button: On field- use it to jump. Jumping is vital. Also press the A button near people will allow you to talk to them. When a ‘!’ is over your head, press A to trigger some kind of event.
B button: On field- it allows you to use the hammer. Also when as an option, press B to cancel or return to a previous menu-esque screen.
1 button (Never thought there would be a button named after a number. LOL!): Anyway, press the 1 button to use a partners’ ability. Partner abilities will help you with your quest. And since Mario has 11 partners (and 1 optional), they will all be valuable.
2 button: On field the 2 button will make it easier to switch partners. Press the 2 button to select two partners, Field Partner and Battle Partner. The Field partner will follow you around in Field Mode and help you when you’re battle. The Battle partner is usable once you enter a battle. You can switch characters to make advantage of everyone
Start button: Press start to pause the game. While on pause you will be able to stats and data for everything you ran into and everybody who joined your quest.
Field Mode-
The main part of the game, field mode is basically the adventure part. When you touch an enemy, you’ll enter a battle.
In towns, cities, and villages, you can talk to the locals to get helpful info or just some trashy street gossip.
You’ll run into things while exploring-
Yellow Blocks: Break it with a hammer
? Block: Break it to get items or coins
Save Block: Use it to save
Recovery Blocks: Use it to recover HP and FP. But it’ll cost you some coins.
Blue ! Switch: Press to see what happens
Battle Mode-
The fights of the game. Battle mode is a standard turn based RPG battle. When you run into an enemy, the battle begins. And for fun, the music for a normal battle is random. It will randomly play one of 5 normal battle songs from the other 5 Mario RPGs. (I love those normal battle songs.)
The flow of battle is like this: The fastest character on screen goes first and the slowest goes last. After the battle you will receive Experience points. When you collect enough Experience Point, Mario and/or a partner character’s level will increase by one. Partners that weren’t in battle will also receive Exp. Points and may level up. However, they will only receive 80% of the Exp Points.
Striking First- On field mode, when you or your partner attacks first, you will receive the first strike in battle. If the enemy attacks you however, they will receive the first strike.
Reading the Battle Screen-
Enemies- Enemies can be on the ground, in the air, or on a ceiling. Not all moves will work for everyone of them.
Basic Attacks: Keep in mind some characters attack better in one attack but may lack in the others
Jumping- Some characters have use jumping skills for attacks. But don’t jump on spiked or fiery enemies.
Punching/Hammer- Punching is good to have around and having a hammer can work to. However, punching a fiery enemy will be crazy. And neither punching nor the hammer can hit airborne enemies or enemies that are behind another one. Some characters, however, can avoid that disadvantage.
Special Attack- These attacks range from magic, recovering health, to some that are weird like poison farts, or jack-in-the-boxes. Unlike the other three, the power of Special Attacking is determined by Magical Strength and not Attack Strength. But speical attacks can be in the jumping, punching, or hammer catergory. Sometimes, a charcter has types od special attacks to themselves only.
Long Range- You will attack safely at a distance. However, the even basic long range attacks aren’t usually that strong and can cost FP. Long range attacks are either special attacks, punching, and others.
Friend Attack- If two of your characters have a good bond with each other, they can perform a friend attack together. Friend attacks are powerful but costs a bit more FP. See character section on who has good chemistry with each other.
Items- Use items to attack foes, recover health, or make a status change. A character can only carry up to ten items.
Star Attacks- Only Mario can use this. Star Attacks will allow you to use better moves or recovery. It depends on how full your Star Gauge is. See bonus section on how to increase the star gauge
Strategy- Use this if you have something other than attacking during battle
Partner Change- Change a partner (But you skip the turn)
Star Increase- Increase the Star Gauge
Defense- Protect yourself against enemy attack
Run Away- Rapidly Press A to run away successfully. If you fail, depending on how badly you fail, one, two, or ALL three of your characters will not escape battle. There are even times when Mario escapes but one of his partners doesn’t. This will require the lone partner to either battle or try to escape again. However, if that lone partner wins, only he or she will get Double Exp Points.
Defending-
Pressing A before an enemy strikes you will reduce the damage you take
Pressing B with perfect timing will allow you to counter the attack
Possible Battle placement-
Partner Enemy Slot Enemy Slot
Mario Enemy Slot Enemy Slot
Partner Enemy Slot Enemy Slot
As you can see, Mario and his two partners only have three places to stand. Your enemy has six and they can even hide behind each other for protection.
Status Alignments- Can either help or harm you or your foe
Poison- The character loses HP over time
Confused- The character may attack his own allies
Burn- Loses HP like poison does except not as severe
Frozen- The character can’t move for a limited of time
Sleep- The character is asleep and can’t move. However, an attack may wake him up
Giant- Attack power and Magic Power increases
Tiny- Attack power and Magic Power decreases
No- No status alignment for awhile
Paralyzed- The character’s speed is reduced by half. Paralysis may also occur
Mushroom- The character becomes a Mushroom and can’t move. However, HP increases a little
X2- The character can attack twice in one turn
Dizziness- Accuracy decreases
½- The character may have his turned skipped for no apparent reason.
Dodgy- The evasiveness of your character increases
