Let’s dive into the creative minds behind the latest addition to the beloved Mario & Luigi series. We sat down with key figures who brought this new game to life, and here’s what they had to say.
Could you please introduce yourselves?
Otani: Hi, I’m Akira Otani from Nintendo. I’ve been involved with the Mario & Luigi series since the second instalment, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, and took on the role of producer starting with Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. This marks the seventh game in the series that I’ve had the pleasure of working on. For this project, my role was to oversee the entire development, although I also dabbled in various tasks like brainstorming and developing content with the team.
Fukushima: Before diving into this project, I handled coordination with external development partners for games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch. My role for this game was Associate Producer, collaborating with Acquire on multiple aspects, from prototyping all the way to completion, which includes scheduling and shaping the game content as a whole.
Ohashi: I’m Haruyuki Ohashi from Acquire. As the director, I led the planning and hands-on development process at our site. This was my debut collaboration with Nintendo, and I’m truly relieved—and proud—that we managed to complete the project successfully.
Furuta: Hello, I’m Hitomi Furuta from Acquire, taking on the role of Art Director for this game. I was responsible for directing the overall art style and had the chance to design some of the main characters. Having played Mario games since childhood, it was exciting to dive into the Mario & Luigi series for this project.
Otani-san, could you give us a brief overview of the Mario & Luigi series and this latest game?
Otani: The Mario & Luigi series debuted in 2003 on the Game Boy Advance as an Action RPG where players navigate the world by having both Mario and Luigi work in tandem. We like to brand this style as "Brother Action RPG." The series is celebrated for its harmonious balance of action, puzzles, engaging storylines, and character antics that are quintessentially Mario. It’s been nine long years since our last new entry, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam in 2015, and it’s thrilling to bring this new title to our fans.
Thanks for that. This is the first new game in nine years—what’s the setting this time around?
Otani: This adventure is set in a world called Concordia, quite distinct from the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and Luigi journey through islands that float on its ocean. Your main hub is Shipshape Island, which drifts on the sea, as you discover other islands filled with puzzles and battles. As the menace posed by the antagonist Zokket looms closer, our heroes meet various allies who help them stand against this threat.
When the game was announced during the Nintendo Direct in June 2024, how did the audience react?
Otani: Honestly, the surprise was beyond what I imagined, both in Japan and around the globe. I think the shock stemmed from the fact that many believed the series wouldn’t continue—and yet, here it is, making a comeback.
It’s been quite a spell since the previous Mario & Luigi instalment.
Otani: Indeed. Internally, we spent a lot of time discussing the possibility of a new entry after Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. The goal was to modernize the series in tune with advanced hardware while preserving the essence of the classic games. This balancing act wasn’t easy—and at times, it felt like an uphill struggle, even to the extent of contemplating halting development altogether.
After many discussions, we decided to team up with Acquire. Conversations with Ohashi-san led me to believe that Acquire could help us realize our dream of bringing Mario & Luigi into the 3D realm, prompting our joint development efforts. We also enlisted some former AlphaDream staff, who had previously worked on the series, to ensure the game retained that beloved "Mario & Luigi-like" vibe.
