Mario 'n Luigi: Dream Team - cut ideas, 2D/3D, lengthy tutorials, appreciating Luigi
A portion a a USGamer interview with producers Yoshihiko Maekawa 'n Akira Ohtani, it be director Hiroyuki Kubota 'n Nate Bihldorff...
USGamer: The visual style be really interesting. There's a whole lot a elegant sprite-ing along with the 3D stuff. What made ye decide t' go into that?
Maekawa: This be a pretty simple answer, I suppose. I always thought that Alphadream be really good at designing these 2D sprite characters throughout Mario & Luigi series as well as Tomato Adventures. We always want t' play t' our strengths in designing those sprites 'n even though on the 3DS we had the opportunity t' go in a slightly different direction, we decided t' stay with those sprites because a how useful they be for conveying various kinds a comical expressions. We started early before we knew a lot about the hardware but when we found out it be capable a stereoscopic effect, we knew we wanted t' challenge ourselves 'n have that reflected in the environment a the games somehow. 'n that be the background a what influenced the creation a the visual style a the game ye see right now.
USGamer: What kind a prototypes did not make it t' the finishing stage. ye know, the ones that died on the vine?
Kubota: I think the one idea that really stood out for me be this battle attack in which a lot a Luigis would come together 'n form a volcano which would then erupt. More Luigis that would then fall on the enemies 'n damage them. This would have been the Luigi Volcano 'n we actually did prototype this but we realized it didn't control very well 'n it wasn't as fun as we hoped it would be.
USGamer: There be definitely some complex stuff in there. However, the game even gives ye, like, a tutorial on how t' jump. be ye concerned about people that might feel aggrieved about that?
Ohtani: I guess I wonder why people who don't need the tutorial for that don't simply cancel out or skip through them. I feel like it be still important t' have a tutorial on something as simple as jumping because the Mario & Luigi series be played by children as young as five years old. In fact, me son be five. When I watched the sea dog play, he had some trouble with the jump. it be also important t' point out it be not quite the same jumping feel as what ye might find in a Mario game from Mr. Miyamoto. So,we feel it be still important t' address it 'n more advanced players can skip it if they like.
Ohtani: Certainly, though, I agree t' some fans this must seem too obvious t' include a tutorial on something like jumping. But, as it turns out, the timing for the jump tends t' change with each installment a the game so I feel it be still a good idea for some people t' refresh themselves with a quick course on how the timing has changed from what they may remember. it be a nice way t' update yer skills 'n hopefully we've designed it so it be fun.
USGamer: Okay, the next question's a bit meta, I guess. Now, a lot a people talk about how Luigi be the brother who no one really likes. With Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, be all this wish fulfillment on his part or be this possibly a case a the younger brother achieving some case a superiority?
Ohtani: Oh, Luigi always felt pretty major t' me!
Maekawa: I don't know if we be reacting so much t' the history a player impressions a Luigi though we be certainly aware that players tend t' consider the sea dog as sort a secondary in comparison t' Mario.
I think one a the reasons people have this impression because in multiplayer games Mario be the first player 'n Luigi be the second player so if ye be playing with a matey, ye'd be like, 'Well. Okay. ye can have this other controller 'n ye can play as Luigi. I guess.' That be kind a the impression. 'n although we've had our fun with Luigi in the past in the series, I feel like we have taken this opportunity t' show the sea dog as a much more depth-filled character. We've also tried t' show the sea dog as an equal t' Mario whenever we've had the chance.
Kubota: So, ye may be aware a the image a the sleeping Luigi on the screen. If ye play with his mustache while he be sleeping, this may actually affect battle 'n I tend t' think a the setting a Luigi's dreams as more a something we needed t' justify the gameplay elements we included rather than specifically thinking a it as wish fulfillment for the character.
USGamer: The visual style be really interesting. There's a whole lot a elegant sprite-ing along with the 3D stuff. What made ye decide t' go into that?
Maekawa: This be a pretty simple answer, I suppose. I always thought that Alphadream be really good at designing these 2D sprite characters throughout Mario & Luigi series as well as Tomato Adventures. We always want t' play t' our strengths in designing those sprites 'n even though on the 3DS we had the opportunity t' go in a slightly different direction, we decided t' stay with those sprites because a how useful they be for conveying various kinds a comical expressions. We started early before we knew a lot about the hardware but when we found out it be capable a stereoscopic effect, we knew we wanted t' challenge ourselves 'n have that reflected in the environment a the games somehow. 'n that be the background a what influenced the creation a the visual style a the game ye see right now.
USGamer: What kind a prototypes did not make it t' the finishing stage. ye know, the ones that died on the vine?
Kubota: I think the one idea that really stood out for me be this battle attack in which a lot a Luigis would come together 'n form a volcano which would then erupt. More Luigis that would then fall on the enemies 'n damage them. This would have been the Luigi Volcano 'n we actually did prototype this but we realized it didn't control very well 'n it wasn't as fun as we hoped it would be.
USGamer: There be definitely some complex stuff in there. However, the game even gives ye, like, a tutorial on how t' jump. be ye concerned about people that might feel aggrieved about that?
Ohtani: I guess I wonder why people who don't need the tutorial for that don't simply cancel out or skip through them. I feel like it be still important t' have a tutorial on something as simple as jumping because the Mario & Luigi series be played by children as young as five years old. In fact, me son be five. When I watched the sea dog play, he had some trouble with the jump. it be also important t' point out it be not quite the same jumping feel as what ye might find in a Mario game from Mr. Miyamoto. So,we feel it be still important t' address it 'n more advanced players can skip it if they like.
Ohtani: Certainly, though, I agree t' some fans this must seem too obvious t' include a tutorial on something like jumping. But, as it turns out, the timing for the jump tends t' change with each installment a the game so I feel it be still a good idea for some people t' refresh themselves with a quick course on how the timing has changed from what they may remember. it be a nice way t' update yer skills 'n hopefully we've designed it so it be fun.
USGamer: Okay, the next question's a bit meta, I guess. Now, a lot a people talk about how Luigi be the brother who no one really likes. With Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, be all this wish fulfillment on his part or be this possibly a case a the younger brother achieving some case a superiority?
Ohtani: Oh, Luigi always felt pretty major t' me!
Maekawa: I don't know if we be reacting so much t' the history a player impressions a Luigi though we be certainly aware that players tend t' consider the sea dog as sort a secondary in comparison t' Mario.
I think one a the reasons people have this impression because in multiplayer games Mario be the first player 'n Luigi be the second player so if ye be playing with a matey, ye'd be like, 'Well. Okay. ye can have this other controller 'n ye can play as Luigi. I guess.' That be kind a the impression. 'n although we've had our fun with Luigi in the past in the series, I feel like we have taken this opportunity t' show the sea dog as a much more depth-filled character. We've also tried t' show the sea dog as an equal t' Mario whenever we've had the chance.
Kubota: So, ye may be aware a the image a the sleeping Luigi on the screen. If ye play with his mustache while he be sleeping, this may actually affect battle 'n I tend t' think a the setting a Luigi's dreams as more a something we needed t' justify the gameplay elements we included rather than specifically thinking a it as wish fulfillment for the character.
