In the Mario & Luigi franchise, one of the most iconic aspects has always been the soundtrack. Usually composed by longtime Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura, it’s beloved by fans and critics alike, and something that’s often held up as one of the best things about the series as a whole.
So, when it was revealed that Shimomura hadn’t returned for Mario & Luigi: Brothership, there was more than a little uncertainty to say the least. New composer Hideki Sakamoto wasn’t a bad choice by any means (given his work on titles like the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon franchise), but he had a different taken on the series to say the least, and one which was generally seen as inferior to Shimomura’s own efforts.
It’s especially noticeable for the battle music, which was not always received that well by fans.
Now though, another option is available. Why? Because a modder named AS Dair has now created a mod pack which updates Brothership to use Bowser’s Inside Story remixes instead. Here’s the link to the original mod over on modding site Game Banana:
M&L Bowser’s Inside Story Battle Music Pack (GameBanana)
As well as a video showing the new music in action:
It’s certainly an interesting update, and the new song remixes (from well-known YouTube cover artist the Noble Demon) definitely make the game a much livelier and more energetic experience. Whereas Brothership’s original battle themes were more cheerful and upbeat, these new ones are like something from a cinematic movie scene. It’s good stuff, at least in that sense.
But we’re not 100% sure how well they fit overall. Yeah, they’re definitely more Mario & Luigi like, that’s true. And the songs chosen for this mod are definitely fitting choices.
It’s just the feel of the songs might not be quite right for a game like this. They’re just a bit too over the top, a bit too epic for themes that are meant to play thousands of times throughout your adventure, even against the most basic of foes.
Still, if you’re not a fan of the new music style in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, maybe this mod will be more up your ally instead. It’s not quite finished yet and doesn’t cover that much of the soundtrack, but it’s apparently getting added to over time, and offers a much more orchestral soundtrack for those tired of the more low-key songs found in the new game.
Definitely one to keep an eye on, that’s for sure!
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