Awesome use of controls, really neat systems, and just overall a great Mario RPG.
Oh yes, it certainly can. The number one thing that impressed me the most with this game is the use of controls. There are only 4 buttons that you use (not including Start and Select), and there are tons of different moves and abilities in this game. Plus, you need to be able to control two people. Well, somehow, this game manages it all. Now, it would take me a while to describe you all the controls, cause trust me, there are many different combos. Though yet, with so many different techniques, wouldn't you forget some of them? Nope. It still remains very simple, and is easy to learn. Might take a bit of practice, but anybody should be able to get the hang of it. The controls just handle so well, that I was just impressed. I'll just leave you to discover all the moves in this game. Though trust me, there are many of them.
If you don't know already, this is an RPG. So this game requires itself to be able to work on the map, and in battles. It does it so well in both. With all the techniques you learn, travel is an easy thing, once you learn all the stuff. As for the battles, the system works well. It works pretty similarly to the Paper Mario battle system. It's easy to learn, yet it can still be quite challenging. It contains the traditional RPG elements. HP for health, and FP for those special moves. You simply select the attack you want to use. You can either jump on opponents, or use a hammer, or use an item. Though that's not it. As you learn techniques when you're travelling, you can use those techniques in battle. However, you have to do more than just select what attack you want to do. You have to have your timing right on, and you need to be pressing the right buttons at the right times. That makes it feel more than just simply press a button. Also, when your opponents are attack, you can jump over attacks, defend against the attacks, or maybe even counter them. Though you need to have your timing right on the money. Though in the end, all these little things make the battles feel much better, and puts you right into them. It makes you feel like it's more than just pressing buttons. It requires actual skill. That just makes the battles feel a whole lot better.
The plot of this game is that the evil witch Cackletta from the Beanbean Kingdom has stolen Princess Peach's voice from some reason. Now you have to chase her back to the Beanbean Kingdom, and you need to get that voice back. Why? Cause you don't want to have your princess talk with such an explosive voice. Literally. The plot does advance, and does have a few minor twists here and there. It's not complicated, but it works well. You run into many characters, and a lot of them have their own personality. You meet with many interesting characters. You will be required to do some interesting tasks, some of which can be unexpected. Overall, the storyline is fairly simple, but it does work well, and it does have bumps on the road. This game does take a while, with lots of exploring. The Beanbean Kingdom may not seem huge, but it will fell like it after you're done exploring everywhere. There are many things you have to do in this game, and it's not repetitive. You will be travelling all over, trying to find something. Just getting one simple thing can last a while. This also isn't the easiest of games. It's not that hard, but it can provide some challenges. Also, as mentioned earlier, for fighting, timing is key. With some enemies, they are just plain hard, you will need masterful timing. Also, collecting experience points helps a lot to, so be sure to be fighting anybody you can. Cause it will help. This game isn't that hard, but it's not that easy either.
The graphics are nice. Everything is so colorful and detailed. I can't really say much about them. They're nice, they're colorful, they fit in very well, and they're just plain great. As for the sound, it's all good as well. The characters do make sounds, and they work well and define the characters. Mario sounds like Mario, Luigi sounds like Luigi, and Peach sounds like Peach. As for everybody else, if you just hear their grunts, you'll know it's them (like in the Legend of Zelda series). The music is good. Not exceptional, but it still fine. Well, all the technical stuff in this game pretty much works.
This may be an RPG, but as soon as you see "Mario" in the title, you just know it's going to be different. Being on a little handheld console with only 4 gameplay buttons, you might think you won't be able to do much. However, you can do tons, and it still is all very simple. Every button is used, and is used effectively. All the systems work greatly, and are interesting. Even though this is an RPG, you still will require actual skill (timing being the major thing). The storyline is interesting. Not complicated, yet you'll see some unexpected events occur. This game does last a long time, with many things you will need to complete in this game, and some of those things require a lot of time to complete. This game's challenge is also satisfactory. Not greatly difficult, but it's not a walk in the park either. The graphics are great, and so are the sounds. Overall, this is another awesome Mario RPG, and if you've played Paper Mario, you'll very likely enjoy this. Yet, it's not exactly the same thing, and has it's own unique elements. In the end, this is another very enjoyable game to be added to the infamous and gigantic Mario universe.