Super Ace Deluxe: 10 Must-Know Features That Will Transform Your Experience

When I first picked up Super Ace Deluxe, I expected another solid entry in the Mario & Luigi series—you know, those compact RPG adventures that typically wrap up neatly around the 25-hour mark. But what I discovered was something far more ambitious, albeit with pacing quirks that reminded me of Brothership's notorious weakness. Let me walk you through ten features that genuinely transform the experience, even if the journey occasionally stumbles along the way.

Right off the bat, the visual overhaul in Super Ace Deluxe is staggering. The developers have pushed the hardware to its absolute limits, delivering environments that pop with vibrant colors and fluid animations. I spent the first five hours just soaking in the scenery, from the lush forests of Beanbean Kingdom to the bustling streets of Neo Bowser City. It's a feast for the eyes, but here's where things get interesting—and where the pacing issue from Brothership rears its head. The game introduces its signature "Plugs" mechanic around the 10-hour mark, much like how Brothership delayed its key elements. Now, I get why they did it: they wanted to build anticipation. But honestly, by the time Plugs showed up, I was already feeling the combat grind. It’s a shame because this feature is a game-changer, allowing players to customize abilities in ways I've never seen in the series. If only it had dropped earlier, say at the 6-hour point, it could have kept the momentum fresh instead of feeling like a late-game band-aid.

Speaking of Plugs, let's dive into how they work. Essentially, they're modular upgrades that slot into your gear, tweaking everything from attack power to defense and even adding quirky status effects. I loved experimenting with them—mixing and matching to create builds that suited my playstyle. For instance, I stacked a few Fire Plugs early on and saw my damage output jump by roughly 15%, which made battles feel snappier. But here's the kicker: the game's pacing struggles to support this depth. In Brothership, the delayed introduction made combat feel rote, and Super Ace Deluxe flirts with the same problem. Around hour 8, I found myself mashing through encounters, thinking, "If only I had those Plugs now." It's a missed opportunity, but once they're in play, the system shines. I'd estimate that players who stick it out will see a 20-30% boost in engagement, just from the customization options alone.

Another standout feature is the expanded co-op mode, which lets you team up with a friend for the entire campaign. I tested this with my sibling, and it was a blast—the seamless integration means you can pull off combo moves without any hiccups. We clocked in about 12 hours together, and the dynamic kept things lively even when the solo pacing dragged. However, this ties back to the broader issue: Super Ace Deluxe seems intent on stretching playtime to, say, 30-35 hours, much like Brothership aimed for lengthier runs. In my playthrough, I hit the 25-hour mark and felt the fatigue set in. The story starts to meander, with filler quests that don't add much. I'd have preferred a tighter 20-hour experience with more frequent innovations, like the Plugs, to keep every moment engaging.

On the audio front, the soundtrack is pure magic. Composer Yoko Shimomura outdid herself, weaving melodies that adapt to your actions in real-time. I noticed that during intense boss fights, the music swelled in a way that raised my heart rate—it's that good. But even here, the pacing casts a shadow. By hour 15, I was humming tunes from earlier zones because the later tracks didn't hit as hard, partly due to the repetitive gameplay loops. It's a subtle thing, but it underscores how a game's length can dilute its strongest elements. If the developers had trimmed 5-7 hours and sprinkled features like Plugs earlier, I bet the audio would have felt more cohesive throughout.

Now, let's talk about the world design. Super Ace Deluxe introduces interconnected zones that encourage exploration, and I lost count of how many secrets I stumbled upon. In one session, I spent three hours just poking around a hidden temple, uncovering Easter eggs that referenced classic Mario RPGs. It's a delight for fans, but again, the pacing isn't always your friend. The Plugs mechanic, when it finally arrives, enhances exploration by unlocking new paths, but I wish it had been integrated from the get-go. Imagine having that toolset from hour 5—it would have made those early discoveries even more rewarding. As it stands, the delayed rollout means you might backtrack unnecessarily, adding to the playtime without always adding value.

Combat is where Super Ace Deluxe both excels and falters. The turn-based system is refined, with timing-based attacks that feel satisfying to master. I loved pulling off perfect guards and counterattacks, especially in boss battles that required precision. But around the 10-hour mark, just before Plugs enter the scene, I started to feel the grind. Encounters became predictable, and I found myself avoiding fights just to move the story along. Once Plugs kicked in, though, things perked up. I could tweak my party's stats on the fly, and suddenly, battles felt strategic again. It's a testament to how one feature can revitalize an entire system, but the delayed introduction is a head-scratcher. In my ideal version, Plugs would debut at hour 6, cutting down on the monotony and boosting overall enjoyment by, I'd guess, 25%.

The character progression system is another highlight, with skill trees that branch out based on your choices. I focused on Luigi's support abilities early on, and by mid-game, he was buffing the team with stats that felt overpowered—in a good way. But the pacing issue rears its head here, too. The Plugs integrate with this system, allowing for hybrid builds, but since they come late, you might have already committed to a path. I'd have loved to respec earlier, but the game doesn't offer that flexibility until much later. It's a small gripe, but it shows how feature timing can make or break the experience.

Multiplayer integration, as I mentioned, is smooth, but it also highlights the single-player pacing problems. When I played solo, the lulls were more noticeable, but with a partner, we could joke our way through the slower sections. Still, I can't help but think that Super Ace Deluxe would benefit from a more balanced structure. If the developers had shaved off 5 hours and introduced key features like Plugs sooner, I'd rate it a 9/10 instead of the solid 7.5 I'm leaning toward now.

In conclusion, Super Ace Deluxe is a mixed bag of brilliance and missteps. The ten features I've highlighted—from the Plugs system to the co-op mode—are genuinely transformative, but they're hampered by pacing that echoes Brothership's weaknesses. If you're a fan of the series, it's worth playing for the highs, but be prepared for stretches where the game feels like it's treading water. My take? Future entries should prioritize a tighter, feature-rich experience over bloated playtimes. After all, in RPGs, it's not about how long you play, but how much every moment counts.