Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga/Regional Differences

While each version was only released a maximum of 11 days apart, there are a surprising number of regional differences.

Title Screen
The Japanese title screen features a rather different design from the international one. The "PRESS START" font is also different. In addition, the title screen theme does not occur right away; the suitcase hits the cloud and opens up (which contain two sound effects), and it begins after the title starts appearing.

In addition, the Mario Bros. game has no default top score in international versions of the game. The default top score for the Japanese version is 20000 Phase 3.

Beginning
In the Japanese version, when Toad rushes in the house to find Mario, a D-Pad will appear in the corner to tell the player that they can now start playing. This tip is absent in the US version.

Bros. Points
Mario and Luigi both start the game with less BP in the international versions. The Mario silhouette sprite is also different.

Level-Up
Lakitu is more helpful on the level-up screen in the Japanese version. He tells the player to use the D-Pad to select a stat to upgrade, and to press B to cancel the upgrade.

Luigi's Voice
The sound clip that plays when switching to Luigi's status and equipment screen is different between the Japanese and international versions.

Button Icons & Hammer Tutorial
The tutorial to use the hammers in battle has different battle backgrounds in each version; a Hoo Hoo Mountain background in the Japanese version, and a Beanbean Castle Grounds background in the international version. Also visible in the comparison above are the different button icons for A and B used in dialogue boxes between each version.

Signs
The sign north of Beanbean Castle Town does not point to Beanbean Castle Town in the Japanese version; it is also missing an arrow for the direction to Hoohoo Mountain. Also evident in the comparison above is that the arrow icons used are different sizes between the two versions; this effects every sign in the game.

Heart Block
This heart block, which comes from Paper Mario, is only in the Japanese version and only at three locations: Beanbean Castle Sewers, Oho Oasis, and Teehee Valley. It's free to use and fully restores the brothers' HP and BP. It reappears in subsequent games.

Café Menu
While making a brew at Starbeans Café, an E. Gadd emblem will mark previously made drinks in the Japanese version. This makes it easier to keep track of which accessories are left to obtain from it.

Stats
Pretty much all the enemy, equipment, and item stats are different between the Japanese and international versions.

Items
Some of the items that enemies drop were changed between versions.

Most of the items that restore a set amount of HP or BP were changed.

Most of the consumable item buy and sell prices were changed between versions.

In addition, the item Oho Gear is obtainable in the Japanese version only. Though it is impossible to get in the international versions without a cheating device, its name and description are completely translated, including into German, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Trunkle

 * In addition to the stat differences, any time Trunkle's head-tree is damaged, it will immediately restore 40-47 HP in the Japanese version only.
 * The vacuum attack that Trunkle uses brings in various obstacles from the left side of the screen. One of them is a white mushroom that heals 8 HP in the Japanese version, and 5 HP in the international versions.
 * When his vacuum attack ends, Trunkle heals his body for 10 HP in the international versions. He heals a bit more in the Japanese version, because each object he swallows heals him for a different amount; 4 HP per Gritty Goomba, 8 HP per mushroom, and 2 HP per poisonous mushroom.

Fawful Battle Music
During the final battle with Fawful, the international releases use Popple's battle theme. In the Japanese release, this was changed to Cackletta's battle theme.

Coin Jump
By having Luigi do a High Jump onto small Mario and having Mario jump before Luigi can land, you can do a coin jump. This subtracts 1 HP from Luigi and converts it into 1 coin in the international release; this was adjusted to 2 HP per coin in the Japanese version. You can't convert any more HP if the next coin jump would result in Luigi having 0 HP.

Bowser's Sprites
Some of Bowser's sprites are slightly different between the two versions. The Japanese version touches up Bowser's left/right graphic, giving his mouth, hair, and eyebrows extra detail. Rookie's sprites were altered accordingly. In addition, the sprite when Bowser flies into the screen after escaping his castle is changed.

Fountain Glitch
Pounding a water ingested Mario in front of a fountain several times leads to a glitch causing Mario and Luigi to run out of bounds into different directions, and then return back to the fountain. This glitch is not present in the Japanese version.

Fire Dash Glitch
In the Japanese version, if you have Mario use Fire on Luigi while close to a ledge, the brothers will enter a glitched state. This glitch can cause them to warp a screen length away and end up inside of walls. It is entirely absent in the international release.