It plays...interestingly? If you guys ever played Gratuitous Space Battles, it functions kind of like that, like some pseudo-form of RTS. You have a group of Minions led by a Captain, and they duke it out with you having very little control for the most part. The only things you can control are Minions occasionally committing special attacks (which appear as a red reticle on screen, from which you do a certain button press(es) to execute a special move that does extra damage) and the Captain executing Captain Commands, which you have a certain number of points to use and give your team help. Each victory raises EXP, which helps boost your team's strength. You can create multiple team formations based on different minions before each fight, who have different strengths and weaknesses based on the Power Triangle of Melee->Ranged->Flying.
The plot of Minion Quest runs in parallel to Superstar Saga, with an idiotic Goomba recovering and rallying Bowser's minions to save their lordship from Fawful. Several plot elements related to Superstar Saga are revealed throughout this parallel game. For example, the destruction of Beanbean Town, the aftermath of which we saw at the end of today's video, is actually shown in Minion Quest.
Other points worth mentioning that are remake changes:
- Hammer is actually its own separate menu command in the remake, as opposed to a menu item in the Solo Command.
- Hammer swing plays like the later M&L games. You have to time the wind-up of the hammer strike to get a max-power hit. When the hammer flashes, that's when you get an excellent state. You can fail this though.
- With that said, there's no fail Hammer defense state like the one shown. You can actually hold down the hammer button for as long as possible. This is a later feature because making hammer defense require timing was considered a bit noxious.
- The mine cart mini-game can be skipped after one go (I think) in the remake. After you say no, the old man will ask you if you just want to walk through the tunnel on your own. Say yes, and walk one screen to the right...to get to the end of the mine cart stage. Yeeeeeep