All ice block puzzle solutions for Compac Islet in Mario and Luigi: Brothership

When you’re sailing the Brrrning Sea (third area) in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, you’ll come across Compac Islet on the far east side of the area. On it, you’re presented with a puzzle involving sliding ice blocks. Here’s how to solve all three.

The sliding block puzzle on ice sheets has been around for a very long time in video games, so it’s no surprise that it makes an appearance here. If you’re not very good at these sorts of things (or just can’t be bothered), I’m sure the history behind this type of puzzle isn’t very comforting, so instead I’ll just tell you how to do them.

How to solve Compac Islet puzzle #1

The first puzzle in on Compac Islet in Mario & Luigi: Brothership is reasonably simple, but it’s easy to move the wrong block and wind up stuck. You first want to go around to the far side of the blocks to the top-left of the islet. This will be easier to explain with pictures, but here are the steps.

• Move the offset top-left block right.
• Move the block below it down.
• At the end of the bottom corridor, shift the block right.
• Move the block obstructing the path to the guy to the left.

Not too difficult, but following the picture will probably be easier. When you reach the dude, he’ll give you a Stache Bean DX, which will improve a brother’s Stache stat by +3. You’ll then be able to take on additional challenges.

How to solve Compac Islet puzzle #2

The next puzzle on Compac Islet is a bit trickier and involves some non-conventional moving. The goal is to break the two boxes trapped within the blocks. The first block is pretty easy. Here are the steps.

• Hit the top-left offset block down.
• Hit the block next to you to the right.

That’s it for the first box. You can then head South, squeeze between the two blocks and get to the box to smash it. Now comes the tricky part.

• Hit the block that is two blocks up from where the box is (fourth from the bottom) to the right.
• Shimmy in behind the block at the bottom of the formation and hit it downward.
• Hit the block next to it to the right.
• Scooch into the narrow opening created and knock that block left.

Okay, now things get a bit easier because you’re essentially just zig-zagging up toward the second block.

• Hit the block above you up.
• Hit the block beside you to the left.
• Hit the block above you up.
• Hit the block beside you to the left.

Done. You can grab the goodies in the box. Then, it’s on to the next (and final) puzzle. 

How to solve Compac Islet puzzle #3

The last puzzle on Compac Islet is almost insultingly easy compared to the last one. There are more boxes but fewer steps and less chances to screw up. In fact, I can do this in one image and a few steps.

• Move the top, protruding block to whichever lateral direction you feel like. Just not down.
• Slip into the narrow gap at the bottom of the corridor and move the bottom block down.
• Move the block next to you left.
• Slip in and break the first box. Proceed to the end of the corridor. Go up into the gap and hit the left block left.
• Hit the block above that upwards, then break the box.
• Move the block to the right towards the right and break the last box.

See? Easy. And it doesn’t get any harder than that because that’s the last of them. Return to Shipshape and continue with your quest.