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Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

by Pedro Hernandez - September 4, 2009, 11:30 am EDT
Total comments: 7

Bowser finds the hero within…in the form of Mario and Luigi.

Having faced the denizens of the Bean Kingdom, and traveled across time and space to rescue the Mushroom Kingdom and its Princess, Mario and Luigi face their biggest adventure yet: Bowser's innards.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story will once again feature a wacky and quirky story. This time around, the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom suffer from The Blorbs, a disease that makes them grow large in size and turn into balls. During a meeting in which Peach, Mario and Luigi discuss the solution to this epidemic, Bowser attacks but is quickly defeated and sent by Peach and Starlow to Ekubon's Forest. In this forest Bowser encounters a Lucky Mushroom, which is really a Vacuum Mushroom trap set up by Fawful. When Bowser consumes the mushroom he begins to inhale everything, including Peach, Mario and Luigi. Now inside his nemesis, Mario learns that in order to continue his adventure he and Luigi must take control of Bowser and save the Mushroom Kingdom.

Gameplay in Bowser's Inside Story will be similar to the previous titles. It is once again be a turn-based RPG, now featuring 6 attack commands: Jump, Hammer, Attack Parts (items that can be used in battle), Bros. Badges, and Escape. A new addition to the Mario & Luigi formula is a gauge at the bottom of the screen, one for each brother. When each character performs an attack, the bar fills up a little. When both bars meet in the middle the brothers can perform a Bros. Badge Move.

Badges will once again play a big part in gameplay. Badges can alter a character's stats when equipped, and can be bought at the shops in Toad Town. Some of the Badge Attacks are required to be pulled off exceedingly well (this is indicated by the words EXCELLENT on screen) for maximum effectiveness.

In addition to the Mario brothers, players can also control Bowser. Playing as Bowser is similar to using Mario and Luigi, except tailored to fit his attacks. Bowser can punch, use his fire breath and use enemy attacks. Instead of Bros. Badges, Bowser can use his new vacuum ability. He can suck in enemies, which in turn become enemies for Mario and Luigi to battle inside of Bowser. Some enemies can even replenish Bowser's HP during battle. When Bowser uses his enemy attacks, some of his minions (Goombas, Koopa Troopas, Shy Guys, Bob-Ombs, Magikoopas, etc.) will do the dirty work.

The battle control scheme changes completely when Bowser encounters enemies of his own size. Players then turn the DS on its side like a book, controlling Bowser using the touch screen and microphone. Sweeping the DS stylus across the touch screen will make Bowser do a super punch on his enemy, while blowing on the microphone will make him use his fire breath.

Outside of battle, exploration remains similar to previous titles. Players can now explore the inside of Bowser's body, controlling him by attacking certain points inside him while he is exploring the overworld. For example, players can make him panic by pinching his nerves, while attacking his muscles give him a brief power up. This becomes crucial during exploration, as the Mario brothers use Bowser to open new passages and solve puzzles.

Bowser's Inside Story will feature some elements different from the previous Mario & Luigi titles. This will be the first Mario & Luigi game to use the touch screen and microphone to execute commands, a feature not present in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. The brother's equipment has also been expanded; players can now equip the brothers with gloves, shoes, socks and other accessories. This will be the first Mario & Luigi title to feature optional bosses, something less experienced players may appreciate.

The Mario's Bros. inside story will finally be told when Nintendo releases Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story on September 14.

Talkback

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterSeptember 04, 2009

This is the closest thing we will ever get to a full blown Bowser game. This sounds more fun and in depth than previous Mario and Luigi titles. I also like how you use the touch screen and microphone to perform attacks with Bowser.

vuduSeptember 04, 2009

My demand for this game is slightly less frothing than Scribblenauts, so it will have to wait until after I beat that.  Sorry Nintendo!

Mop it upSeptember 04, 2009

This game sort of makes me regret selling my DS. :-\

Quote from: Mop_it_up

This game sort of makes me regret selling my DS. :-\

WHAT?

Wow...that's crazy talk.  The DS is the shiz.

shammackSeptember 04, 2009

At this point, having to use the microphone pretty much means I'm not interested in playing the game.  I was playing Phantom Hourglass recently and got to a point where I had to yell into the microphone, but I was in a situation where it wasn't socially acceptable to be yelling at my DS, so I just had to stop playing the game and haven't come back to it.

It's a shame because I was kind of looking forward to this until now.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterSeptember 04, 2009

Shammack: From everything I have seen and heard these are only rare, special events in which Bowser encounters a special kind of enemy. 95% of the game is still traditional gameplay. And even then, its only blowing that's required, not screaming into it.

Again, its no big deal and you shouldn't worry.

Mop it upSeptember 05, 2009

Quote from: NWR_Lindy

Quote from: Mop_it_up

This game sort of makes me regret selling my DS. :-\

WHAT?

Wow...that's crazy talk.  The DS is the shiz.

If it makes it any less blasphemous, the reason I sold it has nothing to do with the games. With all of the games I want for the systems I currently own, I decided I didn't want to add another one to that. I'm not big on portable games either, and so off it went, to some spoiled little girl with rich parents I'm sure.

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Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Box Art

Genre RPG
Developer AlphaDream Corporation
Players1

Worldwide Releases

na: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Release Sep 14, 2009
PublisherNintendo
RatingEveryone
jpn: Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!
Release Feb 11, 2009
PublisherNintendo
RatingAll Ages
eu: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Release Oct 09, 2009
PublisherNintendo
Rating3+
aus: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Release Oct 22, 2009
PublisherNintendo
RatingGeneral
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