Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is an RPG developed by AlphaDream and released for the Nintendo DS in September of 2009. In it players control Mario, Luigi and Bowser through a number of trials and adventures, with the goal of stopping the evil Fawful from harnessing the power of the hidden Dark Star. At the beginning of the game, Bowser is tricked into eating a special mushroom, and before long this causes him to inhale a roomful of people that includes Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.

For much of the game players alternate between the top and bottom screens of the DS, controlling Bowser as he travels the world on the top screen and controlling the Mario Bros. as they adventure through Bowser's insides on the bottom. When Bowser encounters certain challenges on the top screen, Mario and Luigi may have to help him on the bottom. Bowser has to lift a gigantic bullet at one point, and Mario and Luigi have to travel to his arm muscles to give him the power to do so. Activities like these are often done through minigames and timing-based challenges.

Much of the game is styled more like a traditional RPG though, with experience points, stat-boosting equipment and turn-based battles. Players travel through the game world and encounter dozens of different enemies, each with its own attack patterns. In Bowser’s Inside Story, though, these battles are filled with their own little timing-based challenges. Players still wait for opponents to take their turns before selecting their own actions, but players also have the ability to dodge or counter these attacks. Players will attempt to jump over charging foes and knock flying enemies out of the air with their hammers, and each enemy has its own unique attacks. Mario, Luigi and Bowser's attacks, too, have their own special timings and intricacies that allow players to maximize damage.

Classroom Facts

The game focus pretty thoroughly on mathematics in its battle system, with players doing damage in numbers and keeping track of their characters’ hit points throughout. For the most part the game uses smaller numbers than you might see in another RPG – Mario and Luigi might deal a couple dozen points of damage, while characters in many RPGs quickly deal several thousands – which makes the numbers in the game a bit more accessible. Math is also used in buying and selling items throughout the game.

Players also use a system of maps when navigating either the outside world or the inside of Bowser’s body.

Creativity & Imagination

By the Player:

While Bowser’s Inside Story is essentially a linear title, players do have choices to make. One of the basic elements comes into play whenever a character levels up; after the character’s statistics increase normally, players get to choose one extra stat to increase using a roulette wheel. This allows players to customize their characters subtly, and over the course of the game can make a considerable difference. Players also equip each of their characters however they choose, and each character gets more and more equipment slots as he levels up.

There’s plenty to explore in the game, as well, and while generally players follow a set path, there are certainly plenty of opportunities to hunt for secrets. Bowser, for example, is charged with collecting small animals called blitties, and Mario and Luigi can access a special challenge room inside Bowser that offers extremely difficult bosses and other special tests. These are all optional parts of the game that help players to explore and develop their characters more efficiently.

By the Developer:

Bowser’s Inside Story is a fairly impressive titles, bringing plenty of new ideas to the table without leaving its roots. The game looks and feels like other games in the series, but the unique structure at play here really helps set it apart. Players switch between controlling Mario and Bowser smoothly throughout the game, and the battle system carefully adds new features and challenges from start to finish.

The game offers an entertaining story, with a large cast of memorable characters and plenty of clever dialogue between them. The game uses a clean, colorful art style and a lively soundtrack to establish its style.

The game world is smaller than that of other RPGs, but the interaction between Mario and Bowser gives it an impressive depth. The two parties help each other in various ways, often without realizing, and it’s always orchestrated by the player. Many battles even have Bowser inhaling smaller enemies, and at these times players take control of the Mario brothers to defeat these foes inside Bowser’s body. All of these elements include challenging action-based elements and minigames, as well. Overall it’s a thoroughly refreshing take on the genre that introduces a wealth of new ideas.

Business Skills

Bowser’s Inside Story does somewhat focus on business skills. Players collect coins in battle, and these are used to buy items and equipment to make the player's characters more powerful. There are also a number of subtle additions to this formula. Mario, Luigi and Bowser each have a kind of "luck" stat that, aside from determining more powerful strikes in battle, also allows them to get special discounts in stores. Players can also equip certain accessories that will grant bonuses; one early example increases the difficulty of battles but grants players a 50% coin bonus from each.

People Skills

Bowser’s Inside Story is a strictly single-player game, and the player doesn’t get much control over the progression of the story or interaction between characters, limiting the stress on people skills throughout the game.

Problem Solving

Problem solving revolves around standard RPG mechanics, but here they’re augmented constantly by a wide variety of minigames. Players still level up their characters, building stats and buying equipment, and exploring the game’s world to find enemies, items and other secrets is a large part of game. In battle, though, the player’s skill is just as important as the numbers attached to their characters. Players can dodge and counter attacks in every battle, and careful players will be quick to study and learn the attack patterns of new enemies.

There are minigames attached to special attacks in battle and various events throughout the story that will test players in a number of ways. One example has players bouncing balls of energy between Mario and Luigi to power up Bowser’s muscles, while another has players using the stylus and touch screen to blast away the huge amounts of food that Bowser has eaten.  The game consistently combines RPG-style progression with action-oriented challenges without ever feeling forced or poorly paced.

Simulation

Bowser’s Inside Story is not a simulation game.

Popularity

Bowser’s Inside Story has received almost universal acclaim since its release, with most reviewers calling it the best title in the series and many saying it rates highly among RPGs in general and among other games released this year. Specific praise has been given to the game’s witty dialogue, enjoyable battle system and the sheer variety of activities players participate in throughout the game.

Extra Credit

Bowser’s Inside Story definitely has a strong sense of humor, with most characters developing distinct voices throughout.

Controls & Options

Bowser’s Inside Story has no real options to speak of.

Tips

Bowser’s Inside Story received an E from the ESRB.