The Mario brothers must survive being inhaled by their greatest nemesis
In short: In this 2009 role-playing adventure, Mario and Luigi find themselves shrunk to microscopic size inside Bowser's body. To save the Mushroom Kingdom from the mad scientist Fawful and a mysterious disease, the brothers must cooperate with the very villain who accidentally swallowed them.
Developed by AlphaDream for the Nintendo DS, the game features a unique dual-screen mechanic. Players manage Mario and Luigi via the A and B buttons on the lower screen, while simultaneously directing Bowser on the upper screen using X and Y buttons. This setup allows for direct interaction between the characters, such as when the brothers fight enemies that Bowser has inhaled into his body. This dual-screen approach is complemented by various minigames. For instance, players can help Bowser strengthen his limbs by hitting sparklike items or stomping on muscles.
The narrative is driven by an epidemic known as 'The Blorbs,' a disease caused by 'Blorb Mushrooms' that causes Toads to inflate like balloons. This chaos allows the villain Fawful to seize control of Princess Peach's Castle. The plot takes a surreal turn when Bowser, tricked into eating a 'Vacuum Shroom,' accidentally inhales Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Starlow, and several Toads. This epidemic forces a council meeting at the castle to address the crisis. During this meeting, the group discovers the true source of the infection.
Bowser's gameplay differs from the brothers' turn-based combat, specializing in fire-breathing and punching. He can also use the DS touchscreen for special attacks. To progress, players must navigate both the 2D side-scrolling world inside Bowser and the 2D overhead overworld. Having sold 4.56 million copies globally by 2020, this title stands as the most successful Mario role-playing game ever. The game's success is reflected in its critical reception, earning high scores from outlets like IGN and GameSpot. It also received several nominations at the Interactive Achievement Awards.
The title's heritage features a 2018 Nintendo 3DS remake named 'Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey,' which launched across different territories from late 2018 to early 2019. The original release was first announced at a Tokyo press event in 2008. It was initially known by the Japanese title Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
- Also: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey
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